Disclaimer: looks around nope. Still don't own Draco Malfoy. I don't care about Harry Potter. Ms. Rowling can keep him. I only want Draco. And maybe Severus. pouts
This is more like an interlude than an actual chapter. I have a tiny bit of writer's block for this part and I really want to move on to the part I have all figured out.
Also. For those of you who are as confused as I am about the timeline of this story, right now it is the middle of November. I suppose that it's kinda sad that I'm confused about the timing of my own story. sheepish smile Well, now you know and so do I.
Title is a song by the Beatles.
On with the story...
A single fat flake of snow tumbled from the cloud laden sky and landed on Reyana's nose.
She brushed it aside and glared up at the sky as if daring it to snow on her. She was not currently in a very good mood. Even Blaise had been avoiding her. Draco wouldn't look at her either. It was as if he was blaming her for the fit he'd had at dinner last week. She scowled and shoved her gloved hands into her coat pockets for extra warmth. It wasn't her fault that the Slytherin Prince had a tendency to pass out, or as Blaise called it, "falling down gracefully". She snorted, ignoring the fact that she tended to pass out randomly too. The whole of Gryffindor House thought it all a great joke and even a week later, the jokes and biting remarks were still circulating. Even the hundred or so points that Severus had deducted hadn't stopped the gossip. Reyana felt sorry for the blond boy. His year wasn't going so well. First his mother's untimely death, and now this.
She pressed her forehead to the window of the jewelery store, her breath fogging the glass. She eyed the dragon earrings covetously. She knew that she couldn't afford them and staring at them wasn't going to make them hers. A tendril of unease curled in her belly as she studied the ruby eyed dragons. It couldn't be a coincidence that the earrings perfectly matched her necklace, but why? And why was Draco so interested in the pendent?
"My mother had one like that."
His voice echoed in her mind. Weird that his mother would have one too. It was just too coincidental.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout.
"Reyana?"
She turned and sighed in resignation.
It was the Golden Trio. They had been hounding her about that dream for weeks and ever since Draco had fainted, they'd doubled their efforts.
"Last I checked." she drawled leaning her shoulder against the side of the building, not seeing the flash of blond hair as someone hurriedly went around the corner.
"Hi." Harry smiled, "Join us for a Butterbeer?"
She shrugged and followed him into the warm well lit pub.
What the hell. He'd never stop until she talked to them.
It wasn't as if there was anything to tell.
She slid into the booth across from Weasley and Granger, ignoring them while Harry got the drinks.
As he slid in next to her, Weasley spoke up.
"How is everything going?"
She narrowed her eyes at him as she sipped at the butterscotch colored liquor.
"I haven't had any dreams if that's what you mean."
The girl sighed at the red haired boy next to her.
"Honestly Ron. You have as much tact as a charging Rhino."
Reyana grinned at the other girl, appreciating the joke.
Granger returned the smile.
"Sorry. We just..."
"I know. Think I can help."
Reyana decided to take pity on them.
"Look. My dreams aren't useful. They're not what you need."
"How do you know what we need?" Harry asked gently.
"You need to defeat that Voldie guy." Reyana shrugged, ignoring the startled looks the Trio were exchanging. "I've never dreamed about him. And I've only had 2 or 3 of these vision thingys."
"Would you tell us about them?" It was that Hermione girl.
Reyana gave a great sigh and drained her mug.
"Do they have anything stronger here?"
At the negative headshakes she groaned.
"Damn."
Reyana leaned back and closed her eyes trying to remember.
"Well the I guess the first one was after my family was killed. I dreamed that they were dead. And they were."
The teenagers exchanged significant looks and Reyana rolled her eyes.
"Look. Hate to burst your bubble, but I had just been drugged and left in an alley. Which is why I'm alive actually. Damn I need another drink."
Reyana took a deep breath and continued.
"The second one was in Severus' classroom, and I saw a man and a woman. The man was very angry and he was screaming and beating the woman."
Reyana deliberately left out the name of the woman. She knew now that it was Draco's mother she'd seen, and she was going to protect Draco.
"And the last one was a memory."
"A memory?" Weasley asked, sounding rather subdued.
"Yes. Of me and my adoptive aunt."
Hermione looked to be deep in thought.
"Could the one of the man and woman be a memory too?"
Reyana blinked. She'd hadn't thought of that.
"I don't know..."
Hermione looked puzzled.
"I did have a massive headache right before the last one." Reyana offered. "And the others were prompted by things I saw."
"I'll go research it in the library." Hermione promised.
