Arthur's Note: Hello everyone! I just want to apologize to a certain someone (you know who you are) for taking forever to update! But here it is I finally managed to finish this chapter! I hope you all enjoy and please review!

Draco's eyes fluttered open, the sliver thread of dawn began to fill the flat. All was still except for the sound of Aurora's uneven breaths. Predictably, she woke throughout the course of the night to vomit. She drank way more than she could handle, without a doubt she'd be feeling the aftermath of her reckless drinking well into the next week. Aurora was still curled up in his chest clutching his shirt, her hair fell over her face. Draco sighed, he tried numerous times to free himself of her but had given up because his last attempt woke her where she threw another tantrum screaming and cursing her parents. He contemplated actually giving her a sleeping drought once she sobered up, but that might make matters worse. Sometimes it just helped to throw and tantrum or two, to let it all out instead of building it up inside.

It had been a long night, between the vomiting and the episodes Draco was exhausted. He only managed to get an hour of sleep at best. Trying to comfort an emotionally distraught friend was hard enough, trying to give support and comfort whilst they were drunk was nearly impossible. In the hours that he was up Draco could help but think about what Aurora had told him when he first arrived, she had to go back to France. At first he thought her father's threat was exaggerated but he did get a chance to actually read the letter and it turns out that the old codger was absolutely serious. After the New Year's Ball she is not to return to New York, instead she is to report to L'Chateau du Pontellier immediately; he means to marry her off as quickly as possible thus why he has a bunch of suitors lining up for her to meet. The penalty for not cooperating is that her entire inherence will be forfeit.

Draco didn't know what was more disturbing, that fact that she would soon have to leave New York or that her father intended to marry her off so quickly. She was being forced into an impossible situation, what century did her parents in live exactly?! Yes they were old but it's the bloody 21st century! Yes traditions must be upheld in every pureblood family but this was ridiculous! Something had to be done, but what could he do? He highly doubted that Emmanuel Pontellier would be impressed by him, a young man of 24, unless…

Yes he had to give it a try, surely he'd agree! How could he not?! Draco looked down at Aurora once more before wrapping his arms around her and gently rolling her off of him. He placed her on her back and drew the quilt up to her chin.

"Hopefully I'll be back before you wake." He whispered softly. "Giving the massive hangover you're going to have in the morning I don't expect you to be up and about any time before noon." He chuckled lightly and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Lumos." Draco held up his wand and slowly walked down the stairs trying not to make any noise. Once he reached the living room he realized that it had been cleaned at some point during the night. The jewels that were tossed around carelessly on the floor were neatly placed back in their displays, the shattered glass on the floor was whole again, the empty whiskey bottle had been tossed out and what remained of the vodka was sitting on the coffee table. Lini had done a fine job indeed. Draco walked up to the coffee table and picked up the bottle of vodka, he gazed at it for a moment and then tucked it under his arm. He had no plans of drinking it but figured his father might appreciate it even though the bottle had been opened, he'll just tell him that the bottle was his and didn't want it anymore.

Picking up his traveling cloak which was neatly hung on the coatrack Draco pulled out is pocket watch to get a look at the time, it was only 5:30 in the morning which meant that it was 10:30am in England. He'll make it in time for breakfast. Throwing his traveling cloak over his shoulders Draco took one last look at the flat before turning to leave. He had much to discuss with his parents.

How long had she been staring at her refection Aurora couldn't say. But she was absolutely repulsed by her appearance: eyes swollen and red, hair sticking up at odd angels, stains on her nightdress. It was not becoming of her to look so undignified, she continued to glare at the mirror until with a slight twitch of her eye it shattered, the broken pieces fell to the floor at her feet. Lini immediately ran to her mistress and began to clean up the mess, Aurora drew her dressing gown closed and walked down to the kitchen.

Wandless magic was a skill she was a natural at, but at times was difficult to control when her emotions were unstable. The headmistress of Metis Academy wasn't very fond of wands, how will you defend yourselves if those fancy sticks of yours break? She always used to say, she put a big emphasis on wandless magic. It was difficult to master but years of training left Aurora proficient in that quarter.

Passing by the coffee table Aurora spotted a tiara that her father claims had once belonged to Marie Antoinette she picked it up and placed it on the crown of her head and continued to the kitchen, she was famished the only thing she consumed thus far was the entire vial of the hangover drought.

On the kitchen table there was a whole spread waiting for her, Lini must of known she would be hungry once she woke. Aurora took a seat in front of the waffles pouring herself a cup of coffee and began to eat. She felt as if she was in a fog, nothing around her seemed real, did last night even happen? It must have because she wouldn't have woken up feeling as if she was on her deathbed. She graduated yesterday, she received her graduation scroll. That's it, she had completed her undergraduate degree and Emmanuel and Ophelia felt that it was not necessary to grace the occasion with their presence. How utterly humiliating, what better way to say that you can't be bothered with your own child than to miss one of the most important days of their lives. And further adding insult to injury sending her that deplorable letter along with jewels that would rival the Queen's demanding that she return to France and begin her work of becoming a breading cow. Oh how they insulted her intelligence! And to top it all off the threat of disinheritance if she did not comply…Despicable! As if she needed his money to survive! Half aware Aurora let out a growl, what a mess, she'll have to write to Nathaniel to see if he could persuade their father to come up with more reasonable terms. Nathaniel was her only advocate and the only one with the most influence over their parents.

