15. Chapter
Finding The Perfect Way
Draco hummed in contentedness while he was walking through the lonely corridors of the dungeons. The last twenty-four hours had been pure stress. First Kiara and he had arrived at their private chambers. Both knew that Isphet had missed her Mistress dearly, but what happened when the opened the portrayal to their chambers, was nothing they had been prepared for.
During their absence, Isphet had deemed it fit to destroy their whole furniture. The cushions were sliced open and the curtains ripped to the floor. With wide-open mouths, Kiara and Draco stood in their destroyed chambers and couldn't believe what they saw. But before even one of them had the time to think through what they had witnessed or to say something, a black fur ball attacked Kiara and threw her to the floor.
Isphet, after she had come over her initial shock at seeing her Mistress, regained her senses soon again and threw herself at the woman she had been waiting for so dearly during the last few days. The impact of her jump sent both of them crashing to the floor. Over the thud a small wince of pain could be heard, which finally revived Draco from his stupor.
Draco could only blink once, then looked down to where his fiancé was sitting on the floor, only to blink stupidly again. Isphet was currently cuddling herself into her Mistress' arms and purred most contentedly while she was doing so. The black kitten, which had grown considerably during the last month, was now nestling her head into her Mistress' chest and purred and licked her robes all the while. Kiara rubbed her lower back, where she had landed on, while she stroked her clearly content kitten with the other hand.
Draco hadn't been able to suppress a fond grin which dared to appear on his face any longer. With slow movements, so as not to surprise the two sitting on the floor, Draco extended his hand and helped his fiancé up.
Together they went to the couch, set down and snuggled closer to each other. Isphet was still lying in her Mistress' arms, slept fitfully and purred lightly. While Kiara leaned back in the couch and dropped her head on Draco's shoulder, Draco raised his wand and vanished the mess which the little Goddess of chaos had created.
Not much time later a frantic knocking could be heard through the portrayal. With a long and suffering sigh, Draco got up and headed to the door, while Kiara carefully put her now deeply sleeping kitten on the big and comfortable cushion placed on the floor for her. She could hear Draco curse under his breath as the frantic knocking wouldn't cease and she had to really work hard to suppress the laughter which wanted to erupt from her mouth.
As soon as Draco had reached the door, the portrayal flew open. A loud bang erupted from the door, only to be overshadowed by the noises the mass of people outside the portrayal were making. There were standing seven people, all clad in Slytherin-House robes and all highly agitated. As soon as they realized that the door was open and that Draco was staring at them like they had lost their minds, a loud and high squealing sound erupted from one of the persons and three silver and green figures rushed by the startled Slytherin Prince and left behind the remaining quite four of them.
Draco blinked and stared more than a little surprised at the four remaining boys, then motioned for them to enter and closed the door after them. When he turned around, he saw that all seven people were currently sitting in their sitting room. Pansy and Daphne were standing next to Kiara, hugged the girl furiously and squealed in delight at seeing her. The brown haired girl was sitting down next to Kiara and while the dark haired girl sat down next to Millicent, who was smiling brightly at the veela. On the remaining four chairs were sitting the dark haired, Italian descendent Blaise, the brown haired boy Theodore and the personal bodyguards Vincent and Gregory.
With a shake of his head, Draco entered their sitting room, went over to the couch, where his mate and fiancé was currently sitting and let himself sink down on it next to her. Without knowing it, he sneaked an arm around her shoulders and brought her nearer to his chest. A sincere smile appeared on their friends faces as they watched Draco kissed the top of Kiara's head lovingly, before he settled for stroking her back caringly. Each and every of them had witnessed how crushed and devasted Draco had been the last couple of days and to see him now so peaceful and happy was just what they had wished for the two of them.
An animated conversation had started. Kiara had been quite surprised to get to know that in the couple of days during which she hadn't been in the Slytherin common room and in classes, a whole lot of things had changed. When Daphne had been devasted due to Kiara's kidnapping, Blaise had been there to comfort her. Over the time the two of them spent together, they had realized how much they liked each other and how much they had in common, which resulted in their first shared kiss and the start of their relationship.
Something similar had happened to Pansy and Theodore. While Pansy had been working none stop in the library and searched frantically for each and every bit of information which might help them retrieve Kiara, Theodore had been with her. When she finally had refused to leave the library in order to get something to eat and to get some much needed sleep, Theodore had stubbornly but clearly told her that collapsing due to lack of food and sleep wouldn't help Kiara at all.
This seemed to have done the trick as soon later Pansy broke down. Theodore had at first panicked when he realized what the trembling of Pansy's upper lip meant, but soon later he found his arms filled with a sobbing and crying Pansy and to leave her behind suddenly just didn't seem to be right anymore. So he had stayed in this position, rocked the crying girl back and forward and whispered comforting things into her ear. Soon later, she had calmed down and even had fallen asleep in his arms. With a sigh, Theodore had stood up and had brought her back to their common room.
When Theodore told this the silently listening audience, Pansy's face, especially the area around her nose, became a soft and endearing pink. One could clearly see that it embarrassed her greatly, what the brown haired boy was telling the others, but she had vowed to herself that she would try to divert the black haired veela's mind from the things which occupied it.
And to tell her something of her love life would surely do the trick. So she smiled weakly at the girl and didn't mind when Theodore told the others how from this moment on the two of them spend more and more time together and slowly realized, how much the other meant to them and how much they needed the presence of the other to feel safe and whole.
