Seven Years Later...
Chapter 22
"Crossing That Line and Taking That Chance"
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Auhor's Notes: I cried during the writing of this... Just letting you know...
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Alexis plopped lazily onto her large cushioned bed, sighing happily. She brought her hands behind her head, staring up at the ceiling in thought, smirking over the argument she had just won with Snape. This one was about who could go up the stairs first, and Alexis solved that with a good shove and a quick dash up the stairs to her Tower, followed by angry scoldings and yells.
Yep, she felt refreshed now. After a moment of staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts drifted towards a more pleasing subject.
Hmmm... wonder what Ron's doing...
Frowning a bit, she realized that she had rarely seen him at all that day, and it was near sunset. He had been in Harry's room, his temporary quarters until Parvati and Aaron left his, most of the day. Passing it once, Alexis dimly thought she had heard singing and music. But couldn't quite pin it down...
He's got to be plotting something... he's been locked up all day, and he's not one to be like that often... Alexis thought to herself, the thought nagging at her annoyingly. She sighed once, shaking her head as she brought up her knees, swinging her foot in a preoccupied manner as she rested her leg on one knee. Her next thought, brought up by the Ron thing was something simpler.
You know... I hate Artimis... yeah...
She smirked mischievously as she plotted ways to pay back her little stunt the day before. She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the scrambling outside her room, and nearly jumped a foot off her bed as her doors were flung open none too gently.
Artimis stood in the doorway, looking flustered and excited.
"What the bloody hell do you..."
"Come on! Come out to the balcony with me! You've got to see something. Come on come on come on..." Artimis jabbered at her, Alexis barely catching any of the words as Artimis dashed forward and grabbed her arm, yanking her off the bed to Alexis's great confusion. She pulled back, asking suspiciously. "What is it now, a ball and chain..."
"Oh get over it and come to the balcony with me. I know how much you like star gazing so you've got to see this. A comet is passing right over us tonight, in any minute! Get your ass moving..." Artimis rambled, pulling Alexis towards the door before Alexis could gather any of her thoughts. All she heard was 'balcony', 'comet', and 'tonight'. She sighed, guessing that going to look wouldn't hurt.
She let Artimis drag her out of the room, practically throwing her down the flight of stairs to the second floor and pushing her across the hall, into the Game room, and out onto the balcony.
The sun was just setting, the sky a painting of blues, purples, and pinks as the first few stars blinked on in the huge expanse, a pleasant breeze blowing past the balcony. Alexis put her hands on the metal railings of the balcony, craning her head to gaze at the sky curiously. Artimis stepped up beside her, also looking up.
She spoke quickly to Alexis. "Now, look right there, okay? Don't move, stay right here. I'm going to get my telescope, but whatever you do, don't leave. Got it? Alright... keep watching... be right back..." Artimis trailed off as she backed away towards the doors, an insane grin on her face as she disappeared from the balcony. Alexis shook her head, turning to scan the sky intently, oddly noticing the few candles placed around the balcony, giving it a cozy glow. She shrugged, scanning the blackening sky. After a minute, she grumbled to herself. "Don't see no bloody comet... wasn't even suppose to be one tonight, if I do remember reading..."
Suddenly, a soothing flow of music echoed across the balcony, Alexis immediately recognizing the tune. She backed up a small step, looking around her oddly for the source of the beautiful music. Only Artimis knew about this song that Alexis favored above most love songs, and dimly realized Artimis had set her up. For what though, Alexis had yet to find out.
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Artimis carefully cantered up the stairs, passing a pouting Snape on her task. This would be her redemption, because she knew Alexis was already plotting her revenge and Artimis knew she had to do something to soothe her best friend's embarrassment. Artimis reached the top floor and took a deep breath, pulling a excited look over her face. She rushed for Alexis's room, throwing the door open, viewing Alexis leap unexpectedly from her bed.
"What the bloody hell do you..." Alexis began and Artimis quickly cut her off with her ploy.
"Come on! Come out to the balcony with me! You've got to see something. Come on come on come on..." Artimis told her frantically, rushing forward and grabbing Alexis's arm, dragging her toward the door. As Artimis yanked Alexis forward, she pulled back, asking Artimis suspiciously. "What is it now, a ball and chain..."
