Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

(A/N Once again I'm stupid about Greek Culture, so don't judge me by my southern, Georgia thoughts.)

Memory

Chapter Three: The Bonfire

Scarlet saw him from a distance, although he didn't see her. She followed him as he strolled through the market, memorizing his every move. He was graceful, and that shocked her. She had always considered guys to be very clumsy and oafish. But even when he had to unexpectedly jump out of the way so that he wasn't run into, he gracefully slid to the side. There was something hypnotizing about how he moved.

She watched as he made his way over to the same cart that held her favorite music box. He stopped for a few minutes, and she could tell he was looking through the cart. Her breath caught in her chest as he picked up her music box. Even from as far away as she was she could tell it was her box. He turned it over in his hand, inspecting it and looking it over. Finally he opened it, and listened to it's tune. By that time the merchant who owned the cart had turned his attention to Draco. The merchant looked sure he was gonna make a sale, but instead Draco shook his head and placed the music box back on the cart. Scarlet slowly let out the breath she had been holding before continuing on following him.

She had nearly followed him through the whole market without detection when he suddenly turned around. "If you're going to follow me, why don't you do it closer so that we may at least talk."

She flushed, "I wasn't following you."

"You're a horrible liar."

She nodded, "I know."

"So, are you going to join me?" Draco asked. "I don't know nearly enough of where I'm going."

"It's kind of impossible to get lost." Scarlet told him. "I mean, it's a very small town."

"But there must be places that only the locals know about that I must visit."

Scarlet thought for a minute, "Are you hungry?"

"Always."

She smiled, "Good, come on."

"Where are we going?" Draco asked as he followed her.

"To a local favorite." she replied. "Best food in town, with the best prices."

Draco nodded as he followed her. "I couldn't help but notice how out of date this place is."

Scarlet nodded, "It's very traditional from what I understand." She shrugged, "Because it's such a small town it's been able to hold on to a lot of old traditions that have been forgotten by the big cities."

"It's like taking a step back in time."

"That's what I've been told." she nodded. She glanced around, "It's what makes this place to wonderful. These people don't have the same worries as the rest of the world. They just worry about getting their crops picked on time, or getting enough fish in a day."

"How long have you lived here?" Draco asked her.

"For as long as I can remember." Scarlet replied.

"Would you ever leave?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. It's never really been an option. I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea, but I do love it here."

"I think I do too." Draco replied honestly.

"I don't think I ever asked where you're from." Scarlet said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.

"England. I've lived there my whole life."

"You sound it."

Draco nodded, "You know, you don't sound greek."

Scarlet shrugged, "I don't look greek, I don't sound greek. I'm not greek."

"Yet, you live here. In this small out dated greek town." Draco continued, "How does that happen."

"It's a mystery to everyone." Scarlet told him walking ahead of him. "We're almost there, hurry up."

She jogged ahead of him and stopped on the edge of a yard, waiting for him to catch up.

"Is this it?" Draco asked looking at the house in front of him.

"Come on." she replied, pulling him by his arm.

He followed her uncertainly into the house.

"Momma Carmen." Scarlet called as she walked into the house. "I've brought a guest for lunch."

Scarlet continued to pull Draco into the house and into the kitchen were a rather short and plump women was stirring something over a stove.

"You're lucky I'm making a lot of food today." the person Scarlet had called Momma Carmen said as she turned around. "The boys are coming home for lunch after their morning shift."

"Do they not have to work all day."

"No. Half a day off for the fair."

Scarlet nodded as she sat down. "This is Draco, he's visiting for a while. Draco, this is Momma Carmen. She is the town's midwife, and best cook."

"She only says that because I feed her lunch every few days."

"And it's the best." Scarlet told her.

"Draco, sit down, make yourself at home." Carmen told him, nodding to a chair. "So where are you from Draco?"

"Britain." Draco replied. "I'm here on vacation."

"Odd to come here."

"It was a chance decision." Draco replied. "Opened an atlas and this is what I got."

Carmen nodded. "How are you liking it here?"

"It's nice." Draco replied. "I've never been to a place like here before."

"I'm sure that if we got more visitors we would hear that more often." Carmen replied. "How long are you here for?"

