Hey there guys!!! OMG I have soooooooo much to say......haha.........ok well I had my
last day at skool yesterday......YAYA..........now I just have crappy
exams......oh...joy................AND im booking tickets for harry potter later
today....YAYAYAYYA I cant WAIT!!!! ANDDDDDDDDDD.....i got my prom dress today
and it is SOOOOOOOO nice......its turquoise and SOOOOOOOO pretty!!! Haha I cant
WAIT to wear it for the prom!!! Hahaa!! Ne ways!!! Hope you like this
chappy!! Haha!!! Take care all..bixxxx
Draco left the common room and wondered down the dungeon corridor to Snapes office. He reached the door and debated knocking, or just walking in. Deciding that Snape may be busy, or have company, he knocked and waited for a reply.
He whistled to himself, and shifted his weight from one foot to another. He was suprised when the door was thrown open, and Draco looked into the face of a disheveled Snape.
"Alright Sev?" Draco asked, slightly amused. The professors greasy hair was sticking up at the back and the rings around his eyes suggested he had been rubbing them.
"Yes. Fine!" Snape snapped. Snape regained his composure and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry Draco. Do come in"
Snape moved aside as Draco passed. He flopped himself down on the empty chair infront of Snapes desk, while Snape walked around and sat behind it.
Draco watched as Snape conjured up a drink- which looked a bit like some kind of alcohol, though probably much stronger, something of the wizarding kind. He gulped it down and put the glass down on the table with such force, it shattered in his hand.
"Sir..." Draco raised an elegant eyebrow. "Are you ok?"
"What...." Snape sounded rather edgy. "Oh yes....sorry Draco...I've just been speaking to your father through the fire network."
Draco, who was slouching in his chair, straightened up at the mere mention of his father. "And....?" He gulped.
"And.....he just wanted to talk to me about your odd behavior today....." Draco slouched back down into his seat.
"And what did HE have to say?" Draco looked at his shoe and the way his shimmered in the light of the professor's office. He tried not to look at Snape, although Snape was staring intently at him.
"Well......" Snape smirked. "He thought that maybe you were having second thoughts..."
"Well he'd be right there" Draco drawled sarcastically.
"Yes but I told him that you were just merely nervous about meeting the dark lord."
"Did you now...."
"Yes.....and HE said.....that there was no need to be....since you've already met him"
Draco stayed silent and tried to look anywhere but Snape.
Snape stood and rounded the table. He sat on his desk on front of Draco, and waited a moment before he spoke.
"Draco why didn't you tell me you had met him....?" Snape voiced, sounding worried.
Draco snorted. "And what would you have done. Given me a hug and told me that everything's going to be ok. Get real Sev; I'm not a child. I can't go running to uncle Sev everytime I get myself into this shit" He finished.
Snape stood infront of Draco. He laced a hand under his chin and made him look him in the eye.
"Draco....... I'm here to help you. I know it can't have been easy for you. Surely you wanted to talk about it"
"Yes....as a matter of fact I did." Draco swatted Snapes hand away and stood to face him. They were eye level. "I wanted to run away from home, and FIND someone to talk to....hell I would even have spoken to Potter had I known where to find him.....but where was I meant to go....there was no one around.... YOU weren't there for me when you said you would be. By the end of the summer I figured that I was just being stupid...and never spoke of it to any one..... its not something to be proud of in my opinion. "Draco stopped and flopped down onto his bed, out of breath.
Snape rounded him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Draco." Snape stopped for a moment as he listened to Draco's ragged breaths. "I guess the reason you came here was to talk about what happened to day...am I right?"
Draco nodded.
"Ok. Well.... I think the main thing we need to focus on... is a way of getting you out of this insinuation thing. It can't be too hard. Dumbledore we be able to help us..." Draco watched as Snape traipsed around the room, pondering. He was scratching his chin. It actually amused Draco to watch this former Death Eater looking genuinely worried for the safety of one of his pupils.
"Right..... I'll go talk to Dumbledore.." Snape stopped mid stride and looked at Draco. "Draco...is there any way you can get hold of your mother for me...?