The boys groaned and rolled their eyes.
"'Mione..." Weasley pleaded his blue eyes wide
Hermione sighed and scooped up her bag.
"I'm going back up to the school. Have fun boys."
Reyana watched her go rather bemused.
She stood too and wandered out of the pub without saying goodbye to her tablemates.
The snow was falling sporadically, leaving a thin dusting of snow on all the rooftops. She thought it looked like a Christmas Card. Her throat tightened as she realized that she would be spending the holidays alone. Well, there was Severus, but he didn't seem like one to sing carols and kiss under the mistletoe.
"Rey!"
Blaise jogged up to her his cheeks red from the cold breeze.
She smiled and gave him a hug.
"Happy early birthday!" he teased tugging at her braid.
She giggled and smacked his hand away.
"You've been saying that for a week now."
"Yup and tomorrow is your birthday." he looked furtive. "It's all part of the master plan."
Reyana snorted and raised her eyebrows. She'd only just given up the whole one eyebrow thing. It was a Slytherin thing she'd decided. No one else could do it.
"And that would be..."
"Make sure that Malfoy knows."
Reyana punched him in the shoulder, her cheeks stained a pink that was not wholly due to the wind.
"Blaise!"
He laughed.
"You know you want him."
"Ya whatever." she grumbled. "If you don't stop that, I'll tell everyone that you've got a thing for Severus."
"Ewww!" his face screwed up in disgust. "You wouldn't."
"Try me." she offered, "I'll tell them how you wake up every morning begging for him to take you, and how you stare at him dreamily during class, and doodle hearts on your essays...Eeeeeeeeee!" she shrieked as Blaise dove at her and started tickling.
"Say you won't do it!"
"I... haha...won't...hehhahe." she giggled. "Promise."
He let her go and the two friends dashed off, their joyful laughter mingling with the swiftly falling snow.
Neither noticed the blond boy staring after them almost wistfully.
OoOoOoO
Reyana slid her feet into her navy blue slippers and padded into the bathroom to treat herself to a birthday bubble bath. She loved her tub. It was almost obscene how much she loved it. She loved to slide into the hot water to her neck and let the scented bubbles cover her body. She loved how relaxed she felt after every leisurely bath, and the smooth clean feel that her skin got. This morning she poured a capful of the lavender bubbles into the tub and sank into the water. Usually she would lounge for a half hour or so, but today was her birthday, and she'd caught sight of the pile of presents at the foot of her bed. She really wanted to open them, so she limited herself to 15 minutes of relaxation and 5 minutes for shampooing and such. After her twenty minutes were up, she wrapped herself in a terrycloth robe and went into her room to open her gifts.
The first one was from the Headmaster. Inside she discovered a variety of muggle candies. Immediately she opened a package of Smarties and poured the chocolate candies into her mouth and sighed in delight. The small brightly colored candies were her favorites.
Blaise had gotten her a forest green winter cloak in velvet, with a rabbit fur lining. It was the softest thing she'd ever worn. She made a note to give him a huge hug at breakfast later.
Severus bought her a book filled with simple potions that didn't require magic to brew and a note giving her access to his personal store of ingredients. That brought a smile and a warmth in her heart. She could sense the thoughtful affection behind the gift.
There were other assorted candies from other of the Slytherins and to her surprise a book entitled "Dream Magic and it's Uses." by Awena Talbot, from the Golden Trio. She couldn't help the momentary sneer that touched her lips.
The last gift on the pile was a box wrapped in silver and green tissue paper. There was a card attached and Reyana read it curiously.
Reyana,
I saw these and knew that they were meant for you. I hope you will wear
them and think of me.
Thank you for saving my life earlier this month. You are a wonderfully
kind person, and I apologize for any insult I may have inflicted upon you.
I have been taught since childhood to despise all muggles and
muggleborns. You have proved my father wrong, and I will endeavor to
be more accepting.
Sincerely,
Draco Lucius Malfoy
Reyana felt her jaw drop. A gift and an apology? Her fingers trembled as she peeled away the tissue and opened the deep red box. Her hand went to her mouth to stifle the gasp that escaped. A tear trickled down her cheek as she lifted the dragon earrings from their satin bed. How could he have known? How could he have read her mind to know? It was totally unlike the Draco she knew. Maybe there was more to him than his name. Her heart expanded and as she gently affixed the earrings to her ears, Reyana knew that there was no going back. She was well and truly in love with Draco Malfoy.
There's the next bit. Sorry that it's later than usual. I started school this week. College is all consuming.
Please review and let me know what you think.