After making the necessary visits Draco Apparated back into Aurora's apartment. He found her sitting on the couch still dressed in her nightdress and dressing gown. Only difference was the tiara that was adorned on her head atop her tussled hair. A lit cigarette hung from her mouth as she stared off into space, her eyes were unfocused. Draco cleared his throat causing her to blink a few times and set eyes on him.

"You're back." She said passively as she blew smoke out from her nostrils.

Draco wasn't sure if he should sit or remain standing, her expression was blank making it difficult to try and determine if she wanted to stay or leave.

"Well, aren't you going to sit? You owe me and explanation, why did you leave without so much as leaving me a note?" Aurora took another drag of her cigarette. "Also what did you do with my bottle of vodka?"

"If you honestly think I was going to let you drink again after yesterday you are sadly mistaken."

She let out a dry chuckle. "I had no intention of doing so. It would have made a nice gift for Wyatt, as I recall he likes the hard stuff."

"You had plans to gift a half empty bottle of vodka to Wyatt?"

"Half full, and why not it's not like he would have minded."

"I gave it to my father."

"And why would you give your father a half empty bottle of vodka; I thought Malfoy Senior was more of a fine wine kind of guy."

"My father had a taste for petrol in his youth, naturally I didn't tell him who the original owner was, despite how amusing he would have found it. I told him it was mine."

"So that's where you were? Went to see your folks?"

"Yes," Draco moved to sit next to her, "and yours as well."

Aurora froze with her mouth hanging open, the cigarette fell from her mouth onto her lap. She winced as it burned her skin, she quickly extinguished the stub.

"Who did you go see?"

"Your father, naturally."

"My-why?!" Aurora's eyes grew wide in shock, why on earth would Draco go see that ill-tempered old man?

"That letter he sent to you disturbed me."

"So you decided to go and argue with him about it?!" Aurora was beginning to panic, if Draco truly went there to argue her case then that would only make matters worse.

"I wouldn't say argue. He was actually cordial, probably because your brother Nathaniel was there-"

"If you didn't go there to argue then what was the nature of your visit?"

Draco began to fidget nervously, he reached up to loosen his necktie; clearly he had something important to tell her but was trying to find the correct words.

"I uh-"

"Yes?"

"I spoke to your father and asked for permission to court you." Draco spoke so quickly Aurora wondered if she had heard him correctly. She looked at him and saw that his cheeks had gone slightly red.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I asked your father for permission to court you and he gave me his blessing."

Aurora just stared at him in shock and Draco pressed on. "The choice is yours of course-"

"Why?"

"Well to be honest part of the reason I went to your father was for my own selfish reasons, the more I think about it, you entering into a courtship with another man drives me mad. So I seized the opportunity to ask before anything can even happen. If you accept then he will permit you to stay here and continue your studies, if you don't-"

"I will have to return to France." Aurora finished.

"I know this is probably happening too fast but please, I want you to take your time in making a decision."

"Is this all for convenience?"

"Rory please," Draco took her hand in his. "I'm not going to tip-toe around this anymore. I'm going to say this plain and clear. I love you." Aurora's breath caught in her throat. "And I know the timing for all of this is complete shit, but I swear to you I had intentions of asking for your father's blessing to court you regardless of that ridiculous ultimatum he gave you."

Aurora sat taking in the words he was saying to her, he loved her; Draco loved her! She was beginning to feel a bit lightheaded. And then he did something completely unexpected, he leaned in and his lips met hers. She felt butterflies in her stomach fluttering wildly as she began to kiss him back. There they were locked in a lover's embrace, it was as if all the world had vanished and there was nothing left but them. Aurora clung to his jacket for fear that he might slip from her grasp but he had no intention of going anywhere, he would stay with her forever if she asked.

Draco slowly pulled away from her and looked down into her green orbs gently running his thumb across her cheek.

"Please Rory," his voice was barely audible. "Just give it some thought."

Still somewhat bewildered, it took Aurora a moment to register that Draco was speaking to her. She gave nod in agreement.

Draco then removed the ring that he wore on his right hand and offered it to her. "I want you to hold on to this. As a sign that my intentions are sincere."

"What is it?" She asked taking the ring.

"This ring has been in my family for centuries, the serpent on it represents Slytherin house. Generations of my forefathers have been placed there including myself. This ring means a lot to me."

"Then why give it to me?"

"To show you that I am absolutely serious about this. I love you and that's all there is to it. No woman has ever made me feel that things that you have. You are the most beautiful witch I have ever laid eyes on as well as the most intelligent. None could ever compare to you. And if you give me a chance I'll make you the happiest witch alive."

Aurora looked up at him, her cheeks were red not sure how to respond to his confession. "I will return this to you once I've come up with a decision."

Draco nodded and checked his pocket watch. "I'm sorry to say that I have to go."

"I understand."

Draco placed a hand on either side of her face and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Please think long and hard before coming up with an answer."

Aurora nodded and Draco exited the apartment. Once she was sure he was gone Aurora sank into the couch cushions, trying to take in all that had happened. She reached up to run her fingers through her hair, her finger tips grazed the tiara and she was wearing. Why the hell am I still wearing this? Aurora pulled it off and set it aside, she needed a drink.