
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/5755426.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Underage
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      Harry_Potter_-_J._K._Rowling
  Relationship:
      Draco/oc_Draco_Malfoy/OFC
  Character:
      Draco_Malfoy, Original_Female_Character(s), Ghost_Cedric_Diggory, Harry
      Potter, Original_Veela_Character(s)
  Additional Tags:
      Veela_Draco_Malfoy, Mates, Teen_Romance, Eventual_Sex, Romantic_Comedy,
      Deathly_Hallows_AU, Veela_Fest, Shes_kinda_a_spitfire, Possessive_Draco
      Malfoy, quarter_Veela, Lucius_Malfoy_Being_an_Asshole, Claiming_Bites, OR
      IS_IT, Mating_Bites, I'll_go_with_both, Dom_Draco, Light_Bondage
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-01-18 Updated: 2017-02-06 Chapters: 15/? Words: 39945
****** Once Upon a Time in the Life of a Quarter Veela ******
by Dr_Mini_Me
Summary
     Ara Lovegood might be a slight spit fire with a grip on potions but
     she apparently has an inheritance coming in on her 16th birthday
     that's going to change everything...but who cares about that, right?
     I mean her best friend said the Dark Lord is supposed to be
     returning! Veela!Draco DM/OC Slight AU (Only when it comes to
     Voldemort)
Notes
     Alright so this is kinda a redo of a much more serious draco/oc veela
     story. Its just begun but may continue on until the war! who knows!
     I only own Ara
     I have an account on fanfiction.net under the same penname minus the
     _'s, theres also a Mister Evil on there. Send me a message if you hit
     one of those! :3
***** A letter came by *****
)()(
The first thing I truly remember before Hogwarts was Luna and dad working on
his magazine. My mother was fuzzy, I had been told that I was the closest to
her when the spell backfired. In part I felt that I had caused her death, if I
hadn't been so close, she would have been able to move. Luna and I were
identical twins, from our hair to our eyebrows pulled back giving us what
seemed to be a forever surprised look on our faces. I had been born
approximately two minutes after her. That was where the similarities ended. She
was forgiving and patient while I could be cruel and often quick to anger.
Somehow deep within me I felt it was partly my duty to protect Luna's ability
to trust and love nearly anyone, this was especially true when Ravenclaw began
to take advantage of Luna's trusting nature.
On the other hand, something kept telling me it was my fault mother died that I
could have done something since it had happened, however I also remembered
another person there that everyone claims wasn't. I'd lay in bed at night and
think about it then run to Luna if a nightmare occurred. Luna never blamed me
and had made peace with mum's passing, I could tell dad still missed her. When
we were 10, we could hear dad still crying over her. It was heart breaking but
after that, it became less and less of a thing.
However the Quibbler became more and more apparent, I kept telling Luna that
he'd just replaced the time with something else. I was a skeptic, I knew I had
been for ages. He wasn't better, I could tell. They'd often discuss the
mystical and often fictional creatures he'd tell the world about in the
Quibbler. She always held a resolute belief in the magazine and everything it
said. She'd just smile and tell me the same thing she had for years when things
were going wrong,
"Ara, even a Heliopath must take time off" I frowned at her as she started to
hum and turn back to what she'd been doing. I sat down on the floor next to
her. The floor was rockhard and cold but the fire gave off a warm tone to the
dark living room.
'Even a Heliopath must take time off'? I pulled my knees up to my chest and
tried to remember what that was. Dad kept mentioning it every once in a while
to Luna, something about suffering. I laid down on the floor entirely, sprawled
out. I laid there for a second and realized that the smell of...radishes and a
sweet orange smell was drifting down off the table. I popped back up and looked
at the table Luna was leaned over. A row of red radishes and Dirigible plums
were lined out according to size, as well as a row of shining silver earring
hooks.
"What are those for?" I asked curiously as I leaned closer to watch her skewer
one and set it off to the side.
"I'm testing to see if the plums or the radishes keep the pixies away any
better. You do know how they love to play with my hair." She said softly as she
skewered another.
"Then why so many?" I asked as I took in the entire row.
"Because I enjoy the taste of these so much I find myself continuing to eat
them." She replied with a giggle as she held up the plums and radishes, I
grinned at her.
I didn't believe as much as she did in our father's publishing but it gave them
time to bond together. My father and I grew rather distant after Luna and I
were sent to Hogwarts for our educations. He would write in Luna's letters to
tell me minor things such as the Wrackspurts had stopped chewing at my mattress
and that our room still smelled of rose-hips.
It was only until our fifth year, this year, after the tournament's big blow
out. The death of Cedric had still been a rather sore spot for myself. I had
fallen only a little in love with the boy. Only a little bit...enough to make
my heart hurt to see his lifeless body on the grass. It caused something to
break within my chest, like a knife cutting from my heart to hip. Luna knew to
avoid the subject well enough though. I often ran to her when my dreams turned
ugly like they had every once in a while.
