Now I know you all want Addie to be in this one, but I can't fit her without changing the whole Harry-Ginny thing, and though you may not know this, I am a Harry/Ginny shipper at heart. This fic will be Addie-less BUT never fear, for an Addie fic may return in the future. And since I have developed a newfound infatuation with Draco Malfoy, who knows what might be up with her.
And just to clarify, I continue writing with the notion that the wizard world IS NOT that different from ours and they too can get all caught up in celebrity gossip. So why don't we just think of Draco-Adelina as the Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes (I think that's her name) of the wizarding world and move on with our lives.
The three arrived back at Malfoy Manor just as the sun had begun to set. Adelina stepped out of the fireplace and was immediately reminded of how cold Malfoy Manor was.
Maybe if they actually lit a fire every once in a while it wouldn't be so drafty…She thought.
Draco stepped out of the fire and brushed the ashes off his robes. He tossed his hair out of his eyes, which made Adelina realize that he had taken her advice and not slicked it back.
Mrs.Malfoy arrived last, carrying the bags of books and looking very pleased with herself.
"So you two are going out to dinner?" She asked. "How lovely…"
"Where are you taking me, Draco?" Adelina asked. "I need to know how to dress for the occasion."
"It's a highly exclusive restaurant called Twiddletoes." Draco said. "It's rather formal so dress robes would be appropriate."
"Oh Twiddletoes will be just divine for your first appearance in public!" Narcissa exclaimed. "There are always reporters hanging around there looking for the latest gossip."
"Reporters?" Adelina asked. "Why do you care about reporters?"
"The Malfoy's have had their name out of the papers for much too long. Your marriage to Draco will surely be a sensational story."
"Surely." Adelina replied. "Well then, I suppose I will retire to my room in order to get myself ready. Though I know I would need to do little to nothing to look beautiful, I'll put a little extra effort in tonight."
"I'll need you to be ready by seven o' clock." Draco instructed.
"That only gives me three hours." Adelina replied. "Surely you cannot expect me to be ready in three hours."
"I can, and I do." Draco replied. "I will see you at seven."
Adelina walked up to her room and immediately searched through her immense wardrobe for something appropriate to wear. Adelina had never felt the need to impress anyone, but she had the strange desire tonight, to look impeccable.
It is because of the reporters. She thought. I have to look especially beautiful if my picture is to be in the papers.
Adelina chose a pale blue dress that she had received from a boyfriend many years ago. The fabric was of a rare make and it grew with her, so she would always be able to wear it, and it would always look flattering. She laid the dress out on her bed and then went into the bathroom to shower. She picked out her favorite scent of body wash and cleaned off her entire body. She got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself.
She rustled through her bag for Telliwing's Instant Drying Spray and sprayed it all over her hair. It immediately fell into long curls around her shoulders and she smiled at her reflection. She quickly applied a minimal amount of makeup and slipped into the blue dress. It fit her like a glove. She stood in the full length mirror analyzing her appearance from all sides.
"You look lovely dear." The mirror said. "You'll knock him off his feet."
"I have already 'knocked him off his feet', and besides it is not him I am trying to impress, I must look nice for the papers." Adelina replied coolly.
"Whatever you say dear" The mirror replied.
Draco waited impatiently at the bottom of the staircase.
It's seven o' five, where is she? He thought.
Suddenly he heard the clicking of heels coming down the hallway and Adelina appeared on the staircase. She took his breath away. She was sheer perfection. Her eyes glistened, her hair shone, and her smile…well Draco didn't know much about her smile, since she wasn't smiling, but he was sure it was divine. She descended the stairs gracefully, using one hand to balance herself on the banister.
She was absolutely perfect, a vision of loveliness, a perfect match for any pureblood boy. And then, she opened her mouth…
"You know, I am so glad to get out of this house." She said indignantly. "Is it just your family, or is it all of England that chooses such mundane decor."
"Well I'm sorry it's not to your liking, but the Malfoy family has more to worry about than catering to the whims of some sixteen year old witch who thinks she's worth the entire world." Draco replied coolly. "Now let's go, we're going to be late."
The two walked toward the fire and before Draco could even think of what he was doing, he took Adelina's hand. Their eyes met, for just a moment, and Draco thought he could be sure he saw the slightest blush reach her cheeks.
He took a deep breath and said, "Twiddletoes!" and almost instantly the room spun out of focus.
The two landed in a luxurious ballroom where witches and wizards were popping in all over the place, and meeting up with their prestigious looking guests. The high, vaulted, ceiling was made to show a beautiful night sky. Everyone was dressed with varying degrees of elegance, and no one stopped to think when two teenagers dropped in through the fireplace.
"Ah, and you are?" An olderman asked staring at them from atop a tall podium.
