LADY MALFOY
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related belongs to J. K. Rowling. And the places I mention, in the story do not belong to me.
Author's note: I am really grateful to my amazing beta, La baguette.
Thank you so much, guys for your wonderful reviews. Even though I am not replying privately to you, know that I really really really appreciate and cherish each and every one of them.
Here is part 2, ENJOY!!!
Warnings: AU NON-MAGIC. Harry is a female. You will find swear words but quite seldom. Description of some of the characters was taken from the book. I will add further warnings as the story progresses.
Chapter 19: Celebrations of different classes—Part 2
Next morning, Harriet woke up first to answer Elladora's call. Finishing her morning ablutions, Harriet gently awakened Alexandra. Then they both turned and watched with smiles as Draco slept on peacefully, steadily releasing soft snores through his slightly ajar mouth.
"Did you sleep well, darling?" Alexandra questioned quietly albeit worriedly, turning her head to Harriet.
"Yes, Grandma," Harriet smiled assuredly. "That piece of furniture is quite comfortable. It just wasn't long enough to fit Mr. Malfoy's height."
Alexandra nodded with a smile.
Assembling in the dining room, dwellers of Parkin Hall, permanent or otherwise, helped themselves to tea and some light slacks before departing to get dressed for the event.
"Draco, I believe you brought a valet with you?" Lucius drawled, arching his brow questioningly at his retreating son.
Turning around, "I did, Father," Draco answered stoically.
"Crabbe is terrible in dressing me in formals. I want you to send your valet to my rooms," Lucius ordered imperiously.
"I will send Henry once I am dressed, Father," Draco replied quietly, turning to leave.
"No," Lucius sneered with a harsh glare, effectively halting Draco in his tracks and making him turn back. "You will send him now!"
"Do as your Father says, Draco. It would not do for him to be late for his niece's wedding," Narcissa commanded coldly, having strolled up to them during their minor altercation.
"As you wish, Father," Draco bit out through clenched teeth before striding away.
Alexandra glided out of the bedroom elegantly attired in a royal blue dress gown. Seeing Draco reading the newspaper in the sitting room, Alexandra said, "Draco, we are finished. You can go dress now."
Hearing her voice, Draco turned to a magnificent-looking Alexandra. Putting the paper aside, Draco promptly stood on his feet and approached her. Gently taking Alexandra's hands in his, "You look divine, Grandmother," Draco complimented with a small smile, dropping a kiss on each of her knuckles.
"Thank you, dearest," Alexandra smiled lovingly.
Air around the room suddenly wafted with lavender scent as Harriet exited the bedroom and sauntered towards Alexandra, carrying several colourfully wrapped packages in her arms. Harriet was dressed in a layered gown with a pale pink, flower-patterned silk lace tunic worn over an off-white satin dress. The scoop neckline, shorter hems and long sleeves of the tunic were trimmed with small balls covered with pink silk thread. Her silky black hair was once again held in a stylish bun on her nape and was beautifully decorated atop with pale pink rose buds in a semi-circular row that separated the head from the bun. Draco noted that she wore the diamond earrings that he had gifted her with last Christmas. 'She looks like one of Kiera's dolls,' Draco thought with a smirk.
"Grandma, here are the bride's gifts. Should I get the rest of family's gifts too?" Harriet enquired, not noticing Draco's admiring stare.
Biting back the chuckle at Draco's reaction to her appearance, "No, darling. We will present those later in our stay," Alexandra said, opening the jewellery box that Harriet handed to her.
"The necklace is truly exquisite, isn't it?" Harriet commented, gazing at the diamond-studded necklace that was painstakingly designed in intricate detail that Harriet and Draco had bought for the bride upon Alexandra's instruction.
"Yes, we will see if we can persuade Emily to wear it for the ceremony," Alexandra remarked, glancing at Harriet who eagerly nodded in assent.
"Now, Draco. Go get dressed. I wish to see Emily before we have to depart for the Church," Alexandra said, facing him again.
"I am waiting for my valet to return, Grandmother," Draco answered her.
"Hasn't Henry arrived from Lucius's rooms yet? Didn't he leave when we went to get dressed? That was more than an hour ago!" Alexandra questioned as she glanced at the wall clock.
"Yes," Draco said bitterly. "Apparently, Father needs hours to dress."
"This will not do," Alexandra tut-ted in disapprobation. "Elladora, go inquire after Henry."
Elladora hesitated, looking highly reluctant, but left to follow the order nonetheless.
Returning a few minutes later, "Madam Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy informed me that Henry's job isn't finished yet," Elladora told her, the woman's round face slightly pale.
"Very well, Elladora. Go and see if any of my daughters or nieces need assistance but make sure to return in half an hour," Alexandra instructed, dismissing her.
In private, Alexandra allowed her face to show a frown at the message, while Draco snorted loudly in derision. "I wouldn't be surprised if Father is keeping him away on purpose."
"If it is true, I can't believe that Lucius is resorting to such petty actions," Alexandra sighed, shaking her head in exasperation.
"Draco, your punctuality at Emily's wedding is as important as Lucius's. I will not have them be successful in their desperate and rather pitiful attempts to disconcert you," Alexandra announced firmly to him and then, glancing at Harriet, she added, "Dearest, assist Draco with his attire. I will wait for you two here."
While settling herself comfortably on a high-backed chair, Alexandra did not notice the effect her words generated in Harriet and Draco. While Draco froze on his spot, Harriet felt her face rapidly heat and turn red in mortification.
"Go on. Hurry up," Alexandra encouraged them when they didn't move from their positions.
As they diffidently approached the bedroom door, Alexandra picked up the newspaper that Draco had discarded earlier. Throwing one last desperate glance back at Alexandra and seeing no way out, they disappeared inside.
For a few minutes, they stood quietly, not knowing what to do until Draco soundly cleared his throat. "Turn your back on me, Mrs. Malfoy. I will get dressed myself," Draco instructed, his tone steady despite the anxiety he was feeling at the moment.
Silently nodding in understanding, Harriet eagerly did as he bid. For the next ten minutes, Harriet stood quietly, listening to the ruffling of clothes. Harriet had to suppress the giggles whenever she heard murmured curses escaping from her agitated husband's mouth.
Unable to take it any longer, Harriet summoned a little courage and slowly and apprehensively peeked over her shoulder. Harriet sighed in relief when she found that Draco had managed to don his black trousers and white shirt and was now furiously struggling with his waistcoat.
"Stop, stop, you will tear it apart if you keep that up!" Harriet cried, rushing towards him.
