Draco's P.o.V.
I wasn't completely honest with Aria about why I'm upset. My mother has told me that I have to take over the charge of the Death Eaters, since my father is in Azkaban, serving out a horrid sentance. I silently walk through the deserted halls of Hogwarts, only seeing the portraits hanging upon the walls and a few ghosts shimmering and floating around. Aria had taken the pain away from the Dark Mark, and I can't feel the call to Voldemort as strongly as before. How she was able to do that, I'm not sure, but then again, this is Aria we're talking about. She's descended from a man who had made a Horcrux the same year that Voldemort graduated from Hogwarts, he'd been one of Voldemort's top Death Eaters, that is, until many of the Prewett's had become blood traitors. My father had said that it wouldn't be good to be around Aria for that reason. Until Voldemort had showed back up and demanded that all Death Eater's take special care of Aria. Her father had once again pledged his alliegance to Voldemort, and Aria only knew very little about this. What she doesn't know is that Voldemort knows a lot about her, about what she can do. He wants to place the Dark Mark upon her, something I wish I could stop. But, if I were to try, I'd be killed by him. I wouldn't be able to keep her safe then.
Every day, she begins to grow more beautiful. Every day, another piece of my heart breaks for the girl who would soon feel as desolate as I do. A girl too beautiful, too smart, and too kind to be used by someone like Voldemort. She's not much like the rest of the Slytherin's, she's so soft hearted. She doesn't care about Blood Status, even though she's known which families were Pure-Blood's since we were five years old. Like most of the Prewett's, Aria had taken over the red hair, though her eyes are much lighter, and of course green. Her father had dark hair and blue eyes, which he'd gotten from his mother. Aria's mother, Belinda Peverell had always been beautiful, of course, but she looked nothing like Aria. Belinda had short, frizzy blonde curls, and brown eyes. Belinda isn't fine boned like Aria, neither is Dimitri. Aria had truly taken over the Prewett family traits, of course, except for her being so fine boned and quiet. Most Prewett's are loud, and very outgoing, mischief makers. That's a trait that Molly Prewett Weasley had passed onto all of her children, children who would do very well to mind their own business.
Ron and Ginny Weasley had taken a special interest in their cousin, not realizing that she outclassed, and out ranked them, in every way. Aria, of course, is kind to them, but is rather distant. She'd heard enough from her parents over the years, and mine as well, to know that the Weasley's were definitely not the kind of people who you want to get mixed up with. Ginny, however, wants to bond with the only other female descended from the Prewett line who is close enough to her age to be considered 'like a sister'. Aria had said no, that she had more important things to do than get caught up in a family scandal, such as her studies.
As I'd said, she out ranks the Weasley's at the school, and every other student in the school. My father hadn't been happy when he heard that the daughter of a former Death Eater had taken the school by storm when she preformed the highest in all of their classes, but I actually enjoy that fact. Watching her study, do her assignments, and perform magic are things I will never grow tired of. My stomach twists just thinking about this, wanting to be near her.
She'd agreed to go to the Yule Ball with me, not realizing that it was her I really did want to go with to the Ball. She hadn't realized I'd wanted to go with her Fourth or Fifth year either. I'd learned to keep my mouth shut, not wanting her to be caught off guard by my increasing feelings for her. Instead, I had to end up asking Pansy to go with me Fourth year, and that had been awful. I'd watched Aria the whole night, dancing by herself, too afraid to go over to her and ask her to dance. Pansy is alright, in her own way, but she's not Aria, no matter how much I wish she was.
It sucked majorly that I'd accidentily scared Aria earlier tonight when I'd ripped my hand from hers, and asked "Who says I have feelings for her?", not even clarifying who 'her' was.
'Her' is, and always will be, Aria. And I do have feelings for her. I hadn't meant to scare her, I'd only done it two other times the whole time I'd known her. When we were four and I nearly fell out of the tree, and she's used her magic, underage magic, to hoist me into the air, back into the tree. Sortly after that, she'd fainted from the use of such strong magic. The other time was when we were 9, and I was mad at my father, and climbed up on the roof of the Malfoy Manor, and Aria had to climb up, grabbing my hand just before I could slip off of the roof. Both times, she'd saved my life. Now, this. I'd scared her because I was scared of telling her the truth. But how could you tell the truth of your feelings to a girl like Aria, a girl who is destined for something much greater than marrying a man like me?
