When they arrived at the Malfoy Manor - around an hour later - the sky was black and the manor was flooded in rays of light, making ever detail of the house visible even in the darkness.
It was an gigantic villa, though not quite as big as the Zabini household. It was fashioned in an early renaissance style - indicating that the manor was in the hands of the Malfoy for a very long time already.
Someone had conjured up snow around the house, making it and the landscape around it a sea of glittering white fluffy snow.
"Come on dears, lets get into the warmth," Oriana said warmly to the two teenagers, before closing her eyes for a second and putting on the mask of the rich and arrogant billionaire and model, that everyone thought she was, but Ash knew she only played.
She saw Blaise copy her and had to hold in a small giggle. But swiftly she followed suit and got in control of her every feature and emotion.
Gracefully the group of four advanced to the villa's entrance and rang the door bell. Swiftly the door was pulled open and they were granted entrance by a bowing House-elf.
"Ah! My dear Oriana! How wonderful to see you," Mrs. Malfoy said light heartedly, floating towards them. "And Hector! Always a pleasure," she added holding out her hand, which Hector took and gently kissed.
"All the pleasure is mine," he said flirtatiously, making Blaise and Ash roll their eyes and Mrs. Malfoy giggle like a horny teenager.
"Ah! Blaise, nice that you are joining us as well!" she said quickly moving on and giving Blaise a kiss on each of his cheeks.
"And Ash - I may call you that, right?" smiling Ash nodded.
"Please do."
"Good. Ash. How wonderful for you to join us. Draco hasn't stopped talking about you," she said her voice receiving an unwelcoming tone.
"I do hope only good," she said, trying her best to ignore the chilled feeling she got.
"More or less," Draco's mother said with a little laugh, but her eyes didn't laugh with her as she looked Ash up and down.
"You look very beautiful tonight," she said coolly.
"Thank you. May I complement you on your house? It's very exquisite."
"Thank you, my dear. If you excuse me..." she said stiffly, before placing a kiss on both of her cheeks and flying off too the next guests that just arrived. Ash could have sworn she heard the lady mutter, "As if a Weasley could distinguish between nice and ugly".
A bit dumb folded Ash looked at Blaise with a frozen smile and wide panicked eyes. "She doesn't like me, does she?" she asked - her mouth barely moving.
"No, no... she just needs to... get used to you?"
"Thanks for the try," Ash said with a sigh.
"No problem."
"You do know you failed miserably?"
"Yeah, I guessed."
"Good, just wanted to make sure... but did she really just say that?"
"About the Weasley? I heard it too."
"Unbelievable..." she said shaking her head and together they followed the other guests into the lounge which lead to the ballroom, in which the festivities were taking place.
As they strode into the ballroom, Ash could see Draco with his back towards her whispering into Pansy's ear.
Stiffening a bit she tugged on Blaise's arm, making him look at her. "Don't say anything to Draco about this," she said quietly.
"You mean about Narcissa?"
"Is that her name? Yeah, that and about Diagon Alley, understood?"
"Sure, no problem."
Ash looked up at him with grateful eyes. "Thank you, Blaise."
"You can always count on me."
Together they walked up to the teenagers of the party.
"Hey you guys!" Blaise said grinning, getting the attention of the group.
"Blaise! Ash! Good to see you guys! I'm happy you finally made it!" Chase said grinning at them. Quickly he picked Ash up from the ground and twirled her around in greeting.
When he stood still again, Ash giggled and pried herself loose of Chase grip, slapping his arm playfully.
"How have you been?"
"Quite good, I suppose... but without you its just no fun!" he whined, but quickly sobered up - standing straight - as he looked over Ash's shoulder. Confused she turned around and saw Draco standing behind her.
"Draco!" she called loudly, turned around to fully face her boyfriend and passionately pressed her lips against his. She felt him smirk before winding his arms around her body and pulling her deeper into the kiss.
When they needed air again, Draco rested his forehead against hers. "Hey Ash," - "Hey Draco," they whispered to each other a soft smile playing on their lips.
"Do you know that you look stunning tonight?" he whispered quietly.
"Only stunning? I think I look like the perfect being tonight," she joked and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"You certainly do," he agreed and took her hand, leading her away from the others.
"How are you?" Ash asked quietly, while she and Draco separated themselves from the crowed a bit.
"I'm doing quiet well," he said, rubbing his left arm.
"Does your arm hurt?" she asked concerned as she took his left arm in her hand. Quickly he pulled it out of her reach.
"No. No... It just itched a bit."
"OK..." she said concern still present in her voice. "So, tell me. What have you been up to?" she asked.
"Not much really. Mostly boring myself to death in my bedroom."
"Really? Also this weekend?"
"Yeah, but why do you ask?"
"I don't know... I missed you! I wish I could spend more time with you in the holidays."
"Yeah..." he said a bit uncomfortable. "I wish I could spend more time with you as well."
"But you just said that your not doing anything! How about we meet up tomorrow? It's my fathers birthda-" she started but was quickly interrupted by Draco.
"Sorry, tomorrow doesn't work I'm booked... My mom wants me to help her out with something..."
