Title: The Perfect Girl
Author: slytherin-nette
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of these characters but I own the plot and the concept of the 'Hunting Season'. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling.
Pairings: Draco/girl!Harry, Blaise/Hermione, Neville/Luna, Ron/OC
A/N: Told you the next chapter was coming up. But I went ahead of myself and wrote TWO! Weeee! Haha. Consider it my Christmas present to you guys! It has the Draco/Harry goodness I promised. Yay! Enjoy!
Chapter 14 –Revelations and Developments
Jaimee grumbled to herself as Sirius' rather lengthy howler continued to howl and spit bits of shredded paper onto her face, causing several other students watching to laugh as they watched her in the Great Hall the next morning for breakfast.
"AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE BRANDING YOU AS NOW, HARRY?! DO YOU?! ALL THE OTHER BACHELORS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO CALL YOU A SHREW THAT IS NEVER GOING TO BE TAMED! A BLOODY SHREW! ARE YOU PROUD OF YOURSELF?! HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO FIND A MATCH NOW THAT NEARLY ALL THE OTHER PUREBLOODED MALES ARE TERRIFIED OF YOU?! YOU DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE HOW MUCH PRESSURE THIS IS ALL PUTTING ON ME!"
"You?! What about me? You think I like being courted about by stuck-up idiots?!" Jaimee growled back the floating envelope but it seemed to jerk angrily before she finished her tirade.
"DON'T YOU DARE INTERRUPT ME WHEN I'M HOWLER-ING YOU!"
Jaimee rolled her eyes, wondering how Sirius could have possibly predicted her response.
"IF YOU DON'T IMPROVE YOUR BEHAVIOR, HARRY, I WILL BE FORCED TO LOCK YOU UP IN A ROOM FILLED WITH TUTORS FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER! HAVE IT YOUR WAY! EITHER AGREE TO HELP ME FIND A SUITABLE MATCH FOR YOU PROPERLY OR ELSE YOU WILL DO NOTHING DURING THE SUMMER EXCEPT ATTEND MORE FEMININE CLASSES! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
She glared at the letter in silence for a long moment before speaking.
"Crystal."
"IT BETTER BE!"
She slumped further upon seeing Ron and Hermione's chuckling faces as they observed her wincing features, causing her to redden further and sink into her seat as the howler finally blew up in front of her, shredding itself in one final climactic gesture.
Once the howler had disintegrated, the Great Hall resumed its usual activity and began acting up with lively chatter and laughter once more; finally allowing the embarrassed Gryffindor to start digging into her forgotten breakfast.
Stuffing a mouthful of blueberry pancakes into her mouth, she looked up just in time to see Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy entering the Great Hall accompanied with a small, giggling group of Ravenclaw and Slytherin debutantes.
Both Slytherins didn't seem to be amused but nevertheless led them over to the Slytherin table where they allowed the girls to sit with them for breakfast.
Strangely, Jaimee's mood seemed to darken after that.
She growled and snatched her goblet of orange juice from in front of her and drank the liquid in one long gulp before hastily wiping her mouth. Following this, she proceeded to massacre the remaining blueberry pancakes on her plate, her lips curled into a scowl.
As though he seemed to sense her shift of mood, Draco looked up and watched her for a long moment before allowing an amused grin to grace his face. She looked up just in time to catch his smile before she growled again and narrowed her eyes at him before attempting to turn away.
Before she could, her interest was piqued as he gave her a mischievous grin and pointed to Goyle across from him on the table – making punching gestures against his face in an effort to refer to her little display the other day by the lake.
Seeing the teasing grin on his face, Jaimee couldn't help but break out into a light-hearted laugh at his antics before shaking her head and smiling at him when he gave her a wink to indicate his approval at her little stunt.
She rolled his eyes at him before turning back to eat her breakfast, perfectly aware of the rather goofy smile on her face and the lighter feeling in her chest as she allowed herself to settle into a better mood.
It took her a couple of seconds to realize that it had been Draco Malfoy who had lightened her mood like that and her eyes widened at the thought before she shook it away hastily, blushing slightly at the realization.
Unfortunately at that moment, Hermione turned to look at her with a beaming smile before gesturing to Blaise across the room.
"Ron… Blaise invited me to sit with him during breakfast today. He also told me to bring Harry along with me so she could sit with them as well… Do you mind?" She started, smiling across the room to Blaise to indicate her agreement.
Apparently, Ron did seem to mind but before he could voice out his complaints at his two best friends leaving him so early in the morning, Hermione had seized Jaimee's hand and yanked her up onto her feet, dragging her towards the Slytherin table where Blaise was waiting.
Seeing Jaimee's horrified face, Blaise smirked to himself and scooted over to make a seat for her beside Draco, whose face had flushed slightly as Jaimee approached them.
"Ah. It's a pleasure to have you two lovely, enchanting ladies join us this morning." Blaise greeted charmingly once they were near, causing Jaimee to wince slightly in irritation.
"Put a sock in it, Zabini."
Draco smirked at Jaimee's response, obviously amused while Hermione nudged her friend sharply in annoyance, causing the girl to frown but otherwise force her face into a smile.
"I mean...the pleasure is ours, Blaise." She corrected herself in a exaggeratingly saccharine voice, causing Draco to chuckle again while Blaise looked slightly irritated, turning his attention instead to Hermione.
"Granger, I'm delighted you're here. Please… Have a seat right next to me. I do believe we have yet to finish our little discussion yesterday about the benefits of this generation's women becoming more aggressive than before." He started, smirking at the memory of their argument.
Hermione blushed at his amusement and nodded, sitting beside him and offering the dark-haired Slytherin a charming smile. She blatantly ignored Jaimee's incessant tugging of her arm to sit down beside her instead, leaving the other girl no other option than to sit beside Draco.
"Of course, Blaise. But I believe we have to update our new companions here about the conversation otherwise, they'd never be able to keep up." She told him, smiling pointedly at Jaimee and Draco, who were both uncertain as to how they were to act around the other.
Blaise grinned and nodded, taking a swig of his pumpkin juice before talking.
"Certainly, beautiful. Hermione was just saying how she found it rather disturbing that the men of our generation today were yet to be open to a duality of womanly roles in the household. Particularly as to how men refuse to let their wives take on jobs outside of being a homemaker." He started, immediately causing Jaimee's eyes to flash in irritation.
