A/N: Hi everyone. It didn't take as long as I thought it would to type up this chapter. I hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter 2
Running Away
I know you
So better than the city in the rear view
I drive to
Eliminate the ball that I'm chained to
Take me, break me
Every mile further there's a part of me that slips away
One day you'll see
Even if you're down on your knees
You couldn't make me stay
Drive all night
Never gonna get me
Night by night
To get away from it all
Fight, fight, fight
All you wanna do is hurt me
You wrecked my life
So I'm gonna have to drive all night-
" Night Drive "
All-American Rejects
A squeal of delight escaped Alana's lips before she threw hers into Draco's waiting arms. Draco laughed as he swung her around playfully. When he set her down, Draco hugged her smotheringly close to his body like he'd never let her go ever again. He reveled in how perfectly her body fit into his once again. Small tears of happiness trailed down Alana's face silently as she embraced Draco back just as warmly. Alana knew that she was where she truly belonged, encased in Draco's strong arms. Draco buried his nose in Alana's hair; the familar scent of lavender filling his senses.
" Oh Draco," Alana whispered with such emotion in her voice, " I can't believe it. I can't believe you're here! You're actually here! You can't imagine how happy it makes me to be in your arms again."
" I knew you would be pleased." Draco answered with a smile, holding her out in front of him.
He wiped away the tears from her brilliant, sapphire eyes; the eyes he had missed so much. Her eyes held so much love and adoration for him; things he didn't know he came to deserve. Alana smiled up at him warmly, trying to keep more tears at bay.
" Oh, how I've missed you, Draco." She told him, taking his hand in both of hers and kissing his knuckle. " Words cannot express how much I've missed you."
" I know, Love, I know." Draco replied, hugging her to himself again. " I've missed you so much too. Each day without you was complete and utter torture. It hurt me to be separated from you. It hurt my heart."
Alana placed a hand on the left side of his chest, feeling the rhythmic pulsing beneath her fingertips. She looked up at him, her eyes locking on his, and asked with passion in her tone, " It hurt here, my love?"
" Yes," He answered, softly, leaning down to where his lips just barely brushed against her, " right there."
Alana's eyes became clouded as they flicked from his lips to back up to his eyes before finally closing all the way. She palmed Draco's cheek as he closed the distance between their lips and they came together in a sweet kiss. It was slow, but still filled with all the passion and love that had been bottled up inside of them for so long. Draco held her even closer as he deepened the kiss, devouring her lips hungrily. Alana's body shook with long within his arms; a small, wavering moan escaping from her lips. How they both had agonized over this moment for weeks, the moment where they could express their feelings for each other through that one, special kiss. When they finally parted, Draco and Alana were left gasping for air. They smiled at each other breathlessly, their eyes showing everything they felt at that moment.
Draco leaned back down and brushed his lips over hers briefly before whispering in her ear, " I've wanted to do that for weeks."
Alana laughed and kissed his cheek affectionately before hugging him tightly.
" So, you still haven't told me why you're here in the first place. What do I own the pleasure of such a visit?" Alana asked with a curious smile. " What's the occation?"
That's when Draco's smile faded and his body stiffened. His eyes became cool and distant as his arms fell from their place wrapped around Alana's waist. He seemed to be staring off into nowhere as he looked up over Alana's head. Alana noticed the sudden change in Draco's attitude and her smile faultered as well. She placed a hand on Draco's cheek again and made him look back down at her.
" Draco, what's wrong?" She asked, concern littering her tone.
Draco's eyes softened at the sound of her voice. They were now filled with profound sadness and dismay. He looked tortured and weary as if something weighted heavily on his mind. Finally, Draco gave a great sigh, running a hand through his hair as he said in a quiet voice, " Alana...it finally happened."
" What finally happened?" Alana asked, worriedly, her eyes filled with so much confusion. " Draco, please...just tell me what's wrong."
" Alana, Father set the date." Draco whispered, his voice sounding so distressed.
This brought terror to Alana's eyes as she realized what he meant. She shook her head, unable to believe it.
" No, i...it can't be true." She mumbled to herself as if in a daze. " You must be joking. He couldn't have. He just couldn't."
" I'm sorry, Alana, but I'm not joking." Draco told her, regretably. " Father did set the date for my initiation. It was to be two weeks before the beginning of school."
" But...but it's too soon! No, this can't be!" Alana exclaimed in a soft voice. " It just can't be!"
" Alana..." Draco called to her, gently, taking her into his arms to calm her. " I'm sorry for upsetting you. I'm sorry, my love, but it's the truth."
