Chapter 8: Trying to Open Pandora's Box
Draco checked his reflection for the millionth time. Hair, fine. Clothes, fine. Overall, pretty damn good. His thoughts nagged at him. Why did he care how he looked? It was just supper at home, same as always. Only, it wasn't same as always. She was here. Once again, she was messing with his head. Why did she have to transfer to his school in the first place? Worse yet, why was she going to still be there in the fall?
He'd heard his parents talking about a Seer who had created a stumbling block in the plan to bring the Dark Lord into power. He supposed it was possible it could be Michelle, but she was barely older than he was...what could she do. He played devil's advocate with himself-Potter was an infant when he faced the Dark Lord and look what happened. He shrugged the thought away. He didn't want to think about any lords, dark or otherwise. He didn't want to think about what could have happened if Michelle hadn't come to see him. All he wanted to think about was getting her to notice him. He checked his reflection...again.
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Michelle had cleaned up quickly. She had some clothes in her backpack, but nothing very dressy. She hadn't planned on eating dinner in any grand manner...or in a grand manor truth be told. She laughed at her own pun. Michelle left her room and went to the study. She knew it would be a few minutes before the call to supper would be made. Walking along the bookcases, she reached up to peruse a title that caught her eye.
Pulling the book out, she was only half surprised to discover it was a shell of a book. The cover was solid and formed to infer a book was there, but it was strictly for show. Michelle wondered if all the books were fake. She had just begun to reach for another title when she heard someone enter the room. She turned quickly, the hand holding the "book" going behind her back.
"Did you find something to read" Draco's face tilted as though he was trying to see what she was hiding.
"Not exactly." Michelle held up the book and spun it so he could see there were no pages.
He joined her by the bookcase. Taking the book from her, he examined it closely.
"I wonder how many of these are fake..." His eyes lifted to scan the shelves.
Michelle inhaled to speak when she noticed a pleasant smell coming from Draco's general direction. She stiffled a giggle. Was he wearing something? No, that would be too weird. He had probably just cleaned up like she had. Michelle had a guess the Malfoy's had only the best soaps available. The one in her bathroom had a faint rose smell to it. There couldn't be any other explanation.
"I'm guessing you don't read many of these then..."
"When Father is in here, he wants to be left alone. And since he's in here most of the time when he's home, I don't come in very often. Besides, I have enough reading to do for school." He replaced the book then looked Michelle over. "You look nice." he said quietly.
Michelle studied his expression. He didn't seem to be teasing.
"Thank you, so do you." Michelle was glad she had something positive to say after what had happened this afternoon. He actually did look nice. Out of the school robes, he seemed less threatening...he didn't seem to loom over her as much. He seemed less tense as well, which helped his general appearance. Michelle never thought he was bad looking. It was just that his behavior was usually so horrid, one was unable to see him seperate from it. He seemed on the verge of being pleasant. Michelle actually shivered at the thought.
Draco lifted an eyebrow, "Are you cold?"
Michelle fumbled for an answer. "Not really...must have been a draft from the window or something..."
Worth entered the room sparing Michelle from another question. Supper was ready and they were being asked to come to the dining room. Draco held the door open for her and Michelle did her best to be gracious at every possible, but still appropriate, opportunity. The outburst in the garden was still weighing on her mind. It was definitely not her proudest moment.
Lucius and Narcissa were already in the room standing near the sideboard. Again, Michelle was overwhelmed by the amount of food set out already. She hesitated, unsure of where she was going to sit. Narcissa smiled, a cool expression on her face. She seemed to enjoy seeing Michelle feeling uncomfortable.
"Miss Larson, your seat is just over here..." her hand motioned to the first seat to the left of the head of the table.
Michelle made her way to the chair. Draco got there seconds before and held the chair out for her.
"Thank you." She gave Draco a slight smile before turning her attention to his parents. Lucius had helped his wife to her seat across from Michelle. He took his seat at the head of the table while Draco sat next to Michelle.
Lucius rang a small bell placed on the table to signal the start of the meal. A couple of women came in and began to serve the first course. Michelle sighed anxiously, saying a quick prayer that the food hadn't been tampered with. She heard Draco chuckling next to her. He lifted an eyebrow when she looked at him. The soup was potato leek and Michelle was glad it tasted as such. Nothing strange so far.
The conversation was light. Lucius told Michelle even more about the house and the Malfoy legacy than his wife had earlier in the day. As each course came and went, Michelle became more and more worried. She was waiting for him to ask why she was there. She was also annoyed by the way Narcissa was staring at her. One second her gaze would be friendly, the next Narcissa looked like she would enjoy nothing more than smacking Michelle silly.
Narcissa started the topic of Hogwarts, speaking mostly to Draco. She asked him about his friends and what their plans were for the final year. Draco did his best to answer her, but friendship had become a sore subject with him today. Narcissa didn't seem satisfied by his responses.
