Magic under the mistletoe
After talking to Narcissa, Clara went up to her room. She smoked a cigarette, then another, trying to put her thoughts in order and to decipher Narcissa Malfoy. It was getting dark and soon Lucius and Draco will arrive. The sky was loaded with grey and milky clouds. She got dressed and went outside for a walk.
The fresh air felt so good! And then, snow flakes began dancing around her. She lit another cigarette and caught sight of Lucius entering the Manor. "Hmm...Draco is here," she thought but didn't go great him.
When arriving home, all that Draco wanted was to get some sleep. He had seen Clara in the garden, with her back turned to them and spotted the lit top of her cigarette. He suddenly felt so relieved, his body so light and tired! He floated his trunk in his room and, passing his parents who were talking in the living room, he went to join their guest in the garden. He found her quickly, leaning against a wall of the greenhouse, hidden from the occupants of the house.
"Good evening, Clara!" he said smiling.
"Hi! Welcome home!" she answered extending her pack of cigarettes.
He took a cigarette and she lit it for him with that flame she liked to make appear in the middle of the palm.
"So, what happened to you? Did your girlfriend kept you awake every night?" she asked, a shadow of sarcasm in her voice.
"No, she didn't."
"I see...Someone else then?"
"Yeah, someone else...How was your week?"
"Well, last Monday I went shopping with your mother," she started.
"Really? How did it go?" Draco inquired.
"Mostly...all right, I guess. I have a wand now.
"Show me!" he said impatiently.
"It's in my room."
"WHAT? You're mental! Your wand must never leave you! It must be like a second skin!" Draco exclaimed, not believing how calmly Clara stated that to him.
"Ok, I got it! Want to come up and see what I bought?" she answered amused.
"Let's go," Draco said and almost started to run towards the entrance door.
They entered her room and the first thing Draco laid eyes on was a huge, black crow on her night table.
"Oh, that's Hugin," Clara told him when she saw the surprised look on his face.
She opened her trunk and got her wand out of one of the hidden compartments. She gave it to Draco who admired it for a while, then handed it back to her.
"It's very beautiful. You went to Ollivander's?"
"Yes. And I got a lot of other stuff," she said and started to show Draco her leather pants, her hooked cloaks, her boots, her seal and wax boxes, and parchments.
"I also bought Muggle clothing. And had this done," she added and off her blouse.
But Draco's eyes stopped somewhere to the right side of her arm first, and then on the tattoo she had.
"Wow! It looks alive," he said touching gently the silver snake coiled on her upper left arm.
"It's made with Life Ink, just like my wings."
"Did it hurt?" he whispered.
"Very much."
Draco's hand slid down her arm and touched the Dark Mark. He looked at it for a while, then decided to change the subject and looked away from her.
"So, how come father let you go to Muggle London alone?"
"Well, he knows I dragged your mother with me, but in fact I did go there alone!" she said smiling slyly.
"Why didn't you take the opportunity to...lose yourself?" he inquired.
"And why would I want to do that? I have plenty of advantages here. Where would I go? And besides, who knows what would have happened to your mother if I decided not to show up!"
Draco gulped.
"Advantages? Here?" he asked surprised. He was also astonished that Clara thought about the punishment his mother would receive in such situation.
"Well, if I were to disappear, I wouldn't have the pleasure of seeing you, would I?"
The teenager turned deep red. After all those nights when he didn't sleep because of her image haunting him, the fact that she made her intentions clear was somewhat strange and disturbing. No, she's joking! he said to himself.
"So, how was school?" Clara asked, changing the subject.
"Well, Potter got into trouble again," he said grinning. "Umbridge gave him detention and, no matter how hard he tried to hide it, he had marks on his hand."
"What do you mean, marks?"
"Ah. Umbridge's favourite punishment is to make one write down lines with a special quill that inflicts cuts on your skin. Basically, whatever you write on paper is written on the back of you hand, over and over again."
"Ouch! Is this kind of punishment accepted in school?" Clara asked thinking that she will not get caught with anything in order not to receive that kind of treatment.
"Well, while Dumbledore was Headmaster it wasn't...But now..."
"So, what do you have against Potter?"
"Oh, saint Potter, if you please! The Golden Boy!" Draco said theatrically. "First of all, he's in Gryffindor...And Slytherins and Gryffindors have never been friends."
"Please explain this Houses situation," Clara said.
They spent a lot of time talking about how Hogwarts was divided in four houses, about the Sorting Hat, about the castle itself. Well, Draco did most of the talking.
"Best we get some sleep, Draco. We have a long night tomorrow," Clara finally said.
"Yeah, you're right," Draco replied, getting up from the armchair.
All of the sudden, he turned to Clara and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled slyly, in that manner Draco begun to love, but didn't kiss him back or said anything. He went to his room, didn't bother to change and slept like a baby until eleven o'clock the next morning, when his mother woke him up.
Clara woke up later than usual as well and was surprised to see a very beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby while she was heading for breakfast. She closed herself in the library afterwards.
After finishing quickly his breakfast, Draco went to talk to his mother for a while.
"Clara told me you went shopping last week. How was it?"
"It was strange, especially when she picked up her wand. Ollivander searched quite a lot to find one that suits her...and then, this crow or raven landed on her shoulder..and when we were at Madam Malkin's she disappeared! You can imagine my exasperation when I realised she wasn't near me any more!" his mother said.
"She went to get a new tattoo, that's why she disappeared." Draco whispered, mostly to himself.
"What? She didn't tell me anything about that!" Narcissa said pouting.
"She showed it to me last night," Draco said, gulping.
