I am taking many liberties here. The major one being that there are magic schools you can attend that are not boarding schools, which makes sense because not everyone would be able to afford boarding school fees.

Draco/oc

Unexpected visitors

Lirael awoke with a start. Once again she had fallen asleep while researching her school project. It was only the first week of the summer holidays and yet here she was in her usual spot ten o'clock at night, in the library, pouring over numerous books in the hopes of deciding on a topic. She had to make a decision soon. She just wouldn't have a lot of time to work on it during the holidays as she was working full time and any over time she could get waitressing at Louie's Bistro. Louie may be an ass but he pays well, and if he pays well then he can be anything he wants.

'That's it I give up. I can't concentrate when I'm this tired, I need my bed.'

Gathering her things up and shoving them unceremoniously into her bag she headed for the exit and started the half hour journey home.

Walking through the rough part of San Francisco at this time of night was never a good idea but it was either being able to eat the next day or the tram fare to get home. Needless to say Lirael chose food.

The walk to her apartment passed, thankfully without any trouble. I it was only when she reached the door of her building that she realised her problem.

Her keys, she couldn't find her keys. "Where are you? I know you're somewhere!" Lirael felt like crying from sheer exhaustion and frustration as she rifled through her bag searching for her disappearing keys. Never again will she complain about her bag being too small. No, next time it will be because it's too big.

Another groan left Lirael's mouth as her bag slipped out of her hands on to the concrete with a smack, all her belongings spilling out.

With a muttered curse she dropped to her hands and knees scrambling to pick up her belongings.

"Why me?" she muttered.

"Allow me to help," came a silky voice from seemingly no where.

Snapping her head up so fast that she actually heard it crack, Lirael stared at the man from which the voice had came. He was tall, blonde and extremely handsome. Wow, were the first words that came to her mind.

Pointing his cane and speaking the words of an incantation, Lirael's bag which now contained the once spilled contents were in his hand. He smirked at Lirael who was still much to her embarrassment and chagrin on her hands and knees. Quickly jumping to her feet she took her offered bag and hugged it to herself, as though it were some kind of shield. There was something about this man, something that clung to him. Power? Danger?

"Lucius Malfoy and this is my son Draco." For the first time Lirael noticed the young man standing beside him.

They looked very similar. He too was tall and blonde, they must be related somehow. Possibly father and son because 'Draco', as she now knew him to be, could not have been any older than eighteen. He also couldn't be any cuter Lirael thought to herself. Shrugging away those thoughts she focused her attentions back on the older man.

"I believe we have some things we need to discuss."

Lirael said the first thing that came to her mind, "I'm not allowed to talk to strangers", and then almost died of embarrassment.

Smirking at the girls comment and the blush that now coloured her face Lucius now replied, "But we are not strangers I have introduced both my son and my self and I know your name, Lirael Halliwell."

"Umm. I'm sorry but you do seem to have the wrong person. I'm Lirael Stevens" she replied stressing the Stevens part.

"Of course you would think that" he replied sharing, what could only be called a smirk with his son.

Lirael was now convinced that she had a pair of mad men on her hands.

'I have so got to get out of here', she thought. 'Ok think, be calm, just act casual and run like hell. Good plan'

"Well, um, ahh, yes." Lirael was becoming increasingly agitated. 'What did these men want?'

Running a shaky hand through her unruly curly hair she tried again but this time she was determined to let them know that they didn't scare her…much.

"Well it was nice talking to you both but you know I've… um… gotta go. You know to…away, so goodbye" And with that she ran like hell to the door and it was only then did she realise that her full proof plan was not so full proof. She could not find her keys and her wand was somewhere amongst the mess that was her bag.

Realising that she had no where to run she turned back to the Malfoys and laughed what seemed even to her ears a very nervous laugh. Her heart was pounding so hard that her chest felt like it was going to explode and her throat felt as though it had not seen a drop of water in days. 'Be subtle, be subtle be subtle be subtle. Do not alarm the crazy men.' She chanted quietly to herself.

"What do you want?" Subtlety was never Lirael's strongest point.

Trying to read either of their faces only served to heighten her agitation, both looked very confident and self assured.

"Merely just to have a small chat with you. I assure you no harm will come to you." Lucius replied in what he considered to be his most charming voice. "Ahh allow me," and brandishing his cane which contained his cane which contained his wand he moved to open the apartment door. Lirael flinched at this, an act that did not go unnoticed by either of the Malfoys.

Placing his hand on her shoulder he steered her inside. Draco, dutifully following behind.

Lirael's fear increased with every step, but she had no choice, the iron grip on her shoulder made it impossible for her to do anything other than to move forward. Her mind racing trying to find some way to get herself out of this situation, there must be someway to escape. 'Oh shit, what are they going to do to me?

Lirael' thought to herself. 'I swear to Merlin if I ever get out of this I will donate ten galleons to charity… Well I would if I had ten galleons.'

Reaching her apartment door Lucius once again using his wand unlocked it, allowing Lirael and Draco to enter first.

Unlike his father Draco was not as skilled at masking his facial expressions. His lip curled as he looked around the apartment. They entered into a small sitting room attached to a kitchenette and beyond that two other doors, possibly a bathroom and bedroom. Barely enough room to swing a kneazle he thought to himself.

"Have a seat Lirael." Lucius suggested, although it was more of an order.

Finally finding her voice Lirael spoke, "Listen I don't know what you want but I don't have any money… or anything of value."

Draco snorted at this, "Do we look like common thieves and by the look of this dingy place" he sneered, "it's certainly clear you haven't got any money."

Lirael began to feel her anger rise at this jibe, "Hey I worked hard to get 'this dingy place' as you so nicely put it and I don't need someone keeping me prisoner in my own home for Merlin's sake." Lirael could hear her voice getting louder and louder she realised she was standing up. Stressing every syllable she asked, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

Well, well, well, the mouse roars, lucius thought to himself. She is a pretty little thing, no not pretty, beautiful was more fitting. With her auburn hair and startling green eyes she could certainly turn heads. If she wore the right kind of clothes of course and not the muggle clothes she was currently wearing.

Lucius malfoy may have been mentally sizing Lirael up but outwardly he merely raised his eyebrow. "Do calm down and I will begin to tell you the reason for our visit."

Once again shocked by the man's calmness Lirael felt her anger dissipate and she promptly sat back down, but not before throwing a scowl in Draco's direction. Still nervous she tried to focus on what he was saying.