"Why?" Draco was confused.
"I need to talk to her about something....it may be best if we could get her to come here....do you think your father will notice if she is gone?"
"Erm.....probably..."
"Damn.."
"Wait...I don't get it...... why could you possibly want to talk to my mother....i don't think this has anything to do with her.." Draco was on his feet.
"Oh I think it does..." Snape almost ran to his office door. He turned to Draco... "Draco..use my fire place...floo to Malfoy Manor and look for your mother. Bring her here. Don't tell you father if it can be avoided..."
"But sir.."
"Just do it Draco!" And he was gone.
Draco stood in the middle of Snapes office. He listened to Snapes retreating steps. When all was quiet, Draco walked to the fireplace. He took some floo powder form the small jar just above the fire.
He was so confused. How could this have anything to do with his mother? Before he even had time to process this piece of information, he heard for steps out side the door, and a slight mewing.
"Shit! Filch" Draco turned to the fire, stepped inside, threw the floo powder in to the air around him and yelled: "Malfoy Manor, Draco Malfoy's Room"
Just as the door opened and Filch strolled in, Draco disappeared off to the Manor. The Gryffindor common room was busier than it would usually have been this close to Christmas. With so many people staying over for the Yule ball, pretty much the entire population of Gryffindor house was sitting around the fire on this cold morning. Ginny walked straight through the common room, ignoring the "Is everything ok Ginny?" that she got from Colin, and made her way up to her dorm. Hermione, noticing something was bothering her, followed her. She planned to have that conversation with her now. Ron, on instinct, followed Hermione. He got half way up the girl's staircase before it turned into a slide and he shot back down it again.
He landed on the floor with a thud, and many people turned around in their seats to look at him, before erupting into silent laughter.
"Yeah ha ha!" Ron drawled Sarcastically as he stood up and brushed himself off. "Shut up or you'll all have Detention!" He growled. Everyone stopped, not daring to take on a prefect. Ron smirked. "That did it!"
He made his way up to his own dorm, where Harry, Dean, Neville and Seamus sat on their beds. He sat on his own, and lay back down against the fluffy pillows, intending to have another few hours sleep before Hermione came and found him and made him escort her to the library to 'study'!
He was just nodding off when Seamus spoke up.
"So what do you guys think that was all about?"
Ron unconsciously rolled his eyes. He stayed in his position- lying down, he was rather comfortable- yet he was intent on hearing where this conversation was leading.
"I dunno.....I never thought id see the day that MALFOY stood up for us...to his father no less..." was Deans reply.
"I must say I hate Malfoy....but I cant help but feel sorry for him...." Neville added.
"Yeah" Was Harry's reply.
At this Ron jumped up.
"No!" He yelled.
"Huh?"
"What?" Came the confused replies.
"What you on about mate?" Seamus asked while scratching the back of his head attractively.
"I mean...no....we do NOT feel sorry for Malfoy....he got what he deserves....after all these years of giving us shit you're just gonna sit there and feel SORRY for him!"
"Ron mate...we just-"
"No! Sorry guys but this is MALFOY. The piece of shit who called MY girlfriend names right form the off, insulted MY family because they had less money than him, and whose father, that rather large, nasty looking blond bimbo, tried to kill my best friend not two years ago!" Some where through Rons tirade he had found himself standing and was silently fuming. He managed to calm him self and sat back down on the bed. He sighed. "I'm sorry you guys.....but no matter what you.....Hermione or what anyone else says is gonna change the fact that I HATE Malfoy, and I always will."
In the girls dorms, Ginny had entered her dorm, completely oblivious to the fact that Hermione was following her, and sat down on her bed with a rather large 'huff'!
Hermione silently entered only to find Ginny, with her head in her pillow and a slight shake to her body.
She walked over to the bed and placed her hand on Ginny's soft hair for comfort. Ginny was startled at the act, and shot up into a sitting position. This gave Hermione better access to her face, and it was clear to see that she had been crying.
Hermione's heart fell for her friend. She sat down on the bed, and gathered Ginny into her arms.
