Following Wednesday
Florence left the house with her daughter as 2:45 p.m., ten minutes after Severus had gone to the castle; with her large pregnant belly glamoured, she walked slowly down Hogsmeade main street with Elizabeth by her side, barely believing she was taking her to a date - with Draco Malfoy of all people!
"Where will you two meet, Liz?"
"At Florean Fortescue, mum."
Florence looked at her, a little surprised, "You'll have ice cream in this cold day?"
"No. They've got a whole new winter menu! With hot cocoa and warm desserts. James said it's even better than Madam Asterope's!"
"Really? I think I'll try it, then."
They were about to walk into the ice cream parlour when Florence suddenly held her daughter's arm, stopping her.
"Liz, I won't be able to walk in there with you."
"Why not?"
"I've just seen Narcissa Malfoy through the window. She knows I don't have any siblings. She'll take one look at you and she'll know you're my daughter and who your father is. I'll wait for you at Madam Malkin's, ok?"
"All right."
"I'll have tea with Susan and maybe buy some things for Sophie."
Elizabeth huffed finding that absurd, "More clothes for Sophie? Mum, if you keep buying her things, soon she'll have more clothes and accessories than I!"
Florence rolled her eyes at her drama, "Liz, when you were a child you had more clothes than I ever did."
"I still have more clothes than you!" the girl replied, smugly.
Florence shook her head and smiled – Elizabeth and her love for material things.
She kissed the girl's forehead, "You have two hours. Go inside, Narcissa is no longer at his table. Draco's waiting for you. Remember all we've talked, all right?"
"Yes, mum."
Florence saw Narcissa Malfoy sitting at a table away from Draco, but still close enough that she could take a good look at the girl he had gone there to meet.
Draco was looking anxiously at the door, starting to regret having sent the beautiful Miss Delacour a letter for the fear of rejection was nearly paralyzing.
He sent his mother away from his table and allowed himself to fidget (a habit Narcissa Malfoy abhorred).
The bell over the ice-cream parlour's front door chimed and Draco looked up – but it wasn't Elizabeth arriving.
What if she doesn't come? Or worse: what if she does just to tell me I am an idiot and should fuck off?
He knew his family name wasn't as welcomed and respected as it had been once.
Since his father had been removed from the Board of Governors two years before, some important families had shunned them – at least according to what he had overheard his mother say to a friend just a week ago.
His mother; Narcissa was very excited he was meeting a girl who attended Beauxbatons, since that was an expensive and fancy European school where social status was taken into consideration when one sat at a table to share a meal with others.
What if Elizabeth has heard about our loss of social relevance and decided not to show up?
He didn't really know her, she hadn't seemed to be that shallow, but he couldn't be certain.
The bell chimed again and then he saw her: her unmistakable beauty calling all eyes to her; Draco watched, enthralled, as she walked towards him, her long dark wavy hair falling down the shoulders of the long white woollen coat she was wearing over designer jeans and a lilac jumper.
"Good afternoon, Mr Malfoy," Elizabeth said, trying to not focus on how gorgeous his silver-grey eyes were, controlling her trembling hands and remembering her mother's words: be confident and snarky.
He quickly stood up and held her hand, kissing her knuckles softly.
"Miss Delacour," he greeted with a nervous smile, "I was afraid you wouldn't come."
"But… I'm not even late," she didn't understand his fear.
"Yes- I mean- no, you're not late. I just… I feared it anyway. Have a seat, please," Draco pulled the chair in front of his across the small table and she graciously accepted.
"Didn't you like the present I sent you?" he asked as he sat in front of her, glancing at her hands.
"Oh, yes, I did. But I'm curious, Mr Malfoy," Elizabeth tilted her head slightly, "Why would you spend a small fortune on a gift to a girl you barely know, or better saying: you don't know at all?" she stared at him, noticing his cheeks getting flushed and his hypnotising grey eyes darting to the window – making it difficult for her to keep being snarky when he was just so handsome.
