So sorry this has taken so long to get written and posted. I've been SUPER busy lately plus add in writer's block. It's not been pretty! I hope all of you who are still reading this are well! Can you believe it's almost Christmas-time? Where has this year gone?!
~J.
Allyna followed her father up the walkway towards Malfoy Manor. She had to literally force herself to take each step, because she wanted nothing more than to turn and run the other way. But she knew the importance of keeping up appearances, now more than ever. Severus was trying to keep her safe and she, in turn, was trying to keep him safe as well. As her father reached out to knock on the door, it was opened by a small house elf.
Allyna smiled at the poor creature. It was obviously one of the Malfoy's house elves, as their crest was emblazoned on the pillowcase it wore. Her father tossed his coat at the the elf and breezed past it. Allyna slid her cloak from her shoulders, shivering for a second as the room's cool air slid over her shoulders. Her gown had thick straps, but standing in the entryway was chilly. She gently handed the cloak to the house elf with a softly-spoken "Thank you."
Allyna followed her father's lead, as was proper, into the elegantly decorated ballroom. Many others were there, all of them purebloods, it would seem. She quickly spotted the Malfoys. Draco and his father were dressed in deepest black dress robes, with matching Slytherin green ties. Narcissa Malfoy was dressed in a gown of stunning silver beadwork. It shimmered under the light of the blazing candles and cut-crystal chandeliers.
Allyna took her father's arm as he led her to the center of the room where the Malfoys stood with a few of their guests. She felt oddly, as if all eyes were upon her. But unlike with the Yule Ball at Hogwarts, these eyes were appraising and malicious. She let her eyes drift down towards the floor, before staring straight ahead and proud, as befit a proper Pureblood girl. She straightened her spine, the thick straps of her gown tightening against her skin. The wine-colored gown flowed from the straps stretching across her breasts to an empire waist and flowing from there outwards to the floor. It was embellished with an overlay of black floral-patterned lace from the waist down and with small, winking ruby-colored crystals at the center of each flower.
She saw Draco and Lucius both smirk as she and her father neared them. Lucius placed a hand proudly on his son's shoulder. She was suddenly glad that the chain of the pendant Severus had given her seemed to magically lengthen to keep it hidden from anyone else's sight. It looked as if the chain were simply a part of her dress, but she could feel it heavy against her breasts and almost as if it were sensing her distress, she began to feel a vague throbbing from it. It helped to calm her, reminding her of Severus' promise that it would protect her.
"Ahh, Michael, welcome, welcome. And Miss Wilson, lovely to see you again as well," greeted Lucius.
"Fantastic gathering, Lucius," Allyna's father returned and Allyna merely nodded.
"Draco, why don't you take Miss Wilson to get some refreshments while I talk with Mr. Wilson?" Lucius asked, pushing Draco forward.
Draco smiled and stepped forward, offering his arm. Allyna had to forcibly restrain herself from rolling her eyes and took his arm smiling blankly as she allowed him to lead her to the tables set up with punch and finger foods. Draco was quick to grab her a glass of wine. "No, thank you, Draco. Just the punch for now," she said quietly. He frowned but nodded, carefully filling one of the small punch glasses with the bubbling red liquid. He handed it to her, popping a small stuffed mushroom into his mouth and following it with a sip of white wine.
"Wonder what they're discussing?" Draco asked softly, nudging Allyna with his shoulder. She looked up to see Lucius and her father speaking in low tones.
"Most likely us," Allyna said truthfully.
"Would you like to dance?" Draco asked, nodding towards the orchestra at the other end of the room and the few who were already dancing there.
"Very well," Allyna said, as Draco took her wrist gently, leading her to the other dancing couples. He took her hand, placing his other on her waist. At his nod, they were off. Allyna was pleasantly surprised that he seemed more at ease now and his dancing wasn't quite as jerky as it had been at the Yule ball only a few days ago. She herself had also improved. While her father had been keeping busy with meetings since he'd picked her up from King's Cross the day before, Allyna had practiced her own dancing for hours in her room.
Allyna watched Draco as they danced. His face seemed thoughtful, more intelligent and less belligerent than he had during the dance lesson and Yule Ball at Hogwarts. He smiled at her and it was a real smile, not the smirk that seemed to constantly haunt his lips any other time. "Your dancing's improved. My toes seem to be in less danger of being trampled tonight." Allyna had the grace to blush.
"You and I both know I trampled your toes because you were being a prat," she said, grinning at him as he twirled her under his arm. Draco blushed lightly and nodded. "Yes, I know. Sorry about that, by the way. I'm sorry I attacked you, too."
Allyna smiled, she hadn't expected an apology of any kind from him.
As they danced, Allyna let her mind open and embrace what was going on around her. The music was soft and vaguely Christmas-y, with the bright sounds of bells. The rhythm was soft and flowy and made dancing easier. She watched the other dancers as they seemed to sail around the room in a variety of colors and patterns. She noticed that most of them wore Slytherin green, in some form or another. Dresses, ties, jewelry, frock coats. Snakes were another common decoration, especially in the women's jewelry. Finally the song ended and everyone bowed or curtsied to their partners. Draco smiled at Allyna and offered his arm. She took it and he led her back to her father.
