Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
_

Somewhere during the masquerade...

"Oh, I'm so delighted to see that Draco and Hayley are together at last, Narcissa, Lucius." The blonde woman stiffened her spine, regarding the man in front of her and her husband. He was one of the lesser pure bloods—one that wasn't as wealthy as the others, and consequently tried too hard to make up for his lack.

Lucius, shook out his blonde hair, regarding the man with an all knowing look, "I have no idea what on earth you mean."

"Hayley and Draco are not betrothed?"

"No, they most certainly are not."

"My mistake," The man replied, laughing nervously, "I couldn't help but notice his undivided attention to the young Bennett this evening."

On the other side of the ballroom, an elderly woman who still believed she was in her prime—what we call a gold digger and a cougar approached the Bennett couple, "I knew the day would come—I must congratulate you on your youngest daughter's engagement."

"Oh, well She and Marcus are not official yet, although I expect a formal proposal any day now. He is quite besotted with her."

"Marcus? Why, I was talking about the young Mister Malfoy," The cougar replied, never letting go of her glass of champagne.

Misses Bennett raked the room with her eyes, trying to find her daughter. And when she did, the sight she saw was not welcome. For her youngest daughter was looking too comfortable in Draco Malfoy's arms. She shoed the cougar away and turned to her husband with a look, a single look that conveyed failure.

"Archibald, she's not supposed to be with Draco. Why, you know as well as I that he's practically engaged to the little Parkinson girl. Aphrodite is interfering with fate, Archibald. We must fix her course." The wife looked guilty, and a giggle slipped out, "I did accidently slip some love potion into her tea the other day, now I see that it's going to be necessary. We did this to Hera—so she wouldn't end up with that Weasley scum—"

"But she did end up with the Weasley scum," Archibald pointed out to his wife, "We mustn't interfere."

"Her interests are at stake here, Archibald. We must do what we must."

He let out a long sigh, "I suppose you're right." He stood up to his tallest, and looked at his wife with a commanding eye, "However, you are to pay more attention to our daughters emotions and opinions this time. We do not need a fiasco like last time." His tone was final.

"Of course," She smiled sweetly, and nodded to her husband—but didn't mean to honor that promise.

"Five more minutes, Mum," I groaned into the pillow, using my free hand to swat at the air, trying to shoo her away, I harrumphed...I tossed and turned for several minutes, realizing it was the middle of the night and my mother hadn't woke me up.

I bolted up, my sheet falling to the floor, my arm was burning...

I turned and looked at my left forearm, the dark mark appeared...I don't know...darker than usual, and the edges of it glowed green. I felt my eyes widen as comprehension had befallen on my mind.

I was being summoned...to the dark lord...for the first time.

I shot out of bed, with a newfound sense of enthusiasm. I quickly dressed in black jeans (just too look dark, scary and evil) and pulled on a long sleeved black Grecian top...Even though it was late, I was still expected to look nice. I slipped my feet into a pair of my favorite little Zac Posen black flats, pulled on my black cloak—and with a single look in the mirror.

In the single look, I took in my bedraggled hair—it looked even fiercer than it had at the ball. My makeup, which I'd procrastinated and not taken off was smudged, making my eyes look dark and feline, my lips ruby red. I laughed lightly, some would think I looked scary...

And with that laugh, I apparated to the summoning.

That's the funny thing about being summoned. I knew where I needed to go, but I had no idea what or where it truly was, an image of an abandoned building, that looked somewhere familiar was calling to me—the open countryside suggested it was in Britain or Ireland...

I had a strange sense of excitement; I was nearly bouncing as I steadied myself after apparating. I found myself within a circle of people, conveniently standing next to Draco.

Cracks and pops could be heard all around us—and the murmur of excitement followed.

I was frightened—I know I shouldn't be, after all, I was on the side that people should be frightened of. Naturally, my hand fell into the curve of Draco's. His hand was so strong—so warm, so big, encompassing my own.

"Hush," a cold, chilling voice erupted from the darkness. I recognized the voice—it belonged to the Dark Lord, "You have been summoned here to receive a task." He continued.

"I have Bellatrix and her husband in charge of the finite details, and you will meet with her at a later time to find out the specifics of your individual situations. I am placing all of you in various locations across the world—mostly in the United States, a place known for sin and evil. Your goal is to recruit wizards to our cause. We do not want to interrupt social norms for the area, so you will have to do some reconnaissance and figure out the best way to dive into the scene that you're placed into. It is important that you do not upset the local wizards—if you do, they will never be open to hear your offer. I have chosen the group of you for several reasons. You're new to my army. If things go amiss while you're away, you can be replaced. This mission is not a dangerous one—use common sense, which being pure of blood you all possess, and use your cunning nature, that those more fortunate of us inherit from Salazar Slytherin himself."

There was silence, "Your postings should be waiting for you when you return to your homes. I release you."

The burning in my arm subsided as he muttered those words, something that I was much relieved for.

His task for us, to be honest, didn't sound that important…it sounded like busy work. Why did we need to leave our homes and get "stationed" in places to bring him more members of his army? Were those he had, not satisfactory?

I felt Draco's arms wrap around me, and before I could say a word, I was standing at the edge of his backyard—the sound from the fountain Narcissa had installed bubbling into the small pond, the smell of flowers fragrant in the air.

"What are you doing?" I asked him, my lips turning up into a half smile.

"I'm wide awake," Draco replied with a shrug, "Aren't you?"

