Posted: Dec. 2, 2004

Chapter Nine: When Doves Cry

"You've fucked up, Malfoy," Goyle was not very happy. "Without Montague's connections, we might as well call this quits now."

"No," Draco shook his head. "We can still do this."

"Do you care to explain how? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like we've. . . no, excuse me, you have just flushed years of work down the drain," Goyle explained. "You weren't actually suppose to kill him!" he yelled.

"Hey!" Draco would not be yelled at in his own home. "He's the one who shouldn't have gotten caught, okay?"

Goyle leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "He shouldn't have gotten caught betraying the Dark Lord or shouldn't have gotten caught screwing your wife?" If looks could kill, Goyle would have been dead the moment he finished the question.

"My wife is not an issue in this matter, so I suggest that we change the subject and fast."

Goyle narrowed his eyes and stared at Draco. It was then that Crabbe decided to speak up. "Calm down guys, there is no need to get all uptight about this. Listen, I've gone with Montague before to meet one of his contacts. I can meet up with him and tell him, our version, of what happened and he can inform the others," Crabbe paused and when he had no rejections he continued. "We have to be careful from now on. They have to know by now Montague was working with someone. We can not afford someone else within this operation getting caught."

"Yeah, we're lucky Montague didn't rat us out for the hell of it," Goyle commented.

"No, we're lucky that his tongue was the first thing to go," Draco smiled and turned his head to Crabbe. "So the contact, who is it? Because I think it's about time that we started pulling this together." Crabbe looked a little hesitate and looked at Goyle. "What?"

Crabbe then said slowly, "The contact is Fred Weasley."

Draco looked at him in disbelief. "You're kidding me, right? That doesn't make sense, not after Montague-"

"I know," Crabbe cut in, then said softly to himself. "Believe me I know."

Draco then gave off a little laugh. "Well, isn't life perfect?" He rubbed the bridge of his nose. I really don't need this kind of stress, he thought before saying. "How soon can we get word with him?"

"I can leave for Iceland as soon as tomorrow," Crabbe answered.

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's too soon after Montague's death for you to be taking mysterious trips. We should wait a few weeks," Goyle suggested and the others agreed.

OoOoO

The next few weeks passed dreadfully slow. The house was much too quiet for Draco's liking and he thought himself stupid for missing the sound of Angelina's voice. He had convinced her to stay, but he was getting the silent treatment and it was like being by himself anyway.

"Alright!" Draco yelled as he threw down his napkin on the dinner table. "Enough with this foolishness." Angelina chewed her food slowly as she looked across the table at him. "I tried to kill you, you tried to kill me; can we please just put it behind us and get on with our lives?" he sounded upset.

"No need to yell, Draco," she said coolly. "I'm only five feet away."

Draco sunk in his chair. "You're trying to drive me mad, aren't you, woman?"

"Depends," she took a sip of her wine. "Is it working?"

"Yes!"

"Good," he saw her smile for the first time in weeks, which made his smile too.

"So," he exhaled. "Are we going to be okay?"

Angelina looked down at her plate. "Yes," she looked back at him. "In time, I think we will be."

And that one sentence, those eight little words, reaffirmed Draco's hope. A hope that had not died when Draco was a boy, because unknown to his father, a requirement of breaking the curse had been fulfilled, not by Draco, but by Angelina herself.

END FLASHBACK
Please note: Not everything that occurred in the flashback was a memory of Angelina's.

"Tulip. Tulip?" Draco called. "Are you listening to me?"

"Huh? What?" Angelina was pulled from her memories. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"I said, 'Are you ready for the performance of your life?'" Draco asked as they stood outside the huge wooden doors.

Angelina reached in her purse and pulled out a compact mirror and checked her make-up and hair. "As ready as I'm ever going to be."

"Put the mirror away, you look good," he smiled. "Not as good as me of course, but a close second."

"Cute," she tilted her head to one side. As they got closer to the doors, they opened up and Draco and Angelina stepped into a large banquet hall full of many people. The people were made up of followers of the Dark Lord and their spouses. Draco and Angelina were on top of a flight of stairs looking at the people below them as they began their way down. "I don't want be here all night, Draco."