"That's stupid."
Three pairs of eyes turned to look at the girl who had spoken, causing the Gryffindor to scoff in acknowledgment.
"Women should be allowed to work just as much as men. Having a uterus does not necessarily restrict them to the sole purpose of bearing children. Merlin knows how much I'll hate doing nothing but going back and forth between the nursery, kitchen and bedroom all day." She remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione looked at her in surprise, blinking.
"Really? You never voiced such a feministic opinion before, Harry. Are you sure you're not just saying that because you're a woman now?" She asked, obviously amused.
Jaimee looked at her in irritation.
"Of course I am. Do you think I'm going to let some poncy little pureblooded brat keep me in the damn house all day just to look after his kids? I want a life too and I'm going to have one." She assured, smirking to prove her statement.
"I take it you don't want to have a family then…?"
She jumped slightly as Draco had finally spoken for the first time, drawing her attention to his handsome, smirking features. His silver eyes were twinkling with mirth and interest, causing her to blush when she turned to look directly at him.
Shaking her head hastily, she gave him a pointed glance.
"Of course I do. I've always wanted a family of my own. I just meant I want to have a life outside of the house… But that doesn't mean I won't come home to take care of my children after." She explained, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"And your husband?" Draco asked again, a playful smile still tugging on the corner of his lips as he tilted his head in curiosity and stared at her intently.
She stiffened slightly, her eyes narrowing.
"What about him?"
Draco smiled wider, the flirtatious twinkle in his eyes evident now as the silver orbs directed themselves fully at her again.
"Will you take care of him too?" He asked innocently, leaning back and giving her an innocent look, ignoring the smirk that Blaise was throwing in his direction.
Jaimee reddened slightly but recovered herself, nodding awkwardly.
"Of course, I will! I never said I wouldn't. I—"
"How?"
His smile and tone of voice became teasing, obviously enjoying himself as he watched her struggling to maintain her composure at his impertinent questions.
"I—I don't know! I'll be a... good wife?" She stammered, her eyes wide with nervousness as she looked to Hermione for help but the other Gryffindor seemed to be enjoying the scene as well as she found it a rare sight that Harry Potter was reduced to such a blushing, shaking pile of nerves.
Draco pretended to ponder on her words for a moment, stroking his chin.
"Hmm… A good wife? Well, that's a rather vague definition, love. You'll have to be more specific. How is one…As you say…a good wife?" He asked again, feeling a sense of pleasure as he saw her blush darker at his use of an endearment.
When she looked as though she couldn't say anything, Hermione finally relented and came to her rescue – redirecting both Draco and Blaise's attention to her and off of her friend.
"I believe what Jaimee means to elucidate on is that a good wife is… Well… Open to meeting the needs of her husband. Those needs include not just emotional support, but partnership or friendship, intellectual conversation and also… physical needs… as well." She chose her words carefully lest she start blushing as well.
Blaise smiled charmingly at her after hearing this, nodding his agreement.
"I'm glad we agree on something, Hermione. Most women fail to realize exactly how important the physical aspect of marriage actually is for a pureblood." He told her, finally causing her to blush slightly but otherwise smile at him again.
"How important is it?"
This time it was Jaimee who had asked the question, causing the other three to look at her again in surprise. Blaise opened his mouth to respond but Draco beat him to it, looking at the girl with a intense, expression on his face.
"The answer to that question, Harry, would have to depend on the pureblood in question we are speaking of. I, for example, see the physical aspect of marriage – as Hermione calls it – as the best and most intimate expression of love a man can give to the one he loves." He explained softly, his eyes probing deep into Jaimee's questioning gaze.
He continued further, oblivious to the other people who were starting to listen to their conversation. "More than the pleasure, it is the feeling of oneness – the thought of joining myself to another – that entices me as a completely surreal; transcendent experience." He answered, his gaze unwavering that Jaimee felt the heat of his desire through his eyes, causing her to shift uncomfortably in her seat as she felt her own heat overwhelming her at his powerful words.
It was the first time she had ever shared such an intense and intellectual conversation with Draco before and she knew now for a fact precisely why Dumbledore had named him head boy and the top student in their batch. He had the ability to communicate even the most beautiful experiences into passionate words that seemed to sink right into your soul and make you want to melt.
So he's good with words… Big deal. Snap out of it, Harry! You look like you want to jump him! Her mind screamed at her and she blinked before nodding hastily and turning away from his intense gaze on her, ignoring the teasing smirk Hermione was sending in her direction.
"I—I never thought about it that way before." She admitted, looking up and giving him a small, amused smile.
Draco nodded silently, finally turning away to glance back at Blaise and Hermione.
"Most people don't. Pureblood marriages, for example… Only about three out of ten of them actually sleep in the same bed every night after their honeymoon. Their marriage was simply one of convenience – a need or obligation to sire an heir; after which they are never to share anything else with their spouse again." He admitted, causing both Jaimee and Hermione to cringe in disgust.
Blaise couldn't help but scoff in agreement, nodding. "That's true. Only a select few bachelors actually take the time to search out among the debutantes in order to find someone who truly matches him in every aspect… And it's not easy, mind you. Why do you think some bachelors remain unmarried even at the age of twenty above?" He added, gesturing to Viktor Krum; who had just entered the room.
"That's horrible. Why would anybody agree to such a thing?" Hermione blurted out, causing both Draco and Blaise to chuckle to themselves.
"Draco and I don't intend to share the same fate as those marriages. That is why this hunting season, we are taking it upon ourselves to find a lady of our own personal standards." Blaise told her, his eyes meeting her own.
Draco merely nodded, turning to meet gazes with Jaimee once more; who was now looking at him with what could only be described as understanding and wonder.
"So I take it you want a wife whom you can really relate to...? Someone you can share more of your experiences with other than the responsibility of siring an heir?" She asked curiously, her eyes still focused on him.
He smiled at her again, nodding. "Is it so hard to believe? Blaise here accuses me of being so perfectionist when it comes to choosing a wife for myself. But it's not so much perfectionism than simply a matter of wanting a real marriage." He answered, looking slightly thoughtful.
