Chapter 17

"Okay, stop it; it's going to go too fast!"

"It won't. Don't worry."

Azalea let out a peal of laughter that echoed through the night air. Draco twisted the two sets of chains of the swings into each other, watching the look of suspense and laughter in Azalea's face happily. They had been in the children's playground for half an hour, playing on the swing set.

Draco let the swing chains go and watch Azalea squeal as her swing spun round and round quickly. He laughed with her as her swing slowed down.

"That was wicked!" Azalea giggled and watched Draco leap and stand on his swing and start to swing himself back and forth. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" he grinned.

"You'll hurt yourself!!" Azalea laughed. "Draco!"

Draco leapt off his swing and landed on his feet a distance away. Azalea squealed as he landed.

"Nah, I'd never do that."

Draco spied Azalea's hands holding onto the chains of the swing. He folded his hand over hers and pushed her backwards, getting closer and closer to her face. Draco pushed her so far back that Azalea had to stand in order not to fall to the ground on her arse. Draco stared into her eyes, getting lost in the storm of her gray eyes. He watched the moonlight shine in her eyes. He watched the starlight twinkle in the strands of her hair. She never seemed more beautiful to him as she did at that moment.

Azalea felt her heart go into overdrive. She felt her body pressed close to his. There wasn't an inch of space between them. Their faces were so close together that one inch of movement would push their lips together. Azalea's eyes immediately flicked to his patrician lips. Her heart rate jumped up a notch higher. She didn't want to and she was certain that Draco had noticed.

A question hung in the air above them: To kiss or not to kiss? Draco wanted to, that much was certain. Azalea didn't know whether she should. She had this whole thing with Alex and she didn't really know what she had with Draco.

He moved slightly toward her, his eyes drifting shut. Azalea felt her heart skip a beat. She could either kiss Draco and sink plunge her love life into utter confusion and chaos or she could stop him and walk away.

But she couldn't find her voice and she found her eyes closing and her lips parting slightly. The first touch of their lips was light. Excitement and warmth detonated at the center of Draco's chest and resonated through his entire body. Azalea felt himself melt against him. Azalea felt Draco's lips move over hers and logic and thought shut down as she draped her arms around his shoulders as Draco slid his arms around her hips.

Alex closed the door to his room, shrugged off his cloak, trudged to his mini bar. Damn, he thought to himself, that Malfoy has Azalea all to himself. How was he supposed to get anywhere with her if he keeps getting in the way? He poured himself a glass of Firewhisky and tossed it back into his mouth in one go.

"Going to offer me some of that?"

The voice made Alex whip around quickly. Long dark hair and long sleek hair. She was smirking expectantly at him.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked her.

"I see you were kept away from your precious Azalea yet again," she taunted him.

"That's none of your concern," Alex hissed, agitated by her jeering.

"When are you going to accept it, Alex?" she asked, fluidly getting up from his bed and walking toward him. "You'll never win her over. Not when Draco's so obviously smitten with her."

"You're underestimating me," Alex told her.

"I'm only being realistic, love," she continued, pushing her body close to him and looking him coyly in the eye. "As long as her dear darling Draco is watching over her, you will never get close to her."

"Is that a challenge?" he asked.

"Take it however way you will," she chuckled. "You know it's the truth."

"What do you want?"

"You know perfectly well what I want, Alex," she said and crashed her lips onto his.

Alex pulled her closer to him as the heat built around the room. He would have to settle for her that night.

The next morning was one of the most awkward Azalea has ever experienced in her entire life. She and Draco had pulled apart from their kiss and looked at each other with confusion, alarm, and uncertainty. They said nothing to each other for a long while until Azalea suggested that they go back. She went straight to her room and slept off the awkwardness that she felt.

It was morning and the Malfoy breakfast table was thick with tension. Azalea sat with her head lowered, refusing to look at anyone. Draco shoveled pancakes into his mouth, looking anywhere but Azalea. Narcissa watched the both of them, a touch worried. Lucius looked on, a touch amused. Something certainly happened the night before. He almost chuckled. It was almost adorable.

"Is everything alright?" Narcissa asked.

"Fine," Draco answered simply.

"Azalea?" Narcissa asked, turning to her goddaughter.

"Yes, fantastic," Azalea answered.

"I see," Narcissa said, not at all convinced. "Did something interesting happen?"

From the corner of Azalea's eye, she saw Draco smirk. Lucius raised an eyebrow at his son's reaction. This time, neither Draco nor Azalea answered Narcissa's question. Narcissa stared from her son to Azalea and back, bewildered.

"Did you two have a good night then?" Lucius asked, trying to keep his face impassive.

"It was wonderful," Draco grinned.

"Ah," Lucius nodded and turned his eyes to Azalea. "And how about you, Azalea? Had a good night?"

Azalea didn't answer right away. Azalea could feel Draco's gaze on her instantly. "It was fine," she answered meekly.

"Excellent," Lucius said.

Why did Azalea get the feeling that Lucius somehow knew what went on the night before? Why did she get the feeling that Lucius actually approves of what went on the night before? It was all very awkward for her. Azalea would have preferred not to go into a situation like this. What was she supposed to tell Alex? Well, it wasn't as if she and Alex were dating but it was still very tense business.