Startled by her voice, Draco sharply glanced at his wife. "I told you to keep you back at me," he snapped in irritation. In the next instant, Draco promptly averted his head from her, feeling blood rush through his face at the thought that Harriet might have seen him in the nude.
Rolling her eyes, "Give that vest to me. I will help you get dressed," Harriet said, outstretching her hand to take the said cloth.
"I can do it myself," Draco said acutely, his face set in a stubborn look, and he pulled it away from her reach.
Harriet placed her hands on her hips and asked sarcastically, "Well then, why do you need a valet? Why don't you get dressed by yourself every day?"
Throwing an intense glare at her, Draco returned to his previous task.
Harriet huffed in annoyance before enquiring, "Why do you have to fight me over everything? Why won't you let me assist you?"
"I wouldn't have to fight you if you would just do as bidden, Mrs. Malfoy," Draco snapped waspishly.
There was silence for a couple of moments as Harriet watched her husband with a thoughtful look.
"Do I look like one of your factory machines, Mr. Malfoy, which would perform its tasks without question? Or do you expect me to be one?" Harriet queried softly, staring intently up at him.
Draco paused at her words and slowly raised his grey eyes to meet her green orbs. Unread ably gazing at her for a long moment, Draco thought, 'you most certainly don't look like a machine, Mrs. Malfoy, for a machine doesn't breath nor does it express, stirring inexplicable emotions inside of me. As for expecting you to be one, I myself don't know the answer to it.'
Uncertain and reluctant, Draco silently offered the vest to Harriet who snapped out of her shock and hastily yet happily took it. No words were uttered and Draco turned back to the full-length mirror of the dressing table and held his arm out to her.
Helping him into the sleeveless grey waistcoat and letting Draco button it up himself, Harriet took the black silk puff tie and adjusted its length underneath the collar of his wing tip shirt. Being at least six inches shorter than him, Harriet had difficult tying it in the centre, even if she stood on her tiptoes. Draco wasn't helping matters any by standing upright and sticking his chin up. Harriet had a strong suspicion that he was doing it on purpose.
"Er... Mr. Malfoy, could you bend down a little?" Harriet requested with an embarrassed blush after a few failed attempts.
"If I crane, my neck will bulge and then when I straighten up the tie would loosen," Draco drawled sarcastically at her.
Harriet winced at that piece of common sense but immediately narrowed her eyes upon espying a faint smirk on his lips.
"Fine. Why don't you sit here then?" Harriet suggested, gesturing to the stool in front of the dressing table.
"Of course not!" Draco exclaimed in outrage. "I am not going to sit down and dress up like some woman."
"But it will only take a minute," Harriet whined in argument but gave up that idea when Draco threw a withering glare at her.
Sighing in resignation, Harriet cast a look around the room to find some other way to accomplish the task until her eyes landed on a small piece of furniture placed before a comfy chair.
With a triumphant smile, Harriet strode up to it and brought back a footstool and placed it just behind Draco. Giving him a smug look, Harriet stood on it and placed her arms around his shoulders to adjust the tie. At this position, Harriet could properly see the reflection of the tie in the mirror over his shoulder.
"Do you cause this much difficulty for your valet every day, Mr. Malfoy?" Harriet inquired conversationally while looking into the mirror and adjusted the tie in the centre.
Though astounded at first by her ingenuity, Draco composed himself speedily and regarded her reflection as she deftly worked on making the bow. "No, Mrs. Malfoy. You are just special," he answered at last, his lips quirked teasingly.
"Hmph!" Harriet said, busying herself in tying the smooth piece of cloth. Draco felt a tingle on the side of his neck where her warm breath ghosted on a patch of his pale skin and he had to apply all his self-control to not to give into a shiver.
"What do you think?" Harriet enquired once she was finished with the tie, her hands now resting on his broad shoulders.
"Where did you learn to tie a bow?" Draco asked in surprise, lightly figuring the tie that was impeccably made.
Smiling at his image, Harriet spoke, "Oh, do you remember my Aunt Martha's two children, Roger and Allan?" When Draco nodded once, she continued, "Whenever Aunt visited us, she was occupied with helping my Mother and the responsibility of taking care of my cousins fell on me. Hence, I had lot of practice dressing them. I specifically had to learn to tie bows to help them into their formal wear during Bill's wedding," Harriet told him, finally helping him into a black Tailcoat and buttoning the cuffs for him.
"There," Harriet declared lightly, smoothing the non-existent wrinkles on his front by brushing her hands against the velvety soft material of his coat; unaware of the sensations she was unwittingly causing him. "All your attire needs is a white rose on the breast pocket."
Swallowing thickly, "Yes, but we are going to use something else. Check my luggage for a small jewellery box that contains a broach," Draco managed to say, pointing to his trunk that was propped against a wall.
Nodding, Harriet turned and walked towards it. Kneeling before the trunk, Harriet keenly searched it for the box.
Draco seized that moment of her inattention to release several deep breaths and calm his body, which seemed to have become hypersensitive to her simplest touch as of late.
"Here it is!" Harriet said triumphantly, waving the box at him. Standing on her feet, Harriet removed the broach from its case and examined the sparkling object. Its design was intricately and elegantly patterned in the shape of M and studded with several tiny emeralds.
"This is a striking beauty, Mr. Malfoy!" Harriet complimented, staring awe-struck at the piece of jewellery on her palm. "Am I right in believing that you received this because of your status as Lord Malfoy?"
"Yes," Draco breathed in response to her first comment, nodding in agreement, but his gaze was on the lovely face of his wife whose eyes were glittering brightly in compliment with the sparkling light reflecting from the precious stones.
Smiling softly, Harriet brought the broach to Draco and placed it upon his left breast pocket. Leaning close to his chest, Harriet studiously worked to fix it in place so as not to accidentally prickle his skin with the sharp pin.
Meanwhile, Draco felt himself inevitably drawn towards her lowered head and inhaling the tantalizing fragrance of the rose buds adorning her hair in addition to the lavender perfume that Harriet was currently wearing.
When she was finished, Harriet slowly backed her head a little and reverently ran her fingertips over the object. Meanwhile, Draco clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides so they wouldn't give in to his desire to wrap his arms around her slim waist and keep her close before she could back away further.
Harriet abruptly raised her head and stared at Draco, having heard faint sniffing. At her suspicious look, Draco pretended to twitch and wrinkle his nose in distaste and lied in an attempt to save face, "The smell of those flowers is irritatingly strong."
"Is it really?" Harriet asked, self-consciously touching her hair. "Maybe I should remove the flowers."
Shaking at his head, "You still haven't finished with dressing me," Draco drawled, gesturing to his bare hands and feet in an attempt to dissuade her of that notion.