Kiara sat next to Draco and listened in admiration. It surprised her quite a lot to see how much could change over the short amount of time she hadn't been able to share with them. A bit of a sad feeling mixed with her happy and content mood. She had wanted to just live her life, but fate wouldn't have it that way and she had been thrown into another nerve wrecking adventure. Not that she had asked for it, nor had she deliberately seeked it out. She didn't know why, but she somehow feared that she would never be able to live a normal life.
Draco, just like his friends, had felt her change of mood. A low and sad sigh escaped his lips. He sneaked his arm around her shoulder, pulled her closer to his chest and stroked lovingly and caringly her back. He could feel Kiara melt against his body and sigh in contentedness due to their closeness. Life just wasn't fair. They had been on such a good path and yet fate had to throw stones, no, mountains, in their way to slow and stepback their future's happiness. Why, oh why had everything always had to happen to her?
When they felt the sad and a little bit tense atmosphere, their friends tried to cheer the couple up. They joked around, made some fools of themselves or others and gossiped around like some twelve or thirteen year old girls. It took a lot of time, but in the end, Kiara was finally smiling again.
They could see that Draco looked approvingly at them, as they not only had proved to be real and good friends, but had also constantly avoided the topic burning on their tongues. Not once had one of them even cut the topic of her kidnapping or the Headmaster's absence. And if Draco had his way, it would stay like this for some time in the future. His mate was still just too fragile and too hurt by what had happened to speak with others about it.
Some hours later the friends prepared to leave. It was already late and, contrary to Draco and Kiara, all of them had school the next day and therefore not only had to prepare for classes but also had to finish some essays, too. They left with a lot of hugs, kisses and the promise to not only come by the next day, but also to provide them with the necessary work and information for their classes.
After their friends had gone, Kiara and Draco sat down on their couch, magically lit the fire in the fireplace, let a house elf provide them with dinner and then started to talk and eat. Their mood was happy and jolly. Inwardly Draco squealed and bounced with happiness. It had been more than a week since he had last seen Kiara act so free and normal. During her stay in the Hospital Wing, Kiara had barely smiled and not once had she been able to laugh. The reminders of what had happened had just been to fresh on her mind.
When he told her of his parents' and Severus' strange behaviour, Kiara just like him was very intrigued by what could possibly be on the adults' mind, as all three of them had been spending the majority of their free time reading and searching for something not only in Hogwarts' library, but also in his parents' private library at Malfoy Manor. When they were asked what they were doing, the adults would only let the books and scrolls disappear and smile innocently at them. Kiara and Draco were deeply convinced it had something to do with them, but by the love of Merlin, they couldn't figure out, what.
They were currently talking about what had happened in the other houses, when a crashing sound interrupted them. A loud bang echoed through their chambers and the noise of a wood crashing against stone hurt their ears. For the hundredths time throughout this school year Draco wondered, why exactly they had extra protection charms and spells on their portrayal, when there were people who could easily oppose those and enter their chambers without the need of their approval. With a deep scowl neatly in place Draco was about to get up and confront the intruder, when the door to their sitting room crashed open, too, and a blur of black leaped into the room.
They had to blink several times, as both Kiara and Draco had the feeling of a déjàvu. In front of them stood, her long, black hair falling into her face and some strands standing up wildly, Anastasia. Her breath was laboured, as if she had been running for quite some time. Her eyes were wide open and her silver orbs scanned the room in front of her, while they spun around a little bit. If Kiara hadn't known her better, she would have sworn that Anastasia had thrown in some pills and was now suffering under the consequences. That she was trembling and shaking didn't work in her favour.
"Kiara, Draco!"
Her voice was high pitched and full of badly suppressed energy.
"You won't believe me what has happened. I got promoted! I will stay at Hogwarts as the Transfiguration Professor for at least this year!"
The following silence was oppressing. With wide eyes Draco and Kiara stared at the happily giggling and bouncing young woman who stood in front of them. What they had heard, was just to surreal to be true. Why the heck would the Board of Governors allow a Magical Law trainee to teach students the art of Transfiguration? Hell, Anastasia didn't even have a residence authorisation, for crying out loud!
"Ana, what-? How did you-? Could you repeat this, please?"
Kiara's eyes were wide. It was, what she had hoped for. No, whished for. Her big sister staying with her at Hogwarts, protecting her, keeping her company and just being there for her. It had broken her heart when she realized that Anastasia wouldn't be able to stay with her for long. After the Headmaster had been punished, there was not much Ana to do. So Kiara had awaited for the day when Ana would tell her that she was about to leave again with utmost dread. And now everything should work out as she had wished for? It couldn't be…
Anastasia who was absolutely obvious to her little sister's state of mind, couldn't stop bouncing and clapping her hands.
"I got promoted, Kiara! I don't know really, how it happened. I thought I was going to leave soon. So I wasn't surprised when the Board of Governors and Jonathan wanted to see me. I thought it was about what had happened and what we were going to write in our reports. But when I arrived, they instead asked me to take a seat. And then, without explaining further, they told me that the post of Transfiguration teacher was free and if I would be willing to accept the office."
