Some Like It Mild
By Kukaburry
Chapter 12 – Revelation
"You know who else is a gentleman? My boyfriend, Draco Malfoy."
Both Sven and Damion began choking violently on their ice creams. Laurie held back a smile. "Oh, are you acquainted with the Malfoys?"
She saw Lily glaring at her warningly. "What are you doing?" She mouthed frantically.
"Relax." She mouthed back, turning her attention to Sven and Damion.
Damion, staring at the table, had turned a tomato red. "Yes, we know the Malfoys. They are a very respectable family."
Laurie was taken aback by this statement. He was a much better actor than she thought. "Yes, they are. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy are very genteel and Draco is one of the most pleasant guys I've ever met."
"I wasn't aware young Draco had a girlfriend. I thought he slept around a lot." Sven commented snidely. Laurie gave a small smile of satisfaction. A small grunt was issued by Sven and a look of pain crossed his pallid features. "That's just a rumor of course," he added hastily in a strangled voice, "He hasn't slept with the entire school, most likely only half." The table shifted slightly and Sven doubled over, his face hidden beneath the tablecloth. The only person not concerned by these violent reactions was Damion.
Laurie stared bewildered over the table edge for a moment before continuing. "Oh you didn't hear? He and I met in class and he fell in love with me immediately. I thought he was the most handsome person in the world, not to mention very bright and incredibly rich. I could never date a guy from a poor family."
Lily looked like she was going to throw up if Laurie talked anymore. "Rye, are you feeling well? You're looking a little bit peaky. I think we should get you back to the castle."
Laurie glowered at Lily. "What are you talking about? I'm fine. I feel right as rain. How could I not when I'm dating the most talented guy at our school? He is gentle, smart, witty, fit, academic and always knows the right thing to say- I actually envy him for that."
For the first time, Damion looked directly in Laurie's eyes searching for something. "So you must like Draco a lot?"
An excited tingle ran through her body. There was something familiar about those eyes. Her palms began to sweat and her heart pulsed in her ears. "Yes I do like Draco. I love him."
Damion swallowed hard and began to reach his hand out to Laurie. "Rye! What are you doing here?" A chipper voice chorused from the doorway.
"I heard you were suicidal and planned on taking up residence in the loo?" George chimed. Both Fred and George stood behind Laurie with two pretty girls between them.
Panic spread through Laurie. "F-Fred! George! You're there.. I mean here? How can that be?" She pointed at Sven and Damion, completely lost for words. "You mean.. you're not.. you're not… I thought.. Then who are?.." Sheer embarrassment began to shake her body. "I'm sorry. I have to go! Just forget everything I've said." She shoved through the twin's dates and ran faster than she'd ever run in her life back to the castle.
Draco, Blaise and Lily stared at the door Laurie had just run through. "Did we miss something?" George asked the threesome.
"No, just Rye making another bad decision." Lily responded vaguely. The twins shrugged and continued to the counter with their dates.
"What just happened?" Blaise asked, still astronomically confused. "Why did she run away?"
"Rye thought you two were Fred and George trying to play a trick on her. They did it to her at the beginning of fourth year. I think she was trying to trick them back." She hesitated a glance at Draco whose blonde hair was beginning to return.
Draco remained immobile. "I'm going to head back to the castle." He stood up and turned towards the exit and stopped. "Don't tell your mate who we were. Please." Lily nodded silently.
Lily turned to Blaise as Draco exited. "What is he going to do now?"
He shrugged and shook his head. "That was not what we were expecting. I can't believe she said it to his face. If only she knew who she was talking to… imagine what her reaction would be," Blaise laughed and Lily smiled in return. "Oh look, Draco left his dress robes here," Blaise pointed to a bag near Lily's leg. "That reminds me, we have to discuss the second part of the plan. It's that letter Draco got from his parents…"
Draco walked somberly down Hogsmeade's narrow lane. "How could she just throw that word out like that? Even if she wasn't serious, why would she say it to anyone?" He mulled over the conversation. "She must have some feelings towards me. Maybe." He saw his reflection in a shop window- he was himself again.
"I just have to get her to my parent's party next weekend. How can I get her to go without realizing it?" An image of the blue dress from the shop popped into his mind. "Of course! It's genius." He hurried back to Gladrags to make his purchase.
'I'm so embarrassed,' Laurie groaned in her head. 'Those poor guys probably think I'm insane. To think, I thought they were Fred and George. That was so stupid of me.' She sat down on the side of the road. 'I hope Damion doesn't tell Draco what I said. That would be the end of my life. Maybe I should head back and ask him to keep everything quiet? No, then I would look even more lunatic than before.'