She stroked her hair until Ginny's sobs died out and she was able to look here in the eye.
"Ginny..." Hermione asked cautiously. "Does this have anything to do with Malfoy?" She asked.
Ginny tired to avoid her gaze as she nodded, looking ashamed.
"I thought as much" Was Hermione's reply. She gathered her friend into her arms once more and Ginny nestled her head under Hermione's chin. "Do you want to tell me about it?" Hermione asked, as she rubbed Ginny's back soothingly.
Ginny was still for a while, before nodding. She left the comfort of Hermione's arms, and sat back against the headboard of her bed. She then whipped her tears away with the sleeve of her cloak, then turned to Hermione.
"Ok.....it started last night.....when Mal- Draco turned up at the Yule ball. He was looking stunning and I wanted to grab him and smother him in kissed. But as it was, I held back, knowing that it was wrong. As the evening went on things got harder and harder. I couldn't bare to see him with other girls....or guys for that matter" She let out a hollow laugh. "But then when I was dancing with Harry, I saw him across the hall; he was dancing with Pansy, and I felt so jealous of Pansy for being so close to him. Then he caught my eye and we just stared at each other for what felt like hours. I felt good. He was paying me all the attention and it made me feel great. But then Pansy came back into the picture; She as all over him and I couldn't take it any more. That's when I ran out.... I'm sure you noticed...." Hermione nodded. "Any way...I ran out of the castle and down this little path that led to small court yard at the side of the castle. I was there for not much longer than five minutes when he came up behind me. He had followed me. Me. A Weasley. Any way...we messed around for a bit....playing in the small fountain and before I knew what I was doing...I was kissing him.....it felt so good, so right in fact.....like nothing I had felt before.....He was so gentle and sweet, and he knew not to take it too far. Nothing else happened after that. He lit a fire and conjured up a blanket to keep us warm. It was ...sweet. Then we woke up together this morning. It was so romantic, and he was so nice. We went our separate ways after that." Ginny stopped and chanced a look at Hermione. She was ....smiling. "Erm.....Hermione...?"
"Awwww....Ginny......" Hermione threw her self at Ginny. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Oh..er....thanks.....Hermione....I can't breathe..."
"What..oh.." Hermione let go of her death grip around Ginny's neck and smiled at her again.
Ginny smiled too. "You're not mad?"
"What....of course not.....I mean you could have done better than MALFOY....but I'm so pleased to see you happy....he does make you happy right...."
"Yes! Of course."
"Good..." Hermione face suddenly fell. "I guess that's why your so upset...after seeing what happened to Malfoy with his father....?"
"Yeah" Ginny sighed, her eyes sparkled with new, unshed tears.
Hermione scooted over and put an arm around Ginny. "He'll be ok. He's strong. He won't let himself get into danger...if he's got you to come home to" She smiled.
"Ha...yeah....thanks....."
Hermione tightened her hold of Ginny's shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Any time"
Draco landed with an 'hmph' on the expensive rug that lay infront of the fireplace in his bedroom. He stood and brushed off the excess soot on his clothes. He looked around the familiar room that he had spent so much of his time in when he wasn't at school. The large marble fireplace was set on a wall to the side, and a large white leather sofa sat in front of it. There was a large set of patio doors leading out onto a large balcony opposite and flowing curtains stood on either side. There was a door leading off to the left of the Balcony which was the toilet- of course Draco had an en suit, and on the other side of the patio doors, was a rather large wardrobe. The centerpiece of the whole room, was gigantic four poster bed, at least 4 Times the size of the one he slept in at Hogwarts. The sheets were pure white cotton (A/N: not the usual silk that every one puts in their stories when it comes to Draco's bed- I imagine silk would be very uncomfortable to sleep in) infact, the whole room was white. Draco walked around the room, taking in the smell of clean, fresh bedding that had yet to be slept in. It had been such a long, trying day, that he longed to jump into his bed- which just seemed to be calling his name, and go to sleep. However he was sent here to find his mother, and he was going to find her.
