Begs forgiveness for everyone!! I'm soo soo very very sorry!!! School and swimming have dominated my life!! I can't tell you how sorry I am that this is a week late!! I promise that the next chapter won't be late AT ALL!! I swear it!! I've programmed it into my phone to alert me when I need to update it! I promise no lateness next time!!!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related to Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Goddess J.K.Rowling who will hopefully soon bestow us with Book Six. Freesia op.2 doesn't belong to me either. It belongs to my beloved Gackt-san. Anyway, this fic is done solely for fun and no profit is being made off of it. In fact, I'm losing money doing this and not working.
Warning: OOC!Draco. Will be Draco/Ron slash. They are going to have sex, but that'll come after they get together, which isn't in the close future, unfortunately.
Now, exactly what I've been forgetting the last four chapters. And, ta-da! Know you know!
"blah" Regular speech
/blah/ Fwella speech.
"blah" Mermaid speech.
Freesia op.2 by Aloh Dark
Fifth Chapter
As a child Draco would play hide and seek with the house elves. Though it was more of hiding someplace and then scaring the first house elf to come close to his hiding space. As he grew older he was admonished more and more as he played 'childish' games until he stopped altogether. He began spending more and more time in the library reading any book he could get his hands on. He could recite his favorite books word for word if he wanted to.
The library at Malfoy Manor was the largest of all the Malfoy residences and contained all the original copies of the books at the other residences. So even after all the years of living there, Draco still had a number of books he'd never read.
It was because of the library's many books that Draco learned to read and write in many languages, even though he couldn't speak them. So Draco could pick up nearly any book there and be able to understand it. It was also thanks to these books and their many languages that he was able to develop his own written language that no one but him could figure out. To stay proficient in his personal language he'd copy his school notes from English into special books just for the practice. It also help him to know his school notes better.
It was a month before Draco heard word from his mother. So, like always, he was in the library copying her letter from English into his language. He'd just finished when Fwella stuck her head into the window.
/Hey Lazy./ She said in a sing-song mind-voice.
"Hey Beautiful." He said back at her as he walked over to the window.
/My, my, how Tan you are!/ She said as she nudged his hand.
He laughed softly. "It's all those days on the lake and in the air and on the roof."
/And let me guess. The only time you wore cloths were when you were flying with me./
Draco laughed. "As a matter of fact, yes. You know I hate wearing cloths while sun bathing."
/Makes it interesting when someone tries to find your tan lines./
Draco laughed with Fwella. "You know that Grygru said the same thing while we were swimming a few days ago."
/That merman wants you, you know./ Fwella said.
"I know." Draco told her, resting his arms on the window sill. "But I know that he won't do anything about it unless I give the okay."
/And would you?/ She asked seriously.
Draco thought a moment. "I don't know." He replied truthfully. "He is very handsome and highly attractive."
/Which is why he has half the females and a few males from his village chasing after him./
"Exactly." Draco said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't find him attractive in that sort of way. But I don't think I'd ever do anything with him. He's too good a friend."
/Ah, I see./
"I wouldn't want to spoil the friendship with sex. Sex only complicates things and would ruin our friendship."
/So the Young Master Malfoy remains celibate./
Draco gave an exaggeratedly heavy sigh. "Unfortunately so."
Fwella laughed. /Well you poor sexually repressed sir, get out of that house and go for a fly with me!/
"Where are we going?" Draco asked as he began to climb out the window.
/First you're staying in the house long enough to grab your violin. I want to hear that piece you've been working oh so diligently on./
Draco snorted. "You mean the accompaniment that took a quarter as long to get right as the piano it's accompanying?"
/That's the one!/ She said.
"Alright." Draco said, back inside the house. "I shall meet you in the garden then. I'll have the violin in tow."
She nodded and walked away at that. Draco closed the windows and packed up the letter and book. He carried them to his room and placed them both on his desk. He walked back down stairs to the music room and picked up a violin. He packed it up with its bow and carried the case with him.
He snuck up on Fwella and caused her to jump and fly up. He fell to the ground laughing as she flew back down.
/That was NOT Funny!!/ She yelled at him.
"Yes it was." He protested.
She called him a few choice words before letting him on her back. She was wearing a hackamore and a soft pad on her back to make the ride easier for him. Draco tied the violin case to the reins and used his legs to hold onto her. He let her take them away from the manor and to a small pond they sometimes go to. They was a huge rock sitting half in the water and half out that Draco always sat on to dangle his feet into the water. He wore no shoes during the summer so he had no worries about them as he climbed onto the rock and plunged his feet into the frigid water.
"It always amazes me that even in the worst heat, this water is always so cold." Draco said.
/It's because of the water nymphs./ Fwella said as she laid down on the bank.
"I figured as much." Draco said as he began to tune the violin. Fwella stay quiet to let him finish his task. "Okay, so now what do you want to hear, my fair lady love?"