Jaimee finally smiled back, nodding her understanding. "I see. Wow. I never thought of you that way, Malfoy. I must say... My opinion of you is slightly improving." She admitted, smirking her amusement.
He looked thoughtfully at her, studying the expression in her face.
"Like I said… Is it so hard to believe that I'm actually a simple guy…? In my head, I imagine waking up every morning to find the woman I love right next to me… Coming home from work to that same beautiful smile and sweeping my perfect children into my arms..." He trailed off, blinking and shaking his head in embarrassment.
Blaise grinned and chimed in after him, directing Jaimee and Hermione's attention to him as well. "I, on the other hand, dream of a wife whom I can share intimate as well as intelligent conversation with. I find intellectual stimulation just as important as physical stimulation, you see." He explained, causing Jaimee to smirk at Hermione and the latter to immediately drop her gaze.
Laughing, Draco shook his head and took a sip of his pumpkin juice before responding further. "Intelligence and wit isn't nearly enough for me… The only girl I would ever approve of is not only stunningly gorgeous and intelligent. She's also strong…courageous and powerful. She wouldn't be afraid of fighting for what she believes in… Even if the fight was against me – her husband." With that, he turned to look directly at Jaimee, who at that moment was blushing as she met his look.
His eyes darkened once more as they locked onto hers, the expression in them intense as they held her gaze.
"She'd be fiercely loyal… dedicated and passionate all at once… She'd be emanating with a natural grace and charm that attracted everyone around her… Most of all, she'd be true. She'd be nothing other than completely who she was… And she'd be mine." He stopped for a minute, watching as Jaimee's gaze dropped to the floor, her form trembling in confusion.
"If I could find and marry that wonderful, perfect…perfect girl… I'd consider myself the luckiest man in the entire world…And I would do everything in my power…to make her happy." He finished softly, reaching over and titling her chin back up to meet his eyes once more.
By now, Blaise was raising an eyebrow in amusement and Hermione was gushing as she gauged her friend's reaction, barely able to restrain a giggle as she saw the blush on Jaimee's face.
Once their eyes had locked onto each other again, she looked at him with what could only be described as anger and doubt, causing Draco to blink as she voiced out her thoughts.
"I see…But was it so important for her to have been a girl to be perfect for you…Draco…?"
Draco froze at the demanding accusation in her words, clearly stung as Jaimee wrenched herself from the hand he used to caress her cheek. Hiding her flushed face, the Gryffindor would have walked away if it hadn't been for the figure behind her who had just arrived in the Great Hall.
"Jaimee… What are you doing, here?" Anton looked at her with surprise as he had approached their table, purposely choosing to ignore the unwelcome glare that Draco was sending at his direction.
"I—I was…Just about to leave." She answered, her eyes flicking back to the blonde Slytherin who had now risen from his seat and leveled Anton with a threatening look that would have sent anyone else running in fear.
"Anton…Harry and I were having a conversation…" He growled, his eyes narrowing just as Blaise and Hermione stood up as well – Blaise looking between the two Malfoys suspiciously and Hermione looking worried as she latched herself onto Jaimee's arm.
Anton shot him a sneer, looking irritated at his words. "Harry? It's Jaimee now, Draco…At least have the decency to use this young lady's correct name. I find it insulting otherwise." He scoffed in a disgusted tone, shaking his head.
The dangerous glint in Draco's eyes finally caused Blaise to clear his throat loudly before talking directly to the smirking half-veela. "Anton, you know the rules… A gentleman is not supposed to interrupt another when he's with a potential match." He pointed out, his eyes narrowing.
Looking highly annoyed, he just about to back off when Jaimee finally spoke up again, drawing all three purebloods to look at her in confusion. "It's alright, Zabini. I was just about to leave anyway… I believe I'd enjoy it very much if Anton escorts me to my classes this morning." She started, immediately causing Draco's face to fall.
"Har–Jaimee, I – "
"Yes, Malfoy…?"
He winced at the sharp tone of her voice as she hissed out his last name. Stepping toward her, he ignored all the stares they were starting to receive and looked intently at her beautiful face.
"You were always perfect…Even then."
When she looked as though she couldn't find an answer to his words, Anton sneered at him again over her shoulder before he linked his arm through hers and proceeded to pull the now blushing, Gryffindor away from him.
"I'll see you in class, Hermione." She turned to the bewildered brunette, who merely nodded and released the hold she had on her arm, waving her off.
As they began to walk away from the Slytherin table, Harry couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder to where Draco still stood, watching them walk away with a slightly crestfallen but otherwise frustrated expression on his handsome features.
"Well… That was…sufficiently awkward."
Hermione turned to give Blaise an irritated scowl but the Slytherin just chuckled and shrugged at her expression before walking over to his friend, clapping him hard on the back.
"Snap out of it, Drac! It won't do you any good to look like that… Don't let Anton get to you. I'm sure things will all work out in the end." He offered but he stepped back in alarm when Draco shoved him away, his silver eyes flashing in silent anger.
"You don't get it do you, Zabini?!" He growled, turning towards him and yanking him by the front of his robes and lifting him a couple of inches from the floor.
Blaise's eyes narrowed angrily but he didn't struggle, knowing it would only inflame his best friend's anger more if he didn't listen to what the other boy clearly had to say.
"He's…He's doing it to me, again! Goddamn it, he's doing it to me again! He wants her! He wants her precisely because I do!He wants anything and everything that's mine!" He snapped, shaking the other Slytherin slightly before setting him back down and collapsing back onto his seat, burying his face into his hands.
"Drac… I understand where you're coming from but you've got to calm down." Blaise spoke quietly, meeting Hermione's curious, questioning gaze with a slight frown before shaking his head, indicating for her to stay out of the conversation.
Draco shot him a fierce glare, causing Blaise to step back slightly again. Before the darker-haired Slytherin could say anything else, he rose up from his seat and stalked out of the room in silent anger, briefly bumping into Lorraine – who was walking into the Great Hall.
Ignoring his cousin's concerned look, he shoved past her and strode towards his Head Boy dormitory, blatantly glaring at any innocent student he who dared to stare at him or talk to him as he passed by.
When the Slytherin table resumed its usual activity after his hasty exit, Blaise slumped back down onto his seat and looked apologetically at Hermione, who was now looking more confused and frustrated than ever.