"DRACO MALFOY! I do hope that you did not let yourself charmed into her bed!" Narcissa said, outraged. To think I actually considered trusting that...that little slut!
"Don't worry, mother!" Draco answered, amused at his mother reaction. "Nothing happened, I swear! Besides, she tattooed her arm, not her ass."
"Draco!"
"Sorry, mother!" he said, smiling. And besides, she will end up in my bed sooner than you think, he said to himself. "By the way, where is she?"
"Probably in the library. She spends all her day in there. She doesn't even have lunch! And after dinner, she goes with your father in the dungeons to practice spells until very late in the night."
"With father?" Draco asked, distrustful.
"I know what you're thinking, Draco! That's what I suspected at first, too. But there's something in your father's behaviour, and in hers as well, that made me think otherwise."
"Well, if you are certain, mother! I'll go find her," he said and headed to the library.
In the library...
Clara was turning the pages of a rather slim book, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed under herself, a bit bended, a position that gave Draco a good view of her breasts. She wasn't wearing a corset, like the first night he saw her, but a long-sleeved blouse with a wide round neck-opening, blood-red and a pair of low-waist jeans.
"What are you reading?" Draco asked and kissed her again on the cheek. This time, she kissed him back.
"It's a book about Basilisks. Fascinating creatures! I thought only the Medusa can petrify you with her looks..."
"We had a Basilisk in Hogwarts. Rumour has it that Potter killed it in the Chamber of Secrets, in our second year," Draco said and started to tell Clara about what happened.
"The boy's got courage!" she exclaimed when Draco finished.
"Yeah...Stupidly courageous, a Gryffindor's main trait of character," Draco said bitterly.
"Courageous, but not cunning!" she added, smiling to the teenager. "I don't think you really hate him, Draco."
"Of course I do!" he burst.
"No, you think you do because your father thought you so. In fact, you admire him."
"I certainly don't!"
She kept her smile and looked deep into his eyes, making all his anger melt down like a marshmallow faced to extreme heat. I can't possibly fall for her. It's out of the question! She's older than me! And...and...I can't!
"How many books have you read?" he changed the subject.
"Err, I don't know. I read a book in twenty-thirty minutes, depending on its size."
"That's not humanly possible! You're joking." he said, laughing.
"Nope! As I told your father, I've learned a fast-reading technique."
"Ah! Muggle stuff..."
"By the way, were you able to get your school books for me?" she asked.
"Sure, they're in my room. Do you want them now?"
"If it's not too much trouble. And we can grab a cigarette on the way," she added in a whisper.
He smiled with complicity and they went up to his room.
She took the books to her room and sorted them quickly by subject: Potions, defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, History of Magic, etc...
"I noticed you put the Potions books first. Interested in Potions?" Draco asked.
"Of what I read, it sounds interesting. I never actually had the chance to brew yet. Your father was more concentrated in teaching me some spells. I guess "he" won't ask me to brew potions."
"No, I guess he won't. But if you want, I can show you. I love Potions!" Draco offered.
"Yes, I want, thanks!"
"My partner and I have the highest marks in Potions. Snape is quite proud that some Slytherins are interested," Draco continued.
"I guessed Snape was your Potions teacher. How is he in class?"
"Well, not very different. Grumpy as always. Not very popular, not even among us, even if he is our Head of House. Evie is quite scared of him!" Draco chuckled.
"Evie?"
"Yes, she's my partner in Potions. We make quite a good team!"
"So, she's the one keeping you awake at nights! Err, with your Potions projects, I mean!" Clara added, bemused, when she saw the perplex look on his face.
"No, it's not like that! I know her since we were kids. She's just a very good friend, that's all."
"Alright, whatever you say!"
"Anyways, Snape is a good teacher. He's very passionate about his subject. But he would do great as a DADA professor as well!" Draco said, ignoring the grin over Clara's face.
"So you like him." Clara stated.
"Huh?"
"I noticed your father looks at him with a certain amount of disgust. Do you feel the same?" Clara explained, lighting a cigarette.
"Officially, I do. In fact, officially I'm very much like my father, especially in school," he said, grinning.
"But..." Clara continued his phrase.
"He's not that bad. I guess if I were to trust any other adult than my mother, he would be the one. How about you?"
"Well, Snape and I share a lot." Clara said, hesitating.
"Excuse me?" Draco choked.
"I'll tell you another time."
"Why? Why don't you tell me now?"
"Not now, Draco. But I'll tell you that it's not what you're thinking, not by far."
"How do you know what I'm thinking?" Draco pouted.
She just gave him a knowingly smile and petted Hugin who came into the room when she opened the window for it.
"Do you trust that bird? You know, it could very well be an Animagi spying on you, or us!" Draco said, making a mind note to ask Clara more about her relationship with Snape later.
"It is not. I took the liberty to exercise some spells on Hugin. I read about Animagus in one of the books in your library and found some spells, among which was this spell to help one reveal hidden secrets."
"Which one?" Draco inquired.
"Revelare, obviously."
"Ah! That one. But can you be sure you casted it right? I mean, in your condition..."
"Hmm...Do you wish to test me?" Clara asked, a defiant smile spread on her face.
"Are you suggesting a duel?" Draco responded.
"The dungeons or the garden?"
"Dungeons!" Draco replied, with his wand at hand already.
They stormed down the stairs laughing like two small children ready to accomplish a mischief.
Narcissa popped out her head from behind her bedroom door, but they had reached the dungeons before she could realise what was happening. Her curiosity aroused, she followed the dim sounds. When she reached the dungeons door, she saw the two of them bowing to each other and assuming a duel position. She decided not to intervene.
