Chapter 8) Night Out

Selected Listening: Always- Panic! At the Disco

Anastasia descended the stairs of the manor in her new dress, her French manicured nails slid down the banister, her hair bounced in a coiled bob around her face. For maybe the first time in her life, she felt beautiful, powerful even, and it came with a lightheadedness she hadn't been expecting. A spinning whirl that would need to stop eventually but felt right in the moment.

The spa Narcissa brought her to was hidden away in Diagon Alley. To reach it, one had to take a special staircase to an invisible shopping arcade that hung above the main road. The salon itself was tucked into a corner. The inside glittered with white marble and gilded fixtures, manned mainly by house elves who assisted the witch coiffeuses by handing them magic combs, curlers, and elixirs. The owner, a plump woman in a dark ruffled dress with her hair piled on top of her head in a plump bun, greeted Narcissa warmly as they had known each other for quite some time. In no time at all, Anastasia was plopped in a chair in front of a mirror, the coiffeuse snipping here and there while a pair of house elves tended to her nails at the direction of the owner. By the time they had finished, Anastasia looked in the mirror at her near-unrecognizable reflection, and for the first time in quite a while she didn't feel
"almost" anything.

When she reached the entryway of the manor, Narcissa and Draco were already standing there waiting. Draco wore a gray sweater over his emerald button-down shirt, his arms crossed over his torso and a bored and frustrated look in his gaze.

"My dear, you look stunning." Narcissa said with a gleam in her eye.

"Thank you," she replied with a graceful smile, skipped down the last two steps, and turned to Draco whose ears had turned considerably red.

"Do you like it?" she asked, and twirled a circle on one heel, smiling. He made eye contact briefly, cleared his throat.

"It's alright, I suppose," he admitted, voice cracking. Anastasia snickered quietly. He straightened his collar and tried to fade into the background as Lucius came into the hall, shrugging on his own jacket. He glanced at Anastasia, intending to look away immediately, but caught off guard his lip curled in disgust.

"What did you do with this one?" he asked his wife.

Narcissa smiled primly.

"She agreed to go to Priscilla's with me. Thought she ought to experience the full treatment before our outing this evening."

Lucius stared at his wife and let out a neutral grunt.

"Right then, shall we go?" he asked. They stepped up to the floo. Draco went first, and Anastasia listened closely to the name, as she had never been there before.

"Penumbra Pallateius." Draco said and threw the dirt into the logs below. The boy erupted into green flames and vanished.

"Miss Dumbledore." Lucius offered her the urn of dirt with a look of guarded suspicion. She took some and repeated the process, saying the words clearly, before vanishing into flames herself. Magic green light rushed all around her, and she felt her feet hit the Earth below her. She stumbled out of the fireplace in her heels, but a swift hand grabbed her forearm and kept her from falling. She straightened up and made eye contact with Draco, but they immediately blushed and parted when they realized he was touching her forearm and waist.

"Thank you." Anastasia said quickly and busied herself with examining the room sconces lit the wall of the chic dining room. Some of the wealthiest, pureblood witches and wizards filled the room, laughing haughtily and complimenting each other's dress in vanity. A few of the dinner guests glanced at them as they arrived, wondering briefly, but returning to their own conversations in time.

Two more flashes of light filled the fireplace behind them, and Narcissa and Lucius walked in. More people glanced over but returned to what they were doing. The Malfoys' presence was commonplace.

"Ah, the Malfoys, your table is right this way." A young man with red curly hair and slender stature approached them, with stunning blue eyes and a tailored suit. He took notice of Anastasia automatically as he knew she was not part of the normal party. "And who is this lovely flower? Draco's guest perchance?" he asked.

Anastasia shook her head. She felt something brush her arm and shooed away a bright green beetle that had come flying her way.

"Foster, this is my Goddaughter, Anastasia Dumbledore." Narcissa gestured grandly, ushering her forward by her shoulders. "She'll be joining us tonight."

"The Miss Dumbledore? The pleasure is all mine." He took her hand gently as a greeting. "Mrs. Malfoy, I admit, I heard about this in the papers, but I never expected her to accompany you to our establishment. Excuse me while I fetch an additional chair. You'll find your regular table is waiting for you." There was a way he said "our establishment" that made Anastasia question what the place was meant for. She hadn't heard about it at all, and until that day, she thought she knew every place in Diagon Alley. The room radiated a warm energy, despite its dark interior.

