Marie came storming into the office about an hour and a half after Louis last seen her, and the first thought he had was I guess the meeting didn't go over very well. "Signorina Benedetti, you have arrived so early! Did things go badly?" Louis called out, rushing to her side. Part of his job as assistant was to make sure his boss was alright at all times.
"It was very male, Louis. Signore Malfoy is one of the most disrespectful men I've ever met."
"Would you like me to go and change your schedules? Perhaps cancel future meetings with him?" Louis suggested, hoping she would agree so she wouldn't be in such a sour mood. Marie simply shook her head.
"No no. I'm head of Magical Cooperation, so I'm going to have to force myself to cooperate, whether I like the man or not. In addition, there is an extremely important law for him to put in place that I just cannot allow him to mess up. I'm going to have to deal with it, Louis," Marie grumbled, walking to her office.
Louis followed behind her and mumbled in return, "If you say so, Signorina." When she got home that day, she immediately began to write her mother. She couldn't talk over the phone right now, she was too furious. So, she sat down at her desk, and began to write:
Dear Mother,
Everything is going fine at work. I'm extremely excited to see you all on Christmas, and I apologize for not keeping in touch as often. Work has been have busy, but when has it not? Britain has recently appointed a new Head of Magical Cooperation. You might know him, his name is Draco Malfoy. He's an extremely maleducto pureblood, whose family was associated with Lord Voldemort himself. So, as you can tell, Britain is lacking in qualified people for this position. I can also inform you that he lives up to his description, for he makes it very hard to get along with him. But, you'll be very proud to know that I am making it work, and plan to do my job, no matter how incompetent my partner may be. Best wishes, and amore a tutti,
Marie
Starring at the small note, she let out a sigh, and gave it to her owl, Ciano. "To my mother, Ciano," She whispered, stroking the owl with love. He ruffled his amber feathers, giving a joyous hoot before taking off into the night.
Her house felt so empty, probably because it was. She wasn't accustomed to having anyone over. The last person over was…Edward. Just thinking of his name made her have a weird feeling rise in her stomach. He was so awkward towards her today, she didn't like it at all. But then, her thoughts drifted to Draco's face. She hated practically everything about the man. His insults, his smirk, god, she hated that smirk. She could scream at him, and he'd still have that stupid grin on his face as if it was all one huge joke. "I just need a good night's sleep," Marie mumbled, and trudged into her bed.
Wednesday rolled around quite quickly, starting off horribly for Marie, because as soon as she walked into her office, there Malfoy sat, his left foot resting on his right thigh, hands placed properly in his lap. "Ah, Marie, how nice of you to join me," He taunted, her name practically hissing off his tongue.
"Do not call me by my first name Signore Malfoy. I can assure you that we are not friendly towards one another," Marie growled, taking her spot in her own chair behind her desk.
"We can certainly become friendly."
"I will have to pass on that."
"Let me take you out to breakfast, we can discuss business there, and I will be paying. You simply cannot lose."
"I'll be losing by being found in public with the likes of you."
"You don't believe that."
"I'm sure I do."
"Just one breakfast on me. It's the least I can do since our last encounter," Draco offered once more, putting on a little pout.
Marie crossed her arms and snarled, "What makes you want to be so nice to me, all of a sudden?"
"Oh come on, a beautiful and intelligent woman being mad at me? I cannot let that happen, especially when this person is such an important person, like my diplomatic partner. Wouldn't you agree… Signorina Benedetti?"
Her nose wrinkled at his compliment, only muttering the words, "You don't believe what you said."
"Ah, so you don't think I find you quite lovely and wise?"
"Not even a bit."
"What a shame. Well, you'll be glad to know that despite these things, I am not going to waste my time pursuing someone of such…background," Draco said, rolling his eyes. Marie's upper lip twitched, and she slapped her hand down on the table.
"This is exactly what I was talking about!" She yelled, standing from her chair like their last fight, but this time, Draco also stood. He covered his mouth, a fake look of shock on his face.
"Oh my! I forgot about not mentioning your bloodline, silly me! Don't take it personal, just old habits die hard, you know?"
"I'm starting to hope you'll end up dying with those habits, you-you-"
"Prat? Imbocile? Jerk? Twit? I'm sure all of those apply."
"Who made you so high and potente? I've been in this department longer than you, and I know this job like il dorso della mano. You're blinded if you think you are the superior wizard in this room, and truly lost if you think I'll even give one thought towards a breakfast with you," Marie assured him, stepping away from behind her desk, and towards him, shoving her finger into his chest as she scolded him.
Draco just gave her a sneer, "This is why I find you so interesting. You say all these things about how you despise me, and how you don't care what I saw, and how you don't understand how I can have such a lack of respect for you, when you have yet to cancel our appointments or not blow up when I make a snide remark about you being a halfblood. The most peculiar part of all is through all this shouting, you allow yourself to lay a finger on me, a person you find utterly and horrifyingly disgusting."
