Chapter One
I was playing in the background of my mansion. I just finished my lesson on spells and potions. I was wearing a red dress with black flat shoes, my hair was half up and half down with a braided crown.
"Mommy I'm going to my secret place!" I yell as I ran with a big smile on my face. "Okay and be careful!" I hear her yell from the watch. I start running again until I open the gate and continue to run, this time behind careful I leap over a small stream. The forest is beautiful in the day time but at night it can be scary, my mother always tells me if I ever go over to the fields I must get back before the sun sets.
I continue to run through the forest while stumbling here and there finally reaching the open fields of flowers. No matter how many times I come here it always amaze me how beautiful it is. I would walk as I was looking around and looking up until I am in the center of the flowery field, so many colors and different flowers. There I spotted a big tree in center but a bit far from the rest. The tree is big, it have two different color purple; one is light purple almost like pink and the other is a lavender color there were hanging, my mother told me it was called Wisteria Tree or Weeping Tree.
My mother told me the reason why the tree gotten its name because when it rains, the raindrops falls from the drooping branches of the willow resembling tears. It sounded sad but the tree itself is so beautiful.
"Hey, who are you?" I hear a voice as it snapped me out of the tree's hypnosis. I look around to find who voice it belong to and to a boy sitting on tree branch. He was shorter then me by a inch, he had light blue eyes, he have platinum blonde hair that is sleek back and have a thin face holding a snobby look, like he was better than me with his head held high looking down on me and smirked at me.
"I'm sorry I didn't see you, I was so mesmerized by this tree and how beautiful is it." I said sheepishly as my hands were behind my back.
"I know this tree is mesmerizing and beautiful which is why I have claimed this tree to be mine." He said as he still holding his smirk.
"Your tree? I don't see your name on it, the last time I checked." I continued. "I have been coming here and I never seen you here so this tree is mine." I says as I fold my arms cross my chest and looks up at the boy with a smirk.
The smirk wipe off his face as he jumps down from the branch he was sitting. I took a step back as he walks up to me. "This is mine tree and I was here first before you shown up."
"Geez I would have thought you would be taller than me but you're pretty short." I put my hand on my forehead in a salute gesture and went above his head.
"I am not short for your information, and your shoes is given you more height which make you look taller." He says as he blush from embarrassment of his height.
"For your information I am wearing flats. There is no reason excuses for that you behind short." I look down twisting my foot to show the boy. "Fine why not share the tree than?" Changing the topic as it seems to be hurting his pride.
"Why should I share my tree to a person like you, you're probably a half blood or a muggle which is even worse." The boy said as he have the disgust expression as he look up and down at me.
"I have you know I am a Pureblood thank you very much and so are my parents! And how dare you!" I said to him angrily. I turn to leave. "Now if you will excuse me I will be taking my leave." Before I could leave the boy grabs my arm and stops me from leaving.
"Wait. I'm very sorry if I defended you." The boy say then pulls his hand away from me quickly. I turn around and see a confused look on his face.
"What is it?" I ask him.
"Well you see I have never apologized to anyone before. And you are the first person I ever apologized too. I were always right and people around me were always wrong." He says.
"I forgive you since this is our first time encounter with each other, and you shouldn't judge people before getting to know them first." I says with a smile.
"Lets call it truce, deal?" He asks as he sticks his hand out.
I look at the boy's hand than at him and I automatically smile. "Truce." I gently grab his forearm.
"What is this? Do you even know how to shake hands?" The boy was confused of my action.
"Yes I do and this is called the forearm shake." I said proudly. "This is how a person isn't hiding and weapons and a good way to trust someone. And Truce."
The boy smiles a mimics me. This was the beginning of a new friendship between us.
"What's your name?" He ask me. When I think about it I didn't really tell him my name.
"It's common courtesy to give your own name before asking someone else. I says, playfully tease.
"Just want to know who I'm going to be stuck with." He says.
"As you saying by 'stuck' you mean playing with me. My name is Scarlett, Scarlett Watson. You can call me Scarla, that's what my parents calls me." I said as I stick my hand out and the boy takes it, this time we were using a regular handshake.
