CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Draco sat behind his desk and started shuffling random papers. His mind was not able to focus on work at the moment after the conversation he had with his mother.
Narcissa had snapped back to her composed and elegant self before she told Draco everything she knew. She questioned him of course. Not being able to tell her anything surprisingly she did not push on the subject. Though Draco knew his mother too well. He could tell she had formed some sort of answer for her own inquiry.
He stopped shuffling the papers as snow white owl with black tipped wings dropped a letter on his desk. The owl perched on the side confidently. Apparently waiting for treat.
Draco grabbed a treat from his desk drawer and gave it to the greatful owl. "Hey, long flight?" He stroked the owls soft feathers a moment before opening the letter.
Draco,
I'll be back tonight. I just finished finalizing the final details of our wedding. Being here in Italy without you is starting to work my nerves. I miss you. I'll see you tonight.
Love,
Astoria
Draco noticed a change of tone in her letter though he couldn't decipher what it was. He was about to grab a fresh sheet of parchment until he remembered that he had a task to do but with Astoria coming back he didn't think he could keep this from her. Though Kingsley approved of letting his mother in on the situation he wasn't really planning on it. He wasn't planning on telling Astoria either. It would crush her or worse. Mother would be livid.
He was interrupted by Harry knocking on his desk to get his attention. He raised his head to look at the bespectacled man before him quirking his brow," yes?" He asked cooly.
"It would be best to start working immediately. Hermione has already been to the archives to get the files and we'll discuss this at my place tonight." Harry said.
Draco sighed," I can't tonight." Harry put his hand flat on the desk," We have to start on this. The sooner we get something the better. Kingsley has all of us on this."
Draco glared at him," I know that Potter. Just have her send me copies of the files and owl it to me. I have plans tonight." He said firmly. "Fine." Harry answered wanting to avoid an argument. "We can meet as soon as possible to discuss whatever you've found." Draco nodded shooting a look at harry as he turned to walk away.
Draco grabbed a quill and started writing a reply to Astorias letter.
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That night Draco was waiting for Astoria in front of a wizarding italian restaurant that had just opened near hogsmead. An odd place for such a high class restaurant he thought.
He smoothed his dark blue suit jacket and picked off imaginary lint on his trousers. He patted his hair down to make sure it would stay in place out of his eyes. He didn't wear it slicked back with copious amounts of gell like in his younger years but he had gelled his hair to keep his fringe from his face.
A pop of appritaion sounded and then there stood Astoria smiling widely at him. Her honey blonde hair perfectly pinned to the nape of her neck and her blush pink gown sparkled showing off every delectable curve of her body. The Plunging neck line was accented with a emerald necklace on a delicate silver chain she wore around her neck that matched her emerald drop earrings surrounded by small diamonds. A gift from Draco.
"Tori, you look beautiful." He approached her and gave her a peck on the cheek, a smile on his face at seeing her. "Thank you Drake. I missed you." She said hugging him.
"Shall we?" He asked as she pulled away and offered his arm. "We shall." She answered flashing a brilliant smile.
As they walked in he realized that the restaurant looked bigger inside then outside. The walls were creamy white decorated with expensive paintings, all the lights were chandliers shining and twinkling brightly, the velvet floor was a emerald green color with elegant silver spirals. He wondered if the owner was a slytherin or just had a thing for green and silver.
"Reservations for Malfoy 8pm." He said as they approached a waiter at the entrance. "Yes. Welcome. Please come this way to your table." The waiter led them to a table near one of the large windows looking out towards Venice, Italy. It was charmed to whatever scenery you wanted in real time.
Thanking the waiter he pulled out Astorias chair for her and pecked her on the cheek again before sitting himself down.
The waiter handed them their menus and he ordered Pinot Noir to be served with their dinner.
"This is lovely Drake." Astoria said admiring the interior of the restaurant.
"It just opened a few weeks ago. I thought it would be perfect for us to have dinner here. Though you might be sick of Italian food by now." He smirked at her.
She giggled," It's alright. As long as I'm with you I wouldn't mind having Italian for the rest of our lives." Draco smiled at her. Ignoring the feeling that something was changing in their platonic relationship.