I'd thought about it over and over, wanting to marry her. But I'd never even confessed my love for her, so that is the most unlikely thing that could ever happen for us. It wouldn't matter anyways, because my father, nor hers, and even Voldemort, would allow us to be together. Not when Voldemort has his mind set on his plans for war, involving her. I end up in the library, and my eyes fall on a book about the lineage of all of the Pure Bloods and Half Bloods. I pull it out, and begin to read it. Near the end, I come across the names of Prewett and Peverell, as well as Salazar Slytherin, and Tom Riddle, Sr, and Tom Riddle, Jr.
As my eyes glance across it, I realize for the first time why Voldemort is obsessed with her being the turning point for the war. She's related to him and to Salazar Slytherin, and she's the only living heir, as well as the youngest. She's the Slytherin Princess as well as the last actually living of the line. Her father had made a Horcrux, he'll never die unless the object that his soul fragment is in gets destroyed. He'd pledged himself to Voldemort once more, his wife is descended from Voldemort, and Belinda is married to Dimitri, only having made a Horcrux once Aria was old enough to to come to school and not have to see the results. Aria is the last truly living Peverell descendent too. So it makes sense that Aria would be a great asset to the war. But what are his plans for her?
I decide to keep the book, quickly walking about to the boys dormitory, and to my room, where I hide the book in my trunk where I keep my supplies for class. I get into bed, thinking more about what I discovered. If Aria is descended from Tom Riddle, Voldemort, then she's descended from Salazar Slytherin, who was known for his strong magical abilities. How could someone so sweet, sensitive, and kind be related to a man who wants nothing more then to purify the bloodlines? I don't like Muggle-Borns, but I honestly wouldn't want to kill them all. I know that Aria would never kill someone, she's not competent in that stance. She'd never be able to do that. So how in the world would Voldemort think that Aria is the one who will change the war to favor his side?
I can't seem to fall to sleep. My mind races with thoughts of Aria. Will she be happy going to the ball with me? Will she enjoy herself? What would it be like to dance with her for the first time since we were children? Especially slow dancing? I feel butterflies forming in my belly just thinking about our bodies close together, my hands around her waist.
I'm not sure how it happened, falling in love with her. It'd been much before we'd come to Hogwarts. We'd been young, and we had a lot less to worry about. But childhood love is different fom being in love as a teenager. The love is much stronger, and a lot harder to admit to. A lot harder to show. Lately, I've been even wondering how she feels about me. The way she's so attentive towards me, is that her love for me showing? Or is it just because we've been best friends since we were babies? She knows whenever something is wrong, and she can always make me feel better. The way she automatically touches me when she needs to feel if I'm okay, something as simple as a cheek caress, sends ripples of energy to my belly and heart. The way she takes my hand when she knows I'm scared or lost, or if I just need to have comfort. At times, I wonder if she needs to be able to feel comfort from me the way I need to feel comfort from her.
Her face flashes behind my eyes as I fall into a deep sleep, dreaming about Aria the way I have for years. This one, I actually tell her the truth, and when she kisses me, everything else falls away. But even as I'm dreaming, I can always tell if it's a dream. Suddenly, I see her in a long dress, and I realize I'm dreaming about what could happen when we go to the ball together. She looks stunning, and when we dance together, it's very intimate, her eyes on mine, a smile on her small, full lips. Another kiss, and then I'm awoken by a loud thump.
I open my eyes. "Really?" I say aloud. "Why can't you guys be quiet?" My eyes fall on Blaise Zabini, my other best friend.
"Time for classes, Draco. Get up." Blaise throws a book at me, and I glare.
"Thanks a lot, Blaise. I was in the middle of a great dream."
"Dreaming of the girl you're taking to the Yule Ball?" He asks, grinning.
"You don't know who I'm taking to the Ball, Blaise." I tell him.
"Don't have to know. I'll see when I'm there." He laughs. "Anyways, do you know if Aria's got a date yet?" He pulls on his robes, and I glance over at him.
"Yeah, she actually does." I tell him. "Why, were you planning on asking her?" I ask him, getting up to get dressed.
"Yeah, actually I was." Blaise tells me. "She's very beautiful, you know?"
"Yeah, I know." I say, quietly. "Do you like her?"
