Disclaimer: Draco, Harry, and the gang belong to J.K.R. Oleandera, and the Vienna branch of the Malfoy family are my characters. If you are going to use them, please ask my permission.
Synopsis: A Malfoy by birth, and destined for great things. Named for a flower, as dangerous as it is beautiful. She is timeless, immortal; her name... Oleandera
Chapter I: Marriage to a Malfoy
In the weeks that followed Hope did her best to prepare Oleandera for what lay ahead. "It will be different once I'm gone. You'll have to oversee everything by yourself. Plus, take care of the children. Ask the house elves to help you in that area. Oh, and make sure you never go in Father's study. I went in there once to be sure it was clean, and he hit me." She sighed. "I'm sorry for you. I get to escape, while you must stay here."
"Escape! But you don't even know the man you are to marry. He could be someone awful. Like Laureli's husband." she shivered. Their sister Laureli was married to a beast of a man. Their father had arranged her marriage to one of the most powerful and wealthy wizards in Vienna. She had married Sigmund St. Clair when she was seventeen, and he forty. In the five years they had been married, she had managed to have six children, all of them boys. When she visited, she wasn't herself. Her spirit had been drained. She was but a shell of the happy girl she had been.
"I suppose you're right. He could be like Sigmund." her eyes grew hard. "But nothing, nothing could be as bad as living in my father's house." she reached out and brushed Oleandera's cheek with her hand. "I only wish there were such an escape for you."
Oleandera gave her a wry smile. "You heard what he said. My time isn't far off. I suspect as soon as you are married, he will be planning my match." she set the vase she had been inspecting back on the table. "I'm hungry. Let's go down to the kitchen and have some dinner."
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It was a beautiful day in July that Oleandera helped Hope into her wedding gown. "Does it fit all right?" Oleandera asked worriedly. They had just gotten the dress back from Madame Sophia's Dress Shop, and there would be no time to have it re-altered.
"Yes, Olea, it's fine." Hope looked at herself in the mirror, smoothing the dress down. "I can't believe it." she said softly. "I'm going to be leaving here forever..."
"Not forever. You will come back to visit."
"Well..." Hope smiled bitterly. "It all depends on what my lord and husband decides." Her betrothed had come to dinner last month, where Hope had met him for the first. It wasn't that he was old. He was barely twenty-five, and he was extremely handsome. After dinner, he and Hope had sat, alone in the drawing room. There, he had informed her that her place was at home. She had no duties but to have healthy, male, children. He told her, quite calmly, that if she failed in her duty as wife, he wouldn't hesitate to send her back to her father. Hope had spent the night in tears as consequence of his cruel words.
"I'm sure he will allow it. Just... give him what he wants."
"That is easy for you to sat Oleandera. You aren't the one marrying the brute."
"No, she isn't." her father spoke from the doorway. "Her husband has yet to be decided. Oleandera, come downstairs immediately. You have guests to attend to."
"But Hope--"
"There are the house elves to attend her." he took her elbow, and steered her out of the room. "You must learn obedience Oleandera. Your husband will not take kindly to obstinacy."
"But... you said my husband was yet to be decided." her voice held a note of panic.
"Yes, of course. But there isn't a man living who will allow you to treat him with anything but obedience."
Oleandera went through the motions of greeting guests. After awhile, she lost track of al the people she had greeted. An hour later, when everyone was finally seated, the ceremony began. Hope looked lovely. The white of her gown contrasted beautifully with her chestnut curls, and brown eyes. She felt a tear slip down her cheek as Hope promised to, "love, honor, and obey."
The entrance of three people at the back of the room distracted her. A handsome older man with long, white hair, and on is arm, an equally lovely woman with blond hair, and long slender fingers. They took seats in the last row, and the young man she suspected was their son, sat by them. He was beautiful. There was no other way to describe him. He was tall. Taller even then her own father, and slender. His white blond hair was back, and away from his face, and his arms were crossed leisurely over his chest. He caught her eye, and winked. She blushed and turned away; utterly embarrassed at being caught.
She suddenly realized that the ceremony was over and she stood along with the rest of the guests, applauding the bride and groom. As Hope passed, she looked at Oleandera. It was the look of a caged animal, who knew there was no escape.
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She could see the large ballroom from her hidden place behind a fern. After an hour of having her cheek kissed, and pinched by various relatives, she had taken the opportunity to escape outside. She sat on her bench under the tree, eating a cherry tart she had stolen from the kitchen. Everyone was dancing. The ladies looked like many colorful butterflies whirling about the ballroom. Her tart finished, she licked her fingers, and stood to go back into the house... and ran headlong into someone.
She let out a yelp, and stumbled backwards. Two strong arms reached out to catch her before she fell. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, fine, thank--" she stopped. It was the boy who had come late. He grinned at her. "To you make it a habit to run into unsuspecting victims?"
