A/N: Holy crap, SO MANY REVIEWS. You guys are AMAZING. We honestly had no idea we would get this much support when we started writing the fanfic. It's you guys who motivate us to keep writing, you have no idea HOW MUCH this means to us. Well, without further ado, here's chapter 10, one of the longest we've written :)
Chapter 10- 'The Malfoy Jewels'
--Draco--
"Mother?" I called out to her.
There was no reply. "I have your dress!"
"Draco! In here!" my Mother called back finally. I smiled to myself slightly. How was it my Mother could hear anything a mile away when it came to clothes? 'Female thing' I eventually decided upon.
"Here you are, Mother." I handed her the right parcel and sat next to her on the couch in the living room. She smiled joyfully. Nothing pleased Mother more than clothes, I thought to myself.
"You'll never guess who had it." I continued, "Astoria."
She looked up with an expression O had seen one too many times. My mouth fell open in a perfect 'o'. Mother tutted lightly and pushed my bottom jaw up.
"You planned it!" I accused her. "You planned the whole thing!"
"What?" She put her hand to her heart in mock hurt. "Me? Tell Madame Berilleux to mix up the parcels, knowing that you and Astoria would have to meet to get the right parcel?" she cried.
"Why, Draco, I am not THAT smart!" but her smug smile told another story.
I chuckled. "Mother, you are one devious, intelligent woman!"
"Well, where do you think you got your intelligence from?" she laughed. "Your father?"
Immediately, the light and joking atmosphere turned dark and tense.
"Draco. Will you please leave me alone?" her voice broke at the end. I watched her with concern as she stared at the portrait of my Father above the fireplace. I nodded silently and left her to her privacy. But not before I heard one gentle sob before I closed the door.
Up the stairs, I dragged my feet. Watching one foot step in front of the other. Left then right. Then left then right again. I didn't look where I was going. There was no destination in my mind. I just went where my feet took me. My mind and my body to numb to care.
Finally, I arrived before a vast door monogrammed with an elegant 'M'. I had never seen this room before in the twenty years I had been living here, if I had I did not remember it. I didn't know but I felt a certain pull from this room. My brain was screaming at me not to look inside but one little peek couldn't hurt I reasoned. I felt excited and I didn't know why. With a trembling hand, I reached for the golden knob. My pale fingers closed around the cool, shiny metal.
I slowly turned the knob and opened the door an inch. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding and peeked in. It was too dark to make out much. I could barely make out the silhouette of a desk, a chair, bookshelves and a fireplace.
I let my curiosity get the better of me and not once thinking of the consequences, I stepped into the room. I squinted into the dark room. I could just make out the outline of the closed curtains on the other side of the room.
Careful not to step or trip over anything, I walked towards the drapes and thrust them apart. Light poured into the rectangular room and dust which looked like it had been collecting for about a decade swirled about the room.
I coughed, putting a hand over my mouth and nose to shield away the dust particles. Looking about the room, I estimated no one been in this room for fifteen years. One would think with so many servants in the Manor the room would be at least dusted. 'Curious' I thought. 'Very curious.'
The room looked like it had been ransacked. Drawers were flung open. Books and torn papers were left abandoned on the dusty ground. I walked to the desk, avoiding any debris on the floor.
There was not much on the desk, most objects seemed to be lying on the floor around it. Like someone had viciously swept everything off the table. All that was left was on it was a pot of dried ink, a quill and a yellowing piece of parchment. I picked up the ancient parchment with care.
The writing was faded but I could make out some words on it. Written in cursive writing, elegant and slanted, were the words 'Lucius', 'son' and 'Lord'. My heart sped up when I saw my Father's name. I began to try to decipher the other words.
"Draco!" cried a voice from behind me. I swivelled around and was greeted with my Mother standing in the doorway. Her hair was dishevelled, her eyes red and her rosy cheek wet. I had never seen her so discomposed before. "What are you doing?" she shouted and walked swiftly to me.
I tried to hide the letter from her but it was too late. She had seen it and snatched it away before I could read anymore. She looked down at it momentarily, facing away from me to block the letter from my view.
"Did you read this, Draco?" she asked softly.
