I find that I write best when I'm supposed to be doing other things…
I got dressed and Lilac appeared, "I brought master Weasley Mrs. kitten," she said, beaming up at me.
"Thank you," I said, reaching down and holding her small hand.
"Lilac never met such a nice Malfoy," she said. Draco stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist and Lilac looked over at him. He just looked at the elf emptily and proceeded to the bureau to get some clothes. He then walked back into the bathroom and closed the door. For a moment I was nervous that his suspicion would have been aroused, but luckily he seemed to think nothing of it.
"Thank you," I said to Lilac, "Note that you're allowed to leave the house whenever you like," I added.
"Just call when you need me," she said before disapparating. I sat upon the bed with a sigh, and lay back, my neck sore from having leant against that seat on the floor all night. I closed my eyes and Draco came out of the bathroom again. I heard him walk to the closet and go through it. He sighed, and then it was quiet. Draco sat down on the bed.
"Are you angry with me?" He asked. I opened my eyes.
"I'm not sure," I said honestly. Draco wasn't wearing a shirt. I could see his chest, which no longer had the scratches and bruises. He had taken one of the healing potions that was in the mirror cabinet in the bathroom. I stared at the unscathed skin.
"Why don't you just tell me what happened?" I asked, though I was pretty sure I knew the story.
"It wouldn't make you happy," he said simply. I cocked my head to the side curiously.
"What is it?"
"You care whether I'm happy?" I asked.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into all of this. But I figure since I did..."
Draco stopped talking when I touched his face. I wasn't sure why, but I'd felt compelled to touch it. He was radiant in the sunlight, like a sculpture.
"So tell me what happened. I want to know."
Draco turned his head and sighed, the wine still faintly present on his breath.
"You'd think me a monster," he warned.
"You don't have to be one, Draco."
He clutched my wrist and took my hand in both of his. He moved closer to me.
"I'd rather not tell you, Angelina. I'm sorry, but I don't think discussing some things with you is in my best interest—or yours. I only wish to leave my work where it is. Please, let's not invite it here," he explained, his eyes scanning the magnificently lush quilt beneath us. I gave it up; I wasn't going to make Draco say anything.
"I'm sorry," he said again. I played with the bracelet on my wrist, claiming my hand back from Draco.
"What did Lilac want?" Draco asked. My heart skipped a beat.
"Nothing. I just wanted to ask her what I might eat for dinner," I said, lying easily. Draco grasped my chin and looked at my face. My heart skipped another beat, but he did not know me well enough to tell that I was lying, I thought. He cocked a brow.
"We've just made up. I'm not going to fight with you, but I will find out," he said. I was uneasy then, but I didn't let it show.
"I'm surprised you thought I couldn't tell when my own wife lies to me," he said, his eyes widening. I shook my head and Draco's grip on my chin tightened.
"Don't lie further, Angelina."
"I didn't say anything, Draco."
"You don't have to tell me anything. It's all over you, the fear of me finding whatever it is you're hiding. I can smell it. You didn't honestly think they were called Death Eaters for no reason?"
I looked away. Draco sighed.
"I guess it's only fair, since I wouldn't tell you what I've done."
"Are we going home?" I asked, changing the subject.
"No. Not for a while. I'm not leaving mother here so soon."
Clearly Draco was capable of having feelings, I couldn't have denied that. But he could be very...unpredictable, touchy feely one minute, discerning and cunning the next.
"What about the horses?" I asked.
"They're well protected and taken care of," he said, and I was relieved, thinking that Javi must have been perfectly fine, yet I didn't dare to say his name around Draco. The afternoon sun was really hitting Draco's paleness. For a minute, I wished I had a camera or something to capture him. He looked beautiful. I reached out and touched his face again. He watched me do this. Draco squinted in the sunlight. I stood up from the bed.
"Will you show me around the manor? I nearly never find this room when I look for it once I've left," I explained. Draco got up and went to the closet to put on a fresh dress shirt. He opened the door and let me walk out first. He grabbed my hand and I felt that breezy feeling. He had materialized to the top floor of the house.
"I figure why not start up here and work our way down," he said. I recognized the hospital like place he'd taken me before.
"We never go to St. Mungo's. Hospitals are filthy. The healers come to us," he said. I followed Draco down some stairs, and as he showed me around, I began to realize that he must have had a lonely childhood, in this big house playing alone. No wonder he acted the way he did at times. He walked into a study, which had to be opened because the door was locked. Draco had opened it with some charm I hadn't seen before.