"Oh right," Harriet said, grabbing his white gloves and slipping one into each of his outstretched hands. Finally, kneeling in front of him, Harriet slipped black socks on his bare, pale feet and then, placing the leather boots before him, she guided him to step into them and firmly laced them up.
In the meantime, Draco gazed at Harriet strangely, wondering why she did not show any aversion or at least a bit of hesitation over executing such a lowly task.
Standing again, "Anything else?" Harriet asked and then, quickly appraising at him, she seemed to have found her answer because in the next instant, she had handed him a comb.
Harriet watched incredulously as Draco patiently combed his hair several times until it lay in a way that satisfied him. Applying some manly scent, Draco let Harriet place the black hat on his head from behind and then accepted the pocket watch and white handkerchief she handed to him. Checking his appearance in the mirror one last time, Draco led Harriet out.
"You look handsome as ever, Draco. Great work, Harriet!" Alexandra exclaimed joyfully upon noticing their entrance. Nodding in pleased satisfaction at the young couple, "Let's go and turn them green with envy," Alexandra remarked with a wicked smirk, taking Draco's free right arm that was extended to her.
Well-dressed and groomed, Edgar was conversing with couple of gentlemen at the foot of the stairs when he noticed the Malfoys' descent. While Edgar's mesmerised eyes were fixed on Harriet, others lingering in the foyer paused in their activity to stare at the formidable threesome.
Upon reaching the last step, Alexandra broke free from Draco's hold with a gentle smile and went away to mingle with the guests.
"You do know, Harriet, that it is a dereliction to look more beautiful than the bride?" Edgar remarked huskily, causing Draco to direct a sharp look at him.
Without missing a beat, "Ah, but you haven't seen the bride yet!" Harriet retorted playfully.
Swiftly deflected, "How did you know that?" Edgar whined petulantly. Before Harriet could reply, Elizabeth entered the foyer and informed them that they could see the bride.
"A lucky guess!" Harriet admitted jocosely over her shoulder to Edgar as Draco escorted her towards the bride's rooms, a smirk playing on his lips.
After they complimented Emily on how pretty she looked and passed their gifts to her, Harriet and Draco stood in the back and watched the others follow their lead. Harriet smiled seeing that Alexandra had managed to convince Emily to wear their gift for the wedding.
Sidling beside her, much to Draco's internal frustration, "I still stand by my earlier statement, Harriet," Edgar insisted, staring earnestly at her.
At that, Draco bit backed a biting comment that was on the tip of his tongue upon remembering Harriet's words.
Whilst Harriet laughed softly before replying, "I am not surprised, Edgar, but that doesn't mean I am going to take your words seriously. Because I know for brothers, a pig would look prettier than their sister. Men don't want to consider that their female siblings could be attractive creatures!"
Previously pretending to be uninterested in their conversation, Draco could not prevent himself from responding to Harriet's last remark. "Are you calling yourself a pig, Mrs. Malfoy?" Draco drawled, amusement colouring his voice as he turned his head sideways to her.
Meeting his shining grey eyes, "No. I think that I am a bit better looking than that. What say you, Mr. Malfoy?" Harriet asked rhetorically, fluttering her eyelashes mock-coyly at him.
Silently shaking his head in amazement, Draco returned his gaze ahead, but there was no helping the quiver of his lips, an accomplishment for which Harriet was incredibly proud of herself.
"I can't win with you, can I?" Edgar said, intending to draw Harriet's attention back on to himself. When Harriet turned and chuckled at him, "Fine, I lose. No comparisons. You look absolutely gorgeous, Harriet!" Edgar tried again.
Now blushing at his persistence, "Thank you, Edgar," Harriet whispered softly at last. "You don't look bad yourself."
Edgar instantly puffed his chest at her remark causing Harriet to let out a giggle in amusement. Beside her, Draco's amusement, however, evaporated and he fumed in utter jealousy.
At that moment, Lucius and Narcissa entered the room and were taken aback by their presence. Whilst Draco stared coldly at his parents, Harriet brushed a non-existent piece of lint off Draco's coat with a delicate glove-clad hand and gave Narcissa a mocking smirk.
Narcissa's eyes widened for a brief second in understanding before she responded with a venomous sneer.
Watching the family and close relatives formally bestow lavish gifts to Emily, Harriet was greatly disturbed by the impersonality of everything, both in gifts as well as in people's attitudes.
The Church of St Bartholomew, standing in the headland of the coastline was the location of the wedding. Travelling to their destination, Harriet got the first albeit brief glimpse of the North Sea through the brougham's window. Privileged to see such a mesmerising sight, Harriet couldn't wait for tomorrow when they would be free to go on visits.
Unlike St. Nicolas that was decorated simply with white candles at Harriet's wedding, St. Bartholomew was copiously adorned with pure white lilies and brightened with bejewelled chandeliers. The aisle was covered with a rich and plush red carpet. Alexandra was escorted to the front row on the bride's side while Draco and Harriet occupied the third row along with Malcolm, Laura and their daughter, Kiera. Since Natalie, as a Matron of Honour, would be remaining with Emily till the end of the ceremony, Harriet readily took the responsibility of Nicholas who was presently sitting beside her.
Like Victoria, Laura, and Katie, Harriet saw the bridegroom for the first time when he entered the Church hall through the side door. Jonathan Davies was tall, brawny red-haired man in his mid thirties who wore a pleasant smile on his moustached, square-jawed face. A little while later, Walter Parkin walked Emily along the aisle. Harriet observed the bride desperately trying to hide the wide grin splitting across her face as she stared ahead at her future husband. Any doubts people might have had about Emily's approbation over the union were put to rest.
Halfway through the wedding, Harriet bent her head to search her small purse for a handkerchief but was distracted by what she saw. Malcolm was gently holding Laura's hand in comfort as she silently started crying. Unlike Nicholas who was sitting between Draco and her, Kiera wasn't separating the couple, for she was sitting on the other side of Malcolm. Harriet stared at their now intertwined hands before looking up at the bridal couple who were exchanging vows with visible cheer. Harriet felt an incredible resentment rose up within her bosom as she long glanced between two loving couples, one in the spotlight and the other beside her.
Harriet quickly lowered her head, afraid that someone would see the envy brewing in her eyes. Staring at her hands lying on her lap that were holding nothing but a semi-precious jewelled purse, Harriet felt resentment morph into self-pity inside of her. Though Harriet managed to swallow the sob before it could burst out, there was no helping a lone tear from escaping her right eye and splashing on top of her purse.
