A/N Yay I'm alive! Lol I now have microsoft word at all my computers, so it will be days or a week or 2 maximum between updates from now on, on this and my other 2 fics…that's a relief.
Thank you to all my ever-patient reviewers! You guys rock!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine not mine NOT MINE! Lol
An hour after they had exchanged gifts, Draco, Danielle and Blaze were on the Hogwarts Express, which would lead them to Platform 9 ¾, and from there, they'd go to the Malfoy Manor. Since they hadn't yet arrived, there was no point for Blaze to be wearing his invisibility cloak.
But the moment the three of them found an empty compartment, Danielle excused herself to walk around the train for some alone time.
Danielle sighed and leaned against a hallway window of the train. Her silver-blue eyes that branded her a Malfoy soaked in the view of the crystal clear sky as the Hogwarts Express raced by the many puffy white clouds. She narrowed her eyes at the lovely view. Why was the weather celebrating her dying day?
She continued to scowl at the window, until she felt a smooth pair of arms slip around her waist from behind.
"Hey Danni," a masculine voice said into her dark hair, "Did you miss me?"
"Go away, Ron!" snapped Danielle not bothering to turn around as she attempted to swat him away, "And let go of me!"
"Ron?" the voice chuckled, confused, "I'm not Ron. I'm Mark. Mark Turner. Remember me?"
Danielle turned around ever-so slowly and locked eyes with the guy.
Mark Turner was staring back at her. With his perfect light brown hair, golden tanned skin and sky blue eyes; he could've made any girl swoon. Mark was an old family friend of the Malfoys; Lucius and Narcissa absolutely adored him. He was also a 17-year-old millionaire for that matter, and he made sure everyone knew it. The last time Danielle had seen Mark she had been about 11 years old, and him 12. That was right before she had been sent away to that pathetic Magicgate Hills School of Witchcraft for Girls.
"Mark?" she said, keeping her voice smooth like all Malfoys always do, "What are you doing here?" Mark's brilliant eyes flickered with momentary disappointment.
"I suppose they haven't told you yet," he said, "Well then, that's probably why they called you home."
"Told me what?" asked Danielle. She never could keep her cool when waiting for an answer.
Mark shook his head, apparently amused.
"You'll find out very soon; when your parents tell you," he said dismissively as he pulled her closer to him and stared at her intently.
"My, you've grown," he said softly, "You're even more beautiful then I remember…"
"I think you should know," Danielle said pulling out of Mark's grasp, "That I have a boyfriend."
"Why am I not surprised?" Mark said, smirking bitterly, "May I have the pleasure of knowing who?"
"Blaze Zabini," replied Danielle.
"Never heard of him," Mark said shortly, "And I most likely never will. Is he rich?"
"Honestly Mark," said Danielle angrily, "I may have grown, but you haven't changed a bit. If you were any more shallow I'd be able to literally see right through you. There's more to people than money!"
Mark responded to that by running his fingers through Danielle's long dark brown locks.
"You have gorgeous hair," he commented, "If only it were blonde-"
"Will you cut it out?" Danielle snapped, taking a step back from Mark, "What part of 'I have a boyfriend' do you not understand?"
"You'll understand soon," said Mark, "Farewell for now. You'll be seeing me again in the very near future. Count on it."
Mark kissed Danielle's hand, winked, took a step back and with a swish of his sapphire cloak, disapparated.
"Mark Turner?" said Draco in disbelief, when Danielle returned to the compartment and told her story, "Of course I remember him! He's at the Manor every summer. Mum and dad love him."
"Yeah, I know," Danielle said rolling her eyes, "Can't imagine why."
"The snobby little millionaire," added Draco
"Why was he trying to hit on you?" spoke up Blaze. Danielle shrugged.
"Who knows?" she said, "But it doesn't matter." Blaze raised his eyebrows.
"It doesn't?" he repeated.
"Nope," said Danielle, "Cuz my heart already belongs to someone else.
"Whoever the lucky guy is; I'm jealous," Blaze teased her.
"You should be," smirked Danielle, "You wish you were him."
"Is that a crime?" asked Blaze, leaning forward so that his and Danielle's faces were an inch apart.
"Maybe," replied Danielle, "I might have to arrest you, Zabini."
"Oh really?" said Blaze, as he leaned in a little more and kissed Danielle's neck, "You sure about that?"
Danielle pushed Blaze flat on his back and leaned over him.
"Positive," she said.
"Okay you guys," said Draco irritably, "Either get a room or wait till we get to the Manor or something."
"He's right," Danielle said, feeling pretty guilty as she remembered her brother's current love-life situation and sat next to him, "Excuse us."
Blaze grinned at his best friend sheepishly and sat on his other side.
The train coaxed to a stop in front of platform 9 ¾ a few hours later. Danielle tossed her invisibility cloak at Blaze.
"Don't worry," Blaze whispered to Danielle as he vanished beneath her cloak, "It'll be fine."
Danielle managed a meek little smile at the point where Blaze had disappeared.
"Uhh, Draco?" she said, turning to her brother, "How're we gonna know if Blaze is like…here?"
"Er…damn," said Draco, "I didn't think of that-"
"Yeah, I see that," Danielle rolled her eyes at him, "Oo, Idea! Stand still, Draco."
