a/n: jahjbljJahkjaljhwlkjahslkjhlwjwejlajhlwjae Y'alls support is overwhelming. I love you all so much. Can't wait for you meet Genevieve. Some of you think you'll love her. Some of you think you'll hate her. Let's find out, shall we?
Chapter Four: The Devil You Know
"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."
Leolin lay in their cramped apartment on the outskirts of Medieval Florence, listening to Cristian's breathing beside her and feeling sick to her stomach. She didn't want to move, lest she wake him and he demand a repeat of the previous evening's performance. The one night he bartered from her had become every night, and as much as that was killing her, there was nothing she could do. Things had been quiet here, and Leolin was fairly certain they'd managed to throw Lucius off their trail. If she stopped giving Cristian what he wanted, he would run back to London at once, and Lucius would surely uproot even the small amount of security she'd managed to amass here in Florence.
Still, Leolin felt herself growing weaker with every union, and some days, like today, she barely had to strength to get out of a bed. She had to, though. She had work in an hour, and she'd taken to showering several times a day. Though all the hot water made her skin tight and dry and her hair brittle, Leolin never could manage to wash the shame away.
Carefully, she pushed Cristian's arm off of her, biting her lip as she gingerly stood. However, the old mattress creaked as she got up, and Cristian stirred beside her.
"Where are you going, cherie. Get back here and let's have some fun."
She grit her teeth, vaguely wishing she had the stomach to kill him where he lay.
"I can't." she said. "I have work."
"That's not as important as pleasuring me, is it?"
"We're broke, Cristian," she snapped, nerves frayed. "You've burned through all the money I had."
"What can I say?" he said, sitting up a little and smiling. "I have expensive taste."
"I can't believe you didn't tell me how poor you were," she said in a defeated voice, searching for her robe.
"Would you have come to me if you had?" He asked.
"No," she bit out. "I wouldn't have."
"Exactement," he said, easing down to lie on his back again as he watched her hungrily.
"Your father left you a multi-million galleon trust," she said. "What the hell happened to it?"
"I don't know," Cristian said smugly. "It flitted away, like a little birdie."
"And yet I'm the only one of us who's working," she said in a defeated voice. "How interesting."
"Come back to bed and I'll give you a reward," he said suggestively, and she turned away, disgusted.
"I have to shower. I don't want to be late."
She slipped down the hall from their cramped bedroom to their dingy bathroom. Turning on the tap to scalding hot before stepping under the stream. Some days she cried, but today she merely stood, wondering as always what she was going to do. She had to find a real job. She had to get out of this dump, and she had to get Cristian off her back. Think! What could she do? What was she even qualified to do?
She didn't have any more time to brood, because the bathroom door was opening, and a second later Cristian was stepping in behind her. So much for getting clean.
"I don't have time for this," she said desperately. "I'll be late."
"So be late," he replied evenly, spinning her around and crushing his mouth against hers.
He urged her to open her mouth, and she tried not to gag as his tongue touched hers. This was becoming unbearable.
"Allons, cherie," he breathed. "Why don't you get on your knees like I like you to."
"No," she replied, shaking her head. "I just gave you that last night."
"I know," he said cruelly. "But you are so good at it."
She did as she was told, devoting all her energy to imagining he was someone else. When she looked up at him through her wet lashes, he was suddenly blonde and not dark-haired, and his diamond eyes twinkled merrily. She could feel some of the tension seeping from her shoulders as the fantasy washed over her.
"Come up here," Draco groaned, tipping his head back onto the tiles as he smiled. It was the kind that he only gave her, and it always made her feel as if she was standing in the sun.
"I have to be at work," she told him.
"I think the Savage can go a little longer without it's star barkeep," he replied, kissing her gently again.
She could feel the medallion she'd given him pressing between her breasts as his mouth worked. She slid her hands down his sides, feeling the phoenix on one side and the falcon on the other.
She remembered when he'd first showed her the falcon tattoo.
'It's for you,' he'd told her. 'So you're always here with me. You're my falcon; you're my patronus.'
"Drake," she murmured, but he shook his head to silence her, turning her in his arms.
"Don't worry, Cal. You won't be late."
He drove in gently, pumping faster when she began to mew.
"Go on, darling," he said softly, his voice husky. "Get off for me. It will start your day right."
She was close, and finally she stopped resisting, letting the first orgasm in six weeks wash over her. The fantasy began to subside immediately, and the last thing Leolin heard Draco's voice saying was, "I love you."
"I knew you were holding back on purpose," Cristian said in triumph as he worked her harder. "I knew I could make you come."
"You didn't," she wanted to spit at him. "Draco did."
She said nothing.
Finally, he was done, and she jerked away from him, standing under the scalding stream again and ignoring him as he stepped out.
He'd left the apartment by the time she'd finally emerged from the shower, and she simply threw her hair up into a bun and got dressed before apparating from their flat to the bar she worked at on the Piazza della Signoria. She smiled grimly up at the stoic David statue before tapping her wand casually on the bricks outside and slipping into the Wizarding Bar.
"Mi dispiace sono in ritardo, Giovanni," she said to her boss, not looking up.
She spoke very little Italian, and very poorly, but it was enough to get by. Mostly she just didn't speak at all.
"Ah!" Giovanni said, turning from the man he'd been speaking to to smile at her. Giovanni was the only person in Florence Leolin didn't despise. "vieni qui, tesoro."
He turned back to the tall man, using the little bit of English he knew.
"This Naomi. She a francese. She help you."
The man rotated his shoulders to look at Leolin, and she damn near fainted.
"Draco!" she cried, tears already welling, but it was clear at once he didn't recognize her and couldn't hear her cry. He couldn't see her because of Lucius's gag order.
The Wizarding world was fairly small, she knew, but it was still a cruel coincidence Draco had ended up here, of all places, pained her to no end.
"Parlez-vous français?" he said impatiently
He was still impeccably dressed, but otherwise he looked terrible. His under-eyes were violet and his hair was a mess. He ran a hand through it as she stared at him, trembling like a leaf.
"Allô!" he snapped snidely. "Parlez-vous français ou pas?"
"Uh—oui," she said, her voice strangled. She willed him to recognize her. "And English."
"Good," he said, glad to have her full attention at last. "I'm looking for a witch. She would have shown up in the last six weeks or so. She's about twenty, and she got dark hair and blue eyes. She's gorgeous, and she's French. Her name is Leolin. The surname is Lefevre. The French Wizarding community is small and tight-knit here, I know, so if she were in Florence, she would likely come to you. Have you heard anything? Have you seen anyone that fits her description?
I am her, Leolin wanted to cry.
"Non," she said, choking on her tears. "I—I haven't seen anyone like that. What should I tell her, if I do?"
Draco considered.
"Tell her Draco loves her desperately, and he needs her to come home."
"I don't understand," Ariadne said, as Leolin flopped onto the couch, drinking a steaming mug of tea. "You were leaving London to get away from Draco, and now you're not only staying, but you're going to the intimate engagement party at the flat he and his fiancée share?"
"Exactly so," Leolin said glumly, chewing at her lip and staring into the fire.
Even having made up her mind, she felt little peace in her decision. She knew what sort of nastiness awaited her, from Draco if not from Genevieve, and she didn't revel in the thought.
"Leolin," Ariadne said, sinking next to her and offering Leolin a chocolate and caramel biscuit. "I love you, but you need to start learning to split the difference on these things. I'm thrilled you're staying, but going to that party is a mistake."
"What am I supposed to do? Genevieve specifically invited me. It's only going to make things worse if I don't go. Draco will just resent me more."
Ariadne sighed, setting down her own teacup and fixing Leolin with a stern look.
"Look, as you know, I care for Draco very much."
"Yes I know," Leolin snapped, sullenly slurping some tea. "At least he likes one of us."
"That's not what I meant," Ariadne said, a little annoyed. "Will you please listen, instead of interrupting me?"
"Fine," Leolin said. "I'm listening."
"Your father and I are very fond of Draco, and for his sake we have embraced Genevieve. In many respects she really is a lovely girl and a good person. That being said, I don't think you have any idea what you're going up against."
"Are you saying you don't like her?" Leolin asked.
"No," Ariadne said in a serious voice. "She's very charming and polite, in fact. But I will say that she's fiercely protective of her relationship with Draco, and she's a breed of woman you've never encountered before, and I think you are walking into something that you are wholly unprepared for."
"Are you saying she's a snake?" Leolin asked. "Because I'm practically family with Severina Borgia, and I made it through seven years of sleeping in the same room as Gracie Boyle. I know how to handle venom."