"I'm not quite sure yet." Draco shrugged.

"Don't you have a life to get back to."

"Carmen, you're prying." Scarlet told her.

"I know. It's my house, I'm allowed to."

"Actually, I took an indefinite leave of absence from my job." Draco replied. "So I'm here until I'm ready to go home."

Carmen nodded, "So how did you two meet?"

"In the market." Scarlet replied quickly. "He thought he might know me, but turns out he was wrong."

"Is this the boy who walked you home?"

"How did you hear about that?" Scarlet asked.

"You know how news spreads in this town."

"So, there's a fair tonight?" Draco asked.

Scarlet nodded. "Every year we have a fair. Good food, games, a bon fire."

"Don't forget the music." Carmen added.

"Live bands." Scarlet told him. "The fair is a lot of fun. You should come."

"Are you inviting me?" Draco asked.

"Of course she is." Carmen replied. "She brought you here didn't she. She obviously wants to spend time with you."

"Carmen!" Scarlet hissed. She turned to Draco, "Would you like to come with me? I mean, if you're going to be in town, it is a can't miss."

Draco didn't reply because instead the kitchen door banged open and in came a group of young men.

"Grab a seat." Carmen told them as she started to place dishes of food on the table. "And dig in."

Momma Carmen grabbed her own seat and the meal began. It was a loud rowdy affair and Draco was spared introductions. Instead he sat and listened to the rest of the table have their conversation while he ate. It seemed Scarlet knew all of the people at the table, as she engaged in the conversation quite actively. While Draco was busy shooting glances at Scarlet, one of the guys was busy shooting his own glares at Draco. He guessed that it was Jason glaring at him, and so he just smirked back.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Scarlet groaned inwardly. Just leave it to Jason to corner her on her way from the bathroom. "Can I help you?"

"I was just thinking." Jason started, putting his arm around her shoulders, "That you and I should go to the fair together tonight."

"Jason, can you not touch me?" Scarlet asked, ducking out from under his arm. "I already have plans for tonight."

"Oh, come on Scarlet. You know you are going to agree to go with me eventually."

"I really do already have plans." Scarlet told him.

"With who? That blonde ferret?"

Scarlet rolled her eyes, "And so what if they are with him?"

"He's a foreigner."

"And clearly so am I." Scarlet replied. "Now if you don't mind, I think I should get back to him."

Scarlet shoved her way past him and made her way back into the kitchen. She felt flustered and quite annoyed and she knew it must show on her face. Draco looked at her concerned, and his eyes narrowed when Jason entered the room behind her. She simply smiled and shook her head as she took her seat again.

They stayed there for a little while longer. Scarlet helped Momma Carmen with the dishes as Draco continued to listen to the other men talk about whatever it is they had been talking about all lunch long. Finally Scarlet told them all good bye and she and Draco left.

"What was wrong?" Draco asked after they had gotten outside.

"Nothing, just Jason being his usual asinine self."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked glancing back at the house.

"Nothing." Scarlet shook her head, "So, are we going to the fair together tonight?"

"Yeah." Draco nodded. "Sounds like fun."

"Good." Scarlet told him with a smile. "Because I just told Jason we were going and I don't like lying."

"That's what that was about then."

"Yeah, he wanted me to go to the fair with him." Scarlet shrugged, "He got quite angry that I would rather go with a foreigner." She laughed, "He's so ridiculous."

"Of course you'd rather go with me. I'm british."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Girls love the british accent."

"Oh really?"

Draco nodded. "It's a fact. Guys with a british accent automatically have more game then those without."

"That's silly."

"It's true."

"Prove it."

"Haven't I already proven it?" Draco asked.

"How?"

"Well, who are you going to the fair with, me or him? I mean, I obviously have more game then him for some reason. And yes, I'm better looking then him, and funnier and smarter. But what really puts me over the top is my accent."

Scarlet laughed, "And your modesty is something to be amazed about also."

"I wasn't raised to be modest."

"Really? What were you raised to be?"

"I was raised to be the best." Draco replied honestly. "I was suppose to have the highest grades, so that I could get the best job and make the most money." he fibbed a bit at that part, but he couldn't help it. "My parents were rich and very sure of the fact that we were better then everyone else."