Draco casted Expelliarmus, but Clara avoided it. Then he casted Accio, trying to get her wand, but the girl whispered Protego, creating a round shield that surrounded her. Draco got angry that he didn't hit her yet and casted Petrificus Totalus. But the spell deviated on Clara's shield and the energy beam was headed towards Narcissa, who was in the doorway. Clara made her shield decompose like smoke with a movement of her hand and, with her left hand extended, she screamed PROTEGO.
Narcissa watched in slow motion a watery arch surrounding her and her son's spell melting in it. Clara sighed in relief and lowered her arm. Draco was shaking and looked terrified.
"Thank you, Clara!" Narcissa said in a shaky voice.
"You...can perform wandless magic," Draco whispered, approaching her and his mother.
"And you are a bad loser. Now, how about we keep some details of what happened to ourselves, shall we?" Clara asked, looking from mother to son with a stern and determined expression.
"Great suggestion!" Narcissa replied and looked inquiringly to her son.
"Sure, no problem," Draco barely replied.
"Good! Now, you two should go get ready for the party", Narcissa added, pushing her son trough the dungeons door.
Just as they arrived in the lobby, Lucius was admiring the Christmas tree. They gulped.
"Well, where have you been? You should go and get dressed. The party starts in two hours!" he snapped, mostly at Draco.
"Draco was testing Clara's defence," Narcissa said before any of them got the chance to open their mouths.
'So, how did she do?" Lucius asked Draco.
"You taught me well, Lucius. I repelled his spells," Clara answered.
"Good, good! The Dark Lord will be pleased with your progress, Clara. I think he's got a little test for your next meeting," he whispered and winked to her.
Draco gulped and glanced at a very calm Clara.
"You wouldn't happen to know when that will be?" she asked Lucius eagerly.
"It's a surprise, dear! Now go get dressed," he dismissed her.
Clara followed Draco upstairs and went to her room. After a quick shower, she unpacked her dress and admired it. I will need help with this corset, won't I? Why not ask our dear Draco for a hand? she thought, smiling mischievously. She headed to Draco's room and entered without knocking. He was in front of his wardrobe, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist and having drips of water on his back due to his wet hair. He didn't hear her come in and was busy choosing a shirt.
"Draco..." she said while scanning him from top to bottom.
"You could knock, you know?" he said, turning around startled.
"Why should I bother? You never do that."
"Hmm. Touché!"
"I need you help. If you could come to my room..." she said.
"Alright, I'll be there soon," Draco answered, looking at her leave, dressed in a black bathrobe and barefoot.
She did her hair quickly and applied some makeup. Draco entered her room.
"Where's the bird?"
"Hugin likes to go out a lot. He'll be back soon," Clara answered while putting her makeup back on her night table.
"So, what did you need help with?" Draco said impatiently.
She opened her wardrobe and took out the dress and a package both big and long.
"First, I need you to help me with my corset. And this...is my Christmas present for you," she said extending the package. "But don't open it until midnight, please!"
Draco took it slowly, visibly touched by her gesture and curious as to what was in it.
Meanwhile, Clara took her bathrobe off and covered her front with the corset, turning her back to Draco and waiting for him to tie it. He stopped a little to admire the black wings covering her back and started to arrange the laces of the corset, finishing with a ribbon down.
"Is it tight enough?" he asked her.
"It's perfect, thanks!" she answered, turning around and trying to hide the emotions she felt while his fingers were slightly touching her back.
Draco gulped at the sight of the pushed-up breasts, moving up and down in the pace of her breath. He looked up to meet her amused gaze.
"Err...I'll go finish getting dressed," he said looking down her legs. This girl sure wears a lot of black...even the underwear...he thought while walking to the door. He stopped for a moment, then turned the doorknob and left.
With a smile hanging in the corner of her mouth, Clara put her bathrobe back on, opened a window and lit a cigarette. Hugin landed on the window frame. She made place for the bird to enter the room, but it didn't move.
"Oh, you want some more fresh air? Tell me Hugin, should I get my claws on him now or should I let him boil a little more?"
Getting no response from the raven, she continued:
"Ah, you're right! Why wait any longer? Now I have to finish getting dressed. You haven't told anyone about my special training every night, have you? No, how could you? You're just a bird after all," she added while petting the raven on its chest.
At nine o'clock that evening the Manor became invaded with people. Lucius and Narcissa were welcoming the guests while Draco was entertaining with friends from school. His mother took him aside and whispered in his ear:
"Go see what she is doing! Better yet, bring her down for once!"
"Yes, mother," Draco answered and went upstairs.
Clara was just closing her door when he arrived at the top of the stairs. He suddenly stopped.
"I know, I know, I'm late!" she said annoyed. "Wow, you look great!" she added, admiring his black dress coat. "How do you find me?" she asked making a pirouette.
"Breathtaking," he whispered. "I mean, very beautiful!" he added quickly.
Narcissa had chosen well. Black, simple corset with a not-too-fluffy skirt, black as well and a long-sleeve bolero, not only covering her tattoo and Dark Mark but sparkling in the light like hundreds of silver stars. The sleeves finished in a V shape and were attached to her middle finger on each hand, and the collar was rigid and round. She had painted her nails in black and her lips were blood red.
"Shall we?" she asked and took his arm.
Draco tried to regain his composure and ban her image wearing nothing but the corset and the laced panties he saw earlier out of his head.
Lucius was now speaking with a man but he stopped moving his lips when he saw Draco and Clara coming. In fact, everyone stopped whatever they were doing and looked at the entrance of the usually dinning room that was now transformed in a huge and beautiful ballroom.
