Chapter Fifty-four
The Boyfriend
December 1994
The night of the Yule Ball.
The students from all three schools were dancing, drinking and talking loudly. Too loud. And the music was playing nonstop. All those noises entered the Potions Master's head and made him feel overly annoyed. That night he was even more irritated than usual. To watch over hormone-driven teenagers snogging around the castle was far from being his favorite pastime. If he could, he'd be at home, lounging on his couch, with his beautiful 7-month-pregnant wife on his lap, a good sweet elven wine on his hand and his children fighting and playing games on the rug. They were all home already, James, Nick and Liz, from school.
But he wasn't home. No. He was still in Hogwarts. The Headmaster had made all teachers supervise the corridors looking for snogging couples that were going too far. "Don't be cruel, Severus." said Dumbledore when Snape complained about the task. "You were like that once. Or do you think I don't know what you and Florence used to do in the Astronomy Tower and the Room of Requirement?"
Snape didn't reply. So there he was.
At midnight the Ball would be over and it was 11:45 already. Snape could only think about home, his bed, his wife. He told Dumbledore he was leaving and the Headmaster just said good bye. So Snape went to the dungeons to go home by Floo. But his nightmare wasn't over yet. In front of his living quarters' door stood Karkaroff.
"Severus! I must talk to you! The Mark is reappearing!" Karkaroff whispered. "It's becoming more and more visible each day!"
"I've already told you, Igor, there's nothing to be concerned about."
"You can't pretend nothing is happening! You can't deny he's coming back!"
"So, run!" Snape growled, furious with the man and his annoying accent. "Run away and I'll tell them you were afraid and ran like a coward. However, I'll remain in Hogwarts." he opened his door and stopped Karkaroff from following him in. "I'm not inviting you in."
"We need to talk!"
"There's nothing else to talk about. Now, if you'll excuse me." and he closed the door on Karkaroff's face.
Florence woke up hearing steps on the stairs. She took her wand from the nightstand and walked slowly to the corridor and then she saw him and smiled. He gave her a tired smile back.
"What are you doing with that wand? You know no one can break into this house." Snape said.
"I heard footsteps and just… I worry, you know that." she smiled and he hugged her, kissing her lips and then kissing her swollen belly, feeling little Sophie moving inside.
"Do you want something to eat?" Florence asked as they walked into their bedroom.
"No, I just want to shower and go to bed. I'm beat. This day was the most annoying day in a long time."
He went to the bathroom and Florence followed him. He began showering and she sat in the small sofa that there was in the bathroom.
"What happened to make you feel so irritated?" she asked.
"Besides the stupid Ball and all the teenagers? Karkaroff… he's afraid of retaliation."
"Is he going to run?"
"I hope so. Then I won't have to look at him ever again."
Florence chuckled.
"Is everybody asleep already?" Snape asked.
"Yes. But Chris will probably come to our bed in a few minutes."
"Is he having nightmares?"
"No. It's just that when you're not home and the other three are at school, it is just him and me so he comes to sleep with me."
"Hand me a towel, please." he asked closing the shower.
"Here." Florence gave him a fluffy white towel. "Tell me about the Ball."
"The great hall was as beautiful as it always is when there's a Ball in the castle. McGonagall knows how to make beautiful decorations."
"If it was so beautiful, why did you hate it?"
"Snogging couples everywhere, Dumbledore way too happy and Karkaroff bugging me. Are those enough reasons?"
They left the bathroom, Florence lay on the bed. Snape put some comfortable sweatpants on and lay down beside her. Florence laid her head on his chest, one of his hands going to her stomach, feeling Sophie.
"I love you, you know." she said.
"Yes… and I love you."
And after a sweet kiss they fell asleep.
But inside a room two doors down from theirs, there was a beautiful girl that couldn't sleep. Elizabeth had received a letter that had made her heart stop.
Miss Delacour
I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you like the little gift I sent you. I looked for something that would suit you but I was unable to find anything up to your beauty. This ring was the closest I could find.