"Who in this school doesn't?" Blaise laughs. "That is, other than you?"
"Haha, yeah." I force a laugh, and pull on my robes. I stay quiet then, getting out my books.
"Something's wrong?" Blaise asks me.
"No, no." I say. "Nothing."
"Alright, well, let's go." He says. We go to the Great Hall to get breakfast. Aria's waiting for me, and she starts talking in a rush.
"Pansy was so sad." She tells me. "I couldn't tell her that I'm going with you. She also wanted to hang out before shopping, and I had to tell her we were going to hang out since we haven't really had the time lately. She looked so crushed."
"Oh." I say, surprised. I knew Pansy liked me, but I hadn't realized she liked me that much. "Sorry. If you wanted to hang out with her, that's okay with me." I tell Aria.
"I want to hang out with you." Aria tells me. "I'll be hanging out with her for an hour and a half to shop. That's more than enough time, Draco."
"I want to hang out with you too." I whisper to her. She smiles, and we walk over to get our food, then sit down beside each other. "There's something I want to tell you, but not until tomorrow." I say.
She looks confused. "What is it?" She asks, realizing that something is wrong. "Is it him?" She asks me, indicating Voldemort.
I give a curt nod, "Not here. Tomorrow, Three Broomsticks." I tell her.
"Of course." She says, taking a bite of her porridge. Aria absentmindedly tugs on the silver chain around her neck, obviously thinking about something.
"Is something wrong?" I whisper, taking her hand away from her necklace.
"I have a weird feeling that something is going to happen at the ball." She says, "Like he's going to show up or something."
"I'd know if he were going to show up. I guarantee he wont." I tell Aria. "Just, think about me, alright?" I ask her.
Something flashes in her eyes then, and Aria opens her mouth to say something, then closes her mouth again, looking away. I let go of her hand, and she whispers "Good idea."
"Aria." I whisper, and she glances back at me, but then the moment is ruined by Blaise and Pansy walking over to us.
"Hey, guys." Pansy flashes us a smile, sitting down beside Aria, and Blaise sits down beside Pansy, his arm wrapping around his waist.
I raise an eyebrow at him, and he gives me a wink.
I glance at Aria, who also seems shocked, then she laughs, and goes back to eating.
Walking to class is a quiet affair until I clear my throat.
"Do you think she actually likes him?" I ask her, surprised.
"Well, no." Aria says. "She likes you." Her voice is quiet. "She said that you're more attractive, so to her, it's all about appearance."
"She's not exactly shallow." I tell her, not sure why I'm defending Pansy.
"Yes she is." Aria says. "To her, looks are everything." Her voice has taken on a bitter tone. "That's all it is with most of these Slytherin's."
"You're a Slytherin." I remind her.
She gives me a disgusted look. "I'm not obsessed with appearances, Draco."
"I know." I wrap an arm around her, hugging her tightly. "I just meant that not all Slytherin's are bad."
"Mhmm." She says, cuddling closer into the hug. I feel the butterflies return, and blush. "But Pansy actually is shallow. If she's trying to make you jealous, she's doing a poor job at it."
I laugh at that, then release her from the hug, and we continue the walk to Potions. "She's definitely not going to make me jealous." I tell her. "There's only one girl who could make me jealous if she were with someone else, and she's definitely not Pansy."
"You ever gonna tell me who that girl is?" Aria asks with a smile.
My smile fades. "Possibly." I say, "Maybe."
"Mhmm. Okay then." Aria says, taking a deep breath. "You didn't shave today." She gives me a look.
I rub my hand over my chin and cheeks, feeling how prickly my face has gotten, then shrug. "Wasn't time." I tell her.
"I guess not." She says, smiling. "I like the smell of your aftershave, but you don't look bad with whiskers. Reminds me a bit of my dad." Aria is very homesick most of the time, that much I do know. She leans in to press a gentle kiss to my cheek, the way she might kiss her father, and she seems comforted by this, then rushes into the classroom ahead of me.
Stepping into the classroom, my eyes follow her to our seats, and Professor Slughorn gives us a look. "Late again, Mr. Malfoy. When are you going to learn that the world doesn't run on your schedule? As for you, Miss. Prewett. I expect better from you, young lady."
"Yes, sir." Aria says, her eyes downcast. "It won't happen again."