"And you can't do it another time? I mean, I would just love for my parents to get to know you, and what's a better time then my fathers birth-"
"No, sorry Ash. Absolutely not possible," he told her again annoyed.
Ash tightened her jaw, "alright... I just thought -"
"I'm really sorry Ash, but it's not possible."
"Yeah..." Ash muttered quietly to herself and looked at the floor holding back the tears. Slowly she took a few steps away from him and inhaled deeply. Quietly she muttered something about going to the toilet while smiling at the blond boy and quickly dashed past a confused Draco to the direction he pointed to when he heard the destination.
Rushing into the bathroom she quickly threw the door shut and locked it behind her.
Silently she slid down the door, holding back her tears - she needed to go out of the toilet soon and didn't want to ruin her make up.
Closing her eyes she put her head in her neck and then starred at the ceiling when she opened them again, willing the tears gone.
He didn't even listen to me... she thought in despair and glared at the ceiling.
When she felt her eyes dry again and believed it to be save for her to walk out of the toilet and face Draco without falling tears, she stood up again and opened the door.
"Sorry that I took so long," she apologized to the lady next in line and casually walking past her and went back into the ballroom.
When she joined the group again, Draco was once again talking to Pansy. "Hey Pug-face, how has your weekend been?" she said walking up behind Draco and hugging his waist from behind.
Pansy's eyes narrowed at her.
"Don't call her that," Draco muttered and Ash froze.
"What?"
"I said you shouldn't call her that," he said again, only louder. "She's also a person you know."
"Um, yeah..." Ash said confused and gave Pansy a short glare. Shaking her head she let go off Draco and turned to join the other teenagers.
"No, Ash. I didn't mean it like that..." Draco said, wrapping her arms around Ash's waist.
"Then how did you mean it? Huh?" she said ripping loose of his arms and glaring into his eyes.
Draco gulped and she noticed that he was looking at the people around them.
"Oh forget it Draco!" she spat and stormed out of the room again. If he really wanted to talk, he'd follow her.
She was right, as soon as she reached the balcony and sent a house elf to get her and Draco's jacket, Draco stopped next to her.
"Did you really needed to make a scene in there?" he asked while catching his breath.
"That in there wasn't a scene yet, Draco and you know it. As soon as our jackets are here and we are outside you will know what a scene is!" she fumed at him and impatiently tapped her foot against the floor.
Only seconds later the house elf appeared before them and gave them their jackets.
Silently they slid out of the balcony door.
"What's up with you and Pansy?" Ash shot as soon as the door closed behind Draco.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh don't talk to me like that! Ever since I've came here, I can see you two in a corner whispering to each other!"
"We're friends, that's all," Draco tried to reason.
"Friends?" Ash shrieked. "Since when are you two friends? As far as I remember you still laughed with me when I called her pug-face only four days ago and now you tell me to not call her that - she's a human being? What the fuck Draco?" she screamed and threw her hands up in the air.
"Ash calm down," he said quietly.
"Calm down!? Calm down!? Why the hell should I calm down," she screamed but then took a deep breath and the next words came out more of a plead, "Draco, please, tell me what happened in the past four days?"
"It's nothing really. Her and my parents are just really good friends... she's been spending a lot of time here and we started talking again," he said looking everywhere but in her eyes.
"Is that all that happened?" she asked calmly.
"Yeah, it is."
"So there's nothing going on between you and Pansy?"
"No!" he said finally looking her in the eyes with panic, "I would never do that to you," he assured her.
Ash looked down at the ground beneath her. "I believe you," she said and smiled at him with a small sad smile.
"Good," he said kissing her lips softly. "Now lets go back in. It's freezing out here!" he said with a smile and pulled her inside again.
When they entered the ballroom again Pansy swiftly joined then, making Ash stiffen again.
"Can't you try to get along with her?" Draco asked whispering into her ear and looking into her eyes pleadingly, while wrapping his arms around Ash's waist again.
"As far as I remember it wasn't me that started the fraud," she muttered and nearly chocked as Pansy nodded her head happily, saying how sad she was that they weren't friends any more.
Still, she smiled at Pansy and gave Draco a reassuring hug, while whispering into his ear, "I'll try".
She talked to Draco and Pansy for a short while, but soon pried off Draco's arms telling him she would go talk a bit with the others. Draco looked a bit annoyed at her leaving but nodded and let her go.
Promptly she and walked up to Blaise who was still talking to Chase and the Goons.
"Hey guys!"
"Hey Ash! Where have you been?"
"Here and there."
"Where were you and lover boy just now? Did you by any chance vanish into his room?" Chase asked, making Ash laugh.
"And look this perfect afterwards?" she joked, "No, my dear, also its the first evening I am able to impress the parental unit. I don't think it would really make me popular with them."
"If you say so..."
"The main problem, however as I see it, is separating him from the pug," she murmured incoherently and looked over her shoulder at Draco and Pansy who were talking to Draco's mother happily.
With an annoyed sigh she ripped her gaze from the sight and listened in to what the boys where talking about.
"Yeah the new nimbus is a blast!" she joined into the conversation, "I wish I had that!"
