Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me(except Reyana and her family and any other characters you don't recognize). It all belongs to J.K. Rowling.
-pays homage to the vastness of Rowling's imagination.-
Wish I could come up with something as cool as Harry Potter!
The sun shone through a thin layer of clouds, sending feeble rays of light down on the gardens below. The flowers turned their brightly colored heads to catch the fleeting warmth and the grass, still damp from the previous night's rain, slowly dried. Birds winged overhead, their joyful songs echoing in the still morning air. A gray gravel path wound its leisurely way through the flower beds and beneath majestic trees drooping with age, to a iron gate set in a mossy stone wall. Beyond this gate was the House. A towering edifice of gray stone, it rose, seeming to touch the distant sky.
Laughter drifted on the morning breeze, adding life to the otherwise silent grounds. Two children, no more than 8 years old appeared, running across the perfectly manicured lawns. The boy was in the lead, his blond hair tangled by the playful breeze. Little emotion showed on his face, but his gray eyes were filled with laughter and happiness. The girl followed close behind, her freckled face red from her exertions and her dress soiled with grass stains and dirt. They ran in exuberant circles around the trees until they collapsed in contented exhaustion.
Along the path two women walked arm in arm, heads together no doubt sharing a juicy secret. The contrast between them was vast. One woman was slight and looked as if a good strong breeze would knock her over. Her blonde hair was perfectly coiffed and her dress immaculate. The other was tall and slender, her auburn tresses allowed to whip about in the breezes. Her dress was faded and showed the signs of numerous washings. Despite their differences, these women were the closest of friends as were their children; Draco and Reyana.
The children lay on their stomachs facing each other. Draco pulled a stem of grass, and putting it between his thumbs, blew on it creating a shrill whistle. Delighted, Reyana too plucked a piece and attempted it, but she only managed to spit all over her fingers.
Draco laughed and smirked at her,
"You're a girl! Girls can't whistle!"
"Can so!" Reyana retorted, her brown eyes angry.
She pulled another stem and tried again. Still no sound came from the grass. Her lip trembled, but she bravely tried again and failed.
Draco crowed in delight.
"Told you so! Girls can't whistle."
Now Reyana was shy by nature, but she could never resist a challenge. Her mouth firmed and she put two fingers between her lips and blew. Her whistle rang out, startling the songbirds into silence.
Smugly she turned to Draco.
"Can so whistle."
Not to be outdone, Draco put his fingers in his mouth and blew, but only a pathetic burbble came out.
Reyana tried not to laugh, but couldn't help it. Her laughter burst out of her like a fountain as Draco glared, totally humiliated.
Finally containing herself, Reyana held out a hand.
"Truce?"
Draco considered, a mischievous glint in his gray eyes.
He nodded and took her dirty little hand in his larger dirty hand.
Reyana smiled happily at him, glad that their fight was over.
But Draco being the Malfoy that he was, had to take revenge. Still holding her hand, Draco pulled Reyana over to him and began tickling her. Shrieks of mirth echoed through the gardens causing the mothers to smile indulgently at each other. Draco grinned widely. This was the perfect game. He was not ticklish but Reyana was.
"I give up!" she gasped out, "Stop it Draco!"
He laughed in delight. The best part of every game was winning.
They collapsed in a heap, panting.
Reyana considered the boy laying on her stomach. They had been friends forever. Since they were born Mama said.
Draco grinned down at her.
"I have a present for you." he announced, digging in his trouser pocket.
Reyana beamed. She loved getting presents! That was why her birthday was the best holiday ever!
He handed her a small item wrapped in grimy brown paper, his eyes hopeful.
She tore it open and a necklace fell into her open palm. It was a delicate silver dragon pendant with tiny rubies for eyes on a tarnished silver chain.
She stared at it.
"Draco..."
"It was my mother's." he blurted, desperate for her to like it, "she gave it to me and told me to give it to the girl I want to marry."
Reyana wrinkled her nose.
"Marry? But you're a BOY! Boys smell funny."
Draco flushed.
"It's special alright? And you're my bestest friend. So there!"
Being a sensitive girl, Reyana didn't answer, but clumsily clasped the necklace around her neck.
"Thank you Draco!" she said, rubbing the pendant, "It's very nice. The nicest present ever!"
A wide smile crossed his face and he sat up.
"You're welcome."
Reyana considered for a moment and then smiled shyly.
"I'll marry you if you want. You're not so bad for a boy."
The children smiled and clasped hands, not knowing that this was last day they'd see each other.