"That was excellent, my dear, positively delightful to watch. You've improved much since I saw you dance last," Michael commented, his eyes bright and approving for the first time in a very long time.
Allyna smiled at her step-father, glad that he couldn't see the sheer hatred in her eyes. She kept it well-hidden, even from herself most days. She listened to the conversation that flowed around her, answering politely when Narcissa asked about her classes. The sounds of the doors opening had everyone looking up and the room quieting.
Allyna looked up and watched breathlessly as Severus entered the room. He walked towards them, towards Lucius and Narcissa and Draco, actually, with unhesitating strides. "Lucius, Narcissa, Draco." he said, his voice soft as he nodded to each of them in turn. They returned his greeting, Narcissa with the hostess-smile she had perfected over the years. His face turned as he took in Allyna's father and Allyna herself.
Only Allyna saw the second-long flash in his eyes as he acknowledged her. Allyna's father held his hand out to Severus. "Michael Wilson."
Severus looked down at the man's hand with distaste for a moment, but took it. As he shook the man's hand, he had to force himself not to do anything rash, like kill the man in front of him. Severus released Michael Wilson's hand as soon as it was polite enough to do so. He turned to Allyna and with the briefest of nods, acknowledged her. "Miss Wilson."
Allyna nodded her head, her eyes lowering. "Good evening, Professor Snape. I hope you are having a good Christmas Eve."
"Tolerable," he replied, turning back to Lucius and the others.
Draco came around them and took Allyna's wrist. "Come on, they're just going to stand and talk politics for the rest of the night. We can go sit in that alcove there with the rest of my friends from Slytherin." Allyna sighed, but nodded, and Draco, motioned his friends over. It seemed this must happen often, the adults talking over their heads. Draco sat on a couch, Allyna on a chair beside him, though he looked disappointed she didn't sit next to him. She watched as Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Millicent Bullstrode and Daphne Greengrass joined them.
"What do you think of the Manor so far, Wilson?" asked Blaise, sipping from a small glass of firewhiskey.
"It's quite lovely, though I think I'd prefer to see it in the daytime. I've heard wonderful things about the gardens here," Allyna replied.
"Oh yes, they're lovely," Daphne answered, "I've been here many times with my mother for tea. Narcissa's roses are her pride and joy, she has many varieties that are incredibly rare."
"Perhaps you could come by some afternoon during the holidays, I'd be more than happy to show you the gardens," Draco said, eyeing Allyna and wiggling his eyebrows, making everyone giggle.
"Might have to take you up on that, Draco, if your Mother will come along as an escort. I would certainly love to know more about her roses and I know for a fact that I saw a very rare Tilly-vine out there!" Allyna exclaimed. Her grandmother had loved plants and had instilled the love of them in Allyna. Herbology may not be her best subject, but she still enjoyed growing beautiful flowers.
They talked about their classes and teachers, and about school gossip, as was normal for any group of teenagers. "So Wilson, what's your favorite class so far? I know you've been kind of passed around with students of different years to try and get a chance to try out different ones before you graduate." Millicent Bullstrode asked.
"Hmm. I'd have to say Potions. It fascinates me. Being able to create things that can cure or kill depending on the difference of a single ingredient...that's such a powerful talent," Allyna answered truthfully.
"Yeah, if only we didn't have to put up with Snape to do it," Zabini said, grinning. "The old greasy bat scares me, and I'm in his house!" he said, laughing.
Draco reached over and punched his friend on the arm. "That's my godfather you're talking about. He's not that bad, just a bit harsh."
"Maybe he just needs to get laid," Daphne said inelegantly, giggling.
Allyna felt her cheeks burning. Draco sighed and turned to Allyna. "The orchestra's just begun a new set, would you like to dance some more?" he asked.
Allyna took his hand without a thought, eager to get away from the way the conversation was going. Draco led her to the dance floor and they waited for the song to begin. As they danced, Draco kept up small chitchat. He glanced up and saw his father give him a signal. "Do you like animals, Allyna?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. Why?"
"Have you ever seen a unicorn foal?" Draco asked.
"Unicorn foals? They're very rare. You almost never see them in the wild because their mothers hide them deep in the forest until they can fend for themselves against larger animals who would see them as prey. So no, I've never seen one," Allyna answered.
"Would you like to?" he whispered conspiratorially.
"What?" Allyna whispered loudly.
"Father's got a mother and foal in the barn. If we sneak out now, we can see them before anyone realizes that we're gone," Draco explained.
Allyna desperately wanted to see the baby unicorn, but she wasn't sure if this was just some kind of trick on Draco's part. "So help me Merlin, if this is some sort of trick to get me outside to kiss me, I will kill you with my bare hands, Draco Malfoy!" she said, glaring at him.
