Chapter twenty five
Parting before departure
/
So, you're staying at school for the holidays?
No. In the end, Ron's mother practically ordered me to come to their house for Christmas.
That´s good. At least, you won´t be alone. Almost no one stays here.
But I won't be with you.
I will think of you.
Really?
Of course… Why would I lie?
That´s something we could discuss for long…
Stop it.
What?
You know.
Hmm, what about gifts?
Oh, you have any for me?
Well, only if you deserve it.
I have something for you too. It will have to wait until after the holidays.
Then we will have another reason for looking forward to school.
And what´s your first one?
You.
Angela barely resisted the temptation to blow Harry a kiss across the table.
"Could you please perceive me for a moment?" Draco barked into Angela's ear, causing her to flinch. "Are you in love or what?" he added teasingly.
She frowned.
Wait a minute, please, she sent toward Harry and then focused her full attention on Draco. "What do you want?"
He rolled his eyes: "Why am I trying to do something here… Are you telling me you didn't listen to me all this time?"
Angela was a little taken aback, when she realized she had really no idea what he was talking about.
"I was… lost in thought," she hummed, her gaze fixed on the table.
"Ah," Draco nodded his head mockingly. "You know what, I won't repeat myself. Mother will tell you one more time anyway, so why should I bother."
"I hope you're not offended," Angela sneered.
"Bite me," Draco hummed, standing up from the table.
Angela was watching his leaving back confused. He had never used to be so moody...
What did he want? Harry asked bristling.
Nothing important, she replied absently.
If he bothers you in any way, just say a word and...
And you will break his nose? Angela interrupted with a smile. Leave it Harry. He does not bother me. He´s my friend...
At least I still think so, she added only to herself.
/
Draco Malfoy was about to get into the carriage when he remembered that he had left the library books he had borrowed for the holidays under the bed. He needed them to write the pile of essays that Shiernov and Snape had tasked them with.
Annoyed, he turned around, but before he could even take a single step, he bumped into a rushing black-haired girl, who had unexpectedly slipped on the icy road. The flowing hair obscured his field of vision for a while, before the girl tossed it away. Draco realized that it was Daria Prescott standing right in front of him.
At first, she took a breath for an apology, but when she found out, who had she rushed into, she ran out of words. The azure blue eyes hardened and Draco saw pure resentment in them with vague sadness. She jumped away from him as if he had bitten her. She took a quick breath and watched intently as Draco stepped aside as well.
He looked into her eyes with his usual completely cold expression. They had not seen each other this close since their last evening meeting in the library, which was barely two weeks ago and yet so much had changed since then...
Daria was digging her nails into her palms and Draco would not be at all surprised if she slapped him at that moment. She definitely looked like she was capable of something much worse. Suddenly, Draco´s saviour appeared next to them – Angela.
"Hey, Daria," she grabbed the girl's elbow. "Can I talk to you for a moment before we leave?"
Daria nodded, still nailing Draco with her gaze to the ground. It was not until Angela literally started pulling her away and they walked a little further that Draco was able to move. As he hurried to the Slytherin common room, he did not see the passing walls of the corridors in front of him, but Daria's hateful gaze.
/
Angela stepped out of the first carriages at Hogsmeade station and briskly made her way to the back end of the Hogwarts express train. However, she was interrupted by a call.
Angie.
She stopped and looked over the heads of several freshmen. Harry stood alone behind one of the pillars, staring at her.
Come with me for a moment, he urged her.
But, Harry… she tried to protest.
Please.
Angela sighed and anxiously followed Harry to the back side of the platform.
/
Draco hopped off the last carriage and shoved the shrunken textbooks deeper into his pocket. Most of the students had already climbed into the warm train, so there were not many of them wandering around under the cloudy sky.
He was about to head for the last carriage when some familiar voices reached him from behind the platform. He stopped and heard a soft laugh that he immediately recognized.
He cautiously looked around to see if anyone was watching him. He could not help it and sneaked to where the quiet conversation was coming from.
He peered extremely cautiously around the corner of the wall and immediately threw himself back again. However, he could not erase what he saw.
He recognized Angela's voice before, but even though the dishevelled black hair and glasses clearly identified the person who was there with her, he could not believe it. On top of that, it was more than clear that even if he walked right up to them, it would probably take them a while to notice him with what they were doing.
Potter and Angela?! It's not... It's... Damn...
At the first moment, Draco was shocked by Angela's actions. On the other hand, he had known for a long time that she was secretly going to some meetings, and he would have to be blind if he did not realize with whom it was. However, anger was also wreaking havoc with him.