Their food arrived with their wine," The wine is perfect with fettuccine Alfredo. Great wine choice Drake." "Glad you enjoy it." Draco said sipping his wine.
"Drake. I've been thinking a lot about us since being in Italy." Astoria put her fork down gently and looked at Draco with a shy demeanor.
"Oh?" He replied dumbly. "Yes. I think we should try and make us work. I like you Drake. Getting to know you more and more these last few months has been wonderful. I want to be with you more than just having mutual respect." She continued her words ringing honesty.
Draco didn't see this coming. Having ignored his instincts. They were friends with mutual respect for each other. He never really inclined to think of her in a more romantic way. He enjoyed her company. Seeing her and being with her again was great. Maybe they could make it work.
"Drake?" Her voice held nervous tone as he took too long to reply. Draco put his hand on top of her small delicate one and held it firmly tracing circles with his thumb on the back of her hand soothingly. "Yes we could work on our relationship. I enjoy being with you and seeing you again it feels right."
She beamed at him, her eyes twinkling with happiness at his words.
They left the restaurant soon after to enjoy the rest of their evening at his place.
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Harry and Hermione were in the living room of grimmauld place. Hermione of the couch with papers strewn all over the coffee table while Harry was on the floor sitting in a couch cushion with papers spread around him.
They have been sifting through the files for an hour when Hermione decided to take a break. Her eyes were starting to blur around her vision.
"Why couldn't Malfoy be here again?" She asked Harry rubbing her eyes and blinking rapidly to clear her vision.
"Said he had plans. Didn't say what though. Owl him the copies tomorrow morning so he can get started on them." Harry replied having adjusted his glasses for what felt like the millionth time.
"You couldn't force him to come? You are head auror Harry." She got up to sit next to him on the floor. "Didn't want to start an argument. Don't need that on top of this." He gestured to the papers haphazardly on the floor.
"We have no idea what were looking for. He probably grew up surrounded by all these people surely he would be the one to know more about them then us." Hermione got up to go to the kitchen Harry following her.
"Well once he looks at those files we will meet again as soon as possible to see if he found anything." Harry started boiling water for some tea. Hermione got some chocolate covered biscuits out from the pantry and arranged them on a plate, "Let's hope he finds something. We could have gotten something done by now." She sighed shaking her head.
"We should get in touch with the kids tomorrow." Harry said thinking about what kingsley said. "I'll owl them." She replied as Harry poured the teas.
She wondered what they were up to. They must of been going insane cooped up in the RoR 24/7. They must be worried. And scared.
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Back at Hogwarts, a house elf popped into the RoR carrying a letter.
They were all gathered in the common room, playing wizards chess or exploding snap or reading except for Cassie who was in her room recovering, turned out to have the flu.
The house elf bowed and laid the letter down the table before disapperating.
Since he was closest to the coffee table, Alex scooted a bit to grab the letter," It's addressed to all of us. It's from Mrs. Mal...Hermione." He cleared his throat no one commented on his slip.
"She probably didn't want to address us individually because she didn't know how to." Scorpious said gesturing for Alex to open the letter.
"Hello, how are all of you? I hope you are all well. We know you all must be bored being cooped up at Hogwarts but it is the safest place for all of you at the moment. We are currently working on the situation at hand. So far we haven't had anything come up. We were hoping to speak with all of you more in depth to see if we can gain more information that we may have missed during our first meeting. Please write back soon we will be coming to you soon. Signed, hermione." Alex read the letter out loud to them as he finished he grabbed a piece of parchment off one of the desks near the book shelf at a self inking quill.
"I don't think we missed anything from our first meeting because we told them everything we already knew." Theo commented. "Write them back and tell them that and if they find out anything new that is to be discussed with all of us present."
"Wouldn't they see that as a rejection?" Althea chimed. Scorpious shook his head," Probably. Though it is logical. We meet when needed. That way it will only have to be discussed once as a group."
Alex nodded and continued writing a reply and called the house elf to send it back to the owlry to Hermione Granger first thing the next day.
