Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. They all belong to J.K. Rowling.
Day: August 1
I awoke to a flash of green light coming form my fireplace and a boy cursing loudly. I sat up fully aware that someone had just entered my room through the floo system. I turned on the lamp and glanced at the clock which read 1:30a.m. The figure stood still at the fireplace I could see a zipped up jacket with a hood that hid his face. He was also wearing sky blue boxers and a pair of slippers. He walked across the room and sat on the edge of my bed. Crash woke up and walked over to him waiting to be petted. "What made you think this would be a good time to come over?" I sneered rather sleepily. He just smiled and pulled off the hood of his jacket. "Crap what happened this time?" I asked fully awake and shocked at the sight before me. Fresh cuts that looked like slashes adorned his face, along with a black eye and a split lip appeared in front of me. I just stared not fully able to comprehend the sight.
Then finally he said in a shaky voice "I went for a walk when a werewolf came out and attacked me. I got into the house before things got worse." A silence fell after that statement. I got out from beneath my covers and examined the damage closer.
"These don't look that deep I could have Lawrence fix them." Turning his face side to side to make sure I hadn't missed anything. "I have cream for the bruises." I said walking off into the bathroom. Go easy on Draco he does to some extent like you, repeated in my head as I searched for the cream. Upon reentering my room I found the figure lying on one side of my bed and Crash curled up next to him. Draco lifted his head when I got close to him. "Lydia, I don't deserve such things." He said calmly. "I know you don't." I said "Now lay still while I put this on your face." The cream felt cool on my fingers. I started to apply it to the worse bruises.
"Why didn't you go to Pansy for this?" I said
"She isn't use to having me come over for help." he said
"I suppose you'll be dating her again this year. I've got my sights set on someone in seventh year, so you won't have to worry about me." I said casually.
"I haven't thought about it but you're right I'll probably be with her this year." he said glumly.
"Draco, it's not like we...You just like Pansy because she's like a kitten in your lap! We just tolerate each other for our family's sake." I said trying not to show what I really felt.
"I guess we'll never really go beyond hate." He said a little dryly
"Finished, you want me to go get Lawrence now?" I asked hoping to leave the room.
"No! We'll get him in the morning. I'm sleepy and want to go to sleep." he said
"Fine." I said turning away from him to return the cream to the bathroom. When I returned this time Draco was underneath the covers already falling asleep. I simply knew this was how things were going to be with us; it was simply a love/hate thing. I went to my side of the bed and slide under the covers turning my back to him. Suddenly I felt him turn towards me and wrap an arm around me, pulling me close. I noticed that he hadn't taken off his jacket but decide to leave well enough alone. Apart of me remember this Draco the innocent one that need help. It was almost like when we were little and he'd come over but those years were long gone. The clock read 2:10a.m. and I let the warmth take me to sleep.
Time: 6:30 a.m.
The early morning light streamed through the window. Rays landed on my face waking me up. I tried to moving but quickly realized Draco was holding on to me tighter than before. "Draco." I said with all the honey I could muster. He grumbled and his eyes fluttered slightly. "Draco, could you let me go, please." I said even sweeter this time. He mumbled something I didn't catch and let go. "I'll be right back with Lawrence." I said putting on my robe. Walking out the door into the hallway I made my way towards my brother's room. I was getting ready to knock when the door disappeared and was replaced by my brother. "You're up early, Bear." he said using an old nickname.
"Yeah, I need your help, Rabbit." I said not making eye contact with him. He was wearing shorts and a tank top. He held socks and trainers in his hands. I grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hall towards my room. We entered the room and Draco was sitting up in bed looking a little dazed. "Can you make those disappear?" I said looking up hopeful to Lawrence. "Well...I can fix it but you need to be more careful. These are more serious than those bruises you use to show up with, Draco."
"Can we just get this done?" He demanded.
"Yeah." said Lawrence. One trip to the library and a several flicks of the wand later Draco looked as pale as ever. There was no sign of the scratches and the bruises were completely healed. Lawrence left the room without a word to either of us and no questions were asked.
"You'd better get going." I said more to the carpet then him
"I don't deserve such things, Lydia." Draco said in an almost tender voice.
"I know you don't." I said as he walked over the fireplace and disappeared in the green flames. I looked at the now empty bed and decide to go shower and get ready for a day of torture.
Time: 8:00a.m.
"Audrey, I don't see why we have to have lunch with Narcissa and Draco at their house." I said putting scrambled eggs in my mouth.
"They invited us to show no hard feelings about yesterday's fiasco." said my mother sternly.
"But why did you agree to have me stay behind. I wasn't even asked if I wanted to go over for lunch let alone one week." I said trying to emphasis everything I needed to.
Audrey turned to me and grasped both of my hands in hers. Then looking me in the eye she said "Having connects good ones or bad ones are important in times like these Lydia. You're staying to prove you and Draco can get along. You may very well be marrying him in a couple of years." After three years of a supposed arranged marriage I hadn't fully grasped the idea. The marriage of Draco Malfoy was between Pansy and me. Frankly I'd been hoping Pansy would win out in the end but it still hadn't been decide. I also knew by Audrey's tone of voice arguing was going to get me nowhere. I ate the rest of the time throwing pleading looks toward Layton. He merely smiled at each of these. Just before I was ready to excuse myself from the table Layton finally said "Mother wouldn't it be a good idea for me to come with Lydia. I would make sure she wouldn't kill Draco." Audrey sat there in silence for a few moments. "That might be a good idea. I'll owl Narcissa right away." She then left the room quickly.
Time: 11:30a.m.
"Useless. This whole trip is useless." I said shoving random clothes into my endless trunk. I loved this trunk because it never got full. Cata had said it was like something out a movie called Mary Poppins. I was never sure what she was talking about. Layton walked through the door casually. "Have you got alerter motives for coming? Perchance to see certain persons, while we're there?" I asked in response to his amused face.
"Well they are friends and it's my duty to keep you company!" he said
"Layton, like I said before I'm worried about going to school this year. Mother isn't making anything better by forcing Draco and I together." I said
"Bear, like I said don't worry Cata and I will look after you. Mother just wants us to be in good standings with everyone in case You-Know-Who should start killing whole families again. Also she wants what's best for us. Sadly for you that means Draco Malfoy." he said trying to sound older yet sympathetic at the same time. I looked at him and said "I guess we should get going. After all we both need to find husbands." Layton just rolled his eyes and walked out. I picked up Crash and hugged him. "I'll miss Crash baby." I said to him. Then I asked Lyfe to come and bring my trunk downstairs. When I arrived Layton and my mother were standing waiting for me. Layton's trunk was already sent ahead, just as mine would also be sent ahead.
Time: 12:00p.m.
