Chapter 11
The next month confirmed it for me. With snow lightly falling from the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall, he sat down next to me.
"Jack, I was thinking, and I would like you to meet my parents."
"Draco, I was thinking, and I would like to meet your parents as well." I flipped my hair over my shoulder and ate my egg as delicately as possible. When he left, I would be a pig again. "Do you think they'll like me?"
"Of course, how could they not?"
"It's something that I worry about, you know. I grew up in very different circumstances, what if they think I'm crass, or rude?"
"Just don't be crass or rude."
"Easy for you to say." I sighed. "I suppose I'll just have to remember the etiquette lessons from Windhithe. They were dreadfully dull, but I suppose they were useful."
"Good. Oh, have you got the proper clothes?"
"Clothes?"
He shrugged. "Dinner is taken in formal dress, you know."
"Oh. I suppose I'll have to go shopping."
"Would you like me to go with you?"
I stared at him incredulously. "You want to go?"
"I was just being nice. I know what's… appropriate? What they'll like," he finished.
"Then how can I turn you down?"
Both Draco and I were of age, and so the following weekend, we obtained special permission to go to Hogsmeade. Though I wanted to go to Honeydukes, Draco steered me into Gladrag's Wizardwear. I had purchased a number of pretty blouses, good jeans, and shoes to wear casually, but I had nothing formal. The saleswoman, upon hearing who I was, practically squealed and led me towards the finest gowns. I all thought they were marvelous, but Draco frowned, folding his arms.
"This is all you have?"
"Well yes, sir, our finest robes. This one was flown in from Paris just yesterday-"
"I suppose it'll do." He turned to me. "I'll get our seamstress to make you a few more while we're there."
"Thank you." I was immediately drawn to a green dress, made out of soft material that clung. "What about this one?"
"That color's good, but no. Look for something more… high-end."
"Oh." I picked up the Parisian dress, an olive green, shimmering, strapless dress with a diaphanous skirt strewn with pheasant feathers and what looked like emeralds. "What about this?"
"Better."
I tried on a variety of dresses, with each getting a yes or a no from Draco. I thought that the ones he chose were a little extravagant, but I also wanted to impress his parents, and make myself seem like one of them. I would definitely have to bother with my hair and makeup while I was there. I groaned internally. I was mostly a low-maintenance girl, but that would have to change. My reverie was broken when another dress was pushed through the curtain. "Here. This one's for when you meet them."
"I didn't know you were such a fashionista, Draco."
I could almost hear him rolling his eyes. "What you look like is what someone bases their very first impression on, Jack. Appearance is everything, you know."
"I know. It's just surprising, for a guy. Not bad, mind you. Good, in fact. Very helpful."
"Well, let's see, then."
I left the store that day with what seemed like more dresses than I would ever wear in my life. However, Draco thought up an occasion for every one of them, and still told me I would need more because, "They just don't have enough that don't look cheap." All of them looked ridiculously expensive to me- and in fact, most of them were- but I wasn't the authority on the subject.
Luna stared at me as I lugged my bags through the common room. She grabbed a few from me and helped me carry them to my dorm. "What are all of these?"
"Dresses for my foray into the world of the Malfoys. I'm going to be spending Christmas with them. Uncle isn't too happy about it, but he understands. He doesn't know about the plan." I dropped the bags and collapsed onto the bed. Padma came in at that point.
"Jack what are- ooh!" she squealed as she glimpsed the inside of one bag. "Are these from Gladrags?"
"Yep. I think I may have bought the entire store."
"Let me see?"
"Okay, okay." I gestured to the bags. "You can try some on, if you like. You look around my size." She gave me a look, as if to say of course I'm not, but she fit into the one she picked.
"This. Is. Gorgeous."
"I will probably never wear it again. I'm thinking that once I get back from Christmas, I'll put the lot into the middle of the dorm and let you all fight over them."
"For future reference, I call this one." It was pale blue, overlaid with light, silvery fabric that floated as she walked.
"Done." I turned to Luna. "There are probably all too normal for you."
"I wouldn't say that. I'll take a few."
"Where would you even wear them?"
Luna shrugged. "Where wouldn't I wear them?"
"Good point, my friend." The other girls were trickling in, admiring the fashions. Su Li pulled out one that I hadn't even seen before.
"Jack, what's this?"
"What's wha… Oh my god." I put my hands over my face. "I don't even… he must have bought it. The Evil Fashionista."