"Oh! Everyone, this is Clara Noctus, my guest at the Manor. Most of you have met her a few days ago," Lucius said, cracking a smile. "Clara, my dear, come! I'll introduce you," he added, taking her by the shoulders and away from Draco.
She gave Draco a look of disappointment and puzzlement, and the boy just smiled sadly and feebly. She sighed and put on the sweetest smile possible. Lucius introduced her to all those who assisted at her "initiation": Knott, Avery, Crabbe, Goyle, Mrs. Zabini and many others. Clara was not only dizzy but her jaws hurt of so much smiling.
When she finally got off Lucius' grip, she went to the other side of the room and took a glass of what seemed like orange juice. But she was wrong and almost spit it back.
"That's pumpkin juice," she heard Narcissa's voice behind her.
"Yeah, I noticed," she answered grimacing. "Thank you for choosing my dress, I love it!"
"You look very good in it!" Narcissa stated with a smile.
"And you look absolutely amazing!" Clara said admiring the intense red of her dress, matching so perfectly with her blond, long hair and blue eyes.
"You should go find Draco. His friends are dying to meet you! He was by the Christmas tree earlier."
"Ok, thanks!" Clara answered, placing her glass back on the table.
As she moved across the very crowded room, she couldn't help but notice that people stopped talking when she passed by them only to continue their conversation when she was far enough. She even heard a woman's voice saying: "I wonder how long it took Lucius to get into her bed!" She sighed and continued her walk towards the Christmas tree where she spotted Draco's blonde hair.
The image presented in front of Clara was hilarious. Draco was held by the arm by a black-haired girl, not pretty but not ugly either, surrounded by a few boys. To his left, with her back to Clara, was another girl. As she moved towards them, she almost got knocked down by the personification of the Scandinavian Valkyrie, a massive girl wearing one of the ugliest dresses Clara had ever seen.
"Good evening," Clara said, approaching.
"Oh, Clara!" Draco said, turning, his face and eyes smiling. "Here, let me introduce you! Everyone, this is Clara Noctus. Clara, these are Pansy Parkinson, Eveline Parkin, Blaise Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle," he said, starting from his left.
"A pleasure!" she said smiling and nodding shortly to each person when Draco introduced them.
While the three girls were throwing daggers towards her because of Draco's behaviour since she had arrived, the boys looked like they could have eaten her on a platter, unable to remove their eyes from below her neck.
So, Pansy the girlfriend, Evie the Potions partner and Millicent the...tank. Well, besides Evie, I doubt I'll make friends with anyone. And with this girl it isn't obvious either. Angel face and devil heart, Clara was assessing her situation.
"Well, introductions being made, I'll leave you to your conversation then," Clara said, turning around to leave.
"You don't have to leave, Clara!" Draco said quickly, begging her with his eyes to stay.
"Could I have this dance?" Zabini suddenly asked her, offering his arm and almost pushing Draco aside.
She looked at the teenager smiling slyly. He was quite good looking, short brown hair, nice chocolate skin, proportionate features and what looked like a muscled body. She took his arm and he started to walk her, very proud, into the ballroom. Draco glanced grumpily but resumed his conversation with the others.
Zabini didn't hesitate in taking her firmly by the middle, crushing her to his body and they started to glide among the other pairs dancing. He was looking intensely in her eyes and she sustained his gaze until she caught sight of Snape in a corner of the room. Finally, the song ended.
"Thank you for the dance, Blaise," she said catching her breath.
"It is I who thanks you. Would you like something to drink?" he asked breathing quite heavily.
"No, thanks! If you'd excuse me, I would like to say "Hello" to someone," she answered, cracking a smile and trying to stifle it when her gaze went down his pants and she saw the tensed fabric. Hormones!
She looked for Snape and spotted him quickly. But it was such a different man from what she remembered! His hair was gathered in a pony tail and he was wearing dark-green robes.
Meanwhile, the man got spotted by Zabini as well, who quickly called his housemates.
"Hey, come have a look at this!"
"What's up, Zabini?" Draco asked dryly. But when he saw the Potions Master in the corner, his mouth remained opened and he wasn't able to make a sound.
"Wow, I didn't know Greasy Snape had other pieces of clothing than his black school robe!" Pansy said in a mean voice.
The others nodded in agreement and were now waiting to see what happened between the most hated teacher at Hogwarts and Clara, who was approaching him, while they were pretending to have a conversation.
"Good evening, Mr. Snape. Green suits you very nicely!" she said looking at him.
"Thank you. You look very beautiful. How are you?"
"Actually, if you have a moment, I would very much like to talk to you in private. In my room, let's say!"
"Is there something wrong?" he asked raising his eyebrow.
"With me, you never know," she replied in a sad voice. "Will you?"
"I think we could leave unnoticed, yes," he said smiling.
His students were so amazed to see him like that that they forgot to pretend they weren't looking.
"He is actually smiling! What in the world could she say to him to make him smile? I never saw Snape smile, not once in five years since I'm at Hogwarts," Evie said perplexed.
Draco agreed in silence. For an unknown reason he felt it was bothering him, but he quickly chased that thought away.
"Let's go, then," Clara said taking Snape's hand into hers.
"Not just now," he hissed, pulling her back. "Lucius is coming our way."
Understanding from his tone of voice that he wasn't in the mood for Lucius' usual irony, she almost pushed him in the middle of the dance floor. He was completely taken by surprise but, mechanically, he started to turn her round on the sound of the waltz.
"No fucking way!" Pansy exclaimed.