"Draco, Draco Malfoy. Now that I know your name, my father knows your father. He mentioned your family before." He says. I was curious but I didn't bother to ask, I probably wouldn't understand it either.
"Since we are friends now, what do you want to do?" I ask.
"Who said I want to be friends with you?" He asks as I punch him in his shoulder. "Ow why you're so violent." Rubbing his shoulder.
"The moment we called it truce and I'm not violent. I says. "What's wrong being friends anyway?" I asks him.
"Because..." he trailed off as I looked at him confused. "Because we are rivals and rivals can't be friends."
"If we so much of a rival why we exchanged names and agreed to be friends? That should not stop us from beings friends, that's our family rivalry we're just kids." I says. "The only thing we should worry about is how much fun time to play. I smiles.
"My father won't approve this, especially to a Watson."
"Do you listen to your father and his commands?" I ask curiously.
"Do you?"
"I didn't answer right away I knew how that feels. Have to listen to your parents commands all the time. "Sometimes." I says.
"So I will see you here again, maybe tomorrow?" He ask sheepishly and I smiles.
"Is Draco taking a liking of my presence already?" I says teasing.
Draco face turn tint red of embarrassment and tries to denied it. "No I'm just curious that's all." He says as he turn his face as he folded his arm across his chest.
I giggles and smiles. "Of course...right after my lesson at least." I look up at the sky and sees the sun is starting to set. "I should head back, it starting to get late." Draco look up at the sky as well and nods, we both wave at each other before separating.
It's amazing how quickly Draco and I became friends despite our parents being rivals to each other, neither of our parents knew about our friendship. I didn't have much friends since my parents, well mostly my father who didn't want to play with the other kids especially Draco. My mother didn't like the idea since I was only seven years old. We spent as much time as we could in the fields.
Sometimes we would play games, one game we enjoy the most is Slay the Dragon. I will use my magic to make a tower and create a dragon that breathes smoke and we would have use our toys as treasure as the dragon guards it a few minutes later I hear the boy gasp. I look at him.
"How do you do that?" He asks stares mesmerized at the tower and dragon comes to life.
"It's hard to explain how but if I concentrate I can do it. I say. The boy still holding his shock.
"You can do magic without a wand?" He asks me.
"Yes and no. I can't always do it, which is why learning. But it only works if really concentrate or use my imagination." I say. "Just now I was using my imagination, promise me you won't tell anyone."
"I promise." He say as I nod my head and we began to play.
The same night, during dinner I noticed my parents' action, I never brought it up until now. My mother would ask my father how was his day at work, my father make potion, analysis and test them before selling it he can make custom potion for his customers. As my parents were talking I began to ask my father a curious question.
"Father?" I didn't look up at him as I was too busy poking my food with my fork but I knew I got his attention. How come when we have dinner parties or just a party with other family but with the Malfoys?"
The room got quiet, so quiet you can only hear the clock ticking. I finally look up at my father with my curious brown eyes. My mother looks at me then at him, he wiped his mouth before he start to tell me about the Malfoys. I wanted to know if it's true that we are a family rivalry to each other. "Scarlett." My father begins. "The reason why we never invited the Malfoys, well you see...because." My father tries to find the right words for me to understand.
"Because we're rival?" I say to my father as I look away from my plate. My parents were stun, seeing their reaction is all the answer I needed.
"How do you know that? Did you spoken to their child?" He ask me. I didn't him to know, I didn't want him to be mad so I dodge his question.
"I mean why can't we be friends? We do live close to each other. We basically neighbors. I stated the obvious.
"Scarla, sweetheart were you been observing again? My mother asks me and I nod.
"Yes I have, including the holidays as well. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy the family company but most of them aren't in my age group and I feel like they get bored playing with me." I added. My parents didn't know want to say, especially my father he was impressed how I can notice something like that.
It was late spring and early summer Draco and I sometimes we play Slay the Dragon, which became our favorite game, spot the different wild animals and we would them especially the deers that comes into the fields. We will lay on the grass as we watch the clouds goes by and we will say what the clouds look like. One day we got stuck in the rain and we used the Wisteria Tree as shelter, on the same day I told him how the tree got its name.