"This was my father's," he said, waiting somewhat inside the door as I walked in. There were tall shelves with books. One began to float down from the ceiling toward Draco. He waved his hand at it nonchalantly and it floated away to re-shelf itself.
"He spent a great many hours here, doing what, I know not...I was never allowed in here," he said, backing up into the doorframe. He just watched me go to the window, where the curtains opened and the sun came through, lighting the place up. The room gave me a chilling feeling.
"My mother was never allowed in here, either," Draco explained. I turned around to find that his arms were crossed. I made sure not to touch anything, rushing back to the door where Draco stood, waiting. He closed the door after me and locked it.
"Draco?" I said, grabbing his arm as he led me down more stairs. He stopped, looking down at me. He looked somber then.
"Come on, there's still more to see," he said, continuing. He didn't feel like talking about the room, or his father. I could tell. But he let me lace my fingers in his as he carried on. Draco showed me the indoor garden on the first floor. It was beautiful in there. A house elf was tending to the foreign plants, greeting us when he saw us. The flowers were colourful. I turned around to find Draco eying the roses, several of which, with a flourish of his hand, began to float gracefully. I watched them, the thorns falling away and disintegrating into thin air. This wandless magic was flawless, as a thornless flower pressed itself into my hand, petals showering me, while several others intertwined their stems, creating a wreath which started braiding itself around my forehead. Draco was watching me intently, the blood rushing to his cheeks. I let out my hands to catch some of the petals. Draco's lips turned up on the side. He stepped towards me and stopped.
"That was nice," I said.
"I have some things to attend to tonight," he said.
"Things? Like what?" I asked. Draco placed his hands on my waist.
"Leave us," he said.
"Master," said the house elf, disapparating.
"Initiations. For new Death Eaters," Draco explained.
"So you won't be here?" I asked.
"Yes. The light of the moon is necessary for the ceremony."
I sighed.
"I know it isn't what you want, but they're expecting you," Draco said.
"I'm going to have to say you're not ready to join the fold."
"So, you're not making me?"
Draco scanned me with his eyes and I saw a flicker of some sort in them.
"Remember, I can't make you do anything, and you must be willing for it to work." Draco leant down, pulling me up slowly.
"I can't make you," he said.
"I don't want you to do this anymore," I said.
"It's not something I can put off," he explained. I started pulling away and Draco sighed.
"But if you want to come with me..." I thought about it a minute.
"I will," I said. Draco looked at me in shock. He was about to say something when the house elf came back.
"Master Draco has guests in the parlour," he said. Draco turned around to acknowledge the elf. He looked back at me, but I stayed put, telling him to go on. Draco left the garden and the elf approached where I stood. It began to pick up all the petals that Draco had magicked around me.
"Oh, there's no need for you to do that," I said kindly, pulling out my wand and causing the petals to recollect as full roses and place themselves back where they came from, perfectly intact. The elf looked very surprised that I had done this, and bowed to me.
"Mrs. Malfoy," he said.
"There's no need for that, either," I said gently, stooping to the elf's height and placing my hand on his shoulder. He inspected me curiously with his big plate like eyes.
"Barmby has been serving the Malfoys for fifty years...no one has ever done his job for him. You're a very different Malfoy," the elf explained. I smiled.
"I'm no Malfoy at heart."
Barmby looked around as if to make sure Draco had left, before inching in close to me and snapping his fingers, producing one of the foreign, beautiful flowers and handing it to me. He smiled and I thanked him and took the flower.
"Barmby isn't supposed to give flowers to anyone, but Barmby likes you. You are very kind."
"It'll be our secret," I said, tucking the magnificent flower inside my dress where it was perfectly concealed. Barmby went back to tending the garden and I looked around at the flowers, admiring their exotic beauty. About five minutes had passed when I heard someone coming. Draco walked right up to me, this uneasy expression on his face. Shortly after him I could see Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini. Blaise was followed by Gregory Goyle, who looked surprised to see me. I was about to ask Draco what was wrong, but refrained. I had a feeling that Draco was not accustomed to displaying his vulnerability to any of his friends.
"There's been a bit of a change of plans," he said, "There's something we need to take care of."
"Angelina," said Goyle, making his way past Draco and towards me. Draco's expression changed immediately to one of indifference.
"It's good to see you're doing well, on your feet," he said, although he was looking at Draco while he spoke. Something told me he never bought Draco's constant lies regarding my absence from any Death Eater gatherings and activity.