I thoughtfully considered my current state, "Actually, I am." I was rather surprised to admit this—it was the middle of the night, and I'd just spent the evening dancing. I should be completely exhausted…but I wasn't. Maybe it was because of his company. I didn't want to leave him, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was on a very similar page to mine. "It's quite shocking, isn't it? I mean, we should be exhausted."

"We just got summoned to the dark lord. We have plenty of reasons to be wide awake." He motioned to a bench, located right under a swinging vine of pink blossomed flowers. I sat down on the edge, and swiveled my body to where I could see his face.

With a sudden flash, I was nine. And I was sitting on that particular bench.

"I was thinking today," Draco started, "and I want to try something." He was nervous. Draco was never the nervous one.

"What?"

"Stay still." He replied, scooting over towards me.

"What's going on Draco?" I asked, my voice slightly panicked as he stared at me. He'd never stared at me like that—so, almost lovingly somehow.

That was the night of my first kiss. It was completely innocent, don't worry. I remember how excited I was when I went home that night. That was the night I realized I loved Draco Malfoy.

Now, Nine is a little young, I'll admit that. But it was perfect, somehow.

I looked at Draco and noticed that he was deep in thought, as if he were reliving a memory too.

"Were you just thinking about…?" My voice was faint in the night. It was a whisper in the breeze. I trailed off, waiting for his reaction. He turned to look at me, and I was transfixed staring into those deep, blue eyes of his.

"Yes." He replied, I was suddenly hyper-aware of the fact that my knee was causally leaning against his thigh. That light touch, seemed so intimate all of a sudden. And before I knew it, his hand was gently cupping my face, pulling my lips to his for the softest embrace. It was sweet, soft, and delicate.

It was perfection.

I was content, I snuggled into his side, and held his hand with mine.

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but would it be alright with you if I conjured a blanket, for us to lay down on and stare at the stars?" He inquired, I could tell just by looking at him that he had the purest of intentions in his request.

"That sounds lovely," I replied smiling.

In a moment, a cream, plush blanket was spread out on the grass. We walked over to it, gingerly laying down. It was only natural for me to curl into his shoulder, wrapping my arms around his waist. It was even more natural for his arm to hook around my shoulder, drawing me even tighter against him.

"Does this remind you of anything?" I asked him quietly. It reminded me of so much—so much of our youthful woes.

He let out a long sigh, "Yes. Do you remember the star constellations we used to make up?"

I laughed lightly, "I only remember the princess in the tower, the dragon that keeps her there, and her knight."

"Of course that'd be what you remembered. You're such a girl."

I pretended to be offended, "Well at least the tables have turned. You used to be the girlie one."

"I was not." He scoffed.

I giggled, "Uh-huh, Sure."

"I'm not the one who wore ribbons in their hair." He teased. I turned onto my stomach to stare at him, "What?"

"Draco, you were the one who as a child freaked out when his hair was out of place." I replied, a grin on my face.

"I just wanted to look presentable," he replied, "and besides, not all of us can be born with such gorgeous locks." He finished, picking up a piece of my hair and looping it through his fingers. "I should have told you then." I waited for him to continue, but the silence only bloomed.

"Should have told me what?"

"How beautiful you really are to me."

"You think I'm beautiful?"

"I always have." And with that, I was kissing him again. Only this time, it wasn't quite so innocent.

"And what exactly is going on here?" I heard a bemused voice ask. Was I dreaming? Wait, where was I?

I opened my eyes slowly, only seeing the dark color of a man's shirt. I was suddenly aware of a hand in my hair, another arm steadily encircling my waist. The torso that I clung to. The legs mine were entwined with. I was so comfortable, and I didn't want to leave the embrace, but I had to.

I was so tightly held by Draco, that I wasn't able to get very far—he was still asleep, as he'd always been a heavy sleeper and me the opposite, I wasn't surprised.

I was however surprised to see Narcissa standing over us, a bemused expression on her face.

"Um, Good Morning, Narcissa." I replied sheepishly.

I was expecting her to scold me for such unladylike behavior.

Instead, she laughed.

"What's going on?" Draco muttered, still half asleep, and pulling me closer to him.

I laughed, "Draco, um, it's time to wake up."

He opened his eyes hesitantly, "Who are you talking to?"

"Your mother, dear." Narcissa replied—I could tell by the tone in her voice she was greatly enjoying this.

His eyes widened, and he finally let go of me, sitting up and pushing his tousled hair back from his face.

I stood up slowly, smoothing my shirt, "I think I should probably get home before my parents realize I'm not there." I said with a light laugh.

"It's still early enough to where they'll have no idea, sweetheart. And I'll keep my lips sealed," She promised.

I gave her a sympathetic look, "Thank you."

I grabbed my cloak, and my wand and was about to apparate—but then I felt a tug on my wrist, turning, my lips collided with Draco in a goodbye kiss.

I broke off the kiss far sooner than I would have liked, chiding him, "Draco Archibald. In front of your mother…?"

"It's quite alright, dear. Just don't make a habit of it. From what I've heard, this one is already engaged." She replied, her voice implying she knew more than she was letting on.

"Well, um, I've got to go." And with a half wave, I disapparated, reappearing in my bedroom.

My owl sat on the edge of my balcony, and I noticed a letter on my pillow.

I instantly recognized the handwriting to be Bella's…

"Hayley Darling," it began…

I have prepared your assignment—and you'll be departing shortly for your destination. Please come see me this afternoon—we'll discuss business at one.

I'd like to invite you to brunch—this time, no previous obligations. I'll see you at eleven, if that's alright. Unless you inform me of that this is not acceptable to your schedule, I'll see you then.

Much Love,

Aunty Bella

I looked at the clock on my bedside table; it was fifteen after ten…