Chapter 12~ The Darkness Adopting Me
Butterflies. That is what I have been feeling ever since I woke up this morning. And they weren't your everyday joe-shmoe butterflies, oh no! These were thousand pound, nonstop butterflies, that just so happened to insist on rumbling around in my stomach.
When my dreams were broken, and I came crashing back to reality, I remembered last night's events with Draco. I got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, stripping and strolled into the shower. Once my body was engulfed by the warm spray, my tight morning muscles relaxed. I thought about how Draco better make it up to me, so I could 'forgive' him, as I didn't know if I could be 'mad' at him for much longer.
Once out of the shower and tightly wrapped in a fluffy towel, I walked into the closet and stared at my many options. I realized that I didn't know what where we were going, so I picked out a dress that came mid-thigh and was long-sleeved. The dress had thick black and white stripes; I also picked out a pair of black thigh-high stockings and a pair of black heels.
I walked over to the vanity and brushed through my damp hair. I found a pair of large pearl earrings along with a matching bracelet. I sprayed my favorite perfume on and ran my fingers through my hair which was now a silky straight. I then went to the couch and sat down, looking at the clock I saw it was half past eleven, and Draco would be here soon. Picking up a book, I began where I had left off last.
I was at total peace, engulfed in my book when I heard his voice, coming from my open balcony doors. "…As is a winged messenger of heaven, Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes, Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him, When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds, And sails upon the bosom of the air." I smiled as he flawlessly spoke the beautiful words of William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,'
I walked out onto the balcony to see him standing there below me, dramatically kneeling looking up at me. I giggled and called down to him "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" He laughed and told me to meet him at the entrance doors. I nodded while I bit my lip, and disappeared from his sight.
On my way down, I felt each and every butterfly erupt and come back repeating itself. I couldn't stop the smile that spread itself across my lips, but I quickly hid it as I descended the grand stair case. Draco was at the bottom, just staring at me. I smiled at him, and once I was at the bottom, Draco lifted my hand and kissed it gently three times trailing the kisses upward, until I pulled my hand away, giggling.
He went down into that crazy kneeling position and said, with my hands in his "My Rosemary, are you ready to go onward, on our journey?" I nodded and he eagerly pulled me out the door, and to the apparition spot. Once near the front gate, he placed both hands on my lower back, and gently pulled me into him. I had no clue where to put my hands, so I held onto his biceps. I was so close, I could feel his heat radiating off him, and I smelt him. And as much as I hate to admit this, I was enjoying every minute of it.
The dreaded sensation of pulling and tugged appeared and stopped at suddenly as it had come. I opened my eyes to see two sparkling blue eyes, staring right back at me. He's warm breath caressed my face gently, it smelt delicious like peppermint, and I looked away before I lost myself any further. I turned around to see a, rather large, beautiful house.
It was a white with blue shutters and had a big porch wrapping itself, around the whole house. Draco held my hand as he walked me down the path to the house's front door. Once on the front porch steps, Draco placed him large warm hands over my eyes, covering everything from my vision. "Is this really necessary?!" I asked in a slightly edgy voice.
"Oh yes, darling, of course it is. I mean, I am not one for nonsense or unnecessary things are I?" I chuckled at his mocking tone and rolled my, covered, eyes. He then led me forward, through a door, and into the house. He said "You ready?" and when I nodded he released my eyes, revealing the most breath taking scene, I'd ever come across.
There were thousands upon thousands of rows of just the best books I had ever seen. The whole, what I assumed to be, house was a giant room. There were no walls at all; the only thing that was covering the walls was dark oak book shelves. After looking up, I saw the entire roof was one big skylight, showing me the fluffy clouds above.
The floor was covered in a plush deep red carpet, and one the wall directly in front of me was, in the center of a book shelves, was a cut out and a fireplace, that was huge and crackling. In front of the fire place was a very comfortable looking black couch with few throw pillows, and one matching loveseat on either side.
Every book looked old and expensive, daring me to go run my fingers across the leather spines. I turned to Draco in complete and total shock, with a mouth wide open and eyes wide. "This, yo-you… so amaz-perfect!" I said to him in a jumbled mess. He laughed shrugging and said "Ha, well yeah this, library has been in the family for quite some time, and I thought I might stop holding out on you, and let you in on the secret. I just thought you might enjoy it, you know?"