She followed the Malfoys to their table, and Draco pulled the last available chair out for her. Again, they briefly made eye contact, and this time she was the one who blushed and looked away as she thanked him and sat down. He stood next to her chair until Foster could arrive with another. When they were finally all seated, they looked over the eloquent dinner menu.

Appetizer

Billiwig Pique and Nettle Salad

Main Course

Dragon Scale Etouffee

Dessert

Snidget Toffee Pudding

"Most of these creatures are endangered," Anastasia commented, which for her would be enough reason to leave immediately. The Malfoys glanced at her from over their menus.

"They're delicacies, darling," Narcissa responded, excusing it away, "Captured as common pests."

Anastasia immediately had a flashback when she and a demiguise were captured as common pests, and her nostrils flared.

Lucius, seeing her coming outspokenness, preemptively shot back, "Eat or don't eat. It's none of my concern," and turned back to his own menu.

Draco watched her for a second more, his gaze suggested she back down before she get them into more trouble.

Anastasia sighed and prepared for a less than filling meal.

When the appetizer was brought, Anastasia tried to pick around the billiwig stingers and when the main dish was brought, she did the same, although it was hard to tell the dragon scales from the bell pepper. They hadn't had their meals for more than a minute when a man in a black dress robe and square face came to leer over Lucius and Narcissa.

"Hello there, my old friend," he said. He clapped Mr. Malfoy's shoulder and gently touched Narcissa's with the other hand. She bristled at the voice and twitched away from the familiar touch of greeting; fork poised over her bowl. Lucius gleamed in delighted recognition.

"Dolohov! Haven't seen you in quite some time. Where is your family?" Mr. Malfoy asked. Dolohov rolled his eyes.

"Venice this year, but you know how the Ministry is right now with the world cup coming along. In fact, I have something I'd like to share about a special event with some of our old—"

Lucius cleared his throat to cut him off and shot his eyes toward Anastasia. Dolohov's gaze grew wide.

"I didn't know you were entertaining such a—" he caught Narcissa's daring glare and changed his tone "—illustrious guest this summer. Perhaps we can catch up another time…"

"No need," Lucius dismissed. "The children were almost finished."

"No we weren't," Draco scoffed. "And we're not children."

"Cissa, Dolohov and I have some catching up to do. Do you mind?" Lucius asked. Narcissa stared her husband down warily.

"That's quite alright. I would actually love another glass of wine. Draco, why don't you take Anastasia out for ice cream, and we will meet you after to go home." Anastasia shared a glance with Draco, both worry and embarrassment.

"Um, okay." Draco said, taking the change Narcissa offered him, and rising to leave. Anastasia didn't want to leave. She didn't like this this Dolohov character and how he was acting. She already noticed Narcissa's hair stand on end when he arrived. She looked directly into her godmother's eyes, trying to ask if she really wanted them to leave, or if she was simply sacrificing her own sanity for theirs. For the first time, she saw an ounce of fear.

"Go on." Narcissa motioned with her head. Anastasia stood from the chair but did not move further. The two men glared at her but did not say anything.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Anastasia offered.

"Are you as daft as your father, Miss Dumbledore? Go!" Lucius nearly snarled. Narcissa again gestured for her to go with a head motion.

"That was uncalled for." Draco told his father, glaring back, but took Anastasia gently by the hand to lead her away. She did not fight him as he led her down a back staircase and out the exit into the alley, her heart swelled with anger, embarrassment, and fury.

"How dare your father call my father daft, call me daft? How could he not tell that your mum was uncomfortable? Who even was that man?" Anastasia demanded as soon as the door shut behind them. Draco was not quick to answer. He looked over his shoulder as if he should maybe go back inside and make up an excuse to rescue his mother. Instead, he shook his head and turned back to Anastasia, on the verge of taking the head off the next person who approached her.

"Dolohov is one of father's old mates. He shows up every now and again, holidays, special occasions. He was acting queer though." Draco commented. Anastasia threw her hands up and turned back to Draco.

"Dolohov wouldn't say a word in front of me. That's why we got shooed. I can't believe we got shooed!" She walked away from him, arms folded, frustrated. Above them, twilight glowed between the rooftops.

Anastasia started to walk out onto the main street, but Draco grabbed her hand and turned her around.

"You know what, Anastasia?" he asked. His face hovered inches in front of hers. A reflex, her hand immediately shot to the wand pocket of her dress. He noted it but kept going. "You are the most empathetic, intelligent, and brave witch I've ever known. Father doesn't know what the bloody hell he's talking about."