"Draco Malfoy, and Adelina Castillo." Draco replied promptly. "And we would like to have the engagement table please."
Draco's mother had pulled him aside before they had left, and impressed upon him how important this date really was.
"Make sure they know you're engaged." Narcissa said urgently. "And make a big deal over the proposal."
"Proposal?" Draco had asked. "I hardly think there needs to be a proposal!"
"Don't be silly, we want this to be a proper wedding." Narcissa said. "You will give her this."
She handed Malfoy a small ring box marked with the Malfoy family crest. Draco knew what it was at once; every man in the Malfoy family had to propose with the same wedding band. It had been in the family for centuries.
He opened it up and took a look inside. It was a simple, silver band, with MALFOY engraved across it. It shone as though it was brand new, and he could just picture slipping it onto Adelina's slender finger.
"The engagement table?" The host asked. "Aren't you a little young."
"Did you not hear him?" Adelina spoke up. "The engagement table, would we ask for the engagement table if we were not engaged?"
People in the hall had started to turn their attention to the two teenagers. Whispers began flurrying across the room.
"Engaged?"
"Surely not!"
"They're so young!"
The man looked at the two teenagers standing before him. They were a very impressive couple. The boy being tall, pale, and handsome, exuding British Pureblood elegance, and the girl, exotic and stunning, the two would make a handsome pair.
A voice from across the hall called after them.
"Engaged?" Draco turned to realize that it was none other than Rita Skeeter.
"Engaged at such a young age?" She asked. "Would you care to comment?"
"Hello, Rita." Draco said solemnly. "I haven't seen you in a while."
"Oh Draco darling, how are you?" She asked, taking out her quick quotes quill.
"Just fine" He replied coolly. He hadn't forgotten her latest sensational article The Malfoy Family: When Good Names Go Bad.
"And who is your charming friend." She asked staring at Adelina.
Adelina shot her a contemptuous glare and said, "I am his fiancée, Adelina Castillo."
The reporter's eyes flickered with excitement. "Adelina Castillo…of the Madrid Castillo's?"
"Do you know of any other Castillo's?" Adelina asked. "Draco I want to go to our table, I am starving."
"Oh of course," Draco smiled. "Will you excuse us…"
"I'll just follow you there!" Rita exclaimed. "Come on host; don't keep the lovely couple waiting."
The three followed the host to their table and as soon as they sat down, they were bombarded with questions.
"Was this an arrangement between your parents?" She asked Adelina.
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy and my father arranged it." She replied, sipping some wine.
"And how do you feel, being thrown into this new country to marry a boy you'd never even met? Scared? Confused?"
"Hungry." Adelina replied. "Waiter! Waiter over here!"
Rita was not discouraged, she just moved on to Draco. "What was your first impression of Adelina?" She asked.
"She was beautiful. All I could have ever wanted in a wife." He replied gazing at Adelina.
"And your first thoughts on Draco?" She asked Adelina.
"He was short." She said curtly, picking at her salad.
"I'm a good inch taller than you." Draco said through gritted teeth.
"And I am short." She said. "Which is becoming on a woman, but not a man, have you ever considered putting lifts in your shoes?"
"I don't need lifts in my shoes thank-you-very-much." Draco said.
Rita's quill began scribbling frantically. "Ah! A lover's quarrel! How romantic!"
"Lovers?" Adelina laughed, "hardly."
Rita's eyes flashed with excitement, "So you don't fancy each other?"
"Well, I never held the notion that I would fancy my husband." Adelina replied. "But, as far as Draco goes, he is exactly what I expected, not what I wanted, but what I expected."
"What would you have wanted in a husband?" Rita asked. "If you were allowed to choose?"
Adelina paused for a moment, and then said, "You know, I've never really given much thought to the matter, I have not the faintest idea."
The quill was scribbling furiously now, and Draco could tell that this news story was not going the way that he had planned.
"I know that this is difficult for the both of us." Draco spoke up. "But I am sure, with a little more time to get to know one another, we will be perfectly happy."
Now is the time. He thought. I have to spring the ring on her.
Draco stood up. "And that is why, dear Adelina, I brought you here tonight."
He got down on one knee and pulled the ring out of his robes.
"To start things out right," He said "and to ask you, Adelina Castillo, to marry me."
The entire hall was buzzing with excitement, and Draco thought Rita was going to die of shock. He took a moment to look up at Adelina's face, and then realized why everyone was so shocked. She looked absolutely disgusted. She looked at Draco as though he were a maggot, a disgusting bug that needed to be crushed. Her eyes fell on the ring and she raised her eyebrow in amusement.
