Chapter 5: - Lifting the mask

Slowly Isabeau opened her eyes; she had been awakened by a softness on her cheeks, a tenderness that she hadn't felt in a very long time.

"Good morning gorgeous" said a soft voice that was very close to her ear, slowly opening her eyes she saw him, Draco Malfoy. His arm wrapped around her, their naked bodies pressed lightly together, his heat warming her small frame.

For the first time in months Isabeau smiled, and she was pleased to see that as she opened her eyes her smile was reflected on Draco's pointed features. She didn't have to look around her to feel that she was in her own bed, both of them, warm and safe under her covers the hangings pulled around them, secluding them from any prying eyes. Isabeau had a vague recollection of Draco carrying her here afterwards. But never had she imagined that he would have stayed with her. Usually that wasn't in Draco Malfoy's style.

"What time is it?" she asked making a move to turn to see her alarm clock, but Draco wouldn't let her,

"It's late" Draco said softly as he pulled her closer and smiling even more, "Classes started hours ago, potions is just finishing and Snape will be furious that we didn't show. The entire house is empty...apart from us!" he grinned mischievously as he ran a soft warm hand down Isabeau's front making her grin and then moan blissfully as he touched her and the warmth that she had felt last night spread throughout her body once more.

In seconds they were once more locked in each others embrace as the fires returned to them and they relived the passion of the pervious night again and again. They spent the remainder of the day between Isabeau's sheets, wrapped in each others arms, caressing and kissing each other as they moved rhythmically together entwining as one. Neither hunger nor the noise of Isabeau's younger dorm mates returning to fetch books and stationary made them leave the bed, halt their progression or stifle their sounds. Draco's kisses were strong and conveyed all the passion that Isabeau had refused to bestow on Snape, finally as the day grew and the bewitched torches of the dorm sparked into life signally the end of the day Draco withdrew from her and kissed her one last time before he headed towards his own dorm and to sleep.

Lying there alone in her bed Isabeau felt cold and even more isolated and unloved then before, and like always tears stung at her eyes. She guessed that this was how Snape must have felt only twenty four hours ago when she had fled from his quarters after he had almost asked her if he could completely change her world.

But her world had changed; Draco had changed it for her. Right now she would have been creeping out of the common room towards Snape's private quarters where he would have sweated over her breathing hard as he pleasured himself with her. But Draco had changed all of that. In one night of passion he had shown more love and kindness to Isabeau then anyone else had done in over a year. Finally knowing that for the second time in her life she had made love Isabeau smiled, her tears quickly dried and for the first time in a long time her sleep was undisturbed by the ghosts of her past.

"Wake up" purred a soft voice in Isabeau's ear which started her out of her dreams,

"What's wrong?" she asked quickly as she opened her eyes to see Draco lying next to her on the bed

"I've a surprise for you" he said as he moved his hand slowly down Isabeau's arm and took hold of her hand. Draco refused to tell her what the surprise was as her led her out of the dormitory and into the cold corridors of the castle. Both dressed in their night clothes, he led her up to the very top of the astronomy tower the gentle wind whipping at their features as the first rays of sun broke through the morning clouds.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Draco said his hand still tightly clasp in Isabeau's as he stared out at the rising sun, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

Isabeau stared at Draco disbelievingly, was this the same Draco Malfoy that she heard her dorm mates crying over most nights? The same Draco Malfoy that slept with a girl purely to teach her that guys like him did exist? The malicious, bullying, Draco Malfoy that swaggered around the house common room acting as though he was the alpha male with his two Gargoyle like body guards striding behind him. Finally she came to the obvious conclusion, that that Draco was as much as a show and a fake as she was.

The real Isabeau Navarre had been hiding behind a shield of pain for over a year, torturing herself over her mothers death. In her heart she knew that her mother hadn't given her life so that her daughter could live a life full of regret and anguish, her mother would have wanted her to have moved on by now, to have began to build a new life.

The Real Isabeau wasn't a heartless creature that hid in the shadows, friendless and hate filled. The real Isabeau was a fiery animal that lived for the light, to be the centre of attention and was as passionate as her French blood would allow. That had been her life at Beauxbatons, she had been popular, liked and loved by both men and women. She wore the finest clothes; set many different trends and she lived a life of luxury both at school and at home. Her life had been one not too dissimilar to Draco's, one that was perceived by outsiders as a wondrous thing. But even then and unbeknown to Isabeau her life held dark secrets, secrets that even now remained unanswered