An airport was an interesting thing. Though I'd been raised for all intents and purposes as a muggle, I'd never had the privilege of visiting or even needing an airport.
And it was to say the least, overwhelming.
So many people rushing to and fro with large bags, duffels, trunks, hauling their children and pets, the elderly in their speedy wheelchairs, the airline workers darting around assisting those who did not know what they were doing.
In the midst of all this, my father behaved like a seasoned professional.
Our bags were checked in, our boarding passes were handed to us, and off he marched. He knew exactly which gate we'd be leaving from and which waiting area was the one assigned to our gate. We sat down among several other fellow passengers and I kept waiting for the next thing to happen.
"We just wait, dear. That's all. Then we get on the plane and wait for it to land. We collect our luggage and that's basically your typical airline experience in a nutshell, provided you don't lose anything and don't get stopped at customs." My father said, his voice smooth and assured.
I smiled at his knowledge of airports and I knew he must be feeling proud that it was coming in handy right now.
"I have to admit I'm a little nervous, Dad." I said. As soon as I mentioned it, I realized I wasn't simply talking about riding in a plane. Everything about this trip was beginning to unnerve me.
Originally I had wanted nothing more than to get away from it all. But some prickly little feeling in the back of my mind made me hesitate. As though maybe it wasn't too late for something to happen. Maybe Draco would be looking for me and wouldn't be able to find me if I left.
After a few more seconds of ruminating on this, I shrugged and shook my head. Of course Draco wouldn't be looking for me. Who was I, anyway? Davis the Wallflower, soon to be christened Davis the Eternally Unwanted.
No one would be looking for me. But I was determined to look for me instead.
Sleep did not, could not come to Draco.
In any case, Lucius summoned Draco to his private quarters for a final commencement speech about how this marriage was the culmination of everything they'd ever aspired to as a pureblood dynasty of wizards. The wealth, the titles, the family…everything was ideal.
Everything was assured for the Malfoys to grow in power and esteem as they did in the past before Voldemort's defeat.
Draco listened without hearing, but he considered it a blessing that this would be the last time he'd have to hear it. Lucius was undoubtedly driving home the point just in case Draco was having second thoughts about walking down the aisle with Astoria.
It was his biggest fear.
But once all was said and done, Draco held out for the hope that he'd be left alone.
Narcissa's sharp gaze followed her husband and son as they went off to the private room for one final chat.
She estimated that no one would notice her absence until it was time to leave for the church. This would be quite sufficient for what she had planned.
Relying on the floo network, Narcissa, though never having actually been to the Christie House, was well aware of the surrounding location.
She managed to arrive in a port in London, brushing off her sleeves daintily. It was a park that was only a few paces away from the neighborhood where the Christies lived.
Narcissa set off immediately.
Once my father and I were seated comfortably, I looked out the small window and was amazed by the vast runway. I felt a tiny speck of nervousness at the prospect of such a large and imposing machine becoming airborne and gliding over an ocean.
But I pushed such thoughts away and tried to think of something else.
"What will you do in America?" I asked my father. I knew he had little to do in England but lecture and keep to his own studies. Perhaps this journey was just as much for him as it was for me.
"I'm going to enjoy myself." He said with a smile. This might very well prove to be my father's chance at finally fitting in somewhere. I fervently hoped he would find a sense of belonging.
He truly deserved it.
After a few minutes of stand still, and then hearing the pilot introduce himself, we had begun to move. We rotated at first in order to line ourselves up properly on the runway, and then we began to go forward.
It was slow at first, and then faster. Pretty soon, my poor stomach was left far behind at the airport as we reached break-neck speeds. We lifted off the ground and continued to ascend higher and higher into the sky and I suddenly felt a most exhilarating peacefulness.
The world in all its charms and deficiencies was now below me. Having hit rock bottom, and several more bottoms below that I hadn't known existed, it pleased me to think that ascent was the only other way to go from here.
I looked out the window and marveled at how small everything seemed from up here just below the clouds.
I vowed then and there that I would never again be encumbered by my old nonsense.
Davis the Wallflower was soon to be Davis the Tenacious.
I bit my lip as I said one last prayer for Draco, that he might be happy. I mourned for him for just a moment, my fingers stroking the glass as I imagined that one of the buildings I could see far below was probably Malfoy Manor. I wished him a silent farewell and took a deep breath, letting my love for him go as one lets a balloon float away into the sunshine.
It was not her custom to knock on doors. Narcissa had always been able to travel easily from one place to another, but Algernon Christie was a squib, and one who had embraced the muggle lifestyle though he still lived in the wizarding world.
Still it did not become her to knock on the front door of the Christie House.
She looked around at the neighborhood, examined the landscape, and just before she had the chance to get impatient, the door opened slowly.
"Hi there, can I help you?" A young woman asked. Narcissa recognized her immediately as Julianna Christie, the younger daughter. But she understood that Julianna probably didn't recognize her at all.
"Julianna Christie? I wonder if I might inquire about Davis. Is she at home?" Narcissa began. She had somehow gained a soft spot for Davis during their time together. There was something about her the incited one to want to care for her, like she was a stray kitten.
"My sister is gone for a while. Can I ask what this is about?" Julianna began suspiciously. Narcissa took a few steps closer to Julianna.
"It's very important. It concerns my son, Draco." Narcissa said.
Julianna's mouth fell open in shock.
"May I come in?" Narcissa urged when it became clear that Julianna was frozen in place. Julianna moved aside to let Narcissa through the door.
"Davey never really told me what happened between them." Julianna said, leading Narcissa into the main room. Narcissa wasted no time in standing near the window, appearing distraught.
"Draco never revealed much to me either. I was hoping someone could enlighten me." Narcissa said. She paused to look back at Julianna, her face drawn with worry and fear.
"Why? Is something wrong?" Julianna asked. She felt an impulse to hug Narcissa, but Narcissa remained cold and elusive, even in the midst of her obvious emotional turmoil.
"My son is not well. He has been driving himself mad worrying about Davis. I wanted to take some news back to him." Narcissa's hands rested in the crook of her elbows.
"She is much better lately. She was suffering greatly for several weeks, but she managed to come through it." Julianna began. She wondered if it would be good or bad news to explain that Davis had just left the country.
Narcissa's face flooded with relief and the tension in her body loosened significantly.
"He will be much pleased to hear that. Perhaps it is better that I didn't speak with her in person. I wouldn't want to upset her if she's been doing so well." Narcissa began.
Julianna winced and felt that, although it wasn't her responsibility or right to do so, and although it wasn't any of the Malfoys' business where Davis ended up, she needed to explain that Davis had gone away. Perhaps for a very long time.
"What is wrong? Will she know I'm here?" Narcissa turned her back on the window and faced Julianna directly.
"No, she won' t know. As a matter of fact, Davis has…gone abroad to study for a few years."
Narcissa felt a heaviness in her chest and stomach.