Author's Note: I would like to thank Starrish and Eyed, enchantedrain, shadieladie, poke-the-sleeping-dragon, SLytheringurl650, DrewBerri, Duresce,kelvinate,Serena-Masked 13and all those who have given such kind words of encouragement that motivate me to continue on with another chapter.

Chapter Five: Just Your Average Ex-Patriot

I woke up enveloped in sheet so comfortable that I knew they couldn't be mine. Oh yes, I don't know exactly how but I knew they had to be Draco's. Think about it, who else would be rich enough to keep his sheets this white and never use his wand. The only sheets I ever saw in Romania were dirty. Only sheets I ever saw on the ship were dirty. But one thing this groggy English morning was a first--a man in a tuxedo drooling on himself in the chair next to me.

Smirking to myself and wishing I had a camera, I pushed back the covers and sat up. Merlin, my knees were sore. Actually, come to think of it, about everything was sore. What happened?

Oh. Oh, yeah. That.

I glanced over to Draco. So what did I owe him now? My pride? My life? Was the little weirdo going to rope me into being his slave or something? Perhaps his own corporate figure head? I don't dare underestimate the imagination of my former slytherin compatriote. The word friend almost spilled out right there but then again, six years of abscence doesn't really count as friendship does it?

If things can't be like they were in Romania or on the ship then at least can they go back to what they were? I played around with the idea for a moment. First of all, I had to remember what things were like before. However, just in time to wreck my train of thought, Draco woke up with a snort.

Sucking up his drool like a five year old after a long car ride, he looked so boyish and innocent. When he noticed I was awake, his expression changed back to the cold, rich, I'm-a-bastard-so-back-off normality. He didn't say anything though and I found that odd, since I was just preparing my comebacks for if he tried to propose servitude. But nope, nothing. Just a stare.

"Thanks," I said, trying to fill the silence. It felt like the right thing to do, afterall, he did let me sleep in his 500 galleon sheets.

"I'm hungry," he said and left for what I assumed was the kitchen.

I was left wondering what the hell had just happened. I glanced at the clock and even though it read midday, I had no motivation to get out of the luxurious bed. "Get dressed!" Draco barked from the kitchen. "We are leaving in ten minutes!"

But unfortunately for yours truly, I have have a corporate coup to take care of.

"Is Teddy coming with us?" I asked as we walked out of Draco's apartment. I glanced over my shoulder at my back and arse then did a little spin.

"Stop staring at yourself like you've never worn robes before," he grumbled.

"I am sorry butthey're so ridiculously overdone," I commented, refering to the shiny bit in my robes. "Not to mention that I would never wear this color on my own accord."

"Marlow, I don't remember you complaining this much. It's unattractive. Shut it."

"Is he coming or not? It's a simple question, Draco. Humor me."

He pursed his lips and blew out a bit of air. "If I recall correctly, his wife had dragged him off to lunch with the in-laws."

"Pardon me?" I stopped. "You mean to tell me that Theodore I'm-going-to-profit-from-my-inheritance-and-get-laid Nott got married?"

He looked at me like I was stupid. "Of course."

Oh thank merlin, I wasn't the only one. But wait . . . "Are you married?"

"No," he snorted. "Not for lack of my parents meddling. They almost shacked me up with Morgana Montague."
"The quidditch player?"

"Naturally before she married Oliver Wood."

"She could do better. What's Teddy's wife like?"

"Beautiful, rich and well-connected. Why? Did you have a claim on him?"

"No," I said defensively. "It was just unexpected."
"It shouldn't be. It's typical."

"I wouldn't exactly call a happy marriage typical."

"I never said it was happy. I said it was typical."

"What, he has a mistress?"

"And the winner is . . ."

"Is it possible for you to stop being a prick for just a minute!" I snapped. "That's terrible!"

Draco stopped and gave me another what-the-hell-are-you-thinking look. "Why? It's nothing new, Marlow."

"Just because our father's did it--"

"Makes it completely normal. Now hurry up."
"Where are we going?" I groaned.

"Parkinson department store."

"What? Why?"

"I get clothes for free."
"As in the Parkinsons?"

"No, as in Pansy Parkinson."

"Oh merlin."

"If you don't hurry up, Marlow, I can arrange for a very awkward encounter now move it!"

The Parkinson's chain of chic department stores had undergone a great deal of changes since my father dragged me in the summer of fifth year. Some prices were, dare I say it, affordable and the top floors were no longer frequented by old deatheaters wives but any chump witch with a bag of galleons.

"You took me here, to dress me up like a deatheater's daughter?" I asked incredulously. "For all you know hufflepuff girls could be shopping here. It's expatriotism!"

"You aren't one to talk, Marlow," he said. "Besides, this is the public section."

"There's a private section?"

He ignored me and proceeded to a wooden door guarded by a beefy man in a black suit. "Welcome back, Mr. Malfoy."

