Chapter Twenty Five:: Dining with the Malfoys
Draco woke, after having successfully locating his room, to see his father glaring down at him. He could feel his heart leap to his throat and knew he was failing miserably – in Malfoy standards – at keeping his current shock from his face.
"F- Father," He acknowledged weakly, all the while berating himself. How could he have fallen so far from his usual reserve? What had changed?
Instantly, he began to sit up and stopped when he felt something warm pressed up against his side. Looking down, his eyes widened to see Kit lying there beside him.
"Wh-what-?!" He gasped.
"That's what I would like to know. Myles," The senior Malfoy turned from his son to address the elderly house elf beside him. "Myles, go inform Narcissa that the girl will be sent up to her shortly."
Myles bowed in a creaky, elderly fashion and, with a loud crack, disappeared. The noise had the desired affect on the sleeping figure: shooting upright, she turned over and fell off the bed.
"Wh- what?!" She sputtered, "Whe- where am –" She stopped, eyes widening, as she looked up – first to her right, up to the bed where Draco still sat, then to the left, where the imposing senior Malfoy stood. "Um." Not the best word in such a situation.
Lucius scowled down at her. "Narcissa is waiting for you in her rooms upstairs." He informed her icily. "I expect you won't wish to keep her any longer."
"Y-yes, sir." She replied meekly. Standing, she inched herself as far from Lucius as she could manage before dashing out the door. She didn't know why, exactly, he made her feel so frightened; it didn't help matters that he barely concealed the fact that, for some unknown reason, he seemed revolted and/or disgusted by her. But she'd much rather try to figure it out in the safety of Narcissa's rooms.
Once she was gone, Lucius turned back to his son. "She has no influence on you?" He mocked softly.
"No, father." He replied, his eyes unfocusing.
Swiftly, Lucius closed the space between the two and yanked his chin up, forcing his offspring's eyes to meet his. "Draco," He began softly, "There have been few times when you have had the misfortune to incur my wrath. Both those times, you were lying."
He could feel his son's jaw tighten in his hand. At the very least, he didn't swallow.
He lifted his son slightly from his perch. "I expect an answer when I'm speaking to you, Draco."
Again, the tightening of the jaw. "Yes, father."
"Do you remember why I was angry?"
"Yes father."
"Were you not lying those times I punished you?"
"Yes father."
"Are you not lying to me now?"
Draco's eyes watered from the want to look away. "Yes father."
The blaze behind Lucius' eyes dimmed a little. "I've asked you twice." His voice was ominously low. "Twice you have lied. I will not let it slide a third time. Does this girl influence you?"
There was a pause. Draco was the only one for whom Lucius would ever wait.
"Somewhat, father."
Opening his mouth to continue his verbal lashing, he was cut off by a loud CRACK.
Myles had returned. "Sir," he squeaked, "Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts, Godfather to the young master, has arrived and now wishes to speak with you – at present, and after the evening closes."
For a moment, Lucius continued to study his son. "Tell him I will be with him shortly." He finally answered. Readdressing Draco, he added, "We will continue this later" before turning and striding through the door.
Kit had been, as reported earlier, reBlaisified.
And for once, she didn't really mind. She had a considerable amount of rest, she didn't have half as many tangles in her hair, and she had found a charm to keep the corset from strangling her. Overall, she was feeling relatively happy – a suitable emotion for Christmas Day.
The one thing that irked her was that Narcissa insisted that the two made their grand appearance once all the guests had arrived and the dinner about to start. It was tradition, she said. All the Malfoy Ladies had a right to it, especially when in their own home.
Irritated, Kit still let it go; although she seemed as harmless as a doll, there was something in her overall manner that reminded her too much of Narcissa's husband.
And so, when the loud CRACK came, Kit managed to keep her show of surprise down to a two foot jump (she felt she was getting used to it), Myles reported that the last guest had arrived and that the two should feel free to enter the dining room at any time they liked.
Narcissa promptly dabbed on a darker shade of lip colour, refused to let her look in the mirror and stepped through one of the many passages to the grand staircase leading to the dining hall.
"Well. Let's go, shall we? And don't worry, you look lovely, darling."