Her hand wandered unknowingly to her hair, which she threw back over her shoulders with a mindless wave. A little, confused frown etched through her happy and content facial features. Something seemed to be on her mind, but it was unimportant and she waved it away with a shook of her head.
"I think Jonathan let it slip that I had a Master in Transfiguration. But anyways, I was surprised, well more than baffled, but after some moments of thinking, I agreed. There would only be benefits, anyways. And so I was invited to the meeting between the Board of Governors and the Heads of Houses, where I was introduced to them. They really didn't saw this coming, but in the end, nobody was against this turn of events. And, so yes, that's why I'm here!"
Anastasia threw her long her over her shoulders again and then giggled happily. Meanwhile Kiara was still starring wide eyed at her big sister. The information only progressed really slowly today, but finally it arrived. Ana would stay with her at Hogwarts. She wouldn't leave, she would stay. With her.
With a broad and happy grin, Kiara jumped from her seat on the couch and leaped at her big sister. With all force she could muster, she threw her arms around her surprised sister's neck and hugged her close. A squeal of delight escaped her lips, closely followed by a happy and content giggle. Tears started to form in her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall. She was happy, absolutely happy and there was no need for her to cry. Instead, she placed her hands on each side of Ana's face, stepped on her tip of toes, drew her sister's face to hers and then placed a loving and caring kiss on her forehead.
"Congratulations, Ana! That's so great. I really can't believe! Would you like to stay? We could celebrate your promotion and stay accordingly, don't you think?"
A faint, adoring blush suddenly rose over Ana's cheeks. Her eyes started to shine, as if she was looking forward to something, something she was absolutely enjoying to do so. The twinkle intensified and her blush turned darker. With an unconscious movement, Anastasia flicked her hair over the shoulder for the hundredth time this night and nervously began to fidge on the end of her robes.
"Thank you, Kiara. But sadly, I have to decline. I still have an important meeting this night and some really important things to do. I will come by later - argh, no, I will come by tomorrow."
Her nervousness increased alarmingly and caused Kiara's and Draco's eyebrows to run up their foreheads. Anastasia acted strange, really strange if one considered it closely. Anastasia meanwhile was agitatedly stepping from one foot to another. Suddenly her hand shot forward. With slightly trembling fingers Anastasia fingered on her watch and her eyes widened dramatically when she realized how late it was.
"Oh my God, I'm sorry, Kiara, Draco. But I really have to go now. See you later!"
With a last nervous, and strangely exited smile, Anastasia kissed Draco and Kiara on the cheeks, hugged both of them tightly, waved back at them and then left the quarters in a rush, leaving behind a stupidly blinking pair of veelas.
"Well, that was strange."
Kiara, her mouth still open in astonishment and her eyes wide open due to surprise, slowly closed her mouth again and nodded her head in approval. She shrugged in obvious indecision, before she turned around and walked over to where Draco was already again sitting on the couch. The rest of the evening and night had been spend chatting, laughing and joking.
Draco hummed in contentedness while he was walking through the dark and lonely corridors. He had spent the last days alone in their gigantic chambers and had thought about a lot of things. In the darkness and solitude of the comfortable sitting room, the room only illuminated by the brightly burning fire in the fireplace, a warming blanket wrapped tightly around him and a steaming hot pot of hot chocolate in his hands, thinking and pondering his life seemed so much more simple than doing it in the crowed common room.
He had figured out quite a lot. He needed her, and only her. He wouldn't mind living at the other end of the world, doing God knows what, associating with the strangest folks, making a fool out of himself, if this was what made her truly happy. And that was what mattered in his life: making her happy. How often had he seen her beautiful face, a sad and slightly resigned expression in her eyes, a weak and powerless smile gracing her lips. How often had he felt her loneliness, the misunderstanding of their community weighing tons on her fragile shoulders. He had wanted to embrace her, stroke her beautiful cheeks, whisper comforting nonsense into her ears and share the weight of their community's pressure.
That was what he wanted to, he wanted to make her happy.
Nights had been spent in pondering. He wanted to make it perfect, but what exactly did this mean for her? For each and every other girl he had the suspicion a romantic candle light dinner and then proposing on his knees would be the perfect way. But Kiara was different. She wouldn't like him talking sweet nonsense and then ask her to marry him. No, his fiancé was different, special in every way. To open her heart for his slightly precipitous idea, he would have to bring forward some really catching arguments.
So he had been sitting in the darkness of his room and thought about his situation and what he knew about his fiancé. To be honest, he knew quite a lot. But sadly all of this wouldn't help him find the perfect way to propose to her. Slowly the blond haired started to panic. It just wouldn't do to ruin this special day. In his panic and desperation he was even thinking about asking Daphne and Pansy to help him. These two girls were great friends, but unfortunately they didn't know Kiara as good as he did. So with a sigh he had abandoned this idea. When he didn't know what to do, these two wouldn't be able to figure it out less than ever. Why couldn't there be anyone out there, who knew his fiancé even better than he did?
And then he realized it. There was someone, who knew her even better. This person was even staying at Hogwarts at the moment. With a groan Draco closed his eyes and slowly banged his head on the table. He was such an idiot. His fiancé's sister was staying at Hogwarts and he was wracking his brain and complaining about nobody knowing her. Anastasia had been right in front of his nose, bouncing and talking animatedly and yet he hadn't been able to see her.