"Not like this you don't," Ariadne replied, seemingly a little pained about the Severina comment but not wanting to hurt Leolin more by mentioning it. "It's not dry wit and quick barbs like you're used to; I know you're very good at that. This is 'Southern Charm'. It's kill you with kindness. It's say one thing and mean the opposite. It's trip you up in your own words until you've somehow agreed to do something you don't want to do. Leolin, I'm not saying she's a bad person, but I have seen Gen cut girls to ribbons, a smile on her face the whole time. Americans don't play by the same rules we do, especially in the South where Gen's from."
"I'm not afraid of her 'Southern Charm'," Leolin said. "I can handle myself better than you'd think. I'm a Slytherin, remember?"
"Leolin—"
"It's done, Mum. I'm going."
Leolin stood up. She needed to start getting ready. It was already six thirty. She also needed a drink
"After you left last night," Ariadne called to her retreating back. "You were all anyone could talk about. I think Genevieve could have left, and the only person who would have noticed was Draco. Have you seen the Prophet this morning?"
She held up the paper, and the headline blared: PRODIGAL DAUGHTER RETURNS. Underneath was a picture of Leolin gliding down the steps, the whole ballroom her captive audience as her necklace glittered magnifiscently in the light. She had to vainly admit she looked enviable.
"Imagine," Ariadne said. "Wearing a dress like Genevieve's and still being outshone. This was meant to be her big night, and instead her fiancée's ex was the belle of the ball. That would make any woman jealous, and believe me, Genevieve Beauchene is anything but ordinary. She's the Prophet's darling, and she is on the front page more often than she isn't. Everyone in London adores and is fascinated by her. She is not used to being outshone, I assure you, but she was last night."
"What?" Leolin burst. "Am I supposed to feel sorry for her?"
"No," Ariadne said. "But I don't think you understand what you're stirring up here. You're threatening her position, and she's not one to be threatened. I need you to listen to me and tread carefully here, Leolin."
"I'm not going to waste time on that," Leolin said. "If anyone should be afraid, it's her. Mum, she has what's mine. I'm not going to let her rob me of my happiness just because she's devours normal girls for sport! I'm not a normal girl. If she thinks she'd going to get rid of me in one evening, she is dead fucking wrong. Besides, I'm sorry to take what she has with Draco away from her, but he is the love of my life, and I'm the love of his."
Amelie pursed her lips. Leolin was an adult now, but Ariadne wasn't much for swearing.
"Don't forget what happened last night," Ariadne warned, and Leolin spun, looking hurt. "Darling, you can't force this on Draco. You have to give him time to come around. This has been an enormous shock for him."
"There isn't time for that," Leolin said, a little, desperate. "He's engaged to be married."
Ariadne shook her head sadly, bowing it a second before looking up at Leolin again.
"Then perhaps you should have come home sooner," she said, sounding a little pained.
Leolin pulled away, heaving a sigh. She didn't have to feel guilty, she reminded herself. She would have come back the same hour she left if she could've. She did her best. Still, she felt her mother's painful accusation churning the familiar acidic guilt in the dredges of her heart.
"I'm sorry," Leolin said softly, eye penitant. "I came home as soon as I could. And now that I am, I have to do what I can to make things right."
"Okay," Ariadne said in a quiet voice. "That's fair. James and I are going to dinner tonight, but we will be back after. Come in if you need anything."
"I will," Leolin promised, traipsing back towards her mother.
Ariadne folded her into her arms, stroking her onyx hair.
"I'm sorry to be so harsh, lapin," she said softly. "You know I'm on your side. Always."
Leolin nodded.
"I know that," she agreed, and Ariadne nodded.
"I love you."
"You too," Leolin said, melting farther into Ariadne's embrace as her mother soothingly kissed her forehead.
Just then Leolin's floo began issuing smoke from inside the pocket of her jeans, and she pulled back and flicked it open to find a message from Ginny.
Draco's just been by the flat. He said you were staying after all. I hope you're as happy about it as I am. Do you want to go together tonight? Meet us at our flat and we can just go together. It 39 Lexington Grove, number four.
Love you and can't wait to see you
G.
After an hour of brooding and an hour of tearing through her clothes, most of which were from when she was in school, Leolin had picked a simply white sheath and a pair of enormous diamond earrings. She threw on some makeup and fixed her hair before remembering perfume. She rummaged in her purse for the bottle Severina had bought her in Florence. The mistake she'd made last night was trying to be the girl Draco remembered. She wasn't that girl anymore, and if she wanted to be with him then she had to let him fall in love with who she was now.
She threw some lipstick and her floo in a clutch before looking in her closet for shoes. She knew it was going to seem contrived to Draco, but as she searched, the reality was that the only heel that matched her outfit where her sparkling Loubitons, which he had bought her.
Leolin slipped them on and headed down the stairs.
"I'm off," Leolin called. "See you in the morning."
"What are you wearing?" Ariadne called. "Let me see!"
Leolin turned to show her mother, who had emerged at the top of the stairs.
"It's nice," Ariadne affirmed. "Very—subtle."
"Not sure if that was a compliment or an insult, but I'll take it."
"It's not your usual style, is all," Ariadne pointed out.
Leolin rolled her eyes.
"Love you, Mum."
"Don't forget to be yourself," Ariadne called as Leolin approached the floo.
Leolin spoke Ginny's address and stepped into the flames. She emerged in a cool, loft-style flat that had clearly been converted from some sort of warehouse. There was tons of exposed brink and mahogany beams, and the decoration was an amalgam of both Ginny and Blaise's tastes. There was something shimmering quietly on the stove and stirring itself, and Leolin smiled. She would expect nothing else. After all, Ginny was still her mother's daughter.
"Hi!" Ginny called, running down the stairs from where their bedroom must have been. She was wearing a pretty lilac cocktail dress, curlers still wounds into her blood red hair, showing off her lithe shoulders. "How are you?"
She threw her arms around Leolin, who hugged her gratefully.
"Gin, I want to say something about yesterday—"
Ginny shook her head, hugging Leolin again.
" I saw Adrian shove you, that little twat; I know you didn't meant to make a big scene."
"I swear to Merlin I didn't," Leolin affirmed. "I would never do that. And I only went to the party because Draco basically threatened I be there or else. You have to know that I wouldn't have gone otherwise."
"I know," Ginny said. "He told me."
There was an odd flash in her eyes Leolin wasn't wholly comfortable with. She realized for the first time that Ginny might not actually be on her side in this fight. It stung dully, like new skin exposed after a scape.
"What's going on with Adrian " Ginny asked. "I'm worried about you."
"Don't be," Leolin said stiffly, already read with a lie. "I didn't even see Lucius the other day. It was mostly just Adrian being a nob; I think he just wants to try and punish me for the way I treated him in school. Now that he's got a little power, he can't seem to help but rub it in my face."
She thought of how eager he'd been to knock her down a peg, and she tried not to flush.
"Maybe I shouldn't have been so nasty to him in school," she admitted.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Please, he was nasty first. I say thank Salazar you were there to keep his sorry arse in line. He is insufferable enough as it is. Besides, don't worry about him," Ginny continued, drawing her wand and levitating over a bottle from a wine rack set into one of the brick walls. "He won't be there tonight. Vino?"
"Please," Leolin said, smoothing her skirt and sitting down. "Where's Blaise?"
"He had some work thing," Ginny said, rolling her eyes and handing Leolin a glass that the bottle had poured her. "He'll be here in a bit."
Leolin took a sip. It was some type of refreshing Spanish white. Rioja, maybe.
"Is that really what you're wearing?" Ginny queried politely looking at Leolin
"Is there something wrong with this?" Leolin asked self-consciously. "My mum asked me the same thing."
"It's just—not really you," Ginny said. "Honestly, this is more Gen's style than yours."
Leolin shrugged.
"So I've heard."
"I hope you don't feel like you have to—" Ginny broke off.
"Have to what?" Leolin asked, feeling a little defensive now.
"To compete," Ginny said almost sheepishly. "I want you to feel free to be yourself."
"I do," Leolin said in mild self-defense. "Why would I want to compete with her?"
Ginny gave her a candid look.
"You know why," Ginny said. "Isn't that why you're back?"
Leolin felt put on the spot, and her cheeks burned.
"For Draco?" Leolin asked.
"Yes," Ginny pressed.
"I—I don't know," Leolin blurted, feeling oddly guilty. It almost felt as if Ginny was passing judgment on her.
"Because if that's your plan—" she trailed off. "There are a lot of questions that need answering. You haven't exactly been forthcoming to this point."
"I know," Leolin admitted.
She didn't elaborate, thinking about Lucius and Adrian and the new gag. She wasn't ready to admit how much she still loved Draco and how far she still had to climb in order to win him back. She was too ashamed.
She realized after a moment that Ginny was watching her expectantly.