"You could not go out and by me a new ring?" She laughed. "Tactless…"
"This ring has been in the Malfoy family for years." He said, still keeping a smile plastered onto his face. "It's tradition to—"
"Propose to someone you know is going to say yes?" She asked. "Well alright, fine, I accept your proposal darling Draco, now get up off your knee you will get your robes all dirty."
Draco slipped the ring onto her finger, and Rita's cameraman began taking frantic pictures.
"Smile for the camera!" He cried.
"Please, just do it," Draco whispered.
"Alright, alright, but only for the publicity…" She replied.
The couple stood up and she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Draco felt his head begin to spin. She smelled so good, like vanilla. Camera's were flashing, people were yelling, and all he cared about was that the most beautiful girl he had ever met was hugging him.
She let go, after what seemed like an eternity, and sat back down at the table.
"Draco, I am quite done with this dinner." She said. "Take me home, at once."
"O—Of course…" He said, still a little bit shaken.
"You'll have to excuse us, Miss Skeeter, but we have to go back home." He said.
"Home?" Rita asked. "She's living with you?"
"Well I will be attending Hogwarts this year so—"
"Hogwarts?" Rita exclaimed, "But no one ever switches in to Hogwarts."
"Well I would have continued my education at my proper school, but they do not allow for someone living in England to attend." She said. "And since my name has been down since birth for Hogwarts, all I needed to do was send in some transcripts and Dumbledore was very kind to allow me entry." Adelina said. "Now Miss Skeeter, I have a question for you."
"Yes?" The reporter said.
"Why is it, during a time when the most powerful dark wizard in the world is running free you are reporting about two teenagers going out on a date?" Adelina asked.
"Well, that's very simple Miss Castillo." Rita purred. "No matter what is going on in the world, people will always be interested in the lives of rich socialites. And considering the Malfoy families recent—misfortune—I predict this story will be a smash hit."
"Of course" Adelina said. "I suppose Britain holds no stock in real journalism."
Draco stopped in his tracks.
Don't do it, Adelina. He thought desperately. You don't know who you're dealing with.
"Oh, Adelina!" Draco laughed, a bit too loud. "Always the jokester! You know Miss Skeeter, this morning we were reading your article in the Prophet about dress robes and we really enjoyed it—didn't we Adelina—? Well look at the time, got to run, goodbye!"
Draco grabbed Adelina's forearm, shouted "MALFOY MANOR" and leaped into the fire.
The two tumbled into the parlor where Mrs. Malfoy was eagerly awaiting their return.
"How did it go?" She asked, not even bothering to help them up.
"Well, there will be a story." Draco said. "It could be good or bad, but it will be publicity."
"Yes, well let's hope it's good." She muttered. "Adelina did you enjoy yourself?"
"The food was alright, the restaurant was noisy, and the company—" She paused. "Acceptable."
"W—Well I'm glad to hear it—" Narcissa said. "Now, I think its time you headed up to bed."
"Very well, goodnight." Adelina said, turned on her heels, and stalked up to bed.
Draco watched her as she moved gracefully up the steps, the fabric of her dress moved with her, and he couldn't help but smile as he heard the door close to her room. He let out a loud yawn, said goodnight to his mother, and made his way up the stairs. As he passed by Adelina's room he smiled, he could remember her vanilla scent clearly. He lingered by her door for a moment, wondering if maybe he should knock.
Draco swore he could hear her humming a quiet tune as she got ready to go to bed. He stood outside her door, debating on if he should say anything to her. Then her light went out, and he knew he'd missed his chance.
The week until their departure for Hogwarts passed quickly. The article on Draco and Adelina's date came out in that morning's daily prophet, and Adelina read it as she walked down the stairs to breakfast.
What's in a name? by Rita Skeeter
Draco Malfoy, the handsome heir to the Malfoy fortune
has been stricken with sadness in recent months due to the imprisonment
of his father, under charges of being a Death Eater. But even still, love
has bloomed in Malfoy Manor, as Draco prepares for a long engagement to
Spanish bombshell Adelina Castillo. The two first appeared at Twiddletoes
restaurant requesting the engagement booth, where they insisted I conduct an interview.
While Draco seemed more than pleased to be marrying, the
beautiful Spanish heiress, she seemed less than pleased to be with him.
"If I had my way." She said. "He would be taller."
The Wizard world has not seen an official arranged marriage for
centuries, but it is commonly known that many families do still arrange
marriages between their sons and daughters, unofficially. The couple looked
stunning together, both dressed in fine robes awaiting their high-class dinner. But this reporter, would like to
comment, that not only is Miss Adelina rude, but she
does seem to harbor less-than-romantic feelings for the boy whom she must
wed. Halfway through the evening Draco got down on bended knee to present her
with a ring that had been in the Malfoy family for ages. Adelina merely laughed at this and asked if he could
not get her a new ring. She accepted, of course, because
she had no choice, and continued to bully Draco all throughout dinner.