But Anastasia would know. She was his fiancé's best friend and her sister in all but blood. If she didn't know the perfect way to propose to the small and fragile girl, nobody would know. So Draco gathered all his guts and braveness, squared his shoulders and then went to search for the dark haired Russian beauty. In his mind he was thinking and debating over, what he exactly he was going to tell and ask her, as he was fearing for his health and wellbeing if he didn't put this right.
Just moments later he realized, how valid this thought and fear had been. He had found her in her private quarters, a book about Transfiguration lying open on her legs, a fire burning brightly in the fireplace and a steaming hot pot of tea on the little table next to her. Draco gulped a few times, when he saw her eyebrow raised in confusion and anticipation, and finally he stammered more than explained why he had been searching for her. As soon as he had finished, Anastasia jumped to her feet, her wand drawn and placed threadingly at Draco's throat.
Her silver grey eyes were burning with a strange and dangerous fire, the knuckles holding her wand had turned white due to all the pressure and force she kept on the piece of wood and her lips were sealed into a grim, thin line. Draco gulped when he had realized that he had rarely seen something more terrifying and that running away would surely be a great option. But instead he stayed, fought down his fears and waited for what was to come.
An hour later Anastasia had threatened Draco to kill him should he do something to displease her sister, more often than he had been threatened during his whole life. He promised with his entire heart that he didn't just want to marry her so he could sleep with her, he promised to never hurt her or abuse her in any way, to love her for being her and to do what each and every other good and perfect husband would do. When he had finished promising and vowing, Anastasia was still glaring at him and threatening him with her wand. She opened her mouth - probably to snap at him or bite his head of - and…
Suddenly started to squeal like mad, put her wand away and hugged the soon to be husband of her sister nearly to death. Draco, his eyes wide with surprise and astonishment, stood still while Anastasia was trying to suffocate him. Finally, when he started to cough, the Russian young woman let go of him immediately and apologized profoundly to him. Anastasia was still smiling broadly at him when she conjured two tea sets and a bowl of biscuits, before she motioned for Draco to sit down and help himself.
In astonishment Draco sat there and listened to what his fiancé's sister was telling him. She knew the dark haired veela quite well, even better than Draco did, something he had to admit very grudgingly. A bright fire was burning in her eyes when she was talking about what they had all done and how they had started to become friends. The blond haired veela sat there and listened in fascination as Anastasia told him so much new and interesting about his fiancé. An hour later he left with his head swirling due to all that information he had just received.
With all this new information it should be a lot easier to find the right way to propose to her. To Draco's great dismay Anastasia had refused to help him with all his planning. With a wicked smile on her lips and a dangerous twinkle in her silver grey eyes had she told him that being able to tell his fiancé that he had prepared all this alone without the help of anyone else would make her happier than everything else in the world. He didn't know why, but apparently the prospect of knowing he did all this on his own, seemed to be a lot more romantically and personal than letting it be planned by someone else.
So he had been sitting again in the semidarkness and solitude of his lonely chambers. Anastasia's words and his own thoughts were running wild through his thinking mind. With what he had, he would easily be able to accomplish his self-set task to his and Kiara's satisfaction. Books, paper, quills and magazines were draped around him, opened at various pages, a list of their friends lying next to him. He would do this and he would do this great.
And then he had finally figured it all out. With a whoop of happiness - he had checked if there were others around there, too - Draco sprung up from his seat on the couch and made his way to the portrayal which lead to the rest of the castle. Draco left the solitude of his quarters, turned around the corner and made his way to the Great Hall which lead to Anastasia's quarters. Being the reasonable and perfectionist person he was, Draco wanted to know what Anastasia thought of his plan before he was going to set it into motion. If she now told him what he had in mind was good, he would realize his plan this very evening.
Draco was hardly able to suppress the bounce in his steps when he turned around the last corner and halted in front of Anastasia's quarters. The painting which guarded the entrance was that of a beautiful brown haired girl with big, expressive green eyes. The young girl was squealing in delight, as she was playing with, how ironical, Russian dolls. Draco couldn't suppress the urge to roll his eyes as he thought about the Headmaster and why he had placed the young woman there. The man surely had been an idiot.
He told the portrayal the password and knocked tentatively to announce his presence, before Draco slowly entered the quarters. He looked around in the dimly lit rooms and stopped in hesitance. Anastasia was nowhere to be seen, so where should he look and search for her first? Draco contemplated his possibilities, and then finally decided to check in her living room, first. He cautiously walked over to the door to his left, knocked again and entered. But just as soon as he had opened the door, he closed it again. The room had been absolutely dark and no one had been in it. Draco shrugged and decided to check in her study.
He turned to his right and a small smile spread over his face. He could hear someone shuffling behind the doors and someone was even murmuring. Anastasia must be talking to herself, Draco figured and quickened his pace. Draco set his hand on the door handle and didn't bother to knock but instead just opened the door. Not waiting for a reply, Draco entered.
And wished he never had.
With big eyes and mouth wide open, Draco hardly was able to prevent a gag. He staggered backwards and felt all the colour drain from his face. Whatever he had expected, this was just too much. Draco gagged again, then turned around, blindly grabbed for the door handle, opened the portrayal and ran away to leave Anastasia's quarters and the horrors they harboured behind.