Draco was speechless at the sight of his teacher dancing gracefully with Clara and his father looked surprised as well.
Actually, besides the few pairs dancing, all the guests were looking at something they never thought they'll see. Not only Snape was dressed differently and looked neater, but he was dancing with a beautiful young lady...and was quite good at it.
Clara felt so nice and safe in his arms! But the waltz was over and Snape let her go. He bowed his head to her and she bowed hers to him with a little smile on her lips. Everyone in the room found quickly something to do so that the two of them, and especially Snape, wouldn't notice they've been watched.
Lucius was engaged in a conversation with Draco's friend Evie and had his back turned. Seizing the opportunity, Clara dragged Snape into the lobby and up the stairs, closing the door behind them as they reached her room.
"Please sit down, Severus."
"So, what happened?" he asked while taking a sit.
She faced him, sitting on the edge of the bed, with a serious look. Just when she opened her mouth to speak, Hugin tapped in the window with its beak. It only took Snape a second to get up and point his wand.
"Wait, don't!" Clara said and went to open the window. "It's just Hugin."
The bird got in and stretched its wings a little, croaking.
"A crow? Where did you get it, Clara?"
"Actually, Hugin found me on Diagon Alley. Narcissa took me for shopping."
"Hmm...How come she's so nice all of the sudden?" Snape asked and regain his seat.
"We made a truce."
"Really? Consisting in..."
"In her being civil to me and me protecting Draco."
Snape almost chocked.
"I wonder how you are going to do that when you barely know anything about magic," Snape said ironically.
"Let me start with what happened this past week. It might bring some light on the matter, or, at least, it might explain Narcissa's reasons."
"Please do."
"So, Monday morning we arrived at the Leaky Cauldron by Floo and we separated from Lucius who had something to do at a Ministry," she started.
"The Ministry of Magic."
"We have one? Nice! Anyway, Narcissa and I went to Gringotts, I got some money from my vault and then I went to Muggle London..."
"Alone?" Snape exclaimed.
"Yes, I thought Narcissa wouldn't want to be around Muggles...Besides, she wouldn't blend in, if you see what I mean."
Snape chuckled.
"I met her two hours later, we had lunch with Lucius who, by the way, knows that his wife went with me, and then we shopped on Diagon Alley."
She handed him the wand. The Potions master studied it carefully, then handed it back to Clara, who pocketed it in her skirt and continued.
"While Narcissa was giving details to Madam Malkin about this dress for tonight, I went to the store across the street and got this."
She took the bolero off, revealing her silver tattoo. Snape reached it and touched it.
"It's made with Life Ink," Snape said softly.
"Yes, and Master Octavius said that so is my other tattoo."
"But why a snake, Clara?"
"To be honest, I don't know. It just looked so right and beautiful!" she said, shrugging.
The snake seemed to start moving at Snape's touch. He took his hand off and Clara felt disappointed he didn't keep contact a little while longer. She dressed back and opened the wardrobe.
"This is for you, Severus. Merry Christmas!" she said blushing.
Snape took the package from her and unwrapped it with visible interest. He stood speechless for a long moment, looking at the vials, and then said:
"Thank you, but it really wasn't necessary! Where did you get this?"
"Err...I made a little trip to Knocturn Alley," she answered, hiding the fact that she got there by following a man that looked like the Potions Master from behind.
"Lucius took you to Knocturn Alley?"
"No, Lucius wasn't with me and Narcissa was busy. I went there after having my tattoo done. I hope these potion ingredients turn out to be somehow useful...I didn't study Potions yet!"
"These are quite rare and useful, especially if you need to prepare poisons," Snape answered cracking a smile. "We'll have to work on your Potions."
"I know. Draco gave me his textbooks to read and said he will help me with the brewing," she said pointing to the pile of books.
"It seems that the Malfoys are beginning to feel comfortable having you around!"
"I don't know. Draco, maybe! But Lucius and Narcissa want me here for their own benefits, if you ask me. Anyway, the rest of the week had a precise pattern, so to speak."
"How come?" Snape asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm always the first one up in the morning. I spend all my day in that paradise called library, I have dinner with them and then I go to the dungeons with Lucius to practice some spells."
"Really? What spells did he teach you?"
"Err...Wingardium Leviosa. Expelliarmus, Stupefy, Protego, Incarcerous, Incendio, Mobili Corpus, Petrificus Totalus...But we spent the last few days working on the Protego spell. I practice on my own something else, too."
"Crucio?" Snape asked.
"No. Before I show you, something interesting did happen this morning, though. Draco and I had a little duel!"
"That's low, even for Draco! Surely you don't master your spells well enough to face a real attack!" Snape scrowled.
"It appears I do. And besides, I kind of induced him to provoke me. Anyway, we got down to the dungeons, he attacked me but I cast a protecting shield and he got angry because he couldn't touch me. So he casted Petrificus Totalus with all his force, but my shield repelled it and it rebounded towards Narcissa who was watching us from the doorway. I reacted quickly and cast a protecting shield on her," Clara narrated.
"I still don't see what is peculiar about that," Snape replied.
"First, I cast without a wand. Second, the shield not only protected her but absorbed the spell."
"Wandless magic?" the Potions Professor said amazed.
"That's how Draco called it."
Suddenly, Snape's face got very serious, angry even, and he took Clara by the shoulders with a strong grip.
"Do you realise what this situation is? The Dark Lord must not find out about this ability of yours!" he hissed.
"I'm not that thick, Severus! Don't worry, he won't. Lucius doesn't know about it and there's nobody else who can tell him besides you."