Draco hesitated before admitting: "I… couldn't stop thinking of you after that day."
"You already told me that in your letter. Why have you asked to meet me?"
"I... want to get to know you. And, please, call me Draco."
Hmm. Draco. She really liked his name; powerful like the creature he was named after.
"Look, Draco, we really need to talk. Before we get to know each other, I believe I must say a few things," she suddenly got her wand out and cast a silencing spell around them.
Draco froze in his seat for a moment, the confidence in her voice and the precise wand movement she did when casting the spell had him gaping. It was clear she was used to using magic outside school, which meant her parents allowed her to practice magic at home.
She continued: "I know your family are blood purists who followed the Dark Lord in the past, so you should know right from the start that mine doesn't agree with those beliefs. That being said, I'm not here to judge you. You are not your family, after all. What I want to know is what do you think about it?" she touched his hand on the table, feeling the need to have his skin against hers.
"I…" he sounded nervous, entwining his hand with hers, the softness of her hand making him want to touch his lips to her skin, "I-I have no intention of becoming a Death Eater, if that's what you're asking," he didn't really remember her question, but it seemed that was an appropriate answer for she smiled.
"And do you see as a problem the fact that my family doesn't agree with your family's views on blood-purity?"
"No, that's fine with me. My parents will have to accept my feelings for you," Draco's eyes widened when he realised what he had just said, "I mean... the feelings I might come to have after we get to know each other better," he gulped, quickly asking her: "What about your parents? Will they forbid you to see me because of my family?"
"I'm here, aren't I? My mother has agreed to this. But she asks me to remind you that I'm only twelve and you're fourteen. And my father still doesn't know about us. Mum promised me she won't tell him anything. We can keep this a secret until… well, until we are certain this is going somewhere," it was her turn to blush.
Draco looked like he had been stupefyed. Elizabeth sounded much older than her age – she sounded like she knew what she was doing there.
She reminds me of someone. I just can't remember whom. And she called Voldemort 'Dark Lord'…
He frowned, but his heart was beating fast and the feeling of her hand in his had his vision tunnelling as if nothing else mattered but her.
Liz could feel something in the air between them – and she'd felt that sort of magic before, she grew up watching and feeling it around her parents.
Draco never took his eyes off of her – and she loved having his full attention to herself.
Was she too young to be forever connected to someone? Yes.
But was she sad that she'd possibly already found her soulmate? No, not at all.
One hour later, Draco and Elizabeth were thoroughly enjoying their time together, finding they had many things in common and could make the other laugh easily.
"Do you believe your parents will agree with the fact that I want to ask you to be my girlfriend?"
She forced herself to calmly finish sipping her hot cocoa, feeling her face flush in excitement, "Is that your intention already, Draco?"
"Yes," he touched her hand, sounding certain, "And I know you're only twelve, I'd never take advantage of you. I'm too young myself."
"Well, my mum is ok with some sort of relationship between us. I let her read your letter. But my dad, if he knew… he'd throw a wobbly," she internally snorted at her own words: Throw a wobbly? He might turn homicidal!
Draco frowned, "Is he overprotective?"
She then did snort out loud, "You could say that."
"It's understandable. Any man with a daughter as beautiful as you should think about locking her up in a tower and make only the best have her hand," he held both her hands then.
"Don't give him any ideas, please. I can see him doing just that," she chuckled, blushing as she glanced at their entwined hands, "One more thing: I'm not meeting you here today because of your money or your family name. I'm not interested in either. If you want, I can give you the ring back," she let go of his hands and retrieved a little black box from her pocket, putting it on the table.
"No, that won't be necessary," Draco stared at her again; she was a beautiful mystery. Beautiful, clever, well-mannered, clearly magically gifted, and couldn't care less for the size of his vaults - he was more than enamoured, he was bewitched by her.
