Chapter Fourteen

Rule 7. While in courtship, neither of the intended pair are to look upon other men or women in a lustful way

Draco was in Diagon Alley again, as the whole 'incident' last month had skewed with his errand that day, and he hadn't gotten all that he'd required. He was on his way to Obscurus Books, which was near Memorial Lane, therefore requiring him to travel nearly the full length of Diagon Alley. He was so immersed in his own thoughts, mostly about the 'incident' last month, that he didn't notice someone calling his name until a hand landed on his shoulder. He spun around, hand automatically going for his wand, when he realised a woman was attached to the hand that had gotten his attention. She looked vaguely familiar… wavy black hair down to the waist, solid jaw and cheekbones. Full figure.

"Ah, yes? Was there something you wanted?" Draco asked hesitantly, wanting to avoid another spectacle like the one last month. The woman laughed; it was a lovely sound.

"Oh, of course you don't remember me. I'm Romilda Vane. I was in your year at Hogwarts, but a Gryffindor, though." She made a face, considering who she was speaking to.

"Was there something you wanted?" Draco prompted again, hoping this would go somewhere as he had things to do. He remembered her name, though. All of the boys spoke about Romilda Vane.

"I saw you and just wanted to come over and say hello. A friendly face, you know. I read the Quibbler article and I'm just so sorry that happened to you." Romilda's hand, which was still on his shoulder, slid down to his arm and squeezed. He delicately moved his arm away, shaking his head.

"Then I'm sure you know I'm in courtship with Astoria. Bloody Gryffindors and their 'charity'." Draco mumbled. He started to turn around and walk away, but Romilda, with a Cheshire grin, captured his arm once more. This time it was a vice-like grip.

"What's the harm in a little... comfort between acquaintances? No one will know. I'm sure you have many… frustrations that need to be released, being a businessman. Being in a relationship that gives you no form of release until you're married must be another… frustration. I can help with that. A friendly face, remember?" Draco wrenched his arm from her grasp. Managing to free himself, he smoothed down his dress robes and gave her his iciest stare.

"I will not have you ingratiating yourself into my life and my future wife's life just for the opportunity to be in a gossip rag. I am happily with Astoria, and I feel sorry for you. Coming from a former Death Eater that should mean something. Bloody Gryffindor." He spun on his heel and walked away, ignoring her entreaties to come back.

Hours later, Draco and his mother were sharing a dinner in the drawing room.

"Draco, I know something is troubling you. What is it? You've hardly touched your food."

"I saw Romilda Vane today, Mother."

"Alright… why would seeing her put you into such a state? She's that Gryffindor you boys all spoke about during Christmas in fifth year, yes?"

"Yes, Mother. Uhm… I… looked at her."

"That's all?"

"Well, yes, on my part. She asked me to sleep with her. I turned her down and walked away the first chance I could." Draco squirmed under his mother's gaze. It surprised him when she started to laugh.

"Oh, Draco darling. You amuse me. Love, it is fine to look. As long as you stay faithful and loyal to Astoria and you don't plan on running away with whoever you look at, I'm sure Astoria would be fine with it. I'm sure Astoria feels the same way, were she to look at a handsome man. The looking, or noticing, is harmless, in my opinion." There was a mounting silence as Draco mucked about with his food.

"Did you…?"

"Look, notice people other than Lucius? Of course – that sounded awful. Let me clarify, here. After you went away to school, I think Lucius and I both imagined things between us would have… heated up, given we had more time on our hands."At his mother's words, Draco covered his ears.

"Mother, I don't need to hear this."

"Just let me finish. Things didn't heat up, suffice it to say, but we had other methods of making things interesting. The looking was part of it. It made Lucius feel overprotective and it made me jealous, and that worked for us."

"It felt wrong." Draco murmured, staring down at his plate.

"That's likely because your relationship with Astoria is still quite in the early stages where you're unsure of one another. If you really feel that badly about it, write her a letter to set your mind at ease. You have my approval to do that."

"I think I'll do that. May I be excused, Mother?"