I smiled and blushed "Thank you, SO much, I swear I will never see the day, that I will be able to repay you enough." He smiled a beaming smile back at me and I felt my heart swell with joy, "Your welcome. Someone like you deserves this. But this means you forgive me right?" I blushed madly and nodded eagerly. He said "Well… what are you waiting for; I know some massive-nerdy-bookworm part of you is dying to ditch me and go read every one of these books." I smiled and walked around all the shelves, reviewing all the books before making the perfect choice.
"I feel like Belle." I smiled quietly to myself, but apparently not so quietly that Draco didn't hear me. "Who?!" I giggled and said "The princess from a muggle fairy tale called 'Beauty and the Beast'." He just nodded and kept quiet. After a while I noticed something "There are so many Dark Magic books." I said.
"I did say it came from my family, didn't I?" Replied Draco, I nodded understanding. My hand picked up a thick brown leather book. I read the title 'Burning Rapes Winter Blues'. I turned to Draco and when he looked at the title his brows knit together and he said "I've never heard of that one." I smiled and said "Well… you're going to read it… to me." He shot me a questioning look, but shrugged his shoulders.
He made his way over the couch, sitting with his back to one side, and one leg flung against the back of the couch. He, again, patted the spot in between his legs. I walked over to him, took my shoes off, and cautiously sat right at the spot, our spot. He put his arms on either side of me, holding the book in front of me.
The second the book was opened I was lost in it. The almost silent crackling noise a spine of the book made when it was opened, made me smiled and close my eyes. And the smell, oh gosh, most people don't notice this, but how could I not. Books have a certain smell, which causes you to feel wrapped up in it, making you feel at home. I smiled as the smell made me feel sleepy, like it was some foreign lullaby, rocking me to sleep with just one small sniff.
That smell, Draco's smell, and the lulling sound of his voice, it was just about in pure heaven. Draco's voice crawled into my ears, and I found myself wanting more and more of it. "Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice, From what I have tasted of desire…" his voice sung to me, like a midnight wind, caressing the bright full moon. His voice was like a drug to me, only leaving me craving, needing more.
My eyes crypt open, to the sight of a huge crackling fire, and an open book lying in my lap. Draco's arms were still wound tight around me and I was now relaxed, fully resting on his chest. I could hear his deep slow steady breathing, telling me that he was sleeping. I was soon put back to sleep by listening to him.
Warm slender fingers were sliding up and down my arms, very slowly. Draco was awake and I could very his eyes burn holes into the back of my head, "Your awake." He said in a deep low voice. I turned so my belly was pressed against his and I rested my chin on his chest, looking up at his face. "How did you ever tell?" I said, he chuckled and I felt his cheat rumble underneath me.
I raised my hand up to beside his noise, where was a light pink, tiny scar. I ran my fingertip over it and asked "What happened?" he smirked down at me and said "Some damn cute, little witch decided it was her day to get revenge," and when I questioned he said "'Foul Loathsome Evil Little Cockroach'." And no more needed to be said as I blushed madly hiding my face in his chest. I mumbled "Well it's not like you weren't!" He barked out a laugh, stroking my hair, "I do suppose I deserved it."
I was surprised at how comfortable I felt around him, like it wasn't something new, like I had been doing this my whole life. It was a strange feeling he gave, it was warm, like he cared for me. I looked in those striking blue eyes and said "This doesn't shock you?" he looked down at me and said "What?!"
I turned my head so my left ear was on his chest and I was staring into the fire "How comfortable we are, I mean we used to loath each other, only months ago. It's just a bit scary seeing how, something you think is so secure and sure in your life, can change in the blink of an eye. I never saw it coming Draco, their deaths, you just over look such a small thing, you get used to having always be by your side. But where there token away, its just devastating. No one had control, one person's stupid mistake, caused so many more people to be affected." I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the warm tears slide form my eye, onto Draco's cotton shirt.
He brought his hand down and erased all my tears for me. "I use to curse that man, I used to wish him to…hell," I whispered that word, being brought up to never say it. ", but I realized that it was a pure, innocent accident. He didn't plan that, it just, happened. And as devastated as I felt, for as many stars I wished upon, as hard as I prayed, I now know that there is nothing…nothing I can do. There all, Dead."