"Only a little bit. Why does that have Father's name on it?"
"You are never to come here again" she ignored my question.
"But, Mother, why not? Why can't I come in here? Don't you see? That letter has something to do with Father! It might be the missing link we have been trying to find all these years that will lead us to him! Don't you want to find him?" I pressed.
"Draco!" she shouted. "You are to do as I say and you will not question me!"
I stared into her blue eyes alight with fire and brimming with water. She was angry and determined and there was nothing I could do or say to sway her. But through her angry exterior, I could see she was terrified. I didn't want her to be scared and so I nodded reluctantly.
I swore to myself before I left the room, I would find out what she was hiding from me and I was going to start with finding out what was in that letter.
-Jacob-
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Mother screeched as Astoria tiptoed into the room; meandering in the doorway separating the living room from the hall way. One could almost mistake my mother's fury for worry of her being gone for the past 5 hours, 3 hours of which were met with a storm, but alas we all knew better.
She keep her eyes down and sputtered her whereabouts softly. "T-the o-orchard." I wasn't certain if she was so shaking with her speech because she was scared of my mother or because she was actually shaking from the dreadful storm she had been.
"Mother, surely you can continue your interrogation later. Look at her, she looks like she's going to fall to the ground in a second!" I held her up as she slumped onto me. Without awaiting a reply I proceeding to helping her to her room; ordering Poppy, my old nanny which I do not need in case one is thinking I do, to prepare a basin of water, a towel and a spot of peppermint tea.
Halfway up the blasted winding staircase which in my opinion really didn't need to wind that much, I felt Astoria started to slip. At this moment I realised she was really pale and running a fever. "Astoria?" I shook her a little, her head drooped and her eyes shut. This was not good, I swooped her up into my arms and climbed the again annoyingly wind-y steps to her room.
By the time I got to the door, Poppy had caught up with us. She opened the door and bustled about the room. "Carefully, Jacob. Carefully." she repeated.
I carefully lay her on her bed. She rolled over into a foetal position as she whimpered and murmured. Poppy pulled the covers over her and went about doing all that nurse-stuff like taking her pulse and temperate, etcetera.
When Poppy went off to the water cabinet to continue her other nurse-y business, I pulled Astoria's vanity seat up to her bed and watched as she slept with a troubled look. She was so easy to read, so vulnerable. And I was scared, so very scared, that one day someone might come along and take advantage of that vulnerability and she would get hurt. "Don't." What? "Don't leave me" she whispered. Was she awake?
"Astoria?" I shook her softly.
"No!" she cried. "Come back! Don't leave me here!" She clutched at the air before her.
"Astoria!" This time I shook her harder.
"No! Stop! Don't! Don't hurt me!" she clawed at me. "DRACO!" Suddenly as quickly as she started her fit, she stopped. She opened her eyes and stared at me like she could recognise me. I keep my hands firmly on her shoulders afraid that she would start again. Finally recognition sunk in, her eyes watered and she left out a broken sob. "Jacob" she sniffed. I sat on the bed and gathered her into my arms as her tears flowed out.
No, I wouldn't let her get hurt, especially by a Draco Malfoy.
-Draco-
It had been a few days after that little discovery I had made in my father's study. After that, my mother avoided me like plague for the last few days but she couldn't run from me forever. I decided to let it die down before I investigated more. We were at breakfast; I came a little early than I usually do as I thought I might 'surprise' Mother and also of course so she couldn't avoid me.
"Draco, I didn't think you got up this early in the morning!"
"Thought I'd have a change for today. Change is always healthy. Could you pass the toast please?" I answered casually. I thanked her as she passed it to me and went about eating my breakfast. I could feel her watched me cautiously thinking I might ask her more about Father. When I looked up she would quickly look away. "Something's the matter, Mother?" I smiled.
"No, no Draco" and continued eating her porridge.
After a long silence filled with the clanging of forks and knives on plates, breakfast was soon over. "Mother, I've been thinking-"
"Draco, please. I told you that I forbid you to speak of it again."
"Mother! But-"
"No, I'll have none of it."
"But I only-"
"Draco" she said warningly.
"Fine" I pouted slightly. I didn't want to look childish. "I was only going to tell you that I'm going to Astoria's today."
