Malfoy was quick to accept. "Of course, Lord Peverell."
As Harry began walking the few steps to take him beyond the wards, he allowed his off-hand to be hidden by his robes from the three before him and gave a downward-pointing Victory signal behind his back. That was the signal for Luna that all was as it should be.
He was careful to watch the three, looking for any sign of deception, as he crossed the wards; most importantly, Malfoy.
With a slight smile, Malfoy carefully withdrew a slip of parchment and a quill from his off-hand inside breast pocket of his robes. Then, after switching the quill to his right hand for the moment, he held the parchment slip up so Harry could read it.
"Where we are going is under a Fidelius," he explained. "You need to read this to be aware of the Secret which protects it."
Harry looked to the slip and saw:
The Dark Lord's headquarters is located at Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire
As soon as he looked up, Malfoy quickly slid the slip back into the same off-hand inside robe breast pocket, before then switching the quill to his off-hand and offering it.
"A portkey," he explained. "Higgs! Dedworth! Time to leave."
As the other two came up on each side of Malfoy and reached out to each place a finger on the quill, Malfoy drew his wand. Harry took a half pace back and looked ready to draw his wand when Malfoy quickly said, "No!... Lord Peverell."
When Harry hesitated, he explained, "My apologies. I need to tap the portkey with my wand. It's keyed to my magical signature."
Harry paused a moment, gave a firm nod and, in a low voice, said, "Be aware. I do not take kindly to people drawing their wands on me. I take it as a grave insult."
"Again, my apologies," said Malfoy, clearly relieved Harry hadn't drawn his own wand.
Harry gave a single nod back, relaxed and stepped forward to place a finger on the quill. He used his right hand as he didn't want to draw attention to the kara kesh on his left, even if it was somewhat hidden under a Disillusionment charm.
Malfoy, more carefully this time, raised his wand and tapped the quill. They were gone in the swirl of the activated portkey.
Luna, from where she was watching through the window right next to the front door, gave a sigh of relief and headed for the floo. She knew, once she got back to Grimmauld Place and told Sirius what had happened, there would be a lot of yelling coming her way.
As expected, the portkey deposited them in Malfoy Manor. Harry of course, never having been there before, had no idea what the rightful Seat of the House of Black looked like, so looked around a bit.
His immediate impression was there was a lot of white green-veined marble with black marble highlights. Then there was also the subtle serpent motif throughout.
Of course, he only got that through his secondary scanning. He was more focused on who he could see that was a threat. There was only one person in the room, an entry hall, waiting for them - Draco Malfoy.
'Still with the overuse of hair gel, Ferret?' he thought. 'I would've thought you'd have grown out of that, by now.'
The young man the boy had grown into was still quite skinny, but now had a sort of wiry build to him.
"Father," said Ferret, with a slight bow. And, subtly gesturing to a set of closed double doors set into the right-hand wall as you would step in through the main doors of the manor and which were behind him, added, "The Dark Lord has gathered the Inner Circle and awaits in his audience room."
'Audience room?' thought Harry. 'He really does see himself as Emperor, doesn't he?'
Malfoy the younger continued, "Only the Inner Circle is to remain in the manor while the dark lord receives his guest." "Very well," said Malfoy senior, before he turned to Harry. He gestured to the doors and said, "This way, Lord Peverell. Higgs, Dedworth, leave."
Harry gave a single nod and followed the elder Malfoy the dozen feet to the doors.
As Malfoy then reached out with both hands to open them, he hesitated and quietly said, "I shall announce you, Lord Peverell."
After hearing the double pop of departing apparations from the two minions that accompanied Malfoy to and from Luna's place, Harry softly returned, "As is proper."
Over his shoulder, Malfoy gave a single nod and again reached forward with both hands. He opened both doors, simultaneously. Then stepped through one pace with his head bowed.
"My Lord," he deferentially called, "I bring an honoured guest. I present, Lord Hardwin Peverell of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Peverell." Then he quickly stepped to the side with his head bowed and almost subtly gestured Harry inside.
Harry firmly thought to himself, 'Let's do this.' And walked through the doors, passing a slightly bowing Malfoy.
Standing on the dais before his throne, already aware 'Peverell' had arrived via portkey, Riddle was striking his best 'I am a powerful pure-blood lord and you should fear me' pose.
As soon as the doors, together, swung open and Malfoy took the pace through to announce Peverell, he thought, 'Now thatis how you announce someone.' He would have to remember to reward the man later for his pomp and circumstance. He hoped it would have the Peverell lord in a better state of mind for him.
When Peverell stepped through, he saw the young man's eyes immediately scan the entire room before finally coming to a halt staring at his own.
He then saw the subtle nod as the man then walked forward, allowing his eyes to look about while also clearly 'taking his measure' as he'd once heard it called. Lucius followed him closer while Draco re-closed the doors and took up a position within the room and near the doors.
As Peverell came forward, Riddle gave a slight gesture. And his most loyal minions backed well out of the way, almost to the side walls, giving the Peverell lord plenty of room.
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