"For your sake, I hope not. Your father will not be happy." Slughorn says.
"This is the first time she's ever been late for anything. Give her a break, Professor." I say, slipping into my seat beside her.
"Mouth, Mr. Malfoy. I won't remind you again that I'm in charge here. Next time something like this happens, you'll be going down to see Dumbledore." Slughorn tells me.
I open my mouth to say something, but Aria cuts me off, grabbing my hand. "Yes, sir. Draco understands."
"Very well." Slughorn grumbles, and begins to teach the class about love potions. Amortentia. The strongest of all love potions. "Who can tell me the basics?" Aria's hand rises. "Miss. Prewett?"
"Amenortentia is the most powerful love potion in existence. It's considered to be a powerful and highly dangerous potion. As stated it's dangerous to underestimate a powerful infatuation. Despite its power, Amortentia doesn't create actual love; it's impossible to manufacture or imitate love. The person under the effect of the potion will only hold an obsession for the person who administered it." Aria answers. " It is distinctive for its mother-of-pearl sheen, and steam rises from the potion in spirals. Amortentia smells different to each person, according to what attracts them." I'm surprised that Aria answers, it's very rare when she answers a question in class.
"Right." Slughorn nods. "Who would like to come up first and smell it?" Hermione Granger's hand shoots up, and he nods. "Everyone will get a turn." He promises.
Nearly everyone has gone when it's just Aria and myself left. I walk up to the front of the room, taking a long sniff of the potion. "The woods after a fresh rainfall, old books, dew on rose petals, mugs of hot chocolate and embers in a fireplace on a cold day." I say. I feel slightly dazed as I take my seat, sitting down before Aria gets up, and I smell the dew on rose petal's all over again. It's the scent of her. I watch as she strides up to the front of the classroom, clearly nervous. What does Aria Ember Prewett love?
She takes the longest amount of time smelling it, and thinking. Over the table, her eyes catch my own, and I can't resist the pull between us, I cannot look away for the life of me. "Brazilian Rosewood." She says. My breath catches, that's one of the scents in my cologne, 'Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch'. She continues slowly "Icy breeze in the Arctic." It feels like my heart stops. That's what my aftershave smells like, 'Gillette Aftershave splash Arctic Ice'. "The woods on a full moon. Peppermint toothpaste. Coffee after little sleep. Honey and coconut and pine leaves." She rushes back to her seat beside me, and won't even look at me.
"That's, wow." Professor Slughorn says. "I don't think that I've ever heard a student list quite that many smells before. Take ten points each for you and Mr. Malfoy for being attracted to so many different things.
I don't dare say anything. Aria doesn't speak for the rest of class, and avoids my eyes the whole time. I, however, watch her the whole time. The butterflies once again return. All of the things she'd listed are smells that remind her of me. The Brazilian Rosewood in my cologne. The Icy Arctic of my aftershave, the woods on a full moon, my peppermint toothpaste -the only kind I will use-, coffee when we always got little sleep when we were little kids, and we'd sneak coffee, the smell of my shampoo, a mixture that is specially formulated with honey, coconut and pine leaves. All of it's about me. Does she actually love me?
Leaving class, she rushes ahead of me, and I call her name. She slows down slightly, and I walk quickly to catch up to her. "Aria, why'd you bolt?" I ask her.
Her light green eyes are very wide, and her mouth drops open, but nothing comes out.
Right then, Pansy rushes over, and asks "What's wrong?" She glances at Aria when asking this, and Aria shakes her head, and takes off down the hall to Defense Against The Dark Arts with Snape. "What happened? Did you say something to her?" Pansy asks me, surprised.
I shake my head. "It's nothing for you to worry about. I'll take care of it. Just get to class." I tell her, then take off down the hall after her. I enter the classroom, and Aria is sitting with her hands in her lap, her eyes staring down at the table. I take my seat beside her and whisper "We need to talk."
She shakes her head, mumbling that "It's perfectly alright."
"No." I tell her. "We're going to talk about it after classes are over for the day. We need to talk."
"Tomorrow." She looks over at me, her eyes still very wide. "Okay?" She asks.
"Alright." I tell her. "Just... don't be so upset. Please?" I murmur.
She nods, closing her eyes as she looks away from me once again. Snape begins to teach, and I try to listen.
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