Pansy was quick to turn up at the Manor the next day, Draco brought her to my room. I had grabbed Pansy's arm and pulled her inside the room before shutting the door on Draco, which left Pansy confused for all of ten minutes until I told her what happened the previous day. She left the Manor later that evening without saying a word to Draco, Pansy came around every day after that. Mostly because Narcissa had let slip that I don't leave my room except for meal times.
The day of the Malfoy's Summer Ball had finally come around and I was dreading it. Of course, I knew it was happening but it came about so fast. I hadn't spoken to Draco in nearly two months, I couldn't even look at him without my heart breaking all over again. I did try to convince Narcissa to let me off the hook but she wasn't having it and I've learnt not to argue with Narcissa Malfoy.
Narcissa was in the middle of doing my hair for me when there was a knock on the door and Narcissa quickly opened it to reveal a very stressed out look Lucius Malfoy holding a garment bag, "You found it!" Narcissa said happily, taking the bag from her husband.
"I had to get it made, Narcissa, you were very specific about the details," Lucius said with a slight eye roll, "I hope you got the measurements right"
"Of course, I did" Narcissa gasped and hung the bag on the door of my wardrobe.
"I caught Draco trying to look," Lucius said with a small smile, I turned away at the mention of his name.
"Well, he's going to have to wait!" Narcissa said loudly, probably for him to hear and I bit back a smile, "What is it?" I turned back to them and Lucius was now wearing a frown.
"He's here," Lucius said quietly and my heart started to pound.
"Now?" Narcissa sighed, "Talk about bad timing, what does he want?"
"Adria. He wants to see Adria" Lucius said and looked at me, my palms were sweating and my body was cold. The Dark Lord wanted to see me already?
"What? No, I can't" I said quickly rising from my seat and clenching my hands together, Lucius looked at me with sympathy.
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice, Adria, he only wants to meet the Morrigan heir, nothing to be worried about. But we shouldn't keep him waiting" Lucius said and stepped aside, he motioned for me to follow him and I looked at Narcissa with wide eyes before I followed him.
I walked past Draco and I automatically met his eyes as I passed. Draco just watched as Lucius led me to the back room on the ground floor, Lucius paused in front of the closed door and turned to me. "I can't go in, but Adria, keep your head up and don't show him any fear. He's not going to kill you, purely because of your name" I nodded slowly and went into the room, I instantly shivered at the coldness of the room.
I walked forward slowly before looking up and my body froze. I don't know what I was expecting but this wasn't it. There he was, The Dark Lord. He didn't even look human, his skin almost chalk-white and his face resembles one of a skull with red eyes, cat-like slits for pupils and a slit nose similar to one of a snake. I inclined my head in greeting, "My Lord" I said quietly and straightened up.
"Adria Morrigan" His voice was cold and emotionless, "You look like your mother, but you have your fathers spirit. Or so I've been told"
"Thank you, My Lord" I forced myself to meet his eyes and tried not to recoil back as he circled me slowly.
"I've been told you've gotten quite a name for yourself at Hogwarts" The Dark Lord muses, "What is it? It escapes me"
I cleared my throat and stood up straight, "The Slytherin Queen" I said, "That's what they call me"
"And what has happened for you to achieve such a status?"
"I was told that Slytherin looks up to me while others fear me. I've also been known to shut down Harry Potter and his friends a few times"
The Dark Lord barked out a laugh "That's right, I almost forgot that James Potter was to blame for the fall of your line. Your mother, on the other hand, was weaker than I thought" I bit my tongue to hold back a comment and my hands clenched into fists by my sides, I know that he likes to taunt. I need to keep my tongue in check.
"But you have so much more strength" The Dark Lord continued and he came to a stop in front of me and I raised my head to look him in the eye, "Bravery too it seems"
"Thank you, My Lord," I said when The Dark Lord paused.
"Do you believe in tradition?"
"Yes"
"Then you know what will be expected of you?"
"Yes, My Lord. I know what my name holds and I know where my loyalties lie" I said quickly and The Dark Lord nodded.