He walked to the door of his room and peered out. He suddenly heard voices and was sure he recognized one of them as his father's house elf. He hastily hid behind the door of his room, and kept quiet until he was sure the house elf was gone. This was going to be harder than he thought. With a house the size of Malfoy manor, the place was going to be swarming with servants. He made it to the end of the corridor with ease, but he was well aware that his mother could be ANYWHERE in the manor, and it could take him a while to find her. He took a left and walked down a long corridor, peering in each room as he passed. It then dawned on him that he should check the rooms she spent most of her time in. There were areas of the house that he was a bit unsure of, having never been allowed in there, but he knew that his mother spent a lot of time in her study or in the garden, so those were his best options.
Taking a staircase down to the lower floors, he began to speed up the pace as he reached the corridor in which his mothers study was situated. He approached the room and saw that the door was open. He walked in. The room was a rich purple in colour. There was a desk in the far corner and book shelves covered most of the 25ft high walls. He walked over to the desk and peered at some of the papers strewn all over it. There were some that looked like they could be bills, something that looked like a letter from Gringotts and another that was a letter from Hogwarts. He picked it up and looked at the name at the bottom.
'Signed, Severus Snape.'
'Hmmm...that's odd. Why would he be writing to my mother' Draco mused. He was about to read the contents of the letter, when it suddenly burst in to flames in his hands.
"Ouch.....Shit...." He hissed, remembering to keep his voice down as the flames singed his fingertips.
He ruffled through some of the other papers, but found nothing of interest, so decided to look in the garden.
He made it down to the main lobby with out difficulties, but as he reached the front door, he was bombarded by house elves.
"Master Draco" They all said in unison like some kind of robot colt.
"Shhhh...please...go away....." He whispered as he kept a finger to his lips.
A house elf, wearing what looked like a blue tea cosey stepped forward.
"We has not seen Master Draco for months but we has heard he is coming home for New Years."
"Yes yes I am....please just tell me where my mother is..... I need to talk to her..."
"Why Master Draco, she is in the garden tending to her roses." Said another house elf.
"Thank you" Draco heaved a sigh of relief and ran to the great front doors with out a backward glance.
He ran around the side of the house to his mother's famous gardens. She would spend hours out here. Draco often wondered what she got up to. He would sometimes visit her out here and watch her for hours as she tended to her roses- he favorite flower.
He stopped in front of a large archway that led into the gardens. He took a left turn and walked down a path, surrounded by hedges for what felt like hours. But, sure enough, there was light ahead, and he soon found him self out in the open, in the biggest, most beautiful rose garden ever imaginable. He took in the sight before him. His mother had chanted the garden so the flowers grew all year round, and it had an invisible roof so the weather out side could not affect the flowers. The rose garden had a variety of different colored roses: Red, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Purple, Lilac, white, even Green.....but her favorite colour, was black. Draco looked around for a familiar blond head, and sure enough, there she was, standing by a large Black rose bush. He made his way over to her, his elegant grace allowing him to make little sound on the ground as he walked. He came up behind her, and looked over her shoulder at the magnificent flowers. They were so full of life, yet they looked so morbid being the colour of death. Narcissa could feel his breath on her bare shoulder and smiled.
"Hello son" She said, with out turning round.
"How did you know it was me?" He stuttered.
She turned to face him . "I felt your presence. I felt it as you entered the house through the fire place not 20 minutes ago." She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. "It's a mothers thing. I always knew when you were happy or sad, or in danger when you were younger. Plus..." She smirked. "....your father never visits me out here...so I knew it had to be you or one of the house elves....but seeing as we don't OWN any house elves that stand taller than me by about a foot, I guessed it was you" She laughed.
Draco laughed and took her hands in his own. "Well mother. If you can feel my presence, and you can feel when I am happy or sad, can you tell me why I am here?"
Narcissa's smile faded. "I guessed it may have something to do with your father. About what happened this afternoon at Hogwarts. I am also guessing that you were sent here by the one Severus Snape. Am I right...?"
Draco nodded.
"I thought as much. Come on..." She led Draco by the hand to the edge of the garden. "I think I know what this is all about.....perhaps we should use the fire place in the guest house. That way we don't take the risk of being seen by your father." Draco marveled at how well his mother was taking this. He was pretty much expecting to have to tie her up to get her to come to Hogwarts.