This was the first wedding Draco was attending since his own. For some reason, watching the ceremony disturbed him on several levels like it never had before. Draco dearly wished to leave the Church for the atmosphere around the hall felt a little suffocating and he blamed it on the damned scent of a great deal too many lilies. Feeling anxious, Draco furtively glanced around the room to see if anyone else was experiencing the same until his eyes landed on his wife. Draco's forehead creased upon seeing Harriet's lowered head. Leaning sideways to her over Nicholas' head, Draco whispered,
"What's the matter, Mrs. Malfoy?"
At his address, Harriet hastily brushed her eyes and answered, "Nothing." Without glancing at him, Harriet blankly watched the rest of the ceremony. Though still bothered, Draco could do nothing but return his attention to the bridal couple too.
The grandeur of the ballroom holding the wedding breakfast was indescribably enchanting. The hall was luxuriously decorated with white and pink lilies (Laura had told Harriet that they were Emily's favourites) and silver artefacts. Expensive white linen-covered circular tables held exquisite vases bulging with exotic flowers. The orchestra was playing mellifluous music in one corner of the palatial room near an extensive dance floor. The menu was extravagant and the food itself was sumptuous and rich in taste. As for the guests, all the affluent as well as well-connected members of Newbiggin along with the prosperous relatives and acquaintances of the Parkin and Davies families were in attendance, dressed in fancy clothes and pricey accessories.
Draco was enjoying the meal on the small table assigned to them while Harriet was helping Nicholas with his food between taking bites herself when a squatty woman with a flabby face and short curly hair behind her little neck, dressed in entirely violet attire, approached them.
"Hello Draco. How have you been doing? Extremely well I suppose, now that you have assumed the title of Lord," the woman spoke in a fluttery, girlish, high-pitched voice.
"Madam Umbridge," Draco greeted tersely, rising to his feet and bowing briefly at her.
"This is my wife, Mrs. Harriet Malfoy. Mrs. Malfoy, Madam Dolores Umbridge, a family friend of ours."
Just giving a supercilious glance at Harriet who followed Draco's lead and curtsied gracefully to her, "Ah yes, I heard you got married too, Draco. I don't know whether I consider it a progress or not," Umbridge said, boring her large, round and slightly bulging eyes at him.
Harriet didn't show her bristle, but before Draco could get a chance to retort, Umbridge continued. "Such a handsome young man made unavailable to us," Umbridge simpered and then gave an amused giggle. Draco fought hard to keep the disgusted grimace from appearing on his face. Frowning between Draco and her, Harriet took no noticing of Nicholas beside her.
Rudely clicking her stubby fingers at Harriet, "I believe the boy is calling for your attention," Umbridge stated with a frosty smile.
Blinking, Harriet turned her head down towards Nicholas who was impatiently tugging at her hand. "Chocie, Hawwy!" he said adorably, seeing her gaze on him and pointed to the table about three yards away where the waiter was serving mouth-watering liquid chocolate.
"Excuse me," Harriet said quietly and ushered Nicholas away.
"What's this, Draco? You married a pauper's girl whose has no family background. I don't believe there was any lack of young women in our society that you had to settle for this," Umbridge strongly disapproved, gesturing in the direction of Harriet with a repulsed look.
Furious, Draco tightly clenched his jaw. Lucius chose to join them at that moment.
"Hello Lucius, I was just mourning over Draco's choice in a consort," Umbridge professed with a pout.
In response, Lucius gave his son a seriously disappointed look and gesturing around at the extravagance of the wedding arrangements, he said, "This at least could have been your wedding, Draco."
Upon Nicholas's impatient cry, they all turned and watched as Harriet paused them on their way back to the table and handed a glass of chocolate to him. Nicholas eagerly took it and gulped the sweet liquid down.
"Slow down, Nicky," Harriet cried with a chuckle, when the liquid dribbled down his chin due to his fast pace. Quickly taking the glass from his chubby hands before he could ruin his formal clothes, Harriet kneeled before him so that they were at eye-level and used her napkin to diligently clean Nicholas' face herself, instead of calling for a maid.
Lucius snorted in disgust whilst Umbridge verbalised the common thought. "See, that is the similarity between the indigent and pigs. Despite cleaning it thoroughly and providing it with the best of comforts, a pig always returns to its filthy and stinky dwelling at the end of the day. In the same way, no amount of expensive clothes and jewellery could curb the plebeian ways of your wife, Draco," Umbridge declared with absolute certainty, intentionally not bothering to keep her high-pitched voice low, knowing that Harriet could hear her every word perfectly.
Lucius gave him a cold, satisfied smile. As if to say, 'We are not alone in that opinion', Lucius then drew Draco's gaze towards the guests closest to them, who were currently staring at Harriet with askance looks.
Harriet paused in her task and closed her eyes, extremely hurt.
Draco's anger peeked that it could no longer be withheld. "For all your show of wealth, Madam Umbridge, you aren't exactly a gentlewoman with that vile tongue of yours," Draco sneered, turning his intense, molten gaze back at the toad-like woman.
"If you cannot be civil towards a member of my family, Umbridge, then don't bother interacting with us. The Malfoy family will surely not miss your acquaintance!" he added with a ferocious snarl.
Lucius tightened his lips in utter displeasure while Umbridge looked extremely scandalised.
Brusquely dismissing their expressions, Draco swiftly turned away from them, only to find Nicholas all alone.
Gathering his nephew in his arms, Draco anxiously went on to search for his wife.
Draco finally found Harriet outside in the garden.
"Mrs. Malfoy, are you all right?" Draco asked, worry unconsciously bleeding through his soft enquiry as he stared at her back.
Startled by his presence, "Yes. Why do you ask?" Harriet said, discretely brushing the back of hand against her eyes.
Exasperated by her pretence, "Well, what are you doing out here?" Draco drawled, deciding to play along for a while.
Silence reigned while Harriet searched for a possible lie. "My hands. They were sticky because of the chocolate. I wanted to wash them but the restroom was occupied, so I thought I would use the fountain," she replied at last, gesturing to the water fountain in the garden and still not turning to him.
Her quick thinking impressed Draco. "If you are finished, let's go inside. It's cold out here," Draco insisted firmly.
"Oh, why don't you return to the party? I wish to stay here a little longer," Harriet murmured pleadingly, finally turning to him but not meeting his eyes.
"Don't be stupid, Mrs. Malfoy. We will be going home in two more days. You don't want to fall ill in the meantime, do you?" Draco reasoned and then striding up to Harriet, he grasped her hand and gently tugged at it.
Surprised by his open concern, Harriet unresistingly allowed him to lead her back to the ballroom.