"…What just happened, Blaise?" She finally asked, looking from him to Lorraine who had approached their table and took Draco's vacated seat with a worried, knowing look etched onto her elegant features.
"What's Anton up to now, Blaise?" She asked quietly, sighing as she began helping herself to some breakfast.
When Blaise chose not to answer her, Hermione finally snapped and slammed her palm down onto the table in front of him, causing him to jump in surprise and accidentally spray juice over himself.
"What the hell, Granger?!"
"Blaise Elliott Zabini, if you care at all to be given any more chances with me for the remainder of this season, you will tell me what just happened and how it involves my best friend!" She hissed angrily at him, causing Lorraine to laugh lightly and Blaise to wince in intimidation.
"Uhm… Fine, Granger…Just don't yell at me." He complained, wiping the juice from his face while Hermione sat back and looked at him, clearly demanding an explanation.
"Nice choice, Blaise-pooh…I like her. She'll be able to keep you on a leash."
Hermione blushed at Lorraine's comment as the other girl gave her an otherwise friendly smirk and introduced herself. Blaise, on the other hand, had scowled at the blonde's implied insult and gave her a sneer, watching as the two girls exchanged formalities.
"I hardly need a leash to be kept on, Raine…To answer your question, I honestly don't know what your insane brother is up to. As for your question, Granger…I…I believe that's a rather long and complicated story involving a lot of people." He started uncertainly, looking at Lorraine for help.
She nodded, however, and urged him to continue. "It's okay, Blaise…I believe it's fair for her to be told the truth. If anything, it's Harry, or rather, Jaimee who has the most right to know what happened if my cousin is really serious about courting her." She reasoned, biting into her toast.
Hermione turned uncertain eyes to Blaise, who rolled his eyes at her reaction.
"Is he really serious about Harry? I mean… How does Malfoy really feel about her, anyway? From what I've seen, he's been nothing but a perverted, insensitive jerk to her this entire season. And they've been enemies for years…" She thought out loud, shaking her head.
Blaise just laughed at her inquiries, shaking his head. "Draco has always liked Harry, Hermione… Even when he was still a guy, I always saw the animosity between the two of them as something passionate. He's been serious about her from the very beginning…" He explained, reaching over to pop an apple tart into his mouth.
Hermione looked at him in both surprise and disbelief, shaking her head as she tried to string his words together in her head. "He has…?! B—but…if that as true, why did he have to turn her into a girl in the first place? Harry—"
The Slytherin shook his head fiercely, giving her an admonishing glare. "Listen, Hermione… I know Draco better than anyone… He never intended to turn Potter into a female just for his own convenience. It just…happened…Stop blaming him for that incident." He reasoned, causing Hermione to flush in shame and embarrassment.
"Y—You're right. I'm sorry…I suppose I just find it rather hard to believe that Malfoy had been attracted to Harry after all these years…No wonder he was always picking fights." She said thoughtfully, munching on a piece of toast.
"Still…If he liked Harry all this time, why didn't he just ask him—uhm—her out?" Hermione continued further, looking at Blaise with a accusing glare.
Before Blaise could answer her question, it was Lorraine who had spoken up, drawing Hermione's wide brown eyes to her hesitating features.
"He…couldn't. Draco, you see… Is the chosen and legal heir to the entire Malfoy family… He has a responsibility to sire an heir and he knows that more than anything." She explained, taking a small sip of water before continuing further.
"We're a very large family… As you may already be aware. The legal heir of the Malfoy family is not just chosen with age, you see… With every generation of Malfoy children, each son is scrutinized carefully and whoever is deemed worthy not only by accomplishments but by strength, leadership and honor, will be chosen as the legal heir." She continued, much to Hermione's confusion.
"I don't understand… What does being an heir entail? And who chooses the Malfoy heir?" She asked, her eyebrows fused together.
Lorraine met Blaise's shrug before explaining further.
"My family is one of the oldest and most traditional Wizarding families in England you see… Our process of selection is not so simple. The heir to the Malfoy family, once married, is to be formally named the family head and will thus control all of the family's financial holdings and inherit all of the family's companies, treasury and property. He will have full control over all of them as it is his responsibility to keep the family prestigious till a new head is chosen." She paused to catch her breath, allowing the Gryffindor to take it all in.
"The one who chooses the heir… Is our oldest and most powerful direct ancestor from the ancient times; Merlin himself." She finished, causing Hermione to wince and look at her as though she was insane. "His painting, Hermione…We keep a very old and magical painting of him in the Malfoy castle." She told her, laughing at the expression on her face.
Blaise spoke up as well, gesturing to several other pureblooded males around the Great Hall. "You should know…It's not only the Malfoys with such a tradition, Hermione. My entire family upholds this too… As well as some of the really old and large pureblooded families right now." He added, causing her eyes to light up in interest.
Hermione shook her head, her eyes still wide with amazement. "That's such an amazing legacy… I didn't know there were families who upheld such traditions. So who's the direct Malfoy and Zabini family head now?" She asked curiously.
Blaise smirked, shaking his head. "Well…My Uncle Giovann is the head now… I've just been named heir last month. As for the Malfoys, can't you tell? It's obviously Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy. He rules the entire Malfoy family with an iron fist. It's the reason his brother, Louis – Anton's father – holds such a grudge against him… Lucius had been named legal heir even before he entered seventh year." He told her, chuckling.
"Much like Draco has also been named just a couple of months ago." Lorraine finally added, glancing to check Hermione's reaction to see if the girl still understood. "He's been named from a selection of five potential sons – my brother included." She added, meeting Blaise's eyes.
To her amusement, the head girl of Hogwarts looked utterly and completely confused. "I don't understand… So Draco's been named legal heir and future head of the entire Malfoy family…What does that have to do with Harry and Anton?" She asked, causing Blaise and Lorraine to give each other uncertain looks.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, her expression clearly demanding a further explanation.
"Guys…?"
Sighing, Lorraine finally ignored Blaise's warning looks and gave in, setting her goblet of water down gently onto the table.
"Why don't we do this from the beginning…?"
START OF FLASHBACK
Smiling quietly to himself, Draco reached into his coat pocket and clasped the small velvety box of the engagement ring he had just bought for his future fiancée, watching her from where she was standing at the balcony and conversing with some of his family members and pureblooded friends.