Kit hoped so. She was dressed in a deep russet color cloth, very late forties American style dress: long, very floaty satin skirt, tight at the hips, waist and bust, very formfitting and very flattering, sleeveless. It had some modern twists to it, though, such as a long, Greek style lengthwise slit on either side reaching from ankle to bust with black laces all the was up, magicked to stay. The bust was sheer and had black material underneath, causing the dress to seem to fade from the russet to the scarlet. Her hair had roses of all red shades woven into it, and in her hand she held one "To give to your first dance" as Narcissa put it.
"There won't be many," She had said, "But don't hurry to give it away." A shadow seemed to cross her face. "And if anyone – anyone – bothers you, though I doubt they will in Lucius' house, don't hesitate to tell someone. Some of our guests are of... dubious character. Stay in one of the two rooms to be used for tonight. Oh, and do be polite, darling."
Leaving no time for questions or protests, Narcissa swept out of the passage onto the stairs and descended, floating as an angel from heaven. She certainly looked the part, in a dark ensemble of colors that made her seem part of the sky itself.
Then it was Kit's turn. She fancied herself as Scarlet O'Hara, leading lady of 'Gone with the Wind'; brave, bold and beautiful – though she didn't feel much of either. Nonetheless, she put herself in Scarlet's place as she descended, proud and pretty, descending to her host of admirers – all the while (as Kit) hoping that no one was really watching.
She almost panicked when she reached the dinner table.
Narcissa had told her that everyone was seated by order of importance; as Kit was a house guest and a close companion to her son, Narcissa explained, she would hold one of the few seats of honor, close to the family seating.
But from her position on the staircase, she couldn't tell where the family sat.
She could feel her face heat as she stood there, for what felt an eternity, but couldn't have been more than a few seconds. Finally, she didn't know whether out of pity or protocol, a tall, darkly robed man appeared at her elbow and began to guide her to her seat. Glancing up, she was shocked to see the face Professor Severus Snape staring straight ahead.
"I apologize for my tardiness." He murmured in the direction of Lucius as he deposited the girl in a seat to the right of Narcissa, directly across from Draco, who sat a seat away from his father. She assumed it was that way so the Professor wouldn't have to lean across from him to converse.
"Oh, the poor darling," Kit heard Narcissa murmur as she sat, "Lucius must be annoyed with him." It was not until later that Kit found out that the seating arrangements were in the slightest form of punishment in the form of humiliation. Only a few would realize its significance.
Shifting slightly, she noted with an increasing level of shock, which she desperately hoped stayed off her face, that sitting next to her was Quentin Ridge. The Quentin Ridge. The Demi-God Quentin Ridge. The Demi-God That She Had Blown Off Twice Quentin Ridge.
What was he doing here?!
Ugh, how she wished she could just slide under the table and die – or at least be old enough to know how to apparate.
Hurriedly, she faced front, hoping against hope that he did not address her; Narcissa had instructed her to be polite, and protocol required an answer.
Could she turn invisible?
Was there a charm to make a hole appear and swallow her up? Or, even better, swallow him up so she could still have a good evening?
The end was near. Cause of death? Embarrassment? Humiliation? An overwhelming feeling of offendedness? Indignantness? A blend of all four? Probably.
She hoped she could forget about Ridge at least long enough to make her final goodbyes... especially to Draco. She needed to apologize about the earlier scene and steel herself for that embarrassment as well.
Either way she looked, the end was near.
... and so was the end of this chapter!
Hello to all those who have not abandoned me in my long absence from this page... yes, school has finally ended for me, the procrastinator known as Silverfey, aka (ican'ttellyou,pennamesareforsecrecy). But now I'm sick. With strep. I can't talk right, and I can't breathe right, and I'm being tortured by my first youngest brother (I'm the only girl in five boys, three younger, two older). But, thank god for antibiotics! I can actually move my neck now, swallow, and walk without the room spinning! and last night, I actually slept the whole night through! I'm so happy, I could cry. But seriously, I think this is someone's idea of a joke on me. I mean, who gets strep in the Midwest in June? Okay, enough self pity, onto my eternal thanks.