Marie slowly looked down at her finger, which was still pressed onto his chest, his calm heartbeat faintly beating into her finger. Draco slowly reached up to take her hand, staring at her the whole time he removed it, painstakingly slow. Still holding on to her hand, he leaned in, and for a split second, Marie thought she was going to let out a scream, but she realized he went past her face, and near her ear. "I suggest you go to breakfast with me. I think you'll feel much safer in the public eye than being locked in your office with a snake. If we stay here, I can't promise you that I can contain myself much longer, my venom is practically dripping out," Draco hissed softly, the heat of his breath tickling her neck. Perspiration poured from her forehead, unsure of what he meant by "venom."
"I suppose…one breakfast can't hurt me," Marie murmured, sounding almost in a trance.
Draco whispered once more in her ear, "Good choice." He gently released her hand, and stepped away from her, leaving her in a trembling mess.
"Now, let's go in town, show me a good place to eat, I'm starved," Draco requested, opening the door to her office to lead her outside the Ministry and into the city. Marie ran her hands through her hair, not looking the man in the eyes. "Where do you wish to go?" Draco asked her, strolling down the streets of Venice. Marie simply shrugged, not even bothering to let her eyes gaze at him. Draco let out a hearty laugh and continued, "Good thing I had a restaurant in mind." He interlocked his arm with Marie's, despite her disapproval, and led her to a waterfront restaurant that she was very familiar with. Edward and her had been here numerous times when they were romantically involved.
Even though the place was bustling with awaiting customers, Draco walked straight to the front desk, told them his name, and was brought to a table overlooking the canal. "How did you manage-"
"I already booked it for us, plus, I am a Malfoy."
"You just assumed I would agree to go to breakfast with you?"
"Why yes, yes I did."
"You're assurdo."
"Obviously not absurd enough that you're still here," Draco sneered, the early morning light catching on his eyes to make them seem so much more dazzling. Marie shook her head in disgust to even possibly think he was attractive in any sense. " How about a less touchy subject, what are you getting?" Draco queried.
Marie glanced at the menu then stated, "Coffee and some biscotti. E tu?"
"Just a coffee for me. Have you been here before?" He pressed on, his eyes drifting towards his watch.
Marie nodded thoughtfully, staring dreamily at the water as she said briefly, "Yes, quite a few times."
"With who?"
"Who said it was with someone?"
"Considering you won't look me in the eyes, I'm assuming you came here before with a man," Draco noted, grinning at the slight blush crawling across her cheeks. She looked at him, and slapped the top of his hand, in an almost…playful manner.
"Maybe so, but it doesn't concern you!"
"Is it that Edward git? I've seen the way he looks at you," Draco grumbled, rolling his eyes at Edward's name.
"I thought you liked Edward," She commented, pausing when the waitress arrived. They both ordered, then continued the conversation.
"No, he's a pixie-eared cretin. I simply tolerate him," Draco insulted, leaning back in his seat.
"Oh come off it, his ears aren't too male," Marie giggled.
"Ah, you must still have feelings for the oaf. What a shame," Draco replied, biting his bottom lip.
Marie shook her head, and sighed, "No, we're through. Why do you care so much?"
"I'm very good at seeing people's potential, so I know you can do much better."
"Oh, really? With who? You?"
"Possibly."
"So you're interested?"
"Ha, no. I just simply am a charming man who loves to flirt with lovely women. Is that a crime?"
"You really are frustrante."
"I have heard that one numerous times from numerous women," Draco chuckled, thanking the waitress as she set their coffee and biscotti on the table.
"Why don't you ever stick with one girl? Unless, you already have, do you have someone you-"
"No, I don't. Nor would I like to. Too much commitment, plus, you'd be surprised how many girls are just around me for my family's money," Draco muttered, stirring his coffee gingerly.
Marie felt a pang of sympathy for him, then questioned, "Why though? I mean, besides the obvious factor that you only want to be with purebloods, why don't the purebloods want you?" Draco simply shook his head, and then raised his sleeve. Etched onto his arm was the horrible Dark Mark she had only heard of. It was an ugly thing, mottled, faded, and grossly engraved into his arm. "This? This is why?"
"I walked out on the fight against Harry Potter, so my Dark Mark has become disfigured, more disturbing than a regular one. It shows everyone that I'm a traitor to wizards by siding with Voldemort, but also a traitor to those who supported him. No pureblood wants a traitor like me for life, even if it meant uniting two pureblooded families together. And since both my parents have gone into hiding, well, that doesn't help my case," Draco explained to her, his grey eyes becoming duller.
"I'm terribly sorry, Signore Malfoy. We all make mistakes, it's just sad that yours remains upon your arm as a permanent reminder."