He ran, just ran and maybe he would be able to forget what he had recently seen. But, no, the horrors were just to overwhelming to forget them. He had to tell, he would have to tell someone, otherwise he might crush due to the mental and psychological pressure. Suddenly, while he was still running mindlessly through the seemingly endless corridors of Hogwarts, the vision of a black haired, green eyed, young woman with an understanding and loving smile came to his mind. Yes, Kiara, was the one, Kiara would be able to help him.
Draco quickened his steps, then ran around the last corner and slidingly came to an abrupt halt. His breath was laboured and he was trembling lightly. The tall, blond haired veela straightened up and easily entered his quarters. He didn't have to search long for his mate, as he could see light in the living room and could her someone drinking tea and turning pages of a book. Without hesitation Draco stormed towards the door, grabbed the door knob harshly and threw the door open with a loud, crashing bang.
He saw his mate jump and flinch in fright, which caused the book to fall flat to the floor with a flattering sound and her to stare wide eyed at him. Draco didn't need to be a werewolf with improved hearing qualities to know that her heart was beating frantically. Though she knew it was only him who had caused all the ruckus and nobody was going to attack her, she still looked quite shocked and fearful. This, however, might have something to do with his appearance.
"Draco! What happened?" Her voice was just as fearful as her expression.
Draco gulped several times and forcefully tried to regain his voice and senses.
"Oh my God! I- I can't describe it. It's -it's horrible! So… disgusting… a-and revolting… and… and plain scary!"
Draco shuddered, then let himself plop down in the armchair opposite of Kiara's and brought a hand up his head. A weary sigh left his mouth while he drove his hand through his hair. While Draco was obviously preparing himself for what he was about to tell her, Kiara was sitting there, waited in anticipation and feared for the worst.
After Draco had finished and had finally caught himself again, he nervously started to fidge with the hem of his robes. What he had seen was so fresh on his mind, he really needed to share this mental horror with someone. But at the same time he knew how delicate his fiancé was, especially after the happenings with the Headmaster. He surely didn't want to scare her too much, so he would have to proceed carefully.
"I don't know how to explain what happened."
A slight smirk appeared on Kiara's lips.
"Well, how about starting at the beginning?"
Draco looked critically at her. But sadly, she was right. It would neither help him nor her if he started somewhere in between the happening. Draco took a deep and shuddering breath, then steeled himself for what was to come and feverishly thought about how he could explain what he had done best, without giving too much away.
"I was at your sister's quarters."
When he saw the black eyebrow raised in obvious confusion and suspicion, Draco's cheeks turned a little red and he started to fidgeted with the hem of his robe.
"I just wanted to ask her something, nothing important."
Kiara still looked suspicious, but it wasn't as plain visible as before and Draco exhaled slowly.
"So I knocked at her portrayal, but nobody answered. This confused me and as I knew the password to the quarters, I opened the door and entered. Inside I called her name again, but she didn't answer. So I decided to check her rooms and see, if she was there. When I had checked the living room, I saw a little bit of light coming from her study and heard someone shuffling papers."
While Draco was speaking, Kiara closed her eyes and forcefully tried to suppress a groan. She could already lively imagine what had happened to shock her boyfriend so greatly, but she didn't want to believe it. Damn those Malfoys and their need to always think about themselves first before they thought about others. Maybe there had been a good reason why Anastasia hadn't answered the door, even when she was present.
"I walked over to the door and didn't mind knocking as I knew she was in there. And then- then I o-opened the door and … and -"
Draco looked up from his lap to see his mate stare intently at him with something like foreboding and a little bit of horror in her beautiful, big green eyes. As he knew that it would become easier if he tried to avoid to talked about it, Draco took a deep breath and said in a rush.
"I saw your sister, sitting on her desk a-and there wa-as someone e-else there. They - they were starting to und-dress each o-other and- and… oh my God, your sister was snogging Snape! As in Severus Snape, my Godfather! And he was kissing her back and - and… I think they were about to get started- ugh."
Kiara couldn't help it. She started to laugh. The look on her boyfriend's face was just too comical to do something different. There was a lot of fear, confusion, denial and even something akin to disgust flashing through his blue eyes. Perhaps this would finally teach him to leave others in peace, when they obviously didn't want to be interrupted. It was a good thing to finally happen.
When Kiara thought about her sister and her probably soon to be boyfriend, she wasn't able to suppress a fond smile. Yes, Anastasia deserved to be happy and if the sometimes grumpy but otherwise very educated and possessive Potions Master was the one who had won her heart, who was Kiara to deny her this happiness? Perhaps they would even be able to celebrate Christmas together. The Malfoys, Severus and Anastasia as a big, loving, caring and happy family as she had wished for and hoped for, for her whole live. As it was supposed to be.
Some hours later Kiara found herself on her way to their chambers. It had taken Draco more than another hour to calm down enough to start to think properly and another to admit that it was partially his fault that he had witnessed this. With a fond smile she remembered how his normally perfect kept hair, stood up at very strange places and how his robes and tie were crumbled. It had been the first time that she was able to see and sincerely she knew that if Draco had his way, she would never see him this way again.
The fond mood was neatly replaced by a confused frown. After Draco had calmed down enough, he had told her to leave for dinner, as it was already time. With her frown deepening she remembered how he nearly had thrown her out of their chambers and had pushed her towards the portrayal door, where Daphne and Pansy were already waiting for her. A quick kiss was placed on her cheeks and while she was staring at him in confusion, he had explained that he had some things to do and he would eat later.
