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: Marriage to a Malfoy can be dangerous... In order to survive, one must learn the Rules of Engagement... but what happens when the mistress comes into play...
Chapter III: Of Mysteries and Mistresses
Much later that evening, after the guests went home, and the house was sleeping, Oleandera went to find her father. She found in in front of a fire, in his study, sipping bourbon from a glass. "You should be asleep."
"I wished to speak with you."
"About?"
"My engagement."
"There is no backing out Oleandera. The contract is signed. The match has been made, and you will abide by my decision."
"I wasn't going to try and go back on my word. I only wanted to know why. Why this man? I am not stupid father. There are plenty of rich men in this country who would have made me a suitable husband."
"You are clever. Perhaps too clever for a woman... I am getting old. Not one foot in the grave, but I am certainly not in my prime. I will never have a son... Lucius wrote to me some time ago. It seems that his fortunes have depleted over the years. He has property, it is true, but it requires funds to keep it up. We came to a decision. You would marry his son. I would give you a large dowry. In exchange, I would get a lovely bit of property that he owns here, in Austria.
Oleandera was shocked, and could not hide it. "You mean... I was never 'chosen' to marry him?"
"In a way, you were. You were the oldest unmarried daughter. Had Hope not already been promised to Maxim DuBois, she would have married young Draco."
"I see." she rose, to leave.
'Stay a moment. I have more news for you. On my death, you will again be mistress of Roselands. I am leaving it to you, and your husband."
"But I'm not your oldest child. Surely Laureli or Hope--"
"Sigmund is a fool, who will drink himself into an early grave, and as for DuBois," his lip curled. "He would kill me in an instant if he thought he would gain my fortune and Roselands... No" he smiled coldly. "You, my dear, win by default."
He reached out, and moved a tendril of her hair back into place. In his eyes, she saw something he had never shown her in all her seventeen years. Love. "It is a pity you were not born a boy..." he sighed, and sat back in his chair, all trace of affection gone. "Go to bed Oleandera. I wish to be alone."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
"Ah, so here you are." Oleandera looked up from her book to see her future mother-in-law standing before her. "I searched heaven and earth for you, and then was informed by the servants that you were in the garden. "
"Yes," Oleandera smiled. "I come here often to think, and be alone."
"It is indeed beautiful... it was your mother's creation if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes. My father gave it to her as a wedding gift. The only gift he ever gave her. She expanded it over the years. She even added a maze."
"Really? Sometime you must show me."
Oleandera smiled. "Perhaps."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
I wondered when you would decide to grace me with your presence. Pansy stood in the doorway to her bedroom, her arms folded. Draco lounged on her bed, removing his shoes. "You don't visit for a week, and you expect me to welcome you back with open arms?"
Draco got up, and started toward her. "That is the general idea, yes. I need you. Now." In a matter of seconds, their clothes were on a pile on the floor, and he was moving over her."
"Perhaps when you are finished, you'd like to see your son."
"Perhaps."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
She was still dozing when he told her.
"I'm getting married."
"What?!" she didn't even try to hide her dismay. In a way, Draco almost felt sorry for her. He knew she had long harbored the secret hope of him marrying her.
"Yes. My father's doing. He arranged it all. I simply signed my name on the document."
"Who is she?"
"My cousin. Oleandera Malfoy, from Austria. Pretty girl, but... not my taste."
"When?" she had started to dress.
"In April, after my birthday. There is no need for you to attend." how easily he made everything sound like an order."
"Why are you doing this?" she whispered. "I had thought--"
"Yes, I know you did; and to answer your question, on the death of her father, I will inherit everything. The money, the land, even" he snorted. "'Roselands."
"Draco, I have more then enough money. We could get married. Make a life for our son--"
"Pansy." his voice was curt. "I'm getting tired of this conversation. It seems every time I come here, we discuss it. You are my mistress. My whore. Gentlemen do not marry their whores. Only Muggles do that."
"But... your son."
"I've made provisions for my son. He has my name, and my protection. When the time comes, he will receive an education.. I've even set aside money for him. He will get a quarter of it when he turns seventeen, and the rest when he turns twenty-one."
"Protection! Money! A fine way to treat your heir."
"He is my son. but he is not my heir. My heir shall be the first, and possibly only son of Oleandera and myself."
"You always were a bastard. Get out!" she shrieked. "Get out now!"
He laughed. "I'm going my dear, and unlike your countless other lovers, I won't be coming back." he buttoned the last button on his shirt, and apparated. The vase intended for his head, smashed against the wall.
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
"Where have you been?" Lucius asked. "I've been waiting for two hours."
"I was out."
"Seeing that Parkinson tramp, I have no doubt."
"I don't think that is any of your affair."
In a flash, Lucius was on his feet. He raised his hand and hit Draco, hard, knocking him to the floor. "You will not ruin this for me. Not now! If Nicholas were to find out, he might have second thoughts about receiving you as a son-in-law."
Draco stood, and gingerly touched his lip. There was blood. "I don't believe my having a mistress would change his mind. He has one I'm sure."
