By Nirvana
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Chapter 6 - Surprises
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It has been nine months since Virginia left for the States. In less than a month, she will finally come home. And I will finally tell her I love her. We did not lose contact over the months, she regularly sent me letters; telling me about her studies, her school and her teachers. She did not send me letters about her love life (or lack thereof), and I was glad.
I was in my office at the bakeshop, taking a break from all the chaos outside. Suddenly, an owl flew in. It was Athena. I took the letter from her outstretched leg and I gave her a sweet. She left.
I unrolled the rolled parchment and began to read.
Dearest Draco,
I'm getting married!!! Yipee! By now, you're probably asking how, since I never mentioned I had a boyfriend. To answer that, I wanted to keep it as a surprise. His name is Jonathan Parker – an American. He's very cute – with gray-blue eyes, and blonde hair. Come to think of it, he looks just like you! Do you have a twin brother, Draco? Because the similarities are uncanny!
Anyhow, we met at the beginning of the school year, and we were in the same
classes. I was in love! We've been going out ever since, and last night, he
proposed! How does Mrs. Virginia Parker sound? Wonderful, right?
Draco, there's one major disadvantage if we're going to marry. I'm going to live here in America. But no need to worry, this marriage won't affect our friendship! I am to be married in three months, do you think you can come? I know managing the bakeshop is hectic these days, but I'll be very happy if you will. It won't be the same without my best friend.
I gotta go! See you in three months!
Love always,
Virginia
I was shaking by the time I finished reading. Getting married? Shit. I did not realize that I had hot tears streaming down my face. It really hurt, I'm going to lose Virginia just because of an American. An American who looks just like me. How pathetic. (a/n: no offence to all Americans! I'm rather fond of you guys…)
I knew I had to go to the wedding, it would be improper if I didn't. Who ever heard of a man not attending his best friend's wedding just because he lost her heart? No one. With that, I apparated home with a broken heart once more.
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Two weeks before the said wedding date, I decide to go to America. I pack a couple of things and I head to the muggle airport. I reach there just in time to see the passengers boarding the plane already. I go to my seat and I am surprised to see a pretty girl seated beside me. She, I observed, was quite happy to see me. I sit down and start looking around the place. I have never ridden an airplane before, but I had a good idea how it would be like, if Virginia's stories are to be trusted.
On my right sat an old man, probably around 60. When I look to my left, I see the girl, aged somewhere between 17 – 19. She had blue eyes and black hair, and I could also assume she had a sexy body to go with it. I do not take notice of her anymore all throughout the flight.
I close my eyes and I try to sleep; after thirty minutes, I was in dream world.
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As soon as it was safe and okay to leave the plane, I left. I knew it would take a long time before I could take hold of my luggage, but waiting was a far better option than staying beside the girl who was shooting hungry glances at me. I wait. I wait for about another thirty minutes. Shit. What a waste of time. As if my prayers were answered, the luggage started to show up. Almost immediately, I spotted mine. I took hold of it and left.
When I got outside the insanely humongous airport, I hailed a cab and I told the driver to bring me to the hotel where I was staying. He brought me there. I paid him.
I knew a lot more about muggles now. I still don't like them, but I know their ways of living. How? I took muggle studies during my seventh year. Why? Virginia forced me. Then, there was also the fact that my dearest friend drilled more muggle stuff in my head for a full hour while we were talking through floo. Thus, it made me a walking encyclopedia for wizards if they were to ask something about muggles.
We reach the hotel in record time and I check in. Virginia made the reservations for me. The bellboy brings my bags to the room, and I follow him. As soon as the bellboy left, I took a shower.
I changed to fresh clothing – jeans and a shirt, to be precise – and took off to the address Virginia left me. It was fairly easy to find it, given that it was very near to the hotel where I was staying and that the guard of the hotel was very informative.
I knocked the door thrice and the beautiful face of my best friend appeared.
"Draco!" She squealed, throwing her arms around me. I laugh gaily at her antics. "Come in!"
I was lead to the spacious living room and we sit down on one of the comfortable leather couches. I remember my manners.
"Hello, Virginia." I greet, still laughing. I kiss her on the cheek. "Nice place you have here."
"Thanks!" She says, "How have you been?"
"Oh, I'm fine. The bakeshop is getting more and more popular among people, and everything else is just fine and dandy," I reply with a hint of sarcasm in my voice. She didn't notice. "How about you?"
"Everything's just great! Jonathan and I had dinner the other night in a fancy restaurant. It was so romantic!" Virginia gushed, her face reddening a bit.
"Speaking of him, where's your husband-to-be?" I ask her. Based on her recent letters, she and that Jonathan guy are inseparable.
"He's in California, visiting some relatives." She answered. She smiles at me. "I really missed you, Draco."
"I missed you too," I say quietly. "It's been a long time, isn't it?"
"Yes, it has been." She replies. She does the unanticipated, she sat closer to me and hugged me tightly. I hug her back. I smile softly.
"What's with the hug?" I ask her.