Surprised, Kiara let herself be pulled down the Great Hall and be forced to eat. When her eyes fell on her sister sitting next to Severus, she couldn't help but smile. The two were obviously in love and were throwing quick glances at each other when they thought that the others weren't watching, smiled lovingly at each other and blushed spontaneously. She would have to talk with her about what she was wishing and hoping for the future, but first of all she was going to congratulate her.
Sadly she hadn't been able to enjoy the delicious meal like she normally did. The absence of Draco and his strange behaviour before he had sent her away, were bugging her greatly. Her mind constantly was circling around the different possibilities that could have led him to act so out of character. And so when the others had finished, she immediately stood up and impatiently waited for the others to do so, too. She was hardly able to prevent herself from rushing and as rushing wasn't what a Lady should do and a soon to be Malfoy none the less it took her more time to reach their quarters.
She bid goodbye to her friends and then kissed and hugged them for the first time. They seemed to know that something was on her mind, but didn't bother asking her. They already knew her good enough to know when something was fruitless to do. With a loudly beating heart and something akin to foreboding, Kiara opened the door and entered their private quarters. When nothing attacked her and nothing caught her immediate attention, Kiara slowly exhaled and turned around to their comfortable living room. When she saw the light shine through a little crack in the door, Kiara put her hand on the door knob and pushed the door open.
The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly. The light was slightly dimmed as it came from the huge amount of candles placed and lit in the room. As always the room was extremely tidy, the green armchairs stood in exact lines to the small couch table and the green couch, the shelves with different books were all perfectly organised and the candles and flowers stood where they always stood. When Kiara looked around she found Draco sitting in one of the armchairs, an old book on his laps and a glass of water in his hand. Just when she wanted to speak, he looked up from the book, smiled brightly at her and motioned for her to take her seat.
For some strange reason, Kiara thought Draco looked extremely nervous. As soon as she had sat down on her armchair, Draco conjured two tea sets and a huge can of steaming hot tea. Next to it appeared a bowl of cookies and a plate with small snacks. Someday, Kiara promised to herself, she would ask someone of her soon to be family, whether drinking tea while discussing something, was an unspoken rule nobody had ever cared about to elaborate to her. So she took some tea, placed her hands around the pot and stared expectantly at her boyfriend.
"I'm sorry, I threw you out like this, but I was expecting a floo call and as I was sure you wouldn't like what you would hear, I thought it prudent to send you to eat in the Great Hall."
His voice was just as soft as the look in his eyes. Gulping, Kiara nodded and signalled for him to continue. Inwardly her interest was spiked. What could it probably be that was too horrible for her to hear it?
"My father called me. Your kidnapping had caught the Ministry's attention and as they now know that one couldn't trust our former Headmaster blindly, they were thinking about what else they could have missed. And being the arrogant and ignorant fools they are, they were first thinking about Harriet Potter. During the last years a lot of reports had been brought before the Ministry, all circling around the abuse and mistreatments your relatives let you suffer through. But not once had such a report been followed through, as each time the almighty Headmaster would step out of the shadows and vow upon his being that everything was all right."
Again Kiara nodded dumbly. She had already known, well more like expected, that this was what the Headmaster had done. She knew for sure that the Weasley twins had reported her relatives' actions against her annually, but never once had they succeeded. But to know for sure that the one you had trusted your life and wellbeing with, the one who was supposed to watch over you, had done nothing to stop it, hurt quite badly. A thick lump formed in her throat and she had to fight harshly to prevent the tears from falling.
"As you surely figured out, the Ministry sent Aurors and experts specialised on child abuse to your relatives and your friends. Some weren't exactly a great help, but as they all were questioned under veterisarium, the Ministry employees were sure that all they had told them was true. So the Ministry filed charges against your relatives, told the Aurors to collect them and even sent some reporters with them, so they could create a big and nice story for their readers. All was planned for the big fall out with the former Headmaster and the Muggles. But when the multitude of persons arrived at Surrey, your relatives weren't there and nobody knew where they had gone to."
Kiara's face had paled considerably during the last few sentences. Her slim fingers started to shake and nearly spilled all of her tea over her lap. Her fragile form seemed to feel cold as she was starting to shiver. With big green, worried eyes was she staring pleadingly at Draco, as if she wanted to will him to tell her that he had made all this up and was just pranking her. Draco tried to smile reassuringly at her and continued with what he wanted to tell her.
"My father let your relatives get abducted before the Ministry could interfere. He told me that he already knew you well enough to know that you wouldn't want the world to know what happened to your former self and if you did, you would want to do this on your conditions. That is why your relatives are currently staying at Malfoy Manor, in some of the prison cells we haven't been using for ages. It is your place to decide what to do with them, my love."
Unconsciously Kiara tilted her head to the side as she was pondering her possibilities. It was a tempting feeling. She had the power, the ultimate power over the ones who had abused, mistreated and used her for the majority of her life. To know that she could do whatever she wanted to do with them sent a tempting shiver down her spines. But did she want to do this? Would she even enjoy punishing them or wouldn't she much be more disgusted with herself? After some moments of silence Kiara cleared her throat and looked anxiously at Draco. She had made up her mind and now she only hoped Draco would understand her decision.