"Oh get over it and come to the balcony with me. I know how much you like star gazing so you've got to see this. A comet is passing right over us tonight, in any minute! Get your ass moving..." Artimis rambled at her, knowing she was talking so fast that Alexis would barely understand her. Her thought was proved as Alexis looked at her dazedly and let Artimis drag her. Artimis moved her quickly, pushing Alexis fastly down the stairs and out on to the balcony. She stopped at the metal railing and spoke hastily.
'Now, look right there, okay? Don't move, stay right here. I'm going to get my telescope, but whatever you do, don't leave. Got it? Alright... keep watching... be right back..." Artimis let her voice trail off as she backed away towards the French doors, a knowing grin spread over her features as she disappeared through the doors. She saw Ron standing there nervously and Artimis smiled at him, bowing her head to him.
"Your lady awaits." She told him lowly as she straightened up and raced for her room. She grabbed her telescope and headed to the back porch, located directly below the balcony.
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Alexis looked around for the source of the music, when suddenly and almost immediately after the music started, a deep, familiar voice sounded out to her. She spun around in surprise as she heard the first few words.
"My gift is my song-" sounded the voice, the first note loud and a bit off key, which at first shocked Alexis, but the voice just as suddenly found the right pitch, holding the last note of the verse. Alexis couldn't help but smile widely, seeing a form approach her from the shadows.
"...And this one's for you-" The voice sung softer, sweeter, making Alexis shiver slightly with delight. The form emerged, and Alexis's eyes widened as she recognized Ron slowly walking toward her, smiling gently.
"And you can tell everybody, that this is your song." He sang in a smooth voice, perfectly in tune with the music, surprising Alexis even further as she stared at him with a mixture of emotion on her face, smiling widely as he walked forward, a foot or two away now.
In a quieter, more gentle voice, he continued. "It might be quite simple, but, now that it's done..."
He paused, standing directly in front of Alexis, looking down at her, smiling as he sang lovingly. "Hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind..."
Alexis leaned back against the railing, trying to support herself on weak knees as she listened in awe.
"That I put down in words-" he sang, holding the last note, "How wonderful life is, now you're in the world."
Alexis smiled, noticing the feeling Ron put behind those words that he sung so beautifully. He looked over her shoulder briefly, up into the clear sky as he continued. "Sat on the roof. And I kicked off the moss."
He looked back down at her, a laughing glint in his eyes that Alexis loved dearly as he sang.
"Well some of these verses well they, they got me quite cross..."
Alexis giggled slightly, knowing the words, but, hearing them from him, saw them in a whole new perspective.
"But the sun's been kind...while I- wrote this song..."
She dimly heard the trumpet characteristic of this song, but sounding more lifelike than she thought possible. She didn't care though as Ron continued. "It's for people like you that, keep it turned on-" He sang, gently caressing the side of he face lovingly, causing Alexis to blush ever so slightly.
"So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do-"
Alexis swallowed the lump of happiness and awe in her throat as Ron sang and put his arms gently around her waist, looking deep into her eyes. "You see I've forgotten if they're green- or they're blue-"
He shook his head, smiling playfully. "Anyways the thing is... what I really mean,"
Alexis sighed, entranced by his intent blue eyed gaze.
" Yours are the sweetest eyes, I've ever seen-"
As he held the last note in his smooth voice, he spun Alexis around gently, holding her too him as they danced a few steps. He stopped her then, cupping her cheek in his hand as he sang once more. "And you can tell everybody. This is your song..."
Alexis kept her arms around him, watching him with wide, shining eyes, smiling.
"It may be quite simple, but, now that it's done..."
He smoothed the hair away from her face as he sung softly, gazing down at her tenderly. "Hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind..."
He paused, moving his arms to around her back, then sung quietly. "That I put down in words- How wonderful life is, now you're in the world-"
He held the last note, loud and clear as the trumpet played loudly with the rest of the music. As Ron finished the last note, he gently dipped Alexis back, supporting her with his arms. She smiled as he leaned down, kissing her passionately. Alexis's eyes fluttered close, arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders and neck, thinking to herself through the cloud of giddiness, now knowing how madly in love with him she really was.
