Chapter 10: A close call
Throughout the night I heard his irritating snores and tried my best to fall asleep. Eventually I did and that was about a quarter past three in the morning. Dreaming was a pleasure until the sunlight peaked through our window, causing both Draco and I to stir from the little sleep I had. " Good morning, Darling," Draco whispered into my ear. I yanked my elbow into his chest. " Oof! What was that for?"
" For waking me up at seven in the morning," I uttered in my pillow and pulled the covers over my head. The bed moved telling me that Draco was walking around the room. Surprisingly, I noticed that we were rather far apart from each other and I didn't feel any pain as he walked around the room. " Draco, why don't I feel any pain?" I plainly asked as he came from the closet with clothing in his arms.
" Maybe it only works if we fight," he said, not even giving me one glance. I sighed and tried my best to get back to sleep. I couldn't though, and sat up in the bed. The bathroom door shut and I heard water running from the bath. Over a half hour later Draco came out with just a towel covering his lower half, showing me his upper body. I was rather impressed by his muscles, though and stared at him.
He caught me staring, and smirked. " You like what you see?"
" Well at that haughty remark I should say no, but I don't consider it to be bad," I stifled a laugh and got off the bed. He rolled his eyes and walked to the closet mumbling something about respect for a man. A mirror stood in front of the small dresser on the other side of the room and I happened to slightly glance upon it. My hair was in a wretched mess and my face looked slightly pale.
"I look ugly," I mumbled.
" Looks can be deceiving, my dear," my reflection said. I rolled my eyes and strode down stairs to the dining room. As I sat at the table a house elf rushed through the kitchen door asking me what I would like for breakfast. " Coffee and muffin, please," I considered. With a small 'pop' a cup filled with hot coffee and a plate that sat a blue muffin, appeared in front of me.
" Here's the news, Madame," the house elf squeaked and handed me the Daily Prophet. The headline read, "Malfoy and Rossington unite in Marriage". A picture of both Draco and I waving anxiously, was shown below it. Slightly suspicious of the article, I read it in case there were any misunderstandings:
'Former Hogwarts Graduates, Draco Malfoy and Jessica Rossington, united in Marriage on the 4th of June. " I knew it was going to happen soon," Mother of the bride, Ella Rossington said after the ceremony.
" They make such a wonderful couple!" Mother of the Groom, Narissca Malfoy proclaimed as well.
" I'm sure Draco and Jessica will live a long happy life," Father of the bride, John Rossington told the Prophet.
When asked what these two young people will pursue for a profession, Lucius Malfoy answered our question. " Draco has had an ambition to pursue into Ministry of Magic help with Proper use of Magical Provisions."
" I've taught Jessica to be a nice house keeper and good wife to her husband and I'm sure she will follow my footsteps in becoming a great mother. I can't wait to be a grandmother." Ella Rossington said.
As for the Daily Prophet, we'd like to wish Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy a good luck in life!'
I finished reading as Draco's footsteps reached the dining room. Taking a slow sip of my nice warm coffee, I saw him sit across from me at the small table I was sitting at. The house elf appeared from the kitchen and asked what he wanted. He said a coffee and then a cup filled with the delicious liquid appeared as the house elf abolished into the kitchen. " What are you reading?" he inquired.
" The Daily Prophet. Here, read the headline," I said and handed him the paper. His eyes grew wide as he read through it.
" That's why there was so many people. Most of them were reporters!" he was outraged.
" Calm down, Draco. They didn't say anything appalling!" I reconsidered. He turned to look at me and then back at the paper.
" Well if you say so. I mean your mother was implying for us to have kids,"
" I read that part, but when we are ready, we'll have little Draco and Jessica juniors running around this house," I assured him. He did a double take before he played his famous smirk.
" When will that be, Mrs. Malfoy?" he queried with the same look.
" Patience is a virtue, Mr. Malfoy, and I wouldn't be assuming anytime soon," I said and got up from my seat. " Good luck at work, today," I added before striding upstairs. I felt an arm go around my stomach before I could move any further from the dining room.
" What about my goodbye kiss?" he whispered in my ear.
" Goodbye kiss?"
"You know, before the husband goes to work everyday, his wife usually kisses him goodbye," Draco whispered louder.
"Well I'm not sure this husband deserves one," Draco turned me around and kissed me straight on the lips, which cut me off.
" Goodbye, Honey," Draco uttered and let go of me before one last locking of the lips and a small squeeze. I briskly ran up the stairs away from him and reached the bedroom. With a slam and a twist of the lock, I was safely away from Draco. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror breathing heavily from the entire running up the stairs and I saw a look of shock take form on my face.
Slowly I paced to the mirror, staring at myself, astonished that I could be so abashed from
just Draco kissing me. Shoving off the look I walked to my closet to grab attire for the day. I found a small red top with a mini jean skirt and also some nice high-healed black causal shoes. Taking a quick shower, I changed and snatched my cloak for going out to Diagon Alley as well as money.
Striding to the living room, I grabbed a handful of floo-powder before jumping into the fireplace and yelling, " DIAGON ALLEY!" I was sent through the green flames into the clearing of the shopping area. The shops weren't as nearly as filled with people as there always was on the day before the first day of Hogwarts.
I searched through the shops and bought many things I needed for house supplies. I lurked through Flourish and Bolts and glanced upon many books for the fun of it. I had just picked up the book, Witches of the 1880's when I saw a familiar face walk into the shop. I was standing close to the entry doors and as I saw him come in, I knew there was nowhere to hide but to move the book in front of my face. A man with dark black hair and striking emerald eyes hidden behind two round spectacles walked into the shop appearing dazed.
