AN: This one's not finished, I have about 1 and ½ chapters left, but I will still be uploading this weekly on Friday.
Chapter 1: Have you met Malfoy?
"So, let me get this straight, I tie a note to this bird's leg and she will deliver it to you at that school of yours, even if I don't know the address?" asked Vernon for the thousand time.
"Yes dad, that's how you do it," nodded Diana, a slight trail of impatience had begun clouding her voice for a while now, but she tried being civil to her father, after all, she had been just as thick headed when she first heard that owl were used to deliver messages in the wizarding world.
"I don't understand why we can't use telephones or cell-phones at least!" whined Petunia while shooting a disdainful look at the barn owl the girls had bought for her on their last visit to Diagon Alley.
"That's because mug- I mean, modern technology doesn't work at Hogwarts, and they don't have a phone line installed," Heidi answered mentally cursing herself for her slip. She had unfortunately mentioned the word Muggle to her parents a few days ago, and well, it was natural that they be offended by the term, even though Heidi had tried to explained that it was something similar as them calling the magical people witches and wizards, but to no avail; some things were just better left unsaid.
Vernon glared at his daughter, but refused to acknowledge the slip, he unlike Petunia was finding it more difficult to adapt to the discovery that there were…abnormal people among his pairs, and he sometimes pretended that he had forgotten all about the trip to Diagon Alley, or the spells that the girls had performed right in front of their eyes. Heidi of course considered this to be a transition of sorts, from the normal life that he knew to the one where he had to accept that his two daughters were abnormal people.
Dudley, on the other hand had, no problem with anything, he was dang proud of his two sisters, but there was still something that bothered him about the whole situation, and that was:
"You're dating someone aren't you?" he asked scrutinizing his sister with a glare.
"Why of course Dudley dear, did you think I'd miss out on the opportunity of dating when you're not breathing down my neck," Diana answered sweetly.
Dudley turned red in a matter of seconds. "I told you, you weren't allowed to date!" he growled furiously.
"Oh, really? Well, why don't you go sort it out with my boyfriend - if you find him that is."
Diana loved taunting Dudley about the whole boyfriend issue, even though she did not have one.
"She's not dating," Heidi said flatly, eager to get the argument over and done with.
"Traitor!" Diana gave her sister a death-glare.
"Now family; today is not the time for quarreling!" Vernon chastised. "I hope you don't behave like that in front of the Moirés!"
"Don't worry dad, we wont," Diana promised. She was Vernon's spoiled little princess after all, and she knew the privileges she'd be entitled to if she behaved tonight and was hardly going to give them up.
"I think we should run through the schedule one more time," said Vernon. "We should all be in position at eight o'clock. Petunia, you will be —?"
"In the lounge," said Petunia promptly, "waiting to welcome them graciously to our home."
"Good, good. And Dudley?"
"I'll be waiting to open the door." Dudley put on a foul, simpering smile. "May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Moiré?"
"They'll love him!" cried Petunia rapturously.
"Excellent, Dudley," said Vernon. Then he turned towards his two daughters. "And you will be…?"
"In the living room, looking as cute as two little angels, we will give them a curt bow before complimenting them on their looks," said Diana.
"Then we'll sit down and wait for diner to start, only intervening in the conversation when we deem worthy," finished Heidi.
"Perfect!" cried Petunia.
"At eight-fifteen —" asked Vernon.
"I'll announce dinner," said Petunia. "Then me and Heidi will exit the room and prepare the table."
"And, Dudley, you'll say —"
"May I take you through to the dining room, Mrs. Moiré?" said Dudley, offering his arm to an invisible woman.
"And Diana you will-"
"Offer to guide Mr. Moiré in the dining room," said Diana cheerfully.
"Now, we should aim to get in a few good compliments at dinner. Petunia, any ideas?"
"Vernon tells me you're a wonderful golfer, Mr. Moiré… Do tell me where you bought your dress, Mrs. Moiré…"
"Perfect… Dudley?"
