Chapter 26
Cait still felt chilled from the ceremony that she had been forced to partake of. She hadn't anticipated that Voldemort would actually be binding her and Draco to one another. She had thought the ceremony would merely be symbolic but, as with most things concerning the Dark Lord, it was far from being symbolic. The only positive that could come from the bond, she thought, was that she knew that Voldemort could not kill Draco now. If he killed Draco then she would perish as well, along with the heir.
Once their official first dance as a married couple concluded, Cait and Draco were expected to make their rounds dancing with the rest of the wedding guests. That was how Cait found herself dancing with Blaise Zabini.
"I heard word of your brother," Blaise murmured to her quietly as they glided across the dance space.
"What have you heard?" Cait asked, alarm rising within her. She fought to keep her expression unmarred by the worry that was rising within her.
"It's nothing bad," he assured her and she relaxed a fraction. "He is doing as well as could be expected seeing as his twin sister is being held captive by Death Eaters."
"He isn't going to try anything stupid, is he?" Cait asked anxiously. It wasn't like Teddy to be hasty about things-that was more her thing-but she couldn't deny that he might be enough like her to try something stupid.
"I heard that you and Malfoy are going to be getting away for some alone time following the wedding," he muttered, changing the subject and avoiding her question. Either he didn't know any more or he was covering for any plans that he had overheard.
"Talk to Narcissa," Cait replied softly, she didn't dare say anything more. She gave Zabini a pointed look before Draco cut back in for another dance.
Draco's presence relieved her more than she would like to admit. Just being there within his grasp calmed the worry that had been swirling through her about her brother. He seemed confident that the Order could keep her brother safe, and so some of that confidence had eased its way into her. Plus, hadn't Teddy said that he was under constant supervision?
"Hi," Draco murmured as he pulled her close and rested his hand on her lower back.
"Hi," Cait smiled back. If she just focused on him, the rest of the bizarre night seemed to fade into the background.
"Enjoying the evening," he questioned conversationally.
"I will enjoy it more once we are far from this manor," she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I know," Draco sighed. "It shouldn't be much longer. It is well after midnight and surely mother will start dropping hints that we need to prepare for our first night as a married couple."
The two continued to sway gracefully along with the music. If Cait tried hard enough, she could pretend that the two of them were alone in the room; that they were back at Hogwarts; that none of this had ever happened; that she wasn't currently hiding a child within her womb.
The clearing of a throat alerted them to the presence of another and brought her back to reality rather abruptly.
"You wouldn't mind if I cut in, would you my son?" Lucius asked. Instantly Cait knew that something was up and she wanted to refuse the elder Malfoy, but knew that she couldn't. Not without making a scene and possibly compromising the plans that had been laid out for the night.
With a soft kiss, Draco reluctantly handed Cait over to his father. She grudgingly placed one hand in Lucius' and the other on his bicep before they began to move through the crowd as gracefully as she and Draco had just been doing moments before.
"Don't think that the ring on your finger was missed," he told her, his voice holding slight menace. "I am not the only one to have noticed and to say that Our Lord is delighted would be an understatement."
Cait swallowed thickly, she had no response for him. She had hoped that she could continue to hide the cursed ring but knew that it was inevitable that someone would notice it. Now that she and Draco were bound and He knew that the artifact was on her finger he would be looking for any sign of change in Cait. She knew that it was only a matter of time-more than likely only a few weeks-before she started showing. She and Draco had to escape before that happened.
"You had the ring the entire time, didn't you?" Lucius questioned with a cruel grin. "You let your father die while you tried to hide the fact that you had the very artifact that Our Lord was looking for. Perhaps you are more like us than you'd like to admit."
Cait felt the blood drain from her face. Her heart stuttered and she could feel tears beginning to burn behind her eyes. She was ultimately the reason that her father was dead. She hadn't allowed herself to think about that fact before now. She had blamed his death on his being a Death Eater and on Voldemort himself. But, it was her fault. She had the artifact that he was killed for and she hadn't tried to stop his murder.
"Lucius, dear, you wouldn't mind if I stole Caitlyn away, would you? I think it's time that she gets prepared for the honeymoon send off," Narcissa purred, rubbing her hand up her husband's arm.
And just like that she was saved. Narcissa whisked her away up the staircase and into her suite. The older woman turned to Cait and pulled her into a hug, rubbing her hand soothingly over the girl's back.
"Don't listen to my husband," Narcissa told Cait in a fierce whisper. "You had no way of knowing that your father would be killed. It was not your fault. Do you hear me?"
Cait nodded and dabbed at the single tear that had escaped her eye. For a brief moment she wondered when she had become so emotional and then she remembered that it was probably all of the hormones that were coursing through her.
"Good girl," Narcissa smiled. "Now, let's get you changed and grab the honeymoon bag."
Draco saw his mother and Cait disappear up the stairs. He could tell that something was wrong with Cait, his father had clearly upset her. But he couldn't follow, too many were watching him. So, instead, he grabbed another glass of fire whiskey and made his way towards where Blaise was standing with Goyle.
"Congratulations, mate," Blaise greeted as he clapped his hand on Draco's back.
"Thanks," Draco returned, sipping at his drink.
"So, looking forward to the honeymoon, eh?" Goyle questioned, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Draco gave him a withering look, but the boy just grinned wider.
"The first of us to be taken off the market," Blaise mused as he raised his cup to his lips. Draco gave him a half-hearted smile before he raised his own cup to his lips. "Where are you taking your blushing bride to, anyway?"
