Chapter 9

"Dray can't we just enjoy the first task? MUST we argue about this now? It was a rough night for me and I just want this whole damned task over with so I can have Draconis back!"

She was still curled up on the center of his bed looking miserable over Draconis being removed so far from her. Draco did feel bad about that but they were going to settle this issue once and for all before he made her feel better about missing her beloved familiar.

"No Vanessa, we are discussing it now, and I swear you care about that bloody beast more then you care about me."

"Don't pout Draco. I do not care about him more than you. And he is not a bloody beast, he is a dragon, and you should be glad I have a fondness for dragons, because another drake is sorely testing my patience."

"Did you just suggest you care about me and that shrunken dragon EQUALLY?! And stop trying to distract me. I am serious Vanessa, you are NOT going to the Yule Ball with that damned Durmstrang git and that is final. Let him find someone else."

Vanessa knew she would get nowhere by arguing in Ivan's defense. She tried changing her tactic. "Draco be reasonable" she wrapped her arm around his and snuggled in to his side earning her a suspicious glare "you already promised Pansy you would take her. You cannot bail on her now. It would be cruel."

"And since when have you cared about cruelty to Pansy, Vanessa? I have watched you and the two crones you hang out with plotting acts so cruel even I would not take part in them."

Vanessa snorted.

"You are not going anywhere with some git you have repeatedly referred to, and I quote 'the God of All Abs' and you are barking mad if you think otherwise."

"I only did that to bother you for the whole Pansy thing." He looked at her dubiously "Well, at first, then later it was a way just to forget you even existed… oh doesn't give me that look, at least I wasn't bloody engaged to him. "

"I am surprised that mother never clued you in on that with all of your plotting and scheming together."

Vanessa just reached out and took his hand rubbing her thumb lightly across his wrist giving him a sad smile. He remembered, she was not sure she was even going to be around to be bothered by his marriage contracts in the end "Vanessa…" She kissed him lightly to stop whatever else he was going to say.

"I will make a deal with you. If you can get Pansy to agree to go with Ivan and he agrees to take her I will drop the whole thing."

"And how would you suggest I do that?"

"You are a Slytherin, love, I suggest you scheme."

"And YOU are half naked in my bed; I suggest you make me feel better about comparing me to that damned diminutive dragon and for finding someone to replace me with."

And for the next couple of hours she did just that.

Vanessa and Draco joined his parents in their private box for the first task. She barely heard the sniping comments they made about Harry, Hermione and all of the Weasley's, though at one point she did remind them Hermione was her cousin and that she shared part of her blood.

"Yes", Lucius remarked, it is certainly not to be held against you that her branch diluted it." He patted her paternally on the shoulder to show he did not hold it against her.

She smiled gently at him; she knew it was not his fault he held these beliefs. But she did contemplate how they might be changed after all this time. "I am certain my great grandfather would agree Lord Malfoy, lineage was a particular subject of his."

And then the first Champion appeared, Cedric Diggory. "He is a handsome lad", remarked Narcissa, "Pureblood I understand, we should expect him to do well, I wonder who his marriage contract is with? He may be able to do better after the tournament."

Cedric faced off against the Swedish Short Snout and Vanessa's entire field of focus narrowed to that field that battle. Without realizing it she slipped into serpent speak startling the elder Malfoys as she spoke to the dragon "That's it darling deep breath now, hold it no one takes what belongs to you."

Draco shook her gently. She came out of her reverie to find both of his parents staring at her with deeper interest. Not horrified as she had feared. She held her hand to her mouth staring wide eyed at Lucius. She realized she had just given away far more than she had meant to.

"I… I should go back to the dorms; my apologies it was a bad idea to come down here today…"

Lucius finally spoke "Nonsense. You are going to turn around hold your head up high and control yourself. Your gift is useful but only under proper control. Do not allow it to happen again daughter."

With that word dropped Vanessa knew exactly what her father and Draco's parents had discussed in her absence and what the new 'developments' were that necessitated her moving in to the manor. She took a shuddering breath, but immediately relaxed when Draco placed a calming hand on her shoulder and guided her attention back to the battlefield.

He held her hand and kept her grounded as each Champion took to the field and retrieved their golden egg.

After the first task was completed the Malfoys took their leave with plans made for Vanessa and Draco to visit the next night so that Vanessa and Draconis could spend time together.

"Did you know?"

"That our parents had arranged a marriage contract in the short time we had gone to the hallway? No though I can't say I am surprised. My mother moves fast and I suspected that was the reason my contract with Pansy was suddenly broken. Are you upset? Nothing is signed Vanessa…"

"It would have been nice for my father to consult me. He always does this. It is why he sent me here, to make a contract, but it was supposed to be my decision."

Draco tensed "Were you planning to choose someone else?" his first thought was Ivan.

"No, but that isn't the point Dray. It is all about negotiations and contracts with him. Sometimes I want to just be his daughter not a bargaining chip. He took me to an amusement park he was planning to buy once and put me on a ride he knew I would hate just to get a better deal because I was terrified and crying. He loves me, he really does. But that love does not stop him from using our bond to get an edge. I hope your father counted all of his fingers when he walked away."

Draco looked at her sympathetically "They are friends Vanessa, I am sure my father is fine."

She sneered "That just means my father needed a shorter quill and less ink."

Draco laughed at her cynicism "No, what I mean is they are friends so he knows your father will try to screw him Vanessa. That doesn't mean we can't enjoy this." He held her cheek "I intend to sign that contract as soon as it comes in.

She snuggled in to his hand "So do I"

Neither one noticed the dark haired girl who was listening to every word with venom in her heart and revenge stamped on her soul.