"How about —'We had to write an essay about our hero at school, Mr. Moiré, and I wrote about you.'"
Dudley and the twins sniggered slightly at the comment, while Petunia burst into tears and hugged (strangled better said), the three kids.
"Girls?"
"Seriously dad! You know how charming we could be when we want to," scoffed Diana.
"Very well princess. Tonight is the night when you all have to shine at your fullest; I know you will not disappoint me." Vernon gave his family a proud look before rushing them up to change.
For tonight the twins had to wear dresses that seemed to be made for Barbie dolls in Diana's opinion. They were similar to the dressed that you usually saw little girls wear in old movies. One was blue and the other one was a pale pink color. They had matching tiaras to wear, that looked slightly like jewelry, but under a closer inspection, you could clearly see they were fake. Dudley had to wear a suit (Vernon had to pay him fifty bucks to convince him to do so). Vernon too was dressed in an old fashion gray suit while Petunia was wearing a salmon-pink cocktail dress.
Heidi and Petunia finished dressing in a matter of seconds while Diana was still in her room by the time the clock reached seven sharp, Vernon and Dudley were sitting in the living room, mumbling to themselves while waiting for the Moirés.
Diana was just about to leave her room when she heard a slight tap at her window and turned around to see the pumped-up eagle she had gotten so use to over the summer. She quickly made her way towards the impatient bird and let her in. The bird however didn't make a move to come in, but instead stuck out its leg, where a piece of parchment was neatly tied and a small package was hanging loosely in its beak.
"Another letter from the brat?" sighed Diana and took the package and parchment from the eagle which promptly scurried away. She unfolded the parchment to see the neat signature of D. Malfoy at the bottom.
In the pass few months the only person to ever write to them had been Draco Malfoy, though the girls had phoned Hermione and she had assured them she had sent them plenty of letters, but they hadn't replied to any, which surprised the girls since they too had sent a bunch of letters to Hermione, Neville, Hagrid, heck Heidi had tried writing to Dumbledore, but that hadn't worked either; and since Malfoy's letter's were the only ones that got through, Heidi had cocked up the theory that he was somehow intercepting their mails; though Diana had asked and the boy had swore he didn't do anything.
Diana glared at the present in her hands and wondered if she aught to open it now or leave it for later. She decided she really wanted to know so she did open it. Inside was a beautiful emerald necklace that looked to have cost about a fortune. Diana was stuck glaring mesmerized at it for a moment then snapped back to reality as she heard the door to her sister's room open and close. She looked at the watch and sighed in relief when she saw she still had about thirty five minutes before the Moirés arrived and decided to read the letter as well.
Dear Missis Potter, soon to be Malfoy,
Pleas accept this early birthday present from your humbled admirer, and know that I would be very disappointed if you did not wear it for tonight and for your birthday. And please make no mistake, I will be sending you an actual birthday present tomorrow by owl. I hope this reaches you in good health and that the mysterious mail snatcher does not manage to intercept my eagle. I will see you soon,
D. Malfoy
Diana couldn't help but laugh slightly whenever she read a letter from the blond prat. He was always so danged convinced that she'd one day become misses Malfoy.
Yeah right, she snorted mentally. Like that would ever happen! She would never admit it to her sister, but she had actually tried imagining how her name would sound if she did by some misfortunate even marry the Malfoy brat: Diana Lillian Malfoy! Diana Malfoy. Lillian Malfoy? She still didn't like it.
Diana decided that she'd wasted enough time when she heard her mother shouting from downstairs to hurry up.
"Coming!" she said and placed the parchment on her desk. She took another moment considering whether she should wear the necklace and decided it couldn't hurt if she did, so she placed it on before exiting the room.
------
Heidi and Petunia were finishing up the preparations for dinner when her mother noticed she wasn't wearing her tiara (much to her dislike, since she hadn't wore it on purpose), and scurried her up the stairs to get it before the Moirés could make their appearance.