He contented himself with watching her exquisite features from where he stood – admiring the way the moonlight seen through the crystal windows of the Malfoy garden reflected on her black hair and the way her emerald green eyes glowed brightly as she laughed.
Elisa Cartwright was easily one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life but that wasn't what had enthralled him about her – it was the way her emerald green eyes held so much of the life and fierceness he saw only in Harry Potter himself.
Harry Potter was the only person whom he actually respected and admired as an equal… And he found it rather ironic that it was precisely the similarity Elisa had with his archrival's beautiful eyes that had drawn him to her in the first place.
No… Draco thought sadly, shaking his head. Harry was beyond his reach. Especially since he was to be named legal heir that night. He had a responsibility to his family now. It wouldn't be right to chase dreams. Besides…
He looked at Elisa again, watching as she turned to whisper something to one of her friends before tossing her head back and giggling in that feminine laughter of hers. He sighed and allowed himself a small, crooked smile.
Perhaps Elisa could be perfect for me too… He thought, his fingers tightening around the velvet box in his hand once more and contemplated on the girl he had met at one of his mother's formal gatherings not too long ago.
They had been introduced by Elisa's mother – a rather disagreeable woman who seemed to be shoving her daughter towards every potential bachelor she met in anticipation for the upcoming hunting season that year.
Although Draco's initial impression of her was one of deceit and capriciousness just like her mother, he was taken back when she had looked up at him with her big, beautiful and achingly familiar emerald green eyes – causing him to throw all of his impressions aside and offer to escort her around the party.
They seemed to have hit it off quickly after that.
Elisa spoke to him with that flirtatious, witty charm of hers and spoke with a soft, graceful tone that drew people in to her beautiful, melodious voice. She moved with the natural elegance of an inbred aristocrat debutante – breezing into the room with such effortless ease that Draco wondered how it was so natural for anybody to move with such poise.
He watched her for a minute, hiding a smile as he tried to imagine the reaction on her face when he was named Malfoy heir and when he proposed to her soon after. His father had already told him he had been chosen. All that was left was for him to be formally presented to the entire family and the rest of pureblooded society.
Shoving the velvet box back in his pocket, he strode toward her with slow, firm steps as he briefly wondered in his mind if he had done the right thing by not telling her he was the future successor to the entire Malfoy family. It was tradition that no other person knew except the current Malfoy head and the chosen heir himself – he couldn't have told her even if he wanted to.
She showed a genuine interest in you even without knowing…So that's always a good sign. He told himself, nodding in affirmation before walking out into the balcony only to find Elisa locked in a rather intense conversation with his half-veela cousin, Anton Malfoy.
Once he saw Draco's warning glare as he approached, Anton smiled charmingly and turned to face him with an innocently surprised expression on his handsome face.
"Cousin Draco! What a surprise! We were just talking about you!" He beamed, looking from him to Elisa's blushing face and smirking when he realized that the girl was still rather flushed with exhilaration.
Draco gave him a very nasty sneer, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, I'm sure you were…" He muttered, reaching forward and taking Elisa's hand in his.
"Why didn't you tell me you had brought this ravishing young woman to our party? I thought we were close and all that." Anton mocked further, smirking when he saw Draco's eyes flashing in silent, barely-controlled anger.
"Precisely to avoid moments like this, actually." He muttered again, before turning to Elisa's confused face. "Elisa, this is my half-veela cousin, Anton Malfoy. So if you feel a bit disoriented and actually attracted to him right now, it's because of the stupid veela charm and by no means of his own accord." He drawled, causing Anton's eyes to narrow this time.
Elisa looked slightly embarrassed and shook her head. "N—No…I actually quite think that your cousin is very proper and charming, Draco." She assured the other boy, causing Draco to stiffen and Anton to hide a smirk at her statement.
Before anyone else could say anything, he tugged on her hand again, causing the girl to look at him in query. "Come on, I'm about to introduce you to my parents and the rest of my family." He said curtly, wanting to drag her away from the smirking veela.
Elisa nodded but gently pulled her hand away, giving him a small apologetic smile. "Very well, Draco…That would be lovely. But please just give me a few minutes more with your cousin, I believe we were just having an interesting conversation just now. I'll join you in about ten minutes." She assured him, failing to notice how Draco's jaw clenched in agitation.
Nodding briefly – albeit reluctantly – at both of them, he strode out of the balcony, hiding his furious face behind a mask of indifference to avoid being noticed by his other relatives gathered around them.
Once he was gone, Elisa turned to Anton, who smiled at her again.
"I take it you're interested then…In what I have to say?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as the girl swallowed nervously but nodded, looking around to make sure they weren't being watched.
Chuckling his amusement, he reached forward and pulled her towards him and dragged them both behind a couple of large plants to avoid being seen, causing the girl to giggle slightly in anticipation. Once they were hidden, he pressed himself against her and caught her lips in a deep, passionate kiss that was also heated with a hint of danger, making Elisa tremble slightly in his arms. Once he had pulled away, her hands were wrapped around his neck and her cheeks with flushed with both desire and exhilaration.
"God…I think you're a much better kisser than Draco…" She whispered, still slightly shaking.
Anton grinned at that, leaning forward and planting another kiss on her lips. "I know, my love…And for giving into this temptation tonight…I plan to offer you more than just passion…But first things first… Are you in love with my cousin?" He asked, causing the girl to blink in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"Draco…Are you serious about him? I'm assuming you're not otherwise you would have never agreed to go with me on this little balcony tryst when I had seduced you only an hour ago…" He assumed, raising an eyebrow as he waited for her to confirm it.
She blushed at his directness again but nodded, wrapping herself tighter around him. "I think he's very handsome…And I believe he is serious about me…But no, I am not serious about him." She answered, causing Anton to smirk in triumph.
"I see…So why did you agree to let him escort you to this party?" He pressed further.
"The hunting season is fast approaching…And Draco is one of the most eligible bachelors of the season. He's in running to be named heir, is he not? My mother told me to date him because of that." She explained, making the sneer on Anton's face wider.
"What if I told you…that I could give you that and so much more? What if…I said I could not only give you passion…But I could also give you all the riches that a woman could ever ask for…?" He whispered alluringly into her ear, causing her breath to hitch in her throat.
