AN: Alright, I know this chapter is a little longer than the others, but I
think it's worth it. This is what happens when you take a car ride to
Jersey and you want to ignore your family. The next chapter the Malfoys
will be on their way to school and then I'll be able to wrap it up...with any
luck.
Disclaimer: You know the drill...not mine! Except Faith and the plot, everything else is JK's (curse her!!)
Chapter Five Blood Ties
"I can't believe you did that!" Draco sputtered through a series of snorts. As he tried to regain control of his breathing Faith continued to laugh and tell her story.
"That's not even the best part Drake. He then decided it would be wise to open the damn door!" she practically screamed. Draco couldn't contain himself and was laughing hysterically again. "You do a really good impression of a hyena Draco."
"Can it Faith." He managed to say through his laughter. "Why didn't you warn him?" Draco asked her after he had caught his breath.
Faith looked as if she had just been insulted. "Why didn't I what now?" she demanded.
"You know, give him a warning or threat." Draco explained.
Faith shook her head. 'Tsk, tsk Draco" she said, "that wouldn't be my style." She said sweetly.
"Hah, you have style?" Draco teased.
"Yeah, and bloody grace and charm." She laughed.
"Well, at least no one can accuse you of lack of self confidence." He said a bit more seriously.
Faith gave her brother a glare that was more serious then their tones had been up to that point. "Are you saying I'm conceited?" she inquired.
Draco sensed that he should back off but he didn't. "Oh no, no not at all, you're humble." His comment was dripping with sarcasm.
"At leas I have a reason to be conceited." She snapped.
"And that would be what exactly?" Draco asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
"I have intelligence, cleverness, wit, knowledge, and a lovely smile." She informed him and then flashed her winning smile.
"Pretty sure most of those are synonymous, but whatever flies your broomstick Faith." Draco said with a self important attitude about him.
"You know what, bite me you big Nancy." Faith said menacingly.
"No thanks," Draco replied sweetly, "I wouldn't want to contract ego inflatus now would I."
Faith jumped from her chair. As she did Narcissa came into the study. "And just what is going on in here?"
"Draco's about to have the stuffing beat out of him is all." Faith hissed.
"Just try it git." Draco threatened.
"DRACO!" Narcissa snapped. "You stop that right now." Faith smirked. "That goes for you as well Faith." Narcissa informed her. Draco reciprocated the look.
"Ponce." Faith snarled at Draco
"Prat." He retorted.
Faith glared at him. "Pouf."
"Ass hole!" Draco shouted back.
"ENOUGH" Narcissa bellowed. "What's gotten into you two?" she looked at both of her children, they looked away. "A few days together and you're already at each other's throats!?" she stammered in disbelief. "It's unbelievable. I would have expected more of you Faith." Narcissa had great disappointment on her face as she looked at her daughter.
"Hey, what about me?" Draco asked loudly.
"Don't kid yourself Drake." Faith said glibly.
"Shut your mouth." Narcissa ordered. "If I hear anymore of this from either of you, you'll wish I hadn't. I won't stand for my children trying to sabotage one another. Am I making myself clear?" she asked as she looked at them both.
"Crystal." Faith and Draco said in unison.
About a week later... Draco was in his room making sure everything was ready and finished for school. There was about one week before the start of term. Faith and he had been avoiding each other since the day in the study. For the most part they had been successful. She had played catch up on some school assignments and he practiced on his broomstick. Even though Faith had just turned sixteen, she would be starting fifth year classes at Hogwarts. Durmstrang had stressed certain areas of the curriculum and neglected others. Draco suspected that Faith could ward off about 100 dementors without a problem but wouldn't be able to transfigure a niffler into real gold if her life depended on it.
Tomorrow they would be going to Hogwarts for Faith's sorting. It would be a small gathering, just the Malfoys, Dumbledore, and the four Heads of House. The ceremony seemed a bit pointless to Draco, and everyone else for that matter. It was only a formality on the way to Slytherin.
As Draco packed up his Quidditch uniform there was a loud knock on his door. He opened it to find Faith on the other side. "What do you want?" he snapped.
"I've been doing some thinking..."
"Did it hurt?" Draco interrupted.
"Shut up" Faith ordered. "I've been thinking, and the way I see it is this: the sorting is tomorrow and let's face it, we're going to be together for the school year, so maybe it's best to put the past weeks behind us and start fresh."
Draco looked at her and folded his arms. "Is that your twisted version of an apology?"
Faith looked shocked and then pissed. "What the hell do I have to apologize for?"