They entered the guesthouse and walked to the fireplace. Narcissa gave one last comforting smile to her son, before she disappeared into the smoke, off to Hogwarts.
Draco left the common room and wondered down the dungeon corridor to Snapes office. He reached the door and debated knocking, or just walking in. Deciding that Snape may be busy, or have company, he knocked and waited for a reply.
He whistled to himself, and shifted his weight from one foot to another. He was suprised when the door was thrown open, and Draco looked into the face of a disheveled Snape.
"Alright Sev?" Draco asked, slightly amused. The professors greasy hair was sticking up at the back and the rings around his eyes suggested he had been rubbing them.
"Yes. Fine!" Snape snapped. Snape regained his composure and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry Draco. Do come in"
Snape moved aside as Draco passed. He flopped himself down on the empty chair infront of Snapes desk, while Snape walked around and sat behind it.
Draco watched as Snape conjured up a drink- which looked a bit like some kind of alcohol, though probably much stronger, something of the wizarding kind. He gulped it down and put the glass down on the table with such force, it shattered in his hand.
"Sir..." Draco raised an elegant eyebrow. "Are you ok?"
"What...." Snape sounded rather edgy. "Oh yes....sorry Draco...I've just been speaking to your father through the fire network."
Draco, who was slouching in his chair, straightened up at the mere mention of his father. "And....?" He gulped.
"And.....he just wanted to talk to me about your odd behavior today....." Draco slouched back down into his seat.
"And what did HE have to say?" Draco looked at his shoe and the way his shimmered in the light of the professor's office. He tried not to look at Snape, although Snape was staring intently at him.
"Well......" Snape smirked. "He thought that maybe you were having second thoughts..."
"Well he'd be right there" Draco drawled sarcastically.
"Yes but I told him that you were just merely nervous about meeting the dark lord."
"Did you now...."
"Yes.....and HE said.....that there was no need to be....since you've already met him"
Draco stayed silent and tried to look anywhere but Snape.
Snape stood and rounded the table. He sat on his desk on front of Draco, and waited a moment before he spoke.
"Draco why didn't you tell me you had met him....?" Snape voiced, sounding worried.
Draco snorted. "And what would you have done. Given me a hug and told me that everything's going to be ok. Get real Sev; I'm not a child. I can't go running to uncle Sev everytime I get myself into this shit" He finished.
Snape stood infront of Draco. He laced a hand under his chin and made him look him in the eye.
"Draco....... I'm here to help you. I know it can't have been easy for you. Surely you wanted to talk about it"
"Yes....as a matter of fact I did." Draco swatted Snapes hand away and stood to face him. They were eye level. "I wanted to run away from home, and FIND someone to talk to....hell I would even have spoken to Potter had I known where to find him.....but where was I meant to go....there was no one around.... YOU weren't there for me when you said you would be. By the end of the summer I figured that I was just being stupid...and never spoke of it to any one..... its not something to be proud of in my opinion. "Draco stopped and flopped down onto his bed, out of breath.
Snape rounded him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Draco." Snape stopped for a moment as he listened to Draco's ragged breaths. "I guess the reason you came here was to talk about what happened to day...am I right?"
Draco nodded.
"Ok. Well.... I think the main thing we need to focus on... is a way of getting you out of this insinuation thing. It can't be too hard. Dumbledore we be able to help us..." Draco watched as Snape traipsed around the room, pondering. He was scratching his chin. It actually amused Draco to watch this former Death Eater looking genuinely worried for the safety of one of his pupils.
"Right..... I'll go talk to Dumbledore.." Snape stopped mid stride and looked at Draco. "Draco...is there any way you can get hold of your mother for me...?
"Why?" Draco was confused.
"I need to talk to her about something....it may be best if we could get her to come here....do you think your father will notice if she is gone?"
"Erm.....probably..."
"Damn.."
"Wait...I don't get it...... why could you possibly want to talk to my mother....i don't think this has anything to do with her.." Draco was on his feet.