Was she really so naive? His reason knew what he should do about such a finding, but he did not want to get involved this at the same time.
At least I should try to talk to her about this…
And what do you think she's going to tell you? his inner voice asked ironically. You're really weird, you know that? You're not just surprised and angry.
Draco frowned. Shut up. I'm not interested in your bullshit.
You envy them deep down, that's how it is. And you don't want to admit it, sneered the voice again, before finally felling silent.
Gloomy and anxious, Draco tiptoed away. He would wait for her on the train and then see what she says about this. He just had to make it before they reach London...
/
Draco only started looking for the compartment with Angela when the train roared off. He found her almost at the very end. She was sitting in it alone, reading some disgustingly thick book that did not exactly look like a textbook.
He opened the door and sat down confidently across from her. Angela did not even move, her eyes just continued scanning the pages quickly. Draco bent down a little to look at the binding of the book.
"Salem´s Lot? What´s that?" he asked mockingly. "That had to come from a Muggle."
"Yes, it is a Muggle book," Angela replied without looking up. "It's about vampires."
"Is it just me or you've been reading nothing but vampire books lately?"
"I want to learn as much as possible about them now that we have two at school. Even if this book is just fiction, it is actually one Muggle view of them."
Draco raised an eyebrow in surprise: "What do you mean we have two at school?"
"Don't make me laugh; you don't know who the other one is?"
"I've had enough of my own worries to check if Snape has brought any buddies to Hogwarts," he sneered.
"It´s Shiernov," she muttered, turning the page.
Some pieces of the puzzle fell into place for Draco and he nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, I didn't want to discuss vampires with you, anyway," he said then quietly.
"No? That´s a surprise. So, what do you want from me?" Angela asked.
"How long has it been going on?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"What do you mean?"
"Your thing with Potter," he snapped.
Angela finally looked up from the book and stared at him coldly: "What are you talking about?"
"If it's so incomprehensible to you, I´ll ask again – how long have you been dating Potter?" Draco asked haughtily, folding his arms.
She eyed him for a while. "That was a stupid joke, Draco," she replied then, bending over her book again.
Draco leaned toward her: "There's no point in trying to fool me. I saw you with my own eyes," he informed her threateningly. "Your farewell behind the platform was really touching."
Angela pursed her lips, slammed the book shut, and obviously decided to stop denying.
"And what do you want to do about it?" she asked with narrowed eyes.
"Well…" he leaned back in his seat. "I just have one question. I'll decide what to do with it based on your answer."
Angela put away the book, pulled out her wand, created an impenetrable sound barrier around their compartment, and glared at Draco.
"Then ask," she urged him blankly.
"Why are you dating him?" he asked directly.
There was a stifling silence in the compartment for a while. Angela stared into Draco´s eyes and thought feverishly. Then she decided to risk it.
"Because I like him," she replied firmly.
Draco's eyes widened at her. He did not expect this.
"Are you serious?" he asked, almost frightened.
"Absolutely."
"Do you even realize what could happen if anyone found out?"
"Nothing will happen if you remain silent. And if by any chance your mouth slips somewhere... Well, then my hope will be a plausible excuse," Angela answered quietly. There was no turning back now.
"What excuse?" Draco asked, now much more composed.
"Don't you think that gaining Harry Potter's complete trust is enough of an excuse?"
Draco was silent.
"I want to hear your opinion," Angela prompted.
"You want to hear what I think? Good. I think it´s not an excuse, but the real reason why you´re with him. You're playing him like a cat and a mouse," Draco said with contempt in his voice.
Angela's expression turned cold.
Well, as you think, Draco… she told to herself.
"I will neither deny nor confirm that," she replied extremely quietly.
"I didn't think you were such a bitch," he snapped.
Angela gritted her teeth at such a straightforward conclusion: "I was expecting a little understanding from you."
"To hell with understanding, Rosier," he snapped icily, stood up and left the compartment. He closed the door behind him so violently that the glass almost crashed.
Angela stared at the place where he had been sitting a moment ago, a storm of emotions all over her previously calm face.
I must make sure that he'll keep his mouth shut, she muttered to herself. However, she had to figure out how to do that.
/
It was noticeably less chilly at London station than in the north, but the frost here was almost identical. Platform 9 and ¾ was bustling with activity as everyone tried to find their relatives and get home as quickly as possible.
Angela stepped out among the last and looked for Draco, who was standing a little to the side of all the commotion, waiting motionless. She also caught a glimpse of a black-haired figure heading toward the counter out of the platform.