"You heard Umbridge," Draco said softly, glancing sideways at her flushed face as they strolled inside. It was a statement rather than a question.
Harriet sighed in response.
"She won't bother you again," Draco informed her firmly, causing Harriet to glance at him and give a small, uncertain smile.
As soon as they entered the ballroom, Edgar accosted them. "Harriet, where have you been? I have been looking all over for you. Come on, I want to introduced some of my University mates to you," he said excitedly.
"Er…," Harriet hesitated and glanced at Draco as if to ask, 'What should I do?'.
Though offended for not being included in the invitation, Draco stiffly nodded, giving her the permission, "Go on."
Harriet smiled and made to follow Edgar but paused. Turning around to her husband, "What about you?" Harriet enquired softly.
"I wish to interact with some of the gentlemen. And I don't believe you will find our company interesting," Draco said curtly, dismissing her.
Frowning at his response, Harriet let Edgar lead her away.
As he told Harriet, Draco, indeed, went on to seek the adult male company. Sometime later, Draco smoothly retracted from the conversation and glanced around the ballroom for his wife. He found her still enthusiastically chattering with Edgar and his mates. He noted that Harriet seemed to have recovered from her earlier melancholy. The reflection that Edgar had managed to pull her out of her sombre mood bothered Draco. He could not understand why. Draco had no experience in comforting someone. In fact, he was terrible at it, probably because such situations made him uncomfortable. Then why was he disconcerted when he should be have been relieved that someone else did the job of cheering Harriet up that he was unwilling to do himself?
"Your wife seems absolutely cosy amongst the men, Draco, stranger or otherwise," Narcissa remarked mock-innocently, sidling up to him and noticing his serious, introspective gaze on Harriet who was smiling at something that was uttered.
In the next instance, Narcissa blanched at the intense hatred and disgust that Draco conveyed through his smouldering grey eyes, once the abominable meaning behind her uttered words registered in his mind.
Narcissa quietly left his presence. Unfortunately for her, she did not notice the flicker of doubt and suspicion that fleetingly crossed Draco's face when he returned his attention to his wife, who was now merrily laughing at Edgar's remark.
Tightening his jaw and striding purposefully towards them, "Mrs. Malfoy?" Draco called sharply.
Startled, Harriet turned around and then seeing her husband, she smiled.
"Shall we go?" Draco drawled, extending his arm to her while ignoring Edgar and his acquaintances. It wasn't a proposition but an order, Harriet noted.
"Yes," Harriet replied albeit reluctantly and then turning back at Edgar and his friends,
"It was a pleasure meeting you all, Gentlemen," Harriet said with a soft smile and curtsied gracefully.
They all returned her farewell with earnest bows and pleasantries before Draco took her away.
At the end of the afternoon, Jonathan and Emily set out on their three-week long wedding journey through Europe.
Next day morning, Uncle Nathan and Aunt Victoria as well as all of Draco's cousins except Natalie departed for their respective houses. After breakfast, as Edgar, Draco and Harriet stood to get ready to go sightseeing, Natalie informed them that her husband, Nott and she wouldn't be accompany them and requested them to take Nicholas along. They simply nodded in acquiescence.
Harriet frowned at her slightly frazzled state. "Are you all right, Natalie? You look flushed. In fact, you have been looking weary since we arrived. Please forgive my rudeness. But should we get you a physician?" Harriet inquired quietly, after making sure that they were alone.
Searchingly looking at Harriet, "I have already being to a physician, Harriet," Natalie admitted at length.
Blinking at her, "Oh, what did he say?" Harriet asked worriedly.
"It's nothing serious," Natalie smiled in assurance, putting her immediate concerns to rest. "He just confirmed that I am in a delicate condition."
Harriet's eyes widened in amazement, "But that's great news!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "Nicholas will have a brother or sister soon."
"Yes!" Natalie cried exultantly, finally let out the joy she has been feeling since she found out.
"But why didn't you reveal it to the others?" Harriet questioned, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Oh, it was Emily's wedding. I did not want to steal the attention from her," Natalie explained her reasons. "But, now that they have gone to their bridal tour, I will be free to tell everyone."
"So, am I the first to know?" Harriet asked, assuming a mock-lofty expression.
Natalie laughed. "Other than my husband, yes, you are."
Smiling, Harriet nodded in understanding and then bombarded a drolly-looking Natalie with eager inquiries regarding her health before Draco's call interrupted her.
Giving a sheepish smile to Natalie, Harriet said, "I promise we will talk later. Take a lot of rest and don't worry about Nicky; we will take good care of him," and rushed away.
Harriet's wide eyes didn't return to their original size as the four disembarked the carriage halted beside the promenade and meandered towards the coast.
The blue-tinged sight of the vast and boundless sea thoroughly enthralled Harriet. Made impatient by the leisurely gait of her companions, Harriet grasped an equally enraptured Nicholas' hand and jogged towards the sea with an ecstatic laugh, causing Edgar to give into his own excitement and run after them. Draco restricted himself from such childishness.
By the time he caught up to them, Draco found Edgar, Harriet and Nicholas slumped on the sand a yard away from the seafront. Bemused, Draco watched as Harriet quickly discarded her footwear and then turned to Nicholas who was trying to mirror her action. Chuckling at his unsuccessful attempts, Harriet helped Nicholas out of his shoes. Draco drolly stared as Harriet sprang to her feet and arduously stepped her barefoot forward on the sand, which was followed by another and another towards the sea, her gait gradually increasing until she reached the shore, leaving a trail of footprints behind. Harriet gasped loudly when the cool water crashed against her bare feet, but soon her body adapted to its temperature and she enthusiastically moved forward in time to collide with the waves. Nicholas and Edgar soon joined in on the fun.
A little into their loud, laughing game of splashing water at each other, Harriet noticed her husband's inertness, having glanced back at Draco who was watching the scenery with a stoic expression and keeping well away from the water. Suddenly feeling bold and mischievous, Harriet gathered the water in both of her palms and energetically threw it at an oblivious Draco.
Head and coat front drenched with the salty liquid, a shocked Draco blinked several times to dislodge the water from his eyes while trying to comprehend what had just happened until his gaze landed on Harriet who was clearly trying to keep her mirth within.
"Mrs. Malfoy?" Draco drawled calmly, directing an intense look at her while his pointed face dripped with droplets of water.
"Yes?" Harriet said, amusement as well as apprehension apparent in her voice.
"What exactly happened just now?" Draco enquired with a scorching glare, slowly advancing on her.