"Smart girl" The Dark Lord nodded, "We're done for now"
I inclined my head and left the room, as soon as the door shut behind me I bolted to my room and shut my door. "Holy shit" I muttered and shook my hands out, my body was shaking and my heart was pounding, "Holy shit," I said again.
"Adria?" Narcissa's voice made me jump, "Are you okay?"
I pressed a hand to my chest and took a deep breath, "Yes, I'm okay. That was...intimidating. But I think he's pleased"
"Good," Narcissa said quickly and gestured to my mirror, "Shall we continue?" I nodded my head and sat back down in front of the mirror, Narcissa's hands danced through my hair, "I think half-up, half-down would be a good choice. You have a slender neck, Adria, show it. Your posture is perfect, as is your mannerisms. Perfect for the makings of a Malfoy woman, blood or not, Adria, you've got in you"
"Thank you, Narcissa," I said quietly and Narcissa stepped back to admire her work. She looked at me through the mirror with a small smile.
"You know what Lucius once said to me when we were at Hogwarts?" I shook my head, "He told me he was doing what was best for me"
"Draco said that" I muttered and Narcissa raised an eyebrow at me.
"Draco has a heart of gold but he is his fathers' son" Narcissa nodded and headed over to the bag she hung over the wardrobe. "So you know what I did in response to Lucius?"
"What?" I asked quickly turning in my seat, Narcissa opened the bag and exposed the dress that lay inside it.
"I walked into the next Ball with something I like to call the Revenge Dress," Narcissa said and stepped back, my jaw hit the floor. The dress was immaculate. A black one-shoulder ombre chiffon dress hung on the hanger, the shoulder sporting a diamond clip letting chiffon material flow down the back of the dress and another diamond clip on the waist. The top was fitted but the skirt flared out at the bottom with a slight slit in the middle.
"As Lucius said, he had to get it made. I took it upon myself to design it for you" Narcissa said and I snapped my mouth shut, I walked across the room and ran my fingers down the material, at a closer look I realised the ombre was white, not grey. "Black and White is the Malfoy colour, I was going to do a sweetheart neckline but I wanted to expose the shoulders and neck"
"It's beautiful, Narcissa, you do have an eye for design. But I'm not Malfoy" I said softly and Narcissa laughed.
"Not by blood, Adria. No matter what goes on with my son you're a Malfoy" Narcissa said softly, "I always wanted a daughter and I guess I got one" She added and I smiled properly for the first time in a month and tears filled my eyes but I quickly blinked them away.
"Thank you, Narcissa," I said softly, "For everything you and Lucius have done for me"
"Of course, Adria" Narcissa placed a hand on my shoulder, "Now get dressed, if Draco is anything like his father he'll soon regret his decision. The point of the Revenge Dress is to show them they messed up. Come down in ten minutes"
Narcissa smiled at me before leaving the room, I looked back at the dress with a small on my face and ran my fingers over the diamond clip on the waist, "Alright, Draco. You can break my heart but you're sure as hell going to regret it" I muttered to myself and slipped the dress of the hanger.
I waited fifteen minutes before deciding to brave the Ball downstairs, I checked myself in the mirror once more and adjusted the strap so it sat more comfortably on my shoulder and I made my way down the hall. I paused when I got to the top of the stairs and took a breath.
I slowly descended the stairs, not trusting my balance in the wrap-around heels Narcissa had matched with the dress, I kept my eyes on the stairs in front of me and only looked up when I reached the bottom. Narcissa stood to the side talking to a young lad that I vaguely recognised from Hogwarts. Lucius was busy talking to other Ministry officials but he sent a small nod when he spotted me.
My eyes fell on Draco standing by a table next to Blaise and my breath caught in my throat. Why did he have to wear all black? Narcissa made good on her promise and had trimmed Draco's hair slightly which was now styled nearly, his jawline sharp against the black of his suit. Draco looked up and his lips parted slightly when he found me, I took another deep breath to calm myself down and slowly walked towards him.
I pointedly turned my back on Draco and hugged Blaise, "You look stunning, Adria" Blaise commented and I smiled.
"Thanks, Narcissa had the dress made for me" I replied and Blaise laughed, looking over my shoulder and, presumably, at Draco. I tensed up slightly when Draco shifted closer towards.