"Lai," Ginny said, voice stern. "Why did you leave?"
"It's complicated," Leolin said, looking away.
"Then try to explain it as best you can. You pretty much tore Draco's life in two. I think you owe him a reason for doing it."
"I know," Leolin said, pained. "And you have to know that I never meant to hurt him. I just—I wasn't well."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Leolin looked down. Did she dare tell Ginny the truth? It could make things a lot easier; at least there would be one person who didn't hate her for leaving. On the other hand, Leolin didn't want to have to admit that Lucius had angled her into a new bargain, and she was afraid if she left that part out that Ginny would go to Draco at once.
"I—I wasn't well. I was paranoid that Lucius was going to try to use me to manipulate Draco, and I didn't want that. I just worked myself up into this frenzy, and I—I just couldn't stay."
"So you did it because you loved Draco?"
"Of course. I would never intentionally hurt him."
"Then why move on so quickly?" Ginny asked almost defensively.
Leolin gave a concerned frown.
"What are you talking about?"
"That bloke from the Swiss gossip rags. We all saw that, Lai. It tore Draco to shreds. He was inconsolable about it. I mean, that was weeks after you left. It's what really touched him off."
Leolin had no idea what Ginny was talking about. She hadn't been with any men since Draco except for Cristian, and they were never in public together. It must have been something Lucius set up.
"I don't know," Leolin said in a sad voice. "I guess—"
She knew she shouldn't lie. Why confess to something hideous she hadn't done? Still, she felt it bubble up anyways.
"I guess I just didn't want to be alone."
"Oh Lai," Ginny said sadly, and Leolin nodded as if to say, "I know, I think I'm an idiot, too."
So that's why Draco hated her so much. He thought she'd simply chosen a different life without him. If only he knew how untrue that was. If only she could show him how much she still loved him.
"I still think you ought to change," Ginny said softly, clearly wanting to change the subject before she got more upset. "I have a dress you can borrow that's so much more you."
Leolin bit her lip. She knew Ginny still loved her despite what she'd supposedly done, but it ached to know that she probably thought a little less of her. Could she blame them, though? After all, Draco had been going shop to shop in every Wizarding city in Europe looking for her, and she'd seemingly been canoodling with other men. Merlin, it was a miracle they didn't hate her, too.
"Here, hold this," Ginny said.
She handed Leolin her glass of wine before entering her cavernous closet. She emerged a second later with a soft peach cocktail dress. It was knee length with thin straps, which kept it from being immodest, but the bustier top was certain to emphasize Leolin's form.
"Here," Ginny said, offering it to Leolin. "It's going to make your knockers looks amazing."
Leolin gave a sheepish smile and accepted it, heading into the closet and shedding the white sheath as Ginny unraveled her curlers in the bedroom. She stared at herself in bra and knickers from a moment, feeling oddly vulnerable in her own skin. Finally she turned away.
"Gin?" she heard Blaise calling faintly from downstairs. "You here?"
"We're in the bedroom!" Leolin heard Ginny call as she stepped into the silk frock. Leolin wasn't quite as slender as Ginny, and it was extremely fitted across the chest and hips. It wasn't too tight, but it hugged her form closely. Leolin chewed on her lower lip as she heard Blaise sweep into the room, kissing Ginny soundly.
"How is the most beautiful woman in the world?" He said as they kissed again.
"I'm fine," Leolin called as she emerged, and Ginny laughed.
"Much better," Ginny said, surveying her. "Much more you."
"It's too tight." Leolin said, feeling somewhat self-conscious.
"No, it isn't," Ginny countered. "It's actually a little too loose on me. It fits you perfectly, you should keep it."
Blaise gave her a reproving glance.
"Gin, if she isn't comfortable in it, let her be."
Leolin could read his expression immediately. He didn't approve of Ginny potentially aiding Leolin's machinations towards Draco.
"Of course don't have to wear it if you don't want," Ginny said. She and Blaise seemed to be in silent agreement on this. Leolin bit her lip and looked away in a manner she hoped was casual. "But it does look beautiful on you."
"I don't want people to think I'm a—" Leolin paused. "A whore."
"No one is going to say that," Ginny said hotly, growing more protective again. "Who would say that?"
"Draco will," Leolin said. "Already has, in fact. Several times."
"Well then he can just fuck the fuck off. Just because Genevieve dresses the way she does doesn't mean—"
"Ginevra—" Blaise admonished, and Ginny rolled her eyes
"It wasn't an insult," Ginny explained. "She just has very—conservative taste. Honestly, I'm kinda surprised Draco likes it as much as he—"
"Ginny, Merlin! That's enough! This is her night; she gets to dress however she likes!"
"I never said she couldn't, but I don't have to unequivocally worship her like the rest of London if I don't want," Ginny snapped irritably. "Am I not entitled to my own private opinion?"
"Gin," Blaise said, eyes flicking to Leolin. "We are not having this discussion right now."
"You're right," she said. "We're not."
"I'm going to just pop downstairs," Leolin interrupted. "I have to make a quick call."
It was a poor rouse, but neither Ginny nor Blaise seemed bothered by it. They were both clearly jonesing for a fight.
"Be down in a sec," Ginny said distractedly.
Leolin, to her shame, closed the door behind her before extracting an extendable ear from her purse. She felt bad eavesdropping, but she had to know the situation she was preparing to walk into.
"Draco is one of your best friends," Blaise drawled when there were seemingly alone "At least try to like her for his sake."
"I never said I didn't like her!" Ginny spat back. "Don't put words in my mouth!"
"But you've also never said you do," Blaise pointed out in agitation. "She's important to Draco, Ginny. That should make her important to you."
"Merlin. I like her fine, alright?"
Blaise groaned.
"He chose her, Gin! He wants to be with her. You have to let him."
"Is this about Charleston?" Ginny snapped.
"You're bloody going."
"No, I am certainly not," Ginny snapped. "You can go if you like, but I'm not."
"Ginevra, goddamnit," Blaise seethed. "You are going to Charleston."
"No," Ginny replied. "I'm sorry, but I'm not. We've talked about this. You know damn well why I don't want to go!"
Blaise gave a sigh as some of the fight seemed to bleed out of him.
"Gin, sweetheart, I appreciate your concern, but I've been dealing with this all my life. I can handle it."
"You shouldn't have to, though!"
Leolin had no idea what they were talking about. What was Ginny afraid of?
"And it's not just that," Ginny admitted. "I want to be supportive here, of course I do, but I also can't pretend to feel something I don't."
"What is that even supposed to mean?" Blaise demanded.
"What do you want me to say?" Ginny shot back. "I have nothing against Gen, but she and I aren't friends. I'm not ready to go on extended holiday with her. In fact, I'm not sure I'll ever be ready for that, Draco or no."
"Merlin, Ginny! Why are you being such a pain in the arse about this?"
"I'm not!" she defended. "Stop being such a fucking bully!"
"I'm not," he said. "But stop dancing around what you mean!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm just not sure Gen is right for Draco. I know he cares about her, but I'm not convinced he cares enough."
"What are you talking about?" Blaise snapped. "He loves her. Merlin, is this about 'being someone's Leolin'? Because you know that's in the past. If you—"
"No," Ginny said coldly. "I've felt this way for a long time."
"Ginevra, we agreed we wouldn't —"
Wouldn't what? Leolin wondered. She had a pitting feeling she didn't really want to know.
"I know!" Ginny snapped before he could finish. "But I can't talk about this with you right now. It's not fair to keep Leolin waiting. We're going to go."
"I still have to change," Blaise said, exasperated.
"We'll meet you there, then," Ginny snapped.
"Ginny," he said tiredly. "Baby—"
"See you there," Ginny repeated hotly, and Leolin stealthily snuck down the stairs and Ginny emerged. Her hair was cascading down her shoulders now in loose waves.
When she saw Leolin she smiled, and Leolin tried to return the gesture as best she could. Still, it was hard in light of what she'd just heard. She hadn't felt this alone in a long time.
"Come on Lai," Ginny chirped in false cheer. "Let's get going."
"Are you sure you don't want to wait for Blaise?" Leolin asked gingerly. Ginny pursed her lips.
"He's fine."
She paused, realizing she had more to say.
"Sorry about that," Ginny muttered. "We usually never fight like that. It's just—Gen's basically trying to trick me into going with her and Draco and some of her horrid friends to America for an extended holiday. She's properly put out that I don't want to go, and she finds ways to bring it up all the time. She's worked the boys into a frenzy over it, and it's gotten completely out of hand. Anyways," she said, clearly trying to change the mood. "It doesn't matter. Everyone is going to be so excited to see you. My floo has been going non-stop. Pansy threatened to hex me if I didn't bring you tonight."