"You really are about a mile off your rocker aren't you?"
"Excuse me" Faith said in a raised voice.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I do believe you called me a ponce, among other things." Draco looked at Faith with a victorious smirk on his pale face.
"I can't believe how arrogant you are sometimes." Faith said as she pushed her way passed Draco and into his room. "Allow me to set you straight. YOU are the one that started that whole bloody mess if I remember correctly and I think I do."
Draco started to circle around Faith like a vulture. "And how did I do that exactly?" he asked.
"You said I was conceited!" she screeched.
Draco backed off a bit. "I never said conceited. I may have inferred it but you're the one who jumped to conceited." He explained.
Faith shook her head and prodded at her brother's shoulder again and again. "I didn't jump to anything you pasty brat. You implied, I took a step and there we found ourselves at conceited."
Draco grabbed her hand. "So you agree. I never said it."
"Whether you sad it or not it was there, plain as the nose on my face."
"And what a nose it is." Draco proclaimed. Faith glared at him and he rolled his eyes, he never could win an argument with her. "Alright," he sighed "I suppose you're right."
"And..." Faith coxed.
"And I shouldn't have implied that you're conceited." He muttered loud enough for her to hear.
"I guess I can live with that." She said after a moment's thought.
"You're going to have to because that's all that you're going to get."
"And you're not sorry are you?" Faith inquired.
"Not one bit. And neither are you so don't you dare act all high and mighty with me." He warned in a menacing tone.
"Agreed" Faith said and she held out her hand.
"Don't give me that crap." He said. Faith looked insulted for a moment before she learned what her brother meant. Draco pushed her arm down and embraced her. Faith hugged him back lovingly.
A few days later, Faith and Draco were enjoying an early breakfast in Faith's room. There was about an hour before they would be leaving for Hogwarts. Draco was reading on of Faith's books and she was reading the Daily Prophet. Faith would give a small sigh here or there or mutter her feelings about an article under her breath. Draco didn't mind.
It was comforting to have someone there, even if it was only for their sighs and occasional snorts. Faith put her paper down and looked at her brother.
"How do you like it so far Drake?"
Draco looked at her over the pages of the book. "It's fairly interesting to tell the truth. I was afraid that it would be dull."
Faith gave a knowing smile. "Just wait, it gets so much better." Faith took a sip of her tea and looked at the weather outlook of the next couple days on the back of the Prophet.
Draco took in the scene. They certainly had grown up. The last time they had eaten breakfast like this there had been toys all around. Now they were sipping tea and reading newspapers and novels.
"What's on your mind, Drake?" Faith asked.
"Us" he informed her.
Faith looked up from the Prophet with a questioning look on her face. "How do you mean?"
"Well, like this" he said as his arms indicated their situation, "do you think we'll always be like this Fay?"
Faith smiled. That was the first time since she had been home that Draco had called her Fay. That's what he used to call her. He was Drake and she was Fay. "Eventually we will be." She said.
"Alright, now I'm confused." Draco sighed.
"I'd bet my bottom dollar there will be times we want nothing to do with each other, we just came off of one of those times. And as we get older it's only going to get worse. But we'll have each other all in good time. Then one of us will get married or do something else the other doesn't approve of. But in the end we'll be two old misers living together sipping tea and reading the Prophet reminiscing about our glory days when we could bend others to our will." She explained. Faith turned her attention back to the paper.
"Promise?" Draco asked as he set his book aside.
Faith answered without missing a beat or looking up from the paper. "If it doesn't happen you can burry me in canary yellow."
"I'll hold you to that." Draco warned her.
A smile spread across Faith's face. "I'll bet you will."
"You should do that more often."
Faith looked up from the paper. "Do what?"
"Smile" Draco said.
"What are you talking about, I always smile." Faith said a little offended.
"Sure you do." Draco said sarcastically.
Faith eyed her brother. "Well, you're one to talk."
Draco shrugged. "Yeah, but you look good when you smile, I on the other hand look manipulating and devious."
"You are manipulating and devious." Faith reminded him as she picked up the paper again.
"But I look it when I smile, even if I'm not at the time." Draco thought on it for a moment. "It must be the Malfoy in me." He sighed.
"You're wrong about that. It's the Black in you." Faith informed her brother as she put the newspaper down for good.
"How the hell would you know?" he asked curiously.
Faith glanced around the room and then back at Draco. "Come on, there's something you should see."
Faith rose and started to her library. Draco followed her through winding hallways and then winding stacks of books to the back of the library. Faith stopped in front of the back wall which was covered by a tapestry.