"Adria!" I turned when I heard Pansy call my name, I turned just in time for her to crash into me, I quickly hugged her back with a small laugh, "My God, you look breathtaking in that dress!" She said as she took in the dress, she smirked and then turned to Draco, "Doesn't she, Draco?" I rolled my eyes but I glanced over my shoulder to see Draco's face flush, I bit back a smirk when I winked at Pansy and her eyes went wide with realisation.
"She's right, Dia, you look beautiful," Draco said softly, I suppressed a shiver as his breath hit the side of my neck and I turned slowly, making sure to keep my face blank.
"Thank you, Draco," I said quickly and I turned again to head towards the bar that Narcissa had hired.
I wonder if I could slip in a Fire Whiskey?
I felt a shock run my arm when Draco grabbed my hand quickly, "Dia, wait, I was hoping we could talk?"
"Nothing to talk about, Draco," I said flatly and I felt relieved to see Narcissa walking my way with the same boy she was talking to.
"I knew it would be a perfect fit," Narcissa said proudly when she reached us, she winked at me subtly before turning to the boy next to her, now I could see him properly I recognised him as Graham Montague, dark hair styled neatly and light brown eyes it was easy to tell he was athletically built underneath the suit he was wearing. "Adria, this is-"
"Graham Montague" I interrupted with a smile, "Quidditch Captain and Chaser on the Slytherin team"
"Pleasure," Montague said, taking my hand and placing a soft kiss to the back of it, "Your reputation precedes you, Adria, you truly are a beautiful woman" despite myself I felt my cheeks grow warm.
"Mother what are you-" Draco started, his voice was level but I could hear the underlying anger.
"Hush, Draco" Narcissa said quickly and shot me another wink. I looked at Pansy and she was smirking.
"Montague," Blaise said tersely, Montague nodded at Blaise curtly. Blaise shot me a look before Pansy grabbed his hand and dragged him away.
"Would you like a drink, Adria?" Montague asked me and I smiled, Draco's jaw clenched but he said nothing and I noticed his hands shaking slightly.
"I would love one," I said softly, Montague offered his arm and I smiled, slipping my hand onto his arm. Narcissa smiled at me knowingly as Montague led me away from Draco.
Montague handed me a glass and I gasped when I took a sip, "Fire Whiskey?" I said quietly and looked around quickly, Montague laughed lightly as he led me towards a table.
"Don't worry, you've had the all-clear from Narcissa. She said you can thank her later" Montague said as he took a seat next to me and leaned a little closer, "Also, I know what she's doing"
"And what's that?" I asked, sipping the warm liquid, Montague raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"That" Montague nodded his head and I looked around quickly, Draco was still standing where we left him and he was shooting daggers towards Montague. "Narcissa asked me to be your date tonight, she told me about Draco"
"Oh," I said quietly and started to twist the ring on my finger, I stopped when Montague's hand covered mine quickly and I looked up.
"If he was stupid enough to shoot you down then I'm more than happy to help him come to his senses," He said softly and I quickly finished my drink, "If that's okay with you?"
"You know what?" I said and stood up, holding my hand out towards him, "I wore this dress for a reason, I might as well see it through" Montague grinned and took my hand. Montague led me towards the Ballroom and from the corner of my eye, I saw Draco quickly follow. "Can you dance?"
"What kind of Pure-Blood would I be if I couldn't dance," Montague said, he wrapped an arm around my waist and quickly pulled me towards him. He started to lead the dance, I found it quite easy to fall into step with him and soon we found a rhythm that fit us both, "It's working, look"
I looked over my shoulder and saw a slightly red-faced Draco watching us like a hawk, I rolled my eyes and turned back to Montague, "He's going to punch you for this, you know?" I said and he smiled, spinning me and pulling back to him quickly.
"Worth it," He said quietly and I couldn't help but laugh, I saw Draco's fists clenched tightly as Montague led the dance past him, "You're quite the dancer, Adria, you could teach me a thing or two," Montague said as we passed him and I snorted lightly.
"Careful, I might take you up on that," I replied and I saw a muscle in Draco's jaw flutter.