"Well who knows, maybe you'll get it soon!" Blaise joked and gently nudged her shoulder.
"Don't even indicate that!"
"Believe me, I didn't buy you a Nimbus!"
"I better hope so!" Ash glared at Blaise who just laughed and extended his arm to rub her head, but she quickly swatted his hand away and took a ninja stance. "Don't mess with my hair!" she growled, making the boys around her burst out laughing.
"Alright, alright. No touching the hair!" Blaise chuckled and raised his hands in a defending stance.
"Good," she said and regained her composed pose.
Silence spread for a bit, until Vincent - more commonly known as Crabbe - broke the silence. "Blaise said that you would be participating at the Annual Broom Race."
"Yeah, Hector was so awesome to let me take his place this year!" Ash beamed.
"Really? Damn it! I have to get my parents to go there and cheer for you!" Chase said before his eyes widened "That reminds me! My parents wanted to meet you!" he gasped and grabbed her hand before pulling her behind him.
A few metres later he stopped in his tracks, making Ash collide with him. "What the-?" she said before she noticed that Draco's father had placed himself before him.
"Miss Weasley," he said with a nod, which Ash hurriedly copied.
"Please, Mr. Malfoy, call me Ash," she said quietly.
Mr. Malfoy gave her a forced smile.
"Who is this beauty?" a cloaked figure asked in a hiss and appeared beside Draco's father.
The Malfoy stiffened nearly unnoticeable and glanced to his left with a short nod of his head.
"This in my sons girlfriend, my -" he said swallowing the persons name.
"Ah, he has very good taste," the cloaked figure hissed and a chill ran down Ash's spine as he extended his long spidery fingers towards her. "May I ask you name?"
"It's Ash."
"And what family do you belong to? I don't think I have seen you around."
"I'm a Weasley, sir," she answered quietly and reluctantly placed her hand in his.
"Draco is going out with a Gryffindor?"
"No, she's a Slytherin, my -" Draco's father quickly corrected and choked on the man's title - again.
"A Weasley in Slytherin... interesting, very interesting," the person seemingly hissed and let go of her hand.
Immediately she pulled her hand away and hid it behind her back.
"Ash," Mr. Malfoy said, requesting her attention again. "Draco told us that you want to become a singer? Is that correct?"
"Y-y-yes," she said, her body shaking softly of fear from the cloaked person, he creeped her out to no ends.
"Would you do us the favour of singing a song for our guests?" he asked with a smile and Ash nodded looking at Chase - who was still standing next to her - for reassurance.
"Thank you," Mr. Malfoy said, emotionless and gestured for her to follow him as he went to the band that was playing in once of the rooms corners. "This is Ash. She will sing a small song for us right now." Turning to look at her, he asked "What would you like to sing?"
"Um... Hallelujah?" she suggested as nothing better came to her mind.
Mr. Malfoy nodded curtly and gestured for her to take the stage. Swiftly he called for the attention of his guests. "Ladies and Gentleman! If I may just have your attention for a couple of moments," he said and soon the hall was quiet, everyone's attention on the host and the young women next to him. "If I may introduce, this is my sons girlfriend. She would like to enjoy us with a short song," he said bored and walked of the stage, not giving Ash another glance.
Standing on the stage alone, Ash swallowed hard before the piano started playing for her. She closed her eyes and let the music take a hold of her. Immediately she forgot about the world around her.
I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
You don't really care for music, do ya?
Well, it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Well, your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
Well, she tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and cut your hair
And from your lips she drew Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Baby I've been here before,
I've seen this room and I've walked the floor,
I used to live alone before I knew ya
But I've seen your flag on the marble arch,
Our love is not a victory march,
It's a cold and its a broken hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above,
But all I've ever learnt from love,
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya,
It's not a cry that you hear at night,
It's not someone who's seen the light,
It's a cold and broken hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Everything was silent when she finished the song and opened her eyes again to look at the crowed. Slowly, one by one the people started clapping for her and soon praised her for the outstanding performance.
Smiling, she bowed low to the people in front of her and thanked the piano player, before leaving the stage. Grinning, she saw that Draco had moved towards the stage and now came and took her into his arms and placing a gentle kiss on her lips.
"Was I good?" she asked with a soft smile.
"You were absolutely fantastic! I thought an angel descended from heaven," he smiled and brushed away a small strand of hair that had fallen into her face.
A few hours later Ash and the Zabini's decided to head towards home - otherwise they wouldn't get home before dawn.
"Goodbye Draco," Ash said softly hugging her boyfriend tightly. "Are you sure you don't have any time later today?" she asked quietly, staring at his chest.
"No. I told you already. My dad wants me to help him with something," Draco said.
"I thought it was your mother..."
Draco inhaled sharply. "Both of them want me to do something for them."
"Oh, OK... Well, we're still in England for a few hours, so if you have time..."
"Yeah I'll tell you," he said before placing his lips above hers. "Goodnight," he whispered into her ear before letting Blaise take her from him.
"I love you" she called towards him, but Draco had already vanished back into the crowed...
Song: k.d. lang - Halleluja