Draco could hear the smile in her mind voice. /Do you remember that one you wrote a year or so ago? The one that sounded like this?/ She sent a shadow of the memory over to Draco to hear. That was one good thing about speaking mind to mind to be able to send along memories and feelings.
"I remember every piece I've ever wrote. Even the crappy things. So yes, I do remember that one." He said as he put the violin under his chin. "And now, you shall hear your request." He pulled the bow across the strings and began to play.
To Fwella, the song seemed to hold all the loneliness and sadness that Draco felt when he wrote the song. She remembered the time when he wrote it well and knew the alienation he felt during the time. He had amazingly poured it all into the song and it always made Fwella deeply touched. She and Vek were the only ones to ever hear the song and the only time Vek had, he was crying by the end.
When Draco was finished, Fwella flapped her wings in applause. /Stunningly beautiful!/ She told him.
"Thanks. Now how about something a little more lively?" He asked. He didn't let her answer before he broke into a country dance he'd learned when he was little.
Fwella was tapping her tail to the rhythm as Draco played, tapping his feet on the water. Fwella began to sing the words so that anyone around would be able to hear her. When he was done they were both laughing and Fwella whistled.
/Now, I command you to play the song I dragged you out here for./
"Ah, the newly finished, never heard by anyone else composition?" He asked her.
/Yes!/
He bowed to her from his perch. "As you wish, my lady." He raised the violin back to his chin and began to play.
It started out soft and sweet but as he played it became tragic and heartbroken. Then the sound became hopeful, tentative but hopeful before it was shattered and miserable. Fwella rode the emotions like a wave and wanted to cry by the end.
When Draco lowered the violin Fwella was silent. "It sounds better with the piano." He said in excuse, mistaking her silence.
/No! No! It was.. It was../ Fwella sent over exactly how she felt about the piece to let Draco see exactly what she was trying to say.
"But did you like it?" He asked her.
/I loved it./ She told him honestly.
"So did I." A voice said from the other side of the pond.
Draco jumped and turned towards the person who'd spoken. A red-head sat on the bank with his chin in his hands. Draco recognized Ron right away and glared angrily at him.
"How long have you been there?" He asked snidely.
"I heard the tale end of the last song and this one." Ron turned and looked at Fwella. "Your singing was lovely."
She nodded but couldn't say anything.
"Why didn't you say anything before?" Draco asked as he put away his violin. "That was not for you to hear!" He slammed the case shut and locked it.
Ron cringed at the daggers in Draco's voice. "So? I'm not going to tell anyone about it! Besides, if I could do something as good as that I'd want everyone to hear it."
"But I don't!" Draco snapped. He placed the violin case on the ground next to Fwella before standing up on the rock. "These are personal compositions! No one but Fwella and Vek are allowed to hear them!"
All too late Fwella noticed the nymph reaching a hand up towards Draco's ankle. Before she could even react the nymph had grabbed hold of Draco and gave a mighty tug.
Draco's eyes widened in horror before he flew into the water and was dragged down. The pond may have been small but it was still deep. By the time the nymph had let go of Draco with a laugh he was deeper than he cared to ever be. And his surprised gasped of air he'd gotten was quickly running out.
As he swam towards the surface his lungs began to burn and his body strained trying to get him safe. His sight was closing in slowly as he fought his way up. He was shocked to feel an arm grasped him around the middle and tug him the rest of the way to the surface.
When he broke surface, he greedily gulped the air into his body. His vision went back to normal and he laid on his back on the shore. He could see Fwella was standing near by out of the corner of his eye but most of his sight was taken up by a worried red head.
"Are you going to be okay?" Ron asked.
Draco began to cough and rolled onto his side. Ron rubbed his back soothingly until Draco finally caught his breath. "Remind me," He panted. "To tell Grygru to kill those bloody nymphs!"
Fwella let out a relieved laugh. /I will darling, I will./
"Good." Draco said and closed his eyes.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked again. Draco nodded as he tried to calm his heart and breathing. "Good."
Draco opened his eyes and looked deep into Ron's. "You saved my life." He said slightly confused.
Ron's eyes went red and he shrugged. "I guess."
"Why? Why did you save me?" Draco asked.
"I don't know. I was in the water before I realized what I was doing." Ron told him.
Draco sat up and shut his eyes. "Thank you." He said.
"Don't mention it." Ron muttered.
"So," Draco said after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. "Did you really like it?"
"Yeah." Ron said, realize what Draco was doing. "It was beautiful."
"It still sounds better with the piano. Maybe you'll be able to hear it completely someday."
"That'd be nice."
/How about we go to the lake? I don't trust those nymphs./ Fwella suggested.
Draco smiled at her. "You just want to see Grygru so you can see the water around him boil."
"Grygru?" Ron asked as Draco stood up. He tied the case to the reins again before he climbed onto Fwella.
"Grygru is a friend of mine. He's a merman." Draco explained. Draco pinched Fwella so she wouldn't say what Draco knew she wanted to.