Finally, as dessert was being served, Narcissa started making her move.
"I find it odd darling..." she shifted her gaze to her husband. "Miss Larson comes all this way to see our son, yet he never mentioned her before to us...and he didn't speak about her when talking of his friends this evening...I wonder why it is she is here. It sounds as if they hardly know each other..."
Michelle swallowed the spoonful of ice cream she'd just put into her mouth before she choked on it. "I did just transfer to Hogwarts last year. I guess Draco has more stories about the other students since he's known them longer."
"Hmmm...I suppose that is a possible answer. Perhaps I should give you another chance to come up with something better..." Narcissa's smile had gone ice cold as she looked to Michelle.
Michelle's eyes did a quick scan of the room. She located every possible exit and realised she wasn't very close to any of them.
She kept her voice calm as she lowered her hands to under the table. "I'm not sure what it is you want me to say..." she planned to grab her wand that she had slid into her sock earlier.
"I just want you to tell me the truth. That is what wizards like you are supposed to do isn't it...tell the truth...or your version of it anyway..."
Michelle's hand froze as she considered telling Narcissa some version of the truth. She couldn't imagine they would be angry with her for trying to protect their son. If she left the Death Eater bit out, perhaps they would be more understanding.
Draco watched Michelle. He could sense she was on the verge of telling his parents why she was there. He reached his hand under the table and grabbed her knee just as she opened her mouth. He squeezed it gently. To her credit, Michelle barely reacted, but the way she hesitated before speaking next let Draco know she understood he wanted her to keep quiet.
"I am a Seer yes, but I just came here to see Draco personally...not in any official capacity." Michelle fell quiet. She sounded to herself like a slightly deranged person, but in this place it didn't seem too odd.
"Personally? Draco, why is it you have never spoken about Miss Larson to us before" Her cool stare fell on her son's face.
"I was concerned you would be disappointed in me." Draco sat up straighter in his chair, his hand lifting from Michelle's knee.
"Why would we be disappointed Draco?" Lucius had decided to join in the conversation.
"Because she is an orphan, we have no way of knowing whether or not she is a mudblood. I didn't think you would want me spending time with such a person."
Michelle turned her face to look at him. His answer was entirely believable in this situation.
Narcissa looked disgruntled. She knew his response made sense as well.
Lucius gave his son an approving look. "Your concern for the reputation of our family makes me proud Draco. Still, the chances that a Seer would come from such low beginnings are small. It would take very pure blood to create such a powerful wizard. I suspect your guest is of a clean lineage."
Michelle felt herself becoming more disgusted with the conversation. They were making her sound like a prize winning dog or something. Still, it kept Draco's mother quiet a moment.
"What subject will you be teaching while at Hogwarts?" Lucius asked wiping the last of his dessert from his lips.
Michelle fought to keep her eyes from rolling, she thought the answer was an obvious one. "I'll be helping teach Divination."
Narcissa practically hissed from across the table. "Magic to confuse the feeble minded. They should ban the subject altogether."
"As you can see Miss Larson, my wife does not see any validity to prophecy."
"Not even the prophecy that predicted Voldermort's downfall" Michelle threw a hard look at Narcissa. She knew she should have kept her mouth shut, but she was getting tired of being polite. "That one was on the mark."
"Mark...interesting choice of words..." Narcissa's posture had stiffened like a cobra preparing to strike.
Draco reached under the table and pinched her arm. Michelle couldn't help reacting this time and twisted her head to look at him. Michelle closed her eyes to collect herself before looking back at his mother.
Narcissa's eyes were piercing. "I'm sure I know nothing about such a prophecy...other than the rumors that were spread afterwards."
"So you've never had an experience with a Seer yourself" Michelle asked quietly.
Red flew into Narcissa's face like flames exploding from an out of control fire.
"I have dealt with your kind before. I found nothing to recommend the encounter."
"What did the Seer tell you?" Michelle was almost leaning into the remains of her ice cream.
Draco's eyes bounced nervously between his mother and Michelle. He seriously considered doing a spell to shut Michelle up, but wanted to know the answer to the question too badly.
Lucius reached out and touched his wife's hand. They shared a look that seemed to calm her down. She smiled wickedly.
"The Seer told me I had a choice to make in my life. One option would lead me down a dark, but easy path. The other option would lead me down a path full of struggles."
"What did you choose?"
"I chose not to listen to the Seer."
"And did the prediction come true?"
"Look around and tell me what you think..." Narcissa rose from her seat causing Draco and his father to stand as well. "You must excuse us. Lucius and I have some business to discuss before we retire. Draco, I'm sure you will be able to entertain Miss Larson by yourself." She took Lucius' offered arm and they walked out of the room together.