"Hello, Wallace. Please don't tell Ms. Parkinson that we're here."

"Yes, sir."

The beefy giant named Wallance opened the door. Draco shoved me inside. "This is where you shall be shopping." It was a large room filled with robes that I swore had been harvested from the closets of royals. Colors and jewels like you wouldn't imagine.

"Draco," I began, "why is it that I sleep in a closet but yet you are willing to shell out--" I checked a random price tag "--more money than should be legal on a garment?"

"Had you been listening, you would have remembered that I get anything I want for free."

"Dare I ask why?"

"I happened to help Pansy out of an ugly engagement by strategically faking an affair."

"My, my, you are a busybody."

"Shut up and go try this on," he tossed a dress at me and shoved me in the direction of the luxurious changing rooms.

"Wanker," I called. Then I noticed two well-dressed store assistants suddenly look down at a dress. I didn't even want to wonder what they might be thinking about me. So I took shut the door and tried to think of something motivating.

"You have to be kidding . . ." I said, staring at the 'pants' Charlie was holding up.

"Unless you want everything charred by the weekend, I suggest you wear them." He handed me the leather chaps but I made no move to take them.

"Do the dragons ever notice that you are all wearing one of their kind?"

"Just try them on, Alex," he tossed the pants at me and left the room.

"Good god," I groaned as I wriggled into the chaps. Sure they made muscled slavs look like sex on wheels but--oh god, I hope my regular pants did not just rip.

Charlie re-entered the room and covered his mouth with his hand. I looked awful. I knew it. His laughter however, ticked me off. "What's so funny?" I looked in the mirror. I had tuffs of black cotton sticking out around my belt and hips while the leather clung tight to my body.

"You're wearing it wrong."

I scowled. "Well, are you going to help me or stand there laughing?"

He closed the door and continued laughing.

You know, there was a reason these clothes cost three figures--they made you look good. Excluding my head I didn't even recognize myself. My hair was still long, wavy, ratty and very black so that I was familiar with and my tan/permanent burn was still in tact. Oh merlin, hang on a second, I think that is muscle on my shoulder. Real muscle. As in there's a shadow. I think I need to go lie down.

Suddenly, the door opened and Draco burst in so fast that he pinned me up against the far wall. I made a move to tell him off but he clamped his hand over my mouth and made a move to be quiet. I would have probably done has it said if he hadn't been stepping on the robes that I most certainly wasn't going to pay for.

"Gerr Off," I tried to push him but he just hissed and stared over his shoulder at the door.

Shrip!

While Draco seemed oblivious, I certainly had heard that hundred galleon thread ripping. Using all the strength I could muster, I shoved Draco off of me. He made a noise of surprise and stumbled backwards. His heel slid on my other robes lying on the floor and the back of his head crashed again the door knocking it wide open.

"Draco!" I shouted. His eyes were fluttering and he wasn't moving. Not a good sign.

I looked up for one of the service attendents and laid eyes upon Draco's reason for running into the dressing room: Charlie and Weasleyette were in the room. The latter was holding an expensive looking garment in her hands and both were staring at me with wide eyes. It was like time stopped.

A sales lady came over and looked from me to Draco's body. "Are you planning on buying those robes?"

"What was that?" I shouted when Draco apparated after me into his kitchen.

He was holding an icepack to the back of his head that was kindly provided by the sales assistant. "What? Don't talk so loud," he moaned.

"Why did you come running into my dressing room at the sight of Charlie and Weasleyette?"

"Why are you calling him by his first name?" he snapped.

"Why are you running from the sight of two people you don't even know?"

"What and you know them?"

"What if I did?"

"I would ask why you are being such a hypocrite!"

We stood there fuming at one another for a few minutes until I swallowed my pride enought to ask, "So . . . care to tell me what you've been up to these last few years?"

"Not particularly."

"Well you know we are only going to have more awkward moments like this unless we start being a little honest!" I shouted, closing my eyes in rage.

"If you're so insistent why don't you start?"

Again, silence.

"What do you want to know?"

"Why do you wear a ring on your left hand?"

"Because I am legally married." That sure shut him up. Before I lost my nerve or thought too much I asked, "Why did you run in fear from two Weasleys?"

"Because I had an affair with her." That got me to shut up.

"Well, are you going to elaborate or do I get to guess what happened?"

"Marlow, I'm not elaborating on shit!"

"You accuse me of unslytherin-like activities."

"We are in bloody school anymore!"

Standing there in silence for a few minutes, my head began to hurt. I collapsed onto a stool and covered my face with my hands. "I guess we both are expatriots then."

"Marlow, it may come as a surprise but I don't care about the ups and downs of your lfie. I care about my investment and we have plenty of shops to go to beforeNott comes over.Also there isa pleathora of skills you need to master before the party."

I banged my head against the table and moaned.