"You can thank Draco, then," Leolin said. "Because he essentially threatened to hex me if I didn't come."
"That was nice of him," Ginny said uncomfortably, setting down their empty glasses on the counter.
"That's one way to look at it, I suppose," Leolin said dryly.
Ginny found a spare bit of parchment and a quill and penned Blaise a quick note before heading for the floo. Leolin glanced at it
You're a nob, but I still love you more than I can say. xx
Ginny disappeared through the floo first, and Leolin chewed her lip before following her.
Then arrived on the landing on a lavish flat two seconds later, and Leolin tried to pretend she wasn't horribly nervous. Whereas Ginny's place was all warm wood and charming brick, Draco's new pad was hard lines and sleek surfaces. It was a harsher, more opulent version of the flat they'd shared, and Leolin was sure it was designed that way.
There were stairs directly in front of them, and a rolling bass and loud voices were rising up from below. Ginny gave her a warm smile before descending first. When she was visible to the crowd, there was a cheer.
"If it isn't the world's biggest troublemaker," Leolin heard one of the Faulkners saying, and she could imagine Ginny smirking.
"If you think I'm trouble, wait until you see who I've brought with me," Ginny said, and Leolin took a deep breath before emerging into the soft light as well.
"Leolin Lefevre," Liam called. "When did you get out of prison?"
Leolin gave a small smile, though it was hard to maintain as she watched Draco coming towards her, his eyes glittering as he drank in her dress and re-examined her new hair. Gen was next to him, but Leolin looked away for a moment instead of meeting her gaze.
"Hello you," Draco said to Ginny as he approached, brushing a soft kiss on her cheek. It was seemed so alien for them to be so openly affectionate. "What have you done with Blaise?"
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"He was annoying me, so I sold him to the circus," she said. "Hello, Genevieve. Congratulations again."
"Thank you, angel," Gen drawled sweetly, kissing Ginny's cheeks.
While Gen was looking away, Leolin took the opportunity to study her openly. She was not lush or exotic beauty that Leolin was, but there was something fresh and classically pretty about her face. Her naturally hair colour must have been a shade somewhat similar to Leolin's own, and there were several inches of dark roots stylishly showing before her hair faded to a bright blonde. It leant her otherwise clean look much needed edge, and she managed to make an otherwise unkempt style painfully elegant. Her brows and lashes were dark, too, though she wore very little makeup, save for a pair of soft, nature-looking false lashes and red lipstick.
Her style of dress, as both Amelie and Ginny had intimated, was fairly plain. Her dress was made of matte sequins in a delicate champagne colour, with a silk belt and sheer cap sleeves. It was knee-length and not particularly form-fitting, and in it was she was poster child of modest elegance. Suddenly Leolin felt wildly self-conscious, and she braced herself for Draco's cruel snipe. Leolin realized after a moment that Draco was staring at her, and she met his gaze as boldly as she could. He was dressed fairly casually in a white collared shirt with a maroon sweater on top and tailored navy khakis. His hair was pushed back into his usual style, and he looked, as always, incredibly handsome. It was odd, Leolin mused, that his outfit somewhat clashed with Gen's. She broke from her reverie and realized he was staring at her, his gaze cold as he took in her dress, face, and new hair.
"Lefevre," he said gruffly when Gen looked at him expectantly. "This is my fiancée, Genevieve. Gen, this is—Leolin."
"Draco," Genevieve said in what appeared to be genuine admonition. "Please, you're embarrassing me! Leolin's a guest in our home. That was rude and uncalled for!"
Gen turned to Leolin, her dark eyes unnervingly warm. "I'm so sorry, Leolin. Where I come from," she explained, reaching forward and squeezing Leolin's hand reassuringly. "Gentlemen never address ladies by their surname."
Leolin met Genevieve's sparkling gaze for the first time, and her throat ached as Genevieve gave her a warm smile. Leolin thought about what Ariadne had said killing with kindness. She had to admit that Genevieve was a master, and despite everything she represented to Leolin, some small part of her actually liked Gen. Gen made it dangerously easy to do so.
"Leolin," Gen continued, and Draco's relinquished his hold on her as Gen pulled Leolin into her embrace. She smelled like her light floral perfume. "I really am so happy you're here. I know that may seem odd given everything, but the way everyone goes on about you, I couldn't wait to meet you."
"I don't—" Leolin began, but Gen touched her arm, showing off the enormous ring on her finger. It was an emerald-cut diamond the size of a sickle, and it was almost too big to even sparkle. If Draco had proposed to Leolin with that ring, she would have said no. Still, Gen offset its opulence with short, unpolished nails. It was so different from Leolin had expected; she'd imagined long red talons.
"No," Gen said, giving a lovely laugh. "You can't try and tell me you aren't wonderful. I'm already bewitched."
"She does have that effect," someone cut in, and Leolin looked up and smiled, glad to be free of Gen's unnerving adoration. It admittedly wasn't unpleasant, but behind her warm smile lurked something Leolin knew had the power to break her heart and send her back to Florence in agony.
"Pansy Parkinson!" Leolin cried, and Gen smiled sweetly and melded back to Draco's side as the other two girls embraced.
"Pansy Peakes," Pansy smirked, holding out her hand and showing off a tasteful sapphire. "For two years now."
Leolin laughed.
"Of all the people," she said, but another small smile was already washing over her as Tieran emerged from the throng.
Leolin gave a soft laugh as he awkwardly held out his arms and she hugged him, still beaming.
"So you really meant it at graduation when you said we could call you Tieran," Leolin said, and Tieran gave an affable shrug.
"I guess I did," he said, sounding just the slightest bit sheepish. "Though I admit seeing you and Ginevra together again is already giving me a headache."
Pansy punched him and he laughed for the first time. Pansy then smiled up at him, and he visibly relaxed. They were oddly perfect for one another.
"You were so mean to us!" Ginny cried indignantly to Tieran. "It was so unfair! We were totally—adequate at Transfiguration."
"You could have been outstanding," he said dryly. "That's what was so bloody infuriating. Also, you two were a chatty nightmare," Tieran went on. "The only two people worse than you were Draco and Blaise," he admitted.
"They were chatty?" Leolin laughed, and Tieran shook his head.
"No. They were always suspiciously working on something other than the assignment, but when I would try to nail them, they could both do whatever charm we were working on perfectly. It was so annoying."
"I'm surprised you knew we were even in that class," Draco said. "Since Pansy was too."
Pansy smirked up at her husband before kissing him soundly.
"This is going to take some getting used to," Leolin admitted, laughing again as she hugged Leon Faulkner.
"See?" Genevieve said in an admiring tone. "What did I say? Everyone adores you, Leolin."
Leolin thought about what her mother had said about Gen being the media's darling and suddenly her compliment was hollow and calculated. Ariadne was right; this type of manipulation was new to her; it made her feel ill at ease. On the other hand, she felt something else odd and unpleasant stirring in her gut, and she realized in horror that it was guilt. It was obvious that Gen did love Draco, too.
"You're very kind, Gen," Leolin said, aware that the rug could be pulled for beneath her feet at any time. "Thank you for inviting me."
"I wouldn't dream of excluding you," she said in her pretty Southern drawl. "Perhaps that's odd to say as well," she continued, gazing lovingly up at Draco. He returned the gesture warmly. "But it's true."
She smiled at Leolin again. Blaise then appeared, his eyes immediately going to Ginny.
"Hi," he said as she came over to greet him, her arms immediately around his trim waist. "I got your note."
She smiled.
"I'm glad you're here," she admitted, and he kissed her.
"Blaise," Gen said, extending her arms so he was forced to let go of Ginny and embrace her. "We were worried you were lost to us."
"Not at all," Blaise said, smiling at Draco. "Ginevra was just in such a hurry to get here and show Leolin off that she left me behind."
Blaise gave Ginny a pointed look.
"I don't blame her," Gen cooed. "That dress is magnificent, Leolin. I wish I could pull something like that off."
This, Leolin was positive, was a back-handed compliment. In her warm way, Gen wanted to point out how provocative the dress was.
"I don't have the curves for it," Gen said enviously. "I'm so very jealous of you."
"Don't be," Leolin said, wildly uncomfortable. "That dress is lovely."
"Thank you," Gen said graciously, smoothing the shimmering shirt. "Draco bought it for me."
She smiled up at him and he bent to kiss her.
"You have the most exquisite taste, darling," Gen said ambiguously after a moment, and it was unclear if she meant in fashion or women. Leolin suspected it was the latter, and when Gen smiled back at her, she could see that she was trying to silently intimate that Draco preferred her modesty to Leolin's sensuality.