"Oh I think it does..." Snape almost ran to his office door. He turned to Draco... "Draco..use my fire place...floo to Malfoy Manor and look for your mother. Bring her here. Don't tell you father if it can be avoided..."
"But sir.."
"Just do it Draco!" And he was gone.
Draco stood in the middle of Snapes office. He listened to Snapes retreating steps. When all was quiet, Draco walked to the fireplace. He took some floo powder form the small jar just above the fire.
He was so confused. How could this have anything to do with his mother? Before he even had time to process this piece of information, he heard for steps out side the door, and a slight mewing.
"Shit! Filch" Draco turned to the fire, stepped inside, threw the floo powder in to the air around him and yelled: "Malfoy Manor, Draco Malfoy's Room"
Just as the door opened and Filch strolled in, Draco disappeared off to the Manor. The Gryffindor common room was busier than it would usually have been this close to Christmas. With so many people staying over for the Yule ball, pretty much the entire population of Gryffindor house was sitting around the fire on this cold morning. Ginny walked straight through the common room, ignoring the "Is everything ok Ginny?" that she got from Colin, and made her way up to her dorm. Hermione, noticing something was bothering her, followed her. She planned to have that conversation with her now. Ron, on instinct, followed Hermione. He got half way up the girl's staircase before it turned into a slide and he shot back down it again.
He landed on the floor with a thud, and many people turned around in their seats to look at him, before erupting into silent laughter.
"Yeah ha ha!" Ron drawled Sarcastically as he stood up and brushed himself off. "Shut up or you'll all have Detention!" He growled. Everyone stopped, not daring to take on a prefect. Ron smirked. "That did it!"
He made his way up to his own dorm, where Harry, Dean, Neville and Seamus sat on their beds. He sat on his own, and lay back down against the fluffy pillows, intending to have another few hours sleep before Hermione came and found him and made him escort her to the library to 'study'!
He was just nodding off when Seamus spoke up.
"So what do you guys think that was all about?"
Ron unconsciously rolled his eyes. He stayed in his position- lying down, he was rather comfortable- yet he was intent on hearing where this conversation was leading.
"I dunno.....I never thought id see the day that MALFOY stood up for us...to his father no less..." was Deans reply.
"I must say I hate Malfoy....but I cant help but feel sorry for him...." Neville added.
"Yeah" Was Harry's reply.
At this Ron jumped up.
"No!" He yelled.
"Huh?"
"What?" Came the confused replies.
"What you on about mate?" Seamus asked while scratching the back of his head attractively.
"I mean...no....we do NOT feel sorry for Malfoy....he got what he deserves....after all these years of giving us shit you're just gonna sit there and feel SORRY for him!"
"Ron mate...we just-"
"No! Sorry guys but this is MALFOY. The piece of shit who called MY girlfriend names right form the off, insulted MY family because they had less money than him, and whose father, that rather large, nasty looking blond bimbo, tried to kill my best friend not two years ago!" Some where through Rons tirade he had found himself standing and was silently fuming. He managed to calm him self and sat back down on the bed. He sighed. "I'm sorry you guys.....but no matter what you.....Hermione or what anyone else says is gonna change the fact that I HATE Malfoy, and I always will."
In the girls dorms, Ginny had entered her dorm, completely oblivious to the fact that Hermione was following her, and sat down on her bed with a rather large 'huff'!
Hermione silently entered only to find Ginny, with her head in her pillow and a slight shake to her body.
She walked over to the bed and placed her hand on Ginny's soft hair for comfort. Ginny was startled at the act, and shot up into a sitting position. This gave Hermione better access to her face, and it was clear to see that she had been crying.
Hermione's heart fell for her friend. She sat down on the bed, and gathered Ginny into her arms.
She stroked her hair until Ginny's sobs died out and she was able to look here in the eye.
"Ginny..." Hermione asked cautiously. "Does this have anything to do with Malfoy?" She asked.
Ginny tired to avoid her gaze as she nodded, looking ashamed.
