Chapter Eight- Sweet Dreams
Soft blankets of white lay covering the landscape. Horizons blended into land and sea while the whiteout became thicker. It snowed in crazy amounts piling soft sugar lumps around the Hogwarts grounds. The first real snowfall had begun and the effect of it traveled quickly throughout the castle. Students just awaking scrambled with obvious enthusiasm to greet the new, and snowy, day.
Aliana and her friends were of no exception to this craze. Elizabeth had woken the other girls up bright and early to point out the recent plummet of snow. Ecstatic at the news all of the girl's quickly got ready and ran down the stairs to the Great Hall in record time. Although Aliana was no fan of the cold there was something infectious about the snow. It drew her into a joyous mood.
She could spend hours staring at the snowflakes. At the moment she felt a desperate urge to run outside and sit in the falling snow for a few hours. But she restrained herself and only imagined the beauty of a snowflake. She adored the intricate patterns adorned on such a tiny object. The tiny patterns that could melt away in an instant. With a flick of her hand or an exhale of her warm breath she could end the life of that beauty. So simply she could take the art of it out of the world forever. No snowflake is alike and so she could make sure she was the only one person the see that artistry. The creation of the clouds could be only for her to see. She marveled as well as cringed away from that kind of power.
Dropping into her seat, as well as out of her thoughts, at the Ravenclaw table began an instant silence. Draco had just walked into the Great Hall and all four of the girls were pushed back into the memory of last night. The wonderful news of a letter from her best friend had turned into a horrible conclusion. Lucius Malfoy, the poor man… But her thoughts could only hang on him for so long before they were brought back to Draco. He was the one taking the biggest blow from the Ministry, didn't they realize that? His father would soon forget but Draco would have to hold onto that fact for forever. He would have to live with it; he would have to live with it for the rest of his life.
Aliana couldn't imagine, if it was her father… She would be mad by now; she would be raging mad. Even with such a close hold on her emotions she would have a hard time dealing with them under such circumstances. She now realized that Draco's behavior was a reaction to what happened. Or what was going to happen. He had himself closed off from any emotion, it only made sense.
Drifting in and out of her thoughts Aliana half-heartedly made her way through the morning. Draco's bad news had drug her down into a distraught mood. She only made it to lunch before her first few words of the day were spoken.
"I feel awful," she confessed to Elizabeth as they sat down. "I was so happy this morning, with the snow and everything-"her words trailed off.
"I know Alli. It's hard to deal with… you've had so much hurt these past few months. It's too much pain for someone to handle." Elizabeth sighed but continued. "Maybe you ought to focus on the good. Don't drown yourself in his pain; focus on making yourself feel better and maybe he'll let you help him through it."
"Yeah, maybe he'll let me," Aliana chuckled. "How can one boy be so masked like he is. He doesn't let anything show."
"Well, he definitely has some self control."
"Thanks, Betts."
"No problem. And you know what; I have the perfect way to make you happy."
"And what would that be," Aliana groaned anticipating the outcome.
"You should tell us," she gestured at Rayna and Kyrah who were just taking a seat. "All about yesterday."
"Mhmmm," Kyrah responded. "All of the wonderfully dirty details."
--
"Hey, Alli," Pansy nudged her friend out of her almost unconscious state.
She waved the note that had just flown over and onto her desk into Aliana's face. This clearly excited her. The note was, after all, from Draco.
"Oh!" Aliana managed. "Thanks Pansy."
She grabbed the note out of her hands eagerly. Folding over the creased halves she smiled at his short response to her lengthy one.
Alli,
Yeah, it's true.
DM
Flicking open a new piece of parchment and grabbing her quill she formulated another quick response and relayed it through Pansy once again. Draco, although seemingly inattentive, quickly read through her note.
Draco,
I'm sorry. It must be hard… I can't imagine.
-Aliana
I bet you can.
DM
Realizing at once the truth he held in his words she delayed passing on her note by pretending to be fascinated by Flitwick's lecture. Draco was right; she had lost a lot in her life. In the past year she'd lost almost everything.
Draco,
I guess I can- A bit at least. But your father…
-Alli
Charms ended and the students madly rushed into the corridor. It was the end of last period and everyone was looking forward to the evening. And although she tried rather hard to find Draco's fair head in the crowd Aliana succumbed to the flow of bodies and was dragged back up to the Ravenclaw tower.
Slouching onto her bed in the shared dorm Aliana once again picked up her parchment.
Draco,
When i
A bird of blue and silver suddenly flew through her window and landed on her parchment. Stopping her letter she smiled as the bird ruffled under its makeshift wings and flattened itself out into its original shape of paper. The enchanted letter shook once more only to come to a halt as Aliana began to read.
Alli,
I looked for you in the hallway after class but I couldn't see you. Some prat spilt his Wartcap Powder all over my hand. The bloody kid didn't even apologize. He just ran off and left me with my crusty hand. It was disgusting; I had a crispy layer covering half of my arm. So I went up to Madame Pomfrey and she fixed it, well she said she fixed it. It's not cleared up yet but it better bloody well be in the morning. I can't walk around looking like I haven't showered in a month. But anyways, I wanted to… keep talking. I even enchanted the paper; I knew you liked birds so I figured you'd enjoy it.
DM
He wanted to keep talking. Draco wanted to keep talking to her and by the looks of the scratch marks on the parchment it took a very long time for him to actually write those two words down.
Draco,
I was looking for you in the hall as well but there were so many people I just got carried away with them. But I suppose if you were in the Hospital Wing I wouldn't have seen you anyways. I do think it is quite hilarious that your arm is covered in crusty skin… My friend from France dumped Wartcap Powder on his foot once and it lasted a week. Hopefully yours will go away sooner.