"I don't want to send those people to prison. I wouldn't know which. A muggle prison wouldn't keep them safe from the raging wizards and so they would be punished by some agitated Ministry employees or fanatic wizards in the end nonetheless. To send them to a wizarding prison would only make matters worse. To go there, they would need a hearing and I don't even want to imagine what would happen, should they be forced to state and testify under veterisarium. And that is what surely will happen. Therefore, I wish to do nothing with them."
When she saw the surprised but not shocked expression on her boyfriend's face, Kiara smiled lightly at him and hurried to explain.
"I wish to punish them with just being themselves. If your father could arrange for them to live in a community similar to Surrey, so nothing would change for them, it would be perfect. I wish for them to loose all their knowledge, memories and experience with magic and the wizarding world. The Dursleys shall live their life as they always wanted to do. Personally, I think that will be punishment enough. Vernon will soon loose his job due to his anger and aggression issues, Petunia will soon get herself isolated, as she won't find anyone in her family to blame her husband's and son's faults on and finally Dudley will get more and more spoiled and fat, until his health problem will make his life a living hell. That shall be enough, don't you think?"
A big, fond smile spread over Draco's features and something like ultimate pride was shining in his eyes. He chuckled lowly to himself, when he thought about what his father would say to Kiara's decision. Because his father had been right. Kiara was a Slytherin through and through. Why he never realised this before was beneath him, but now he enjoyed it greatly.
"This punishment is perfect, Kiara. My father will guarantee that neither will the Dursleys remember you or something out of your past, nor will anyone of the wizarding world ever find them. They will be perfectly hidden from our world. Is there something else, we should think about?"
A thoughtful expression edged over Kiara's former peaceful features. A deep frown appeared and she began to bite her lip while she was thinking. Draco had work had to prevent himself from rushing over to her and snog her senseless. She just didn't know what she was doing to him, when she was so obvious to the world around her. Sometimes his mate was just too naïve and obvious for her own good. He would have to guard her safe in the future, if she didn't start to change this behaviour.
Two intently looking green eyes brought him back to reality.
"There is something I wish to do. I would like to place some protection charms on me."
She unconsciously placed her arms around herself, as if she was trying to protect her body from unseen and invisible danger. Her knuckles turned slightly white from the pressure she was extending on them and her whole frame started to shiver slightly again. She was afraid, Draco realised, and whatever she was afraid of, she feared it quite badly.
When she spoke, her voice was shaking lightly.
"I never want to meet the Dursleys again. I don't even want to see them or hear from them. I-I know this might sound stupid, but I fear their presence. To meet them would make me crazy, I just wouldn't be able to take this."
She looked up from her lap and stared intently in Draco's light blue eyes.
"There must be a charm, a spell, just something to prevent them from coming near me. Be it intentionally or on accident. There just has to be."
A low sigh escaped Draco's lips and slowly he got up to kneel down in front of his fearful mate. Slowly and carefully he took one of her hands into his and with the other he carefully stroked her leg. When she had calmed down enough to stop shivering and look him in the eyes, Draco squeezed her hand again and smiled reassuringly at her.
"There is indeed a way to prevent those Muggles from coming near you. We will place it on you as soon as my father can come over. Sadly, I'm not able to do it myself, as you need more than one person to cast it. They won't be able to do anything to you."
Draco sighed lowly and went back to carefully stroke her leg.
"You know I will do everything in my might to keep you safe. No one shall ever be able to threaten your life or to hurt you in any way. That is why I placed the claiming mark on you. One might say it's an ancient and dead technique, but it holds a strong magic to it. It's the easiest and fastest way to improve your safety. But sadly it's the weakest form with the most faults, too. It's to say, it's functional, but it won't be safe enough."
While he was still kneeling in front of her, Draco extended his hand and cupped her cheek. Unconsciously Kiara leaned into the touch and nearly closed her eyes. Being with Draco always made her feel safe and protected. Draco, who could easily read what his fiancé was thinking and feeling, chuckled lightly to himself.
"I will always be there for you, to protect you from everything and everyone who tries to harm you in any way. But not even I am almighty. I can't be with you each and every single moment of the day. Sometimes, we will be separated. And during these times only the claiming mark and its magic will protect you. And sadly, this won't be enough."
As soon as the words had left his mouth, he cursed himself for speaking them out loud and not having thought about them before. Instead of reassuring her, his words had only caused her understandable fear and horror to grow. With wide open eyes, fear plain visible in them, she stared at him. He tried to reassure her, but his smile didn't work out the way he wanted it to.
"No need to worry, love. There are many possibilities for us to guarantee your safety. There are spells, charms, potions and even runic rituals. All do their work quite well, but unfortunately all of them do have some faults, too. We would have to settle for a combination and a strong one at that. I can't imagine you would want to re-establish the protection every single day. The best way to keep you safe is a powerful combination of a spell, a potion and a runic ritual. Nothing can beat it."
He could see her mind working. There was this thoughtful frown again. Draco mentally thanked the Gods she wasn't biting her lip this time. Because when he sat so near to her he wouldn't have been able to prevent himself from snogging her. And if he wanted to fulfil his task, the task he had been preparing for the last few weeks, he would have to stay strong.
"I want to try it, Draco."
His mate muttered, her head laid back and her eyes fixed on him, as her hand squeezed his lightly.
"I want to try whatever is going to keep me safe and enables me to live my life in peace."