"I thought as much" Was Hermione's reply. She gathered her friend into her arms once more and Ginny nestled her head under Hermione's chin. "Do you want to tell me about it?" Hermione asked, as she rubbed Ginny's back soothingly.
Ginny was still for a while, before nodding. She left the comfort of Hermione's arms, and sat back against the headboard of her bed. She then whipped her tears away with the sleeve of her cloak, then turned to Hermione.
"Ok.....it started last night.....when Mal- Draco turned up at the Yule ball. He was looking stunning and I wanted to grab him and smother him in kissed. But as it was, I held back, knowing that it was wrong. As the evening went on things got harder and harder. I couldn't bare to see him with other girls....or guys for that matter" She let out a hollow laugh. "But then when I was dancing with Harry, I saw him across the hall; he was dancing with Pansy, and I felt so jealous of Pansy for being so close to him. Then he caught my eye and we just stared at each other for what felt like hours. I felt good. He was paying me all the attention and it made me feel great. But then Pansy came back into the picture; She as all over him and I couldn't take it any more. That's when I ran out.... I'm sure you noticed...." Hermione nodded. "Any way...I ran out of the castle and down this little path that led to small court yard at the side of the castle. I was there for not much longer than five minutes when he came up behind me. He had followed me. Me. A Weasley. Any way...we messed around for a bit....playing in the small fountain and before I knew what I was doing...I was kissing him.....it felt so good, so right in fact.....like nothing I had felt before.....He was so gentle and sweet, and he knew not to take it too far. Nothing else happened after that. He lit a fire and conjured up a blanket to keep us warm. It was ...sweet. Then we woke up together this morning. It was so romantic, and he was so nice. We went our separate ways after that." Ginny stopped and chanced a look at Hermione. She was ....smiling. "Erm.....Hermione...?"
"Awwww....Ginny......" Hermione threw her self at Ginny. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Oh..er....thanks.....Hermione....I can't breathe..."
"What..oh.." Hermione let go of her death grip around Ginny's neck and smiled at her again.
Ginny smiled too. "You're not mad?"
"What....of course not.....I mean you could have done better than MALFOY....but I'm so pleased to see you happy....he does make you happy right...."
"Yes! Of course."
"Good..." Hermione face suddenly fell. "I guess that's why your so upset...after seeing what happened to Malfoy with his father....?"
"Yeah" Ginny sighed, her eyes sparkled with new, unshed tears.
Hermione scooted over and put an arm around Ginny. "He'll be ok. He's strong. He won't let himself get into danger...if he's got you to come home to" She smiled.
"Ha...yeah....thanks....."
Hermione tightened her hold of Ginny's shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Any time"
Draco landed with an 'hmph' on the expensive rug that lay infront of the fireplace in his bedroom. He stood and brushed off the excess soot on his clothes. He looked around the familiar room that he had spent so much of his time in when he wasn't at school. The large marble fireplace was set on a wall to the side, and a large white leather sofa sat in front of it. There was a large set of patio doors leading out onto a large balcony opposite and flowing curtains stood on either side. There was a door leading off to the left of the Balcony which was the toilet- of course Draco had an en suit, and on the other side of the patio doors, was a rather large wardrobe. The centerpiece of the whole room, was gigantic four poster bed, at least 4 Times the size of the one he slept in at Hogwarts. The sheets were pure white cotton (A/N: not the usual silk that every one puts in their stories when it comes to Draco's bed- I imagine silk would be very uncomfortable to sleep in) infact, the whole room was white. Draco walked around the room, taking in the smell of clean, fresh bedding that had yet to be slept in. It had been such a long, trying day, that he longed to jump into his bed- which just seemed to be calling his name, and go to sleep. However he was sent here to find his mother, and he was going to find her.
He walked to the door of his room and peered out. He suddenly heard voices and was sure he recognized one of them as his father's house elf. He hastily hid behind the door of his room, and kept quiet until he was sure the house elf was gone. This was going to be harder than he thought. With a house the size of Malfoy manor, the place was going to be swarming with servants. He made it to the end of the corridor with ease, but he was well aware that his mother could be ANYWHERE in the manor, and it could take him a while to find her. He took a left and walked down a long corridor, peering in each room as he passed. It then dawned on him that he should check the rooms she spent most of her time in. There were areas of the house that he was a bit unsure of, having never been allowed in there, but he knew that his mother spent a lot of time in her study or in the garden, so those were his best options.