I was now openly sobbing to him, clinging onto him, grabbing at his shirt, uncontrollably chocking and hyperventilating. Draco hulled me up into him, and I harshly cried into his neck, my nails deeply scraping down his arms, leaving bright red marks on him. I felt him flinch but say nothing, he rocked me gently back and forth. One of his hands was on my back rubbing soothing circles, and the other on the back of my neck playing with the hairs.
I felt so safe, so at home, just so protected. It felt like he was my castle protecting me from the ghosts from my parent's souls. "I- ca…Can F-feel them, Draco." I hiccupped to him; he just wrapped his arms tighter around me, almost crushing me into him. "Th-there, always… here. M…M-make them l-leave, just leave, Draco." I said, barely being able to breath, chocking on my tears.
"Please!" he brought a hand up under my chin; I slammed my eyes shut, not wanting him to see in me. I suddenly felt his heavenly lips on my forehead. And he left them there. He took a deep breath and said "I'm so sorry," he just held me close, eventually I was able to breath normal with few hiccups every now and then.
I was very, very quiet, and I thanked quietly, as I had possibly the worst head ache of my life. I pulled my head out of the his neck, and stared into those beautiful eyes. And I don't know why, or what come over me but I slowly brought a hand up to the back of his neck. I moved in for a kiss, but Draco pulled his head away shacking it saying "No. You're tired, and vulnerable. Rose both you and I know that wouldn't be a good idea."
I looked down ashamed of myself, and let a couple of familiar tears slide down my cheeks. Draco whipped them away, and brought his forehead to rest against mine, "Goddamn! You don't know who fucking adorable you look right now." He said almost as if he was in pain, I blushed and said "Sorry, I don't know what came over me, I'm a stupid girl. I just need to forget them."
Draco looked into my eyes and said in a shockingly hard voice "NEVER! Never, say that again. You are the farthest person on this planet from being stupid. You shouldn't be trying to get over your parent's, their deaths took a great toll on you, Rose, and as much as you like to hide it in front of other people, I know you never want you to forget them, because the day you do, better be the day you lose your mind. They all loved you, I know it." I smiled at him and snuggled my body closer to him.
I picked up his hand and started playing with it, "What's your favorite book?" I asked him. He sighed and said "I don't have one, there's too many to choose from. And you, what is your favorite book?" And without a blink of an eye, I said "Hogwarts a History," and when he laughed I said "What?! It is an amazing book, it was my life preserver. Most people had at least grown up around magic, and so I felt so unprepared, and that book helped me so much."
"I never knew you were so nervous about it, you certainly didn't show it Miss. Oh-pick-me!" Draco said lightly, I laughed and nudged him, giggling. I stared into the fire then asked "What's your patronus?" He sighed, twisting us so he was sitting Indian style, and I was in his lap, my back to his chest.
"A dragon." I looked at him upside down, and he kissed the tip of my nose. "And yours is… a?" I giggled and said "I'm not telling. If you really want to know, you'll find out eventually." He sighed muttering something about 'Such a stubborn witch'. And for some unknown reason I busted out in a giggling fit.
"What?!" Draco asked, not liking to not be able to know what was going through my head. I laughed and said "Oh nothing, just a thought has dawned on me." He stroked my hair off my face, and said "And what might that be?" I knotted out hands together and said "I'm a witch."
He looked at me like I was a one eyed, one horned, flying, purple people eater. "Well I would hope so. But why, may I ask, are you just now noticing this small detail?" I flipped so our tummies were touching, and I brought my hand up and felt his hair. I have never, and probably never will, ask him how or why his hair is so… perfect. It was ten times softer than mine will ever be, shinier than Professor. Lockhart's teeth, and just so flawless, matching his whole personality.
"No, no. I just thought of how, growing up as I muggle a witch is supposed to be ugly, and green. You know they use caldrons to make potions, and fly on brooms, and they eat little children. They have huge warts on their noises, and wear those god awful pointed hats. It's just weird how the image of a witch that was put into my head as such a young child, was so different and so wrong, then what it really is."
"Well your definitely not green, and I just hope you don't eat children." He said while stroking my cheek. I stuck my tongue out at him and said "Meanie!" he just laughed squishing me into him in a hug. "What did your parents say? When they found out you were a witch and all." He asked me, sounding genially interested.
"My dad was sort of thrilled, he was happy that there was a reason behind me being so…strange. He was very interested. Daddy loved different things, and so this was the jimmies on top of his cake. And my mum, well mum was sort of a different story. She didn't like that she could have, power, or control in the situation. She always liked being in control, and when she had no choice of sending me to school, or even me being a witch, she didn't like it." I paused for a moment taking a deep breath, calming myself.