"You wanted to show me a wall?" Draco asked in mock annoyance.
"It's behind the tapestry." Faith said softly.
"I know the walls behind the bloody tapestry." He joked.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Just stay here and shut your mouth." She walked down the wall to a gold cord. When she pulled it the tapestry pulled back to reveal a magnificent painting.
In the painting, there was a woman sitting in a chair with a man behind her. The woman was a seventeen year old Narcissa Malfoy, before she was a Malfoy. She was looking forward with her legs off to the side. Her long blond hair was pulled back tightly. The sides were braided and it all gathered in a bun. She was wearing deep red robes that flowed all around her small body. The collar and sleeves were embroidered with black thread in intricate designs. Her mouth was in a tight line but her eyes had so much life.
The man behind her was looking forward as well. He had one hand on Narcissa's shoulder and the other at his side. He had dark hair that came down the sides of his face almost to his chin. He was dressed in elegant black robes with matching embroidery in the same deep red colors of Narcissa's robes. His face was pale and his dark eyes were wild. He had a smile on his face that made him look almost wicked.
Faith rejoined Draco in front of the painting. "Who is that?" Draco asked in awe.
"That's mother, dumbass." Faith said plainly.
"I know its mother!" he snapped as he slapped her arm. "Who is he?"
Faith looked up at the painting before answering. "He's mother's cousin; he's our cousin."
Draco looked at her in disbelief. "You mean that's..."
"None other than..." Faith continued.
"Sirius Black" Draco finished in almost a whisper. "I didn't even recognize him."
Faith looked at Draco questioningly. "When did you see Sirius Black?"
"I haven't. Well, not in person anyway. But I've seen the pictures of when he broke out, everyone has."
"Well, they were only teenagers when this was done and no one was convicted of any crimes yet." Faith stated.
They bother looked on in silence for a few more minutes, just taking it in. "Huh" Draco heaved under his breath.
"What is it?" Faith asked looking towards he brother.
"I just realized that...well look at him. It's almost like looking at Fiona." He said. "If she were a man." He added after a second.
Faith gave a little laugh. "I guess there is an eerie resemblance." Draco nodded. "And that's your smile Draco." Faith pointed out. That was one of the reasons she had decided to share the painting with Draco.
"Looks like, but my god look at Mother."
"She is something, isn't she?" Faith mused with a smile.
"Screw that, she's gorgeous." Draco commented. After he studied the painting a bit longer before coming to a conclusion, "You look just like her."
"Sickening huh?" Faith said as she glanced away. Draco gave her a weird look. "I didn't mean it like that." She tried to explain. "It's just that's all I hear everywhere I go. Everyone compares me tp her and I can never live up to it. It's always 'you look just like your mother' or 'she had such a strong mind and was a powerful witch' or 'did you know she was famous in her early twenties' and I'm nothing like her. Not even a little."
Draco looked at his sister in disbelief. "I can't believe you just said that. You're plenty like her."
"Bullocks" Faith said heavily.
"I mean it Faith. You are like her. You're crafty, smart and a damn good witch. And if you accuse me of incestuous lust with my next statement I will hex your legs off, but you're a stunning girl, a real knock out and I'm serious." Draco said with sincerity.
"You're not so bad yourself." Faith said softly.
Draco chuckled "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Good."
What time is it Faith?" he asked after a moment.
Faith glanced at her pocket watch. "We have about a half hour before Lucius starts yelling that we're late.
"Nervous at all?"
Faith looked back to the painting. "Nah, I can handle his yelling."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I meant about the sor..."
Faith cut him off "I know."
Faith looked at Draco. He could see that she was plenty nervous. He took her hand and squeezed it.
"I'm glad you'll be there for it."
Draco gave her his best non-manipulating and devious smile. "What was it you said? Oh right, we'll have each other..."
"...all in good time." Faith and Draco said together.
Faith and Draco looked at each other and decided that it was best to get going. Faith released the cord so that the painting was concealed again. The last thing she needed right now was for Lucius to enter her library and find a painting of his wife and Sirius Black hanging on the wall. Back in Faith's room Draco continued to read his book. Faith sat on her window sill and tried to think.
What was her life going to bring her? She wondered if she would ever be able to live up to the near impossible standards her mother held her to. She didn't want to be a disappointment to her but she wanted to be able to enjoy her teenaged years. She didn't want to have to keep thinking if her actions would dig her own grave or elevate her status. She still wasn't even sure why her mother had brought her home. What was going to happen and what was her role? She knew something big was going to happen in a short amount of time but she had no idea what the ominous event was.