"Oh" she replied. "Well that's great, Draco. You really should give her more attention if you want her hand in marriage."
"Mother, I'm not thinking of marriage yet!" I cried; I was still enjoying my bachelor days.
"Of course you are. You must have an heir, Draco. And Astoria is perfect for you. She's a lovely girl: intelligent, beautiful, a very amiable personality and of a good family! Draco, you really must woo her! Don't let her get away. If you don't woo her, someone is going to come along and take her away."
My mother; the reasonable. I rolled my eyes.
-Astoria-
"Miss?" Poppy crept in. "There is a man to see you."
"Who?" Jacob asked before I could. He was reading Midsummer Night's Dream to me. We were just at the part where both Lysander and Demitri meet in the wood and have a fight over their love for Hermia.
"A Mister Draco Malfoy." Oh, dear.
"I'll handle it. Poppy could you watch Astoria?" he was just about to storm off when I held him back. With my eyes I pled that he didn't cause trouble. He shook his head and walked out the door.
"Oh Lord, please help!"
-Jacob-
"Lord Malfoy, a pleasure as always" I sneered. To think that tyrant had the gull to come to this house after all that he had done to Astoria.
"Ah, it's you." I would just love to punch that pointy little nose of his into his face. "I came to see Astoria. So if you don't mind-"
"Astoria doesn't want to see you." I smirked as I watched his face fall. What would I give to give him a good kick in the-
"What do you mean 'Astoria doesn't want to see me'?"
"Pretty much what it says... She. Does. Not. Want. To. See. You." I broke it down slowly so that maybe that small brain of his could understand. Probably has a brain the size of a nut. I was just imagining him knocking his head against a tree and scratching the top of his head stupidly when-
"ASTORIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
-Draco-
"Oof" What the heck? I saw a head of brown hair and realised he had tackled me. Well, he wasn't getting away with it. I held his hands to his back, using my weight to stop him from getting free.
"Ow!" he cried.
He was just about to kick my, ahem, the 'Malfoy jewels' but I converted it to my abdomen. Unfortunately it caused me to let go of my hold on him and roll away. He straddled me and started pelting punches on me. I was about to strike back when I heard a cry from one of the upper windows of the house.
"DRACO! JACOB! STOP!" We looked up in surprise and there was Astoria; flaring her arms and screaming at us to stop in dressing down out of her bedroom window. Wow, even after sleeping she looks like an angel.
I pushed that mad hatter Jacob off me and get up and brushed myself off. I cupped my hands to my mouth and shouted back at her. "Astoria! I came to see you but this idiot here told me you don't want to see me!"
She looked sadly at me. "Draco-"
"WHAT'S ALL THIS NOISE?" Oh god. Please no. Not her. "Oh Dracooo! What a surprise! Please come in!" Daphne clutched at my arm and leaned her way too curly hair on my shoulder. I almost got a hairball from all that frizzy hair of hers and her heavy perfume didn't do much to help. I looked up at Astoria but she was gone.
"Oh Draco! I never thought you'd come to visit me but here you are!" she pushed me onto a couch and practically sat on top of me.
"Actually" I scooted a bit to make some space between us but I could do was half an inch, "I came to see Astoria."
"What?" she smiled but I thought I saw her eyes flashed. May day, may day. I was about to repeat myself. "I see, just a second ASTORIA!" she screamed. My right ear rang; I thought it went deaf for a bit.
Shortly a short plump woman came in. "Miss Astoria is ill. How may I help you?" Astoria was ill? I was about to tell her not to bother her when-
"Get Astoria" she smiled at me, it didn't really look like a smile but that's the only thing to describe it as. "She has a guest."
"But-"
"Now!" she shouted. I winced a bit. Actually Malfoys don't wince we merely… twitch our eyes on rare occasions… once in a millennium.
After a short while, Astoria came in with that dimwit Jacob supporting her. Prat. Astoria was a bit pale but she still had that lovely rosy tinge to her cheeks. "Yes?" She looked at the close proximity between Daphne and I, then at my eyes and lastly at the carpet.
"Draco came to see you."