He smiled at Gen but said nothing before his eyes bled up Leolin form again. She watched him drink in the alluring contours of her breasts, clearly outlined in the dress, before his gaze slid up her slender neck and lingered on her face, eyes sparkling.
"We have to finish making the rounds," Draco said finally, looking down at Genevieve, who made a show of modestly adjusting her knee-length hem.
"Of course," Gen said, smiling beautifully up at him.
Draco must have been thinking the same thing, and he bent to kiss her softly. Draco's eyes then flicked back to Leolin.
"Don't leave anytime soon," Gen said, grabbing Leolin's wrist affectionately as she too looked back. "I want to properly acquainted when I get the time."
Draco was still staring. Leolin met his gaze without flinching before looking at Genevieve, whose face was expectant.
"Of course," she replied, accepting a glass of champagne from a waiter.
Draco nodded, and Gen gave Leolin one more pretty little smile before they turned away.
"Well," Pansy said when they were gone. "You handled that a lot better than expected. Cheers."
She and Leolin clinked glasses, and everyone drank.
"What if I said I was over Draco?" Leolin said casually, and Pansy smirked, clinking her glass against Leolin's again before leaning in.
"Then I'd call you a liar, darling," she said is a soft voice. "And just for the record, Gen is the most sweet when she feels threatened. Have fun tonight, we're so happy you're back. Things were just starting to get—boring."
Leolin smiled as Pansy brushed a kiss on her cheek, waving to Tieran as they rejoined the throng.
"So," Ginny said. "You survived Genevieve. How do you feel?"
"A little like vomiting."
"I think that's to be expected. Harry!"
Leolin turned at once, and when her eyes met Harry's emerald ones, her face split into a smile.
"Hey Gin," Harry said, pecking her cheek. "Blaise." He shook Blaise's hand before opening his arms to Leolin.
"Leolin Lefevre, as I live and breathe!"
"Harry James Potter!" she cried happily. "You haven't aged a bloody day!"
"I'm so glad you're back," he said, holding her cheeks. "And I love the new hair."
"Thank you," she said, her heart swelling as she took a handful of his lapel and smiled at him. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."
He smiled in return. His sparkling emerald eyes were merry as even.
After a moment they looked up at the stairs, where Gracie was cautiously making her way down with a rounded belly and six inch heels.
"Do you need help?" Blaise laughed, watching her.
"This baby has already taken wine from me," she said resiliently, making Ginny laugh. "I'm not going to let him take my heels from me as well."
"He?" Blaise asked.
"She's just saying that," Harry said. "She has no idea. Statistically speaking, it more likely a girl."
"Well, you look amazing," Ginny said warmly, and they hugged. This was even more strange to Leolin than Draco and Ginny.
"Is Leolin here?" Gracie asked hopefully, accepting Harry's hand as she descended the last few stairs. "Thank you, darling."
"I'm right here," Leolin said, and Gracie beamed.
"Oh Leolin," she burst, opening her arms as well. "I know this is probably terribly strange for you, but can I hug you?"
"Of course," Leolin said. "And it's not strange."
In reality, it was a little strange, but Leolin didn't want to make Gracie feel bad. It was good to know that underneath all her bitchiness, there really had been a good person hiding all along.
"It's so good to have you back," Gracie whispered. "Draco hasn't been the same without you. I mean that."
"Thank you," Leolin said gratefully, hugging Gracie's shoulders tightly. "That's really kind of you to say, though I'm sure that's not true. Gen's lovely."
No one challenged that fact, and though Leolin knew it was because it was true, Gen genuinely was rather lovely, the silence still stung.
"Well should we go sit down somewhere quiet," Harry said, smiling at Leolin as he put a hand on his wife's back. "We have a lot to catch up on."
"Agreed," Ginny said, disappearing into the kitchen for a second before returning with four bottles of champagne.
"I think that's probably overkill, Gin," Harry pointed out.
"With Leolin Lefevre in tow?" Ginny said, nudging Leolin playfully. "I don't even know if it will be enough."
Leolin gave a shrug and smile.
"I'm french," she said in a fake haughty voice. "Möet is my water."
"C'mon," Blaise said, rolling his eyes. "Let's go sit on the roof."
Leolin hazarded another glance at Draco, and she was surprised to find that he was watching her, his hand still pressed to Gen's back as she talked animatedly to Daphne Greengrass. He watched her intently, and Leolin flushed before turning back to Ginny.
"Alright then," she said, accepting a bottle from Ginny. "Lead the way."
The five of them headed up to the rooftop patio, and Leolin couldn't hold back a sigh of appreciation. There was a sprawling deck and a huge lounge area and a glittering azure pool. Gracie kicked off her heels at once, gingerly lowering herself down and letting her feet hang in the water.
Leolin went to the glass railing, looking at the jutting buildings around them and the inky darkness beyond.
"Wow," she admitted. "This is fucking incredible."
"I know," Ginny agreed, popping one of the bottles. "This place is a bit much for me, but this part is great."
"Draco always did know how to impress," Leolin admitted, sinking into one of the poolside lounge chairs.
"Gin," Blaise said, coming up behind her and kissing her neck. "Will you pour me a glass?"
She nodded, rotating a little to peck him.
"Of course."
Leolin smiled, though there was still a dull aching in her chest.
"You all do realize the irony here, right?"
Leolin said, looking around at the four of them.
"What do you mean?" Harry said.
"Blaise proposed to Gracie, and Ginny was your first love!" Leolin laughed. "It's like romantic musical chairs!"
"Well we're not Muggles," Grace defended, laughing. "We don't have an over-abundance of good ones to choice from. And I can't believe you proposed to me, "Gracie laughed, massaging her baby bump and smiling at Blaise. "That seems so foreign now."
"Me too," Blaise admitted, kissing Ginny again. "Thank Merlin one of us was sensible, or we could be married to each other."
"And miserable," Gracie said truthfully.
"No way," Harry said, sitting down and unlacing his shoes. "Grace and I would have found each other in the end."
"I love you," Gracie said, and Harry pecked her before putting his feet in the water as well.
"I love you, too."
"Thank you for rescuing me from the miserable bitch I was before I met you," she said earnestly.
Harry kissed her again.
"In my eyes you've never been anything but perfect, flaws and all."
"So," Leolin said. "Grace." The name felt odd on her tongue.
"It's so weird hearing you call me that," Grace said, smiling.
"I know," Leolin said. "But it seems like Gracie doesn't really suit you anymore."
"It doesn't," Grace said. "Please don't call me that."
They laughed.
"So I have to hear the story," Leolin said. "Ginny said you got married six weeks after I left!"
Grace looked at Harry, touching his cheek affectionately.
"Well it started at your rehearsal dinner. Harry was hiding for that horrid girl he was seeing—"
"O-li-via!" Leolin and Ginny both said in a sing-song voice, bursting out in laughter.
"Merlin," Blaise groaned. "She was the truly the worst."
"Remember how she called you Gum-drop?" Ginny cackled.
"Draco laughed himself sick," Leolin said.
"Oh believe me," Gracie said, taking a sip of Harry's champagne. "I know the ills of Olivia Tanner better than most. Anyways, so Harry is hiding from Olivia, and I'm hiding for how disgustingly in love you and Draco were and how desperately Blaise was pursuing Ginny and how painfully single I was, and we sort of bumped into each other. Obviously on any other day I would have been biting and condescending, but honestly, most of that was an act. The truth was that I'd slept through all of Slytherin and most of Ravenclaw during school but never really dated, and I'd convinced myself that I was a slut and no one could actually want me. Then Blaise proposed and I realized that neither of us really loved each other, and that made me sad and bitter."
Grace sighed before smiling at Harry.
"So instead of being mean to Harry, I was just—myself. I'd never been myself with a boy before, and the minute we started talking, I knew I never wanted to stop."
Harry looked warmly down at her.
"I fell in love with her on the spot," he said.
Grace looked down, blushing.
"She's the most incredible woman I'd ever met," he said seriously, nudging her shoulder. She smiled again, kissing him soundly.
"She's your Leolin," Leolin said in a soft voice, and Harry and Grace looked up in alarm.
"I'm sorry about that," Grace said in an apologetic voice. "We should stop saying it."
"It's okay," Leolin said, looking down into her flute.
"At this point it's just synonymous with soul mate," she admitted.
Leolin looked down again.
"I wish it were still true," she said quietly, and they fell silent for a moment.
"Tell them how you got rid of Olivia," Ginny laughed finally, and Gracie groaned.
"That was a lesson in karma," she said, her tone warm.
"As soon as we got back to London, I burst into Harry's flat and accused him of getting me pregnant," Grace said.
"Once a Slytherin," Blaise said, raising his glass to her.