"Of course, dear." Draco left the drawing room, went upstairs to his desk and got the appropriate utensils for his letter. Knowing was he was going to write, he immediately set his self-inking quill to the parchment.

Dear Astoria,

I'm writing to you because something happened in Diagon Alley today. I wanted to be honest with you to set my mind – and hopefully your own, as well – at ease.

I saw Romilda Vane in Diagon Alley. She came up to me and started speaking to me about the 'incident' (as it will be named and referred to always) and how sorry she was that it happened. As she spoke, I couldn't help but look at her. Like, look, look. That urge quickly evaporated, however, when she grabbed my arm and propositioned me. I immediately and repeatedly informed her that we were together and was eventually able to take my leave. I just feel guilty that I let my eyes… wander, Astoria.

You're quite lovely to look at.

Warm Regards,

Draco.

Draco finished writing, and after referencing the Dictionary of Flowers, he transfigured one of his quills into a Hyacinth of a bright purple colour, adding that to the letter. He whistled, and his eagle owl swooped in through the ever open window. He attached the letter and flower to her leg and she quickly took off, the wind generated by her large wings buffeting Draco's hair.

"Astoria! You have mail!" Daphne shouted. Astoria, who was filling out forms for permits for upstarting charities, abandoned them and ran downstairs.

"From who?"

"Ooooh there's a Hyacinth. A purple one, Astoria."

"What does a purple Hyacinth mean?"

"It means: I am sorry, please forgive me. Draco must have done something wrong." Daphne sing-songed. Astoria made a song of disgust at Daphne's glee.

"Oh just shove it and give me the letter." Astoria summoned the letter and the flower wandlessly and started to read. By the end she was laughing.

"What?" Daphne asked. Astoria tossed the letter to her.

"You read. I'm writing a response." Astoria went into the study and sat at the large desk. Daphne absently followed her, still reading.

Dearest Draco,

You flatter me with your compliments. In all honesty, your make me laugh. I care not if you look, so long as you do not touch. You are not the one at fault. It's that Vane woman, for hanging all over you.

As it happens, I find you pleasing to look at as well!

Best wishes,

Astoria.

She looked at the Dictionary of Flowers and transfigured her own quills into flowers: an Autumn Crocus for mirth, Larkspur for levity, Ivy for fidelity, and finally, Venus' Looking Glass for flattery. She finished and passed the letter to Daphne to look at.

"Since Mother and Father aren't at home I'll approve this." Daphne whistled for her owl, who swooped in from their owlery on the top floor. Daphne attached everything to her owl's leg and the owl flew off.

Draco received a response after a few hours of sending his own letter. He'd been pacing and trying to distract himself. His mother was reclined on the chaise lounge in the living room, watching her son be so anxious.

"Draco, darling, sit down. You're making me dizzy."

"Sorry, Mother." Draco sat down across from her, and fidgeted. An owl flew into the room, dropped a letter and a bouquet of flowers at his feet, and flew back the way it had come. Draco hesitantly opened the letter and read it through. He consulted the Dictionary of Flowers. All he could do after that was laugh. Narcissa took the letter and flowers from Draco. She read through the letter and sifted through the flowers. She glanced up at her son and gave him a smile.

To Draco, that smile was everything.

A/N: Hello everyone! This is a shorter chapter than some of the others, but I hope you like it! Okay, so this is the part that might be sad for you guys. Since NaNoWriMo is finished, I need to switch back to my other story, A Difficult Endeavour, to complete it as I'm only 5 chapters away! I can't write them both at once and since it will take me much longer to finish this one, I need to switch to the other one and just get that out of the way. So this will be on hiatus for 2-4 weeks so that I can finish the other fanfic, and then focus all my attention on this one.

Replies to reviews:

gabrieljuarezl: Thank you so much!

MuggleSlytherPuff: Well if you read my other fanfic, A Difficult Endeavour, I mention that Draco has panic attacks. So it leads with that. I'll try my best to keep going!

Guest: Yeah, Draco had to get some of his own back, huh? I wanted to give him a moment of redemption and respect.