"I heard you were sick" I explained after an awkward silence. It wasn't exactly true I did hear it but that wasn't exactly why I came to see her.
She looked back at me, "I'm fine really." Jacob the boy-who-never-ceases-to-amaze-us-with-his-idiocy pulled her to sit on the couch opposite Daphne and I and sat next to her. Also with close proximity might I add.
"I also came to invite you to the Manor."
"Oh Draco! How nice of you! Of course I'll come!" cried Daphne happily.
"Uh… actually Mother sent me to invite Astoria to see her, she wanted to show her a recipe of hers…" I admittedly squirmed under Daphne's furious gaze but it was only a tiny bit I could swear!
"That's very kind, thank you. But, I'm not free."
"I haven't even told you the day."
"I really am busy, Draco. Please thank your mother for me. It's very kind of her but I'm afraid I can't go." With that she got up shakily and walked away.
-Two weeks after-
I tried and tried to talk to her for the next two weeks but she was either busy or just not there. Something was up. I knew it.
It was midnight now and all the lights in her house were out. I remembered which window was hers. It was the small one, second window to the left. I picked up a small pebble and flung it at it. I continued at it until a light went up and I saw her peer out the window.
-Astoria-
I had been avoiding him for the past few weeks; going out as much as I could to avoid him and when I wasn't out I said I was busy. I was successful of course. That is until now.
There was a tapping at my window. What in the world? I groaned and rolled out of bed, lit a candle and stumbling over to the window. I yawned as I opened it to see what the ruckus was. There was a silhouette in courtyard. Who in the world? Well, I did know who it was. I could recognise him anywhere; Draco Malfoy.
The clouds rolled away and the moon shined down on him. His hair was silver in the moonlight, he was beckoning me. I shook my head and tried to shoo him away. That's when he started to shout at me to come down. "COME DOWN!"
"Shhh!" I whispered loudly. I know that's a contradiction in its terms but I tried to whisper as loudly as I could without waking anyone up. I quickly snuck down stairs in case he created anymore noise. I went out through the kitchen door and into the courtyard in front; the front door was much too big and bulky though honestly did we really need that big of a door? "Draco!" He was still staring at my window waiting for me to come down.
He turned around and ran over to me. "There you are. I never thought I'd get you down."
I sighed. "What do you want, Draco?"
"Well I've been coming to see you these past few weeks. What happened? WHY ARE YOU AVOIDING ME?"
"Shhh!" I looked up at the house to check if anyone was awake. Thankfully the 'coast was clear'. "Follow me." I dragged him off to the orchard so that we didn't have to risk Draco waking the house up again.
We reached a clearing of oak trees after a while. "Well..?" he tapped his foot impatiently while leaning against a tree.
I slumped down to the ground against the oak next to the oak he was at. "Its nothing." Did he really have to make it harder than it was? Did he think it was easy to completely ignore him? After- after-
"Nothing is not a good answer" he replied exasperated. "What have I done? Was it the kiss?"
"No. You haven't done anything. And no, it's not about that." Oh, no. I could feel tears prick at my eyes.
"Then what is it?"
"You're not making this easy for me."
"What do you mean not easier?"
"I mean we can't be together."
Silence. "Why?" he asked painfully. He sounded like a lost child.
That was the last straw. The tears were flowing freely now. My face cradled in my arms.
-Draco-
She was crying. Oh, no. I looked around. She was crying. Do something Draco! But what? I had never had this problem before. I didn't know to console a crying female! Suddenly it came sort of naturally. I pulled her to me and let her cry on my shoulder for a bit. Normally I would have been repulsed by the snot and tears soaking my cloak but I really didn't mind. Well that is I would mind if it was someone else's after all we're talking about snot. But Astoria was different. And I'm not talking just her… snot, but everything. I couldn't be disgusted... or even anger with her. I really couldn't describe how I felt about her.
She finally looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy but still, she managed to look absolutely perfect; perfect to me anyway. I held her face between my two hands and looked into those warm brown eyes which were so different from my cold ones. "Because I love you." I knew I didn't deserve her love. I knew I didn't deserve her. Call me selfish if you will but I loved her too. I never thought I'd love someone. But by God I loved her. I realised I'd loved her for a long time now but I was denying because I didn't understand it. I loved my Mother, yes. But… this, this was different. This was a different kind; one with which I wasn't familiar with but she showed me and taught me what it was.