"I insisted if he didn't marry me that I'd ruin him."
"Oh my stars," Leolin said mirthfully. "What did Olivia do?"
Harry groaned.
"Of course she seethed about me being a cheating scum then attempted to punch me in the face."
"Attempted?" Leolin asked.
"Well," Harry said pointedly. "Since I'd already been accused of being a cheating scum and was actually punched in the face by a former girlfriend," he looked at her and she blushed, biting her lip. "I was luckily able to read the signs and avoid it."
"Anyways," Grace laughed. "She stormed off in a rage and never came back. We bought a flat and moved in together the next week."
"How was it a lesson in karma?" Leolin asked.
"Well," Grace said, ticking off her fingers. "Firstly because I had to spend the next month diligently making sure Olivia didn't catch poor Kelly Troy in her insidious little net, and secondly because—" she paused, beaming at Harry.
"Because she got pregnant with Scarlet six weeks later," Harry finished.
"The Kelly Troy bit was torturous," Grace said. "The poor bloke. But finding out I was pregnant was the best day of our lives. We got married two weeks after that."
"Do you have pictures of the girls?" Leolin said.
"Of course," Harry said, and Leolin sank down next to him as he pulled them out.
"This is Scarlet," he said, gesturing to a giggling girl with wild black curls. She was swinging about merrily, doing a silly dance. Harry pointed to toddler next to her, who was also laughing merrily as she watched her sister dance. "And that's our little Sophia."
"They're perfect," Leolin said, ignoring the aching in her gut. If she and Draco had stayed together and kept to their plan, she might have a newborn right now.
"That's so nice of you to say," Gracie smiled. "But they are both little cyclones. I only hope karma doesn't strike again when they're teenagers and I have to endure two versions of my snarky little teenage self."
"They won't," Ginny reassured her. "They have a good mum."
"Agreed," Blaise said. "I don't know how you do it."
"Children change you," Grace said, touching her belly affectionately again. "You can't really understand how much until you have them, but you just find this higher capacity for love that's—intoxicating."
Ginny looked at Blaise and he smiled, winking at her. Leolin was sure they were planning on trying very soon.
"So," Leolin said at last, a little pained by the notion of children. "Tell me about everything else. What's it like with Lucius as minister?"
"It's bad," Giny admitted. "Really bad. Right about the time you left, he divorced Narcissa and married the 24-year-old daughter of the German Minister of Magic."
"He did what?"
"Don't feel too bad for her," Blaise said wryly. "She turned around and married a Greek billionaire almost immediately. She's fine. Still vain and cold as ever, I assure you."
"What does she think of Gen?" Leolin asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Ginny laughed.
"She's—generally unenthused. Of course she can't stand that Gen's American, and Gen was dumb enough to try and jockey with her for power in her sweet little way. Unfortunately Narcissa's not one to be sweet-talked, and she was really hacked off that Gen was trying to butter her up. Ever since then, Gen's kept her distance, and she'd slowly been encouraging Draco to do the same. Gen's not like you; I don't get the sense she any interest in encouraging Draco's relationship with Narcissa. In fact, I think she'd be positively thrilled if the two of them had a falling out."
"I don't know if that's fair," Blaise said. "Being Narcissa's daughter-in-law would be hard from anyone. "Right, Lai?"
That stung. Blaise hadn't meant to belittle her, but it was belittling all the same.
"The closest I ever got to Narcissa liking me was her saying 'I know you and I will never be friends, but I think you love Draco'," Leolin admitted, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Even then, I think she was drunk when she said it."
"Oh trust me," Ginny said dryly. "You have become Narcissa's favourite weapon. You, and French. I guess Narcissa's always been annoyed that Lucius made her learn French, and she never spoke it because it reminded her of him, but now she speaks it to Draco constantly. They have these annoying conversations back and forth with him speaking in English and her in French."
"Geneviève Marguax Beauchene doesn't speak French?" Leolin queried. "You're kidding."
"Apparently in America," Blaise said. "They are allergic to all things that aren't deep-fried or vaguely racist."
"That—surprises me," she blurted.
In point of fact, she found it vaguely annoying, though she couldn't really decide why.
"Anch'io ," Blaise agreed. "Draco's trying to teach her, I guess," he said. "Don't really get the sense they're getting anywhere with it, though."
"Yeah Leolin, we can't all speak six thousand languages," Harry said in jest. "We heard you speak Italian now, too."
"I only speak three," Leolin said. "Including English. But yes, one is Italian."
"Guarda questo," Blaise said. "Io sono lo zio di una scimmia."
Leolin laughed, making Ginny scowl.
"What did he just say?"
"Literally, 'I'm a monkey's uncle'."
"This is going to get really old," Ginny said. "I can already tell."
"Volete vedere come pazzi posso farla?" Blaise asked.
Want to see how "Sei su ghiaccio sottile, il mio amico," Leolin warned.
Blaise shrugged, but Ginny fixed him with a sweet smile.
"Every word you say in italiano is going to cost you a week of sex."
"Okay!" Blaise said at once. "We'll stop!"
"That was you!" Leolin defended.
Grace laughed.
"She has you well-trained, Z," Grace said, smiling.
Harry smiled at his wife.
"Aren't you glad I'm dumb and only speak English?"
"Exceedingly," Grace said, kissing him.
"So," Leolin said, unhappy to have to darken the mood again. "Lucius has German support now."
"Once he took Narcissa out," Harry said grimly. "He came after your mom next. He had some thinly veiled attempts to control her or discredit her or both, and he was not pleased when she got engaged to James. I don't know if Lucius was hoping to make her a mistress or sleep with her and expose her, but either way, he was furious when she went off the market. James was the head auror at the time, and he ended up quitting altogether."
"That's when Adrian got the job," Grace said nastily. "You won't believe the trouble he stirs up."
"Yes I can," Leolin said grimly. "I've already gone two rounds with him. He was never my favourite person in school, but now he's a downright terror."
"He's such a little bastard," Harry spat. "I'd love to wring his neck."
"Get in line," Blaise said. "He's been a cunt since school."
"What about my dad?" Leolin asked.
In addition to his family fortune, Leolin's father was also a psychologist.
"Lucius was after him, too. He cut government spending on mental health, and even though your dad's in private practice, he fought Lucius hard on it. It was very public and sort of ugly."
"The worst is his combined power over the banks and the Wizengamot," Grace said solemnly. "There are rumours Lucius's siphoning money out of accounts to fill government pockets. And the problem is it's legal. Gringotts just charges an exorbitant fee."
"I think the Hogwarts thing is worse," Blaise said in a grim voice. "He proposed this bill for 'separate but equal' treatment of pureblood and half-blood or muggle-born students. If it passes, which it no doubt will, it will be the first step to barring anyone who is not a pureblood's access to education. What's worse, Lucius is working to convince the Germans to pass the same bill at Derr Wolf Blut-Institut der Magie in Augsburg. If it does pass in Germany, it'll spread across the rest of Europe like wildfire. Durmstrang is already straining at the leash."
Leolin shook her head in disgust.
"It's more than that," Harry said, his brow furrowed. "Not to play the 'Boy Who Lived' card, but I think something bigger is coming. I think Lucius might be a seat warmer playing the long con."
"A seat warmer for who?" Ginny said.
Harry gave her a meaningful look, and she shook her head.
"That's not possible. Lucius is the one that killed—Voldemort in the first place."
"Did he, though?" Harry pointed out. "What if it was a ruse?"
"Well you were there," Blaise said. "Did it feel like a trick?"
"I'd just come back from the dead," Harry admitted. "I can barely remember the forest at all."
"Would Narcissa know if it was?" Leolin wondered aloud.
"No. If she did," Grace said thoughtfully. "Lucius wouldn't have divorced her. He would either of kept her silent or killed her."
"That's a good point," Blaise said.
"Maybe I'm just crazy," Harry said. "But I think we need to start reassembling the Order and recruiting. If I'm right and we wait, the overthrow will be over before it begins."
"Harry's right," Ginny said. "No time like the present."
Blaise nodded.
"We'll start when Ginny, Draco, and I get back from Charleston. Draco should lead the charge. He's the bank and the muscle. He's also the finesse, if he can behave himself with the former Gryffs."
"I'll start immediately," Ginny amended. "Since I'm not going to Charleston."
"Yes," Blaise said, fighting his mounting annoyance. "You are. Draco brought it up again tonight."
"Blaise, I said no," she said, eyes flashing. "Stop trying to force me!"
"Ginevra—" Blaise began, but sensing a fight, Harry intervened.
"Where's Charleston again?"
"In South Carolina," Ginny spit.
"It's Gen's that where Gen's from?" he queried politely.
Ginny nodded.