Disclaimer: You know the drill...not mine! Except Faith and the plot, everything else is JK's (curse her!!)
Chapter Five Blood Ties
"I can't believe you did that!" Draco sputtered through a series of snorts. As he tried to regain control of his breathing Faith continued to laugh and tell her story.
"That's not even the best part Drake. He then decided it would be wise to open the damn door!" she practically screamed. Draco couldn't contain himself and was laughing hysterically again. "You do a really good impression of a hyena Draco."
"Can it Faith." He managed to say through his laughter. "Why didn't you warn him?" Draco asked her after he had caught his breath.
Faith looked as if she had just been insulted. "Why didn't I what now?" she demanded.
"You know, give him a warning or threat." Draco explained.
Faith shook her head. 'Tsk, tsk Draco" she said, "that wouldn't be my style." She said sweetly.
"Hah, you have style?" Draco teased.
"Yeah, and bloody grace and charm." She laughed.
"Well, at least no one can accuse you of lack of self confidence." He said a bit more seriously.
Faith gave her brother a glare that was more serious then their tones had been up to that point. "Are you saying I'm conceited?" she inquired.
Draco sensed that he should back off but he didn't. "Oh no, no not at all, you're humble." His comment was dripping with sarcasm.
"At leas I have a reason to be conceited." She snapped.
"And that would be what exactly?" Draco asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
"I have intelligence, cleverness, wit, knowledge, and a lovely smile." She informed him and then flashed her winning smile.
"Pretty sure most of those are synonymous, but whatever flies your broomstick Faith." Draco said with a self important attitude about him.
"You know what, bite me you big Nancy." Faith said menacingly.
"No thanks," Draco replied sweetly, "I wouldn't want to contract ego inflatus now would I."
Faith jumped from her chair. As she did Narcissa came into the study. "And just what is going on in here?"
"Draco's about to have the stuffing beat out of him is all." Faith hissed.
"Just try it git." Draco threatened.
"DRACO!" Narcissa snapped. "You stop that right now." Faith smirked. "That goes for you as well Faith." Narcissa informed her. Draco reciprocated the look.
"Ponce." Faith snarled at Draco
"Prat." He retorted.
Faith glared at him. "Pouf."
"Ass hole!" Draco shouted back.
"ENOUGH" Narcissa bellowed. "What's gotten into you two?" she looked at both of her children, they looked away. "A few days together and you're already at each other's throats!?" she stammered in disbelief. "It's unbelievable. I would have expected more of you Faith." Narcissa had great disappointment on her face as she looked at her daughter.
"Hey, what about me?" Draco asked loudly.
"Don't kid yourself Drake." Faith said glibly.
"Shut your mouth." Narcissa ordered. "If I hear anymore of this from either of you, you'll wish I hadn't. I won't stand for my children trying to sabotage one another. Am I making myself clear?" she asked as she looked at them both.
"Crystal." Faith and Draco said in unison.
About a week later... Draco was in his room making sure everything was ready and finished for school. There was about one week before the start of term. Faith and he had been avoiding each other since the day in the study. For the most part they had been successful. She had played catch up on some school assignments and he practiced on his broomstick. Even though Faith had just turned sixteen, she would be starting fifth year classes at Hogwarts. Durmstrang had stressed certain areas of the curriculum and neglected others. Draco suspected that Faith could ward off about 100 dementors without a problem but wouldn't be able to transfigure a niffler into real gold if her life depended on it.
Tomorrow they would be going to Hogwarts for Faith's sorting. It would be a small gathering, just the Malfoys, Dumbledore, and the four Heads of House. The ceremony seemed a bit pointless to Draco, and everyone else for that matter. It was only a formality on the way to Slytherin.
As Draco packed up his Quidditch uniform there was a loud knock on his door. He opened it to find Faith on the other side. "What do you want?" he snapped.
"I've been doing some thinking..."
"Did it hurt?" Draco interrupted.
"Shut up" Faith ordered. "I've been thinking, and the way I see it is this: the sorting is tomorrow and let's face it, we're going to be together for the school year, so maybe it's best to put the past weeks behind us and start fresh."
Draco looked at her and folded his arms. "Is that your twisted version of an apology?"
Faith looked shocked and then pissed. "What the hell do I have to apologize for?"
"You really are about a mile off your rocker aren't you?"
