Conquest of the Heart
Chapter One:
Trial Meeting
DM("DM"Draco's POV)
I adjust uncomfortably in my seat as I watch my father being tried as a Death Eater. He deserves it, too, because he is one but that's not all. He deserves it because I'm bloody sick and tired of him beating up on me and mum. She's not nearly as roughed up as I am but still mum looks pretty bad. She's got a nice, big shiner over her left eyes and her arm is broken. I got bandages around my head, neck and chest that are damp with blood, but it doesn't hurt as bad as seeing mom get stricken by dad. I mentally smile as my dad sits down in the chair across from the judge, with a huge, evil grin spread across his face. His eyes have changed in the past few years from sleek, sly silver to crazed and large.
My eyes shift from him, though, to the people who just entered on the other side of the room that is designated for victims. A girl, no older than me, sits down in the middle row, flanked on both sides by two beefy looking wizards nearly three times her size…but there's something familiar about this girl. She's got ebony black hair, tied up in a tight bun that sort of reminds me of Professor McGonagall. The girl's eyes are bright blue, slightly brighter than an afternoon sky. Her skin is pale, possibly paler than mine and she's sitting up very straight between her two bodyguards.
I look away from the girl when her eyes meet mine. Instead I take to glaring at my father, who looks like he's about to burst out in crazy laughter soon. Before he can though, the judge, named "Barnaby Widsworth" clears his throat and the room quiets down.
"Lucius Malfoy," booms the judge, getting my father's attention. "You are here to be determined whether you are guilty as a murderer or not. Before I state the evidence and your…attorney…tries to defend you, Lucius Malfoy, how do you plea?"
"Not guilty, your honor," says my father. I scoff at this. At least he hasn't completely lost his mind…well eh has enough sanity left to defend himself.
An hour or two passes and my father's lawyer isn't looking too good. Neither is my father. They keep falling into traps set by the judge who seems to have a book of questions to ask my dad right in front of him. After the lawyer is finished, he retreats back to his table, pours some water, and holds his head anxiously.
"Well, if that is all," began to judge looking over to the girl sitting in the victims' seats. "Ms. Agel, would you like to address the court?"
Ms. AGEL!? Little red flags are going up! I've heard that name before! Is that really Dorothy Agel? She looks so different from last year. All of the baby fat she had isn't there and her body is more filled in. Her eyes aren't as bright as they were but seem to conceal more knowledge and possibly a secret or two. Moreover, judging by the size of that bun I'd say she got a haircut.
She stands up and says in a voice very unfamiliar, "No, your honor. All I ask is that justice be served today and it be done, if possible, without killing any—" Before Dorothy can finish what she's saying, father charges her but it knocked down almost immediately when one of Dorothy's bodyguard points his wand at my father and shouts, "STUPIFY!" and gets father right in the chest.
"By your own actions, you've confessed, Lucius Malfoy, and we find you guilty of all thirty-six counts of murder. You are hereby sentenced, with referral to Ms. Agel's request, to life in Azkaban without visitors. Take him away."
I hear mum give a relieved sigh and stand up. I follow her example and get to my feet as well. Mum seems to be crying, whether those are tears of joy or sorrow, I can't tell with that black eye. She starts for the exit and I notice Dorothy is removing her robes to reveal muggle clothing underneath it. Looks like she's wearing a business suit…and when her guards remove their robes as well, you can tell that they are as well.
She leaves through the same door she came through and I see her moving toward a lift at the end of the corridor, waiting for it to open. My mum and me both sidle over to her and before I can say anything to my schoolmate, mum's got her in a bone-crushing hug.
DA("DA"Dorothy's POV…Pay attention!)
Oh my! Mrs. Malfoy just…hugged me? I thought she was going to slap me! Gave me quite a start! But WHY is she hugging me? I'm actually very relieved at her choice of action and it seems Draco's in shock from seeing his mother hug me as well. He does look a little different from last year. His hair isn't gelled back but then again that would be difficult since it's wrapped in bandages…must be a magical injury if it's still there. His face isn't nearly as pointed but it's still just as pale. He looks pretty beat up. I notice, once she let me out of her headlock, that his mother is too. I wonder what caused all of these injuries.
"Hello, Draco," I say once I regain my voice. He seems at a loss for word. Is he surprised to see me?
"Er—hello," he finally responds. If only you knew, Draco, how much I've missed you…but I won't admit it of course. I'm still angry with you.
"How are you…oh, sorry!" What a stupid question! He's not doing well at all! Look at him! He's bloody falling apart!
"I'm alright, I guess," he replies. I'm surprised he still answered my question. Suddenly, it's quiet again…you know, an awkward kind of quiet. I don't have anything to say…like usual.
"Uh…" Both Draco and myself say in unison. It's not easy talking to your ex…I find that out right away.
"Well, my son talks about you—" Mrs. Malfoy started in. I listen but Draco clamps his hand over her mouth.