Draco nodded in understanding. Yes, he had known that his mate was going to react like this. That was why he had proceeded the way he had. But now he had to be carefully. If he rushed and pushed things too fast and far this moment, he would only ruin everything and cause a huge back step. If he wanted to fulfil his task tonight, empathy and careful approach would be his perfect measures.
He reminded himself to he careful and slowly answered.
"I understand your wish for protection and safety completely, love. But there is something you have to know about this combination first, before you consider its usage. This combination is special, not everybody is able to use and complete it. To be honest, the majority of the wizarding world wouldn't be able to fulfil the combination. That's why most of them don't even know about it. It has been years since it was completed perfectly the last time."
There it was again: the confusion, the light fear and the anxiety. Oh, what he would do to just vanish those feelings, to see her laugh and smile without worries and other depressing thoughts and feelings. It wasn't fair that this beautiful and kind-hearted person, who didn't even want to punish her relatives for what they had done to her, had to suffer so much for the last years.
"The combination requires something, something that most wizards can't offer. You see, you need two people to complete the combination, two souls, who harmonise absolutely with each other. This three-way protection work is a soul-binding one. In other words, love, it's a marriage ritual."
So, now the cat was out of the bag. He had told her, why she would have to consider the ritual. Once fulfilled, she would not only be absolutely safe from all dangers around her, but she would also be legally married to him and therefore be the new Malfoy Mistress. She would be Kiara Dorina Malfoy and she would hold more power in their community than any other pure blooded woman.
When he looked deeply into her eyes, he could see a strong expression of astonishment. It seemed as if whatever Kiara had expected, a marriage ritual with a soul-binding function wasn't it. Personally, he was relieved that it was only astonishment and surprise. Those emotions were much better than hurt, disbelief, anger or even disgust. Not to imagine the reaction if Kiara had been angry with him for even suggest something like this. No, she was just surprised and seemed to be even contemplating the thought. As long as she wasn't opposing it, he would be able to help her with the situation.
With a little bit of desperation in his voice Draco grabbed both her hands and willed her to look into his brightly shining eyes. There was a force and power in them that made Kiara gulp.
"When we were at my parents' Manor, the first evening we spend alone in my chambers, do you remember? You told me something. You told me, you were thinking that you were falling for me. I was so surprised. It had only been some days and you were already telling me that you stared to fall for me. This night you promised me that you would marry me. You promised, but under one condition: to give you time to accommodate to the new situation, to wait until you were ready. But don't you think you are already ready enough? You told me in the Hospital Wing that you loved me. You are my life mate, never will I love another woman than you. Don't you think it would be time? Don't you think you would be ready to marry me this year?"
For some moments time seemed to freeze. Wide green eyes locked with light blue, stormy ones. He hadn't planned on loosing it like this. But he couldn't help it. He loved her, he wanted to protect her and most important of all, he wanted to show the world that she was his and only his to. No one would ever dare harm her in any way again. She would be his, his princess and his to spoil. Why wait unnecessarily for something inevitable to happen?
A blink of Kiara's eyes and her shuddering breath brought him back to reality. There was a slightly shining light in her eyes, but he couldn't decipher what it meant. Slowly Kiara turned her head and bend down a little. When their eyes met again, Draco had to gulp. He couldn't read the emotions which were running through them, but frankly, he didn't care. There was a power in them that simultaneously scared and attracted him. His heartbeat increased when he realised what impacts her answer could have.
Suddenly Kiara's facial features changed. A true, loving smile crept over her face and her eyes were shining with love. Before Draco knew what happened, she placed her hands on his cheeks, brought his face to hers and kissed him on the lips.
The kiss was like nothing they had experienced and shared before. It was full of love, caring, held so many promises and a whole new future for them.
When they parted their kiss, Kiara looked deep into Draco's slightly dazzled and delirious eyes.
"Yes, Draco, I will marry you. And I will marry you this year. You are right, I'm already ready, probably have been all the time. To preventing it from happening would only cause us damage and pain. I love, love you with all my heart."
Kiara took a deep breath and locked her eyes with Draco's.
"Draco, I want us to marry at Christmas this year."
Draco could only blink at her. His foggy brain needed a little longer than normally to proceed all the sudden information. He had asked Kiara to marry him and after some consideration, Kiara had agreed to it. To be honest, he hadn't expected her to answer so quickly. He had thought she was going to bid him for some time to think this over. But no, his mate had already surprised him again. She wanted to marry him and she wanted to marry him soon.
A huge wave of happiness and contentedness washed over him. Beside himself with joy, Draco roughly grabbed her waist and kissed her passionately on the lips. It was a little bit more than three weeks and then they were going to be married. Then they would be truly mates. In his passion of his kiss slowly crept some tenderness and sweetness. His mate was going to be his and nobody would be able to change this fact. He had made it. He had proposed and Kiara had agreed.
Suddenly his mood turned somber. With a slightly pale face and lightly shaking hands Draco ended the kiss and carefully placed Kiara on the couch. He could seen his mate stare fearfully and worryingly at him, but he couldn't help it. With a groan he let himself sink down on the couch next to her, pulled her close to him and nestled his head into her hair, only to sigh shuddering again. Only now had he realised, what Kiara had said and what impact her wish would have.
"Oh my God. We're going to get married at Christmas. My mother is going to throw a fit!"