She hurried off to her room, trying to make as little noise as possible and failing miserably, and closed the door with a bang, looking wildly around the room for her stupid tiara, when she suddenly had to clap her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming.
There was something on her bed. A small creature with bat like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls.
For about half a minute or so no one moved. Then the creature suddenly jumped of the bed and bowed so low that the end of its nose touched the wooden floor.
"Hi," Heidi said in lack of better words.
"Missis Potter," squeaked the creature in a high pitched voice. "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, miss… Such an honor it is…"
"Th-thank you," Heidi could judge by the looks of his robes (rags more like) that he was a house-elf, or at lest a servant of some sorts. "Who are you?"
"Dobby, miss. Just Dobby. Dobby the house-elf," said the creature.
"Mm Hmm," Heidi nodded looking slightly confused. "And what business does a house-elf have in my home?"
"Dobby has come to tell you, miss… it is difficult, miss… Dobby wonders where to begin…" the house-elf stuttered to find the right words.
"The beginning would be a good place to start," suggested Heidi. "Here, why don't you sit down," she motioned towards the bed, but to her horror the house elf burst into uncontrollable tears. "Are you okay?" Heidi asked concerned, which drew another loud sob from the creature. "Please stop that!" she tried shushing the elf. "What's wrong? Did I offend you with something?" she asked slightly distressed.
"Offend Dobby!" choked the elf. "Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard — like an equal —"
"Oh," she said now remembering the paragraph she had read about the house-elves enslavement. "I suppose you wouldn't have. But why don't you stop worrying about that and tell me why you're here?" Heidi asked sweetly, smiling kindly at the flustered creature.
The elf sniffed a couple more time before falling silent. He turned his large eyes towards Heidi and said: "Dobby has come to warn you miss, that… the Potter twins must not go back to Hogwarts this year."
"Excuse me?" Heidi asked thinking she had misheard.
"The Potter twins must not go back to Hogwarts this year," Dobby repeated.
"And why, if I may ask, are we not to go back to Hogwarts?" asked Heidi in an amused voice.
"There is a plot, Missis Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year," whispered Dobby, suddenly trembling all over. "Dobby has known it for months, miss. The Potter twins must not put themselves in peril. They are too important, miss!"
"A plot to make bad things happen at Hogwarts?" asked Heidi suspicious. Dobby nodded vigorously. "And why did you not go directly to the Headmaster instead of coming here?"
"Because, because the mistresses are too important to be put in such danger. They must be saved, indifferent of the cost!"
"You know what Dobby, just stop and listen to me for a moment," Heidi sank to her knees and looked into the elf's large and fearful eyes. "One, there is no way you will convince me or my sister to drop out of Hogwarts!"
"But-" the elf tried to said but Heidi swiftly cut him off.
"It's rude to interrupt!" the elf looked horror struck at her and seamed ready to bang his head on the desk in front of him, but Heidi held out her hand. "And it's rude to misbehave! I would like you to sit there quietly and listen to me while I talk!" the elf nodded his head.
"Good! Now, number one - we are going back to Hogwarts!" she said sternly and gave the elf a pointed glare when he looked like he was going to interrupt. "Number two - if you know terrible things are going to happen at Hogwarts then all you have to do is go to the Headmaster and he will gladly listen to you, I'm sure of that. Number three - if all you came here for was to deliver a message then I would like to thank you, and assure you we'll be very careful this year to avoid getting into any trouble."
"But miss-"
"No buts Dobby! You delivered your message, and I most certainly am grateful for your help, but I think you've disobeyed your masters enough for one day!" she said sternly and watched how tears started to form in the elf's eyes. Truth be told, Diana would kill her if she knew how rude she had been towards a poor animal, but there was no way around it, seeing as house elves had quite an unusual magic to themselves and could be rather troublesome to deal with without a wand. Wait a second, unusual magic?