I'd like to know if we could meet somewhere before classes begin next year. Tell me when and where and I'll be there. It could be in Hogsmeade or at the Diagon Alley, anywhere you want.
I want you to know that I'm not being frivolous in my request, I wish to see you again and get to know you.
Truth is I can't get you out of my mind.
Yours sincerely,
Draco Malfoy.
Elizabeth had already opened the little black box that accompanied that letter. A beautiful ring lay in its silky black interior. It was a silver ring with twenty-five little flowers, each flower had a diamond center. It was a flower bouquet in a ring. Liz's hand trembled when she thought of putting it on her finger. She had the feeling that if she did that she'd accepting more than just Draco's friendship. She put the ring back in its box and put the box and the letter inside her nightstand drawer. She lay down on her bed, staring at the enchanted ceiling that her father had made for her. It looked like the night sky, only it was always clear and full of stars and the moon was always big and round. It was a beautiful magical present. She loved it. Dad would kill Draco if he knew about this letter. She knew her father was Draco's godfather and she knew everything there was to know about the Malfoys. They were mean, dark and evil. But I felt something that night… when I first saw him. I can't forget him since that night. How will we be able to meet? I'll have to talk to mom. Maybe she'll understand. Elizabeth turned off her bedside lamp and closed her eyes. I must remember to make my Occlumency exercises before going to breakfast tomorrow. If dad catches a glimpse of anything related to Draco in my mind, he'll lock me at home for the rest of my life.
And the girl fell asleep, dreaming about a blond haired boy.
In the next morning
Florence woke up before her husband. Sophie was kicking all of her organs and she felt nauseated. She got up and walked a bit around the house, she found Tiffany and asked for some ginger tea. She heard some noises inside Elizabeth's bedroom as she was walking by the door. She knocked.
"Liz, are you awake?"
"Yes, mom, come in."
Florence walked into the room, closed the door and sat on the bed beside her daughter.
"Morning, princess."
"Morning, queen."
They called each other like that all the time, for if Elizabeth was her father's princess, Florence was his queen.
"Morning, Sophie." the girl kissed her mom's stomach.
"Your sister is not behaving this morning. I slept like a baby the whole night but this morning she started to practice Quidditch inside of me, I think."
"Mom, is dad still asleep?" Elizabeth asked, getting serious.
"Yes, honey, why? Is something wrong?"
"No… not exactly wrong. But I…" she sighed and picked the letter from the drawer. "You better read this and then you'll understand."
Florence opened the letter and began reading it, her eyes getting bigger as she read. Once she finished it, she closed the letter again and looked at her daughter.
"I'm not against it, Liz. But your father will never accept this."
"I know that, mom. But maybe you could talk to him and then…"
"I can't and I won't lie to your father, Elizabeth." Florence saw her daughter's eyes getting filled with tears. "I knew something like this was going to happen. I saw the way Draco looked at you that night at Hogwarts."
"Mom, I felt something when he kissed my hand."
"What did you feel, honey?" Florence looked even more concerned.
"I don't know exactly. But as we were walking side by side to the Headmaster's office I felt something like comfort and peace. Like we were old friends. I felt good walking beside him."
Florence stared at the window, looking sad.
"Maybe you're blessed by the Enchantment as well…" murmured Florence.
"What is that?"
"It's when your magic recognizes other person's magic as its other half."
"You mean like soul mates?"
"Sort of, yes."
"Are you and dad blessed by it?" asked Elizabeth.
"Yes. But it's not always a blessing, dear. When things go bad between a blessed couple it can make you physically sick."
"Did it happen to you?"
"Yes. The Enchantment made me faint once." Florence sighed. "There are also... let's call it consequences, when you're blessed by the Enchantment… but let's think about those another time. Maybe you're not." Florence smiled weakly. "It'll be better if you're not."
"Is it so bad to find your soul mate, mom?" asked the girl, confused.