"And do you still believe that?" Scarlet asked.

Draco scoffed, "No. I grew out of that a few years ago."

"Why?"

"A girl."

"The same girl that you told me about last night?" Scarlet asked.

"Yes, the same one." Draco nodded. "I may be good looking and attract a lot of women, but never that many that actually manage to change my outlook on life."

"That's good then."

"What is?"

"That you don't still believe you are better then everyone else."

"Why is that?"

"Because then you would be just like Jason. And god knows the world does not need more then one of him."

"I would never be like Jason." Draco told her. "My hair is better then his."

"And again with the modesty." Scarlet teased him.

Draco shrugged, "I'm a realist. I know what I have and I know what I don't."

"And you know your hair is better then his."

"Exactly."

Scarlet laughed. "Well, I have to go. I have to get to the library."

"Tonight?"

"Meet me in the market at six." Scarlet told him. "Near the entrance?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah, okay."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Draco watched as Scarlet approach the entrance of the market. The sun was setting behind her and the wind was blowing gently through her hair, and Draco couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked. Her hair was tied back in a loose pony tail, and she was wearing a simple summer dress matched with a sweater.

"Are you ready?" she called to him, as she approached.

"You're late." he called back

"It's called being fashionably on time." Scarlet replied. "You look like someone who would understand that concept."

"This doesn't seem like the type of place that cares much for fashion."

"Only when it's convenient." Scarlet told him. "Like when I'm running late."

"So you admit to being late."

"Maybe." Scarlet smirked. "Come on, we don't want to miss the lighting of the bonfire."

"Why not?"

"It's bad luck to."

"How so?"

Scarlet shrugged, "I don't know. It's just what I've been told."

"Well then, lead the way."

"Come on." Scarlet said turning, "The fair is on the other side of the promenade."

"The promenade?" Draco asked.

"The big sidewalk we are on right now, they boardwalk type thing. It runs from one side of town to the other. It's called a promenade."

"And so if anyone is ever run out of town they'd want to follow the promenade because it's the quickest way out?"

Scarlet nodded, "I suppose so. You aren't planning on being run out of town, are you?"

"Me? No." Draco replied, "But it's still nice information to have around."

"Well, I don't think we've ever run anyone out of town." Scarlet replied, "But then again, there's a first time for everything."

"I've never liked that saying."

"Why not?"

"That's like saying there is always a first time to be hit."

"Or a first time to be kissed."

"A first time to have your ass kicked." Draco pointed out.

"A first time to have sex."

"A first time to almost die."

Scarlet smirked, "Or the first time to fall in love."

"Some people think falling in love is overrated."

"Some people think the same about death."

"I'd like to see if they feel the same way after they die." Draco smirked.

"Well, if you believe in heaven, I'm sure that person wouldn't mind death."

"And if they don't believe in heaven then they will just lie in a wooden box for all of eternity, their dead corpse rotting."

Scarlet wrinkled her nose, "That's a lovely image to have."

"I can get a little too descriptive sometimes." Draco replied. "Sorry."

Scarlet shrugged, "I teach little kids how to read, I can handle a little gross."

"When I was younger I use to have quite a good time cutting up various dead bugs and mixing them together."

"Why?"

"To make magical potions, of course."

Scarlet laughed. "Don't tell any of my students that. The last thing I need is for them to make any potions of dead bugs. Who knows what they would try and give me."

"Don't worry, I won't mention a thing to any little kids about chopping up bugs for potion." Draco promised.

Scarlet stopped, "Hear that?"

"What?"

"The band." Scarlet replied, her eyes lighting up. "The fair is starting."

"Well, why are we standing here then?" Draco asked. "We're going to be late, and then we'll have bad luck. Right?"

"You're learning." Scarlet grinned, "That's good."

Scarlet turned walked off the promenade and started on a well worn path through some trees. Soon they had entered a large clearing. All along the edge of the clearing booths and tables were set up. In the middle there was a large pit filled with wood where they bonfire would clearly be going. All in all Draco was impressed with what he saw before him. He had expected a little town fair, but this was obviously not that. This was obviously an important event to the town.

