Disclaimer: I own nothing but Bri, Ciaran and the Eveane history, oh, and Hunter. In other words, Draco and his family aren't mind, and neither is the whole world HP. Oh, and Roberto is Gracie's char.

Note: Please be kind…I suck at Canon's.

"At least it's not the dress." she muttered to herself as she stepped down from the horse–drawn carriage in which she'd arrived with her father. The mansion seemed just as impressive as usual, though when you entered you had a certain feeling of evil and sinister things.

Her attention moved towards the food table. Draco stood there, a flaxen-haired girl on his arm. He caught her looking and smiled, winking at her. Bri rolled her eyes, and turned around, forcing a smile for Draco's parents; Lucius and Narcissus.

Soon she was left standing with Narcissus, making limited small talk. Rapidly, the older woman got bored and left her. Her eyes scanned the room for Draco again. She frowned and took a flute of champagne from a waiter's tray as they walked past.

She downed it, and frowned. Champagne was never as nice as her favourite wine, she found. She took another, from a different waiter, then proceeded to the patio doors.

Bri found yet more drunken death eaters and then, oh…then, she spotted Hunter a metre or two away from her. He was standing and talking to his father and his father's friends, looking the perfect son. He made a better evil son than Draco, only he wasn't quite evil enough. In his tux, he could've passed for handsome; Bri made a face and turned away.

She started down the paths, past the bushes filled with dark fairy lights and statues, water features. She found herself a good way from the mansion soon. Bri sighed, wondering when the party would end.

"Hello, beautiful." There came a soft voice behind her. Bri jumped, dropping her glass. "Did I startle you, Rose?" he wondered, his voice sounding innocent. He repaired the broken shards with a flick of his wand. Bri placed the nearly formed flute it on a stone bench nearby.

"Yes, you did." she muttered. He only smiled as their eyes met. Silence pursued, for a few moments.

"Awkward silences were always my forte." Draco said with a smile, gesturing to the bench. Bri sat down stiffly; he sat next to her, curling his arm round her waist. She flinched. "You got my letter, I presume? I was quite surprised when your owl appeared, moments after I'd left."

He raised his long fingers, stroking her neck gently, running his fingertips down the chain to her pendant. She looked away as he touched it. "It suits you." he said, conversationally.

Bri watched the wind blow the leaves until small piles. It was cold out, snow still littered the ground. "Are you going to tell me what I came here for?" she asked, feeling his warmth creep into her.

"Maybe…for a price." he said with a plotting smile she knew all to well. She met his eyes.

"What." she demanded of him.

He moved closer to her. "Kiss me." he told her. Steaming with anger, eyes glittering, she leant forward, pressing her lips against his warm cheek.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Properly…" he muttered, holding onto her waist tightly.

"One kiss. Then you tell me?" he nodded, an eager sort of look in his eyes.

Filled with resentment, she moved towards him again, touching his lips with hers in a kiss that lasted longer than she'd expected, and went deeper than she'd thought. She was almost reluctant to let go… She could taste the champagne he'd drunk, smiling against his mouth as his arms went round her, pulling her closer, slender fingers stroking the back of her neck.

Bri pulled away, her lips feeling weird. Draco grinned, showing a hint of revenge, maybe, in his eyes.

"There. Now tell me." she muttered, turning away once more.

"When did you become so cold, Rose?"

Glowering at him, she insisted. "Tell me, Draco."

"One more kiss…?" Bri's expression told him the answer. "Fine, fine… About your precious necklace…" he said with heavy sarcasm. "You left it at my house."

Bri made a noise of disbelief... "Try again." Knowing he was lying, she crossed one leg over the other, tugging her short-ish skirt down. She folded her arms across her chest, waiting.

"You look good, by the way, I don't think I told you…" he smirked, his hand wandering dangerously close to her thigh.

Bri bent her head close to his ear, tendrils of hair brushing against his cheek. "You touch me, you die." she whispered. "You don't remember? I'm fully trained in the unforgivable curses, dearest." she added spitefully. His hand moved away. "Thank-you." she moved back, throwing him a look of disgust.

"Let's try again, shall we? Tell me how you found my necklace." he hand went to it, enclosing trembling fingers around it. "Don't avoid me, Draco."

For a few moments, all that could be heard was the rustle of the wind in the conifer trees behind them, and the gentle orchestral music drifting out the mansion in before them. Bri watched the people moving in between the ordered gardens, drinking, laughing…Draco broke the silence.

"I was doing something for Father…Meeting some people. I met someone…I never saw what they fully looked like, and I never heard them speak. I think they were mute…Someone spoke for them. They gave me it, said it was yours…" he watched the ground, ashamed that he didn't know more. "That was it. I've had it for two months….I wanted to give it you for Christmas."

Bri looked at him. "Thank-you." she muttered. Draco's words had only left her more curious than before. She stood up, straightening her skirt and pulling up her shirt to cover more of her chest.

"Wait! Where are you going?" he asked, leaping to his feet, grabbing her bracelet adorned wrist. She stopped, raising her head, taking in his 6 foot frame. She shook her head.

"When will you learn?" she wondered, amusement trickling into her voice. "I'm going home, Draco." he frowned, feeling himself weaken as she said his name. She had such a way of saying it…Maybe it was just her beautiful voice. She started walking again. He followed.

"Rose… Bri," he visibly cringed as he called her 'Bri'. He stopped and pulled her round to face him. "Really, why do you want to be called that? Rose is such a beautiful name…Like you." he finished, stroking her hand with his thumb.

Bri kept quiet, completely silent, waiting for him to finish. "Are you done?"

"ROSE!" he yelled, startling birds in the trees nearby. Bri took a step backwards. Draco took a deep breath… "Rose…I love you. I want you back…Darling, what's changed?" he stroked her cheek.

"I've changed, Draco. You know it. I've grown up. Now leave me alone!" she said, tearing her hand from his grip and stalking away.

"I'm not gonna give up!" he shouted after her, she ignored it. "I'll get you back!!" he shouted at her back, before grabbing a wine glass and hurling it on the ground. He watched the wine slip round the sparkling remains, feeling like she'd broke him.

"Bloody hell…" he murmured, turning his back on the mansion.

Note: How did I do? You know the drill, hun.