"Mother!" he snaps. I snicker a little. Hey, wouldn't you? I mean, honestly, he talks about ME at his house with his family…Why though? I'm half muggle-born. Does his mother not care or something? His father obviously does.
"What is it, Drakie? You don't have to be embarrassed!" Was this woman ever in Slytherin? She's seems a little cheerful…I mean, they just sentenced her husband to Azkaban…for life!
Marty and Mac, my two bodyguards, are tense behind me. I can feel them. They don't seem to like the look of Draco or his mother. I turned to them and they straighten up immediately.
"Calm down, guys," I whisper to them. "I go to school with him. He's not…very hostile." This doesn't seem to reassure them, though. They each grunt and 'affirmative' and continue to stand nervously behind me.
"So, Dorothy," says Draco, looking over at me with his silvery eyes. They don't seem as hard and menacing as they were last year. They've softened.
"Yes, Draco?" I ask in a normal voice. Ready to talk to me now, are you?
"What with the…er…what's with your attire?" he manages and I grin mentally. Draco Malfoy just stammered. He's weakening.
"Oh, the suit?" I look down and I am out of place, but I'm going into muggle London, what did you expect? "It's a business suit. I'm going to my father's company and it's in muggle London. Yes, it's a muggle company. He started it to remind him of my mother. That's why it's called Assilem Inc. Assilem is my mother's name backwards. Melissa. Assilem." Draco nods and goes back to staring at the lift. I decide to start yet another conversation and turn to him to ask, "So, what have you been up to Draco? Received you O.W.L. scores?" He nods. "They were good?" He nods again.
"What about you?" he replies.
"I can't complain…well, I'm still going to be in Snape's class when I start school, so I guess I can complain." I wonder if he gets my drift.
"You're coming back to school then?" Good. He's a relatively smart boy.
DM
I'm relieved when she nods. Everything's usually all right when she's at school. I was hoping that since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was destroyed she'd be coming back. I feel a weight steadily lifting off my shoulder when my hopes are confirmed. Something tells me, though, by the way she seems to be addressing me formally, that she's still angry about catching Pansy and me. C'mon, Dorothy, you can't be mad forever.
Finally, the lift is here. Mum and me enter first, with Dorothy insisting of course, then she enters and her bodyguards after her. It's not as crowded in here as I thought it would be with those two oafs in front of us. I removed my robe when I get the chance and then help mum with hers. She's really sore with that broken arm.
"Going onto the muggle streets, Mrs. Malfoy?" I think she addressed mum on purpose. Maybe she doesn't want to talk to me any more.
"Why, yes, dear," mother replies. Mum seems to have really loosened up a bit now that dad's gone. I've never seen her be so friendly to anyone, let alone a Gryffindor half-breed. I always thought she was on dad's side about all of those things. Oh well. Whatever. "Just for a moment though. We're meeting someone. One of Drakie's friends, I believe." I hate it when she uses that nickname…Drakie…I shudder when I think about it.
Uh…I think Dorothy saw me shiver in disgust because she's giving me an odd look. She simply shrugs is off and looks outside the lift as it goes down.
"Are you meeting anybody, Dorothy? If not, you're welcome to join us," mum says…That's not a bad idea, but my hopes are dowsed when Dorothy turns my mum down.
"I'm getting a ride from someone…A work partner who takes me everywhere. A wizard too. He works at both of my father's companies." Both?
"Your dad had two companies?" I ask. I want to know about this other company. Possibly a wizarding company. I might be able to get a job with her after I graduate.
"Yes," she replies quickly. "He's got Assilem, a software company." Software? I look puzzled at this word. "Software is like…hm…well they have these little devices called machines but you need software for them to run." I sort of get it but not completely. "Anyway, he also runs a wizard company called 'Down Under.' It's an auror company." Hmmm… I see, I see.
The lift stops and Dorothy and her goons are the first to get out. I take this opportunity to look Dorothy over. How can I resist? She's grown so much. She got the same slender legs from the year before but her ass is more filled in and gives off a seductive curve in her business suit. Mum notices me staring and hits me on the arm, telling me to act more like a gentleman. But I am acting like a gentleman. I always act like this when I see something I like! It's a compliment. Not my fault if she doesn't take it that way!
Dorothy is really polite, just like last year. The only difference is she's not nearly as meek. She's a full-fledged woman now and I can tell. I can see it in her eyes…and in her body. She moves like a woman when she walks too. Her hips swing from side to side with each step. Oh, why couldn't you be a Slytherin and a pureblood!? Why?!
Before I know what's going on though, we're at that odd box thingie that the muggles call a telephone booth after receiving our wands again. (All of hours were taken because of the trial.) Both of Dorothy's guards step in first and fill in nearly to bursting. I hope they don't hit any bumps along the way…it might break open.
After a matter of seconds, the booth has returned and the man asks for the next two to enter. I guess we have to go in pairs. Dorothy steps out of the way.
"Draco, Mrs. Malfoy," she says kindly. "Its only right for you two to go together. Family should always stay together."
