"Gabrielle..." murmured Draco, standing up from the couch and kissing her hand.
"Draco," smiled Gabrielle mischievously, "toujours gentil."
Draco had not seen Gabrielle since that summer when Draco's mother had brought him to Milan. There, Draco and Narcissa had been watching a Muggle fashion show by a label called "Dolce & Gabbana." Lucius had called the trip a treachery to the name of Malfoy. He firmly believed that purebloods should not have anything to do with Muggles, but Narcissa argued that if her family had to wear Muggle clothing in the presence of Muggles, they would do so in the highest of fashion. She said that nothing short of the best should be associated with the name: Malfoy. This suited Lucius quite well. As Draco and Narcissa sat in the first row, suddenly the lights went dark and the models stopped walking up the runway. Then a shadow of a petite girl with hair that rippled without wind was seen behind the screen. As the screen went up, the room was filled with turquoise light and the girl approached the head of the runway solo. She wore a neon yellow chiffon dress with a lime green gauzy material as lining. The audience was captivated. When she was about to pass, she suddenly turned towards Draco. Draco's eyebrows twitched with surprise as Gabrielle blew a kiss straight at him.
I know you, stranger...
"So... what brings you to England?" asked Draco.
"A job," answered the partly-veela model, then she added flirtatiously, "and maybe somezing about you also..."
"A modelling job?"inquired Draco, the corner of his mouth showed only the slightest hint of a smile.
"Non, je travaille pour ton pére."
Draco glanced at Lucius, then back to Gabrielle.
"What type of job are you doing for my father?" Draco led Gabrielle to the couch he had been sprawling himself on.
"Somezing concerning Harry Potter," answered Gabrielle, examining her nails. "C'est n'est pas dificile. I only need to seduce 'im, you understand?"
"Ah," Draco finally understood, "chaos."
"People are always easier defeated when divided," Lucius Malfoy spoke for the first time, "You'll be responisble for her. You shall watch over her and make sure she has... oppurtunities."
Draco's face darkened.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to gain their trust after all these years? How am I supposed to integrate her when---?"
"What was that, Draco?" asked Lucius nonchalantly.
Draco swallowed and tried to calm down.
"I will do my best, father," he said through gritted teeth.
"Expelliarmus!" Ron aimed his wand at Antonin Dolohov, but before he could shoot a harmful spell at the Death Eater, Dolohov disapparated and reappeared behind him. Ron fell to the floor as his assailant buried his elbow into a certain spot on the boy's neck.
"Cruc---"
"Conjunctivitis!" bellowed Harry as Hermione scrambled for her wand. Dolohov's eyes encrusted together but this didn't seem to bother him much. He made no move. He just stood there. It seemed as if he was waiting for something. Without opening his mouth, Dolohov's wand flew back into his hand. Harry and Hermione realized that to beat this man, they would have to be able to do spells without speaking.
Focus Hermione... you can do this, you've done it in class...
Dolohov's eyes were back to normal, he had already succeeded in immobilising Harry, and just as he was about to raise his wand, Hermione closed her eyes and concentrated on the spell in her mind. Suddenly, the Death Eater burst into fire.
"Evanesco!" added Hermione, and Dolohov disappeared. Then, turning to Harry, she said, "Finite Incantatem." Harry's fingers twitched and slowly he felt the life come back to him. When he saw Hermione, he smiled at her gratefully, but Hermione was already running towards Ron who was just beginning to sit up.
"Ron, are you alright?" she asked eagerly.
"Yeah," he answered rubbing his neck, "I think I am. Let's go find Malfoy."
"I'm really disappointed in you three," said an excruciatingly familiar voice, "followed me, did you?"
Draco was leaning with one foot up against a wall. He wasn't sneering at them, he just stared into the darkness in front of him. His blonde hair shined in the moonlight and his pale skin was clearly visible against the night. Then he looked straight atHermione with cold silver eyes. He had that way of looking at people... making them feel inferior, but Hermione clenched her jaw and stared back defiantly. Then Gabrielle appeared at the doorway, having changed into a white empire-cut dress of some flowy material. She tilted her head and smiled when she saw Harry, shooting him a look of pure innocence.
"I was supposed to meet Gabrielle here," drawled Draco. "I was just about to bring her back to her hotel."
"Gabrielle Delacour?" Ron looked, to Hermione's annoyance, completely stupefied, "How? Why?"
"Why am I 'ere?" Gabrielle managed to look hurt, "Why, Fleur's wedding! I don't understand 'ow you could possibly 'ave forgotten!"
Now it was Draco's turn for shock. His expression betrayed curiosity.
"What wedding?"
"My sister, Fleur, is marrying Bill Weasley." answered Gabrielle, who only had eyes for Harry, allthough Ron was looking at her, mesmerized. When Harry eyed her she looked away uncomfortably, but glanced tentatively back. "I-I am tired... shall we go now, Draco?"
Draco straightened his back and began walking away with his hands in his pockets. Hermione followed him suspiciously with her gaze as Gabrielle followed Draco with her hands held in front of her dress timidly. When they disappeared into the shadows, Hermione turned to Ron furiously.
"Oh Ron, have you absolutely no self-control?"
"What did I do this time?" Ron's mouth gaped open.
"You... you..." Hermione sighed exasperately then began striding back towards Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry glanced at Ron then nicked his head towards Hermione.
"Go..." mouthed Harry. When Ron ran off, Harry looked over his shoulder towards the direction Draco and Gabrielle took. He thought he heard a ripple of laughter, but he decided he dreamed it.
Author's Note: Thank you very very much to yingnyang for that excellent review! I hope this version of chapter five is more acceptable. I found that there was no way to remedy the chapter without revising it.
Please review on your way out. What do you like and not like? What would you like to see more or less of in the following chapters?