A teensy bit scared, Harriet took a step back as Draco took one closer. The instant Draco launched at her, Harriet scrambled away with a cry.
"Come back here, Mrs. Malfoy. Oh, you are going to pay for that, surely!" Draco shouted angrily, racing after her, leaving Edgar howling and Nicholas giggling after them.
Harriet was fast but Draco had the advantage of long, lean legs in addition to his agility. Soon, Draco caught her by the wrist, effectively ending the chase. Rapidly breathing, Draco twisted the wrist behind her back while ignoring her cry in pain.
Yanking her back against his heaving chest, Draco leaned towards her ear and hissed, "That wasn't very nice, Mrs. Malfoy!"
His fast, warm breath against her ear sent a shiver down Harriet's body, cold from her partly wet clothes. She struggled unsuccessfully against his unrelenting grasp. "I am sorry," Harriet reluctantly apologized, finally admitting defeat. "I just wanted you to join us in our enjoyment," she added in a whispered mutter.
Hearing those last words, Draco tightened his hold and swiftly turned her around and stared penetratingly at her. Seeing the honesty in her face instead of the mocking he had expected, Draco was mollified at last.
"Will you please release me? It really is hurting," Harriet whispered tentatively, her flushed face troubled.
Draco immediately dropped her hand as if burned, causing Harriet to bring her other hand up to gently rub the slightly pinked skin around the wrist where he had been holding her while meeting and holding his intense gaze.
Suddenly, an inebriated man who has been watching their interaction, whistled loudly, making Harriet and Draco become aware of their closeness.
Embarrassed, they each quickly took a step back and made to return to their companions. As they walked, Draco instinctively glanced back at the miscreant only to find him perversely staring after his wife. Giving him a silent but vicious snarl, Draco put a possessive arm around Harriet's shoulders and pulled her close. Ignoring her bewildered expression, Draco hastened her away.
Furtively glancing back at the leering man and then at the tightened jaw of her irate looking husband, Harriet did not protest.
The rest of the morning was spent with Edgar showing the churches and market streets by the bay while their afternoon was spent on a brief visit to the Parkin's Shipping Company. Harriet espied rows of cobbles tied along the dock by the shores as well as fishermen gathering their catch. Since their visit to Newbiggin, Harriet got to experience the taste of a variety of fish and other seafood that wasn't available in Wiltshire. Now seeing their catch, Harriet was truly amazed by the vivid colours, and various shapes and sizes of the aquatic beings.
Returning to the bay, Harriet, Draco, Edgar, and Nicholas made themselves comfortable on the large rocks and waited for the sunset.
Watching the tranquil horizon, they saw the bright yellow sun painting the adjacent sky with exquisite shades of orange and yellow.
"It is truly spectacular," Harriet said reverently in a hushed tone, gazing at the horizon.
Their trances abruptly broken by Harriet's soft voice, Draco and Edgar simultaneously turned sideways to her to agree but were distracted by something else. Both men stared, captivated, as the rays of the setting sun danced across Harriet's face, giving it an ethereal glow.
Draco and Edgar did not notice as the orange sky finally changed into blue as the sun disappeared below the horizon causing the seagulls and others birds to lower to the earth with an echoing twitter as they return to their resting places. Neither did they notice the low-lying clouds that continued to reflect the yellow of the setting sun whilst the high ones displayed a tint of mauve.
Blissfully blinking at the faint light on the horizon, Harriet became aware of the dead weight by her side. Turning her head down, Harriet found Nicholas serenely napping in her arms, with his head leaning against her bosom. "The day's activities seem to have finally caught up with him," Harriet chortled, gazing fondly at a sleeping Nicholas, also unknowingly breaking the men from their hypnotized stare.
Disturbed by his previous action, Draco frowned at himself before noticing Harriet's expectant eyes on him. "Let's return to the house," he said, approaching Harriet and carefully gathering Nicholas in his arms.
Edgar nodded and led them towards their carriage.
The next morning after breakfast, "Edgar, what is that on the huge oak tree in the backyard?" Harriet asked curiously.
Edgar looked confused for a brief minute not understanding her reference. "Oh that, it is a tree house. My Father had it built for us cousins when we were children," he told her.
"Oh," Harriet said with a curious smile.
"Do you want to see it?" Edgar eagerly asked in the next instant.
"Only if you don't mind," Harriet replied interestedly.
"Of course not. Well, come on then, you can have a look before we have to leave for the day's trip," Edgar responded, hastily ushering Harriet out.
Pausing underneath the oak tree and gazing up, "Is it safe? Can it hold the weight of adults?" Harriet inquired, biting her lips in worry.
"Yes, of course. I come up here whenever I feel like getting out of the house," Edgar admitted in assurance.
"You mean whenever you are irate with your family," Harriet perceived, masking her apprehension with a chuckle as she climbed the wooden ladder after Edgar.
"You understand me so well!" Edgar remarked, shaking his head with a laugh.
"Welcome to the tree house, Harriet," Edgar stated, dramatically opening the front door for her. Heads slightly bent because of the low ceiling, Harriet entered the tree house that consisted of a single, small room. It seemed cramped for a grown person but would be quite comfortable for five or six children.
Following her inside, Edgar watched her expressly taking in the items placed around the room.
"You know, you are the first female to enter this place," Edgar informed Harriet with a smile.
Blinking at him in surprise, "Why? Is this place prohibited for women or something?" Harriet asked, bemused.
"Kind of. We were quite possessive about it and considered it solely the boys' territory. We strongly restricted against letting any of the girls enter," Edgar confessed with a shrug.
"And now, you don't have any such objections?" Harriet queried, glancing amusedly at him.
Flushing a little, "It's no longer our zone. So, the rules cease to exist," Edgar managed to say.
Chuckling at his response, Harriet returned to perusing the room. There was an old trunk placed at one corner, brown rug folded and placed along the wall as well as several games thrown haphazardly on the floor and some odd painted pictures sticking on the uneven walls. Almost everything in the room was covered in dust while the twigs and dried leaves lay on the unclean wooden floor.
Suddenly, Harriet's eyes landed on the vivid colours fluttering from the far wall. Slowly approaching it, Harriet found colourful yet slightly faded ribbons tied in different rows hanging along the wall.
Thumbing a blue ribbon, Harriet found it weird to see women's accessories in a boy's domain. "What's this?" Harriet asked in confusion.
Edgar who had noticed Harriet's attention drawing towards that particular wall, snapped out of his wide-eyed look at her enquiry. "It's nothing," Edgar stuttered, turning red in mortification and internally cursing himself for not thinking to remove that damned thing before allowing her inside.