Danielle whipped out her wand, pointed it at Draco's face, and before he could protest cried, "Invisitim Apparatus!"
A white blue mist shot straight into Draco's eyes.
"You bitch!" shouted Draco, "What the hell was the point of that, Danni?" Draco blinked.
"Blaze!" he said harshly, "Are you mad? Put that cloak back on!"
"It is on, Draco," Blaze said, rolling his dark green eyes.
Draco looked at his sister, who was smirking at him triumphantly.
"Can you see him?" he snapped at her.
"Not yet," Danielle replied, "Now take out your bloody wand and do the same for me."
"It worked…" Draco mumbled in amazement.
"Yeah don't sound so surprised," Danielle said sarcastically, "Now get a move on!"
"Invisitim apparatus," Draco grumbled as the same light mist sprinkled into Danielle's eyes. She blinked a few times until she could clearly see Blaze in front of her.
"Hey," she said. She turned to her brother, "Ready, Draco?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" Draco said seriously.
"Draco I'm fine," his sister lied quickly, "Now let's just go and get this over with."
"Alright," said Draco, "C'mon."
He dragged her through the crowded platform and through the barrier to the crowded muggle station. Danielle kept glancing back to check that Blaze was still behind them.
"It's time," said Draco, "Let's go."
"What?" said Danielle, startled, "They're here already?" Draco laughed mirthlessly.
"You think they actually pick me up? Fat chance. Dad's too 'busy.'"
"Well then what about Narcissa?" asked Danielle coldly.
"And risk breaking a nail? No. They set up a portkey a short walk from here. So let's go."
Draco led her and Blaze to a small clearing surround by high bushes. In the center of it lay a single torn mitten.
"That's it?" smirked Danielle, "Surely Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy can do better?" Draco sighed.
"Danielle," he warned, "If I were you I'd lose the sarcasm before we arrive home."
"Why?" said Danielle, rather sarcastically, "It may cost me my life?" Draco gave her a look.
"Sor-ry," Danielle said rolling her eyes.
"I give up!" said Draco, throwing his arms up in defeat, "Say whatever you want, Danni. Just grab the mitten. Blaze, you too."
The three of them clutched the worn-out mitten, and suddenly were jerked up harshly. It was as if they were fish caught on the end of a fishing rod. And then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. The three of them slammed into the ground with such force, that only Draco (because he was used to it) was left standing.
"Blaze," Draco said as he waited impatiently for the other two to get up and regain their balance, "You are not to say a word, or make any noise once inside that house, unless you are locked in a room with only me or Danielle. And even in that scenario, be wary. Same rules for staying under the cloak. Now if there's anything you'd like to say or do before we go, get it over with now."
Blaze threw his cloak aside, grabbed Danielle and kissed her long and hard on the lips.
"Okay then, you've relieved yourself," Draco said, pushing the two apart, "Blaze, put the damn cloak back on."
Blaze obediantly wrapped up in the invisibility cloak, muttering to himself. Draco gave his sister a sideways glance. She looked pale.
"They obviously want you here for a reason," said Draco, "Maybe it's to say sorry." Danielle gave him a look that could freeze water.
"Let's just go, Draco," she said.
Draco nodded and led her and Blaze up a steep hill to an enormous mansion. It must've had 50 acres of property at least. Far off into the property you could glimpse a gigantic hedge garden near a lake and a river.
"I remember this place," Danielle said smiling bitterly as they approached the front door, "I remember how much I hated it. How it was like prison."
Draco didn't respond to this. Instead he grabbed the silver dragon knocker and brought it against the door three times. Almost immediately, a scrawny little creature in a ragged potato sack pushed open the door a crack. Danielle recognized it at once as a house-elf, but not the one she remembered…
"Little master!" squeaked the house-elf in a very high-pitched voice; it was obviously female. The house elf's eyes widened as they darted over Danielle.
"And little mistress as well!" cried the elf delightedly, "Sidney has heard so much about you, miss. Sidney is delighted to meet you at last, miss."
"Sidney?" Danielle blurted out, "I thought we had a male house elf. Or one named Debbie or something." Sidney hung her head in shame.
"Dobby has been set free little mistress," she said respectfully, "And Dobby is happy to be free! Dobby is a disgrace to all house elves. Dobby is even getting paid now. If Sidney is ever being freed," Sidney shivered, "Then I is not asking to be paid, miss."
"Oh," said Danielle, pretending she hadn't just not understood a word Sidney had said, "Right."
"Well well well," said a cold voice from behind Sidney. Lucius Malfoy stepped out of the shadows and kicked the elf out of his way, "What have we here?"
Lucius's eyes swept over his daughter and he smirked.
"So the insolent little rebel decided to willingly make an appearance? My my, we should be honored." Danielle glared at him defiantly as he turned to look at Draco.
"Ah! My son," he said, "Draco Malfoy, the dark lord's new 'Death Eater-To-Be…'"
Danielle's eyes widened. She looked over at Draco, who had deliberately turned away from her. She couldn't have heard her father right…right?
But, judging by the smirk on Lucius Malfoy's face, and the look of severe discomfort on her brother's; she had heard right.
Their father had just called Draco a "Death Eater-To-Be," and Draco hadn't stopped him.
A/N And just when we thought that maybe Draco had changed his ways! Well, review and I'll update soon.