Draco moved closer to Scarlet, "What do we do first?"

She smiled at him, "We go get something to eat while we watch them light the bonfire."

She took him quickly around to the different booths describing the different foods to him. When he finally decided on what he wanted they paid and made their way over to the unlit pit. Scarlet motioned him to take a seat against a small stone wall. They watched the bon fire get lit as they ate, and they talked. The higher the bon fire got the louder the fair got. There was music in the background played by a live band, and kids running around playing. Some people were playing games at different booths while others roasted marsh mellows in the fire.

After they finished eating Scarlet dragged Draco up. She pulled him over to a crowded spot where there were many people dancing. After watching a few minutes someone dragged Scarlet into the dance and Draco watched her in shock. He thought of the fact that Ginny had never been able to dance, and then berated himself for thinking of her. He lost her for a minute in the sea of people, but soon saw a flash of red. She was circling around, and when she did she grabbed his hand and pulled him after her.

Draco was a great dancer when it came to any ballroom style. But he didn't know any traditional greek dancing, except what he had seen on TV. He shuffled along wearily, uncertain of what he was doing or how he looked. Scarlet laughed when she saw his face,

"You have to feel the beat."

Draco grimaced, "I don't know what I'm doing."

"Just follow me." she replied.

Finally the dance ended and Draco got to escape. Scarlet laughed again, shaking her head.

"What's so funny?" he demanded.

"You are." she told him, her eyes shining. "You aren't even the worst dancer her."

"Yes, but the worst dancer probably knows the steps at least."

She smiled up at him, "A grown man pouting, who'd have guessed?"

"A woman getting joy out of a man's pain, never seen that before." Draco teased back.

Scarlet smirked at him briefly before turning, "You still haven't played any games."

With that said she grabbed his hand and immediately started to pull him to the booths. After playing each game a few times, and having her beat him at most of them Draco had played enough. Scarlet agreed and they decided to leave the fair. It was just as they were about to get back on the promenade that they ran into a problem.

Jason was clearly drunk and clearly upset. And Scarlet was very clearly annoyed. The amazing part was that after he opened her mouth she managed to actually get more annoyed. She stood there for a minute with Draco listening to Jason moan about how he felt betrayed before walking past him.

Draco wasn't so lucky.

"You." Jason snarled, grabbing at Draco as he walked by. "You come into town and ruin everything."

Draco looked down at the hand holding him, and in a very Malfoy like way sneered back, "Problem?"

"You stole Scarlet from me." Jason hissed stepping closer to Draco.

"I did no such thing." Draco replied narrowing his eyes. "She isn't something to steal, anyways."

"Some arrogant bastard comes to my village and steals my girl." Jason ranted to his friends, still holding on to Draco. "Who does he think he is."

"Well, I would fathom a guess as to the fact that he is clearly better then a drunk fool." Scarlet replied, crossing her arms.

Jason let go of Draco and closed in on Scarlet, "Whore."

Before Scarlet could reply Draco had grabbed Jason and slammed him up against a tree. He leaned in close to Jason, "Talk to her that way again in my presence and you will regret it."

Jason smirked, "What are you going to do about it?"

"I've killed stronger men then you." Draco said in a voice so low that only Jason could hear. "Don't think I'll hesitate to hurt you."

Jason laughed quietly. "I'd just like to see you try. The minute you try and hurt me, my friends will be all over you."

Draco let go of Jason and turned to go. Jason reached out and grabbed Draco again. Even as Draco turned he knew what was going to happen, but that didn't help him avoid it. Jason had just punched him, getting him in the eye. A small ring on his finger had managed to cut Draco.

Unlike most people Draco was use to pain, he didn't flinch. Instead he did what came natural, he punched back while muttering a curse. Jason dropped to the ground, holding his nose, which Draco hadn't touched and howling. Draco turned back and grabbed Scarlet's arm as he quickly pulled her away from Jason and his friends.

(Thanks to: inuthims, melissa, linkin-park-at-heart, Wizzabee, Calla-ForEvEa, Kasoula, MorningBreaker, amethyst-rose, AlexandriaJ.Malfoy, blissfulxsin)