" What happened?" She asked in a barely audible voice.
" Father told me that he set the date for when I was to be initiated. When I heard the date, well...let's just say we didn't exactly see eye to eye. We started arguing and it just got worse and worse as time went by. Then, I let it slip that I had no intension of following in his footsteps. Soon, it seemed like all hell had broken loose." Draco explained, looking out into space with a bitter smirk on his lips. " I told him that I'd rather spend my life as a beggar before I became a Death Eater."
" You didn't tell him about the Order, did you?" Alana asked, frantically.
" No," He answered, " I might have lost my temper, but I still had my wits about me. I got out of there as fast as I could. My father was going to kill me if I didn't. Alana, I left the manor for good and I'm never going back."
" Oh Draco..."
" Alana," Draco murmured, his tone changing to sound desperate, " I have no place to go."
It took a second for Alana to comprehend what he was asking of her.
" Draco, I..."
" Before you say anything," He interrupted her, " you need to understand that I have thought this through. I couldn't go to Blaise or Jezebel because their parents are family friends. It would have been like turning myself back into my farther. Now, I just need a place to stay before Hogwarts starts up again. Alana, I know I'm asking a lot of you, but please...can I stay with you?"
Alana was totally silent. All of this was so much to take in a short amount of time. A part of her wanted to take Draco in no questions asked, but the other was much more hesitant. There was no doubt that Alana loved him with everything she had and would do anything within her power to help him. It was just she had other things to consider; other people to think about: her family and their safety. If Lucius was as furious as Draco said he was, then he'd be coming after his son, and that would mean her family's lives could be at stake. There was, also, the other matter of her father's approval. Draco couldn't live with her unless her father approved of it. All of this was rushing through her mind and starting to give her a major headache.
Then, Draco, noticing her hesitance, took both of her hands into his and said quietly," Please, my love, help me. Alana, you must understand. I have nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to. I wouldn't bring this burden upon you unless I had no other choice."
Alana felt herself give in as she gazed into those stormy gray orbs of his. He looked so hopeless and forlorn. How could she possibly say no? Slowly, she managed a small smile and nodded her head.
" Okay," She replied, softly," I'll help you, but we'll have to talk to my papi. His word rules in this house."
Draco nodded in reply. A wave of relief washed over him at the thought of having a place to stay. He really hadn't looked forward to a life on the run. Just then, as he was following Alana into the house, Draco noticed what she was wearing. A smirk twisted its way onto his lips as he pulled Alana back to him; her back pressed tightly up against his chest. A small gasp escaped from her lips in surprise.
" What were you doing before I got here?" He inquired in a whisper, blowing hot air into her ear.
" Swimming if you must know." She answered, trying to keep the arousal and weakness out of her voice.
" And tell me," He went on in a suggestive tone, " were you wearing anything while you were "swimming"?"
Alana almost gave into temptation and surrended herself to him, but her sensible side decided to kick in at that moment. She turned around in Draco's arms and returned the smirk that he was giving her.
" We can discuss this later. Right now we have more urgent matters to take care of." She whispered to him, firmly, before looking back down at her robe. " I might want to change first, though. Papi won't find this very appropriate, and we want to make sure we stay on his good side. Hang on a sec."
Alana closed her eyes and snapped her fingers. In a shower of magenta sparks, her robe was replaced with a pair of low-rise jeans and a rose pink top. The top revealed her shoulders as the sleeves hung from her upper arms. It sneakly showed her flat stomach, too. Her wet hair had been down up in a bun with two, black chopsticks holding it in place. Draco eyed her admiringly and pulled her even closer into his arms.
" You look good in everything, but I preferred the robe." He whispered in her ear.
" Is your mind one-tracked today or something. Right now is not the time to be flirting." Alana scolded, trying to hide her amusement. " Now, come on. Papi is in the sitting room."
She grabbed his hand and shut the door behind him before leading him to a room that broke off from the small foyer. Draco looked around the small, yet cozy sitting area. It was painted in warm colors with paintings of flowers and Greek architecture up on the walls. Even as they entered the room, Mr. Kaligaris didn't look up from his newspaper. Alana could feel that Draco was nervous and squeezed his hand for reassurance before clearing her throat. Mr. Kaligaris looked up and when he spotted Draco holding his daughter's hand, he immediately set his paper aside. He stood up with his hands clasped behind his back and eyed the new comer warily. Alana's father was a tall man with broad shoulders. His hairline was receding and much was left of his now-graying dark brown hair. His dark cocoa-colored eyes were hidden behind large, square-framed glasses. A thin, also-graying mustache adorned his upper lip and made him look quite distinguished and intelligent.