Merry Christmas, Harry, she called after him in thoughts and Harry turned with a smile.
Merry Christmas, he replied and followed Ron through the partition into the Muggle world.
Angela quickly made her way over to Draco, stood next to him and released the charm that kept her trunk off the ground.
"Are you going to bite your tongue?" she asked after a moment of tense silence.
"I'll think about it," Draco smirked.
"Think fast then," Angela retorted irritated. "I might also mention something to wrong people."
Draco gave her a sidelong look: "What are you talking about?"
"You know... Daria is very pretty, isn't she?" Angela replied meaningfully.
Draco raised an eyebrow in surprise: "She is. And what about that?"
"Are you afraid she has started hating you?" she asked him harshly. "For what your father did to her?"
Draco clenched his fists in his pockets and turned fully to Angela, though kept quiet.
"Are you in love with her?" she asked with an inscrutable expression.
Draco gritted his teeth: "You have no evidence for your assumptions," he hissed.
"You don't either."
There was silence for a while. They were almost alone at the station.
"How about we agree to stay out of each other's business?" suggested Angela.
"Fine," Draco pulled his right hand out of his pocket.
Angela accepted it and grabbed it tightly. They looked into each other's eyes, trying to find some kind of deception or calculation in them. After a moment, they let go and immediately looked in the direction from where the rapid clatter of sharp heels had started a moment ago.
A slim and tall woman with long blonde hair stepped out of the shadows under one of the yellow lights.
"Good evening," Angela greeted.
"Hello, Mother," Draco mumbled a greeting.
Narcissa just nodded in response and pointed her wand at the trunks, which immediately disappeared.
"I´m a little late, I hope you didn't wait too long," she asked in a cold voice without any interest.
Angela obediently shook her head: "No, Madame."
"Let's go then," Draco's mother urged them.
They headed to the other end of the station, away from the counter, and soon three loud pops sounded from the dark shadows.
/
"You have pleased me," Narcissa informed them as they appeared with a soft 'poof' on the wide icy path leading to the gate in the hedge. "You've finally remedied your Apparition mistakes. By the way... Just because you already know how to do it, doesn't mean you won't take Apparition classes," she continued as she walked.
"Yes, Mother," Draco agreed without any real interest.
Narcissa was walking so fast that they had to strive keeping up with her. She slowed as they approached the wrought iron gate within earshot.
"Don't say anything now," she muttered.
Draco wanted to ask why, but Angela stopped him with a dig of her elbow. She spotted a dark figure standing by the two-meter-high snowy hedge, with a wand in hand.
"Good evening, Madame Malfoy," said a deep voice.
"How long are you going to snoop around here!" Narcissa snapped without answering the greeting.
"For as long as necessary, ma'am," answered the man, most likely an Auror from the Ministry, as Angela guessed.
Auror suddenly lit his wand and looked first at Draco and then at Angela's face up close. He hummed something to himself and put his wand away again.
Narcissa gritted her teeth and used her wand to open the bars and Angela and Draco followed her. The gate closed behind them by itself again. Angela felt the gaze of the Auror on her back, but she did not look back.
Snow had been cleared away from the cobblestone walkway that curved to the portico at the entrance to the stately white mansion. Angela had seen the huge house from the outside several times, but every time it managed to amaze her with its size and grandeur. Even though it was dark, its plasterwork shone white into the night, and the light from the two large windows shone warmly through the dark green curtains.
They ascended several steps to an ornate door and followed Narcissa into a brightly lit hall from which a marble staircase with a carved balustrade spiralled up two stories.
In an instant, the house elf appeared near them and looked up shakily.
"Good evening, ma'am," she greeted squeakily.
The addressed sorceress threw a thick fur coat at her without interest, until the elf completely disappeared under it and stood in front of the mirror, where she combed her hair and checked her perfect makeup.
Draco lazily removed his jacket and handed it to the elf to hang up. Angela hung up her coat herself and scowled disapprovingly at the poor elf Jory.
Narcissa glanced from Draco to Angela as if she was pondering something. Then she motioned for them to follow her.
They walked to the right through a sliding door into a spacious living room with a glowing fire in the fireplace.
"We´re here, dear," Narcissa chirped as she walked over to a large cushioned armchair, from which a tall man with the same blonde hair as Draco had and with an icy look in his eyes was watching them.
Angela saw Draco freeze two meters away from the man´s seat, but she herself greeted him with a smile.
"Good evening, Mr Malfoy. I'm glad to finally meet you."