Anastasia froze. She felt like he hit her over the head with a brick.

"I'm sorry?" she asked, certain she misheard him, or that maybe he had gone daft himself.

"You heard me," he said simply. Then he realized what he had done, let go of her hand, brushed his own off on his robes, and stepped out into the lamplight. His ears turned red once more. Anastasia's heart pounded in her chest. She thought for sure he was about to say something else to crush her spirit, but quite the opposite. "Fancy a dessert?"

She stared at Draco's profile a moment longer, certain what happened had to have been a rip in the space time continuum, but it wasn't, and he was still standing there, smirking, waiting for her. She couldn't say anything, so she started walking towards Florean's, hoping he would get the hint and follow. He did.

She wanted to spiral around and ask why he did that, why he said that, where that had come from, but she didn't. She kept walking. He eventually caught up on her right side. She managed to smile faintly to let him know she was alright. Other people were watching. She couldn't stop now.

"I didn't mean to upset you," he said gently. He meant it as an apology. Anastasia shook her head, processing what his outburst meant. He wasn't being careful anymore.

He might have kissed her on impulse months ago, but the last thing she could possibly perceive was that Draco Malfoy admired her, maybe even fancied her. He was a jerk, a spoiled brat, a terror. He hurt her friends. He never said anything nice. And yet, she remembered all their times together in the hospital wing, and how he would read to her, and how his voice made her feel like everything was going to be alright, no matter how physically damaged they were that time.

"Anastasia," Draco said. He had stopped walking. Florean's was only a few more feet away. They stood in front of the entrance of Flourish and Blott's where they had run into each other accidentally four years prior. She also stopped, still thinking. "Bloody hell. Say something."

Slowly, Anastasia turned and allowed her thoughts to form into words like drops falling onto her tongue and out of her mouth. His expression was desperate, but hard to read. He wanted to hear something, but she wasn't sure what.

"Draco, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Thank you for standing up for me in front of your father. That was very brave of you," she finished, shaking slightly. He looked back down.

"You're welcome. But I'm not just saying it to make you feel better. It's true. You are." Draco looked back up to her eyes, and she felt herself blush again. She couldn't take any more confessions tonight. She had to think about this a little more.

"Can we go get dessert now? Before either of us turn any redder? Florean will notice, you know," she said playfully. Draco laughed and smiled.

"Of course—beautiful." He winked on the final word, and Anastasia's face burned bright red once again.

"Draco, what the hell?" She hit him playfully, and he ran into the ice cream shop laughing. She ran behind as closely as she could behind, careful not to trip in her heels. The bell clanged above them, harmonizing with their laughter, and Florean looked up from his work cleaning the bar.

"Why, Miss Dumbledore, Mr. Malfoy, my two best customers! You're here early this year. Come take a seat." He gestured to two stools in front of the spot he was working at. They each took their place, and Anastasia felt her flushed cheeks begin to calm down.

"We can't be your best customers if we only come once a year," Anastasia said with a grin. "I'm sure you have people who work in the alley who come once a day."

"Did I say best? I meant my favorite," Florean replied with a genuine smile, his glasses falling slightly down his nose. "And actually! I've found a new spell that will let me send you reminder coupons by floo. All I need you to do is write your name and house name on this parchment."

"I'll take it." Draco extended his pale hand to grab the parchment and peacock quill. before Anastasia could react. "They can both go to the manor then, supposing you'll be with us more often for the holiday," Draco assumed. Florean buttoned his lip in intrigue.

"And who says I'm coming back?" Anastasia asked, feigning disgust. Draco rolled his eyes, but with a smile that made the notion pleasant and familiar.

"Mr. Malfoy, it seems you have some convincing ahead of you," Florean noted, but Draco ended the line with a flourish and handed it back to Florean with a dash of pride. Florean looked at the line and read it aloud. "Name: Draco Malfoy and the Most Brilliant Witch He Knows, Malfoy Manor. Well, that's quite a compliment, Miss Dumbledore."

Anastasia scoffed. Florean's eyes widened in surprise.

"But that could change! What if you meet someone more brilliant than me? Then I'll never get the coupon," Anastasia argued and looked back at Draco. He was grinning even more, in fact, neither of them could remember a time they smiled so much.

"Not going to happen. You're the most brilliant of them all." Draco said with an air of importance. Anastasia couldn't say another word, she looked back to Florean incredulously. He was holding back a lot—both laughter and commentary.

"Is this all on record?" Anastasia asked. "I want my coupon."