He was making fun of her! She lifted her chin defiantly. "Forgive me, but it was you who were in my way. Perhaps you should watch where you are going."
He raised an eyebrow. "My, my... aren't we feisty."
"No. I just prefer not to act like a doormat."
He laughed. "You are something else entirely. You make me want to kiss you."
"Kiss me?!" she was appalled. "Don't you even presume to--" whatever she would have said next was stopped when he leaned forward and gently kissed her lips. Her eyes closed, and she could think of nothing but how wonderful it felt to have his arms around her. Abruptly, he stopped. He looked shocked. "Forgive me. I don't usually..."
She felt flustered. "It's quite alright. I'm sure you had no... well, I must be going back to the house. My sister will be looking for me."
"Wait," he caught her arm. "What's your name?"
"Oleandera. Oleandera Malfoy."
He eyes grew wide. "Malfoy? You are... Nicholas Malfoy's daughter?"
"Yes." she frowned. "Why--"
"Your father wants to see you in his study immediately." his voice was cold now. As cold as her father's. "I shall accompany you."
"That's quite alright. I am more then capable of finding my own way." she made to move around him, but he grabbed her wrist. "I was sent by your father to find you, and bring you back to his study."
"Very well." he moved toward the house, tugging her with him. "Let go of my arm! Let go before you bruise me!"
"If you don't shut up and hurry along, you'll have many more bruises." they went in the back door, through the kitchen, and down the hallway to her father's study. The young man rapped on the door. "Enter."
He went in, dragging her after him. Her father was seated behind his desk, and the young man's father was standing directly behind him. "Ah," her father sounded pleased. "You found her. Excellent."
"She was in the garden, Sir."
"Now, now, none of this formality. We are after all family; and soon we shall be closer." he picked up his pen, and signed his name on the piece of parchment lying before him. "Done. All that is needed is Oleandera's signature." he held out the pen to her. "Sign it." he eyes were filled with something she couldn't quite understand. Triumph... malice...
She took up the pen, and signed her name: Oleandera M. Malfoy.
Then, she looked at the top of the paper: This is a formal document that on this day July 14, that Oleandera Malfoy, was betrothed to Draco L. Malfoy. Witnessed by Lucius Malfoy, and Nicholas Malfoy. Then came her signature at the bottom of the page, along with Draco's. "What--"
"Oleandera, this is your cousin Draco Malfoy. Forgive me," he chuckled "your fiancee."
A/N: So sorry about this chapter. Something was very wrong with my disk. Luckily, I found my backup, so for those of you interested, another chapter of my D/H fic "Telluride" will be out this weekend. Thanx! TC
Synopsis: A Malfoy by birth, and destined for great things. Named for a flower, as dangerous as it is beautiful. She is timeless, immortal; her name... Oleandera
Chapter I: Marriage to a Malfoy
In the weeks that followed Hope did her best to prepare Oleandera for what lay ahead. "It will be different once I'm gone. You'll have to oversee everything by yourself. Plus, take care of the children. Ask the house elves to help you in that area. Oh, and make sure you never go in Father's study. I went in there once to be sure it was clean, and he hit me." She sighed. "I'm sorry for you. I get to escape, while you must stay here."
"Escape! But you don't even know the man you are to marry. He could be someone awful. Like Laureli's husband." she shivered. Their sister Laureli was married to a beast of a man. Their father had arranged her marriage to one of the most powerful and wealthy wizards in Vienna. She had married Sigmund St. Clair when she was seventeen, and he forty. In the five years they had been married, she had managed to have six children, all of them boys. When she visited, she wasn't herself. Her spirit had been drained. She was but a shell of the happy girl she had been.
"I suppose you're right. He could be like Sigmund." her eyes grew hard. "But nothing, nothing could be as bad as living in my father's house." she reached out and brushed Oleandera's cheek with her hand. "I only wish there were such an escape for you."
Oleandera gave her a wry smile. "You heard what he said. My time isn't far off. I suspect as soon as you are married, he will be planning my match." she set the vase she had been inspecting back on the table. "I'm hungry. Let's go down to the kitchen and have some dinner."
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It was a beautiful day in July that Oleandera helped Hope into her wedding gown. "Does it fit all right?" Oleandera asked worriedly. They had just gotten the dress back from Madame Sophia's Dress Shop, and there would be no time to have it re-altered.
"Yes, Olea, it's fine." Hope looked at herself in the mirror, smoothing the dress down. "I can't believe it." she said softly. "I'm going to be leaving here forever..."
"Not forever. You will come back to visit."
"Well..." Hope smiled bitterly. "It all depends on what my lord and husband decides." Her betrothed had come to dinner last month, where Hope had met him for the first. It wasn't that he was old. He was barely twenty-five, and he was extremely handsome. After dinner, he and Hope had sat, alone in the drawing room. There, he had informed her that her place was at home. She had no duties but to have healthy, male, children. He told her, quite calmly, that if she failed in her duty as wife, he wouldn't hesitate to send her back to her father. Hope had spent the night in tears as consequence of his cruel words.