"He's a fashionista? I knew it."
"Well, he never actually picked anything out, but everything I tried on got either a yes or a no." I was trying to backpedal, but Su was having none of that.
"Try it on, Jack." Su threw it at me, and I turned red.
"No!"
"Come on, please?"
"You're just going to make fun of me."
"That's the point!"
"Alright alright, out out out." I waved my hands at them, and they retreated from the room. I looked at the dress, sighing. "This is ridiculous."
When they entered, I was standing in the center of the room. "Alright, ladies. Have your laughs." They gaped at me, some snickering, some giggling, and some laughing out loud.
The dress was, in a word, sexy. Definitely something Draco bought more for himself than for me. It was red, of course. The low sweetheart neckline, paired with the corseted back, amplified my assets to an unnatural degree. The skirt was long, though it had a slit up the side that reached above my hip, and I was almost sure it was enchanted to fall away, exposing my leg. I felt like I was in a costume.
"Alright, can I put clothes on now?" They left, still giggling. I sighed, shaking my head. I changed unto my much more comfortable uniform, wondering where on earth I would wear that thing. He had to have a place in mind, I supposed.
The weeks leading up to Christmas break were nerve-wracking. I often spilled my worries to Luna, well out of earshot of anyone. She would listen patiently, telling me that everything would be okay. She believed that, I was sure. I didn't but I was trying. I was starting to fully comprehend the danger I was exposing myself to. Death was a possibility. The DA had equipped me with spells to defend myself, but I was certain I was no match for a group of adult Death Eaters. I covered my face with my hands and let out a whimper.
"Jack?" Luna peered around the door.
"Oh. Hello."
"Your eyes are red."
"Are they? How interesting." I rubbed my face and stood, waving my wand to levitate my trunk across the room. Luna patted my hair.
"You'll be fine. Don't worry."
"Do you actually believe that, though?"
"Why would I say it if I didn't believe it?" That was true. Luna was nothing if not honest. I stood and followed my trunk out of the door.
"Alright. Time to put on my Princess face."
"I'll see you when we get back."
"Hopefully." I hugged her, then took a deep breath, then headed down the stairs.
Draco was waiting for me in the entrance hall. "Ready to go?"
"Yes. Shall we?"
"Yes." He took my hand and we headed out of Hogwarts. The carriages were waiting for us, and snow was falling. I pulled my furry hat down over my ears.
It was warmer at the train station. We found a compartment, and oddly enough, none of Draco's friends deigned to join us. I took my seat, and Draco laid down, his head in my lab. I began to stroke his hair absently.
"Draco?"
"Yes?"
"What do I call your parents?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm… younger than them. Dating their son. Which makes them my superiors. But I'm… well, you know. Me. So that's a bit of a conundrum."
"They'll probably call you your title."
I scrunched up my nose. "I don't like the sound of that. I'll have them call me Jack."
"I think… Jessica would be better. For them. A little more formal, but not a title."
"That makes sense. Should I just stick with sir and ma'am for them?"
"Probably, until one of them tells you otherwise. Which they probably won't."
"And… best behavior? Proper? Natural? What do I do? And don't tell me to be myself, because that is a terrible answer."
"I wasn't going to." He frowned. "I suppose… polite and courteous. But not subservient. A princess, you know?"
I sighed. "I wish I did."
He rolled his eyes and leaned up, kissing me. "You'll be fine," he muttered against my lips. I rolled my eyes. Obviously making sure I was fine was not his priority. I kissed him back, though, and that was enough for him. Today was different, though. He was kissing me harder, opening his mouth and gently slipping his tongue inside of mine. I had no idea what to do with it, but returned the action. He pulled me down on top of him, but I wriggled away. "What?" He sounded annoyed.
"Someone could come in! This isn't exactly private, you know."
"No one will come in."
"What about the lady with the food trolley, hmm?" I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrow. "That would be awkward."
"Come here." He sat up and pulled me close to him. "We'll stay in a sitting position."
"Fine."
"What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing, nothing. Why?" I tried to sound lighthearted, but his tone had been harsh.
"You just don't seem… well, enthusiastic."
I smiled, kissing him lightly. "It's not that I don't want to kiss you. I just don't want to get caught by an old woman with a trolley. Awkward."
"Alright." He still sounded a little grumpy, so I kissed him again.