She lay back in the grass and closed her eyes for several minutes. The cool grass felt comforting on her bare neck. "Did I mean what I said?" A shadow fell across her face and she peaked through her eyelashes.
"It all depends on what you said, Carter." Draco stared down curiously at her from the path.
Laurie's heart began to drum hard against her chest. Her lungs seemed out of oxygen as she tried to speak. She managed to squeak out, "Malfoy, what are you doing here?" 'And why are you talking to me?'
"I'm allowed to go to Hogsmeade just like everyone else," he gave her a simmering look and she flushed. "Now why exactly are you lying on the ground, talking to yourself? Are you hurt?"
"Why does it matter to you?" She asked curiously.
Draco shrugged. "It doesn't. I can't leave someone injured lying on the ground." He flashed a dazzling smile. "Do you need help up?" He held out his hand.
Laurie narrowed her eyes defiantly. She held back her question about his relation to Damion. "No, I'm fine. I think I'm going to lie here a bit longer. Could you move? Your big head is blocking the sunset."
Her abrasive manner was back. Draco smirked, satisfied with his progress. "Alright. I'll see you later. I hope you figure out whether you meant what you said." He turned his back and continued on his trek back to the castle with Laurie gaping after him, stunned.
'No snarky comment? What is going on here?' She lay back in the grass, remembering the look in Damion's eyes when she told him she loved Draco. The sun beat down on her fair skin, lulling her into a short nap until Lily came by and dragged her back up.
"I will not let you sleep outside! You will go back to the castle and sleep in a bed like a normal person. Have you been out here this entire time?" Laurie nodded groggily, noting Lily's unusual cheeriness. "You know, poor Damion and Sven were very sad that you stormed away like that. Damion was on the verge of going out to find Malfoy and ask him about everything you said." Laurie snapped out of her reverie then. "It took me a while to convince them that you were only making a joke."
Laurie sighed in relief. "How was I supposed to know that they were actually that awkward? They were acting really suspiciously, if you recall. I'm glad Malfoy will never find out about this." She missed Lily's grin of amusement. "Actually speaking of Malfoy, he was acting strange when I saw him half an hour ago. He didn't say anything mean or call me names. It was like he was trying to prove something."
"Maybe he is sorry for what he did and is trying to make it up to you?" Lily suggested. "I mean, who can argue that he's attracted to you, and for more than your looks too."
Laurie regarded Lily silently. "I'm not sure. I'm not going to give in that easily Lily. You're still my friend, right?" Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm joking, you back me up on everything and I do the same for you."
The shadow of the castle loomed ahead of them. "I'm sure everything will work itself out eventually. I want to see what Mr. Malfoy does next, don't you?" Lily wiggled her eyes. "Since he's acting so weird, let's let him play it out and see what happens."
"You're so clever sometimes Lily, if I had followed my own instincts the next time I saw him I probably would have punched him in the stomach just to get a normal reaction out of him. I'm glad I have you to set me straight." They both chortled and agreed to keep watch on Draco. "I don't know if I can keep a straight face the whole time though, if he acts like he did earlier. I was too shocked to even think about laughing, but now I realize how ridiculous it was."
Shaking her head helplessly, Lily sighed. "You amaze me Rye." 'You have no idea what you're in for. I hope you don't put up too big of a fit, otherwise the entire plan is doomed to fail.'
"Let's get some dinner and accidentally run into Malfoy. I want you to see it for yourself." Laurie hurried ahead, leaving Lily standing at the entrance. 'Why am I stuck with her as a best friend? Can I not have a normal person who doesn't go looking for trouble?' She glumly followed Laurie into the dining hall hoping that the plan wouldn't be ruined by Laurie's antics.
Sorry for the late update. Sister's super long wedding. My cat eating my chinchilla (no lie). Horrible and wonderful weekend and no time for updating.
Has anyone ever wondered why Hermione's cat seems to have human intuition? ~Kukaburry
Thanks to all my reviewers! Please feel free to check out the stories written by my reviewers as well as any story on my 'favorite' list. They're all amusing and fun to read.
I'm glad my massive amounts of 'conversations' are not wearying. I am experimenting with verbal interactions as opposed to visual interactions. I enjoy both in their own way. I think verbal is working better in this particular plot. My other story 'Simply Irresistible' has a lot of visual interactions, and it seems to work out so far.