Chapter Seven

It was Christmas break and Alaya was so happy to be home, nothing could ruin her mood. As soon as she had arrived home she went about singing Christmas carols as she and Shane helped decorate their somewhat large home the first few days she was back.

One afternoon as she was lounging around the house playing a game of wizard's chess with Shane her stepmother told her that night they would be having dinner guests and needed her help cooking, her stepmother didn't believe in the use of house elves. Alaya happily agreed and began helping her prepare a lovely dinner. As they cooked she pestered her stepmom about who the guests would be but she never answered her. Once the food was finished she was hurried away to get ready.

As always Alaya took forever to be satisfied with her appearance. She tried on countless dresses till she was satisfied with the one she decided to wear, an ivory knee length flowy dress with embellishments around the bust that went up the straps. With this she paired ivory heels and a small glistening jeweled necklace with a matching bracelet and earrings. She put on little make up that consisted of glittery eyes shadow, mascara, and gloss and left her hair down in elegant curls. Once satisfied with her appearance she made her way down the main staircase to see that their guests had just arrived, the Malfoys.

A huge grin spread across Alaya's face as she stopped halfway down the staircase to examine the scene below her. It wasn't long before her father took notice and introduced her.

"Lucius, Narcissa this is my lovely daughter Alaya. Alaya this is Mister and Misses Malfoy, and you know their son Draco." Her father stated and she finished coming down the staircase smiling. "Pleasure to meet the both of you." She smiled slightly curtsying as the both nodded their head in return. She then turned to Draco who had been watching her since she started down the staircase. He smiled at her giving her butterflies and she smiled back.

Draco had no idea what this girl was doing to him but every time he was around her the inside of him felt like it was ready to burst. He loved seeing Alaya, especially like this, she looked like a pure angel in her ivory dress.

"Alright let us make our way into the dining room, my wife and Alaya have prepared a most appetizing meal for us tonight." Her father said ushering everyone to the formal dining room. On the short walk Draco fell in step with Alaya. He looked down at her smiling and she returned it.

"You look amazing as always." He whispered to her putting his hand on the small of her back sending chills down her spine. "Thanks, you look great as well." She smiled leaning into him as they entered the dining room but before they could enter her stepmother stopped them.

"What?" Alaya asked confused. "Alaya our magical mistletoe has chosen you and Draco tonight. It's not like the two of you can move any where until you kiss." Her stepmom giggled. Draco blushed and kissed Alaya on the cheek, mistletoe released its magical hold and they were allowed to sit down.

As everyone chose their seats Draco pulled out a chair for Alaya and took the chair beside her. Once everyone was settled Alaya's stepmom levitated all the food into the dining room.

"So Alaya, Draco here tells us you're very bright and have a knack for potions." Lucius said making conversation with her. "Yes you could say that." She smiled wondering how in the world her parents came to know the Malfoy's. "Well our son seems quite taken with you Miss Livingston. He chose a very beautiful young lady." Mrs. Malfoy stated making the two blush. "The food is delicious Danielle." Lucuis said to Alaya's stepmom. "Oh I don't deserve the praise; Alaya did most of the cooking. She's amazing in the kitchen." Her stepmom smiled praising her stepdaughter. "Well Alaya at least I know if anything comes of this attraction between you and my son he will not go hungry." Lucius smiled at Alaya.

As dinner went on Alaya, Draco, and Shane were talking about school and how the two families came to know each other. Draco told them that their parents used to go to school together and they reconnected after many years of not talking.

Throughout dinner the group chatted about things, catching up. Alaya was enjoying the talk until her father brought up a subject he hadn't in years, the Dark Lord.

Just the mention of his name made Alaya choke on her drink making Draco give her a worried look. She quickly excused herself from the table and once out of earshot she took off her heels running to her room.

Alaya had never liked anything to do with dark magic or "him". He was the one who killed her mother right in front of her many years ago. Her mother's screams from the torture or the Crutciatus curse and the flash of green light showed vividly in her mind. She used to have nightmares about it but they had subsided over the years.

Soon after Alaya left Draco and Shane excused themselves as well worried about Alaya. The adults knew why she left but the two boys didn't, it was one thing she had never told Shane. They rushed up to her room only to find her curled in a corner with her knees brought to her chest.