"No, dear. It's not bad! Your father and our family are everything to me. The problem is, Liz, there's a war coming and Draco's family is not on the same side we are."
Elizabeth just nodded and took the letter from her mother's hand, putting it back into the drawer.
"The letter mentioned a ring. Where is it?" Florence asked.
The girl took the black box and gave it to her mother.
"This is gorgeous, Liz." Florence smiled. "You know this means much more than just friendship, don't you?"
"Yes. I haven't put it on yet."
Florence looked at the ring again, closed the box and sighed.
"Honey, you're only twelve. Draco's fourteen. You are both too young to get into a serious relationship. Just make sure that you remember that and Draco does too, okay?"
"So that means you'll let me meet him?"
"Yes, dear. Write back to him. He'll get your owl before lunchtime, the Malfoys don't live that far from here. Tell him to come to Hogsmeade this afternoon at three. Don't tell him where you live and don't use your father's surname."
"Thank you, mom!" the girl hugged her mother and kissed her face. "Will you tell dad?"
"No. Not for now. And when you two meet, you must make it clear to Draco that your family doesn't follow the Dark Lord."
"Yes, mom! I will. Maybe he'll think better and change sides."
"Don't hold your breath, honey. I don't want you to be disappointed. The Malfoys follow the Dark Lord for two generations. Draco will be the third."
"I'll talk to him. You say love cures it all." Elizabeth took the box from her mother's hand and put it back into the drawer.
"I just don't want you to suffer what I've suffered, baby." Florence said, hugging her daughter. "I cannot believe I'm talking about boyfriends with you already."
"Oh, no, mom! Don't start it!" Elizabeth laughed. "Let's go down to breakfast before you start crying and saying we all grow too fast."
They went downstairs, no one was up yet. They sat at the breakfast table.
"I don't think I'll be able to eat much this morning." Florence said making a face to all the delicious-looking food on the table and sipping her ginger tea.
"Just a bit more than one month to go, mom." Liz smiled at her mother. "I'm so anxious to meet Sophie."
"Really? I thought you'd be angry and jealous of her."
"I can't say I won't be. She'll probably be as crazy about dad as Chris is and everybody knows that I want dad all to myself." Elizabeth said, making a sandwich.
"You can be sure she'll be as crazy about your dad as you all are. I remember the first time Severus spend the day with the twins. He let them do anything they wanted, he even gave James his wand! He allowed them to do many other things that I'd always prohibited; like watch TV until late, eat sweets all the time, help with potion making."
"But that's not fair. Why could they do all those cool things and we can't?"
"Hey! As far as I know, you, young lady, can't complain about limits. Because I know that half the things I say no to, you go and ask your father and he says yes! I know all about that coat your father gave you for your birthday!"
"That coat was unique and beautiful mom! No one else in the world has a coat like that! And we can afford it, we have enough money for a simple coat and more. I don't understand why you didn't want me to have it! The girls at school die every time I wear it."
"It's not because we can that we must buy things, Liz. And that's what I've been trying to teach you but your father keeps spoiling you all!"
"Are these two gorgeous girls talking about me?" Snape asked walking towards them with Chris on his back.
"Yes!" said Florence smiling. "We were talking about a certain very expensive coat that you gave someone. Over two hundred galleons if I remember well."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, then." Snape said, kissed his wife and daughter and sat down.
Chris kissed his mom and sister and sat beside his dad.
They ate in silence for a while. Then Florence spoke:
"Sev, I'll take Liz for a walk this afternoon in Hogsmeade. Will you be home all day?"
"Yes. You girls go out and Chris and I will have a lot of fun here!"
"Yay!" exclaimed the boy.
"We could have dinner with my mom tonight. What do you think?" asked Snape.
"Great idea. Hey, Mellody." Florence called the elf. "Where are James and Nick?"
"The twins aren't home, Mistress. They didn't sleep here tonight."
"Oh, no. Not again. Severus, you must talk to them! They have to understand that there's a war coming!"