"Yes, but he doesn't have a child by his whore. The fact that you do, and that you've hidden it from him... I believe that might."
"I'll be more careful in the future." Draco said, in a bored voice.
"You will immediately send a letter to Ms. Parkinson informing her of the change in your relationship."
"That is not your decision to make!" Draco was seething. How dare Lucius make demands on him?!
"It became my decision the moment you started flaunting that tramp all over London. Write the letter, or you'll lose everything. Do we understand each other?"
Thoughts flooded his mind. Pansy... a fortune... his son... Oleandera... Really, it wasn't that difficult of a decision. "Yes. We understand each other."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
Oleandera was exhausted. She had spent the entire day with Narcissa. She really did like the woman, but sometimes she could be a bit much at times. She excused herself, and went up to her room, to rest before supper. Her head had barely touched the pillow before she was asleep.
She awoke three hours later to the supper bell. She got up, and quickly donned a light blue gown, then hurried downstairs. "My dear, you look lovely." Narcissa said, smiling at her future daughter-in-law. "Would you not say so Draco?"
Draco was looking at her. There was something in his eyes she couldn't quite make out. "Yes. Lovely." Those two words were his only to her throughout the two hours dinner.
Nicholas and Lucius mostly discussed the Ministry, and the last World Cup. "...Yes, he is spectacular. In fact, Draco attended Hogwarts with Mr. Wood, didn't you Draco?" without even waiting for his son's reply, he resumed talking with Nicholas.
Draco looked very handsome, even though he sat at the table doing nothing; saying nothing. He looked up at her, and she looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring. She stood up quickly, making the excuse that she felt overheated. She didn't hear him as he got up to follow her, nor his voice saying her name. Then he was forcing her against the wall, and his lips were covering hers. "Oleandera." he whispered, and her name sounded so beautiful when spoken by him.
"Mr. Malfoy, this is extremely inappropriate!" Something inside her wanted to reach out, and drag him back down, but she couldn't. With all her strength, she pushed him away.
He blinked several times, as if awaking from a dream. "Damn... what are you doing to me?" he sounded furious, as if the entire exchange had been her fault. He ran his hands through his hair, an stalked back to the dining room.
She watched him go, and felt something inside her give a little tug. She brought her fingers to her lips, and smiled. He acted as if he hated her one minute, and the next, he was all over her. Would wonders never cease?
A/N: Sorry, sorry. I've been busy with school, and keeping my boyfriend happy. I'll try to post again soon. Off to German :( R/R
Synopsis: Marriage to a Malfoy can be dangerous... In order to survive, one must learn the Rules of Engagement... but what happens when the mistress comes into play...
Chapter III: Of Mysteries and Mistresses
Much later that evening, after the guests went home, and the house was sleeping, Oleandera went to find her father. She found in in front of a fire, in his study, sipping bourbon from a glass. "You should be asleep."
"I wished to speak with you."
"About?"
"My engagement."
"There is no backing out Oleandera. The contract is signed. The match has been made, and you will abide by my decision."
"I wasn't going to try and go back on my word. I only wanted to know why. Why this man? I am not stupid father. There are plenty of rich men in this country who would have made me a suitable husband."
"You are clever. Perhaps too clever for a woman... I am getting old. Not one foot in the grave, but I am certainly not in my prime. I will never have a son... Lucius wrote to me some time ago. It seems that his fortunes have depleted over the years. He has property, it is true, but it requires funds to keep it up. We came to a decision. You would marry his son. I would give you a large dowry. In exchange, I would get a lovely bit of property that he owns here, in Austria.
Oleandera was shocked, and could not hide it. "You mean... I was never 'chosen' to marry him?"
"In a way, you were. You were the oldest unmarried daughter. Had Hope not already been promised to Maxim DuBois, she would have married young Draco."
"I see." she rose, to leave.
'Stay a moment. I have more news for you. On my death, you will again be mistress of Roselands. I am leaving it to you, and your husband."
"But I'm not your oldest child. Surely Laureli or Hope--"
"Sigmund is a fool, who will drink himself into an early grave, and as for DuBois," his lip curled. "He would kill me in an instant if he thought he would gain my fortune and Roselands... No" he smiled coldly. "You, my dear, win by default."
He reached out, and moved a tendril of her hair back into place. In his eyes, she saw something he had never shown her in all her seventeen years. Love. "It is a pity you were not born a boy..." he sighed, and sat back in his chair, all trace of affection gone. "Go to bed Oleandera. I wish to be alone."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
"Ah, so here you are." Oleandera looked up from her book to see her future mother-in-law standing before her. "I searched heaven and earth for you, and then was informed by the servants that you were in the garden. "
"Yes," Oleandera smiled. "I come here often to think, and be alone."
"It is indeed beautiful... it was your mother's creation if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes. My father gave it to her as a wedding gift. The only gift he ever gave her. She expanded it over the years. She even added a maze."
"Really? Sometime you must show me."