"Dobby, were you the one who intercepted my mail?" she asked slightly putout by the thought.
Dobby started squirming uncontrollably under Heidi's hard gaze. "Dobby is sorry miss," the elf said while pulling out a stack of envelopes from his pocket. "I is thinking that if missies would not receive any mail from friends they is not wanting to go back to Hogwarts this year."
Heidi looked ready to kill someone, or better said something. "You will hand those over right now Dobby!" she said holding out her hand. The elf flinched at the angry tone from the girl in front and tried to explain.
"Missis Potter mustn't be angry… Dobby hoped… that Misses Potter would have reconsidered returning to Hogwarts and would have remained home where they are safe–"
"Dobby," Heidi hissed in barely contained anger. "You better hand me those letters right now!"
"Missis Potter will have them, miss, if she gives Dobby her word that she and her sister will not return to Hogwarts. Ah, miss, this is a danger you must not face! Say you won't go back, miss!"
"No!" Heidi said and made to grab the elf.
"Then Miss Potter leaves Dobby no other choice!" said the elf and before Heidi knew what was happening Dobby darted towards the bedroom door, pulled it open and ran down the stairs.
Heidi wasted no time in chasing after the elf but it turned out she shouldn't have worried as a cold, detached voice shouted "DOBBY!" and the house-elf stopped dead in his tracks and turned his fearful eyes towards the sound of the voice. Heidi followed his gaze and saw to her wonder her father and Dudley standing in the hallway, probably there to welcome the three other occupants in the hall.
One was a very beautiful blond woman, with narrowed blue eyes and pail skin; the other was a man who looked to be in his thirties with blond-platinum hair, a rather pointed face and chilling gray eyes; while the last one was…
"Draco Malfoy?!" asked Heidi slightly confused. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that a way to great your guest?" Draco asked in a slight chuckling tone as he made his way towards her. Dobby was standing petrified at her side, head bowed to the ground.
"Oh! Of course. Where are my manors?" Heidi gave a slight bow and held out her hand which the blond took and kissed the tip of her fingers.
"You look splendid tonight," Draco commented. He turned to shoot Dobby a contemptuous look and asked. "What are you doing here?" The elf whimpered softly and tried to choke out a reply but Heidi beat him to it.
"Ah, so this is your elf! I am mostly grateful for the assistance," Heidi smiled brightly while Draco gave her a puzzled look. "Dobby here told me that his master had sent him to help me recover my mail, but he wouldn't give me a name. He has been very helpful and for that I express my sincere gratitude. Thank you!"
"You're welcome," Draco nodded curtly. "Well done Dobby," he complimented clearly reluctant, "now give those here." Dobby gave him the letter without another word and disappeared on the spot. "Here you are," Draco handed the envelops to Heidi, who flashed a brilliant smile in the blonds direction.
"Thank you! So, is your name really Moiré?" Heidi asked.
"No, no, we use that name for Muggle affairs only because Malfoy is, well, a bit unusual," Draco answered in a smooth voice.
"Oh, but please, do not linger in the doorframe! Come in," Heidi said taking control of the situation, because her father seemed rather taken aback by the whole ordeal.
"Come this way please," Heidi took Draco's offered hand and guided the three Malfoy into the living room where Petunia and Diana were waiting; Dudley and Vernon trailed uncertainly behind them.
"Good evening –" Diana stopped dead in her tracks when she saw who the guy that her sister had brought in was. "Draco!?"
"I did say see you soon, remember?" asked the blond with a smirk plastered on his pointed face.
"I didn't expect it to be this soon," Diana said snapping out of her daze. "Anyway, welcome to our home, mister…" Vernon tried to introduce the guests, but he found out that he couldn't even remember their family name so the blond man took over for him.
"Lucius Malfoy," Draco's father said. "And this is my wife Narcissa, and my son Draco."