"It can't be nothing if it's here. Don't tell me you all used to dress up like girls like the artists did in plays?" Harriet jested, finally glancing back at him.
"Of course not!" Edgar exclaimed in offence.
"I was merely joking, Edgar," Harriet said placidly, approaching him. Noticing his reddened face, Harriet placed her hands on her hips and ordered, "Now, spill the truth!"
When Edgar tried to dismiss it again, Harriet gave him a firm look.
Even after a long pause when Harriet did not lose her determined expression to know the truth, "I don't know how to say this, Harriet. It's quite embarrassing," Edgar admitted quietly.
"I deduced that myself. But I promise I won't laugh or tease you later on," Harriet offered, cajoling.
A bit assured but no less embarrassed, Edgar nodded before hesitantly starting, "Well…. when we were….. in our teens, we had this…..umm… bet, you see. The challenge….. was to collect….. the ribbon of the girl…. any of us crushed on and …..hang it here. Since I was the youngest in the group, I don't know which one of my cousins was the mastermind behind the idea ……… but everyone of them participated in it," Edgar muttered in a whisper.
Harriet's eyes had widening during the middle of the explanation and she abruptly turned back to the wall. "Are you telling me you all confessed your infatuations to all these girls and in return, they simply gave their ribbon to you?" Harriet exclaimed incredulously, pointing back at the many ribbons of varied colour and material: silk, velvet and lace.
"No, no. We had neither the courage to request such a thing nor the desire to embarrass them," Edgar responded quickly and rather defensively. Then looking at Harriet's quizzical expression, he confessed sheepishly, "Almost all of them were stolen."
Harriet burst out laughing. "Oh my God, you lot are something!"
Regaining control a moment later, "So, tell me how does one make out which ones belong to whom?" Harriet asked interestedly, turning to face the wall again.
Immensely relieved at her good-humoured take on his confession, "The rows are arranged based on the age of us, starting atop with the eldest," Edgar informed her.
Staring at the arrangement, Harriet wondered which one belonged to her husband. Though she did not know the exact age of Draco's cousins, Harriet reckoned that Peter was the eldest of them. That meant the second row would have to belong to Draco. Harriet was extremely curious to find the least number of ribbons on Draco's row compared to the others. She voiced her curiosity of why this was so.
"You should already know, Harriet, that Draco is immensely difficult to impress, let alone entice," Edgar said vaguely and left it at that.
For some reason, Harriet herself did not want to continue that line of questioning. So, she said instead, "I can't believe that Mr. MacDougal seems to have the most."
"Ah yes, dear old Petey. He is quite a romantic underneath his scholastic disposition," Edgar told her with a chuckle.
Harriet shook her head in amazement. "Seems I know nothing about you all."
"You have all your life to learn about us, Harriet, if you really desire to do so," Edgar offered benevolently.
Harriet internally flinched. Their interaction ended when Draco's frustrated yell penetrated and rang around the room.
Sticking their heads out of the window, Harriet and Edgar saw Draco standing at the foot of the tree and staring up at them.
"What are you two doing up there?" Draco demanded sharply.
Harriet smiled. "Oh, Edgar was just showing me the tree house."
"Indeed?" Draco drawled, narrowing his eyes at Edgar. "Well, how long is it going to take? Are we not going on a trip today?"
"We are, Mr. Malfoy!" Harriet confirmed immediately. "We are finished here. We will be down in a minute," and then disappeared inside.
Just as Harriet opened the door to exit, Edgar called her, "Harriet, please don't mention anything about the ribbons to anyone. I don't think my cousins would be happy to find that you know."
"I promised and I won't," Harriet affirmed, smiling. This caused Edgar to nod with a sigh of relief.
As soon as they descended the tree, Draco subjected her to a thorough scrutiny causing Harriet to frown at him in confusion. Only Edgar understood his cousin's intention behind that searching look, and he flushed both in mortification and affront.
As they tramped back to the house, "So, what do you want to see today, Bamburgh, Alnwick and Lindisfarne on Holy Island or Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne?" Edgar asked them, trying to break the awkward silence, a result of Draco's serious countenance.
"Can't we go back to the beach? I dearly wish to sail on the sea," Harriet requested but then quickly amended herself, "Unless you want to see those."
"I can understand why you would prefer open sea over a stuffy old castle, Harriet," Edgar chortled causing Harriet to blush in embarrassment.
Draco directed a reproachful glare at Edgar. Despite his cousin's insinuation towards Malfoy Manor, Draco decided to oblige Harriet, "I have already seen those. I have no preference," he drawled nonchalantly.
Harriet beamed at him.
Upon reaching the exquisite beach, Edgar spotted a boat ready by the shore. While Draco and Edgar talked to the owner of the boat, Harriet stood quietly, holding a spirited Nicholas.
As the cousins argued with the greedy looking sailor, fishers and local people intervened. They strongly advised them against sailing that day, pointing to the ominous black clouds that were unhurriedly gathering on the blue sky and insisted on the dangers of sailing in these conditions.
Heeding the words of the experienced men, they dropped the plan to go sailing across the sea. Though Harriet was disappointed, she did not want to subject her companions to any peril. Instead, they decided to stroll about the shore until it rained or they tired themselves out.
Edgar suggested that they collect the shells along their path instead of idly sauntering.
An hour or so into their recreation, "Edgar, Mr. Malfoy, look what I have found?" Harriet cried in wonder and joy.
When they anxiously jogged up to her, Harriet slowly opened her fist to reveal a shelled mollusc. Staring in amazement, Edgar knelt beside her and closely examined the object on her palm.
"Jesus Christ!" Edgar quietly exclaimed at length before impatiently insisting, "Well, what are you waiting for? Open it."
Harriet nodded in acquiescence. Taking the penknife that Edgar offered, Harriet meticulously worked in cracking the oyster shell open while Draco and Nicholas silently looked on.
When she finally did, Harriet glanced up at her husband before removing the top shell.
Harriet gasped at the sight of slightly oval shaped pearl, sitting lazily in the bottom shell and shining iridescently in the sunlight. Even the men could not help marvelling at the beauty of such a natural jewel.
"You are one lucky woman, Harriet," Edgar remarked fervently. "It is so rare to find a pearl oyster, let only a fully developed one."
"The Lord did not oblige your wish to sail on the sea. Instead, He gave you a much more valuable gift. Save this pearl as a souvenir from the Sea of Newbiggin," Edgar stated softly, placing the pearl back in her palm and closing it.
Harriet smiled brightly through unshed tears.
Draco loudly cleared his throat and stiffly said, "We should return. I believe it's going to rain pretty soon."