"It's not that she was mad, or upset at me, just that she was so vulnerable not knowing anything about it, or where I'm going and what I'm doing. It's almost as if, she didn't trust Hogwarts and the whole magic thing. But once third year rolled around, I feel as if she finally trusted the whole magic thing, although she did consider taking me out of school several times, with the whole murderer in the school phish-posh, I think at the end of the day, they were both proud of me."
He smiled at me when I was done talking and said "I know they were proud of you." I laughed, raised my eyebrows and said "Oh, do you?" and he quickly replied saying "Yes! And do you know why? Because I know everything. Everything that was, is, and will be." I threw my head back laughing, and "Ah I always knew you were…magical." I said winking.
"Oh, yes my dear. Didn't they tell you? I'm a wizard, the best of my age." Draco said back in a flirtatious tone. "Ah, but where is your long beard, your sparking robes, the rabbit in your hat?" I said, and he smiled while saying "There's something hopping around in me, but it isn't a rabbit." I smiled at his Slytherin-ness.
All of a sudden his stomach let out a huge rumble, and I laughed at this. He smiled and said "You hungry?" I nodded and he said "Good." He stood up and helped me up. He then took my hand, leading me outside. He hugged my small body in his warm larger one. I smiled and leaned into his intoxicating sent.
I felt myself get tossed around, and embarrassingly falling backwards on my bum. I was seconds away from breaking my tail bone, when a pair of very strong hands, grasped my waist and threw me into their chest. I put my hands on their shoulders gasping, and said "Thanks," in an airy tone "; what would I do without you?" I asked him.
He laughed and said "Well, I don't know, but I sure can tell you; your life would be a lot less interesting." I laughed shaking my head and said "My gosh! Does your ego just get bigger and bigger with every second, or were you just born that cocky?"
"Only for you, my dear. Only for you." I smiled and turned around while finally noticing my surroundings. We were on a side walk. There were side to side restaurants lining the street, and few couples wandering them. I turned to the restaurant in front of us and read 'Macilentos Pupa'. "It's my favorite restaurant." Said Draco while grabbing my hand and walking me into the restaurant.
Inside it was lovely, everything was colored dark, with gold detailing. "Ah, Draco! Ciao, ciao how are you my man! Good, good and who is the Bello lady I see with you?" A tall and clearly Italian man said in a rushed deeply accented voice. He came to Draco and gave him a tight hug. "Hey, Gino, how are you? And this is Rosemary." Draco said motioning to me, 'Gino' stepped forward and grabbed my hand kissing it, while saying "It is only but my pleasure to meet such a beautiful lady, Rosemary." I blushed deeply and Gino lead Draco and I to a table.
Draco pulled out my seat, and I smiled, picking up my menu. Draco's eyes were on me, and I soon knew why. The entire menu was in Italian, I rolled my eyes, figures. Draco smiled at me and read off the menu. "Hello, I am Christopher," I looked up from my menu and saw a very attractive man, smiling at me ", and would you care for any of our wines today?" I looked at Draco, not wanting to make any mistakes.
"Yes, could we get a fresh bottle of, vino rosso dolce." Said Draco, I loved the way his deep voice spoke the Italian words. The waiter nodded and left, "And, why wasn't I informed that you speak Italian?" I said nonchalantly. Draco rolled his eyes, amused, and said "Oh and it's not just Italian, but French, Latin, and Greek."
I stared shocked at him, and asked "Why?!" he laughed and said "Mother wanted me to, so I did. I will admit it comes in handy, when I go over Blaise's houses." I shook my head in amazement, muttering "You're perfect." The server came back with the wine, two sparkling glasses, and a basket of garlic bread.
Draco ordered me some fancy pasta, and I have not a clue to what he got himself. "So, are you excited for the Ball tomorrow?" I asked him casually. He shrugged saying "I'll be the first to admit, I've had my fair share of balls. There forth, am I excited? Not entirely. Will I go, and have a smile on my face all the while? Yes."I thought, thinking about just how many balls and parties of important friends he must have gone to in his whole life.
That would have been my life, that would be the life I would have had, had everyone got along. Everyone getting along? No, that will never happen. As I gave on it a long time ago, knowing all hope was lost. Nobody will every get along...ever.