"I have every word, as it was written." Florean gestured grandly to the parchment. "Now, what will it be? The regular?" he asked, looking between them. The two looked at each other questioningly.

"I'm thinking something a little fancier. You see, we were just rushed away from dinner," Draco commented. "Have anything new?"

Florean snapped his fingers with an impish grin.

"I have just the thing." The man busied himself behind the counter, grabbing this and that, putting it all in a bowl. A moment later, he returned with a large sundae filled with what looked to be four different types of chocolate ice cream, marshmallow topping, and chocolate shavings. The entire bowl was bigger than a quaffle.

"Blimey, that's massive!" Draco exclaimed.

"There's no way one of us can eat all that." Anastasia commented, shaking her head.

"It's not for one person! It's for both of you. Share!" Florean placed the dish onto the bar and slid one metal spoon into both sides.

"Oh," Anastasia managed to say. She glanced at Draco, who glanced back at her with a smirk. She rolled her eyes and nervously picked up her spoon.

"What? Afraid of cooties?" Draco teased. She rolled her eyes again.

"Course not. Just eat." And the two sat in silence for a while, enjoying their dessert.

A few minutes in, the bell clanged above the shop again, and three familiar redheads walked in. Ron, Fred, and George. They were laughing about something. Ron froze when he saw them.

"Anastasia—what are you doing?" Ron stared in shock. "You're sharing ice cream with Malfoy?" Anastasia couldn't say anything that could change the truth. Ron knew about the lifeline, but the twins didn't. She supposed in his eyes, it didn't excuse her actually dating Draco.

"Mind your own business, Weasley," Draco said. "We were having a delightful time until you showed up."

"Did you hit your head? Did you forget what he's done? To Hermione? To Harry? To you?" Ron said, completely ignoring Draco.

"Hey, Ron, calm down," George warned, stepping forward to take his brother's shoulder and hold back. Fred mimicked George on Ron's other shoulder but stared at her bewilderedly.

"Don't tell me to calm down, she's nearly our sister! How would you feel if it were Ginny?" Ron said to George.

"I haven't forgotten." Anastasia said once she finally found her voice. "That doesn't mean I haven't forgiven him."

"Forgiven? I don't remember him apologizing to any of us. Did you?" he asked Draco again.

"I thought I said it wasn't any of your business," Draco growled.

Florean ran out from the back waving his arms.

"Boys! Boys, stop. I am happy to have you here, but there is a strict no-arguing around the ice cream policy. It makes the ice cream taste bad."

As he said this, the ice cream still left in the bowl melted into gray goop.

Anastasia, eyes prickling from the heat of oncoming tears, shook her head and rose from her seat.

"I believe I am the point of contention. So, I'll leave." She shouldered past Ron, Fred, and George and ran out the door.

How could Ron be so cruel? Yet he was right about Draco, how could she forget? It would never work.

She ran down the street until she found a small alleyway to duck into. She covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks and she sobbed.

"Anastasia!" Draco's voice called out to her, and she sunk further into the shadows. "Anastasia, please!"

He appeared in front of her, shifting her hair out of her face with one hand and bringing another hand to her waist to pull her closer.

"Anastasia, hey, hey, don't believe those gits," he tried. She looked up at him.

"He's right…he's right, nothing's changed. As soon as we go back to school it's going to be the same. Even if we're away from your father, you'll still have your friends to impress, and we'll still be in opposing houses."

She sobbed because her heart hurt. She sobbed because she didn't mean to get this attached to Draco, and again she was going to be torn apart.

"Anastasia, look at me," Draco said, cradling her face in one hand. She did as he asked and found his pale storm gaze observing her intently.

"What?" she asked belligerently. "Have you changed at all since first year? Why should I be in a relationship with you?"

"Because to me, you're everything," Draco said, and his lips connected with hers.

Draco Malfoy kissed Anastasia Dumbledore. And when he did, all the doubts in Anastasia's mind melted away because it felt electric, and it felt correct, and it felt like things should always be that way. The brush of his lips against hers, genuine and passionate, convinced her.

Draco paused briefly to gauge her reaction. When he couldn't tell if she liked it or not, he whispered, "Please don't believe that git. I want to be with you. We can make things work."

"Who are you talking about?" Anastasia asked with an enchanted smile. "All I see is you."

Anastasia wound her arms around his neck, and pulled him back to her lips, deepening the kiss. She prayed she was doing it right. And when he finally pulled away, something left with him that she wanted to take back again and again for all eternity.