Reviewers, Reviewers, and more Reviewers, how I love thee...
Oh well, now I can express my love by replying to you!
SiriusLives001 Well, you've got most of it down right, but don't be all to quick to judge; Kit still has another week and a half to get through with the Malfoy family!
Escaped That really is a surprise. I honestly didn't think anyone would make much of Narcissa, but now you've got me thinking (what a change!). Maybe she could have (slightly) a bit more than a bit part... hmm... but you liked her? really? And you picked up the hint! Haha! And yes, school has finally, for procrastinating me, been let out – but I'm nothing compared to Chicago school students, they're not done until the TWENTY FOURTH of JUNE! Can you believe it? talk about torture!
Pinkeye346 So true. Keep reading, I'll keep writing, and the plot will get even thicker – but I hope it won't be too messy.
Glass Dragon I know. I know. I almost cried. But my brother's assure me that he's not as terrible looking as all that (as they've seen the third movie, and I still have yet to). You've probably already seen it; what do YOU think? Please tell me it was just a bad camera angle! My precious darling Draco! What on earth did they DO to you?! Okay, I think I'll go cry now...
MadSong Really? I thought I was actually being original with the name! (haha) But seriously, I'm glad you like it. I thought a lot of people would be disappointed that I didn't make Narcissa out as an evil, conniving I- can't-say, because she IS, after all, married to the most evil HUMAN wizard in history...
Chrisoriented Thank you! I never expected anyone to reply to the note, but it was such an encouragement that you did! I hope that my chapters to come do your eagerness credit. (did that make sense? oh well, if it didn't, no one can blame me, I'm sick with strep and therefore delirious... seriously)
Weirdo101 Hey! after that one lone review, I was beginning to think you'd left me! I'm glad you like it!
Tottering slightly, Kit stumbled down the hall to where Narcissa had pointed out her room ("Right across from Draco's, the darling, he'll be so happy to have company so close!").
It was noon. She had stood there, in Narcissa's fitting rooms – bigger than a family dining hall – for the past three hours, allowing herself to be Blaiseified once again – only this time, it was Narcissa-style.
Standing for three hours was tiring.
Glancing at her watch, she wearily noted that she had three hours to rest; the party started at four and Narcissa was insisting that she took, as a minimum (a highly disprovable minimum) an hour for styling, makeup and dressing.
So she flopped down on the bed without taking any note of her surroundings, vaguely recalling that Narcissa had promised to send a house elf for her.
Draco woke, after having successfully locating his room, to see his father glaring down at him. He could feel his heart leap to his throat and knew he was failing miserably – in Malfoy standards – at keeping his current shock from his face.
"F- Father," He acknowledged weakly, all the while berating himself. How could he have fallen so far from his usual reserve? What had changed?
Instantly, he began to sit up and stopped when he felt something warm pressed up against his side. Looking down, his eyes widened to see Kit lying there beside him.
"Wh-what-?!" He gasped.
"That's what I would like to know. Myles," The senior Malfoy turned from his son to address the elderly house elf beside him. "Myles, go inform Narcissa that the girl will be sent up to her shortly."
Myles bowed in a creaky, elderly fashion and, with a loud crack, disappeared. The noise had the desired affect on the sleeping figure: shooting upright, she turned over and fell off the bed.
"Wh- what?!" She sputtered, "Whe- where am –" She stopped, eyes widening, as she looked up – first to her right, up to the bed where Draco still sat, then to the left, where the imposing senior Malfoy stood. "Um." Not the best word in such a situation.
Lucius scowled down at her. "Narcissa is waiting for you in her rooms upstairs." He informed her icily. "I expect you won't wish to keep her any longer."
"Y-yes, sir." She replied meekly. Standing, she inched herself as far from Lucius as she could manage before dashing out the door. She didn't know why, exactly, he made her feel so frightened; it didn't help matters that he barely concealed the fact that, for some unknown reason, he seemed revolted and/or disgusted by her. But she'd much rather try to figure it out in the safety of Narcissa's rooms.
Once she was gone, Lucius turned back to his son. "She has no influence on you?" He mocked softly.
"No, father." He replied, his eyes unfocusing.