"It's New Year's Eve. People will think it strange if we leave early," he spoke as they continued down the stairs.

"Alright, but I'm telling you right now, if you leave me alone with your father, while you high tail it to the other side of the room, like you did last year, I will not be responsible for my actions," Draco only laughed. "Go ahead laugh it up, see if I'm playing," he continued to laugh, though he knew she was dead serious.

Later on, much to Draco's amusement, he had done the very thing she had told him not to and she was pissed off for well over an hour, but other than that, the rest of the night, much to their surprise, had gone fairly well. "5. . . 4. . . 3. . . 2. . . 1. . . Happy New Year!" Could be heard throughout the room.

"Happy Anniversary, Tulip," Draco pulled Angelina close and whispered in her ear. He took the champaign glass out of her hand, thinking she had had a bit too much for one night. "Dance with me."

"First off, our anniversary was yesterday," she smiled. "Second, you know I can't dance."

"Okay, first off, I knew that," he lied. "Second, dance with me anyway." He led her out into the dance floor and she did not protest. "This isn't too bad now is it?"

"No, it's not." She had a funny smile on her face.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just a little tired I suppose," after a yawn she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Mind if I cut in?" Angelina turned her head to see Pansy Parkinson.

"Oh, no I guess not," Angelina started to slip away from Draco, but he took hold of her hand.

"I mind." Draco stared coldly at Pansy.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch," she sassed. "It's not like I'm trying to get you back or something." She purposely put her left hand on her chest showing off her rare, black diamond engagement ring. "You remember Moon, right? Niccolia Moon?"

"Of course, good man. I feel sorry for him."

"Well," Pansy then looked at Angelina. "At least he will have a proper wife."

"Excuse me?" Angelina said angrily. "Proper? And what would you consider proper? A wife that waits on her husband hand and foot? Who doesn't speak until spoken to? And then when she is, she's only allow to say 'Yes sir' or 'No sir'? Please, give me break. If a man wants someone to sit, stay, and beg, he can get a dog. But then again," Angelina looked over Pansy, "maybe Moon already has one."

Pansy gave Angelina a disgusted look and then gave a soft smile. "You know what, I'm going to let that slide. Because I already know you're jealous because you can never be me. It's okay, if I were you, I would be jealous too." And she walked away to join her circle of friends.

"Okay," Angelina drawled. "Did I miss something?"

"No, not really. But if anyone is jealous, it's her of you. I guess she's still bitter about only being second best."

They then continued to dance, but his statement didn't sit too well with Angelina. "What do you mean?" she asked after a moment.

"As you know, I used to date Parkinson." Angelina nodded her head. "Well, my father kind of narrowed my companion choices down to you and her. And early on seventh year, I found out some things about Pansy that I didn't like, so when my father gave me a choice between the two of you. . . I chose you."

-SMACK-

"Shit! What the hell?" Draco yelled as Angelina lifted her dress, so she wouldn't step on it, and stormed off. Draco rubbed his face and noticed people were looking at him and that others were watching her leave.

Draco then laughed nervously and scanned the room with his eyes until they locked with his father's, who did not look very pleased. Great, Draco thought. All I need is another lecture about how I can't control my wife. And he stormed off after her.

"You chose me!" Angelina yelled once they were in the privacy of their own home.

"Tulip, calm down."

"Don't tell me what to do," she paced around the room. "He chose me," she spoke toherself. "The moron chose me."

"Tulip," he got in front of her and took her by the arms. "Tulip, stop. Why are you so upset?"

She looked at him like he was an idiot and yanked herself away from his grasp. "Why Draco? Why didn't you just choose Pansy? Why did you make me think there was no choice in the matter, like you were forced into this just like I was, huh?"

Draco lowered his head. After all this time, is that still what she truly wants? he asked himself. "I don't think you'd understand," he finally told her.

"Try me," she crossed her arms and waited for him to explain.

"Fine. I chose you because Pansy would not have been the kind of wife you have been to me. I know she would have left me to die that night I came home after the battle. I know she would have never forgiven me, for killing off her lover, or losing control like I did later that night. I know she would not have been strong enough to put up with me and stay with me even if I begged on my knees."

