Malfoy Manor was just as commanding and intimidating as the family that resided there. After walking up what was practically a half-mile drive, we reached a pair of wrought iron gates. Draco halted, took my hand and placed it on his right shoulder.
"Don't let go until we're through," he said to me, and then he did some kind of salute and then walked straight towards the gate at a slow and relaxed pace. I closed my eyes as we neared it. My mind's eyes saw Draco, directly in front of me, crashing slap bang into the hard, unforgiving metal, but still he continued to walk. I closed my eyes as Draco's pace sped up slightly, nervous. The gates were practically upon us now, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the cold impact of metal on my face. We closed what I assumed was the gap between ourselves and the gate and...
Kept on walking. And walking. Draco prised my hand from his shoulder and brought me up to his level.
"You can open your eyes now," he chuckled into my ear. I opened my eyes. The gate was no longer in front of us. I turned around and saw the gate behind me. If it was possible for the average human being to kick themselves up their own behinds, I would have done that. I have been to platform 9 and 3/4. I have walked through walls myself.
My mind was quickly distracted from my momentary lack of a prefrontal cortex when I looked around me. All around us spread an ascending hedge on top of which, with a great spectacle of all that was pretentious, were five or six albino peacocks.
"What are those?" I asked, an eyebrow cocked.
"My... father..."
"He likes peacocks?" I asked, skeptically.
"No, he's a pompous git," I laughed out loud, but was cut off mid-chortle as suddenly a black shape rose from the very ground in front of us. It continued to grow the closer we got, until it was simply a mass that swallowed up the sky.
"Home sweet home," said Draco ironically.
The inside was more impressive than the outside. The door swung in magically as we approached, revealing a cold marble room with an exquisite rug on the floor. From the ceiling hung a chandelier, dripping with ice-like crystals. A large splendid staircase swung down from a balcony. Extra corridors spidered from the main hall into lit rooms.
"Wow," I said unintentionally. It echoed loudly across the spacious hall, and I slapped a hand over my mouth. That made a noise too.
"Don't worry, nobody's home," he said, leading me in. Our luggage and broomsticks followed behind, suspended slightly in the air, although I had not seen Draco perform a levitation charm. It must have just been one of those services that the house offered, like opening doors and changing the molecular density of gates.
"Oh," I said, suddenly slightly nervous. I knew I shouldn't be, that Draco was trustworthy, but I was still aware of the fact that he was very much a teenage boy.
"I didn't lie about the bedrooms though, yours it quite a trek from mine,"
"Uh, alright then. I guess that's Ok." Something nagged at the back of my mind, telling me that this was deliberately rebellious and my parents won't be happy. It only gave me a greater sense of excitement. "Where are your parents then?"
"Romania, I think. One of the Weasely's works over there with dragons. My father's been thinking about getting to guard some of our more... valuable items. Some of the old farts in the Ministry don't appreciate impressive displays of magic. They come back Christmas Eve."
Wow. Albino peacocks and a dragon. My first meeting with Lucius Malfoy would be interesting.
"Your room's right here," said Draco, and a door swung open to invite us in. I walked in entranced. Luxurious deep green curtains framed the window on the far side of the room. A plush black carpet spread over the ground. In the corner, a hard wood armoire was open and waiting to be filled and, dominating the room, sat a large- turned down- four poster bed, embellished with an array of cushions of different shades of green. I spied a door leading to an en suite bathroom as well.
"This is amazing," I breathed, walking in hypnotically, my bags coming to rest on the bed. Draco walked in with me, pecked me on the cheek, and then bade me goodnight. As my suitcase was unpacked by the house, I changed into PJs and climbed into bed, blowing out the lamp and dreaming of Draco.
The next morning, I awoke to the smell of pancakes. The house was more beautiful in the daytime, golden light bathing the large marble hall. I was halfway down the stairs towards the smell when I realised I was still in my skimpy nightgown. I swore, running back up before Draco saw me.
"Angie?"
Dammit.
"Yeah, uh, hi," I called back, halfway up the stairs. Draco appeared from one of the subsidiary corridors and whistled.
"Shut up," I said, pulling down the nightie further over my legs. It wasn't working.
"I've got breakfast if you want it he said," still smiling like a fool.
"Yeah, I'm just gonna go... change..." It was only then when I noticed what Draco was wearing or, not wearing. He was topless, his perfect abs holding my attention. I dropped my gaze quickly, causing Draco laugh out loud when he realised how uncomfortable I was with the whole situation.
"You change then," he said when he had settled. "Breakfast will be ready when you're done."
The next few days before Christmas Eve were bliss. Draco and I spent our time exploring the house and its luxurious gardens, and mostly playing one-on-one Quidditch matches. During the nights, I would get my DVD player and we would watch countless films, wrapped up together on one of the many guest beds.
However, Christmas Eve was soon upon us, and the house had erected a tree in tribute. Just as I was exiting my room after getting ready, the door swung open with a bang and in entered Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, emerging from the night. Both had long, blonde, wind whipped hair and cold features. It was hard to try and imagine a more perfect match.
"M-Mr and M-Mrs M-Malfoy," I stuttered.
"Yes," said Lucius, "and who, may I ask, are you?"