Elizabeth smiled; their hands, once more, entwined.
Meanwhile, Florence was having tea with Susan Malkin, the owner of her favourite clothing store in Hogsmeade.
The woman had showed her two blouses that she knew Liz would love and Florence also bought some more onesies for Sophie, two dresses for herself, four sets of clothes for Chris and several things for her husband and the twins.
She was in her third cup of Susan's delicious tea, when she noticed it was nearing the end of the two hours they had agreed Liz would have with Draco, so she waited by the window.
After finishing their hot cocoas, Elizabeth and Draco went for a walk, hand in hand – with her making sure they stayed as far as possible from her house, in case her father returned early from his meeting.
"How do things work in Beauxbatons?" Draco asked, "Do you have Houses like Hogwarts?"
"Yes, actually. Three Houses. But we don't have a Sorting Hat; to be sorted, we must shoot a silver arrow across the Great Hall, using a special bow. Mid-air the arrow will burst into sparks of the person's house colour: purple is for Papillionlisse – the House of the artists, the matures and the kind ones; blue is for OmbreLune – my House, where cunning, logic and ambition are praised; and green for Bellefeuille – the house of the brave," she rolled her eyes.
Draco chuckled, "I gather they're your Gryffindors?"
"Yes. Bunch of annoying, high-and-mighty cottonheads."
"Don't even know them, but wholeheartedly agree," he gallantly replied.
Elizabeth smiled, brushing her head on his shoulder, and he inhaled the sweet citrusy scent that he recalled having first smelled months ago as they'd walked together to the Headmaster's office.
She rubbed her nose on his shoulder and pulled him to her, focusing on a delicious smell coming off of him too. How hadn't she noticed that scent that night in Hogwarts? It was intoxicating; an exotic woodsy scent, with a touch of cinnamon and apples – green apples.
She stopped in front of him, rubbing her nose on his neck, making him tremble at the touch of her delicate body so close to his.
"You smell so good," she whispered.
"I think you smell better," he caressed her cheek, looking into her sparkling dark eyes; he lowered his hand down her face, gently pushing her chin up, "Will you be my girlfriend, Liz?"
"I..." she blushed red, getting lost into his silver-grey eyes, "Yes, Draco. I will."
He smiled sweetly, his voice as low as a whisper: "You're just so beautiful, Liz. May I kiss you?" their lips so close now.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and nodded.
And then his warm soft lips touched hers in a delicate kiss that had her trembling in nervous excitement. He caressed her lips with his own, pulling her bottom lip between his lips and sucking on them softly, making Liz sigh.
They kissed slow and sweetly for long minutes, only stopping the moment they heard someone approaching and Elizabeth nearly jumped out of her skin realising how she had completely forgotten they were in Hogsmeade and anyone could see them – And father could show up!
"Is everything alright, Liz?" Draco asked, a little concerned.
"Oh, yes- more than alright," she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, laying her head on his chest and just enjoying his warmth and scent, "This is perfect."
Draco chuckled and held her close, neither of them saying a word for a while, just enjoying each other's company and feeling their hearts beating at the same pace.
"When will I see you again?" he asked softly before giving her a brief kiss.
"I don't know," Liz whispered, holding his hand as they resumed walking, "I'll have to go back to France on the first week of January. But I… I can write you; letters might help you to not forget about me..."
"Not even if I tried, I'd be able to forget you, darling," he said with a smile, "We could meet on Diagon Alley before you go. What do you say?"
"I'll check with my mum and let you know."
"I'll write to you," Draco murmured, taking her hand in his and kissing it.
"I'll gladly reply to any letter of yours," she said smiling more.
But Draco's smile faltered and he looked at her hesitantly, "Can I put the ring on your finger? I mean... if you want to wear it and... if you want me to put it on you."
"Yes, of course, Draco!" Liz smiled at his nervousness.
Then she picked up the box from inside her coat and gave it to him.