After a moment, there was a loud noise that sounded like applause, immediately accompanied by shrill whistles and shouts and a loud howl. They parted from the kiss, Ron pulling Alexis back straight quickly in surprise, Alexis held against his chest as they looked over the balcony towards the noises in confusion.
Down below, seen dimly through the darkness, they could make out a group of figures. Squinting, they soon recognized the whole household of Manor Dela Loyalty standing there, watching and giving them a standing ovation. Looking slightly off to the side with shock, they saw a blonde haired man standing there, holding something shiny. They realized it was Draco as he waved, then realized what he was holding as he brought the trumpet up, playing a few notes on it tauntingly. The group of onlookers laughed, and Alexis now knew why the trumpet in the song seemed so loud and lifelike...
Alexis looked away from the group, blushing furiously as Ron shook his head, rubbing his eyes with one hand as he grumbled. "Knew I shouldn't have trusted Artimis to keep this quiet..."
Alexis looked up at him quizzically, and he smiled tenderly. Alexis gazed at him, still speechless with awe and surprise, green eyes shimmering brightly. He grinned, then spoke softly.
"Sorry, wasn't suppose to be an audience..."
Alexis giggled, shaking her head. "Oh, who cares..." She whispered, pulling him down and kissing him deeply once more, hearing loud whistles and cheering in the background, but ignoring them, at least for the moment. She was too happy to care at the present moment, give her about a half hour, then she would be raging at the unexpected audience.
She pulled away from him, meeting his slightly surprised gaze and smiling, hugging him as she whispered. "Thank you..." He wrapped his arms tighter around her, replying. "Anything, for you..."
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Artimis rushed out of the backdoors on to the porch, hearing the first tones of the music. She saw everyone else, except for Severus, who was pouting somewhere. Artimis moved out to the grass, holding up her telescope, seeing Alexis looking toward the doors to the balcony.
"Let me see." A voice beside her whispered as they heard Ron begin singing. Artimis noticed his tone was off at first and she rubbed her ear as she handed the telescope off to Remus.
"Does she know you helped plan this?" He whispered and she shook her head, squinting in the darkness to see on the lowly lit balcony.
"Nope. Not yet anyways." She replied quietly. She listened to Ron sing, amazed at how well he could actually.
"He's not bad for an amateur, eh Artimis?" Aaron stated quietly behind her and she nodded, looking up.
"Nope." She told him, wishing everyone would shut up and let her watch her ploy for Alexis to finally have a taste of her dream romance.
"What the bloody hell is all that noise from the ba-?" Severus's voice was heard and Artimis rushed forward, covering his mouth with her hand.
"Hush, Ron is singing to Alexis and we are spying." She told him and he pulled her hand away from his mouth.
"Ah, I see. Don't touch me again." He hissed as she turned and walked away. She walked back to her place and looked up, seeing Ron singing as he caressed Alexis's face. Then from Artimis's side she heard the loud ring of a trumpet, flowing deliberately with the music. Artimis looked over and to her amazement, Draco was playing a brass trumpet, his eyes closed as he performed. As the trumpet's noise rose, Artimis felt the baby kick and she smiled looking down at herself.
"You liked that didn't you?" She whispered lowly.
"Beg your pardon?" Severus asked, standing in front of her now, looking at the balcony. Well he was, now he was looking at Artimis like she was insane.
"I was talking to the baby, it kicked when Draco started playing." She whispered, looking back up, watching Ron dance Alexis around a bit. Artimis listened as the song ended and she had to hold in her applause for a moment as Ron dipped Alexis back and kissed her. After a second she couldn't hold it in any longer and she raised her fingers to her lips, giving a high shrill whistle. Everyone around, except for Severus, applauded. Remus even tipped his head back and mocked a howl at Alexis and Ron, making Severus jump a few inches as he looked to see if Remus were shifting. Artimis could just barely heard Severus complain as he walked away.