I love the paper. How did you do it? The most I can do is make it into a plane and have it fly. Yours moved and acted like a bird… it was so realistic!! I'm going down to dinner now but send me another one once you get finished.
-Aliana
After extreme prodding's from her friends Aliana joined them downstairs for dinner. She saw Draco also making his way down with friends and granted him a sweet smile before stuffing her face. Just seeing him rushed her heart beat and caused her urge to make it back to her dorm to become all the more prominent. As twisted as it was she longed for his letters more than his voice because unlike the latter they were not masked. His notes were honest and that was what she was looking for.
Finally finishing the last few bites on her plate Aliana excused herself from the girls and flew up the stairs to the Ravenclaw tower. Only then did she realize her rush was indeed fruitless. She still needed to wait for Draco to finish before their rein of notes could continue. So she sat on her bed and busied herself with a Transfiguration essay.
After what seemed like hours a beautiful pale robin's egg blue hot air balloon puffed its way into her room through the open window. The basket of the apparatus appeared to be woven with wood when in reality it was created out of a simple sheet of tinted parchment. Its base wasn't the best part by far. It was gracefully outshined by the balloon itself resting seemingly lightless on the air. An intricate pattern of lines and oblong circles traced the fabric of it giving the appearance of branches on a tree. If only the beauty of it could last.
Touching down on the desk next to her essay the beautiful creation burst into a flat piece of parchment once more. The extinguished beauty still fascinated Aliana as would the more to come.
Throughout the night both Draco and Aliana sent notes back and forth. Although he had always acted a little different around her she noticed a change in his demeanor with his writings. If anything he had loosened his arrogant reins at least for the night. But through his notes she had also figured out the reason why and this last letter lying in her hands was the most signifying one yet.
Aliana,
My father was more than a father to me. I looked up to him like any guy looks up to his father but I also admired him. He had everything: a family, a job, status, money, a nice house and a following. He had people who worshiped him. But I can't see how you would understand my longing for that. I grew up in a place where your status was worth far more than your well being or personality. And as you can tell I am extremely confident in myself and in my capabilities. As arrogant as it sounds my father's displacement in his work also hurts me in regards to my status. But to me and my family my status is my survival. I am pained to leave my father but I am also pained from what he leaves me. I hope that makes sense and I hope you can understand that with my father gone I am in a far more complicated position than before. A more complicated position than you could even begin to understand.
DM
Still re-reading the letter for a deeper meaning than she could make out Aliana sighed in defeat. He hadn't given her any clues as to what sort of position he is in. He was right that she could not begin to comprehend his placement of status on his importance. She found it to be most wizards excuse, their status that is. But Draco of course fit into that group of wizards. He was a pure blood and a Slytherin both of which were arrogantly worshiped in the status wise.
Tossing that note off to the side she grabbed her first note and read through it once more.
Draco,
What about the Kiss? I mean the Dementors are not forgiving creatures. Your father, he'll be gone forever. What they say, its true isn't it?
-Aliana
He had answered her question but now she was even more confused then ever. His answer had turned her perspective in circles because he had answered some questions but he had created so many more left to ask.
Draco,
She finally wrote.
I don't understand but I want your to know that I am trying.
I'm off to bed, Good Night.
-Alli
After finding a soft and comfy nightgown that had been passed to her from her grandmother she crawled into her bed only to be met with a sweet surprise. A simple not laying on her pillow led her into a supple sleep.
Sweet Dreams, my Alli.
Draco
--
Lying on top of his blankets not bothering to take off his school robes Draco was lost in thought. He strayed back and forth from wondering why Aliana cared so much to how much more she deserved. Draco knew he was hot. That couldn't be argued with. He knew that his complete lack of emotion and feeling intrigued most girls beyond belief. He even could confidently say that most girls would kill for a chance to be with him. But what he couldn't quite comprehend was why Aliana wanted to get so much deeper into him than most would bother. Usually all a girl wanted with him was a nice night and maybe a few more weeks if they were lucky. But then again that's usually all he wanted too.
Alli wanted all of him, he realized. Not just the hot body or the mystery of being with him but she wanted all of the extra stuff too. And even he knew that she didn't deserve that. No one should have to carry another person's burden on them but especially not Aliana. She'd been through way too much, and she didn't need anything more.
These thoughts clouded up Draco's head but another always managed to escape through as well. Why the hell do I care? And that sentence was all that seemed to make sense at the moment.
He was a pure blood, he was next in line to get his Dark Mark and here he was worrying about some girl. What he should be worrying about is how his father's capture was going to affect his rankings in the Dark Lord's new and growing following. But of course his vulnerable mind seemed to find some reason. He didn't want to think about all of that because he honestly didn't want any of it to happen. If he was being truthful to himself then he would know that none of that mattered. He had been placed in a position to compensate for Lucius' mistakes. Against his will he was being thrown into a grown man's job and expected to fail. Even he knew this; he was expected to fail miserably.
Bloody hell, he was in a mess. But he would take it because his family had suffered enough pain and tragedy for a lifetime. What he needed to do was stay strong. He needed to stay strong and figure a way out of this so he could be there for his mother. And so he could be there for Aliana. Because as much as he hated to admit it he was as deeply into her as she was into him. He finally had someone he could claim for himself.
A/N: Yay!! Another chapter done… And I am quite happy because it had lots of Draco and who doesn't love Draco?? So anyway, let me know what you think. I always love reviews!! Comments and criticism anyone?