"Really? Did you kill Draco and Narcissa and have them replaced?" Snape said with sarcasm and let her go.
But Clara just smiled. Not her usual smile, sweet and warm. It was a quite evil grin.
"YOU DIDN'T!" Snape snapped, staring at her.
"Of course not! But I do have something on each of them and they won't tell."
"I hope so! Otherwise, you're in deep shit, you stupid girl!" Snape said and sighed heavily.
Clara took his face into her palms, looking deep into his eyes. They stood like that for a long while, until Snape finally broke contact and retrieved his face.
"I am serious, Clara," he said in a low voice.
"I know you are. Now, let me show you what I've been working on!"
She kneeled on the floor and stretched her arms forward. Snape shifted his position to face her. Clara closed her eyes and concentrated intensely, just like she did for the last nights, imagining every inch of her body changing. She was breathing deeply and tried to relax further and ignore the pain.
In a matter of seconds Snape saw the girl in front of him transforming into a magnificent black animal with shinning fur. Only the eyes remained with the same amber colour and the pattern of her wings seemed to have been imprinted on the back, but he could see it from a certain angle only.
He stood and studied, approaching her carefully. But when he reached his hand to touch her, she transformed back.
"Sorry about that," Clara said, gasping for air. "I can't hold it for a long time. I didn't get used to the pain yet."
"This is...unbelievable.." Snape whispered.
Clara caught her breath and sat back on the edge of the bed while Severus remained up.
"I'm scared, Severus. I don't really know what I'm capable of and I might end up hurting someone without even realising it...By the way, why does Voldemort want to see me?"
"Lucius told you?" Snape asked frowning.
"Yes. Do you know when and why?"
"I only know when: the first day of the New Year."
"But you do have an idea on the why, don't you?" Clara said.
"He will certainly want to know what Lucius was capable of teaching you and how much you have learned," Snape explained.
"Hmm...Another test then?"
"I must warn you, Clara! If you don't do what he asks of you, he will use Crucio..."
"Yeah, and I know too well that I must not show him that I can avoid it," Clara replied in a bored and exasperate tone.
"Precisely. I'll talk to the Headmaster, he needs to know."
"Right! We should be getting back to the party or they'll start imagining things when they'll realise we have suddenly disappeared!" Clara said, smiling slyly and heading to the door.
Snape sighed and rolled his eyes amused.
"I will leave my present in your room for now, if you don't mind," he said standing.
"Sure. You can take it when you leave, no problem."
They went down; Snape headed towards the ballroom and got intercepted by Narcissa. Clara went to the library. She needed a moment alone with her thoughts.
The room was lighted only by the moon that appeared from between the dark and heavy clouds, now that it stopped snowing. The beautiful silver coat of snow was sparkling in the moonlight.
But Clara barely made it to the door when her reverie was interrupted by gasps and heavy breathing coming from the desk at her left.
She moved into a dark corner and the picture presented as she turned her head towards the sounds left her speechless. She thought she saw Draco but realised it was Lucius. Lucius, shagging senseless none other than his son's Potions partner and friend, Eveline Parkin.
The girl's beautiful golden dress was pulled up her hips, Lucius' hands were holding her naked back and her legs were wrapped around the man's waist. Her face was buried in his neck and she couldn't see Clara.
Clara didn't move waiting for them to finish as a fresh and mischievous new idea hit her while biting her lower lip. When the two lovers came to their climax and were still in each other's arms:
"Ahem!" Clara cleared her throat.
Realising that they're not alone anymore, Lucius pulled back from the girl, rapidly cast Scurgify under his breath to clean any evidence and Evie pulled down her dress with a movement of her hand.
Stepping into the light, Clara said:
"Lucius, je pense que votre femme a besoin de vous, si vous n'avez pas les mains trop pleines !" (Lucius, I think you wife needs you, if your hands aren't too full!")
He threw her an angry look and left without a word.
Evie was hot red from tip to toe, looking at Clara with fear and expectation. Clara just smiled in disdain, walked to her and started to briskly neat the girls dress. The younger woman was shaking. Clara faced her and started to fix the hair as well, while her smile vanished.
"You do know he's going to break your heart," she said to Evie. "And I doubt he'll leave Narcissa for you!"
The other girl's eyes were swimming in a sea of tears and one made its way rolling down the cheek, then another, and another. Evie tried to regain composure and swallow the wave of emotions.
"You will not tell anyone about this!" she said in a shaky voice.
"Is that an order?" Clara asked smiling and raising an eyebrow.
Evie got silent for a moment and returned Clara's gaze with a determined stubbornness.
"As I said, you will keep quite! Please!"
'Ah, changing tactics, are we? My silence has a price."
"What would that be?" Evie asked, a shadow of hope passing on her face.
"I will let you know. Now, refresh yourself a little and get your ass back there before anyone notices that you are missing," Clara growled as silently as possible and left.
She walked into the ballroom grinning and spotted Snape talking with another man, Lucius entertaining Draco's group of friends. Someone approached from behind her and she could feel eyes staring at her.
"Where did you disappear?" Draco asked facing her.
She smiled at him and took him by the hand to the middle of the dance floor. He didn't resist and they started to dance.
"I needed a quiet place to tell Snape about my progress, so we went to my room."
"Did you?"
"Oh! Are we being jealous, Draco?" she teased.
"No! Why, is there any reason to be?"
She just giggled and didn't answer. With his hand on her back, Draco pulled her closer to him, so closed that they seemed glued to each other. She brushed his cheek with hers and inhaled deeply, making her breasts brush his chest. Draco was starting to feel warm and dizzy of her scent and the touch of her body.
