The rest of the night Elena was distracted. She would continue to entertain her guests. But the thought that after this night, her things would be packed and she would leave for Malfoy Manor had caused her mind to be so muddled that she was never truly there in the ballroom.
She was scheming with a scorned, sharp mind. Her mind was conjuring twisted ways for revenge on her Father and the Malfoys.
As she danced with one of the older wizards that her family were acquainted with she came up with a plan, she would make Draco despise her, build him up and then crush him so that he wouldn't want her, so that he would send her away. She would punish them in the most severe way a woman could. Elena would make Draco Malfoy love her.
It would take time. A year or two, but she could start it in this summer away. She had to make it seem honest, realistic. She couldn't suddenly want him and encourage Draco to love her back. No, it would take measured steps, baby steps.
Oh yes. This plan was devious, it was a Slytherins plan. Elena curtsied, the respectful gesture like second nature after her upbringing to be a wealthy pureblood wizard's wife, a submissive wife.
A Death Eater's wife.
The night seemed to drag on after the obviously planned meeting in her Father's dark office that chilled her to the bone. Her father and mother were bouncing about the room as gracious hosts; Lucius Malfoy and Draco were nowhere to be seen, although Narcissa was with Elena's mother.
"Is it for the best, Morgana, will it save them both?"
Narcissa's love for her boy greatly outweighed her loyalty to her husband. The two women had taken refuge in corridor outside of the ballroom. Both were fearful for the survival of their children after the vision that Morgana had seen. They knew that the descendant of Morgan Le Fay's visions were not to be ignored, actions must be taken on it.
The wives of Death Eaters were quiet, and accepted all of their Husband's wrongdoings as their own. They were loyal to the death, and that loyalty was the only thing that kept them alive.
They were not ignorant to the Dark Lord, they knew how it worked and they were part of the stories. The two women were grateful to have not been caught and subjected to the cold, inhospitable walls of Azkaban Prison, where they would meet the Dementors Kiss.
"It will work. They will have each other when the time comes. I will trust Elena to understand when she needs to, but until then she will try anything to escape her fate." Morgana sighed, the stress that lives were balancing on the edge of a blade was stronger now that she had her daughter to worry about.
If it came to it, Morgana would sacrifice herself for her daughter's life. The girl was innocent.
"Look after her, Narcissa. Make her feel that your home is hers. Love her like I do."
"Of course - I will treat Magdelena as my own."
"You know that Lucius and Barnabas will agree that she stays at Malfoy Manor." Morgana knew her husband loved their child, but sometimes his love of power and respect was greater.
"I know. Lucius will not have it any other way. He wants to blood ties more than he wants Draco's happiness."
"Then we shall strive to protect them any way we can, Narcissa. I shall keep you informed on any more visions I have. They will change, no doubt."
The two witches were fair friends. They had struggled together in the first wizarding war and would stick together through the second. Although this time they had their children to worry about.
Magdelena was sipping her third glass of wine, observing the gathering about her from the table she was sat on. The table was laid out in fine bone china that was trimmed in silver leaf. The silverware were heirlooms and had tiny ravens carved into the stem of them with eyes sparking in black diamonds. The crystal goblets were polished till they glimmered under the candle light and the centrepiece was a beautiful bouquet of black and white roses mingling with raven feathers that shone blue in the light. The seat on her right was marked as Draco Malfoy's with an elegant script on parchment. Opposite sat her mother and at the head of the long table was her father in a huge elaborately carved seat that's back was taller than the rest of the chairs.
The Malfoy family swooped in, as though they had always been there and took their seats, Lucius and Narcissa sat by her mother and Draco beside her.
The thought that the table was full of death eaters and sympathisers made Elena uncomfortable - knowing that she herself wasn't much of a Pure Blood enthusiast.
She refused to look at her father as he made a speech about family and the joining of clans. He spoke very vaguely about old times. He didn't say it, but every person at the table knew he spoke of the Dark Lord. At the end, he announced the engagement of Magdelena and Draco, and how this bond of families was the strongest and would honour the Dark Lord's ways.
It made Elena sick to think that was what all this was about, pure blood and power and the ideals of a maniacal sadist. Yet, the table applauded. They were pleased with the union. They were glad that pure blood would stay pure.
Elena thought bitterly about marrying a muggleborn after all this was over just to spite them and their ideals.
She looked at Draco from the corner of her eye. She examined his body while he was unawares. Watching those deep blue-grey eyes that seemed glazed as if he was deep in thought, though his face was neutral. He probably got that from his father, the ability to shield ones emotions from others. In the game of war, emotion was weakness.
His straight nose, sculpted cheeks and jawline and that shock of blonde hair that was always groomed and perfectly placed, he was so Malfoy.
If you didn't know who he was, you could still distinguish him as a Malfoy because of his poised demeanour, slick blonde locks and that pale lily white skin tone.
Elena gasped as those piercing cold eyes caught her look, and watched her until she turned away. She felt a blush heat her cheeks in embarrassment. Draco was amused by this, and again the arrogant smirk was dominant on his handsome features.
She focused her eyes back on her father who swept his arms out in a way that made him look powerful and commanding. But with that gesture the table filled with a banquet fit for a king. Food piled high that reminded Elena of Hogwarts.
Raspberry glazed duck. Roast lamb with a balsamic reduction. Fillet Mignon. Cheese soufflé. Veal Parmesan. Wild prawns. Steamed Lobster.
There was every type of dish that one could think of. As witches and wizards pulled out their wands and served themselves with ease. Elena wasn't all that hungry, but picked at some duck. She was quietly listening to her father converse with those near him while she absently ate her duck and French beans in peppery gravy.
She jumped when she felt a warm hand grip her knee. She turned to glare at Draco, who was talking to the wizard on his right about quidditch. Elena tried to pry the hand from her leg, but he was slowly pulling the hem of her dress up to touch the bare skin. She shivered as his hand traced up her calf to her knee, cupping the flesh of the underside in his hand.
Draco smiled at her reaction to his touch, the gooseflesh beneath his long talented fingers informing him of her pleasure. He took a sip of his wine with his free hand while smoothly caressing his way up her thigh. The creamy flesh soft and firm under his firm ministrations, he was glad that the long skirts of her dress hid his touch from the watchful gaze of his father.
Elena fought to keep her breathing smooth, now understanding that Draco was not going to let up in his groping. She hated that she enjoyed how firm his hand was across her skin, and that he was getting closer and closer to the junction of her thighs - where he would surely feel the wetness that had begun to pool in her underwear. His touch was slow, tortuous until the long fingers finally reached the top of Elena's legs. They dipped dangerously close to her core, barely touching the material that separated them.
Elena tried to distract herself by having another shaky bite of her food. As the morsel touched her lips, the wandering hand flicked across the bundle of nerves, a shock of pleasure causing Elena to gasp, covering the noise by filling her mouth with her food.
Oh God.
Elena was ashamed of herself, reacting so girlishly at her fiancé's vulgar touches and at the dinner table! In front of guests!
Well, she grinned, two can play at that game, Draco Malfoy.