Whenever it rains we will bring our favorite book and we would trade each other books. We even take naps at times when it's raining or not. When Draco is asleep, I would secretly place a just finished flower crown on his head, laugh silently without waking him up. I even show him how to make one too after finding one on his head, which he was terrible at it until he got the hang of it after his few failed attempts.
"Fall is coming." I stated laying on the bed of flowers.
"Yeah." He agrees as he lays next to me staring at the clouds and the birds dancing in the sky. You know before we leave we should really give this place a name. He says.
I sits up as I thought about what he said immediately. "Now that you mention that, we should before it's too late.
Draco sits up as well as we both face each other to think of a good name. The only thing we can agree on is using the word secret.
"How about Secret Garden?" He asks. I was thinking Garden of Secret but I like his better.
"Yes, lets use it. Secret Garden!" We didn't have to think too hard and long to come up with a name for us to agree or disagree. It was a good and perfect timing too as our usually time, the sun was ready to set and we wave and tell each other see you later.
The season started to change as it's now Autumn. It holds the summer feeling but it was a bit windy. I try begging my mother to let me go outside every day or every other day as she was not having it. Draco and I began to use paper planes as we can communicate, I use my wandless magic, I close my eyes visualizing Draco before throwing the paper plane out my window. Winter came quickly as Autumn was so short, my mother wanted me concentrate on lessons and studies. I couldn't help but think about Draco since we haven't seen nor contact each since it's a blizzard.
My father was teaching me different variety of potions and began to create my own as well which was hard at first. With few tries I was able to get it.
Spring has arrived and Winter ended as so if my long due of my lesson and studies. I needed a break. I pick up my book that Draco gave me when we trade books. As I was into my book hear my name being called from downstairs from my father. I sigh as the first thing that comes to mind is more lessons. I don't my brain can handle anymore. As I enter the living room both of my parents were standing next to each other as if something had happened.
"Scarla. Remember when you were five years old?" My mother ask as I nod my head.
"Yes I remember." I say.
"Well your father and I decided to give you something. But you must promise to take care of it, do you understand?"
"I promise mommy." I respond. I getting confuse. I was hoping it wasn't another spell book of magic.
"Vikram." My mother looks at him as she says his name. He removed his hands from behind his back as he holding a box with holes. I slowly took the box looking at it curiously, I wanted to shake it but I feel I would be scold for doing so, so I look up at both my parents hoping to tell me what's inside.
"Open it sweetie." I pick up the lid slowly opening it and looks inside. My face lit up and I can tell my eyes were fill with sparkles. I gently pick up a white python, it was tiny perfectly fit in my hands.
"Oh thank you so much!" I couldn't hold my excitement any longer. It was pure white like snow and so cute with it's beady eyes. "I already got a name picked out for him."
"He's a she." My mother correcting me. "What's the name did you pick for her?" She asks.
"Snow. I'm going to call her Snow."
I ran outside with my new pet who I immediately fell in love with. I ran to the secret garden that Draco and I named before the winter came. I began to chuckle of the thought of him being scared of a harmless snake I was even more excited that I'm able to see him again, two seasons was way too long.
"Scarla?" I hear my name from a familiar voice. I look over and I see Draco emerging from the bushes. My smile grew even wider to the point of my cheeks begins to hurt and from smiling like a Cheshire cat. We came out at the same time and I ran up to him to hug him. He hesitates for a moment before hugging me and quickly pulling away. "You almost made me drop my apple." As he would blush from embarrassment as I would laugh.
"What's so funny?" He ask.
"Nothing, nothing at all. Oh I want to show you something." I would gently pick my snake off my shoulder as she balled up.
Draco jumps back in fright upon seeing my pet snake, again he would say how I almost made him drop his apple trying to hide the fact he got scared. I reassure him that the snake is harmless.