He laughed at her fierceness. "No, Princess. It's not a trick. Now come on, let's get out of here while we can!" he said, as he grabbed her hand and they snuck out through the throng of gathered dancers. He led the way as they stuck to the shadows, and reached the front hallway. "Accio cloaks!" he said softly, and with a wave of his wand, both of their cloaks appeared. Allyna was suddenly immensely glad that her cloak was lined with soft white fur. The weather outside had gotten colder and more bitter while they'd been inside.
Draco took her hand once more and led her outside. He followed an icy gravel-paved pathway away from the house and towards a large barn-like structure. He pushed open one of the doors and motioned her inside. The barn was cavernous, the wall sconces flickering with light from barely lit candles, except for one area where the light shone brighter. Draco motioned her to follow him. "The mother was gored by a manticore. It's dying."He shook his head sadly. "Father will have to have the foal slaughtered if it dies, it wouldn't survive on its own."
"How did your father even get a unicorn?" Allyna whispered as they drew nearer.
Draco shrugged. "He's a Malfoy," he said, as if that was the only answer that mattered. And to him, it probably was. A Malfoy always got what a Malfoy wanted.
The sound of heavy breathing reached their ears. A tiny neigh tore at Allyna's heart. She could see the unicorn now. The mother, her silvery-white hair matted down with sweat and her own blood, laying on a pile of golden hay. The foal was bridled like a regular horse and had been tethered to a large post in the same stall as it's dying mother. Allyna's breath came out in a hiss of displeasure. The poor, beautiful creature was frantic.
She reached out slowly, silently thinking at the foal that she meant it no harm. The little one turned to her, and reached out with it's horn, touching the tips of her fingers. Save her. Save us. resounded in Allyna's mind. She gasped and reached out, sliding her hand along the foal's soft hide.
"Draco, I know you have to go back inside. May I stay out here for a while longer? I don't know when I'll get the chance to be this close to a unicorn ever again," she said quietly.
Well aware of how a unicorn could affect females, Draco nodded. "I'll be back to collect you soon. Don't go back out in the storm," he ordered and turned to go back to the house. When the boy had gone, Allyna stood, removing her cloak. The barn was chilly, but not too bad. She turned to look at the female unicorn that lay on its side. She thought back on the few things she'd read on manticore attacks. She knew that their claws held a poison of some kind, infinitely deadly. She bit her lip and looked down at the adult unicorn with worry in her eyes. Would her magic work to heal this kind of wound? She'd never used it on a creature made of pure magic.
She touched the hide gently, wincing as the unicorn shrieked in fear/pain/panic. Please. I only want to help. I think I can help,. she thought at the creature. She placed her hands on the unicorn's sides, sending waves of calm towards it. She closed her eyes and let the power flow through her. Her palms slowly began to grow heated,fiery pain flaring in them as the healing began. They glowed steadily with soft blue-white light as she touched the unicorn's flank. The unicorn let out a high-pitched shrilling neigh as she touched her, and Allyna felt dark magic being expelled from the wound. This was NOT done by a manticore. This was the work of a Dark wizard using blood magic.
Sudden pain sent her reeling back, but she pushed through it and placed her hand over the open gash on the unicorn's side. She sent one last, large pulse of healing energy into the creature's wound and watched as it seemed to seal itself, covering over with pale pink tissue and then the silvery-white hair sprouted from the once-wound and covered the area as though it had never been inflicted. She gasped as the dark magic that had infested the wound suddenly began to fight back against her, wrapping it's evil around Allyna's own magic. She watched in horror as it seemed to jump from the mother to the foal, strangling the innocent baby-creature. "No! No, no, no!" Allyna cried, sending pulse after pulse of magic into the darkness, trying to drive it away.
But it was futile. The baby unicorn's magic was too new, and Allyna's magic too weakened from healing. She watched as the foal shrieked and cried out before it went still, sinking to the ground. It's eyes glazed, the body growing stiff and cold. The foal's mother began to neigh and whinny in grief.
Allyna, weakened by the fight with the dark magic, sat there, breathing hard. Tears poured from her eyes, though she was completely unaware of them. She was covered in persperation and flecks of silvery unicorn blood. The unexpected sound of applause drew her attention and she stared in horror as Lucius Malfoy, Severus, her father and the unnamed man from the train stood in a semi-circle around her. The unicorn in the stall began to neigh shrilly and rear back on her back legs, challenging them.
"Oh be quiet, you idiotic beast, or I'll end you as well," Lucius hissed. The mare stilled and nudged her foal's body behind her. "Severus, I'll have the older beast led away, I know how rare unicorn parts are for potions ingredients. You may harvest as you see fit," he said, turning towards his old friend, not seeing the look of disgust and distrust in Severus' eyes.
Allyna's father stalked towards her and grabbed her by the arm, yanking her to her feet. "It seems we have quite a bit to discuss, my dear." He tossed her cloak over her shoulders and they followed Lucius out into the freezing night air and into the house through a different, more private direction than she had followed Draco from the house. Allyna shivered as she wondered what was to happen to her now. Could Severus protect her from this?