"It's a real pleasure," Heidi nodded and waited for her father to introduce them, but sighed when he didn't move. "Heidi Dursley; commonly known as Potter in the wizarding world."
"Diana Dursley-Potter," Diana introduced bowing slightly. "This is my mother Petunia Dursley. I trust you already know my father, Vernon and our brother Dudley Dursley."
"Please have a seat," Heidi encouraged motioning towards the couch. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"Lemonade," answered Narcissa; Draco and Lucius shock their head.
"I'll be right back!" Heidi left and returned promptly with a glass of lemonade which she handed to Narcissa.
Much to her dismay, Vernon didn't look like he was going to get out of his trance any time soon; Petunia was desperately trying to start a conversation with Missis Malfoy, but Diana was doing a better job then her by far since she started discussing fashion with the blond; Dudley was trying his best not to glare at Draco, while the blond was having a hushed conversations with his father, who looked nothing next to pleased by the atmosphere (or the house maybe), and she couldn't actually blame him, the tension in the air was palpable.
Diner that night was an awkward event. Though Diana had managed to distract Missis Malfoy for the night, and Heidi managed to start up a political conversation with the two Malfoy men, the rest of the family was mostly just standing there like they were part of the background.
Only when Heidi held her father back after diner (and reminded him that he would lose money if he didn't snap out of his trance), did he react and immediately engaged Malfoy Sr. in a heated debate about drills. After Heidi gave Diana a pointed look and motioned to her mother the girl discretely tried to stir the conversation with Missis Malfoy towards a subject more acceptable for Petunia and managed to integrate her in the discussion after five minutes or so. Heidi also reminded Dudley that he'd be 50 bucks poorer if he didn't join in the conversation, and soon the three kids found themselves leading Draco up the stairs and towards Dudley's room to show him the computer.
"You're actually expecting me to believe that this…box is going to show me anything interesting?" Draco asked skeptically.
"Why of course it will," assured Diana grinning broadly as she pushed the on button.
"We have all sorts of games you could play and music you could listen to," Dudley said cheerfully, glad to be in his own territory again. Truth be told, the talk with the Malfoy brat had unnerved him thus far. No matter how much his sisters might have told him about the magical world, it was nothing compared to what the blond knew and sometimes Dudley had the slight impression that Draco was mocking him; but now it was his turn!
"See here! This is called Winamp!" He clicked on an icon in shape of a lightning bolt and then on a song at random.
To say that Draco was amazed by the "electronic box" was an understatement, by the end of their visit, he was asking his father to buy one for him, while Lucius looked disapprovingly at his son as he shock hands with Vernon. Luckily Narcissa was there to pacify Draco.
"So when should we be expecting your visit Mister Malfoy?" asked Vernon politely.
"I believe next week I have a free day. I will come by your office to seal the deal," Lucius answered. "It was a pleasure meeting you and your family."
"It was a pleasure meeting you too mister Malfoy," Vernon guided them out and after the Malfoys were gone, he gave a loud cheer. "We did it!"
"Majorca here we come!" cheered Dudley.
-----
It was the best birthday ever!
A whole week spent in Majorca with absolutely no worry on their mind but how to schedule their day and see everything in one go. The girls were extremely pleased because they finally received the letters that their friends had sent them and spent most of the remaining holidays writing to their friends like any normal person would.
A week before term started the girls received their letters from Hogwarts, which told them to catch the train on September the first and the new list of books.
SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2by Miranda Goshawk
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
43 Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart
"Who the hell is this Gilderoy Lockhart guy?" asked Diana in wonder; after all, there were a whole bunch of books that they had to buy from him.
"Never heard of him," answered Heidi.
-----
"We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow!" Diana announced after she got of the phone with Hermione. "Mione, Lavy and Paty will be there too!"
"What about the Malfoy brat?" asked Dudley moodily. He was still fairly convinced that his sister was dating the blond.