Anton continued further, pressing their bodies tighter against each other and snaking a hand up to entangle in her lustrous midnight strands. "The Malfoy heir is to be named tomorrow night…I am certain – more than certain – that I will be chosen as the next successor to my family." He told her, a superior and confident smile on his face.
Closing her eyes, Elisa leaned against him as he brushed his lips against her ear, causing a delightful shiver to run down her spine as she listened to his enticing words. "When I am named heir tomorrow… I'll give you the illustrious Malfoy name…as well as the prestige and the fame that goes with it. I'll shower you with jewels and diamonds…With beautiful, lavish gowns, pearls and shoes…Anything you want, I'll give you." He continued, watching with satisfaction as Elisa began to melt from his words.
"Y—Yes…I—"
"What if I told you…That I could give you the world, Elisa?"
Opening her eyes, she looked into his icy blue orbs – biting her lip as his gaze seemed to penetrate deeply into hers, searching into her very soul what she wanted.
The corners of his lips lifted seductively into an inviting smirk, causing her to feel another strong surge of attraction once more just before he caught her lips in another searing kiss that left her breathless and shaking as she tried to voice her thoughts.
"Then I would say with full consent…Take me, Anton…I want to be yours." She murmured softly, wrapping her arms around him and resting her cheek against his shoulder.
With that, Anton allowed a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!"
The two entangled figures on the bed froze for a long moment as they heard Draco's enraged growl, causing both figures to crawl out from under the silk blankets and blink up at the blonde's furious, seething glare.
For a long moment, Draco stared demandingly at the more petite of the two – his eyes filled with a mixture of anger, betrayal, disbelief and most of all – pain, as he looked at her imploringly, hoping for any explanation as to where he found her that next morning– in his cousin's bedroom entangled with him under the sheets.
After a long moment of him staring silently at her and Elisa fidgeting uncomfortably under his angry, wounded gaze while tucking her hair nervously behind her ear, she finally managed to speak.
"D—Draco…I… I can explain…" She started, wincing when Draco's eyes had hardened with mockery at her words, scoffing just before he reached down and picked up Elisa's skirt, hurling it at her naked form in anger.
"Can you?" He mocked sarcastically, sneering when he caught sight of Anton's amused smile directed at him. The other Malfoy was leaning back lazily against the bed pillows, his hands tucked behind his head.
Elisa bit her lip and pulled the blankets tighter to cover herself as she tried to speak once more, directing her attention to Draco's furious face.
"Draco… Please don't take this personally. I—"
"Take what personally?! The fact that I brought you here with serious intentions of proposing to you and you slept with my cousin behind my back?! The fact that I introduce you to my family and you humiliate me like this?!" He snapped, causing her to wince again as he turned to look at her in absolute disgust.
Before she could answer him, he spoke again – this time directing his anger towards his smirking cousin. "Judging from the fact that you two had been rather cozy since last night, I figured the reason I had to send you off early to your room after dinner was precisely so you could go off to Anton's room and enjoy yourselves…" He drawled, shaking his head.
When neither of them denied his accusations, he felt another surge of pain and betrayal, furious with himself at his own stupidity at having been the ignorant fool who had fallen right into their game.
Turning to Elisa once more, his eyes narrowed as he trailed his gaze down her disheveled hair, mussed up make-up and slightly red lips, taking in for the first time how he hadn't noticed the evident deceit and dishonesty the sharp features of her beauty exuded.
"And you call yourself a respectable debutante…Sleeping with a guy you had just met…You pathetic little slut."
At this, Elisa had stood up from the bed and drew the blankets tighter around herself as she walked over to him, ignoring the repulsed, pained look that was emanating from his face.
"Draco…Don't take this personally. I…never promised you anything…I…Honestly wasn't aware of how serious you were about me…The truth was, you never promised me anything either. I didn't know…" She began, trying to grab his hand but Draco flinched in disgust and shoved her away, taking a step back.
She continued, looking back at Anton and briefly noting the slightly disinterested look on the boy's exquisite features. "You have to understand…Anton, he…He promised me the world, Draco. I…I want to be with him." She finished, watching carefully as Draco's face remained nonchalant.
Then, for a brief instant, his eyes had clouded over in deep anguish before they became cold and guarded once more, flashing dark gray before riveting themselves to Anton – who up until that point had chosen to remain silent.
"The world, huh? Who am I to compete with that…?" He mocked again, struggling to maintain his composure as he walked forward until he was looming right over Anton, causing the other boy to finally sit up and meet his gaze with a simple raising of an eyebrow.
"All's fair in love and war…Right, cousin? No hard feelings…" Anton said innocently, giving the other boy a cheerful smile. Draco smiled back, a dangerous glint in his eye that caused even Anton to stiffen in slight trepidation.
"I congratulate you, Anton…You can keep this filthy, deceitful slut. I think you'll find that you two will be very happy together. I, on the other hand, definitely deserve better." He spoke softly, keeping his voice very even. Then, directing another sneer at Elisa, he stalked out of the room in silence, leaving Elisa gaping after him and Anton glaring at his retreating back.
"It gives me great pleasure to introduce my successor and the next, chosen heir of our illustrious Malfoy family – my very own son, Draco Lucius Malfoy!"
The ballroom was filled with a cheerful round of applause and acknowledgment later that night as Draco stepped forward onto the center of the room and accepted the hand offered by his father, giving it a firm shake. Lucius placed a hand proudly on his shoulder and gestured for him to face the gathered crowd of pureblood families surrounding them, to which Draco nodded to and consented.
Turning to face the crowd, he smirked to see the irate, disbelieving and humiliated expression on Anton's face. Nothing, however, was more satisfying than the look of absolute surprise and deep regret that was etched onto Elisa's face beside him. The hand she had wrapped around Anton's arm had dropped frustratingly as she turned to glare at the other boy, who in turn sneered at her before turning back to glare at Draco in hatred.
Draco simply raised an eyebrow before turning his gaze away and smiling politely at his family just before he began a short and simple speech of gratitude, causing his mother to gush tearfully at him and his father to smile proudly as he watched.
He didn't spare another glance at Anton or Elisa for the rest of the night.
END OF FLASHBACK
"That's…horrible!"
Blaise stopped narrating the story and turned just in time to see Hermione shaking her head in disbelief, her eyes slightly teary as she reached into her bag and pulled out a tissue.