" Who is this young man you have with you, Alana?" Mr. Kaligaris asked in a firm voice. " Is this one of your friends from school?"
" Papi, this Draco Malfoy." Alana explained with a weak smile. " He...he is my boyfriend."
Draco stepped forward and extended a hand politely to Mr. Kaligaris, who looked a little surprised. He, in turn, excepted Draco's gesture and shook his hand stiffly without a word.
" Nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Kaligaris." Draco assured him.
" Likewise." Mr. Kaligaris replied, sitting back down in his chair and looking Draco over as if to see if he was worthy of his daughter. " So, Draco, how long have you been courting my daughter?"
" Um, since late March I believe, sir." Draco answered, feeling very uncomfortable under Mr. Kaligaris' scrutinizing stare.
" I see. And during all this time, you didn't once consider asking my permission first before you started said courting."
" Papi!" Alana complained.
Mr. Kaligaris shot her a pointed look for her to keep quiet before turning his harsh stare back on Draco.
" Um uh...no, sir, I did not." Draco confessed, sweat gathering on the back of his neck. " It didn't ever occur to me that I need your consent."
" Hmm, I see." Alana's father muttered, not really pleased by Draco's choice of words. " Now, what brings you to my humble dwelling, my boy?"
" That's what we wanted to talk to you about, Papi." Alana explained, trying to choose her words carefully. " Something terrible has happened, and Draco can't go back home. He has no one else, but me to go to. Please, Papi, can he stay with us?"
" That is out of the question." Mr. Kaligaris answered, sternly, flipping his newspaper back open.
" But, Papi..."
" Don't " but Papi" me! I said no and that's finally!"
" Papi, please, it's Draco's father! He's really angry with him!" Alana pleaded, desperately. " We can't let him go back there! And we can't turn him out on the streets!"
Alana's father pretended to be engrossed in his paper, ignoring his daughter and her begging. Alana looked up at Draco hopelessly as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
" Please, sir," Draco implored, Mr. Kaligaris looking over the edge of the Daily Prophet at him, " let me explain my situation to you. It may change your mind."
" Heh, I highly doubt that." Alana's father, scoffed. " I know what kind of man your father is, boy. I know all about the kinds of things he's done. I know that he throws in his lot with the Dark Lord, even though people say it's just a rumor. I have a family to protect. And I will not endanger their safety by allowing the son of that God damned bastard to stay in my house."
" Draco is absolutely nothing like Lucius, Papi." Alana objected in Draco's defense, kneeling by her father's chair. " Do you think I'd be dating him if he was? Papi, you know I'm more sensible than that."
Mr. Kaligaris looked down at his daughter uncertainly. She pleaded with him to listen to her and Draco with her sorrowful, sapphire eyes. Alana saw his defenses weakening slightly and knew that she was going to win...like always.
" Please, Papi," Alana pleaded in a whisper, " just give him a chance."
Mr. kaligaris looked from his daughter to Draco. Draco stood tall and erect; an unflinching expression on his face. He walked up behind Alana and placed a hand on her shoulder. Alana smiled up at him and grasped his hand. Mr. Kaligaris studied the way they looked at each other; something about it seemed familar.
" I'm still not certain..." He trailed off.
" Sir, I care about the safety and well-being of your daughter as much as you do. I would never put her life in danger." Draco assured him. " Please, I wouldn't ask this of you unless I had no other option."
Mr. Kaligaris stared at Draco long and hard. Draco's eyes never left his, not even blinking once. Finally, Alana's father gave a great sigh and took his glasses off, only to rub his eyes aggitatedly.
" Okay, I'll hear your story."
The two teenagers let out a breath they didn't know they had been holding. Draco helped Alana up, and she made her way over to sit in the chair cross from her father. Alana gave a nod of encouragement for Draco to procede, and he tilted his head in understanding. Both the father and daughter watched as he made his way over to the fireplace. He leaned his arm against the mantle, gazing into the dancing flamers with a dark and disturbed expression on his face. A few, silent moments went by before Draco finally spoke again.
" What I am about to tell you must be kept confidential." He stated in a low voice, his eyes never leaving the fire. " Usually, what happens in Malfoy Manor stays in Malfoy Manor. It is a place filled with dark secrets that should never be exposed to the open world outside of its stone walls. But today, this rule will be broken. With that in mind, I shall begin."
A/N: Ha ha! Cliff hanger! Sorry, but the chapter would have been too long if I had kept going. Please, review on it!