"Yes," I said, faking it all the way.
"Will you be joining us tonight?" he asked, this scary evil smile lighting his face as he made eye contact with me.
"I just lost my father," I said, believing myself to be one of the best actresses I'd ever witnessed. I was careful to play on the illusion of emotion by explicitly not adding "in-law" in reference to Lucius. Goyle's smile dropped and he took on a sympathetic gaze. Draco cocked his eyebrow, looking at Goyle, waiting for him to get out of our faces.
"I cannot say I'm in high spirits for any type of celebration. Draco has responsibilities to fulfill for a greater cause. I couldn't possibly try to intervene," I added. Goyle took my hand, apologizing for mine and Draco's loss. I was rather disturbed when he proceeded to kiss it chivalrously. Draco's eyes widened a bit and he looked as though he was trying to restrain himself from going stark mad at Goyle's motion. I then walked away towards an open archway that looked upon a great expanse of land. Draco asked Goyle to give him a minute, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around. Draco smiled down at me without teeth. I surmised that I had performed well.
"You can't come tonight," he said, getting back to business.
"Why?" I asked. He glanced back at Blaise and Goyle, who were talking amongst themselves, Pansy staring over at us. That jealous bitch, but she smiled when she saw Draco turn around. Draco did not say why I couldn't go with him, but he looked back at me and pulled me in very close. He kissed me for a moment. It was once again a good kiss. My eyes were still closed when I felt it end.
"Don't wait up for me," Draco whispered. And I looked as he turned away slowly, and smiled in my mind when I saw Pansy's face. She was beyond jealous. I swore I could see the green in her aura. Draco started away, and Blaise asked him if everything was alright, Goyle following them. But Pansy stood there and glared at me.
Pansy approached me, and I drew my wand. Apparently, neither Blaise nor Goyle, and certainly not Draco, had realised she lagged behind. Pansy stopped, smiling at my wand and crossing her arms.
"I scare you, don't I, Johnson?"
"No, you disgust me."
Pansy glared.
"And I don't trust you."
"Well, Draco does. That's really all that matters. What have you done to him?" She asked.
"What have I done? I don't know if anyone filled you in, Parkinson, but Draco just lost his father. He hasn't exactly been the happiest," I said. Pansy looked a bit surprised at my defensiveness.
"'...Maybe I was wrong about you...but it doesn't change the fact that you don't belong here," Pansy said, "I don't remember you being a big supporter of pure-bloods."
"What I'm not a big supporter of is Voldemort, or the Dark Arts," I said.
"Who said anything about Voldemort? He's long gone. We've taken over the show. This is about creating a better Wizarding World, like it was meant to be, free from contamination by Mudbloods," she spat, shuddering a bit.
"Think, Pansy," I said gravely, "ever heard of Adolf Hitler?" Her eyes widened and she was about to retort when Draco appeared in the doorway.
"Pansy," he spat impatiently. She turned round, looking apologetic.
"Are you trying to make us wait?" Draco asked. Pansy kept apologizing and walked towards Draco.
"Go on, then. Goyle is waiting for you," he said. She hurried off. Draco rushed over to me. His face was full of concern then.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Try keeping that bitch on a leash," I said, "she thinks she owns you." Draco paused for a second, and then laughed genuinely. I was taken aback, he'd never done this in front of me.
"I'm serious," I said. Draco calmed down.
"She's always had it out for any woman that takes an interest in me...it's a long story, but I promise, you have nothing to worry about," Draco said seriously, holding my waist.
"If anything, I own her. She does what I say, when I say. She won't bother you again."
I nodded.
"Stop looking so worried," Draco said, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
We looked into each other's eyes for a bit, and then I stood on my toes to kiss him. He held me tighter, responding intensely. I felt as if I were melting, Draco's hand gripping my hip, massaging it firmly with his thumb. His tongue was forceful and fought mine down with domination. I felt myself not wanting Draco to leave when he stopped, letting go of me, "I love you." He kissed me gently on the forehead and for once, I enjoyed the cool breeze that met me when Draco turned and walked away. I sat in the archway on a stone wall. My heart was sighing. I picked up a book that was sitting beside me. It looked rather old, as I opened it, turning the yellowing pages. It was a magical book on gardening. The images moved around with life. I pulled the flower Barmby had given me from the space between my chest where I'd hidden it in my dress. I placed it inside the book and took it with me. I started back to mine and Draco's room. When I got there, Lilac was waiting for me.