"Besides," Ginny continued. "I swore a long time ago I would never go to America. I just have no desire."
"Me either," Grace admitted. "I don't think I'd fancy it. I mean, they don't even drink tea! That seems so bloody uncivilized."
"You sound like Victorian aristos," Harry pointed out, shaking his head.
"Quite so," Grace sniffed. "Will we never be rid of the Americans?"
"Oh, I rather like them," Ginny replied in a stuffy voice. "They remind me of the virtues of the English."
"Well y'all better get on board," Leolin said in a perfect imitation of Genevieve's airy, breathy drawl. "Because Ginevra is leaving for South Carolina in three days."
"Don't you start, too," Ginny growled. "If I have to go, I swear to Merlin I will drag you with me."
Leolin bubbled her lips. "I wouldn't go for all the tea in China," she scoffed.
"Exactly," Ginny huffed.
"Besides," Leolin said, fighting viscously to sound casual. "Draco would never in a million years allow it, so I'm safe."
"Luck you," Ginny said.
"Let's table this for right now," Blaise said dryly. "I'm going to head back down. I'm hungry and I feel a little drunk."
"I'll come with you. Draco promised they would be serving devils on horseback."
"I'm legless," Grace slurred. "Someone get me out of the pool before I jeff."
Harry laughed, putting his shoes back on.
"No seriously," Grace said, laughing. "Help me up, darling. Your son is making me bottom heavy."
"Don't say that about our daughter," Harry said as he helped her back into her sky-high heels.
"You coming, Lai?" Blaise asked.
"I'm not really hungry," Leolin said. "I'm going to stay up here a bit longer. Merlin only knows when I'll be invited back."
"Love you," Ginny said, pressing a kiss near her ear as Leolin stood to look out at the uneven skyline of Wizarding London.
Leolin nodded, staring for a long time as she contemplated what she'd heard, drumming her long nails on the railing. It infuriated her to hear Lucius had targeted her parents, especially her mum. It only made her want to kill him more.
She had to do two things: she had to start mobilizing her Italian contacts who had English interests, and she needed to started working on breaking Lucius's new gag order. It had taken her three years to break the last one. She doubted if she had three months this time. She would have to start first thing tomorrow.
"Like the view, Lefevre?"
She didn't turn. She hated hearing Draco call her that. She missed hearing him said her first name in his deep, rich voice.
"It's lovely," she admitted.
"I knew you would," he said in a stony voice, leaning his forearms on the railing and gazing out as well. "I'm sure you hate the rest," he said. "But I knew you'd love this."
"I admit the flat is a little opulent for my taste," she said.
"It wasn't designed to with you in mind," he said bluntly.
"Touché," she bit out, still not looking at him.
They were silent a moment before he spoke.
"Gen was right, you know," he said, not looking at her either. "That is quite the little dress, though you never could resist showing off a little."
She rolled her shoulders in irritation.
"I hate when you say stuff like that," she admitted. "Knock it off."
"Why?" he said spitefully. "Does flattery embarrass you now?"
She finally turned to him, her scowl deepening when he openly appreciated her form again.
"Not at all," she snapped, her vanity flaring. "But I know I'm beautiful. I don't need you using it as some chauvinistic snipe to meant to demean me."
"That's what I'm doing, am I? How very interpretive of you to say so."
"What do you want to talk about?" she said in a tired voice. "You're giving me a headache."
"Well," he said in somewhat cold voice. "Despite you're ridiculous resistance to compliments, I have something I want to say."
"You've already told me!" she burst. "I get it, you hate me. You've bloody made your point; stop rubbing it in."
"That's not what I'm trying to say," he said, annoyed. "Just the opposite, really. Look, I can't deny how I feel about you, but—I'm tired of hating you. It's exhausting."
"What does that mean?" Leolin said, looking at him again. She ached for the days when they were in school and he was the one chasing her.
"It means—" he said, clenching his jaw. "I don't know! It means I'm willing to tolerate you."
"How generous," she said, nonplussed.
"Look," he spit. "My good opinion once lost is lost forever. You of all people should know that. If you were anyone else, I wouldn't even consider this."
"Why are you, then?" she asked quietly, meeting his glittering gaze.
He didn't reply, only stared down at her.
"Are you doing it to honour what we were?" she asked softly.
He studied her intently before looking away and shaking his head.
"I'm doing it because—our lives are intertwined. We love the same people; we share the same values; we want the same things. I can't escape you, and if I can't escape you—I want to be able to accept you."
"I would be lying if I told you that doesn't make me happy," she said. "I know this is going to annoy you, but it's not exactly easy to be reviled by someone."
He clenched his jaw again. "No," he admitted. "I would imagine not."
They were silent again before he turned to her. Somehow he was a hair closer now, and her heart thumped as his eyes flicked to her lips for a millisecond. She'd never wanted to kiss him more in her life. She wondered if any part of him wanted her, too.
She remembered what he'd said the night before. "I can't deny you still have an…effect on me."
"Just tell me something," he said in a soft voice.
He was closer than she thought. So close that she could smell the vodka and mint he'd been drinking on his breath.
"Anything," she said, savagely fighting the urge to close the distance.
There was something deep and dark and sad in his sparkling eyes, and she realized at last that it was something akin to pleading.
"Tell me you left because you honestly thought it was best for me," he half demanded.
She fought not to look away. As good as she'd become at lying, she had never been able to lie to Draco. That was because he'd always had the power to look right into her soul. What part of the truth could she divulge? Finally she looked up at him, watching his scorching gaze as it arced back and forth across her face.
"If there was any way that I could've stayed, I would have," she said, and he nodded, breaking the connection by looking in the opposite direction.
She hung her head, still desperate for his touch.
"Then I'll try to let the past go," he replied.
She nodded but said nothing.
"You should, too," he said seriously.
"Who says I haven't?" she half-whispered.
His eyes seared her as he considered this, clenching his jaw a little. What was that in his eyes? Ire? Disappointment? Relief?
"No one," he said. "Goodnight."
She nodded tightly and simply looked out again. However, she grew more desperate with every one of his retreating steps, and her mind raced. She had two choices: say something bold or say nothing at all. Finally, she made up her mind.
"Draco!" she said, whirling around.
However he was gone, and Gen stood in his place.
"Sorry," she said apologetically, giving a delicate frown. "Just little ole me."
"You scared me," Leolin lied.
You disappointed me. That's what she meant.
"I'm sorry!" Gen said, giving an apologetic smile and touching her left hand to her chest in a penitent gesture. In reality it as just a way to force Leolin to look at her engagement ring again. "It wasn't my intention to startle you."
"No," Leolin said, trying to force some of the tension from her pose. "It's fine, really."
"Good," Gen said, offering Leolin a flute of champagne she'd brought with her.
Leolin noticed that she'd taken off her heels, and unlike her bare fingernails, her toes were an almost sinister blood red. They somehow felt symbolic, though Leolin acknowledged that was absurd. Still, it was as if she had a more dangerous side lurking under the modest veneer.
"I wanted us to have a chance to talk just us two," Gen continued.
Leolin looked down at the proffered glass before accepting it.
"Cheers," Gen, smiling as she raised her glass to Leolin.
Leolin raised hers as well before taking a healthy sip.
"This may be odd to say," Gen said after a moment or two of silence. "But I'm actually glad you're here."
Leolin considered, admitting to herself she didn't know what might be coming next.
"What do you mean?" she settled on at last.
Gen gave a sheepish laugh, a pretty blush spilling over creamy cheeks.
"You've always been this myth," she admitted. "This terrifying mystery that I was sure I'd never understand. But now I've met you and you're so lovely; I don't have to be afraid of you anymore."
She smiled at Leolin, and despite the somewhat unsavory insinuation of her words—you're not actually as great as I was afraid you'd be—she managed to make the sentiment feel overwhelmingly kind. Perhaps that was one of her Southern charms.
"Thank you," Leolin said admittedly at a loss for words.
Gen gave another sweet smile, but Leolin had begun to see something else, something a little more complex, swirling in her dark eyes.
"I can see what Draco saw in you," Gen continued candidly. "You're hopelessly beautiful. I'm embarrassed, but I can hardly stop staring."
Leolin looked at Gen, who was still smiling blithely. Before Leolin could even conceive of a comeback, whether it be a thank you or a sharp retort, Gen was talking again.
"Perhaps I ought to feel threatened by you," she said, her voice still casual. She turned to look at Leolin. "Should I be?"
"Excuse me?" Leolin stammered.
"I'm sorry to be so frank," Gen said, eyebrows synched together sympathetically. "But if you and I going to be friends, we have to be honest with one another."