Glancing above at the darkened sky, they nodding in agreement and did as suggested, walking back towards their carriage.
On the last evening of their stay, Alexandra and Harriet were conversing with the other inhabitants of Parkin Hall in the drawing room just after dinner. After Nathan Parkin finished relaying his estimation of Emily and her husband's arrival at their destination, he retired to his chambers, leaving Draco and Lucius to the company of the ladies. Edgar had disappeared somewhere immediately after dinner.
Bellatrix seized the opportunity to stir things up by mock-casually questioning Draco about his honeymoon. Personally, she was feeling bored of the amicable conversations going around her; she was in great need of some source of amusement.
"Oh, they haven't gone anywhere, Bella," Narcissa informed her before anyone else could.
Wearing a mock-confused expression on her face, "Why is that, sweetheart?" Bellatrix asked her stoically sitting nephew.
In response, Draco simply gave her a look that said, 'None of your business,' before returning his attention back to the book he was reading.
Unsatisfied by his silence, Bellatrix opened her mouth to coax his reply but before she could, Harriet answered her. "But of course, Mr. Malfoy just assumed the title of Lordship and the mammoth responsibilities that come along with it. In such a situation, we could not even dream of traipsing around the country, could we?"
Draco did not know whether to be pleased by his wife's defence on his behalf or exasperated by her for that overly used justification.
Lucius snorted in disgust. "Draco isn't the first Malfoy to gain Lordship. If we have effortlessly managed to rule the inheritance and still make time for pleasure trips, then he should as well."
Silence fell over the room. The clenched jaw and sudden fisting on the edges of the book in his hands were the only indication Draco gave of the effect his father's words had on him.
"I don't know about other Heads of the Malfoy family but we certainly know how well it worked out for y--," Harriet muttered dryly under her breath before she was interrupted.
Alexandra, sitting close by, heard and directed a quelling look at Harriet.
Grumpily, Harriet snapped her mouth shut.
Noticing the young couple's discomfort over the subject and also, anger at being ridiculed, Narcissa decided to drag out the subject and extract revenge on her daughter-in-law for her insolence a couple of days previous as well as disgrace her Mother-in-law for committing to not include them in the yearly summer gatherings.
"Other than the excuse of the family business, I wonder what else is keeping my son from seeking such a pleasant distraction," Narcissa said, directing a long, pointed look at Alexandra and then at Harriet. Her charming face set in a cruel smirk.
Bellatrix was extremely amused. In a single stroke, Narcissa managed to insult Draco for being unable to multitask; Alexandra for being an obstacle to their young love; and finally to Harriet for being unable to allure her husband enough for him to drop his professional engagements for a period of time.
Flushed in rage and mortification, Harriet opened her mouth but bit down on the angry retort upon seeing Alexandra's firm imperceptible shake of head whilst Draco threw a disgusted look at his mother.
Glancing between the affronted looks of Harriet and Draco and the triumphant expression on Narcissa's snobbish face, Alexandra decided to not let it go unchallenged.
"How womanly of you, Narcissa, to not only speculate about, but also voice opinion on such a matter," she said coolly and watched in smug satisfaction as Narcissa's eyes widened and colour drained for a brief second before returning in full force on her face in shock and humiliation.
Harriet could not help the soft snort from escaping but managed to stifle her mirth not without difficulty. On the other hand, Draco stared at his book, not believing that his Grandmother would say something like that.
Lucius did something rare and turned pink in mortification whereas Bellatrix was feeling extremely satisfied for her entertainment had increased ten-fold. The rest of the females present in the room threw askance looks at Narcissa.
Natalie inwardly felt glad for deciding to prolong the revelation about her pregnancy until the next day.
As soon as Alexandra, Draco and Harriet departed from Parkin Hall in the next morning, Edgar dashed towards the backyard. Climbing the tree and entering the room, Edgar approached the wall.
In the next instance, a green ribbon joined eleven other ribbons on the fourth row. Delicately fingering the velvety softness of the material, Edgar smiled ruefully. He had stolen the piece of satin cloth from Harriet's accessory box last night but this time, Edgar had had the sense to replace it with a new look-alike without anyone's knowledge.
Author's note: A valet is a man's personal attendant. Within the hierarchy of domestic servants, the valet was almost at the top, receiving orders only directly from his master, dressing him (including seeing to his toiletries, clothes as well as hair dressing), accompanying him on his journeys, being a confidant and generally the 'right-hand man'.
Malfoys have been wealthy all their life, so they would have gotten used to a servant always helping them with their clothes.
The Church of St Bartholomew is a prominent medieval time Church in Newbiggin coastline.
In Victorian Era, honeymoon is referred to as the 'wedding journey' or the 'bridal tour.'
Newbiggin by the Sea is located in southeast Northumberland, on England's north east coast. It was a popular seaside destination in 19th century.
Bamburgh, Alnwick and Lindisfarne on Holy Island, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne and the Gateshead Metro Centre, south and Hadrian's Wall and Hexham in the west are country's finest historic castles situated in Newbiggin.
Cobles are fishing boats.
Since Newbiggin is on the southeast coast, the sun wouldn't be setting over the water from here. A big mistake that my beta, Baguette made me realise now. But I didn't want to remove the sun-setting scene. Even she agrees. So, forgive me for putting it nonetheless.
I got the ribbons idea for Digitallace's story, 'Trophy'. So, the part of credit for it goes to her. In addition, in those days when a man received permission from woman's parents to marry her, she would fashion a customary ring from a lock of her hair and present it to her finance as a tentative token of commitment especially where the true love was involved.
About Alexandra's comment in the last: Like I said before, a woman never spoke of sex or money beyond the doors of her bedchamber, certainly not with someone other than her husband. Alexandra simply pointed out how Narcissa made fool of her by not only thinking about her son' sex life but also speaking so openly about it.
Also, about Narcissa's insinuation of Alexandra being an obstacle: Draco could have taken Harriet to Honeymoon for appearances' sake if not for Alexandra's ill health. Narcissa again showed her stupidity by pointing out Alexandra's condition being a hindrance to Draco's sexual escapade, forgetting about what that would say about her in her attempt to humiliate Alexandra and Harriet. Because Lucius (being her son) and his wife, Narcissa have greater duty of taking of Alexandra than Draco does. Draco had to take care of Alexandra himself because of his parents' inability do so themselves.
Anyhow, I hope you liked bits of fluff in this chapter because next chapter is so going to be bad for our dear Harry. *evil grin*
Please tell me how you found this chapter through your REVIEWS. I could really use some serious number of reviews, guys. *pleading pout*