Swiftly, Lucius closed the space between the two and yanked his chin up, forcing his offspring's eyes to meet his. "Draco," He began softly, "There have been few times when you have had the misfortune to incur my wrath. Both those times, you were lying."
He could feel his son's jaw tighten in his hand. At the very least, he didn't swallow.
He lifted his son slightly from his perch. "I expect an answer when I'm speaking to you, Draco."
Again, the tightening of the jaw. "Yes, father."
"Do you remember why I was angry?"
"Yes father."
"Were you not lying those times I punished you?"
"Yes father."
"Are you not lying to me now?"
Draco's eyes watered from the want to look away. "Yes father."
The blaze behind Lucius' eyes dimmed a little. "I've asked you twice." His voice was ominously low. "Twice you have lied. I will not let it slide a third time. Does this girl influence you?"
There was a pause. Draco was the only one for whom Lucius would ever wait.
"Somewhat, father."
Opening his mouth to continue his verbal lashing, he was cut off by a loud CRACK.
Myles had returned. "Sir," he squeaked, "Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts, Godfather to the young master, has arrived and now wishes to speak with you – at present, and after the evening closes."
For a moment, Lucius continued to study his son. "Tell him I will be with him shortly." He finally answered. Readdressing Draco, he added, "We will continue this later" before turning and striding through the door.
Kit had been, as reported earlier, reBlaisified.
And for once, she didn't really mind. She had a considerable amount of rest, she didn't have half as many tangles in her hair, and she had found a charm to keep the corset from strangling her. Overall, she was feeling relatively happy – a suitable emotion for Christmas Day.
The one thing that irked her was that Narcissa insisted that the two made their grand appearance once all the guests had arrived and the dinner about to start. It was tradition, she said. All the Malfoy Ladies had a right to it, especially when in their own home.
Irritated, Kit still let it go; although she seemed as harmless as a doll, there was something in her overall manner that reminded her too much of Narcissa's husband.
And so, when the loud CRACK came, Kit managed to keep her show of surprise down to a two foot jump (she felt she was getting used to it), Myles reported that the last guest had arrived and that the two should feel free to enter the dining room at any time they liked.
Narcissa promptly dabbed on a darker shade of lip colour, refused to let her look in the mirror and stepped through one of the many passages to the grand staircase leading to the dining hall.
"Well. Let's go, shall we? And don't worry, you look lovely, darling."
Kit hoped so. She was dressed in a deep russet color cloth, very late forties American style dress: long, very floaty satin skirt, tight at the hips, waist and bust, very formfitting and very flattering, sleeveless. It had some modern twists to it, though, such as a long, Greek style lengthwise slit on either side reaching from ankle to bust with black laces all the was up, magicked to stay. The bust was sheer and had black material underneath, causing the dress to seem to fade from the russet to the scarlet. Her hair had roses of all red shades woven into it, and in her hand she held one "To give to your first dance" as Narcissa put it.
"There won't be many," She had said, "But don't hurry to give it away." A shadow seemed to cross her face. "And if anyone – anyone – bothers you, though I doubt they will in Lucius' house, don't hesitate to tell someone. Some of our guests are of... dubious character. Stay in one of the two rooms to be used for tonight. Oh, and do be polite, darling."
Leaving no time for questions or protests, Narcissa swept out of the passage onto the stairs and descended, floating as an angel from heaven. She certainly looked the part, in a dark ensemble of colors that made her seem part of the sky itself.
Then it was Kit's turn. She fancied herself as Scarlet O'Hara, leading lady of 'Gone with the Wind'; brave, bold and beautiful – though she didn't feel much of either. Nonetheless, she put herself in Scarlet's place as she descended, proud and pretty, descending to her host of admirers – all the while (as Kit) hoping that no one was really watching.
She almost panicked when she reached the dinner table.
Narcissa had told her that everyone was seated by order of importance; as Kit was a house guest and a close companion to her son, Narcissa explained, she would hold one of the few seats of honor, close to the family seating.
But from her position on the staircase, she couldn't tell where the family sat.