"Mr. George Weasley sent me with a message," she said. My jaw dropped. I'd almost forgotten about sending that note.
"What did he say?" I asked anxiously.
"He's going to try and get the ministry involved about this new Death Eater activity. He wants to know how to rescue you without raising suspicion," Lilac informed, approaching me. My eyes watered.
"He believes it all?" I asked.
"Absolutely. Mr. George Weasley wants to know if Angelina is okay. Has she been hurt?" Lilac went on, those marmoreal eyes glimmering up at me.
"I'm fine. Let him know that no serious harm has come to me...and tell him that Draco Malfoy is not an immediate threat," I finished. Lilac smiled and nodded before disapparating. She came back minutes later with more news from George, and this time Ron and Harry as well. I knew that things were about to start blowing up. Lilac told me that George had exclaimed, asking how the bloody hell Draco was not a threat, had I been brainwashed? I told Lilac to report back to them, explaining that Lucius was dead and that the Malfoys alone were harmless. Lilac went back and reported to George, Ron, and Harry, who then sent the elf back, asking why I couldn't just have her take me to them to safety. I responded that I s safe, and that I wasn't going anywhere until things were safely sorted out. Lilac, beginning to look exhausted, reported to me that Ron had said these kinds of things were never safely sorted out, and that everyone would be excited to hear that I was still alive and well. The conversation left off there for the time being. I knew that despite what I'd said, my friends were coming for me. Perhaps I was being foolish. If it had gotten to this point more than a month ago, I'd have left and gone back to my life without a second thought, but I didn't want to lose Draco. He was only beginning to show me who he really was, and I wasn't going to leave him to die. If Voldemort could be taken down, so could the following that remained of him. I had complete confidence that good would triumph...
I roamed the house aimlessly, anxiously playing out what was to come in my head. I started to have some doubt, and worried myself famished. I went to the dining room and sat there. A house elf immediately brought me something to eat. I was sitting there, chewing mindlessly, and then I just started crying. I thought about all my friends and family. I didn't want another war. I didn't want to lose more loved ones. Narcissa approached me, from what seemed out of nowhere. She leant over my chair with concerned eyes. I stood up, wiping them.
"You're worried about Draco?"
"I..."
"Dear," she said, grasping my hand.
"I know it's hard, but it's necessary. This magical world—our world—will be so much easier to live in when Muggles no longer threaten to wipe out magic by contaminating our bloodlines. There will be less need to fear risk of magic being exposed...think back to the witch trials, massacres all around the world, witches murdered, all for practicing magic. Is that the world you want you and Draco's children to grow up in?" Somehow I had managed to sit down again, Narcissa at the seat beside me. I had stopped crying because I wasn't sure what to say to her. It sounded like the plan was world domination. I felt a bit numb. All I knew was that Death Eaters had to be stopped. Narcissa called a house elf for tea and I soon found a hot cup of Earl Grey in my hands. The evening arrived, and I went to go take a hot shower. I was cold, and I just wanted to feel the heat of the water. When I stepped out of the bathroom, Draco was standing in front of the mirror, taking off his robes. I approached him, and he must have been pre-occupied mentally, because he looked surprised when he turned around and saw me. I was equally as surprised; he had what appeared to be some soot on his forehead, and I looked to find that his robes were singed, as if they had been partially burnt.
"Draco, what—"
"Something's gone wrong," he said "We've been discovered. I don't even know who it was attacking and how they bloody knew where we would be, but someone knows. We couldn't even start the ceremony," he said. There was worry in his eyes, but he didn't sound like he cared much.
"…Why is it so important to you?" I asked quietly, not having meant to say this aloud.
"…It's what my father would have wanted me to do," Draco said, placing his robe over the chair. There was some soot and ash on his body, a hole having been wrought through his shirt.
"Are you okay?" I asked, reaching out to touch him. Draco grabbed my hand before I could touch him.
"You've just showered," he said.
"This is not what you want, Draco," I said, although it was meant to be a question. He sighed, looking down at his destroyed robes on the chair.
"It's what my father would have wanted me to—"
"But what do you want?" I asked, finding his face in my hands and looking into his eyes. That vulnerability revealed itself once more, and was short lived.
"Don't worry. I've got this under control," Draco said reassuringly, before walking past me into the bathroom. In fact, he had no idea what I was worried about.