Taking a staircase down to the lower floors, he began to speed up the pace as he reached the corridor in which his mothers study was situated. He approached the room and saw that the door was open. He walked in. The room was a rich purple in colour. There was a desk in the far corner and book shelves covered most of the 25ft high walls. He walked over to the desk and peered at some of the papers strewn all over it. There were some that looked like they could be bills, something that looked like a letter from Gringotts and another that was a letter from Hogwarts. He picked it up and looked at the name at the bottom.
'Signed, Severus Snape.'
'Hmmm...that's odd. Why would he be writing to my mother' Draco mused. He was about to read the contents of the letter, when it suddenly burst in to flames in his hands.
"Ouch.....Shit...." He hissed, remembering to keep his voice down as the flames singed his fingertips.
He ruffled through some of the other papers, but found nothing of interest, so decided to look in the garden.
He made it down to the main lobby with out difficulties, but as he reached the front door, he was bombarded by house elves.
"Master Draco" They all said in unison like some kind of robot colt.
"Shhhh...please...go away....." He whispered as he kept a finger to his lips.
A house elf, wearing what looked like a blue tea cosey stepped forward.
"We has not seen Master Draco for months but we has heard he is coming home for New Years."
"Yes yes I am....please just tell me where my mother is..... I need to talk to her..."
"Why Master Draco, she is in the garden tending to her roses." Said another house elf.
"Thank you" Draco heaved a sigh of relief and ran to the great front doors with out a backward glance.
He ran around the side of the house to his mother's famous gardens. She would spend hours out here. Draco often wondered what she got up to. He would sometimes visit her out here and watch her for hours as she tended to her roses- he favorite flower.
He stopped in front of a large archway that led into the gardens. He took a left turn and walked down a path, surrounded by hedges for what felt like hours. But, sure enough, there was light ahead, and he soon found him self out in the open, in the biggest, most beautiful rose garden ever imaginable. He took in the sight before him. His mother had chanted the garden so the flowers grew all year round, and it had an invisible roof so the weather out side could not affect the flowers. The rose garden had a variety of different colored roses: Red, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Purple, Lilac, white, even Green.....but her favorite colour, was black. Draco looked around for a familiar blond head, and sure enough, there she was, standing by a large Black rose bush. He made his way over to her, his elegant grace allowing him to make little sound on the ground as he walked. He came up behind her, and looked over her shoulder at the magnificent flowers. They were so full of life, yet they looked so morbid being the colour of death. Narcissa could feel his breath on her bare shoulder and smiled.
"Hello son" She said, with out turning round.
"How did you know it was me?" He stuttered.
She turned to face him . "I felt your presence. I felt it as you entered the house through the fire place not 20 minutes ago." She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. "It's a mothers thing. I always knew when you were happy or sad, or in danger when you were younger. Plus..." She smirked. "....your father never visits me out here...so I knew it had to be you or one of the house elves....but seeing as we don't OWN any house elves that stand taller than me by about a foot, I guessed it was you" She laughed.
Draco laughed and took her hands in his own. "Well mother. If you can feel my presence, and you can feel when I am happy or sad, can you tell me why I am here?"
Narcissa's smile faded. "I guessed it may have something to do with your father. About what happened this afternoon at Hogwarts. I am also guessing that you were sent here by the one Severus Snape. Am I right...?"
Draco nodded.
"I thought as much. Come on..." She led Draco by the hand to the edge of the garden. "I think I know what this is all about.....perhaps we should use the fire place in the guest house. That way we don't take the risk of being seen by your father." Draco marveled at how well his mother was taking this. He was pretty much expecting to have to tie her up to get her to come to Hogwarts.
They entered the guesthouse and walked to the fireplace. Narcissa gave one last comforting smile to her son, before she disappeared into the smoke, off to Hogwarts.