He continued upset, "I know she would have ratted me out the moment she suspected that I wasn't one hundred percent loyal to the Dark Lord." Angelina had found out earlier on that Draco, for years, had been planning to bring down the Dark Lord, though she wasn't allowed in all the details. "She was right you know, you'll never be her and I'm thankful everyday for that," he said sincerely. Then without any kind of response from her, he headed upstairs.

Draco was in the middle of getting out of his formal attire when he heard something behind him. "Nice boxers," came the voice.

He turned to see Angelina in the doorway as he softly smiled. "Yes, my wife does have a good sense of style," he informed her.

"I was out of line, Draco," she came out and said as she approached him. "I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Draco shook his head. "It's okay. Believe it or not, I've been more embarrassed than that."

Angelina smiled. "I'm glad you're not upset."

"Yeah, me too." Draco knew if what happened tonight had occurred several years ago, he would not have been this calm.

"Well, I'm going to call it night," Angelina began as she turned her back to him. "But do you think you could you help me, please?" she asked. "I can't quite get the zipper on my own."

Draco took the zipper with his thumb and index finger and as he slowly unzipped the dress he stroked the soft skin of Angelina's back. Why does she torture me like this, allowing me to be so close?

The deal had always been that she would come to him and Draco was starting to learn to be a patient man, but tonight he could no longer fight his urge to be with her. So Draco leaned in and with his lips followed by his tongue grazed Angelina's shoulder and the side of her neck as she tilted it to one side.

Not much to his surprise, he heard her give off a soft moan, but then suddently he felt the zipper sip out of his fingers and she turned to face him. "Um. . ." she clutched the top of her strapless dress so it wouldn't fall off. "I'll just um. . . go now." She started towards the door to go to her own bedroom.

"Tulip, wait," Draco caught her from behind. "Why are you so afraid of the idea of us?" he asked as he slid his hands down the length of her arms. "Is it really that farfetched?"

"No, it's just. . . oh Draco," she said faintly as her eyes closed and her head fell back onto his bare chest. "We've come such a long way, I don't want to ruin that."

"I know, but don't you think it's time for us to stop pretending? I mean, I already have," he began. "You make me happy, Tulip. I just want to make you feel the same way." Draco then once again leaned down and lightly kissed Angelina's shoulder. He slowly reached for her hands, which still had a hold of her dress, and slipped them into his own. The sparkling pink gown cascaded off the curves of Angelina's form and pooled itself around her feet on the floor.

Releasing Draco's hands, Angelina turned around and stepped out of her dress as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Draco snaked his arms around her waist and they guided each other to the edge of the bed, where they stripped the other of their remaing clothes. They then fell onto the bed in one another's embrace.

Angelina landed on her back and Draco landed on top of her. He took her by the wrists and pushed her arms above her head. He then slowly brushed his lips sweetly against hers before slightly pulling away to study her face, but mostly her lips, before once again leaning in so that he could claim them with his own, but he did so with a tenderness Angelina never knew he possessed.

She then heard Draco softly chuckle as his eyes locked with hers. There was a devious spark in his eye as his lips left hers for other places his mouth could explore. As he traveled further down her body, she felt his hands loosen from her wrists and begin to glide down her arms, leaving behind a tingling feeling as they passed.

Draco could feel Angelina's rapid heart beating as he kissed her breast, parts of her stomach, and then the inner part of her thigh. "Stop," she whispered as she reached down and touched his cheek. "That's tickles."

He said nothing as first, but only tilted his head into her touch before once again kissing her thigh. "Angelina?" he then called softly as he crawled back up her body so he could be eye level with her.

Angelina wrapped her arms around him and outlined, with her fingers, the muscles on his back. She could also feel his arousal rubbing up against her. "Yes?"

Draco kissed her cheek and then asked huskily into her ear, "Will you do something for me?"

"Anything," she told him eagerly, but then felt his body become a little tense.

"Tell me- tell me you love me," Draco immediately felt a hand on his chest and with a jerk he was slightly pushed away.

"But we. . . I-" she stammered as she shook her head.

"No, it's okay," Draco cast his eyes away. "I shouldn't have asked you that." Angelina could, unmistakably, hear the hurt in his voice.