Draco chose her right ring finger to slide the flower-crown ring on, kissing it afterwards and being pulled down for another closed-mouth kiss.
"I think I should go now," Elizabeth whispered, "It's been two hours."
"I understand," Draco whispered back.
"Bye, Draco."
"Bye, Liz."
And Elizabeth took a step back, walking away from him – looking back a hundred times on her way to Madam Malkin's Store.
Florence saw her daughter walking towards the store and let out a heavy sigh.
Elizabeth was smiling too much – anyone who took one look at her would know the reason for her smile was romantic – and that was a problem for they lived with a highly accomplished Legilliment, who happened to be the girl's father, and would lose his well-known composure if he learned of what had happened that day.
Florence observed Liz looking at a ring on her right hand as she approached the store and grimaced.
Please don't let them be blessed. She thought in a loop.
If her daughter was Draco's soulmate, the heartache and problems ahead would be countless – and she wasn't even taking into account her husband's reaction. No, she was only thinking of her daughter's emotional health.
The pain Florence had felt years ago as she watched Severus become a Death Eater was not something she wished her daughter had to go through. And whether Draco would follow his father's footsteps or not was still unclear.
"Hey, mum," Elizabeth said with a huge smile as she took some of the bags from Florence's hands.
"You're wearing his ring," Florence mentioned as soon as they started walking home slowly through the village's main street, "Did he kiss you, Elizabeth?"
"Yes, mum!" the girl said, unable to keep it in any longer, "My first kiss! And it was with my soulmate!"
That had Florence's heart nearly skipping a beat.
Oh, no.
"Why do you say that, Liz?" she asked, keeping her face as impassive as she could.
"I felt... something," the girl's dark eyes were shinning, "The same magic I feel in the air when you and dad start being sickingly sweet and snog on the sofa," she looked at her mother, "Isn't that the Enchantment you were talking about?"
"Yes. It could be," Florence drawled with a heavy heart. Then she pointed at the ring, "If anyone asks, I gave you that. Do not tell any of your brothers about Draco; James is always bickering with your dad, but he will not keep a secret from him. And Nick can't keep a secret from James. So... I gave you that," she repeated incisively, "Do you understand?"
"Yes, mum," Elizabeth smiled again, remembering the kisses they exchanged, "It was so romantic and good, I could never imagine touching tongues was so-"
"That's enough, dear," Florence grimaced, not in the least interested in listening to her daughter's thoughts on tongues touching, "Liz. May I remind you again that you're only twelve?"
"I know that, mum," she rolled her eyes, "But Draco even asked for my permission to kiss me!"
"That was very polite of him," Florence sighed, "However, you can't get home with that face. You have to clear you mind and stop thinking about Draco for a moment. Otherwise, your father will know as soon as you walk by him. I'm not even trying to read your mind, but you're projecting your feelings like crazy, dear."
"Oh, ok," Elizabeth took a deep breath and began one of the Occlumency exercises her father had taught her.
Florence chuckled, "If your father finds out I let you meet with a boy and that said boy was Draco Malfoy, he'll… I don't even want to think about what he'll do."
"But what about the Enchantment? Dad will have to respect that."
Florence laughed:
"Are we talking about the same person? Not even being his godson will save Draco. If Severus finds out the boy put his hands on you – with or without Enchantment –, the young Malfoy will probably go down to a potions class one day to never be seen again."
Elizabeth's shoulders dropped, "That really sounds like dad…"
"That's why you must be careful."
"I will be, mum. I'll practice Occlumency every day!"
Florence nodded.
They reached home and walked inside.
Not another word was said about Elizabeth and her boyfriend.
Note: The information about Beauxbatons houses I got from Quora ( Are-there-any-houses-in-Beauxbatons-and-Durmstrang/answer/Quellen-Ravenwood). Some say it's canon some say it's from fanfiction. I have no idea. So I put the link there to give proper credit to whoever came up with that.