"Excuse me" Faith said in a raised voice.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I do believe you called me a ponce, among other things." Draco looked at Faith with a victorious smirk on his pale face.
"I can't believe how arrogant you are sometimes." Faith said as she pushed her way passed Draco and into his room. "Allow me to set you straight. YOU are the one that started that whole bloody mess if I remember correctly and I think I do."
Draco started to circle around Faith like a vulture. "And how did I do that exactly?" he asked.
"You said I was conceited!" she screeched.
Draco backed off a bit. "I never said conceited. I may have inferred it but you're the one who jumped to conceited." He explained.
Faith shook her head and prodded at her brother's shoulder again and again. "I didn't jump to anything you pasty brat. You implied, I took a step and there we found ourselves at conceited."
Draco grabbed her hand. "So you agree. I never said it."
"Whether you sad it or not it was there, plain as the nose on my face."
"And what a nose it is." Draco proclaimed. Faith glared at him and he rolled his eyes, he never could win an argument with her. "Alright," he sighed "I suppose you're right."
"And..." Faith coxed.
"And I shouldn't have implied that you're conceited." He muttered loud enough for her to hear.
"I guess I can live with that." She said after a moment's thought.
"You're going to have to because that's all that you're going to get."
"And you're not sorry are you?" Faith inquired.
"Not one bit. And neither are you so don't you dare act all high and mighty with me." He warned in a menacing tone.
"Agreed" Faith said and she held out her hand.
"Don't give me that crap." He said. Faith looked insulted for a moment before she learned what her brother meant. Draco pushed her arm down and embraced her. Faith hugged him back lovingly.
A few days later, Faith and Draco were enjoying an early breakfast in Faith's room. There was about an hour before they would be leaving for Hogwarts. Draco was reading on of Faith's books and she was reading the Daily Prophet. Faith would give a small sigh here or there or mutter her feelings about an article under her breath. Draco didn't mind.
It was comforting to have someone there, even if it was only for their sighs and occasional snorts. Faith put her paper down and looked at her brother.
"How do you like it so far Drake?"
Draco looked at her over the pages of the book. "It's fairly interesting to tell the truth. I was afraid that it would be dull."
Faith gave a knowing smile. "Just wait, it gets so much better." Faith took a sip of her tea and looked at the weather outlook of the next couple days on the back of the Prophet.
Draco took in the scene. They certainly had grown up. The last time they had eaten breakfast like this there had been toys all around. Now they were sipping tea and reading newspapers and novels.
"What's on your mind, Drake?" Faith asked.
"Us" he informed her.
Faith looked up from the Prophet with a questioning look on her face. "How do you mean?"
"Well, like this" he said as his arms indicated their situation, "do you think we'll always be like this Fay?"
Faith smiled. That was the first time since she had been home that Draco had called her Fay. That's what he used to call her. He was Drake and she was Fay. "Eventually we will be." She said.
"Alright, now I'm confused." Draco sighed.
"I'd bet my bottom dollar there will be times we want nothing to do with each other, we just came off of one of those times. And as we get older it's only going to get worse. But we'll have each other all in good time. Then one of us will get married or do something else the other doesn't approve of. But in the end we'll be two old misers living together sipping tea and reading the Prophet reminiscing about our glory days when we could bend others to our will." She explained. Faith turned her attention back to the paper.
"Promise?" Draco asked as he set his book aside.
Faith answered without missing a beat or looking up from the paper. "If it doesn't happen you can burry me in canary yellow."
"I'll hold you to that." Draco warned her.
A smile spread across Faith's face. "I'll bet you will."
"You should do that more often."
Faith looked up from the paper. "Do what?"
"Smile" Draco said.
"What are you talking about, I always smile." Faith said a little offended.
"Sure you do." Draco said sarcastically.
Faith eyed her brother. "Well, you're one to talk."
Draco shrugged. "Yeah, but you look good when you smile, I on the other hand look manipulating and devious."
"You are manipulating and devious." Faith reminded him as she picked up the paper again.
"But I look it when I smile, even if I'm not at the time." Draco thought on it for a moment. "It must be the Malfoy in me." He sighed.
"You're wrong about that. It's the Black in you." Faith informed her brother as she put the newspaper down for good.
"How the hell would you know?" he asked curiously.
Faith glanced around the room and then back at Draco. "Come on, there's something you should see."
Faith rose and started to her library. Draco followed her through winding hallways and then winding stacks of books to the back of the library. Faith stopped in front of the back wall which was covered by a tapestry.
"You wanted to show me a wall?" Draco asked in mock annoyance.