"I can't believe I'd ever feel sorry for Malfoy but what happened to him was just horrible! How could Elisa do something like that to him?" She asked, sniffing as she wiped her eyes but Lorraine sighed and shook her head before answering her.
"Elisa wasn't the only girl Anton managed to steal away from Draco…She was just…Well, the one Draco had been most serious about up until then I suppose. He and Anton have always had a history…Draco's always been the most accomplished son in the entire family, you see…Anton had always been jealous of that." Lorraine finished, looking rather grim.
"You pureblooded families are always making things so complicated. Who knew that to be this rich and prestigious, you have to be a dysfunctional family…?" Hermione blurted out, slightly exasperated and Blaise and Lorraine both laughed, shaking their heads.
"Hey, I disagree Hermione. My family is not as dysfunctional as the Malfoys…And besides, it's not the wealth nor the blood that causes such problems. Every family has dark closets…Don't you think?" He pointed out, smiling at her and causing Hermione to blush in spite of herself.
"I suppose…Oh, I should warn Harry about Anton!" She suddenly realized, attempting to jump out of her seat when Blaise shoved her back down and shook his head fiercely.
"You musn't!" He hissed nervously, looking around the Great Hall to make sure no one was watching them before turning to give Hermione a warning glare.
She looked confused. "Why?"
Blaise sighed and ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Because…Draco doesn't want Harry to know what happened. He's warned me about it numerous times…Something about not wanting her to pity him…And that he wants her to choose him over Anton without anything else influencing her decision." He explained, causing Hermione to consider his words.
"That's…admirable…I suppose." She thought out loud, sighing before nodding her agreement.
"Fine…I won't tell her…But Anton had better not hurt her, Lorraine or I will be the one castrating that half-veela jerk." Hermione warned and Lorraine shrugged, giving her a smile.
"Do whatever you like…I've stopped trying to defend my brother's actions long ago." She informed him, causing the Gryffindor to relax.
Before either of them could say anything else, they finally heard the bell ring – causing the students around them to groan noisily before starting to gather their things in preparation for their morning classes.
"Well…Enough about Draco and Harry, Hermione… It would be my pleasure to escort you to our first class this morning…" Blaise started, giving her one of his handsome smiles as he offered her his arm, causing her to blush and nod in agreement.
"Very well…But I promised Viktor he'd escort me to my afternoon classes later so the morning is all I can give you." She told him, causing the Slytherin to blanch and Lorraine to hide a smirk behind her hand as she watched them leave, sighing before she began to gather her own things as well.
She was about to leave the table when a shadow suddenly appeared in front of her, causing her to look up into three smiling – and rather hideous – males that had stopped in front of her, causing her to immediately stiffen in alarm.
"Yes…?" She asked softly, narrowing her eyes as she inspected their Durmstrang badges and the way their leers lingered up and down her figure.
"Such a beautiful girl such as yourself…We'd like to escort you around the castle, Miss—"
"Malfoy. Lorraine Malfoy." She spoke scathingly with the usual Malfoy air of superiority, taking a disgusted step back as the middle of the three – a large guy with shaggy brown hair and a slightly crooked nose reached forward to take her hand into his.
"Well then, Miss Malfoy…Don't be shy…My name is Rickman Worshtire, and if you'll let me, I'd like to spend some time getting to know you better today." The guy with the crooked nose said again, giving her a smile and causing Lorraine to wince once more as he caught sight of the bits of food in between his large teeth.
"Ugh…I'm sure you would, Rickman… Listen, I have things to do today so if you don't mind—"
She was cut off when Rickman had grabbed her arm again, this time rather painfully as he pulled her toward him – causing the two boys behind him to snigger slightly at the nervous expression on her face.
"Let me go!" She hissed, struggling wildly against him but the boy seemed to find her struggling amusing and merely shook his head, looking to his friends with a grin.
"She's rather feisty, isn't she? Yes, I think I like her." He pondered out loud, narrowing his eyes as he let them feast over her slender figure once more.
"And she can't fight back, like Potter, huh?" One of his friends had kidded, causing all three boys to burst out into hearty laughter.
At this point, Lorraine was already contemplating which option would be better – whether to scream for her brother or for her cousin. Unfortunately, both, at this very moment, were rather far from her location and were not that likely to help her out in this situation.
Fortunately, she didn't have to decide for very long.
"She said, let her go."
All three boys – as well as Lorraine – turned at the sound of voice to see Ron Weasley walking over to them with a nasty glare on his face, his wand held tightly in his hand and a threatening sneer on his face.
Rickman snorted in amusement, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Or what? You'll send Potter on us? Where is your hot best friend anyway? Looks like she's not here to protect her little Weasel friend, huh? It figures you'd need a girl to protect your sorry arse." He taunted, sneering at him as Ron's face grew ominous.
"I'll take you on any day, Worshtire…Someone as stupid as you probably wouldn't even know which direction to throw a punch at. Now before Professor Snape sees you harassing one of our guests…Let her go." He threatened carefully, now aiming his wand carefully at Rickman's growling face.
Lorraine watched, biting her lip in anticipation as the larger boy finally growled as he saw the said Professor looking rather suspiciously at them before he relented and released his grip on Lorraine's arm, immediately causing the girl to move away from him and walk herself over behind Ron.
"What is going on here, Weasley? Don't tell me you're taking a leaf from Potter's book and attempting to ambush our guests?" Professor Snape had drawled as he approached them, causing Ron to step back slightly, putting his wand back into his pocket.
"Nothing, Professor Snape. I was merely informing these three where the bathroom was…They were just about to leave." He answered evenly, watching as the three Durmstrang students growled in response but otherwise turn on their heel and stalk out of the hall in silence.
Professor Snape didn't look convinced and was surprised to see Lorraine hiding behind Ron, his eyes wide as he directed his attention to the blonde girl. "Miss Malfoy…What are you doing behind Mr. Weasley's back? Isn't there somewhere else you have to be…? Or should I send for Draco?" He asked suspiciously, looking back and forth between the two students.
Lorraine shook her head, clearing her throat before speaking. "That's not necessary, Uncle Sev… I'm sure Draco's in class right now and besides, Ronald here was just showing me around school. I'll be alright." She assured him, giving him a sweet smile.