He cleared his throat and pulled out a slip of paper, "It doesn't matter anyway, what's done is done. What we should be focusing on is the hippogriff law. I've wrote up a few key factors in this, and I've already got a meeting set up with the head of the RCMC discussing wrangling those foul, beastly things." Marie placed her hands on her lap, giving him a puzzled expression.
"Why are you so rude to these creatures? What have they done to you?"
"Enough," Draco retorted, handing the waitress money as she came over with the bill. "Back in my third year at Hogwarts, I got into a bit of a spat with a hippogriff."
"Ah, and you did absolutely nothing to provoke it? I find that very difficile to believe," Marie said in an annoyed tone.
Draco crossed his arms, and replied, "Even if I did, it had no reason to attempt to maim me. They're useless creatures, and I could care less if they all died. However, since my job is for what is best for everyone, I'm forced to comply to your hostage situation you've put me in."
Marie let out a laugh, "Hostage situation? That's what you think this is? I'm afraid it's called diplomatic solutions, you should try looking into it."
"I'm not one for diplomatic solutions."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"That we should be heading back now."
"We haven't even really discussed much of anything though," Marie protested, but Draco leaned forward, grabbed her hand, and Apparated out of the restaurant. When they landed, Marie was dizzy, leaning against her desk for support. "Why did you bring me back here?" Marie asked, rubbing her eyes.
"What? Are you saying you actually didn't mind being with me? Well, no matter, I have places to be anyway." Draco spoke rapidly, Marie taking notice of his hands beginning to shake.
"Signore Malfoy, are you alright?" Marie called out, reaching out to grab him. His eyes were becoming glassy, his eyes becoming tinted red. The man was stumbling back, right into Marie's bookcase.
"I'm perfectly fine, just back away!" Draco snarled, stretching his arms out to ward her away. Marie look terrified, unsure of what to do.
"Louis! Louis! Ottenere aiuto!" She screeched, but as soon as she got her cry for help out, Draco Apparated out of the office, a tiny puff of black smoke still lingering in his place. Louis burst in with his wand ready, but he just looked around, confused.
"Signorina Benedetti, stai bene?" He managed to articulate.
Marie nodded very slowly, then whispered, "It was just Signore Malfoy. He's gone now…you can bring in my next person for their appointment with me."
Meanwhile, at Malfoy Manor, Draco tripped into the entrance of his home, his Apparation only intensifying his visions. The Draught of Peace was up the stairs in his room, and he wasn't sure if he would be able to climb all those stairs. "Jinx, where are you?" Draco wailed for his house elf. Although he was rather fond of Jinx, the house elf was a little hard of hearing since she was born partially deaf. But, his parents gave him Jinx before they went into hiding, thinking it was the best thing for Draco if they weren't there.
Rushing images of Voldemort plagued his mind, swatches of green light, and a scream he couldn't quite place a name to. Draco collapsed on the ground, his vision becoming blurrier by the second. His heart was beating out of his chest, and sweat came out of his pours as if they were crying for him. "Jinx! Help…me…please!" He sputtered, his head falling to the floor. His eyes lazily drifted across the room to see Hermione Granger. She was lying on his floor too, sobbing. Just in his view was the terrible scar his aunt carved into her arm, "mudblood". Tears came streaming from his eyes, and he moaned, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to betray you, just make the nightmares stop!"
"Master? Are you okay?" He heard Jinx say, but her voice sounded so muffled, as if she was underwater.
"Jinx! Get the Draught of Peace, and hurry!" He continued to blubber, curling up into a ball, with his knees into his chest. A mixture of snot and blood ran from his nose. He had never had an attack like this before. They were usually much milder, a few visions and a throbbing headache, nothing unbearable. But now, he felt on the verge of death.
Another quick pulse of images flashed before his eyes, but they soon faded away as he felt the warm potion sliding down his throat. His heart began to slow its beat, and he felt his body grow colder, his sweat now just a clammy discomfort. "Does Master feel better now?" Jinx wondered aloud, placing her tiny hand on his forehead.
Draco swallowed his saliva, and murmured, "Yes Jinx, thank you."
"Does Jinx need to bring Master to his bedroom for sleep?"
"No, I'm fine, just don't let anyone in here until I tell you to allow people back in here," Draco ordered, before his eyes gradually shut, and he disappeared into a deep sleep.
Jinx pet Draco's hair and sighed, "Master needs sleep, Master has had busy day."
Thank you guys for reading, I hope you liked this chapter. A little bit of action between the two, with possibly more action in the next chapter, ooooo! Don't forget to review, comment, share, like or message me, any input from you guys is wonderful and I really appreciate it. Your opinions will not go unheard! Thanks, and remember, stay awesome, Gotham.
-April