Draco opened the door to a black carriage and gestured for Rachel to get in. She obeyed, having been in such a carriage before. He muttered something to the driver before getting in next to her and the thestrals pulled them along the paved road in front of Malfoy Manor. Rachel tersely tugged on the bottom of her shirt, smoothing out it's wrinkles from sitting and turned to Draco.
"Where are we going?" Her brown eyes searched the depths of his gray ones, looking for any hint of malevolence planned for her.
"It's a surprise," He gave her a coy smile treading on the thin line to a smirk. "Figured we should at least have a date before we get married."
"Yeah, probably a good idea." She shifted into a more comfortable position on the satin-covered bench. "Tell me something I don't know about you." Her expression was thoughtful. They knew each other; they just didn't KNOW each other.
"Something you don't know? Like something personal?" He raised a brow in thought.
"Yes," Rachel never took her eyes off of him; she could tell if he was lying that way.
"Well," He began with a small sigh. "I've... killed someone." His voice was painted in notes of gray. "Have you?"
"Well, yes." Rachel frowned. "Part of our job." She folded her arms, suddenly feeling a little cold. "Did you enjoy it? Killing a person..?" "Yes," He frowned, looking away from her gaze. "I enjoyed it."
"So did I." There was an awkward silence where they avoided each other's eyes. "Does that make us bad people?"
"I dunno," He said thoughtfully. " I think it's just who we are." He sighed.
"Who was it?" She felt her throat quiver with the weight of affliction. "Edgar Finch-Fletchley. He was the older brother of a kid I went to school with. That was my first." Draco reflected this memory with rue for his soul.
"Am I upsetting you?" She asked, suddenly feeling a deep pity for Draco. "Naw, I'm fine, how bout you?"
"A little muggle girl, she must have been six. I tortured her to death." Rachel smiled out of the corner of her mouth and then shook her head. "How do our lives turn out like this? How do we become such ruthless killers?"
"Wish I knew. I just do what I was taught." He shrugged.
"I know exactly what you mean." There was a second where they just stared at each other, reveling in their shared pain and then she gave him a small smile.
The carriage stopped and Draco got out, holding his hand out to help her down from the carriage. Rachel thanked him and followed him into an old building that had French writing on the sign.
"I thought you might miss it home in France." He noted her smile and discovered he liked it.
"Thank you..." She trailed off as they were seated.
"Not a problem." He smiled at her, a rarity for the sneering boy. He followed Rachel in opening the menu in front of him and frowned. "Rachel,"
"Yes?" She looked up from behind the red leather menu cover. "It's all in French." He bit his lip.
"Yes, it's a French restaurant..." She looked at him as if a niffler had just burrowed out of his left ear canal.
"I can't read this." He gave her a goofy grin, asking her for help in his own way.
"Oh, well then," She smiled, taking the menu from him. "I'll just have to order for you." Draco scowled at the look of contempt she gave him and the waiter came over.
"Que-est ce vous voulez, Monsieur, Mademoiselle?" The waiter asked.
"Je voudrais le poulet roti avec une salade et mon copain, il veux le steak avec le riz, s'il vous plait." She handed the man their menus. "Et comme boisson?" The waiter inquired.
"Je voudrais de l'eau minerale et il a bu un the." She smiled as the waiter left.
"Huh?" Draco looked aghast.
"Don't worry, you'll like it." She smiled. "Have you heard some of the spells they were talking about for the wedding?" Rachel inquired.
"Yes, they sound... unpleasant." He cringed.
"I agree." She wrinkled her nose. "There hasn't been a proper dark wedding in nearly sixteen years, I think they're compensating." "Yeah, probably." He sighed. "Are you still upset at marrying me?" Rachel looked into his gray eyes and saw a strange sadness in them. "Not as much as I was." She smiled. "I think I just need to accept it. I didn't think I'd be able to choose anyway, tradition, you know." "When do you turn eighteen?" Draco took a sip of his tea.
"Three days, the wedding will be next Saturday." She wiped her mouth of the tiny droplets of water that rested on her lips. "They told me today when I was getting my dress fit."
"Goody." They both snickered as he rolled his eyes.
After eating their food and a few good hours of conversation, they returned home grinning. Draco walked Rachel to her room (Not too difficult a feat considering his was right next to hers.) and they exchanged a hug and a short kiss before going to bed. Narcissa smiled when she had seen them come in the Manor together, laughing and smiling at one another. It seemed that they might just work out after all.