"I'm gonna be sick." He mumbled and Artimis laughed as she heard Draco play a few notes on his trumpet mockingly. Artimis saw Alexis looked down at them dazedly and then she turned back to Ron, pulling him down and kissing him. Artimis whistled again. She watched as Ron and Alexis walked off the balcony and back into the house. She smiled in satisfaction as Draco walked up to her and held his instrument up.
"Full of surprises aren't you?" She spoke and he smirked, leaning in and kissing her.
"What can I say? I was a closet band geek." He teased and she smirked at him, kissing him again. He took her hand and lead her into the house, walking her into the lounge and sitting down with her to continue making plans for their wedding.
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Turning his stern gaze away from the Manor occupants out in the yard, he looked down at Alexis, a playful and tender glint in his soulful blue eyes.
"Would you like to go somewhere away from prying eyes and ears?" He asked softly and Alexis smiled, nodding, still in a sort of daze, not being able to take her gaze from Ron's handsome features. He smirked, pulling her away from the balcony and out of the Game room, stopping before ascending the stairs leading up to Alexis's Tower. Alexis turned to look up at Ron, whispering quietly with awe.
"How... How did you know?"
He smirked, replying. "A little help from Artimis... she owed us..."
Alexis smiled, looking up at him druggedly. She looked past him, lost in thought for a minute, finally come out of her reverie long enough to register the recent events. In a simple tone of voice.
"I'm gonna kill Artimis... and Draco... yeah..."
Ron shook his head in amusement, gently caressing her face as she looked back up at him, nodding with a resolved but happy look on her features.
"But, not right now... no... to my Tower?" She asked a bit dazedly, smirking up at him. He smiled, nodding and Alexis took his hand, turning to stumble up the stairs. Ron stopped her, pulling her around to face him, wrapping his arms around her waist. He was quiet for a moment, gazing deeply into her eyes as she equally lost herself in his. After a moment, he whispered, "I love you."
Alexis's eyes widened slightly, still not used to those words, but realizing she wasn't afraid of them anymore. Didn't mean they had no affect though.
She swayed slightly as she gazed up at him. She smiled, whispering softly. "I... I love you too..."
Ron's face lit up with a lovely glow at hearing those words, blue eyes wide and filled with happiness and relief. Alexis smirked at him, then swayed, knees growing weak. Ron cocked his head in confusion as she crumpled in his arms, out cold.
He held her up gently, looking down at her and shaking his head. He gently hoisted her into his arms, smirking as he spoke proudly, watching her. "Man, am I good or what..."
With that he nodded, turning and carrying her up the stairs slowly to her Tower, grinning widely and smugly the whole way.
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Artimis rushed upstairs to her room, Draco following her at an equal pace, trying to plea her into bed so she could rest.
"Darling, we don't have to do anything tonight, we can get up first thing in the morning and make the arrangements. We should sleep honey." He pleaded behind her and she entered the room, turning and smiling at him.
"Sweetheart, In case you hadn't noticed, I'm going to be a blimp in a month or less. Time is not really on our side if we wanna do this in two weeks." Artimis told him and he smirked at her, pulling her close. She knew he was trying to charm her to bed and it wasn't going to work tonight.
"Come one baby, let's crawl into bed, and talk about everything." He cooed and she sighed, looking at him sweetly.
"No. I am figuring most of the stuff out tonight, so tomorrow we can send out invitations, giving my family and yours enough notice." She replied and he hung his head in defeat.
"Alright, it's eight thirty right now, if you aren't done by ten, I'm dragging you kicking and screaming to bed." He told her and Artimis knew she had won a battle, maybe not the war, but a battle. She dove into her dresser and pulled out her name book that had all her family, Entingo and Callabella in it. She held it to her and moved out of the room, Draco determinedly following her, grumbling about his future wife who was intent on running herself into the ground. Artimis trudged down to her office, entering it to find that Alexis had no idea of the meaning of 'keep your crap off of my desk'. Artimis shoved aside a book called 'The Greatest Gags of the Century" and growled angrily.
"That woman, I swear, she's gonna piss me off someday." She spoke and Draco removed several cloaks from Alexis's chair and sat it on the other side of Artimis's desk. He smiled at her as she opened the book, scanning over several names.