She then gingerly moved her hand from his chest and took a hold of his jaw and made him look at her. Her brown eyes locked with his gray ones and somehow, Draco felt as if she was looking into the inner most depths of his soul. Angelina then licked her lips and said with a breath, "I love you, Draco Lucius Malfoy." And she smiled a smile, Draco knew was reserved only for him.

"Say it again," he told her as he returned her smile.

She giggled and pulled him closer to her. "I love you!" she threw her head back and shouted.

"One more time," he whispered.

"I love you," she whispered back and as she did their two bodies became one.

And as they made love, a feeling of completeness took over Draco's senses. Because though he had wealth, though he had power, it was love he could never seem to grasp. When he had Pansy, back in school, he had no doubt that she would be the woman he would marry. She adored him or at least that what she had him believe. So much so that though his father had warn him about their curse which was made at the beginning of time, before he had started school, Draco had thought the curse had run its path and no longer applied. He was as sure of that as the love he knew Pansy held for him.

But then came the day everything changed. The common room was empty as the night's moon had been in the sky for many hours. Draco, as Headboy, was just finishing up a few of his duties around the school when he was making his way quietly back to the Slytherin common room. He was surprised to hear a couple of voices as his form was covered in darkness still near the common room door. He soon recognized one of the voices as Pansy's as she spoke to one of her friends.

Draco could do nothing but close his eyes as Pansy went on about how all her hard work over the years was finally paying off. How she and her family would be set for life once she had the name 'Malfoy' attached to her own. Her friend than asked her if she felt anything for him as all. Draco's face set in anger as he heard Pansy only laugh at the question as she told her friend not to be ridiculous. A week later, Draco broke everything off with Pansy, surprised with himself that after years of being with her, that it didn't hurt more. She was naturally upset, but Draco knew it wasn't over him, but his name. He left her crying not for a moment phased by her tears.

But things were different now with this woman, with Angelina his wife. She had never cared about his name. Her love has be genuine. She has no reason to lie, Draco thought as he tasted her brown skin; his ears enticed by the sounds of pleasure she made as she laid beneath him. "Oh, Angelina," he called softly as they both started to approach their climax.

Angelina's head tilted away from Draco as she arched her back, aching to be closer to him than she already was. "David," she breathed.

Draco's forehead crease as he slowly pulled away and looked upon Angelina. Her eyes were still closed and there was a look of pure bliss upon face. She was unaware of what she had just called him or maybe Draco had misheard her. No, he knew he hadn't. All of a sudden Draco didn't feel so well and he completely pulled away from Angelina.

Angelina's eyes opened immediately from the abrupt lost of contact. "Draco?" she was confused as she watched him get out of bed. He didn't even look at her as he put on his housecoat and left the room.

Angelina sat up and wondered what had just happened. A moment ago they were making love, finally consummating their marriage after fives years. Then without any kind of warning, he just walked out of the room when they were finished. Angelina drew her legs in and wrapped her arms around them, feeling the last thing she thought she would at this moment. . . used. And as that feeling filled her, she couldn't stop the flow of tears that slid down her cheeks.

But little did she know that Draco was downstairs feeling the exact same way. "How could you be so thick?" he asked himself angrily as he made his way to the living room. "What made you think she actually loved you? Because you asked and she said she did?" He rested on the couch with his elbows on his legs and his face in his hands. "How thick can you be?"

He was determined not to let a tear fall, but unlike many other elements in his life he could control, his tears were not one of them. His father was right those years ago. Draco had allowed Angelina to rule his emotions, and he hated her for it. Because she was the only one who could ever make him feel this miserable, this insignificant, and worst of all, this weak.

To Be Continued. . .

Preview Of Next Chapter:

"Do you miss him?" Draco blurted out.

"What kind of question is that?"

"Damn woman, just answer me."

"And if I said yes?" she asked. "What would it mean to you?"

A/N: Honestly, I don't know what's wrong with me. When I originally wrote this chapter, it had a nice ending, with them waking up in bed together, believe me it was sweet.

But when I went to reread it, I realized I accidentally wrote David instead of Draco. I was going to correct it, but me being who I am, I thought, Hey, I can work with that. So I ended up changing the ending and the title of the chapter (hint, hint, nudge, nudge you know who you are).