Oleandera smiled. "Perhaps."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
I wondered when you would decide to grace me with your presence. Pansy stood in the doorway to her bedroom, her arms folded. Draco lounged on her bed, removing his shoes. "You don't visit for a week, and you expect me to welcome you back with open arms?"
Draco got up, and started toward her. "That is the general idea, yes. I need you. Now." In a matter of seconds, their clothes were on a pile on the floor, and he was moving over her."
"Perhaps when you are finished, you'd like to see your son."
"Perhaps."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
She was still dozing when he told her.
"I'm getting married."
"What?!" she didn't even try to hide her dismay. In a way, Draco almost felt sorry for her. He knew she had long harbored the secret hope of him marrying her.
"Yes. My father's doing. He arranged it all. I simply signed my name on the document."
"Who is she?"
"My cousin. Oleandera Malfoy, from Austria. Pretty girl, but... not my taste."
"When?" she had started to dress.
"In April, after my birthday. There is no need for you to attend." how easily he made everything sound like an order."
"Why are you doing this?" she whispered. "I had thought--"
"Yes, I know you did; and to answer your question, on the death of her father, I will inherit everything. The money, the land, even" he snorted. "'Roselands."
"Draco, I have more then enough money. We could get married. Make a life for our son--"
"Pansy." his voice was curt. "I'm getting tired of this conversation. It seems every time I come here, we discuss it. You are my mistress. My whore. Gentlemen do not marry their whores. Only Muggles do that."
"But... your son."
"I've made provisions for my son. He has my name, and my protection. When the time comes, he will receive an education.. I've even set aside money for him. He will get a quarter of it when he turns seventeen, and the rest when he turns twenty-one."
"Protection! Money! A fine way to treat your heir."
"He is my son. but he is not my heir. My heir shall be the first, and possibly only son of Oleandera and myself."
"You always were a bastard. Get out!" she shrieked. "Get out now!"
He laughed. "I'm going my dear, and unlike your countless other lovers, I won't be coming back." he buttoned the last button on his shirt, and apparated. The vase intended for his head, smashed against the wall.
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
"Where have you been?" Lucius asked. "I've been waiting for two hours."
"I was out."
"Seeing that Parkinson tramp, I have no doubt."
"I don't think that is any of your affair."
In a flash, Lucius was on his feet. He raised his hand and hit Draco, hard, knocking him to the floor. "You will not ruin this for me. Not now! If Nicholas were to find out, he might have second thoughts about receiving you as a son-in-law."
Draco stood, and gingerly touched his lip. There was blood. "I don't believe my having a mistress would change his mind. He has one I'm sure."
"Yes, but he doesn't have a child by his whore. The fact that you do, and that you've hidden it from him... I believe that might."
"I'll be more careful in the future." Draco said, in a bored voice.
"You will immediately send a letter to Ms. Parkinson informing her of the change in your relationship."
"That is not your decision to make!" Draco was seething. How dare Lucius make demands on him?!
"It became my decision the moment you started flaunting that tramp all over London. Write the letter, or you'll lose everything. Do we understand each other?"
Thoughts flooded his mind. Pansy... a fortune... his son... Oleandera... Really, it wasn't that difficult of a decision. "Yes. We understand each other."
*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*~^*
Oleandera was exhausted. She had spent the entire day with Narcissa. She really did like the woman, but sometimes she could be a bit much at times. She excused herself, and went up to her room, to rest before supper. Her head had barely touched the pillow before she was asleep.
She awoke three hours later to the supper bell. She got up, and quickly donned a light blue gown, then hurried downstairs. "My dear, you look lovely." Narcissa said, smiling at her future daughter-in-law. "Would you not say so Draco?"
Draco was looking at her. There was something in his eyes she couldn't quite make out. "Yes. Lovely." Those two words were his only to her throughout the two hours dinner.
Nicholas and Lucius mostly discussed the Ministry, and the last World Cup. "...Yes, he is spectacular. In fact, Draco attended Hogwarts with Mr. Wood, didn't you Draco?" without even waiting for his son's reply, he resumed talking with Nicholas.
Draco looked very handsome, even though he sat at the table doing nothing; saying nothing. He looked up at her, and she looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring. She stood up quickly, making the excuse that she felt overheated. She didn't hear him as he got up to follow her, nor his voice saying her name. Then he was forcing her against the wall, and his lips were covering hers. "Oleandera." he whispered, and her name sounded so beautiful when spoken by him.
"Mr. Malfoy, this is extremely inappropriate!" Something inside her wanted to reach out, and drag him back down, but she couldn't. With all her strength, she pushed him away.
He blinked several times, as if awaking from a dream. "Damn... what are you doing to me?" he sounded furious, as if the entire exchange had been her fault. He ran his hands through his hair, an stalked back to the dining room.
She watched him go, and felt something inside her give a little tug. She brought her fingers to her lips, and smiled. He acted as if he hated her one minute, and the next, he was all over her. Would wonders never cease?
A/N: Sorry, sorry. I've been busy with school, and keeping my boyfriend happy. I'll try to post again soon. Off to German :( R/R