From the corner of the room, two pairs of eyes were watching them dance. One was throwing daggers and the other, deep blue and cleared by tears, was weighting the girl that Draco had in his arms, wondering if that shrew would be friend or foe.
Lucius smiled evilly. Draco has her eating out of his palm. I wouldn't have guessed she likes the younger ones! Never mind. She is mine, one way or the other. Besides, I can always have Evie, he thought.
Narcissa was now speaking to Snape. She liked the change in him and tried to subtly find out what had caused it. But Severus Snape was a master in changing the subject. He diverted her attention from himself to her son.
"Did you agree with them being so...close?" he asked looking towards Draco and Clara dancing.
"As you guessed, Lucius put Draco up to this thinking that the girl would provide us with protection."
"Hmm...As strong as she may seem, Clara is not only a stranger that appeared from nowhere, but very fragile and dangerous, Narcissa!" Snape replied in a whisper.
"Dangerous? How come?" Mrs. Malfoy inquired.
"She doesn't control her magic yet. Be careful around her."
"Did she tell you what happened this morning?" Narcissa whispered.
"Yes, and you are lucky she didn't turn you into dust," he muttered.
"She is so strange! I don't know how to act around her," Narcissa expressed her thoughts.
"Yes, she is. Just take care not to mention anything to your husband!" Snape warned her.
The song was over and, as soon as Clara unglued herself from Draco, not without regret, a furious Pansy Parkinson dragged the boy into the lobby.
Clara giggled and went to get a drink but was stopped halfway by a very insistent Blaise Zabini, who wanted another dance.
"Alright, Blaise. Just give me a minute to get a drink," Clara answered hoping she could get lost in the crowd while he was waiting. But he didn't wait, he followed her. Bugger, she thought.
She took a sip of orange juice and he practically pushed her to the dance floor. But this time she put distance between them and the teenager was unable to diminish it, despite his frustrated efforts to pull the girl closer. Good riddance! Clara said to herself when the song was over and walked towards a darker corner where she could be on herself for a while. She felt eyes on her again. It was Evie, coming Clara's way. Oh, great! To her left, Draco and Pansy were arguing (more like, Pansy was making efforts not to yell her lungs out and Draco was staring at some invisible hunkypuff on the wall), making Clara curve her lips in a little smile.
Eveline, thinking Clara was smiling at her, gathered a little more courage and approached.
"Could we have a word, Clara?"
"What about? Feeling in the need to throw more threats at me, Evie?" she asked dryly.
The girl lowered her eyes and gulped.
"I'm sorry about earlier…I overreacted…I…"
"Don't worry, darling! I'll be quiet about…that, for now."
"Thank you!" Evie whispered with hope in her voice.
"Don't! I'm not doing it for you, but for Draco and Narcissa. I bet they don't know!"
"They don't!" the girls said hastily and ashamed.
"It will come a day when I will ask a favor in return. You will not refuse!" Clara whispered in her ear.
Eveline gulped loudly and shook her head in agreement. Clara saw Snape looking at her inquisitively and she looked back for a brief moment.
"Good. Now let's act like we've become the best of friends. Tell me about school. Tell me about Hogwarts," Clara added, taking a very puzzled Evie by the arm and walking in the direction of the lobby to come to Draco's rescue.
"Oh! Well, I love Hogwarts! It's the most amazing place on the face of the planet. And everything would be perfect if it wasn't for the mud-blood Granger!" Evie started, unsure of how she should play the particular part of being a girl's best friend especially that her best friend had always been Draco.
"Don't tell! A Gryffindor!" Clara said giggling.
"Yeah. How did you know?"
"Draco told me!"
"What did I tell you, Clara?" Draco asked looking relieved that Pansy was obliged to put an end to her hysteria.
"About the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor at Hogwarts."
"Oh! Yes, indeed."
"I was telling Clara how sweet life would be without that Granger around," Evie added.
"Oh, Miss Know-it-all! Please, at least tonight spear me of the acknowledgment of her existence," Draco said theatrically.
The guests started to leave and Snape approached the group of students.
"A word, Clara?" he said.
"Of course, sir," Clara answered and walked with him a few steps away from the intrigued Slytherins. "Do you wish to take your package now? Are you leaving?"
"Not just now. I'll have one of the house elves bring it to me, don't worry!"
"Alright, as you wish."
"I will see you at the meeting," the Professor said lowering his voice in a whisper. "Be careful for I cannot intervene for you there! And keep practicing…everything!" he added with a meaningful and oh!-so-deep black look.
"Thank you, I will. Merry Christmas, Severus!" she said smiling.
"Merry Christmas!" he answered smiling back and turning away to bid farewell to the hosts.
Clara returned next to Draco and Evie. Pansy and the others had already left and the last of Draco's schoolmates was just about to use the Floo. Evie said goodbye to the Malfoys and to Clara, with whom she exchanged a look that contained complicity and curiosity from both sides.
Half an hour later the Manor was silent again and the Master and Mistress of the house took their leave.
Draco and Clara were climbing the stairs to their rooms.
"Hey, Draco! You left your present in my room," Clara suddenly said, breaking the silence.
"You're right! Could I come get it?"
"Come in."
Draco entered and found the present just where he left it. He unwrapped it slowly, holding his breath. Clara watched him as he put the wrapping paper aside and gasped in surprise at the sight of the broom. He looked at Clara shocked, then at the broom, and back at her.
"You don't like it?" Clara asked, seeming worried.
"I...I…"
"Breath, Draco! It's alright if you don't like it, I'll get you something else."
"This is the best present ever, thank you!" Draco finally managed to say and pulled her into a fierce hug.