"Alaya what in Merlin's name just happened?" Shane exclaimed walking in the room. "I don't want to discuss it. It's not something I talk about, ever, to anyone." She replied getting up and walking into her bathroom locking the door behind her only to have Shane bang on it demanding entrance and an explanation. "Shane go the bloody fuck away! I've never told you because it's not something you need nor want to know. It's too horrible." She screamed from inside her bathroom. She began crying harder now making her whole body shake. She crawled into her tub grabbing one of her huge towel and began sobbing.

Shane continued his banging and yelling at her from outside the door. Draco tried calming him but it didn't work.

"Shane let her be. She'll talk when she's ready." Draco said sitting in one of the small arm chairs in her room. "She's my little sister Draco; I've never seen her like this before, ever! I want to know what the bloody hell is wrong with her!" he screamed throwing a temper tantrum like a two year old. Draco only sighed and began looking for something to use to unlock the bathroom door, when he found it she pushed Shane out of the way picking the lock.

"Where'd you learn that one?" Shane asked looking at Draco with amazement. "Do it all the time at the manor." He replied shrugging his shoulders. "Now stay out here if you're going to yell at her. Let me handle this." Draco said looking Shane square in the eye. Shane nodded with a defeated sigh. When Draco opened the door he saw the broken image of Alaya in the bathtub crying and shaking. He walked over and leaned down picking her up without her trying to fight him off. She just clung to him like a child clings to their favorite toy. He took her back to her room and sat on the edge of her bed as she continued to cling to him.

"Are you okay?" he whispered in her ear. She nodded her head "no" as more tears escaped her eyes. "Well if you need someone to talk to I'll be waiting." He said as he continued to hold her wiping the tears from her eyes. After a few minutes she got up from Draco's lap and walked over to the window. In the time that the Draco had gotten Alaya out of the tub Shane had taken a seat in the chair previously occupied by Draco.

"I really don't want to talk about it right now, maybe another time. I'm sorry Shane; it's not something I like talking about or people knowing about. I try not to think about it anymore. All I will say is it has to do with my mom any why she is dead." She sighed leaning against the window.

"I'm so sorry sis, I didn't mean to try and push you." Shane said getting up and walking over to his sister. "It's ok, you had no idea what was wrong with me. I'll tell you when I'm ready." She said looking up at her brother with a tear stained face. "Okay." Shane replied hugging his sister. "And swear to me that you won't ask my father." She said sternly looking at him. "I swear." He whispered hugging her tightly. "I'll leave so you can have some time with Draco." He whispered in her ear with a slight smile. "Okay." She smiled back and he left the room.

Draco watched Alaya as she gazed out the window. He hated seeing her hurt like this. He had no idea what was so bad that had to do with the Dark Lord that hurt her so much but he hated it. It made him feel ashamed for accepted the Dark Mark before term. He absent mindedly grabbed his forearm where the mark was.

It was a moment before anyone spoke; it was Alaya who broke the silence. "I'm going to shower right quick and get ready for bed. I'm sure father and stepmom are entertaining your parents, it will be a while before you leave." Alaya said looking at Draco. "True." He laughed. "I'll be here waiting for you." He said walking over to her. "Good, I really don't want to be alone right now." She said looking up at him.

When she emerged from her bathroom her hair wet hair stuck to the side of her face and she was dressed in a slightly form fitting black night gown that hit bout mid thigh. Draco's breath caught in his chest seeing her like this and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her.

"You can stop staring at me now." She smirked looking at him leaning against the door frame to the bathroom, her smirk made her even more irrisistable. "Sorry, you are just, well." He tried finding the words shoving his hands in his pockets. She giggled walking over to him wrapping her arms around his waist. He relaxed his tense posture and put his arms around her.

The events from earlier had left Alaya's mind, the only thing finding its way into her thoughts was Draco. Being with him made her feel safe and the security he put off enveloped her completely putting her at peace. Draco on the other hand was very relaxed in her presence, he felt indestructible.

The two of them spent the rest of the night together talking on her bed until Shane came to tell him that his parents were leaving in a few minutes. He said he be down in a minute as Shane left then turned to Alaya.

"Well I have to go, I'll come back soon." He smiled. "Okay, send me an owl before you decide to come over." She laughed rolling onto her back. "I may." He smirked moving himself over her. "Well night." She whispered. "Night." He replied kissing her on the lips softly before he left her to drift into a restful sleep.