"Leave them to me. But are you feeling well enough to go for a walk in the village?"
"I'm fine. Besides, if I feel anything, Liz can bring me home."
"Don't you want me to go with you?"
"No, Sev. I'm fine. We'll just go for a walk. Don't worry."
Later that day
Florence and Elizabeth were walking through Hogsmeade.
"Where will you two meet, Liz?"
"At the new Florean Fortescue."
"You'll have ice cream in this cold day?"
"They've just invented this new hot ice cream, mom! James said it's delicious!"
"Interesting. I think I'll try it too, then!"
They stopped in front to the ice cream parlor.
"Liz, I won't be able to walk in there with you." Florence said.
"Why not?"
"I've just seen Narcissa Malfoy through the window. She knows me and she knows I don't have any siblings. She'll take one look at you and she'll know who your father is. I'll wait for you at Magical Clothing, ok?"
"All right."
"I'll have tea with Sandra and maybe buy some things for Sophie."
"More clothes for Sophie? Mom, if you keep buying her things soon she'll have more clothes and accessories than I!"
"Liz, when you were a child you had more clothes than I ever did."
"I still have more clothes than you!"
Florence shook her head and smiled. Elizabeth loved material things. She kissed the girl's forehead.
"You go inside, Draco's waiting for you. Remember all we've talked, all right?"
"Yes, mom."
Florence saw Narcissa Malfoy leaving the ice cream parlor so she walked to the Magical Clothing Store.
Elizabeth walked to Draco's table.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy."
He quickly stood up and took her head, kissing it.
"Hello. I was afraid you wouldn't come."
"But… I'm not even late." she didn't understand his fear.
"No, you're not late. I just… I feared it anyway. Have a seat, please." he pointed to the chair in front of his in the small table. "Did you like the present I sent you?"
"Yes. And I'm curious, Mr. Malfoy. Why would you spend a small fortune on a gift to a girl you barely know, or better saying it, you don't know at all?"
"I… couldn't stop thinking of you. Really."
"You've already told me that in your letter. Why did you want to meet me?"
"I want to get to know you. And, please, call me Draco."
"Look, Draco, we really need to talk. Before we get to know each other I believe I must say a few things." she lowered her voice. "I know your family follows the Dark Lord so you should know from the start that mine doesn't. However, I'm not here to judge you. You are not your family, after all. What I want to know is what do you think about it?"
"Well…" the boy sounded nervous. "I have no intention of becoming a Death Eater, if that's what you're asking."
"And are you all right with the fact that my family doesn't agree with your family's views?"
"That's fine with me. My parents will have to accept my feelings for you." Draco's eyes got huge when he realized what he had just admitted. "But… what about your parents? Will they forbid you to see me because of my family?"
"I'm here, aren't I? My mother has agreed with this. But she asks me to remind you that I'm only twelve and you're fourteen. And my father still doesn't know anything about us. My mom promised me she wouldn't tell him anything. We can keep this a secret until… well, until we are certain this is going somewhere."
Draco looked like he had been stupefied. Elizabeth sounded much older than her age. She sounded like she knew what she was doing there. She reminds me of someone. I just can't remember whom. And the way she calls Voldemort the Dark Lord… He thought.
"Do you believe your parents will agree with the fact that I want to ask you to be my girlfriend?"
"Is that your intention already, Draco?" she asked, blushing.
"Yes. And I know you're only twelve, I'd never take advantage of you. I'm too young myself."
"Well, my mom is ok with any possible relationship between us. We've talked, you know. But my dad, he'll… he'll freak out."
"Is he too overprotective?"
"You could say that." she smiled.
"I understand. Any man with a daughter as beautiful as you should think about locking her in a tower and make only the best have her hand." he put his hand over hers on the table.
"Don't give him any ideas, please. I can see him doing just that." she laughed. "One more thing. I'm not meeting you here today because of your money or your family's name. I don't need any of it. If you want I can give you the ring back." she put the little black box on the table.