"Nothing. I just like to make sure that this is not a dream, that you really are sitting beside me." She answered, resting her head on the crook of my neck. I run a hand at the surface of her sweet-smelling hair, and I whisper,
"You aren't dreaming, Virginia." I kiss the top of her head fondly, savoring this moment when we were together. I close my eyes, and soon, we were both asleep, contented at each other's company.
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The rest of the week consisted of jokes, laughter, and slacking around. Then, I was to meet Jonathan. He just arrived from California, and I was supposed to go back to Virginia's apartment. I knock and Virginia answers the door.
"Hey," She says, ushering me to come in. "Jonathan just arrived."
I walk in and sure enough, there was a guy sitting in the couch. Virginia wasn't kidding when she said we looked alike. He had eyes like mine, only slightly bluer and his hair was a shade darker than mine. Other than those differences, the similarities were uncanny.
"Hello," Jonathan greets, standing up to shake my hand. "I'm Jonathan Parker, Ginny's fiancé."
"Draco Malfoy," I say, shaking his hand. Virginia took a seat beside Jonathan. "Virginia's best friend."
"Yes, she told me about you." Jonathan murmurs, deftly running a hand through his hair. A pregnant pause followed after that. God, this talk is making me so damn uncomfortable! Isn't there anything more interesting to say?
"How are the wedding plans?" I ask, wanting desperately to eliminate the silence. I could tell Virginia was already nervous, she kept on shifting positions.
"So and so.." Jonathan mumbles, as if his mind was preoccupied. I fiercely think that he'd rather be anywhere but here.
"Everything is prepared," Virginia tells me, smiling brightly. "It will be all perfect by next week."
"Great." I enthuse. She was surely a better companion than that fiancé of hers. "Still following Quidditch, Virginia?"
"Apparently, not anymore." She sighs heavily, a gloomy look passing her face.
"And why not?" I demand. My best friend, a Quidditch affictionada and my number one supporter isn't following Quidditch anymore? Impossible!
"Look at my homework, Draco." She says wryly, smirking. "I'm surprised I even had the time to find a boyfriend."
"Yeah, a boyfriend you didn't tell me about." I joked, grinning at her.
"I told you it was a –" Virginia was cut off by her soon-to-be-husband speaking.
"I'll be going to Ryan's place for a while." He says, rising from his seat. "I'll leave you guys alone." With that, he walked out the apartment, slamming the door.
"What was that all about?" I ask her, dumbly confused.
"No idea." She shrugged.
"Is he always like that?" I question. To me, he seemed weird and unaccommodating. Hell, he can't even start a small talk! He really needed to polish his socializing skills – or lack thereof.
"Only when he's around people he doesn't know." She informs me. She checks her watch. "Do you want to tour the city or something?"
"Sure." I say, standing up. "Dinner afterwards?"
"Sounds good to me." Virginia declared, also rising from her seat. "Let me change first."
"Okay."
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A/N: I might warn you, this story is moving in a fast pace. In the next chapters, you will notice many chapters fast-forwarding the years. This'll come to an end soon… at the most, this will be 10 or 11 chapters… anyhow, this was a mega long chapter… the longest I ever wrote! So I'm splitting it. The next chapter is the Wedding!!!
A/N 2: Alrighty. Amanda Mancini pointed out my mistake. It was Ginny's middle name. In chapter 1, I said it was Anise. But in chappy 5, I wrote Louise. I leave that up to you guys to decide… whichever you like better… or if you don't even like those two names, make one up to your liking… *grins*
Shoutouts!
Rainpuddle – I think I got the gist of what body part Harry should lose… the most important part of the male anatomy, right? So you're Irish, huh? I never met someone who was Irish before… About the smooches… I can't help it! Lol… If you didn't notice, I like to torture Draco… Ginny's pretty dense, isn't she? But if you grew up with 6 older brothers who don't have a clue about the world around them, that's what'll happen. Thanks for that review! It really made me smile!
SaintlySmile – you're happy now, but I don't think you'll be happy with the rest of this story.. I'll torture Draco more.. *grins evilly*
Kaitlin-Scott – Like I told Rainpuddle, Ginny's pretty dense… *smiles*… I miss grandpa already! *cries*… is your cat the one you mentioned in your website?
Amanda Mancini – thanks for pointing that out… golly! I love your story, Sunday Morning After. It was cool. Marvelous. Great. But I read it in fictionalley.org… and I didn't review… *hides* … thanks for reviewing!
cashew – I think I'm going to strongly consider your request… yes, that would make a good picture… *smiles*… Oh, I don't care if you have an inflated ego, as long as you still have a good grip on reality. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Regard the party I threw earlier as a joint birthday party and a thank-you-you-reviewed party. Happy birthday again!
Keita – I get to be a general? Cool. And I get to boss people around? Even better. Thanks for reviewing!
Champagne – I had a hunch you were one and the same. Though I did not quickly assume it. It would be a bit embarrassing if I said that you were one person but actually, you're two different persons. Besides, I needed confirmation first… now, I know. Oh yeah, update your story, will ya?! It's in my favorites… thanks for reviewing!
To my other reviewers, thank you!