"Oh." Ron said, climbing behind Draco.
Fwella gave them no warning as she took flight, startling Ron. He jumped and threw his arms around Draco's waist. Draco was accustomed to such takeoffs so all he did was tighten his legs around her.
Draco and Ron chatted with Fwella as she flew towards the lake, which wasn't that far away. When she landed it was on the island in the middle of the lake. Draco slid off her first and then helped Ron down.
/I'm going to go back to the house and give this to Vek. I'll be back in about an hour./ She told them.
"Alright, and get some food for us from him!" Draco called after her.
"So, what do we do now?" Ron asked looking around.
"Now, we find Grygru."
"Find?" Ron asked.
"Yes, find. He's not always in the same spot." Draco said as he took his shirt off. "Sometimes he's not found at all."
Ron watched in horror as Draco slipped out his pants, but left his boxers on. "What are you doing?"
Draco turned to him. "I'm going swimming. And I suggest you strip too if you want to swim. Cloths get mighty heavy when in mermaid territory." He warned.
Ron waited until Draco was underwater before quickly stripping down to his underwear. Draco was a good deal away by the time Ron was in the water. Ron followed Draco out into the water before Draco stopped and began to swim in place. Ron was still a little ways away when the Draco disappeared with a tug. When Draco broke surface again he was laughing and kicking something.
Ron watched as a grinning merman broke the surface and swam after Draco. He caught Draco around the middle and held him. Ron heard him say something to Draco but had no idea what he was saying.
"What's with the underwear? Usually you're naked." Grygru asked Draco.
"I'm also usually alone when I'm swimming." Draco said as he broke out of his grasp.
This made Grygru pause and look about. He glared at Ron when he saw him. "So you're the reason this beautiful piece of man-flesh is covered from me. I should uncover you!"
"Grygru!" Draco said angrily. "Play nice!"
"Draco?" Ron asked.
"Grygru is just jealous." Draco explained. "He's used to seeing me alone when I swim. He doesn't want to compete for my attention."
"You are mine to behold, not his!" Grygru said harshly.
"I am no ones! Least of all yours!" Draco said angrily. "And you are straining our friendship with this absurd jealousy!"
Another mermaid chose that moment to break surface. "Forgive him. He was just turned down by Lykyo." She said.
Grygru glowered at the newcomer. "No one asked you to comment."
"Lykyo?" Draco asked. "The hunter who tired to spear me once?"
"The very same." She said.
"Go away Lyea." Grygru said.
"I don't think I will." She said as she took notice of Ron. "Who are you?"
"Ron. Ron Weasley." Ron said confused.
Grygru and Lyea exchanged looks.
"This the boy you've mentioned?" Lyea asked Draco.
Draco nodded. "The very same."
"But I thought you hated him!" Grygru exclaimed.
"He saved my life today. A nymph in the 'always cold' pond tried to drown me." Draco explained.
Ron jumped as Grygru yelled something and the water around him began to boil. He turned to Ron, with the water still boiling. "Many thanks are in order for you. You have save the life of Draco. My apologies for how I acted earlier."
"Don't mention it." Ron said.
"Unfortunately," Lyea said. "We must get back below. He broke away from me during the middle of a hunt." She grabbed a hold of Grygru's arm. "Oh, and nice boxers." She said before dragging Grygru down with her.
"And those are two of the most dysfunctional mermaids you will ever meet." Draco said as he turned back to Ron.
"You can speak with them." Ron said.
"They taught me how to when we were little." Draco said. "And I taught them our language as they taught me." He began to swim back to the bank.
Ron swam next to him. "You've lived here all your life, haven't you?"
"Yes, I have." Draco said. "Although I have to spend winter at the Keep since I started at Hogwarts."
"Where's the keep?" Ron asked.
"I don't honestly know." Draco said with a smirk.
See You in Two Weeks!!
Many many many thanks to:
Faint Hate!!!! Not being able to spell isn't so bad. I can't spell either. Of course, I just say that 'my mind is working faster than my hands' and leave it at that. glares with you Yeah, stupid dumb Lucius! And yes, you can love them all!! And please do so!! huggles Thanks!!
ElvenGirl2!! Thank you. And since I know I'll be telling you I updated before school tomorrow, this is all I'm saying.
I Heart DM 11!!!! Draco isn't so bad in my fic!! He'll get a lot nicer to Ron, if you know what I mean. bows Please forgive my lateness? I'm worse than Kakashi-sensei sometimes.
Eve Granger!!!! I hope you loved this chappy too!!! AH!! stabbed by guilt Sorry I made you wait! I like the way that Draco acts towards Ron too. Just you wait and see what happens with them.
Oh, and if anyone likes the Sasuke x Naruto pairing from Naruto, please read my fics with them!! They go 'Enough' 'Not Enough' 'Save Me' and 'Always.' Read them in that order since they're part of the same arc. I'll love y'all forever more if you read and review!!