"I told him we'll be going in three days," said Diana cheerfully. "This is a girls' night out! No boys allowed!"
Dudley nodded approvingly while Vernon looked horror-struck at her.
"Pumpkin," Vernon started. "It would help daddy a lot if our families stayed in some sort of amiable relationship, and if the boy is looking forward to go shopping with us, I don't see the wrong in that."
"He's gonna insult Hermione," Heidi pointed out.
"Well, Hermione is not the one with whom daddy has a major contract with now is she?" Vernon asked slightly annoyed. "Pumpkin, that week in Majorca was possible because of mister Malfoy's investment!"
"We could have gone there on our own account if you would just accept the Potter wealth!" snapped Diana. That was another discussion among their family that the Dursleys preferred to avoid.
Ever since the girls had shown them the Potter vault their parents had been terrified (for some reason), and instead of accepting it (like any normal person would), they had stubbornly refused to touch it and had prohibited the girls from using it for their benefit. Vernon had sworn to himself (or so it seemed), that he would not have his family rely on someone else for funding, and was working almost nonstop to try and buy them anything they wanted.
The twins however had drawn the line when Vernon had offered to pay for their school and supplies saying that they would not stand for it and if he even dared try, they'd leave home for the rest of the holidays. Vernon had relinquish in the end and accepted that anything from the magical world was not his problem, something which suited the girls just fine.
However, it was times like these when the money in the Potter vault actually became a pest for the girls. For one, they loved Hermione (like a sister), more then the Malfoy prat and his money; so Diana clearly stated that if the Malfoy little monster dared say one offending word to Hermione she would hex him even if it meant getting expelled from school. The comment seemed to please Dudley a lot, because it sounded like Diana didn't like the blond bastard (how wrong he was).
------
So here they were, in Diagon Alley. The five Gryffindor girls plus Neville with their parents and the one Slytherin boy with his parents that decided to accompany him. It was awkward, for one because they were such a large group; two because they were Gryffindors mixed with Slytherins, which was a one way ticket to a very bad ending. Oh, yeah, did I forget to mention the Muggles?
Draco suggested that the parents go get the books while the kids went to buy ice-cream.
Most of the parents agreed, because apparently Lockhart was signing autographs in Flourish and Blotts, something that irritated Heidi and Hermione quite a lot.
"Come on sissy, you're the only one who is sad that the library is off boundaries, so why don't you give it up and relax!"
"So I don't count them?" asked Hermione slightly offended.
"Of course you-" Draco began.
"DO!" Diana finished and grabbed him roughly by the hand. "But you don't seem so upset."
"Well I am!" said Hermione. "So, where are we going?"
"I wanted to go and see some plant display with my granny in Natural Variations," Neville said.
"Plants? That sounds-" Draco tried but Diana butted in again.
"Wonderful! Lead the way Neville!" She prompted.
"Wait! I want to look at some new robs in Madam Malkin's, I outgrew my uniform," Parvati whined.
"I'll accompany you!" Draco jumped at the opportunity.
"Hermione and I will go with Neville at the plant display," Heidi said. "And then we'll go and visit the book shop!"
"Perfect!" Hermione agreed. Dudley decided to go with them saying that he wouldn't be caught dead with a girl in a clothe shop.
So the group split up; Diana, Draco, Parvati and Lavender went towards Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions, while Dudley, Hermione, Neville and Heidi went to see the plant display.
After Hermione was out of the way, Draco wasn't much of a problem, though he was definitely not pleased to sit in a clothing shop and wait for Parvati to finish.
"You know, this is where we first met," Diana whispered softly in his ear.
The slightest trace of a smile made its way on Draco's handsome face and his eyes became distant, as he fondly recalled the memory. "You know, that is the only shopping trip I ever enjoyed."
"Trying to be funny again aren't we?" asked Diana with a sly smile.
"If funny and flirty are synonyms for you?" Draco asked very much amused.