"I love you too", I whispered. I kissed away each tear and for tear I kissed away I whispered into her ear again and again that I loved her and promised that I would kiss away any tear yet to come.
She smiled at me beautifully and we kissed once again.
-Astoria-
I remembered last night so vividly in my head. He loved me. I smiled to myself and touched my lips delicately.
"Miss Astoria?" Poppy knocked and peeked in, "Breakfast."
"In a second, Poppy, thank you."
"My, Miss Astoria. Why aren't you happy today!" She smiled as she helped me into my dress.
"Yes" I gave small smile. "Yes, I am."
-Mrs Greengrass-
I looked up at the door as Astoria flounced in. Honestly that girl had her mind in the clouds sometimes!
"Astoria! Go boil me two 4 minute eggs." I waved her off.
"Now now, Lavinia. Astoria is not a servant." Vincent patted my hand and motioned the incompetent cow to sit at the table. "Poppy! If you please."
"Yes, sir."
"Good morning, Mother" Daphne greeted. Ah, there was my beautiful child.
"Daphne, my child. Sit down. POPPY! A seat for Daphne." I ordered her.
"Yes, Madam. Anything else?"
"Yes. My four minute eggs. Where are they?" I sniffed distastefully. Really, now. Was it that hard to boil two eggs? Good help was really had to come by now-a-days.
"Madam, I'm afraid it takes four minutes to boil four minute eggs and it's only been a minute since you told me to boil them." Vincent laughed heartily, why the nerve of him. Astoria laughed behind her napkin. Little pig.
"Apologise to Mother now! How dare you talk back to her like that!" Daphne shouted. That's my girl.
"I'm sorry, Madam."
I ignored her. A lady does not lower herself to a servant's level. "Where is Jacob, Daphne?"
"He is ill" Daphne replied.
"My word. It must be Astoria's cold that has caused it. Astoria! See how you have sickened my poor son?" Diseases spreading little tramp.
-Astoria-
"He is ill" Daphne replied to Mrs Greengrass while glared at me when Mr and Mrs Greengrass weren't looking. Why was so glaring at me? Well, it was hardly unusual. Daphne glared at me so often I'd be surprised if she didn't. I shrugged it off as something unimportant.
"My word. It must be Astoria's cold that has caused it. Astoria! See how you have sickened my poor son?" cried Mrs Greengrass. Oh dear. I knew he shouldn't have stayed so close to me when I was sink and now he is sick.
After breakfast ended, I crept up to Jacob's room. I knocked lightly. "Jacob?"
No reply.
I knocked harder this time. "Jake?"
Still no reply.
He always opened the door for me. Maybe he was too sick to answer! Concerned, I opened the door a crack and peeked in. I could see his back to me. Well, he was up. I opened the door and went in. "Jake?"
"What is it Astoria?" he croaked. He sounded awful.
I walked cautiously to meet his front as he stared out the window into the courtyard. "I heard you weren't well and I… I brought you some peppermint tea." I was finally facing him. He didn't look well at all. Pale. Bags under his eyes. Solemn. I settled the porcelain cup onto his side table.
"Thanks" he looked up at me and quickly looked away.
Hesitantly, I placed my hand on his forehead. It wasn't hot. He didn't have a fever. "Do you want me to stay here?"
"No" he replied then looked at me with his red eyes only to look away quickly again. "I don't want you to catch my sickness." He smiled weakly.
I smiled in relief. "Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself. Drink the tea and get better, I'll come back later."
-Draco-
I woke up this morning the happiest I had been since I could remember. Quite possibly this was the happiest I had been in my life ever.
"Draco, you seem happy" Mother commented at breakfast.
I grinned. "Yes, I am."
"Does this have something to do with Astoria?" Gosh did she know everything?
"Yup" I smiled contently.
She smiled with delight. "Your wooing her is going well, I take it?"
I smiled like a bloody idiot and practically skipped off in an extremely un-Malfoy-ish fashion. Not common, I assure you.
