Part Two - A Girl with Blue Eyes

Draco's POV

I hate coming to these events. Being here in this room full of happy witches and wizards who just want to dance the night away makes me want to hex someone. It's so hard to see all the young girls blush and flirt like they don't have a care in the world.

Look, Scorpius is dancing with a girl who is doing just that right now. The younger generation is so completely unblemished by the war. I am jealous of their carefree attitudes. I am jealous they didn't have to make the choices I did.

But in the end, since Scorpius is my son, and I love him, I am glad that he can have nights like this.

As for me, I have to find somewhere to get away from this. Maybe get some fresh air on the balcony. I sneak over to the open doors in the back.

I pop my head outside and see a couple engaged in a heated snogging session. Great, can't go out there.

I walk down a side hallway looking for an unoccupied room. It occurs to me that this is bad manners and my mother would probably pass out if she saw me sauntering through this persons house unattended.

Finally I see a door that is wide open. I walk inside and realize it is a library, and quite a large one for being in someones house.

I spot a big open window and gravitate towards in. The breeze feels so good on my skin and the dark night is much more soothing to me than th ebright lights in the great room.

"I see you are also avoiding the party", a voice came from behind me.

I quickly turn my head around to see a girl about Scorpius' age curled up in a big chair with a book on her lap. She is still looking at the book as if she couldn't care less whether I answer or not. She looks comfortable here in the library, cozy even. I am just thinking how her hair is a perfect honey colored shade when she looks up at me.

Her eyes are a very striking blue color, more unusual than I have ever seen. They are very dark, almost a purple color. It makes me wonder what kind of magic she has in her blood.

She raises her eyebrows at me. Oh, she is expecting an answer.

She beats me to it. "Well, if you're going to avoid the party, that's perfectly alright, but you've just blocked my breeze."

Huh? I must look dumbstruck because she clarifies. "I opened the window to feel the breeze over here and you just came and stood right in front of it."

Oh. I cant help but let out a chuckle. I hadn't even noticed her here. She must be very shy to stay away from the party. She doesn't seem very shy.

I decide to sit down in the chair opposite hers. She turns to face me and blinks those beautiful eyes.

I decide to speak for the first time. "What is your name?" Real smooth. But, hey, I am curious about this odd girl.

"Meave Alekseev. My father is Aleksandar Alekseev."

"I'm Draco Malfoy." I leave off my fathers name. I could be her father. Besides, anyone who looks at me can tell who my father is. Everyone knows the sins of my family. She seems unaffected.

"I figured. I was in the same year as Scorpius" She looks back down at her book. I am sad to no longer have her attention.

"Well, Maeve, an old man like me has an excuse to not want to dance, but you, you should be out there! Why are you hiding in the library?"

She looks back up at me. I feel a surge of pride that she is focused on me.

She bites her lip as if considering what to say to me.

"Well, my mother is trying to marry me off. She is completely smothering me and I can't take it! I have had enough for one night!"

I laugh again. Her incredulity is contagious. She obviously went with the truth. I am shocked she was so open with me.

She smiles and says "I'm glad you find that funny!", and then looks back down at her book.

I sit and think for a minute. Her parents are trying to marry her off, huh? Well that can't be so bad, they just want a secure future for her. She doesn't realize how much they love her, how invested they are in her.

I sit and watch her for a second. She is so quiet and reserved and is obviously well bred. I have heard of the Alekseevs from Bulgaria, they seem like the kind of family that would want to make a good match. She sits and reads and being around her is very comforting to me. It's almost as if I could fall into a blissful, dreamless sleep right now. I feel satisfied. I realize we cannot sit here forever like this.

She will go on and marry some guy with loads of money and be the wife she was always brought up to be and sit next to her husbands fireplace every night reading just like that while he appreciates how comfortable she is.

Wait. I have loads of money. I have a home. I am a secure future.

I am going to marry her.

Fortunately, she gave away the exact way to do that. All I have to do is talk to her parents.