Leolin admittedly didn't know what to say. Her heart was hammering in her ears and her throat was dry. It was the same feeling she got when her parents caught you in a lie; that same wrenching deep in your gut. She felt she might be ill.
"Leolin," Gen said, touching her arm as if they were close. "I want you to know that I'm not resentful of what you had with Draco; I know first loves can be so very infatuating. I just hope that the three of us can put the past behind us. Don't you?"
"What exactly are you asking me?" Leolin said, having grown weary of Gen's circumlocution.
"I love Draco," Gen said evenly, her voice a shade less casual now as she gracefully sidestepped the question all together. "I know you know what that feels like."
"Yes," Leolin said simply. "I do."
"Then you understand the position this puts me in. I have to protect what's mine."
"Do you mean Draco?" Leolin said.
"I mean the life he and I have built together. I don't blame you for running off, Leolin, no one does, but things have changed. I would hate to see lose sight of that embarrass yourself. I really would."
Leolin could feel frustrated tears in her throat. She clenched and unclenched her wand hand as she took another sip of champagne to loosen the hempen knot at the base of her throat.
"Excuse me?" she said in a soft but fierce voice.
"Draco loves me now, not you," Gen replied bluntly. "It would just be embarrassing for you if you did something that would force him to rebuff you."
"I understand you love each other, you don't —" Leolin began, but Gen cut her off, voice flat and stern.
"Then I'm going to insist you respect it."
Her voice was steady and calm, though her eyes were glittering with purpose.
"Promise me, Leolin."
"Promise you what?" Leolin replied, frowning. "You've yet to say what you really mean."
"Promise me you aren't still in love with Draco. Because if you are, I'm afraid I'm going have to break your heart, and I really don't want to have to do that."
Gen was giving Leolin a beautifully pitying frown, as if the thought really did pain her. Leolin clenched her jaw.
"Are you threatening me?" Leolin asked.
"Of course not," Gen said solidly, dropping the charm a little as she gave Leolin a solid look. Leolin could feel what Ariadne had warned her about; Gen wasn't nearly as sweet as she seemed. "I'm just asking you to keep your distance from Draco. Leave him be, and you and I will be perfectly happy together."
"I—"
"There you are!" a voice interrupted, and Leolin turned, grateful for the distraction.
Ginny was skirting the pool and heading towards them. Bless her impeccable timing.
"I thought you might have gotten drunk and fallen off the balcony," Ginny said to Leolin, eying the pair but making no further comment.
Gen laughed.
"Sorry, that's my fault," she said, smiling at Leolin. "We were just getting to know one another."
"Oh good," a new voice echoed. "You're both here."
That was Draco, Blaise trailing behind him. Leolin had thought at first he meant her and Ginny, but his eyes were on Gen as they approached. He'd mean Ginny and Gen.
Leolin's heart was still pounding from her conversation with Gen, and there was a flush in her cheeks and across the tops of her ears; she could feel them burning beneath her dark curtain of hair.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were looking for us" Ginny said, giving Draco a warm look. "I was just seeing the Potters off."
Draco's eyes flicked to Leolin before settling on Gen then dragging back to Ginny.
"No it's alright," Draco said. "We just need to talk about South Carolina. I want to leave the day after tomorrow."
"I'm not going," Ginny said delicately. "I'm sorry, but I can't."
"Stop saying can't," Draco said almost casually, though his eyes were hard. "That's bullshit."
"We can't all be jobless billionaires, Drake!" Ginny snapped. "I have obligations here."
"What sorts of obligations?" Draco pressed. "You work freelance. You could write from Jupiter if you wanted."
"He's right, Ginevra," Gen cooed, coming to stand at Draco's side. She pressed a hand to his chest as his arm slithered casually across her shoulders. "Surely they can wait a few weeks. You're in the bridal party, darling. I'll miss you terribly if you don't come. Besides, all my friends are dying to meet you; I've told them all about you."
Ginny glanced at Leolin, who by this point just wanted to lie down. She could feel the heavy weight of Draco's gaze on her as sure as if it were an albatross around her neck.
"I'm sorry," Ginny repeated. "But this isn't just about work. Leolin and I haven't seen each other in five years. I want to stay here with her. I hope you can understand; she and I have loads of catching up to do."
Gen fought to keep the warm smile plastered on her face. Leolin could see in her eyes that this blow frustrated her immensely.
"Of course I do," Gen said. "But I'm sure Leolin won't mind sparing you for a couple of weeks. She'll still be here when you get back, right, Leolin?"
"I'm sorry," Ginny repeated a third time. "But if you were in my position, you would understand."
"Blaise, can't you convince her?" Gen said, giving a disarming smile. "We will simply be in the winter if Ginny isn't there."
Blaise and Ginny traded a look, no doubt in silent conference about their earlier fight. Finally Blaise clenched his jaw and looked away.
"I wish I had that sort of influence, G," he told Gen. "It would make my life a hell of a lot easier."
"You're pussy-whipped and fucking useless," Draco leveled at his friend.
"Piss off," Ginny snapped. "We're not your goddamn slaves."
"I don't understand why you're being so difficult!" Draco sneered at her. "It's only three weeks."
"Look, no one is stopping you from going on holiday. We will miss you. But unless Leolin comes, I'm staying in London to spend time with her!"
"Oh no," Leolin began. "I don't think—"
"Done."
At Draco's utterance, all three women turned to look at him in disbelief.
"Are you serious?" Blaise blurted.
"If this is the only way to get you to come to South Carolina," Draco told Ginny. "So be it. It's important to Genevieve that you be there, and I'm not going to let you disappoint her."
"No, it's alright Drake," Gen said, backpedaling. It was clear she would happily sacrifice Ginny's presence if it meant avoiding bringing Leolin. "I'm sure Leolin has other things to do! It's not fair to put her on the spot like this."
"I do," Leolin said, avoiding Draco's eye. If there was a way to win him back, this certainly wasn't it. "I assure you, I don't want to intrude."
"See?" Gen said, giving Leolin an approving smile that turned the latter's stomach. "She has much better things to do with her time then go to some silly parties in Charleston. Besides, we have all these wedding details to sort out. The poor thing will be bored to tears."
Leolin glanced at Ginny, whose eyes were pleading. Leolin shook her head. She was wholly unprepared for this, especially after Gen's polite declaration of war earlier.
"Don't drag me into this," Leolin mouthed.
"Please," Ginny mouthed back.
Ginny seemed to have sensed that Draco wasn't to be moved on the subject and there was no real away for her to avoid going. Now the best she could hope for was not having to go alone.
"I really don't think it would make much sense for me to go," Leolin admitted.
"For once in your life, Lefevre," Draco drawled, eyes teaming with something wild she couldn't quite name. "Will you please just do as your told?"
"You're not my mum," Leolin pointed out to him. "And I'm rather out of the habit of doing what you tell me."
"C'mon Lai," Ginny said. "Please."
"I really can't!"
"Fine," Ginny said, seeing what was perhaps her last chance to avoid Charleston. "Then I'm staying with Leolin."
Gen gave a pretty laugh that seemed to be a cover for her mild annoyance.
"Oh Ginevra, please. It simply wouldn't be right without you there."
She too seemed unwilling to go down with a fight.
Ginny parried Gen's blow easily.
"Then Leolin has to come!" Ginny said.
Everyone was looking at Leolin now.
"C'mon Lefevre," Draco said, looking at Leolin again. "Don't be difficult."
Leolin glanced at Gen, whose expression was neutral but whose eyes were sparkling with something unkind. Leolin considered. It was neither an ideal nor even particularly favourable situation, but the look, that dark, smouldering, unreadable look in Draco's eyes urged her on.
"Fine," she said at last. "I'll go."
Draco looked at Gen.
"See darling? Settled."
"Excellent," Gen said, giving a smile and a delightful laugh. "Oh, I'm so pleased. We're going to have so much fun."
Leolin, who was hanging on by a single fray nerve by this time, set down her glass.
"Right," she said, wanting to lie down. "Well, I should be off. Congratulations again."
"I'll walk you down," Gen offered quickly, linking arms with Leolin.
Leolin's throat clenched. She was wholly unprepared for what she was sure was coming next. She accepted Gen's gesture all the same, and Gen lead her off the deck and to the floo on the next story down. When she'd lit the fire, she turned to Leolin, and the flames cast shadows across her face, making her look far less beautiful and far more sinister.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, Leolin."
She was sneering now.
"Goodnight."
A/N: So what do y'all think of Genevieve?
xx
Translations
Guarda Questo.Io sono lo zio di una scimmia—Watch this. I'm a monkey's uncle.
Volete vedere come pazzi posso farla?—want to see how crazy I can make her?
Sei su ghiaccio sottile, il mio amico—you're on thin ice, my friend.