From being in such a bizarre mood, he seemed to not notice me hidden behind the book, for he walked up the stairs right past me. I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see him searching for something, but I knew it was none of my concern what he was doing, but curiosity was killing me that I had to at least figure what was going on. Harry was mumbling about something, and as I heeded closely I heard him utter, " Malfoy…where is that book…about the Malfoy's?"
Abashed I found myself slowly pacing closer to him, wanting to heed more of his words. He seemed to be searching for a book in the M department of the shop and I could hear him still mumbling the name…my name. Without thinking I inquired on his pursuit. " Need help?"
He turned from the bookshelf to look upon me, and his once daze look changed to a form of shock. " I…I.." he tried to stir, but I stopped him by placing my hand on his shoulder.
" Calm down, Potter. I'm not going to hurt you! What are you looking for?" I asked once again. He still seemed shocked to see me in the store, but suddenly he appeared appalled.
" It's none of your concern…um what's your name again?" he said trying to be stern.
" Jessica Rossington…well I was, but now I'm Jessica Malfoy," I rolled my eyes while I showed him the ring that Draco placed on my finger not but four days before. He gazed upon them, bewildered.
" So it is true? You did marry Malfoy?"
" Unfournately, yes. It's a funny story actually."
" Really?" he asked with a look of interest. " I always wanted to know who would marry Draco."
" Well to tell you the truth, we both didn't want to marry each other."
" Oh this is interesting. Let's say, I'll buy you a mug of butterbeer and we can chat more about it?" he asked.
" Wouldn't you like to be the first one my husband will hex when he finds out you practically asked his wife on a date?" I queried with a wink.
" That's one chance I'll have to take," he answered with a laugh.
" Seriously, if Draco caught me with you, Harry, he would either hex you or both of us and or complain to me about it for the rest of my life."
" But, Mrs. Malfoy you've forgotten that I've become an Auror which means that I can also hex him back and maybe obliviate his mind," Harry said with a smile.
" Well if you say so, Mr. Potter," I uttered and he surprisingly held his arm out for me. I gradually grabbed on and was guided out of the shop without having anyone even take one look at both Harry and I walking out of the store together arm-in-arm. He led me to the Leaky Cauldron and we sat at a table for two seated far from any preying eye.
" So tell me, how did you and Mal-I mean Draco become married?" Harry asked as two mugs of butterbeer appeared at our table.
" Let's start off from the beginning. Draco and I have known each other since forever and well we never got along. Our parents always had to yell at us to get along and it never helped much, for we still bickered with each other. When we were eleven, we were sent to Hogwarts and from then on, we've avoided one another, well until now. On the last night of our 7th year, you, know we had that ball," I began and was cut-off.
" Ah, yes, I remember that. You two went off bickering and then called each other names, yeah, the whole school saw the whole drama," Harry laughed.
" Were we that loud?" I nervously asked.
" Pretty much heard the whole argument."
" Oi. Anyway, I'll go on. Our parents were sent to Hogwarts by Dumbledore and he told them what happened at the ball. They were outraged and then thought up a punishment that would create even more chaos for Draco and I. We were to be together the rest of the summer at the Malfoy's Mansion and it turns out, our parents cursed us with one of those curses where we can't be separated from each other literally."
" So you're saying that your parents practically made you both get along by cursing you?"
" Yes, we were stuck together and then we found that our parents also set up our engagement without our consult and announced it to just about the entire Wizardry world. That pretty much sums up this whole marriage thing," I added with one last sip of my butterbeer.
" You were forced to marry each other?" Harry asked.
" Yeah, and now we have our own house thanks to our parents," I sighed.
A window stood not far from our table and I happened to glance at it. I couldn't help but notice that it was slightly raining little droplets outside. People stood with their umbrellas or walked with them. I looked farther amongst the people to suddenly notice striking white hair flood through the crowd, towards the doors of the Leaky Cauldron. I turned back to Harry and yelped, " Harry, he's here!"
Without hesitation, somehow he snatched a cloak from out of nowhere and managed to put it in on and suddenly become invisible. I knew very well he had on an invisibility cloak and understood what happened to him. I looked around the pub and saw my husband walking towards my table with a slight grin on his face. " If it isn't my lovely wife, Jessica!" he pronounced and sat across from me where Harry sat before.
" Hello, Draco," I greeted. " How did you know I was here?"
" Didn't you see the watches our parents left us on the dresser? They have both our faces on them, which tells the person wearing the watch where their husband or wife is," he said as he held up a watch with my face on it looking somewhat happy. The watch also had words on it where the numbers of the hours would have been. The words read, " Out and about. Shopping. Home. Work." Surprised I grabbed his wrist and gazed upon it shocked. Right then two little hands of the watch noted that I was out shopping.
" Why would they do this?" I inquired still with my eyes on the watch.
" So we wouldn't lose each other of course. It was my idea actually."
" Your idea? But why?"
" Now this is an easy question. It's because I love, Jessica," he said though with a serious expression. I gazed at his eyes and wondered if he was telling the truth. I didn't see doubt in his eyes and then I knew he wasn't lying. " By the way, Jess, why is there two mugs on this table?" Draco pointed at the table where the two mugs were placed. I gasped while he gave me a curious look.
" I wanted two butterbeers!" I quickly said. He looked at me and furrowed his brow.
" Yes, I see then. Shall we leave, Mrs. Malfoy?" Draco asked and I was glad the subject was changed.
" Let's go, Draco," I said and he stood up with an open arm, which I grabbed on happily. As we walked about the pub, I searched for any sign of Harry and found him sitting at a table not far from the table I was sitting at with Draco. He looked at me with a smile and mouthed, " Good Luck!"
I mouthed back, " Thanks!" I waved at him and walked the rest of the way back home with Draco out in the rain.