"No, that won't be necessary." Draco stared at the girl in front of him. She was a beautiful mystery. He was more than in love, he was bewitched by her.
Elizabeth smiled. Their fingers entwined. The waiter came and they placed their orders. She could feel something in the air between them, and she'd felt that sort of magic before, she grew up watching and feeling it between her parents.
Draco never took his eyes off of her.
Was she too young to be forever connected to someone? Yes, she was. But was she sad that she'd already found the love of her life? No, not at all.
More than two hours had passed already. Florence was still talking and having tea with Sandra, the owner of Magical Clothing. She had bought some new onesies for Sophie, two blouses for Elizabeth, four sets of clothes for Chris and several things for her husband and the twins.
After finishing their hot ice creams, Elizabeth and Draco went for a walk, hand in hand. The girl looked over her shoulder from time to time and made sure they stayed as far as possible from her house. The hours seemed to pass too fast; she knew it was time to say good bye.
"Draco, I fear I have to go. My mom's been waiting for me all this time."
"Your mom's here? Can I meet her?"
"Sorry, but I don't think that's a good idea. What if my father is there with her and..."
"I understand. There'll come a time when we'll be able to introduce our families. But it's not today."
"Yes. But not today." Not any time in the near future, either. She thought.
"When will I see you again?" he asked.
"I don't know. I'll have to go back to France on the first week of January. But I… I won't forget about you."
They stopped by a beautiful old water fountain.
"I'll write to you." Draco murmured, taking both her hands in his. "I won't be able to forget about you." he kissed her hands.
"I'll gladly reply to any letter of yours." she said smiling more.
His blue eyes stared into her dark ones for a moment, then one of his hands touched her face.
"You're just so beautiful." he took a step towards her. "May I…?" their lips so close now.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and nodded.
And then he kissed her. His warm soft lips touched hers in a delicate kiss at first. But she needed more, she didn't know when she'd see him again. One of her hands went behind his neck, pulling him closer; she opened her mouth when she felt his tongue touching her lips. And then his tongue was caressing hers. Her whole body trembled. Their breaths mingled. His hands around her waist, embracing her tightly, pulling her closer to his body. They only stopped the moment they needed air. And they stared at each other. Draco's finger traced her wet bottom lip and neither of them said a word for a while.
"I really have to go now." she whispered.
"I understand." he whispered back.
Elizabeth took a step back and walked away from him. She looked back a hundred times on her way to the Magical Clothing.
Elizabeth found her mom and took some of the bags from her. They were walking home, Liz was silent but smiling too much. Florence knew something had happened.
"Did he kiss you, Liz?"
"Yes, mom!" the girl said, unable to contain it any longer. "My first kiss! And it was with my soul mate! How romantic is that? It was so good and warm…"
"Liz. May I remind you again that you're only twelve?"
"I know that, mom. And he even asked for my permission to kiss me!"
"That was very polite of him." Florence sighed. "You just can't get home with that face, Liz. You have to clear you mind and stop thinking about him for a moment. Otherwise your father will know everything. I'm not even trying to read your mind but you're projecting your thoughts like crazy, dear."
"Ok." Elizabeth took a deep breath and began one of the Occlumency exercises her father had taught her.
"If your father finds out I let you meet with a boy and that said boy was Draco Malfoy, he'll… I don't even want to think about what he'll do."
"But what about the Enchantment? I think I felt it… the same magic I always feel when you and dad are in one of those disgusting lovey-dovey moments…"
Florence laughed and said:
"You know your dad is Draco's godfather, right?" Elizabeth nodded. "Well, that won't matter if he finds out Draco put his hands on you. With or without Enchantment. Draco will probably go down to a potions class one day and he'll never be seen again."
"That really sounds like dad…"
"That's why you must be careful."
"I'll be. I'll practice Occlumency every day."
They reached the house and walked inside. Not another word was said about Elizabeth and her boyfriend.