"No, no, dear," says mum, shoving Dorothy and me into the booth at the same time. Even with our two normal-sized bodies it's fairly cramped in here. "I have to stay behind and ask someone something." Good excuse mum! Unfortunately, before I can protest, the door swings shut and wee start moving.
"Oooh," manages Dorothy in discomfort. "I hate this thing. It always makes me wanna be sick." That makes me feel very uncomfortable but then my mind wanders to something else.
Her body is pressed against mine and I can feel every brand new curve she's got, and right now if I were to guess, I'd say she got implants! Are those real? Suddenly, the booth jerks up, fast and hard and Dorothy clings to me as if she's going to go flying or something. I'm not one to argue or anything but her body against mine…is sending some pretty bad signals to my other extremities. I muffle a groan and grab onto her shoulders to comfort her and hold myself down as well. With a sudden jerk, the booth stops and sunlight streams in on my face and hers. She looks up at me, sighs, and then pushes out of the booth, giving me a perfect look at her new body. Her bodyguards, however, give me one of the sharpest glares ever. If looks could kill…
I step out of the booth too and look over to see Dorothy talking with her cronies. I can hear a little bit of it.
"It's okay, guys," she reassures. What's okay? "I went to school with him. He won't try anything." Are they talking about me?
"Are you sure, Ms. Agel? One of us could give you a ride. You don't have to wait for Watson." Who's Watson? He partner in crime?
"Yes, I'm sure. You've checked the place yourselves. Now go home." Woah, Dorothy is really scary when she's strict.
"But—" She doesn't let her guards have a word of protest. She holds up her hand and they are silent.
"I said go!" Note to self: stay on her good side.
"Yes, ma'am," say her goons, both bowing respectively to her before getting into two black, shiny cars at the front of the alley they were in and driving off.
I hear the booth shoot up behind me one more time and Dorothy walks over to help my mum out. She smiles at Dorothy and that makes me feel good…I guess. Something's amiss though. Something tells me I shouldn't be happy about this, though, because Dorothy isn't my girl anymore. Suddenly I see a limo pull up out front of the alley and a door opens.
"Hey, Dorothy!" says a man from inside the limo. His head becomes visible when he sticks it out into the sunlight. Who the bloody hell is this!? Her business partner!? He looks about twenty! No too much older then me! And his face is shaven and tan. His dark brown hair has no comparison to the darkness of Dorothy's hair and his eyes are dark to match his hair. I guess he's kinda handsome.
"Oh, hey Watson!" Dorothy replied, waving as her "partner" gets out of the car and walks over to her.
DA
Oh, god! Now Watson's here. It's a good thing that Draco's here though. I doubt Watson will touch anything on me he "likes" if theirs a person there. I fake a smile as he comes over, dreading his next move.
"Who's your friend?" he asks, trying to smoothly position his hand on my butt. Oh, I don't think so. I reach back, grab his hand and squeeze as hard as I can. No touchie! That's mine and mine alone! I hear a few sickening pops and cracks coming from his hand and release it slowly. Get my point, Watson? I don't approve of you touching me! Next time I'll break your hand off and magic it so it can't go back on.
"Oh?" I try to play innocent but I'm sure Draco just saw what Watson tried to do and it's not going to well with my favorite blonde Slytherin…or his mother. "This is my school friend, Draco Malfoy and his mother."
"Well, it's nice to meet you both," he says offering his left hand, his not-broken hand. Draco just stares at it menacingly. Oh, be nice, Draco! Mrs. Malfoy on the other hand, swats it away like it was something disgusting.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you how to treat a lady?" she snaps. Woah! She sounds like my grandmother! "Grabbing where you ought not be is not very gentlemanly. I like Draco's mum. She speaks my language.
"Dorothy, we're going to be late for our meeting if we don't go," he whispers, trying his best to get out of this sticky situation. I would make up some excuse to stay but I'm very strict about being punctual. Oh well.
"Fine," I say with a sigh. "Go back to the limo and I'll be there in a minute." He listens, like he should if he wants to keep his job. I could drop him in an instant…but he's my father's friend's son so I keep him as a favor to my dearly departed father. Watson will get his one day though. I clear my throat and turn to Mrs. Malfoy and Draco.
"Well, it seems I have to be going," I say kindly to them. "This meeting is very important for Assilem. I guess I'll see you at school or maybe on the Hogwarts Express in September. It was a pleasure making your acquaintance Mrs. Malfoy. I hope to see you again. Good-bye." I wave at them one more time and get in the limo. I don't hesitate to smack Watson when he touches my leg either. He deserves every last bit of it.
A/N: So you like it? This is by far the longest chapter I've written, EVER! I know that Dorothy is sort of out of character, but she's changed and so has Draco. Okay, I have a favor to ask of all ya'll Harry Potter fans out there. I need to know all of the OWL scores and what they mean. I can't do some chappies until I get 'em. Please put them in your reviews since my email is currently not working. I'll change it soon. I hope you like it as I do. Update soon.
The Author
(WOAH! In Microsoft word, this story took up five whole pages and was more than 3000 words long! Wicked!)