"My parents are gifting us the honeymoon and haven't told us the surprise yet," Draco admitted.
"Anywhere will be better than this manor," Blaise continued. "No offense, but it's been looking a bit deary around here lately."
"I couldn't agree more," Draco sighed.
"I heard they are taking you to some island," Goyle shrugged. "Sounded pretty boring if you ask me." Draco struggled to keep his face an impassive mask.
"Where did you hear that?" he asked the larger boy.
"I overheard my father and Crabbe's talking about it the other night. They were sent to accompany Narcissa while she decorated," Goyle supplied. "They made it seem like there wasn't much there besides a living space."
Draco and Blaise's gazes met for a moment as they both wondered what to do with the information that Goyle had given them. A remote island seemed like a likely choice, Draco thought. It would put he and Cait out of the way and wouldn't give them much to do besides try to make the heir that Voldemort was currently hoping for.
"It sounds like a bloody brilliant time to me," Blaise finally commented. "Sun and waves and nobody else around to bother me. Plus, it would mean that I wouldn't have to return to Hogwarts."
Draco just grunted in response as he focused on how he and Cait would be able to escape a secluded island. There wasn't very far you could go before you hit the ocean on all sides, and surely they had covered the entire island in an anti-apparation charm. Maybe his mother had supplied them with a portkey while she decorated? It was possible, but Draco feared that it would be nearly impossible to know which object had been transformed. The task of escaping seemed daunting, but when he thought of Cait and their unborn child he found a new determination. No matter what, he was going to get them out of this mess. Once they were free he would find someone to help them figure out how to break the curse that had been laid on Cait's womb.
The sudden quiet around him brought Draco out of his thoughts and he saw his mother and Cait descending the staircase. Cait had changed into a shorter, more casual lace dress and still looked just as stunning as she had in her wedding gown.
Draco watched as his mother motioned him to join her and his wife on the stairs. Slowly, he made his way to towards the two women that meant so much to him. At the same time, he saw his father making his way towards the stairs as well.
Once all four of them-Draco, Cait, Narcissa, and Lucius-were in position, Narcissa grabbed a champagne flute from a nearby house elf and motioned for the other three to do the same. He saw Cait hesitate as she grabbed the glass. Whereas he had been able to achieve a light buzz off of the Fire Whiskey that he had been sipping all evening, Cait hadn't had been able to indulge. She'd had to face the evening completely sober. Draco cursed himself for being thoughtless. He should have faced the evening in the same fashion. If she couldn't drink, then he shouldn't have either.
"Everyone's attention, please," Narcissa called unnecessarily as she raised her glass. "I would like to propose a toast to my beloved son and his beautiful wife on the night of their wedding." All eyes had already been on the four Malfoys, but now even the softest of murmurs died out as they listened to the Malfoy matriarch.
"It seems like just yesterday that I was bringing the little bouncing baby boy that was Draco home from the hospital. I remember thinking how perfect he was, how nothing else in this world could ever be more perfect than the life that my husband and I had created. I was so lucky to have such an amazing child.
"As time went on, my son started to grow. He became curious and inquisitive. And he was smart, so smart. Not long after he learned to walk, Elizabeth Nott introduced our family to her twins-Theodore and Caitlyn. Instantly the three became inseparable friends. They were always getting into mischief." Narcissa paused to chuckle at the memories. The entire room was silent as they listened to the woman speak, as if they were drawn in just by the sound of her voice.
"Caitlyn was always the more daring of the three, and I remember watching as Draco struggled to try to keep up with her bravery. One afternoon, I happened to glance out the window of my study and there were Caitlyn and Draco, climbing the tallest tree on our property. I nearly choked as I watched them climb higher and higher. Caitlyn had a carefree look on her face, but Draco, he looked a little green. He didn't let his slight fear deter him though. Instead, he scrambled to keep pace with Caitlyn, determined not to let her out do him.
"When Elizabeth passed, it was difficult. It was difficult for me to lose one of my closest friends, and I can only imagine how difficult it was for Caitlyn to lose her mother. But, despite the pain that she went through, Caitlyn rose to become an amazing young woman. I watched as she flourished into her adolescence and as she continued to challenge Draco to be a better man.
"When I discovered that my son was in love with someone, I was beyond thrilled when he admitted to me that it was Caitlyn." She turned towards Cait and placed a hand on the girl's arm. "I had already thought of you as a daughter, Caitlyn. And now that you truly are my daughter and I know how happy you make my son, well, that elates me more than I ever thought possible."
Narcissa gave the girl a tight hug and Draco couldn't help but notice the tears in both of their eyes. He let a soft smile spread across his lips as he stared at the two women that meant the most to him.
"Without further delay," Narcissa announced as she turned back to the crowd, all evidence of the tears that he had seen gone. "I would like to send the newlyweds off on the honeymoon of their dreams! May your trip be filled with love and memories as you continue to explore and nurture your relationship. To many years of happiness for Draco and Caitlyn!"
The room raised their glasses as one, each person taking a sip. Draco took a gulp of his own glass as he watched Cait pretend to sip hers before discarding it on the tray that she had taken it from.
From the bag near her feet, Narcissa withdrew a large conch shell and offered it to her son. Draco took the shell and grasped Cait's hand with his free one. His mother tapped the shell as she muttered the spell that would activate the portkey.
Instantly, Draco felt himself spiraling through space. He squeezed Cait's hand as a way to reassure himself that she was still there with him. Finally, the swirling stopped and he and Cait were standing in the sand staring out at azure blue waves as the bright sun shone overhead.