Ignoring the way Ron had cringed at how she had addressed Professor Snape, the Potions Master narrowed his eyes in suspicion but nodded and sent them off, finally causing Ron to turn to her in surprise and amusement once Snape was out of earshot.
"Uncle Sev?! Bloody hell, you call Snape, Uncle Sev?!!" He asked, bursting into hearty laughter as they walked out of the Hall. Lorraine raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him, leveling him with a glare.
"And if I did…?" She asked, scowling and continuing to watch him laugh as they walked towards the outside of the school towards the terraces, bumping into several familiar students as they passed by.
Ron gave her a rather endearing grin, his shoulders still shaking in laughter and his blue eyes bright with mirth. "It's bloody hilarious! I never thought that old bat could have any relatives at all." He mused, stopping just beside the fountain near the school entrance.
Lorraine rolled her eyes, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Uncle Sev has been a good friend of my family since I could remember… That's why I'm rather familiar with him." She explained, looking slightly irritated when Ron had started sniggering at 'Uncle Sev' once more.
Once he had recovered from his laughter, the irritated expression on Lorraine's face vanished into one of a blushing embarrassment as she turned to face him and gave him an uncertain smile. "By the way…Thanks for…back there. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come and saved me from those jerks." She spoke softly, blushing darker when Ron met her gaze.
At seeing her smile, the Gryffindor began to blush as well and cleared his throat, turning to look at any other object he could so he could avoid meeting her beautiful gaze.
"Oh…I…Uhm. Th—That was nothing…I saw you were having trouble and I was passing by. Those jerks really shouldn't even be here in the first place…They've been causing trouble since they've arrived." He told her, laughing nervously.
Lorraine nodded, giggling slightly. "Yeah…I can see why. They're rather hideous…Any girl would be terrified of being approached by them." She admitted, shuddering and causing Ron to laugh as well, smiling his agreement.
They stared at each other for a long moment before Ron finally coughed awkwardly, causing them both to tear their gaze away from each other in embarrassment, both teenagers blushing profusely as they tried to think of what else to say.
"Anyway…I…Uh…I'd just like to apologize for the way I acted before. You know…When I found out you were a Malfoy. That really wasn't your fault…I suppose I acted like a jerk then." Ron finally said, much to her surprise.
Turning to look at him again, she gave him a warm, beautiful smile and nodded her acceptance. "Apology accepted…I also must apologize. I realize it was rather difficult for you to accept something like that given the circumstances…I mean, about you and my cousin being enemies for quite some time now." She offered, causing Ron to laugh.
"Yeah…Draco and I have been the best of friends since first year." He kidded, shaking his head in amusement.
She smiled at this, raising her shoulders in a shrug. "Draco's not that horrible once you get to know him, you know…He's just rather—"
"Conceited?" Ron supplied bluntly, causing Lorraine to burst into giggles again and Ron to look slightly sheepish at his rather crude answer.
"I'm sorry…For what it's worth; I'd really like to apologize for my behavior. If you'd like, I'd like to make up for it by taking you for a tour around the grounds this morning…" He offered, smiling at her as she finally stopped giggling.
Lorraine returned his smile easily, nodding her agreement. "I would love that, Ron. But…Don't you have any morning classes to attend to?" She asked, looking slightly concerned but he shook his head, waving the thought away.
"All my classes are in the afternoon, don't worry. It's usually Harr—sorry, Jaimee and Hermione who have classes in the morning and I usually blow off some time in the Gryffindor common room around this time while waiting. Unless of course, you have something to do…?" He asked, looking expectantly at her.
Lorraine shook her head, giving him a reassuring grin. "No, of course not. Up until awhile ago, I thought I had to endure the company of those Durmstrang thugs but thanks to you, I'm free…So it's the least you could do by touring me around Hogwarts." She told him, a slightly flirtatious tone in her voice that caused Ron's ears to blush in nervousness.
"R—Right…Well then, let's—"
He never got to finish his sentence as he had ended up turning and walking right into the fountain's ledge, causing him to curse rather loudly before falling backwards directly into the fountain's running water with a loud and clumsy splash that drew the attention of everyone around them in surprise.
Damn it! Lady killer Ronald Weasley does it again! He snapped at himself in his head, thoroughly embarrassed as Lorraine gaped and ran to him in concern, obviously trying to hold back her hearty laughter as she offered a hand to help him out.
"A—Are you okay, Ron?" She managed ask, covering her mouth with her other hand to squelch her laughter as she heard the hearty sniggers of all the other students around them.
Ron glared at her offered hand for a minute. A rather mischievous idea popped into his head as he stared at her giggling form and he nodded, taking her hand before grinning and yanking her right into the fountain with him, causing her to squeal in surprise as she landed next to him in an ungraceful splash.
When she had recovered from her initial shock, she turned to him in anger, her blue eyes flashing as she watched him struggling to contain his own laughter now.
"Ronald Weasley, this has got to be the most ungentlemanly thing a guy has ever done to me, I'll have you know! I can't believe—"
She stopped when she saw the bright twinkling in his blue eyes and the warmth of his smile, finally causing her to relent and roll her eyes before joining in his laughter and splashing him playfully with the clear water.
"Jerk! You look like an idiot!" She teased, giggling again as she took in the rather scandalized looks and whispers of the debutantes, as well as bachelors around them who had witnessed the scene.
Ron began splashing her back, laughing as well and admiring the way Lorraine looked even more beautifully – if that was even possible – in the water.
"You…look as gorgeous as ever."
He was surprised at the words that had come from his mouth but just as Lorraine recovered from the blush that had started to grow on her pale cheeks, Ron had smirked evilly and began splashing her again, causing her to squeal in amusement and eventually join in, laughing harder than she could ever remember she had in her life.
A/N: Before anything else, I need to get it out. DEATH TO ELISA!!!!! :throws a flurry of knives and bombs: Okay, I'm fine now. Hehe. So sorry… that chapter had more Ron/Lorraine fluff than the main pairing but I promise more Draco/Harry fluff in the next one. In fact, I dedicated all of the next chapter to some much-needed Draco/Harry goodness so be sure to read it! :wink: As always, be a dear and don't forget to drop me a REVIEW, alright? Mwah! Toodles!