She could feel her face heat as she stood there, for what felt an eternity, but couldn't have been more than a few seconds. Finally, she didn't know whether out of pity or protocol, a tall, darkly robed man appeared at her elbow and began to guide her to her seat. Glancing up, she was shocked to see the face Professor Severus Snape staring straight ahead.
"I apologize for my tardiness." He murmured in the direction of Lucius as he deposited the girl in a seat to the right of Narcissa, directly across from Draco, who sat a seat away from his father. She assumed it was that way so the Professor wouldn't have to lean across from him to converse.
"Oh, the poor darling," Kit heard Narcissa murmur as she sat, "Lucius must be annoyed with him." It was not until later that Kit found out that the seating arrangements were in the slightest form of punishment in the form of humiliation. Only a few would realize its significance.
Shifting slightly, she noted with an increasing level of shock, which she desperately hoped stayed off her face, that sitting next to her was Quentin Ridge. The Quentin Ridge. The Demi-God Quentin Ridge. The Demi-God That She Had Blown Off Twice Quentin Ridge.
What was he doing here?!
Ugh, how she wished she could just slide under the table and die – or at least be old enough to know how to apparate.
Hurriedly, she faced front, hoping against hope that he did not address her; Narcissa had instructed her to be polite, and protocol required an answer.
Could she turn invisible?
Was there a charm to make a hole appear and swallow her up? Or, even better, swallow him up so she could still have a good evening?
The end was near. Cause of death? Embarrassment? Humiliation? An overwhelming feeling of offendedness? Indignantness? A blend of all four? Probably.
She hoped she could forget about Ridge at least long enough to make her final goodbyes... especially to Draco. She needed to apologize about the earlier scene and steel herself for that embarrassment as well.
Either way she looked, the end was near.
... and so was the end of this chapter!
Hello to all those who have not abandoned me in my long absence from this page... yes, school has finally ended for me, the procrastinator known as Silverfey, aka (ican'ttellyou,pennamesareforsecrecy). But now I'm sick. With strep. I can't talk right, and I can't breathe right, and I'm being tortured by my first youngest brother (I'm the only girl in five boys, three younger, two older). But, thank god for antibiotics! I can actually move my neck now, swallow, and walk without the room spinning! and last night, I actually slept the whole night through! I'm so happy, I could cry. But seriously, I think this is someone's idea of a joke on me. I mean, who gets strep in the Midwest in June? Okay, enough self pity, onto my eternal thanks.
Reviewers, Reviewers, and more Reviewers, how I love thee...
Oh well, now I can express my love by replying to you!
SiriusLives001 Well, you've got most of it down right, but don't be all to quick to judge; Kit still has another week and a half to get through with the Malfoy family!
Escaped That really is a surprise. I honestly didn't think anyone would make much of Narcissa, but now you've got me thinking (what a change!). Maybe she could have (slightly) a bit more than a bit part... hmm... but you liked her? really? And you picked up the hint! Haha! And yes, school has finally, for procrastinating me, been let out – but I'm nothing compared to Chicago school students, they're not done until the TWENTY FOURTH of JUNE! Can you believe it? talk about torture!
Pinkeye346 So true. Keep reading, I'll keep writing, and the plot will get even thicker – but I hope it won't be too messy.
Glass Dragon I know. I know. I almost cried. But my brother's assure me that he's not as terrible looking as all that (as they've seen the third movie, and I still have yet to). You've probably already seen it; what do YOU think? Please tell me it was just a bad camera angle! My precious darling Draco! What on earth did they DO to you?! Okay, I think I'll go cry now...
MadSong Really? I thought I was actually being original with the name! (haha) But seriously, I'm glad you like it. I thought a lot of people would be disappointed that I didn't make Narcissa out as an evil, conniving I- can't-say, because she IS, after all, married to the most evil HUMAN wizard in history...
Chrisoriented Thank you! I never expected anyone to reply to the note, but it was such an encouragement that you did! I hope that my chapters to come do your eagerness credit. (did that make sense? oh well, if it didn't, no one can blame me, I'm sick with strep and therefore delirious... seriously)
Weirdo101 Hey! after that one lone review, I was beginning to think you'd left me! I'm glad you like it!