"It's behind the tapestry." Faith said softly.
"I know the walls behind the bloody tapestry." He joked.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Just stay here and shut your mouth." She walked down the wall to a gold cord. When she pulled it the tapestry pulled back to reveal a magnificent painting.
In the painting, there was a woman sitting in a chair with a man behind her. The woman was a seventeen year old Narcissa Malfoy, before she was a Malfoy. She was looking forward with her legs off to the side. Her long blond hair was pulled back tightly. The sides were braided and it all gathered in a bun. She was wearing deep red robes that flowed all around her small body. The collar and sleeves were embroidered with black thread in intricate designs. Her mouth was in a tight line but her eyes had so much life.
The man behind her was looking forward as well. He had one hand on Narcissa's shoulder and the other at his side. He had dark hair that came down the sides of his face almost to his chin. He was dressed in elegant black robes with matching embroidery in the same deep red colors of Narcissa's robes. His face was pale and his dark eyes were wild. He had a smile on his face that made him look almost wicked.
Faith rejoined Draco in front of the painting. "Who is that?" Draco asked in awe.
"That's mother, dumbass." Faith said plainly.
"I know its mother!" he snapped as he slapped her arm. "Who is he?"
Faith looked up at the painting before answering. "He's mother's cousin; he's our cousin."
Draco looked at her in disbelief. "You mean that's..."
"None other than..." Faith continued.
"Sirius Black" Draco finished in almost a whisper. "I didn't even recognize him."
Faith looked at Draco questioningly. "When did you see Sirius Black?"
"I haven't. Well, not in person anyway. But I've seen the pictures of when he broke out, everyone has."
"Well, they were only teenagers when this was done and no one was convicted of any crimes yet." Faith stated.
They bother looked on in silence for a few more minutes, just taking it in. "Huh" Draco heaved under his breath.
"What is it?" Faith asked looking towards he brother.
"I just realized that...well look at him. It's almost like looking at Fiona." He said. "If she were a man." He added after a second.
Faith gave a little laugh. "I guess there is an eerie resemblance." Draco nodded. "And that's your smile Draco." Faith pointed out. That was one of the reasons she had decided to share the painting with Draco.
"Looks like, but my god look at Mother."
"She is something, isn't she?" Faith mused with a smile.
"Screw that, she's gorgeous." Draco commented. After he studied the painting a bit longer before coming to a conclusion, "You look just like her."
"Sickening huh?" Faith said as she glanced away. Draco gave her a weird look. "I didn't mean it like that." She tried to explain. "It's just that's all I hear everywhere I go. Everyone compares me tp her and I can never live up to it. It's always 'you look just like your mother' or 'she had such a strong mind and was a powerful witch' or 'did you know she was famous in her early twenties' and I'm nothing like her. Not even a little."
Draco looked at his sister in disbelief. "I can't believe you just said that. You're plenty like her."
"Bullocks" Faith said heavily.
"I mean it Faith. You are like her. You're crafty, smart and a damn good witch. And if you accuse me of incestuous lust with my next statement I will hex your legs off, but you're a stunning girl, a real knock out and I'm serious." Draco said with sincerity.
"You're not so bad yourself." Faith said softly.
Draco chuckled "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Good."
What time is it Faith?" he asked after a moment.
Faith glanced at her pocket watch. "We have about a half hour before Lucius starts yelling that we're late.
"Nervous at all?"
Faith looked back to the painting. "Nah, I can handle his yelling."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I meant about the sor..."
Faith cut him off "I know."
Faith looked at Draco. He could see that she was plenty nervous. He took her hand and squeezed it.
"I'm glad you'll be there for it."
Draco gave her his best non-manipulating and devious smile. "What was it you said? Oh right, we'll have each other..."
"...all in good time." Faith and Draco said together.
Faith and Draco looked at each other and decided that it was best to get going. Faith released the cord so that the painting was concealed again. The last thing she needed right now was for Lucius to enter her library and find a painting of his wife and Sirius Black hanging on the wall. Back in Faith's room Draco continued to read his book. Faith sat on her window sill and tried to think.
What was her life going to bring her? She wondered if she would ever be able to live up to the near impossible standards her mother held her to. She didn't want to be a disappointment to her but she wanted to be able to enjoy her teenaged years. She didn't want to have to keep thinking if her actions would dig her own grave or elevate her status. She still wasn't even sure why her mother had brought her home. What was going to happen and what was her role? She knew something big was going to happen in a short amount of time but she had no idea what the ominous event was.