"Miss Adelina Castillo is known for being rude." An insider at the Ministry said. "But it's no wonder the
Malfoy's chose her, neither one of them would have been able to find a partner and still remained
pureblood. Nobody wants the to be tied to a Malfoy, what with his father being convicted and all, and as for
the girl, lovely as she is, she's got that nasty streak that makes her unbearable."
This reporter bore witness to that nasty streak when Miss Adelina, not
not only refused to thank me for the interview that she had asked me to have, but
also insulted my credentials as a reporter stating, "Well, in Spain we do enjoy
real news, perhaps it is not the same on your silly island."
In any case, I think it would be safe for all of us to advise Mr. Malfoy to,
however desperate his case may be, attempt to find another, friendlier fiancée.
Adelina read the article over her tea, not in the least bit upset by it. She was sitting in the dining room alone, waiting for either Draco or his mother to come downstairs with their things. She, of course, had packed the night before, and was simply waiting for them to get ready. She took the time alone to analyze the house that would one day, be her home. It was dark, lit mainly by large candelabras. The ceilings were high, and the doors to every room were large and old. The floors were stony, and though some had old, red, carpeting draped over them, it all played in to the sinister nature of the house. Dust had gathered on all the mantels and bookshelves, as though even their houself had given up trying to clean it long ago.
This place was nothing like her home in Spain. They lived in a Spanish style home with low ceilings and white walls. Sun streamed into ever room through the large, two story windows, and it always remained impeccably clean. She used to take long walks on their enormous property and listen to the world that lay just beyond her garden walls.
"Are you ready?" Draco asked. "We need to get going."
She looked up and saw that Draco was in his muggle attire, getting ready to enter the city. She had not realized that they would be needing to blend in to go to this 'Hogwarts express' and she immediately stood up from the table.
"I will have to do a quick change of clothes, and then I will be ready." She said.
"Well, hurry up, we don't have much time." He called after her.
She rushed upstairs and threw on a blue blouse and a black skirt. She slipped on some black high heeled shoes, and ran downstairs.
"The houself will get your things." Draco said. "Now, we must be off."
"We have to take a muggle taxi." Narcissa said. "The ministry usually provides us with cars but with the current circumstances—"
She trailed off as the taxi pulled into the driveway. They stuffed their things into the trunk of the car and piled into the back seat.
"Where to?" The cab driver asked.
He had a thick accent and his hair was very thin. Adelina found his appearance disgusting, and he smelled of old cabbage.
"London train station." Narcissa said coldly. "Hurry."
The man sped down the busy streets and dropped them off in front of a bustling train station.
"That'll be twenty—" before the man could get his last word out Narcissa put her wand up to his temple.
"We already paid." She whispered to the man.
She pulled her wand away and the man sped off.
"You would think." Adelina said to no one in particular. "That a family as rich as the Malfoy's would be able to pay for their cab-fair."
"A Malfoy will never pay a filthy muggle." Narcissa said.
"A muggle deserves to earn his keep just as much as you do." Adelina replied. "And considering the fact that he is earning honest money I think he actually deserves it more than you, but that is of course, just my opinion."
Narcissa's eyes narrowed as they walked on to platform nine.
"Well Draco, I suppose you'll have to tell her how to get onto the platform then." Narcissa said.
"Alright." Draco replied. "Do you see that barrier there, between platforms nine and ten?"
"Yes of course I see it, I am not blind." Adelina replied.
"You're going to run into it." Draco informed her.
"I am going to do what?" She asked.
"Mother, why don't you show her?" Draco asked.
Mrs. Malfoy picked up her purse, looked around, and ran directly at the barrier, and then disappeared into it.
"Oh, I see." Adelina said quietly.
She was not in any hurry to run herself, face first, into a seemingly solid barrier, but it seemed to be the only way to get to the train so without a word to Draco she picked up her belongings and ran through the barrier.
She immediately arrived at an alternate train station, by the name of Platform Nine and Three Quarters. There was not a muggle in sight now, and everyone was boarding the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Draco arrived through the platform next and Mrs. Malfoy guided them toward the train.
"Now remember to stay out of trouble." Mrs. Malfoy said, more to Draco than to Adelina.
"Goodbye Mrs. Malfoy." Adelina said, preparing to carry her things onto the train.
As she did, she turned around and caught a glimpse of a rare moment of tenderness between a mother and son.
Narcissa put her hand gently on her sons face, "Please, let Severus help you."
"Mother, I can do this alone." Draco replied. "I'm going to miss the train."
In an instant of spontaneity Narcissa wrapped her arms around her son.
"Have a good trip, don't forget to write me." She said.
"I won't mother." He said. "Goodbye."
Then he picked up his things and boarded the train.