Chapter 9

Azalea had migrated to the left side of the store and was scanning the knee length dresses with a critical eye. Draco had not stopped complaining and nagging that she should look on the right side of the store since short dresses was really what they were after. Azalea argued that she was sure they could compromise on something on the left side. Draco scowled. He clearly was not going to win anytime soon. He must have been blind to think that he could beat a woman at shopping. That was, after all, a woman's sport. Now he followed Azalea around on the wrong side of the boutique, bored as hell and irritated.

"What about this one?" Azalea asked, holding up a navy blue spaghetti strap tea dress with nothing but a sequined belt at the waist.

"It's hideous," Draco grumbled and took her by the arm and dragged her back to the right side of the store. "Looking over this side of the bloody store is counter productive to what we're trying to do. So for once, can we pretend like I'm the one teaching you something here?"

"The only difference between the dresses on the right side and the left side is that it's shorter," Azalea muttered but allowed him to pull her nonetheless.

"And it's more appealing to the male eye," Draco argued, hauling an exceedingly short baby blue halter dress from the hanger and thrusting it at her.

The dress, aside from being a baby blue halter, was backless with a generous plunging neckline with a hem line that's cut to the crotch. It was sprinkled with fine gold glitter to give it a luster. It wasn't hideous. It was just far too revealing.

"Bloody hell," Azalea commented, taking in the shortness of it. "Dahlia will have a fit if she sees me in this."

"You see, that's your problem," Draco told her, dragging a purple dress, a red dress, a green dress, and a yellow dress from the rack and shoving them into Azalea's arms. "You girls dress to impress and please your friends and you expect men to take notice. It doesn't work like that. If you want men to notice you, you've got to wear something that will give them no choice but to notice."

Lucius and Narcissa got back to the Malfoy Manor only to find that Draco and Azalea were gone. Narcissa was absolutely thrilled by this fact. Lucius suggested that just because both of them were gone didn't mean that they were together. Narcissa didn't appreciate this assertion and Lucius was met with a swift roll of his wife's eyes.

Before Narcissa could counter Lucius's argument, they both heard the sharp crack of someone Apparating behind them. The Malfoy parents turned and found Draco and Azalea standing behind them. Draco was holding three packages in his arms.

"Where have you two been?" Lucius asked, eyeing the both of them suspiciously.

"I took Azalea to Diagon Alley to go shopping," Draco answered.

Lucius's eyebrow sketched upward and he eyed the packages in his son's arms. Narcissa was titillated. "Why, that's so gentlemanly of you, Draco. It's fantastic," she gushed. "Isn't it fantastic, Lucius?"

"Yes, quite extraordinary," Lucius agreed, watching Draco and Azalea critically.

"How was lunch?" Draco asked.

"It was fine," Lucius replied, still scrutinizing the two young people, attempting to ignore Narcissa's clearly beaming face. "How was Diagon Alley?"

"There were few people there," Azalea answered. "It was nice shopping without all the crowds."

"Yes, it was actually pleasant," Draco agreed.

"How, marvelous!" Narcissa exclaimed, obviously pleased. "Isn't it marvelous, Lucius?"

"Yes, quite spectacular," Lucius nodded, still watching the two young people.

"Well, I've got to help Azalea with these packages," Draco said, ushering Azalea to the staircase.

"Yes, well, it's almost time for dinner," Narcissa said, her eyes sparkling. "Don't stay up there too long."

"We won't," Draco said. "Come on, Azalea."

Lucius and Narcissa watched the two of them ascend the staircase and walk out of sight. Narcissa turned excitedly to Lucius and grabbed his arm, barely able to contain the squeal that escaped her lips.

"Did you see that, Lucius?" she asked him excitedly.

"Yes, Narcissa, I saw it," Lucius said, moving up the staircase himself.

"My goodness, what did I tell you?" Narcissa tittered. "Merlin, they just look adorable together. Don't they, Lucius?"

"Yes, just delightful," Lucius agreed dully.

"It would be such a thrill to have the both of them together, wouldn't it, Lucius?"

"Pure excitement, Narcissa," Lucius commented, opening the door to their room indifferently.

"I should have seen it before!" Narcissa continued, flitting around the room. "We should have introduced them to each other sooner! Don't you agree, Lucius?"

"Yes, Narcissa," Lucius consented.

Lucius really was quite intrigued by the entire ordeal. It seemed that Draco and Azalea did look enchanting together and they were actually pleasant with each other. But of course, that could all just be a ruse. The two of them could just be pretending to get along for the benefit of Lucius and Narcissa. Azalea didn't want to impose more than she perceives she has. Draco… Lucius had no explanation for Draco's genteel behavior towards Azalea. Could it be really possible that these two young people could develop feelings for each other?

Lucius became all too curious about the entire thing. He agreed with his wife. It would be thrilling to have his goddaughter so excessively friendly with his son. Yes, it would be delightful if they ended up together. But at the rate those two were going, it was more likely that a toad would give birth to a rabbit.

"Just think, Lucius!" Narcissa continued to prattle. "Wouldn't their children just be the most darling little cherubs?"

"Yes, Narcissa, absolutely darling," Lucius nodded.

But if he wanted Draco and Azalea together, he would have to take matters into his own hands. There was nothing wrong with helping along something that would inevitably come.