Morning turn to afternoon and we did our usually things, this time we went to the stream that only reach to our ankles as I walk around I felt the coldness from water that splash onto me. I look up and see Draco bend over cupping his hand with water with a evil yet playfully smirk. I kick the water which it hit him in his face as I laugh at him as paid back. Now it turn into a water fight. Hours later we sat underneath the sun to dry off. Another hour has gone by and we resume playing, before the sun was to set we decided to dance, we did the waltz. Once we was down we gently bow at each other, me doing curtesy and Draco bowing and we would laugh and complaint each other.
"You dance lovely Ms. Watson."
"Why thank you sir and so do you."
We sat down underneath the tree as if we were two old people. Draco was about to grab his apple but was frighten by my pet snake again. "Your snake is on my apple." He says as he hide behind me.
"Stop being a big baby. She's not gonna to hurt you." I remove Snow off the scared cat Draco's apple and handed it to him. Before he took a bite of it he began to search around his apple as I roll my eyes. All I can think of that he's such a drama queen, well king if that even a real thing. Draco quickly handed me his apple without saying a word. I looked at him confuse.
"What?" I ask him.
"You must be at least hungry. So I am sharing you my apple." He says.
"Thank you but no thanks I'm go." I told him.
"It is not right for a gentleman to eat first and to eat in front of a girl." Draco looks away. I can tell he is blushing I find it kind of cute when he gets all blushing from embarrassment.
"What is that I'm sensing? Does Draco got some chivalry, you're such a gentleman." I teases him and took his apple and thank him before taking a bite.
We discovered that apples is one of our favorite food. It was strange to share food especially with a strange but he wasn't a stranger he's my first best friend.
We decided to relax and sit on the tree branch. We basically did every fun games and activities we did, it was so quiet and I notice Draco look concern about something.
"I think...I think my parents are getting suspicious." He says.
"Of what?" I ask.
"Of who I am playing with. My father particularly we are going to need to be more careful." He says I nod my head I felt the same way too with my father. We both jump down from the tree branch and we spend the rest of our day chasing each other.
"Draco." An unfamiliar voice says from behind us. We were currently running in the field chasing each other. Both Draco and I frozen on the spot as if someone put a freezing spell on us. Draco slowly turned around from behind us looking at the unfamiliar person. In seconds my father pops a few yard in front of us. He was looking at us then was looking at the man behind us. We turn around to look at who everyone else was staring at. I saw a very tall man with long platinum hair and light blue eyes just like Draco's. I knew instantly he was Draco's dad.
"Hello Lucius." My father greets him. His face was calm but his eyes looked scary. For a blink moment I sworn I thought I saw my father's eyes change colors. We were in the middle of our fathers.
"Vikram, I am here to collect him son, Draco." Mr. Malfoy says in his clam and collected voice. Draco and I moved from out spot. There were so much tension in the air, it was like our peaceful garden began to be contaminated by our father's presence.
"He's not harming anyone but I must as the sun is beginning to set." My father says.
"Did my father knew that I was playing with Draco? How can he known" I thought to myself.
"I do agree. My son will no longer be associate with your...daughter." He says referring to me. "Draco. Come. It's getting late. We need you to get prepare." His father says. Draco walks over to his father, he looks back at me. "Say your goodbye Draco, this is the last time you will ever seeing and coming to this place again." His father says. But before Draco could say anything his father dragged him away by his upper arm, all he can do is wave. I could feel myself wanted to chase after him. My father grabs my wrist preventing me to go after him. I guessed he sense it.
Feeling hurt, I could feel the tears falling down freely. My father gets down on his knees and hugs I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck. "Don't cry." Trying to comfort me as he rubs my back. He pulls me out the hug as he wipe my tears away.
"Am I in trouble? Are you mad? Will he get in trouble?" I ask my dad as I stop crying but tears still flows down a little.
"No you're not going to get in trouble and I am not mad but you did lie to me for be friending Draco." My dad says. "But I am glad you made a friend."
"He's my best friend and how did you know?" I ask my dad.
"When you bring a different book back home and you begging your mother to go outside, which it was different from all of your begging." He says as picked me up.
"Will I ever see him again and be friends?" I ask.
"You will some day." He says as he carry me home leaving this beautiful Secret Garden. That was the time and place we've ever seen other.