"I'm sure he will allow it. Just... give him what he wants."
"That is easy for you to sat Oleandera. You aren't the one marrying the brute."
"No, she isn't." her father spoke from the doorway. "Her husband has yet to be decided. Oleandera, come downstairs immediately. You have guests to attend to."
"But Hope--"
"There are the house elves to attend her." he took her elbow, and steered her out of the room. "You must learn obedience Oleandera. Your husband will not take kindly to obstinacy."
"But... you said my husband was yet to be decided." her voice held a note of panic.
"Yes, of course. But there isn't a man living who will allow you to treat him with anything but obedience."
Oleandera went through the motions of greeting guests. After awhile, she lost track of al the people she had greeted. An hour later, when everyone was finally seated, the ceremony began. Hope looked lovely. The white of her gown contrasted beautifully with her chestnut curls, and brown eyes. She felt a tear slip down her cheek as Hope promised to, "love, honor, and obey."
The entrance of three people at the back of the room distracted her. A handsome older man with long, white hair, and on is arm, an equally lovely woman with blond hair, and long slender fingers. They took seats in the last row, and the young man she suspected was their son, sat by them. He was beautiful. There was no other way to describe him. He was tall. Taller even then her own father, and slender. His white blond hair was back, and away from his face, and his arms were crossed leisurely over his chest. He caught her eye, and winked. She blushed and turned away; utterly embarrassed at being caught.
She suddenly realized that the ceremony was over and she stood along with the rest of the guests, applauding the bride and groom. As Hope passed, she looked at Oleandera. It was the look of a caged animal, who knew there was no escape.
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She could see the large ballroom from her hidden place behind a fern. After an hour of having her cheek kissed, and pinched by various relatives, she had taken the opportunity to escape outside. She sat on her bench under the tree, eating a cherry tart she had stolen from the kitchen. Everyone was dancing. The ladies looked like many colorful butterflies whirling about the ballroom. Her tart finished, she licked her fingers, and stood to go back into the house... and ran headlong into someone.
She let out a yelp, and stumbled backwards. Two strong arms reached out to catch her before she fell. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, fine, thank--" she stopped. It was the boy who had come late. He grinned at her. "To you make it a habit to run into unsuspecting victims?"
He was making fun of her! She lifted her chin defiantly. "Forgive me, but it was you who were in my way. Perhaps you should watch where you are going."
He raised an eyebrow. "My, my... aren't we feisty."
"No. I just prefer not to act like a doormat."
He laughed. "You are something else entirely. You make me want to kiss you."
"Kiss me?!" she was appalled. "Don't you even presume to--" whatever she would have said next was stopped when he leaned forward and gently kissed her lips. Her eyes closed, and she could think of nothing but how wonderful it felt to have his arms around her. Abruptly, he stopped. He looked shocked. "Forgive me. I don't usually..."
She felt flustered. "It's quite alright. I'm sure you had no... well, I must be going back to the house. My sister will be looking for me."
"Wait," he caught her arm. "What's your name?"
"Oleandera. Oleandera Malfoy."
He eyes grew wide. "Malfoy? You are... Nicholas Malfoy's daughter?"
"Yes." she frowned. "Why--"
"Your father wants to see you in his study immediately." his voice was cold now. As cold as her father's. "I shall accompany you."
"That's quite alright. I am more then capable of finding my own way." she made to move around him, but he grabbed her wrist. "I was sent by your father to find you, and bring you back to his study."
"Very well." he moved toward the house, tugging her with him. "Let go of my arm! Let go before you bruise me!"
"If you don't shut up and hurry along, you'll have many more bruises." they went in the back door, through the kitchen, and down the hallway to her father's study. The young man rapped on the door. "Enter."
He went in, dragging her after him. Her father was seated behind his desk, and the young man's father was standing directly behind him. "Ah," her father sounded pleased. "You found her. Excellent."
"She was in the garden, Sir."
"Now, now, none of this formality. We are after all family; and soon we shall be closer." he picked up his pen, and signed his name on the piece of parchment lying before him. "Done. All that is needed is Oleandera's signature." he held out the pen to her. "Sign it." he eyes were filled with something she couldn't quite understand. Triumph... malice...
She took up the pen, and signed her name: Oleandera M. Malfoy.
Then, she looked at the top of the paper: This is a formal document that on this day July 14, that Oleandera Malfoy, was betrothed to Draco L. Malfoy. Witnessed by Lucius Malfoy, and Nicholas Malfoy. Then came her signature at the bottom of the page, along with Draco's. "What--"
"Oleandera, this is your cousin Draco Malfoy. Forgive me," he chuckled "your fiancee."
A/N: So sorry about this chapter. Something was very wrong with my disk. Luckily, I found my backup, so for those of you interested, another chapter of my D/H fic "Telluride" will be out this weekend. Thanx! TC