-Astoria-
"Poppy, I'm going out. If Mother asks say that I heading off to the town library." I waved and walked off in the direction of town. Well I wasn't exactly going to the library. I was however heading in that direction; I was going to town just not to the library.
"Astoria!" Draco pecked me lightly on the lips. Even the smallest kiss never hesitated to make my legs turn to pudding. He smirked and took my hand and dragged me off.
"Where are you taking me?" I giggled which I didn't do very often.
He grinned at me. "You'll see."
After a while of 'are-we-there-yet' and 'no's, we finally arrived there. He took me to a clearing in a wood. The grass was forest green dotted with daisies and marigolds. The trees were a mixture of oaks, willows and apples which weren't bearing fruit this season. Their leaves created a canopy to shield us from the sun's hot rays but let enough through to let us keep warm. And right smack in the middle of this clearing was a picnic sheet spread out with every wine, savoury food and desert ones little heart could desire. Needless to say that everything looked perfect. He was so thoughtful. Blast it. I'm going to cry again!
"You don't like it?" he asked frowning.
I laughed. Was he kidding? It was beautiful. How could I not like? "You silly goose!"
-Draco-
"You silly goose!" she laughed and pecked me on the cheek.
"I'll have you know that I don't allow many people if any at all to call me a 'silly goose'. You should be honoured that I will not inflict my wrath on you for calling me such a thing. Now the least you can do to make it up to me is to give me a proper kiss!" I informed her in mock seriousness.
She scrunched up her face cutely pretending to be thinking. "Hmm… No, I don't think I will." She answered simply and went to sit at the picnic and started piling a plate with food.
"Well methinks not!" I grabbed her from behind.
There was an 'Oof' and then there was a 'splat'. There 'Oof' was from Astoria and the 'splat' was from a piece of chocolate cake on the plate she was holding. Obviously, Astoria wasn't the one that the 'splat' landed on.
She giggled. She had the gull to actually giggle at a time like this. I was about to snap at her when she kissed off the cake and icing on my lips and in the process, of course, kissing me. She pulled back after a while though it me it was much too short, alas darn the need for oxygen. I was feeling a wee bit light headed. "Sweets always have been my weakness" she smiled shyly.
"Really?" I laughed as I picked up a pie. "They're my weakness too."
"Draco. You wouldn't." She said with terror in her eyes.
"I would." I contradicted.
"Don't you-" I laughed as I looked at my handy work. Her face was cover with cream from the pie. "DRACO MAL-!"
And so I gave her the same treatment she gave me.
-Astoria-
After a bit of a food fight, we eventually decided to stop. Actually I decided to stop while Draco wanted to continue. We lay down on the grass with Draco's chest pillowing my head.
"I've been thinking..."
"Will wonders ever cease?" I mumbled.
"What?" he asked suspiciously. Thank goodness he didn't hear me.
"I said 'What about?'" I said loudly with a smile.
"Well, its my birthday soon..." he started.
"You know, Draco? I don't even know your birthday." I lifted my head up and rested my chin on his chest to look into his eyes. Silver-ish blue is now my favourite colour I decided.
"26th of August" I rested my ear on his right breast and listened to his heartbeat.
"That's not long then. It's in a month. Why didn't you tell me?" I glared at him lightly.
"Never came up. What about yours?"
"28th of June. I'm three years younger than you." I pouted slightly as I glanced at him.
"Little girl" he said as he tapped my nose with his finger. I could hear his chuckle rumble through his chest.
"You're no better, you started that food fight and you didn't want to stop" I shot back saucily.
"Did not." "Did too." "Did not." "Did too."
"Did not and that's the last of it. No backs." I stuck my tongue out at him. "Now back to what I was saying... I'm thinking of having a ball."
"Well why don't you have one?"
"It was just a thought."
"It's your 21st birthday day, you should have one."
"You know what, I think I will."
"Who are you going to take?" I asked shyly.
"Daphne." I looked up in shock and anger.
"Fine." I said with as much dignity as I could muster and got up.
But of course, he held me back. "Who do you think, you silly ninny?" He smiled.
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A/N: aww, aren't they adorable? Please, please please please review, and let us know how you liked the chapter. Because reviews make us happyyy and want to write more. :)