Reposted: 12/04/07 fixing bad spelling, bad grammar and other typos etc etc.
"Lady Bellmonte." Draco flashed her a charming smile. "Is Alex in?"
"Of course Draco darling." Deana Bellmonte then proceeded to do the thing she'd been doing to Draco since before he could walk. She patted him gently on the top of his head. "She's out back. Follow me."
Draco followed her out to the balcony he'd met Alex on a few nights ago and then down some steps at the far end of it. The Bellmonte's vast gardens lay before him, Alex walking among the flowering trees her unbound hair glinting faintly blue in the sunlight.
"Alex." Her mother called, beckoning her over. Alex glanced up and obediently moved towards them. "Draco has come to pay you a visit."
Draco smirked to himself when he noticed Alex's step had faltered at the use of his name. He offered Alex a charming smile and a mocking wave when she met his eyes.
"Good afternoon, Draco." Alex offered him a smile but nothing else. She turned to her mother. "If you don't mind we'll hang out in the garden, Mother."
"That's fine. Just stay within view of the Manor. I'll talk to you again before you leave Mr. Malfoy." Deana disappeared back into the house, acting, for all the world, like this wasn't a hell-freezing-over type event.
"Two conversations with Draco Malfoy in three days, and you seeking me out. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Alex led the way confidently through a maze of plant lined pathways, extending her stride to keep a little a ahead of him at all times.
"Your comment the other night brought to light a gaping hole in the relationships between our two families."
"And you decided to fix that?" Alex glanced over at him dryly. "What kind of relationship do you think we're supposed to be having?"
"Come now, Alex." Draco was acting quite superior and enjoying every minute of it. "The Malfoys and the Bellmontes have been allies since the Dark Ages. Surely the heirs to our two Houses should at least be on speaking terms."
"What's this?" Alex mimed astonishment. "Have you suddenly grown a social conscience?"
"Is that so shocking?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I'd as soon say you've developed a heart."
Draco moved ahead of her a few feet and plucked a pink rose from one of the bushes. "Like it or not, Alex," he turned and offered her the flower. "I've made it my mission to learn everything I can about you."
Alex smiled and accepted the rose. While his fingers were still caught in hers she reached up with her other hand and grabbed hold of his ear, yanking it down on level with her mouth. "The more you know, the shorter your life will be. I may be a girl and I may be your age but I am a Bellmonte. Why don't you start by learning that."
She released him and he laughed. "Oh, I've never forgotten what you are, Alex. It's the only reason you're not in chains."
Alex smirked and jerked her head towards the house. "Kinky. We should head back before mother comes looking for you."
Draco matched her smirk. "As a beautiful lady once said, 'kinky'." He bowed. "After you."
"You'll have to choose, Draco," She commented airily. "No man in history has ever been able to handle two Bellmonte women…and my father's the jealous type." Alex paused on the grass ahead of him. "Of course it would be funny to watch him blow you up. In fact, I highly recommend you develop a taste for older women."
Draco glared at her retreating back before running to catch up. How was it that she always managed to turn his perfect comebacks against him?
They burst from the gardens near the front of the house as opposed to the back where they'd entered. Deana Bellmonte came out the front door. "Is everything alright?" she drawled without any real concern.
"We're fine, mother. Truly. Draco has an appointment he needs to get to. He just wanted to stop by and make sure we'd all recovered from the ball." Alex glared at Draco from over her mother's shoulder, daring him to call her liar.
Draco smirked, not caring. Her lie only supported his, casting him in a better light to her parents. "I am afraid I don't have the time I'd like to spend with you today. I will make it up to you both, if you'll forgive me for dashing off." Draco wasn't sure when the last time was that he'd had this much fun. He hadn't played Society Boy for years and the fact that there was revenge at the end of this game only made it better.
"Of course we forgive you. How could we help but not? Stop by any time Draco. You're always welcome here." Deana waved at Draco's retreating form.
There was a pile of galleons at the guard booth for the front gate. All you had to do was say the name of your destination while picturing it and the pre-made port key would calibrate to your chosen destination. Never let it be said that the Bellmonte's did not accommodate their guests.
The instant he disappeared from view Deana turned to her daughter all 'niceness' gone from her being. "Why are you getting visits from Draco Malfoy that last just long enough for threats to be exchanged and no longer?"
"You needn't fear mother. We merely exchanged pleasantries. He seems to think that we, he and I, should be friends in order to continue the family tradition of alliance."
"See that you become nothing more than 'friends'. We are allies with Malfoys. We do not trust Malfoys and we do not marry Malfoys."
"Again, mother," Alex's voice took on an edge. "you need not fear. I could never trust Draco Malfoy and I have no intention of marrying him. Blondes aren't my type." Alex flashed a cold smile and disappeared into the house.
Deana watched her go. "I think I'd better have a talk with her father. The first thing I ever thought about Franklin was 'red heads aren't my type." Disturbed Deana went to find her red haired husband.