Diana chewed on her bottom lip while pretending to ponder over it then said in a seemingly innocent voice: "Maybe. Why, were you flirting with me?"
It was Draco's turn to play the role of the naive child. "Maybe."
Diana giggled slightly and said "Well, know that I think you are a very funny person."
Draco turned around so that he was fully facing her, a brilliant smile decorating his face. "I'm glad to know that," he said and bent slowly forward.
Diana's breath caught in her throat when she saw the blond boy coming closed. Was he going to kiss her? It certainly seemed so. But did she want him to kiss her? Did she want to kiss him? Well, she was definitely not gonna lose her first kiss to a Dark Lord like her sister had. And why shouldn't she kiss him? After all, she did like him, even though he could drive her off the walls sometimes, she still liked him, right? She did want to kiss him right?
Diana hadn't noticed that while she was thinking she had slowly turned her head away from Draco, only up until the blond muttered a soft "Sorry" did she snap her head back towards him.
"What?" she asked confused and turned to see that Draco had lowered his eyes to the ground looking flushed. Then the realization hit her: The boy thought she had turned him down!
Well shit!
"I didn't mean that!" Diana said at once, though she didn't know if the boy understood what she meant, but apparently he did because he said:
"No, I'm sorry. I was rushing things. I didn't want to discomfort you or anything-"
"No, listen I…I…" what would she say? That she wanted to kiss him? Truth be told, she wasn't sure she did, so she just turned away from the boy, very much embarrassed and hung her head in shame. The tension between the two was pretty much palpable and not a word was uttered up until the two other girls came up to them and pulled Diana aside saying something along the line of "Tell me what you think of this."
"Why the hell did you not kiss him?" asked Parvati the moment they were out of Draco's hearing line.
"You saw that?!" Diana asked horrified.
"Damn right we did!" said Lavender. "And we do not approve of your behavior!"
"I was thinking whether I wanted to kiss him or not and when I snapped back to reality he turned away!" Diana said in her defense.
"Oh, please! You don't think before kissing someone! You just do it!" said Parvati irked.
"And you just lost one hell of a man there girly! Look at him good, because I doubt he's gonna want to court you anymore after this disaster." Lavender assured.
A mortified expression made its way on Diana's pretty face as she asked the girls in a choked whisper: "What am I going to do?!"
"There, there honey," Madam Malkins came up to her. "Don't listen to these two! If the boy likes you he'll understand that you're too young for this sort of things!"
"Really?" asked Diana, a desperate tone clouding her voice.
"Yeah, right!" huffed Parvati.
"I don't think so!" scowled Lavender.
"Oh, and I suppose you have more experience about relationships then a thirty-seven year old lady, who is happily married!" snapped the elder witch. "Have you ever been in a relationship before?"
"Well no, but-"
"Well for your information I have!" said Madam Malkin. "5 to be precise! And none of the boys left me because I didn't want to kiss them on the first date!"
"So, you don't think he's gonna leave me?" asked Diana hopefully.
"I'm sure he won't!" assured the shop owner with a grin. Diana smiled gratefully at her with tears threatening to burst out of her eyes and threw her arms around the shop keeper.
"Thank you!" the red haired whispered softly.
"You're very much welcomed," Madam Malkin said and patted her reassuringly on the head.
"So, girls, will that be all?" she questioned Parvati and Lavender who were sitting awkwardly at their side.
"Yes," Parvati gave a slight nod.
"Then come this way please so I can pack up your things," Madam Malkin slowly disentangled herself from Diana's embrace and guided Parvati and Lavender toward the stool.
"You okay?" Diana jumped and spun around to come face to face with Draco's concerned look.
"Yes!" she answered automatically.
"Look, Diana," Draco began while looking very uncomfortable. "I didn't mean to scare you or make you think I'm forcing you into something-"
"No, not at all. I… just…have… never been kissed before so, it was kind of…" She tried to assure the boy that he hadn't scared her or anything, but the words came out muffled and not a little awkward.