"You're welcome," she said, losing herself in his arms and scent.
When the separated from the embrace, rather quickly in Clara's opinion, Draco sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just that my father refused to buy me the Nimbus Extreme. He said it would spoil me. I'm afraid he'll forbid me to use it."
"No, he will not! It's a present from me. Besides, tomorrow you have to teach me how to use a broom!" Clara said trying to cheer the boy.
He looked deep in her eyes. These amber and playful eyes with shadows of anger and bitterness... Her magic was so strong that he could almost touch the field of energy coming from her. He just leaned forward and touched her lips with hers. Before he knew it her mouth welcomed his, their tongues teased and Draco felt electrical impulses in every fiber as the kiss turned deeper and the girl broke every space between them.
Clara moved her hands from his back to his hips, took his shirt off and broke the kiss. She moved her lips on his neck, then on his nipples while her hands undid the pants. Draco was breathing heavily and fast, and had his eyes closed. You're mine now! she thought and pressed her lips on his mouth again. He opened his eyes and moved behind her, undoing her skirt and corset. He kissed the soft skin between her neck and her shoulder making her moan softly as his teeth teased the spot, then moved his palm down her back, gasping at the touch of the silky feathers of the tattoo.
Clara turned around and took his mouth into hers, moving her hand into his pants. Draco startled at the touch of her hand on his hard erection and blushed secretly as the pleasure increased. But she didn't finish him off, leaving him ready to explode, undressed him and herself with fast and precise movements.
Clara pushed him on the bed leaning slowly on top of him and losing herself in his grey-blue eyes lit with desire. She kissed him deeply, enjoying teasing him a little more as their naked bodies were so close. Draco rolled over, now being on top of her and her legs wrapped around his waist, trying to decide if the look in her eyes meant victory or defeat. After all, who seduced who? Before he could make a decision, Clara pulled him into her deeply and whispered in his ear.
"Slow and deep…"
They made love in silence and remained in each other's arms after their unison explosion. Draco woke up after a while and looked around Clara's room. He found it so impersonal! His eyes moved to the window and saw that it started to snow again. He tried to move but Clara's legs were entangled with his. She had her eyes closed, her hair wild on the pillow. Suddenly his heart begun racing. She wasn't breathing. He panicked and started shaking her gently. Nothing. He put his ear on her chest, listening attentively. No heartbeat other than his own pumping furiously in his ears and head. His pulse went wild and his mouth was instantly dry.
A loud noise at the window made him divert his attention. He managed to get up and saw Clara's bird tapping the window glass with the beak. He unconsciously opened the window and the bird landed on the night table. Clara inspired air, filling her lungs as the crow almost touched her forehead with its spread wings. The girl opened her eyes and smiled widely to Draco.
"I understand my heavenly body heats you up but, if you stay in front of the opened window, you will catch pneumonia or something," she said grinning.
But Draco didn't answer. He gave a sigh of relief and hugged her tight with his head buried in her hair. When he released her, she took his head between her palms and kissed him slowly, deeply.
"I'm back now, I'm back…" she whispered.
"Where were you?" Draco asked.
Clara looked away sadly and released him.
"I don't know, I can't remember," she mumbled.
Dr. Suzanne Billing was deeply asleep when her assistant Mark came running in her office.
"Come quick, Doc! She regained consciousness," he shouted and inhaled deep breaths of air.
She was sleepy and thought she had been dreaming so she turned her back. Then, she suddenly acknowledged his words and stormed out of her office before Mark could see her leaving.
When she arrived in front of her patient, her heart racing, she saw the girl's opened eyes, staring at her.
"Welcome back among us!" Dr. Billings said cracking a little smile.
"Don't give up…on me…" the girl whispered and the closed her eyes again.
Draco placed a gentle kiss on Clara's neck and closed the window. Only then he saw that the bird was carrying a branch of mistletoe in its beak. Draco extended his palm and the crow placed it there.
"Your bird brought us mistletoe," Draco told Clara who was covered up to the neck with a blanket.
"I read about it," Clara replied. "It's a powerful magical plant. Among its properties there is the healing and it's a symbol of immortality and physical regeneration, the passage from one life form to something superior."
"Interesting. I should read more books," Draco said, amazed that one week earlier Clara had absolutely no knowledge about magic and know she was talking as if she impersonated a walking encyclopedia. "But you know, we have a tradition regarding the mistletoe."
"Really? What tradition?"
Draco cracked a sly smile and leaned very close to her face.
"Two persons under the mistletoe have to kiss," he whispered softly.
"Hmm…Who are we to break such a beautiful tradition?" Clara answered and pulled him in a deep kiss.
The blanket flew on the floor and the two heated bodies merged once more. Draco's strong thirsts into Clara were sending her waves of pleasure and Clara's fierce grip on Draco's body was growing stronger and stronger. She rolled their bodies and was now on top of Draco, teasing him with a slow pace and holding his arms down. The boy managed to liberate his arms and turned Clara on her stomach, sliding two fingers inside her, pulling them out, wet and then sliding them in her other opening, making her moan deeply. He put all his weight on her and slid inside her once more, holding his fingers where he had placed them. He felt the girl shiver underneath him and came to climax.
Draco was awakened by a ray of light on his face and the sound of the water running.
He got up and collected his clothes from the floor, trying to make as little noise as possible and went back to his room.
When Clara finished her shower and exited the bathroom, the room was empty, except for Hugin. She petted the bird on the chest and, after getting dressed and smoking a cigarette, she got her broom out of the wardrobe and headed to Draco's room with a smile on her face.
.
25