Azalea finished her pancake and excused herself from the table. She walked speedily out of the dining room, feeling the tension deflate with every step she took. Draco watched her exit. He finished his breakfast and excused himself as well.

Narcissa watched all of this, confusion bright on her face.

"Lucius," she said as her husband looked up at her, "what the devil is going on here? Those two are acting… odd."

"Ah, my dear," Lucius sighed, turning the page of his Daily Prophet, "this is what we call 'Young Love'."

"It felt quite a bit awkward," Narcissa commented.

"Yes, it did," Lucius agreed. "Something quite obviously happened between the two of them last night."

"Oh, how exciting," Narcissa tittered.

"Yes, but for Merlin's sake, don't start planning a wedding," Lucius rolled his eyes. "It's awkward enough for the both of them as it is."

"I won't plan it, Lucius," Narcissa argued. "But there's no harm in looking into some flower arrangements, is there?"

Lucius sighed.

"Azalea, we need to talk," Draco said, walking into Azalea's room.

"We certainly do," Azalea agreed, putting down her brush. "Why did you kiss me?"

"You kissed me back!" Draco argued.

"You kissed me first!" Azalea bickered.

Draco stared at her, not able to say anything. She was right, of course. He was the one who made the initial contact. She only reciprocated. He sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed. He wasn't ready to spill all his feelings to her. She would mock him. She would run into that bastard, Alex's arms and Merlin only knows what he'll do with her. The thought made Draco angry. He wanted to punch him, that idiot.

"Look, Draco," Azalea sighed, "I'm not saying it was a bad kiss. It was actually very pleasant and wonderful. I'm just wondering why it happened."

Draco said nothing.

"Alright, well," Azalea said, picking up her cloak, "I'm going to meet Alex. We're going to try out that new ice cream shop in Diagon Alley."

"You're meeting with that oaf?" Draco asked, bolting to his feet. "Why?"

"I just told you why," Azalea snapped. "Unless you have a valid reason as to why I shouldn't go."
Because Alex is a dumb arse who only cares about himself? Because his only goal is to get you out of your trousers and onto his bed? Because if falling for you is crazy, then I'm out of my mind? Draco wanted to give her all the reasons but again, he could only stay silent. It was too hard to put words to.

"What's the ice cream shop's name?" Draco asked.

"Barton's Ice Cream Emporium," Azalea answered.

"I might have to go sometime," Draco commented lightly, getting a look on his face as his wheels began to turn.

"Fine, Draco," Azalea sighed, "but I have to go. I'll be late."

"Alright," Draco sniggered, got up, and walked out of the room.

Azalea gave him a funny look and Disapparated away. Draco whistled as he made his way down to the cellar where the owls were kept. He pulled a piece of parchment, ink, and a feather quill from a nearby cupboard. He penned a quick message as the owls hooted all around him. He then attached it to one of the owl's foot and dictated that it should be taken to the Zabini residence at once. Draco then walked calmly back upstairs to take a shower and change. I'm brilliant, Draco thought to himself.

"It's such a gorgeous day," Alex commented, grinning happily at Azalea.

"Yes, it's lovely," Azalea agreed. "Perhaps we could have a picnic later or something."

"That sounds like fun," Alex chuckled. "We definitely should have a picnic this afternoon."

Azalea smiled and put a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. The day was indeed perfect. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and Alex was watching her as if she was the only girl in the country. Azalea lavished in all his attention. She almost forgot the awkwardness between her and Draco.

"Listen, Alex," Azalea sighed, "I'm sorry Draco's been so insufferable lately. I don't know what's gotten into him."

"It's alright," Alex smiled charmingly. "He's protective of you. I would be, too. Someone as lovely as you shouldn't be left to fend for herself."

"You flatter me too much, Alex," Azalea said, looking away and trying to keep herself from blushing.

"Oh, no, it's only true," Alex chuckled. "You don't need to be embarrassed."

"You're far too nice," Azalea told him.

"How about we just forget the picnic for today and set it for another day?" Alex suggested. "How about tonight I cook us a nice dinner at my manor? Won't that be nice?"
"Alex, I-ˮ

"Well, Zabini, look who we just happened to run into!"

Alex and Azalea looked up to see Draco and Blaise looking down at them. They were both holding cups of ice cream in their hand. Blaise had an absolutely annoyed expression on his face but Draco had an expression of complete mischief. Azalea's eyes widened in shock at the sight of both of them.

"You don't mind if we sit here, do you?" Draco asked, squeezing in between Alex and Azalea pushing them apart. Blaise sat on Alex's other side. "We're all friends here, aren't we?"

"Draco, what the hell are you doing here?" Azalea whispered to him.

"Me?" Draco answered loudly. "Zabini and I had just gone out to get some ice cream. We had no idea you two would be here."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Azalea asked angrily. "I told you we would be here."

"Did you?" Draco asked, feigning innocence. "Well, what do you know? Say, Garrison, is that flavor any good?"

Azalea stared incredibly at Draco. Alex glared acrimoniously at him. Blaise merely looked bored. Draco seemed far too entertained by his shenanigans. Azalea watched Draco take his spoon and sample Alex's ice cream, causing Alex to glare at him even harder. What the hell was going on here?