"Oh… well, I've only been kissed once, so…" Draco said thinking that she was discouraged by her lack of experience in the matter, but soon found out that was the wrong thing to say when Diana averted her eyes and said "Oh…"
"What I mean is…Iwantyoutobemygirlfriend!" he blurred out, though even to him that didn't actually sound like anything recognizable.
"What?" Diana asked looking quizzically at him.
"I said that…I want you…to be my…girlfriend, you know, if, if you want to?" Draco asked keeping his gaze glued to his shoes. He didn't want to see Diana's expression, especially not if she rejected him for that stupid slip earlier. Dang! He couldn't believe he had thrown caution to the wind like that and jumped in the fire, just like a bloody Gryffindor! Where the hell was his smooth talk when he needed it?!
Just when the boy was about to give up hope and apologies to Diana, the red haired swung her arms around his neck and nearly choked him to death while murmuring a soft "Yes" in his shoulder.
It took a few seconds before Draco's brain finally registered what he had just heard and then an immeasurable feeling of relief washed over him as a blissful smile made its way across his face. "Really?" he asked eagerly.
"Really!" Diana assured jumping out of his arms. "But I don't think I'm ready for the kissing stuff," she said apologetically.
"Ok, ok, no worry there," Draco energetically assured. Then they were stuck grinning dumbly at each other, unknowing what to do next.
"So…how does this work?" Diana asked, looking expectantly at the blond. Draco looked back, a puzzled expression on his face.
"I'm not really sure," he looked regretfully at the red head.
"How bout we talk first," Diana suggested.
"Yeah, that would be a good start," Draco nodded fervently. "Hold hands?"
"Definitely! Especially in front of Dudley!" Diana smiled wickedly. "You're not afraid of him are you?"
"Why would I be afraid of him?" asked Draco puzzled.
"Because he's a bully, and a good one at it," Diana said. "Oh, Paty, Lavy! Wait here I'll be right back!" Diana rushed up towards her two friends to give them the good news while Draco thought about whether he should watch out for Dudley or not. Well, they did have a business going on with his father, it couldn't be that bad. Could it?
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"You're dating the blond aren't you?!" Dudley accused the moment they entered the house. He had restrained himself enough during the rest of the visit through the alley, though his sister had been very careful to hold hands and stick as closely as she could to the Malfoy brat, despite Dudley's obvious glares and occasional coughs or growls.
"Why yes," Diana answered merrily. "Isn't he cute?" She cupped her face in her hands and giggled delightedly, a dreamy sort of expression making its way across her face.
"You're WHAT!?" shrieked Vernon cutting short Diana's happy moment.
"Well, dad, you did say that we should have an amiable relationship with-"
"An amiable relationship and dating the brat are not the same thing!" Vernon stated sternly. "If I had known this was gonna happen, I wouldn't have made you call the boy!"
"Too late to start whining about it now," Diana said dismissively. "And besides, I thought you would be happy for me!"
"Pumpkin, we are happy," assured Petunia. "But that boy, he… doesn't look to be your type."
"Actually he is." declared Heidi. "She likes cute, rich, blond boys; I think Malfoy is all of the above. That doesn't mean I approve of you dating that prick!"
Diana sent an angry glare at her sister and the rest of her family.
"Well too bad for you!" she shouted and ran up the stairs to her room.
"Perfect, just bloody perfect!" grumbled Vernon furiously.
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AN: Before you jump at my throat for Diana and Draco's awkward relationship start, I will remind you that they are barely second years and thus, none of them should have been interested enough to have date before (or in some cases were not permitted to do so), and therefore they aren't exactly sure what it means to be in an actual relationship; because let's face it, it would have been weir and quite unrealistic for some 12 year olds to start snogging and doing stuff only 15 year olds and above do. (Don't worry, I'm not waiting till she's 15 to have her kiss a boy).