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"What the bloody hell were you thinking?" Draco's anger seeped through his entire person as he turned on Michelle.
"She was pissing me off." Michelle's hands went to her hips defensively as she stood toe to toe with him.
"You understand you may have ruined your chance at leaving in the morning." Draco stared down at her, abusing the height difference. For the first time since she'd come into the house, Michelle felt like she was looking at the Draco she knew from school.
"She knows I've spoken to Dumbledore. If she keeps me here, she will regret it."
"I wouldn't make those sorts of threats in this house. You never know who might be listening."
Michelle pursed her lips. He was right. She needed to get over her annoyance with his mother and calm down. Draco's hand went to his forehead. He rubbed his temples. Pulling his hand back, Michelle could see the sketches of pain on his expression.
"You okay? You don't look so good." Michelle spoke flatly, still simmering inside.
"It's just a headache...started during dinner." He looked to her ruefully. "Wonder what could have brought it on..." he said dryly.
Michelle let the comment slide. "I have some stuff in my backpack that might help." She moved towards the door.
"No thanks. Mother would go ballistic if she knew I was taking something you offered me." He followed her into the hall. "I can take care of it myself."
"Snape always said you were exceptional at potions. Something to cure a headache should be a breeze."
Draco perked up a bit. It almost sounded like she was paying him a compliment. They made their way upstairs. Michelle's room was two doors down from Draco's. He leaned his back against the wall as she opened her door. She stood inside the frame collecting her thoughts.
"Listen, I'm sorry I got all confrontational with your mother tonight. Looks like I'm 0 for 2 with the Malfoy's today..." She gave him a brief smile. He didn't seem to want to lighten up. Michelle couldn't really blame him. Her face went serious. "Are you sure you don't want anything for that headache?"
"I'll be fine. I just need to close my eyes and rest."
"Okay." Michelle began to enter her room, but stepped back as though she'd forgotten something. Her arm reached out, and for a brief moment, her hand rested gently on Draco's wrist. "In case I forgot to mention it, you were pretty sharp when you mentioned the mudblood thing during supper. I'm sure your mom wouldn't be happy to hear you speaking up for someone like me." She let her hand fall back to her side, her fingers trailing over his skin as they moved. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night." Draco had to force himself to speak. He didn't move from his spot against the wall as she shut her door. He could still feel her hand on him, her touch kind and oddly comforting. He reached for his temples again, this time rubbing with the heels of both hands. Damn this freaking headache. Damn her for making him feel all strange around her. This person standing in the hallway was not who he was...or atleast it was not who he was told to be. The only reason he'd ever messed with her in school was to annoy Potter. It didn't have anything to do with her. He kept repeating that sentence to himself as he returned to his room unsure he would get any sleep.
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Narcissa slid the invisiblity cloak off her body as she returned to her husband's study. She and Lucius had gone there directly from the dining room. Narcissa had taken the cloak from its hiding place, leaving Lucius to do his work in quiet. She had then followed her son and Michelle to the hallway, listening to their entire conversation.
Lucius looked up as she reappeared at the edge of his desk. "Darling, what have you found out?"
"I'm afraid to report our son seems to be interested in this girl. It was almost sickening to watch him linger outside her door after saying good night. But, he will return to his true nature this evening."
"Is he ready?" Lucius tied the last of his notes to a large, tawny owl before taking it to an open window.
Narcissa joined him and they watched the owl fly off into the darkness. "I heard him complaining of a headache. I will go to him soon when the potion has fully gone into effect. Have you contacted everyone?"
"Just sending out the final instructions. I made sure to cover our tracks. No one will be able to trace this back to us...they may guess at our involvement, but they will be able to prove nothing."
Narcissa smiled darkly. "We have some time before the plan goes into motion..." Her hand slid up the front of his suit coat. Tugging at the lapel, she drew him closer. She licked along his jawline before kissing him deeply. Lucius laughed into her throat unsure which delighted him more, her lips or her perverse mind. Both would come into play this evening and he would be the better for it.
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a/n: I have to admit, this story is going a little differently than I had first imagined it, but I think it'll be the better. I guess we'll just have to see. The luxury of JKR having not really delved into the home life of the Malfoy's is you get to really play around with many scenarios. I'm sure I'm taking some liberties here, but they come from my belief that Draco is the way he is because of his parents. The movies have made him sort of a weird comic relief while the books have left him open to other possibilities. I would hope he is not as one dimensional as he sometimes comes across. For example, I think the theory that he and Harry will have to work together is a solid one. If they don't, I think I will actually be disappointed. Sorry for the tangent, but I felt the need to offer it up. Also, I hope you are enjoying the darker aspects of the story. It must be okay since the 3 of you have hung around thus far, but I'd like to know what you think anyway.
