Author's Note: This chapter changes perspective three times. It was originally going to be three chapters, but I couldn't elaborate enough. Enjoy!
Falling Asleep
Glittering Piece of Jewelry
Narcissa Malfoy
Falling sleep when you know your only son is getting married to the woman of his nightmares the next day is just downright impossible! I tossed and turned under the silky sheets, thinking about that marriage.
He couldn't do it. I mean, Elizabeth was totally wrong for him! He had to see that… my son wasn't that blind. I was his mother; I thought I new Draco better than the average person. Who knows, though? Maybe I didn't know as much about him as I thought.
Draco seemed so cold when I talked to him in the gardens a few days ago. He said he couldn't marry Hermione because she was a mudblood. I think he only used that as an excuse… deep down, he didn't believe it. I think he truly cares about her. He won't let her in, though, because he's afraid of getting hurt.
There's a lot more to Draco than meets the eye. He's a complex person underneath all that pain and coldness. He's a lot like his father, though he'll never admit it. Draco always was afraid of love. He always wanted the girls who didn't want him. I think that's part of the reason he first became attracted to Hermione Granger; she was the only girl in Hogwarts that wasn't in love with him.
What bothered me most about Elizabeth were the visions I got of her. I was big into Divination… it was my gift. Most people think it's a load of crap, but that's because they took it at Hogwarts with that nutter for a teacher.
But anyway, I got feelings and visions that Elizabeth was greed-driven. I saw her taking large amounts of gold. I decided then to set a trap. I was going to put out an expensive-looking necklace and see if she took it.
I was staying at the manor the night before the wedding. I heard the shower running… so I got out of bed and fumbled around in my jewelry box. I pulled out a gold and emerald necklace that I could care less about. If she stole it; fine.
I snuck out into the hall and placed the necklace on the coffee table in the formal living room. I heard the shower stop, so I ran into the closet. I didn't even know if Elizabeth would even come into the living room, so I decided I was being foolish and started to open the door. That's when I saw her pass by the entrance to the living room. I got really still, hoping she would see the glittering piece of jewelry and come back.
She did. The necklace sparkled in the moonlight, and Elizabeth's frail hands closed around the large stone. She looked around the room and then pocketed the piece.
I KNEW IT! That bitch was only marrying my son for the money! I knew what I had to do: stop the wedding. But the next question was… how? I love my son, and even if he's marrying someone I don't approve of, I should support him.
Ha, that's the total opposite of what Lucius would say. He always wanted to be in control of everything. Lucius did beat me… and Draco, for that matter. Some people suspected it, but everyone was too afraid of him to say or do anything.
Draco has more emotional scars than physical ones. He does have huge gashes across his back that he charms so know one can see them. "People don't need to know about my problems," he always used to say.
How did I get off on that?
Control
Hermione Granger
Surprise, surprise: I couldn't sleep. How could I? I was too distraught. All I could do was lay under the hot sheets and relive that kiss over and over again in my mind. Hot tears ran down my cheeks as I thought about the last kiss I'd ever share with Draco. That kiss was filled with so much longing…. so much passion… so much…. sadness.
I thought about Ron's question. How many times did I kiss Malfoy? I knew it certainly happened a few times on the boat. And then there was the field. And, obviously, the very last one. The end of the road.
I felt like I was back in Hogwarts. Draco did this to so many girls… he used them and left them. But I didn't fell used. I felt like we actually had a relationship, even though I knew we didn't. Back then, I thought it was the fault of the girl in this situation. I thought she should've known Malfoy was trouble, and she should've stayed away. But now I knew that it was him. He just affected people somehow. When you were close to him, you lost control.
And I needed my control back. I knew it was over, and I didn't want to care. Falling asleep, though, it was all I cared about.
Attachment
Draco Malfoy
When my head hit my pillow, I didn't fall asleep. I mean; who would expect me to? I was marrying Elizabeth tomorrow and I knew I crushed Hermione's heart. I didn't know why I cared about breaking her heart. I never would have if we were in school. I would've done whatever I pleased with her and left her alone. Getting attached to people was a weakness. But I was horribly attached to Granger.
I thought about that kiss for a long time. Neither of us wanted it to end. But we both knew it had too… and it's over, now.
I wanted someone to object to the wedding tomorrow. If the reason was right, I might actually listen.
Author's Note: Well, this is it, folks! You get precisely one more chapter! It's the wedding, and the only spoiler you get is that it's long, dramatic, and in virtually everyone's POV. And since it ends on sort of an "interpret this however you want" note, I also give you an epilogue after it to tie up all the loose ends. So, it's really two more chapters, if you think about it. I'm not in the mood for a big long author's note. So, I leave you with this: Thanks for reading/reviewing! I hope you liked this so much that you leave a review! Oh, and on my profile, I've got a portion of my next fic! I think I'm changing the title, though. I've abandoned the idea I posted a while back, but I'll probably end up writing it, anyway. Well, I just thought I'd give you something to look forward to! Enough reading! Go review!