"I have to get a hold of my Aunt Serena, she is a phenomenal baker." Artimis mumbled to him and he nodded, handing Artimis the quill that was just out of her reach. She looked up at him and then put her hand over his.
"Thank you sweetheart." She told him, appreciating that he understood that this needed to be done.
"No problem Artimis, just tell me what to do." He told her and she smirked, thinking a moment.
"You know what you can do. First, you can go make us both a nice cup of hot chocolate, then you can figure out which of your family members you want to come." She spoke sweetly and he rolled his eyes as he stood up, smirking at her.
"Yes my lady." He mocked and she stuck her tongue out at him as he left her office. She pulled the parchment in front of her and began writing.
'Hi Aunt Serena,
It's me, how are you. Guess what? I have the greatest news ever. I am getting married. Yes, Miranda's baby girl is getting married. I want you to come of course, and Uncle Paul. I have a favor. I want to know if you will bake the wedding cake. The wedding is in two weeks, on Saturday. I know this is short notice, but I myself just set the date. I would love it if you would stop by before the wedding to meet my fiancé, I need you to be one of the first to meet him. Well, I hope all is well and hope to hear from you. I love you guys.
With Love,
Artimis Marietta Callabella'
Artimis rolled the parchment up and whistled for an owl. Euripides, their only all white owl, flew in the low wind, sitting on the perch and holding it's leg out. She tied the letter to his leg, rubbing his head as he cooed at her.
"This needs to go to my Aunt Serena in Bristol. And make it quick." Artimis told to owl as it flew off. Artimis looked at her book and realized that she really couldn't do anything more at the moment, besides start invitations, and she had told Draco she would do those tomorrow. She opened her drawer and put her book in it, locking it with a key so Alexis wouldn't go digging and stretched.
"Here you go my love, one steaming cup of hot chocolate for you and one for me." Draco announced as he walked in and Artimis looked at him sweetly.
"How about we enjoy these in front of our fireplace?" Artimis cooed, standing and Draco raised an eyebrow at her.
"All done?" He questioned and she smirked.
"For tonight." She replied and he shrugged, nodding at her and walking out of the room. She closed the door and followed Draco as he masterfully managed the cups of chocolate. They got up to their room and she sat down on the soft rug. Draco handed her cup and then walked over to the couch, pulling off the blanket and walking back over to her. He sat down behind her, setting his cup down and wrapping the blanket around both of them. He then picked his cup and Artimis snuggled close to him. She sipped her chocolate, after a moment, taking a big gulp. In that instant Artimis put her cup down and covered her mouth as she felt vomit rising in her throat. She scrambled to the bathroom, hearing Draco scramble after her as he kneeled at the toilet, retching her guts out. She felt Draco holding her braided hair out of the way and she leaned back as she felt the last bit leave her mouth.
"Obviously the baby didn't want hot chocolate." She groaned as she got up and wobbly walked to the sink, washing out her mouth to get rid of the taste.
"I think you should get to sleep." He told her and they walked out of the bathroom, smelling an odd smell. Artimis looked over to the fireplace and screeched.
"Draco, the blanket!" She yelled as he looked over to see it on fire and about to spread to the carpet. Obviously he had tossed the end of the blanket in the fire when he went after her. Draco rushed forward and began stomping on the fire, not doing much to put it out. Artimis drew her wand and pointed it at the fire.
"Extinguishia!" She yelled and the fire went out under Draco's feet. She stood their for a moment and then just laughed.
"Artimis are you ok?" Draco asked as he picked up the burnt blanket and carried it to the laundry shute.
"Perfectly fine. We just made our first pregnancy story." She mused and Draco laughed at that.
"Honey, you have already made enough of those. Now, get into bed." He ordered her and she rolled her eyes, crawling into bed as she was told. Draco went around, putting all the candles out and extinguishing the fire in the fireplace. Then he himself crawled into bed beside Artimis and just looked at her.
"What? She asked and he smirked, kissing her forehead.
"Nothing." He told her as he wrapped her in his arms. She snorted and cuddled to him, feeling exhausted. She closed her eyes as Draco held her and fell into a comforting sleep, knowing that this would be how she fell asleep for the rest of her life.
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Aww... Now review... casue you know you cried too...
Deep Shadows