"You see," Draco said with a self satisfied smirk as Azalea stared at herself in the mirror. "I told you it looks amazing."

The dress Draco picked out for Azalea to wear to Alex's party was stunning. That much was certain. It was onyx black with an elegant one shoulder strap and an open long sleeve design. It hugged Azalea's curves. The dark fabric made her slim hips look all the more sensual. The dress ended mid thigh. Azalea insisted upon her silver peep toe stiletto pumps that she already owned. Now that Draco's seen it put together, he had to commend her for her taste.

In Draco's opinion, she wasn't hot. No. She was sizzling. He could not believe what he saw when she walked out of the dressing room. His jaw literally dropped. Of course, she had been pulling at the hem of the dress, complaining about how it was too short but there was no mistake about it. Azalea Vale looked smoldering in that dress. Draco insisted strongly that she buy it despite her misgivings. She was still pulling on it as she stood in front of the mirror scrutinizing herself.

Draco could not take his eyes away from her. He didn't think this was strange. Azalea had a scorching physique. He was enjoying himself just by watching her analyze her outfit. What man wouldn't? Draco looked from her elegant, patrician face to the curves of her waist to her smooth legs. She was unbelievably attractive and Draco couldn't help but smirk to himself.

"Draco!" he heard Azalea exclaim whilst giving him a questioning look.

"Sorry, what?" Draco asked.

"I asked you if it looked too tight," Azalea repeated.

"No," Draco grinned, pushing himself off her bed and onto his feet. "I think you look perfect."

"I feel like such a harlot," Azalea sighed, tugging on the hem of her dress again.

Draco took her hands away from the hem and wrapped his and her arms around Azalea's waist. He leaned his chin lightly on her right shoulder and watched her face in the mirror. He ignored the surprise on her face. He grinned at her.

"Look at yourself, Azalea," Draco said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You look unbelievable. You've been hiding all this ever since Anton. But that's about to change because you are back on the market. If you want anyone interested, you're going to have to show them the goods.

"Look at you," he continued to say. "You're a beautiful, lovely, sexy, and smart woman. This Alex chap would be blind not to see that. But you have to believe it, too. You have to believe it and sell it. If you sell it, Azalea, he will buy it. Trust me, you look wicked. It's time to come out of your shell. You're hot, really hot. Believe it and let yourself live."

He was right. Of course, he was right. Azalea had tried time and time again to tell herself the same thing but she never could bring herself to believe it. She supposed she just had a sort of bias against herself. She supposed that, in a way, she blamed herself for what happened between her and Anton. But Draco was right. That part of her life is over. She should move on, start fresh. This was the perfect opportunity. Hiding in the past was no longer an option. She had to move forward.

Azalea then caught sight of Draco on the mirror. He still had his arms banded around her waist, his chin on her shoulder as he watched her face. He struck her as incredibly handsome right then. Perhaps it was just the quality of his voice or what he said to her, but it struck her right then that he would make any girl so happy should he choose to be a caring and loving man. For a split second, Azalea was jealous of Astoria. For a split second, she half wished that she was the one that he wanted. For a split second, she half wished that she was the one that would make him happy. Azalea had never felt more alone even though Draco was standing so close to her and holding her like a lover.

She turned her head and looked him in the eyes. It was a slate gray color, usually cold and unfeeling. But now, Azalea could have sworn it was glittering with… what? Her eyes moved to his lips. His lips had a slight aristocratic quality to it that Azalea hadn't noticed before. She could feel her heart beat faster. They were so close together. One nudge and their lips would touch. Her own lips had begun to tingle with the prospect of it. His eyes were burning into hers. She felt her face start to redden. What was this? What was she feeling? Why was she feeling it for Draco?

Two loud knocks on the door broke the spell. Draco immediately released Azalea, scratching a spot at the back of his head awkwardly. Azalea stepped to her left away from him, straightening and tugging on her dress. Slowly, the two of them glanced at each other uncomfortably and leaped half a foot in the air when someone knocked on the door again.

"Y-yes?" Azalea asked.

"Supper, Miss Azalea," Lilu, the house elf, squeaked.

"Thank you."

Silence. Silence hung between Draco and Azalea for a long while. Crap, both Draco and Azalea thought to themselves. What the hell had they just started? They can't develop feelings for each other. That would be massively and irrevocably counter productive to what they were trying to do. He was supposed to get her with Alex. She was supposed to get him with Astoria. They can't go looking into each other's eyes and feeling… things. This was absolutely insane. This wasn't happening, they both decided. They weren't going to allow it.

"I've got to… uh… change," Azalea began awkwardly.

"Oh!" Draco said, embarrassed by his idleness. "Yeah, me, too."

"Thank you for the… um…" Azalea stuttered, watching him move to the door.

"Yeah, no… no problem," Draco said, scratching his head as he opened the door. "I'll… uh… see you-ˮ

"- downstairs," Azalea finished.

"Yeah, yeah."

"I've got to… change… and stuff," Azalea mumbled.

"Oh, yeah, sorry," Draco said and swung out the door.

Azalea watched the door shut and blew out a breath. This was crazy, she thought. Absolutely and one hundred percent loony.

"Great," she muttered.