I sat at the Ravenclaw table as per usual, staring at the food surrounding my
empty plate. The latest started out like they all do, we're laying next to the
lake. I'm curled up into his side as he hums and plays with my hair, stroking
it. He was always good at calming me down. He'd keep telling me everything was
going to be fine. I was worrying for nothing. Its always right as I believe him
that the water starts to bubble furiously until a large black cape comes up to
the shore and drags him out of my arms, swallowing him whole with a loud
malicious laugh as hes completely gone. Forever. After several minutes Luna
leaned over and whispered in my ear.
"Garderplacks in your stomach again?" She asked, I shrugged. She and dad always
came up with the oddest creatures to explain things like a lack of hunger or
bedbugs. Sometimes even just bullys, in Luna's case. She kept calling the
disappearances Nargles when we both knew other Ravenclaws were hiding her
things. She patted me on the shoulder.
"Piece of fruit and some lavender cake will get those right out for you." She
placed a handful of grapes on the plate and a slice of the pale lavender
coloured cake. I gave her a tired smile as I poked at the cake. She took care
of me a lot of times, this happened to be one of those times. I tuned out the
noises of forks hitting plates and conversation as I focused on the food. I
felt someone sitting next to me, their thigh touching my own and glanced over
to see a black curled hair sticking out to the side. Harry.
"Eating something great?" He asked quietly as Luna turned back to her newest
issue of the Quibbler, she'd gotten a letter from dad as well but was choosing
to read a little first, ever the loyal reader. I shrugged at him too.
"Wow, I can tell you're really interested in conversation today." He stated
sarcastically and poked my shoulder. I rolled my eyes and tried to find
something to discuss with him.
"Wheres your shadows?" I asked, sounding just as sarcastic. He shrugged this
time.
"Dunno. Hermione will find her way here sometime and I think Ron is still
asleep. I was about to sic Herm on him but I was merciful." I raised a brow as
he nodded to himself. He thought himself a merciful god indeed. I rolled my
eyes as he winked and began to fill his plate up with food. Harry and I had a
mutual understanding that came with people you love dying. The silence ensued
again at the table.
"I wanted to ask how you were dealing with...everything today. Its the first
day back anyways and we never got to spend the birthdays together." He said
quietly. I sighed and looked around. Other Ravenclaws rarely sat near us, it
was simply due to the fact that they'd hidden some of Luna's things again and
I'd caught them. The explosive anger came out and the magical side got a
little...heated. Many had gone to the hospital wing for minor burns. I felt a
weight touch my thigh softly and looked down at the calloused and pale hand.
Riding brooms hadn't done him any good cosmetically.
"Hey..." I looked up at him dully, he looked concerned with his bushy eyebrows
drawn together so tightly. I raised a brow and tilted as I waited for him to
say something.
"You know you can tell me anything, right?" He asked quietly. I had said the
same thing when Harry was hit with the trial, he'd owled me about the situation
and I ended up visiting with Luna's help. I wasn't the best flyer but it was
truly in that moment that I decided he wasn't all that bad. In the years past I
had found him to be a little annoying, he always seemed to be at the heart of
all the trouble but clueless as to why. It had been the ignorance that bothered
me the most and after talking, I found the reason why he was so ignorant.
"Last night was just rough. Thats all." I nodded and gave a sleepy smile. He
nodded back in understanding and turned back to his food. I used to think Harry
had a crush on me but as time went on til now, I think thats just how he
displays familial affections.
"Any interesting classes for you this semester, Ara?" I looked up from
destroying the pale purple cake to see Hermione sit down across from us. I
guess the Gryffindor trio were just hanging out here for a while. Ron was
following her here, he looked as tired as I felt. It took me a second to
respond, trying to find words, she raised a brow, waiting.
"I'm looking forward to Potions quite a bit this year." I stated looking her in
the eye with a slight smile as she narrowed hers. I knew it bugged her just a
little that I seemed to have a talent for potions and that Snape didn't call me
out nearly as much as she did. To be honest, I think it was partly that I just
had a bit of talent and that I wasn't in the Gryffindor house...which he seemed
to hate with a passion. I just got a kick out of her cheeks turning bright red
as she gets angry, my face was pale as snow and rarely showed much expression
since Ced died.
"Well! I hap-Bloody hell!" She had begun to speak but was cut off by Ron
pointing at the teacher's table and cussing. We all looked up, including Luna
who'd been quietly reading. There was a short women with the face of a snarled
bulldog she was dressed in all pink...she hadn't aged gracefully to say the
least. We all went silent for a bit as Dumbledore stood up for his speech and
to introduce the woman. He had begun with a greeting as always and then
motioned to her right as she leaned over to talk. All our eyes widened as we
looked at one another in shock.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and
wizards to be of vital importance. Every headmaster and headmistress of
Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this
historic school, and that is as it should be, for with out progress there will
be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be
discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering.
Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and
accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting
what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought
to be prohibited." She finished with her name and rank there, like a bunch of
students would care. I didn't like her. At all.
Luna distributed an open letter on my lap. I looked over at her and raised a
brow. She looked back with a face that looked almost stressed, it worried me.
"Its to do with our upcoming sweet sixteens and the bloodline." She was stated
quietly as she looked back at Umbridge. I nodded until I processed "sweet
sixteens", what the hell?
"What the hell is a sweet sixteen?" I whispered and she gave me a smile.
"Muggle term for a 16th birthday." She explained patiently to me. I just nodded
and looked down at the letter.
Dearest Luna and Ara,
As your 16th birthdays will soon be approaching, I found it necessary to tell
you darlings that your blood is in fact all Wizard but also a quarter Veela.
This in itself can be a tricky situation and might explain the differences in
your wands...or its just the Ragle Nuts messing about again. You do know how
they love to distribute one's personal possessions to their friends, Luna.
As I was saying, there is infact only one quarter Veela in the two of you (your
late mother was a half Veela). This means that you may or you may not come into
some form of revelation on your 16th. If anything it does explain why we're all
so pale!
Much love,
Daddy
"What does that even mean?" I whispered to myself as Harry turned his
attention, drawing Hermione's as well. He took the letter and began to read. I
just sort of continued to play around with my food, thinking to perhaps ask
professor Snape if he ever asks for any help in his inventory.
***** Weird Dreams *****
Chapter Notes
     Woooooo, super serious/introductiony first chapter...shame on all of
     you for not dropping a review. Also I completely forgot to mention,
     the speech was taken out of the books from umbridge.
     Anyone realize what symbol im using as a divider? No? Thats okay, I
     didn't think you would. (super sassy author is sassy)
===============================================================================
 
)()(
I kind of floated along to Potions. Or more I was trying to...Hermione kept on
asking me questions about Veelas. I tried to answer as much as I could actually
recall but Veelas as a species kinda never occurred to me as apart of my
species. I'd kinda been tuning her out as a nod from me every once in a while
seemed to keep her running on her own inquiries. We'd just entered the
classroom and I had my back turned to her, unloading my books and papers.
"Well I mean how do you guys have sex? Don't you have to be marked or mark them
in some way? I mean does it happen through a bit-" She was rambling questions
at this point, her curiosity peaked. I spun around, slapping a hand over her
mouth as she stopped her rampant questions.
"HUSH, GRANGER." Now, honestly thought I just said it at like a normal person
volume but the fact the entire classroom went silent gave it away. Not even the
sound of a paper rustling...aaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhhhhhh.
"Ugh!" She was muffled from behind my hand. A snort was heard from waaay across
the room. Like on the other side of it.
"Just! Shush." I took in a deep breath, trying to not let my anger bubble up at
her completely and utterly embarrassing me. Eventually I felt calm enough as I
implored her to be just a little...silent. I looked around the room actually
trying to be covert about it but I noticed everyone in the Slytherin and
Ravenclaw houses were watching me. Some had grins, others had a look of pity.
The more people I realized were watching us, the more I could feel all the
blood rushing to my face and ears. Ooooomigawd Snape is going to kil-
"Ms Lovegood, perhaps it would be best to simply ask Ms Granger to leave my
classroom and continue your seemingly meaningful discussion outside my
classroom." I cringed as Professor Snape sneered, right on cue. I didn't even
want to turn around, I just bobbed my head up and down while I vice-gripped her
forearm to tug her out of the room. The anger levels were kinda just about to
explode.
"Also, Miss Granger, 15 points from Gryffindor for inappropriate conversation
and disrupting my class." Snape called out to Hermione as I watched her
eyebrows pull together and her mouth fall into a frown. I sighed and yanked her
completely out of the room.
"WHAT EVEN?" We got right outside the door as I started to yell. She started to
look a little pissed off herself and I could only assume it was at the fact I
was yelling...BUT HOLY CRAP SHE SAID THAT IN FRONT OF SNAPE. I WAS TRYING SO
HARD TO COMPETE FOR FAVOURITE WITH THE STUPID MALFOY KID. How am I supposed to
do that now?
'Oh yes, sir, I'd like to become your apprentice in potion making.'
'I shant have such a frivolous girl apprenticing with me.Now you'll go on to
apprentice with noo one because I heard what Hermione Granger was yelling about
in the middle of class and I'm telling everyone.'And then I go on to amount to
nothing because no one will take me on.
...okay so he wouldn't sound like that but that would be the general idea! I'll
be ruined. No one is going to forget this. Oooo my gosh, I just want to
strangle her for this shit. I'm so not asking Snape about Veela stuff now.
"I forgot where we were, I just got really lost in the conversation. Sorry,
Ara." She crossed her arms and cocked a hip out to the side. I remembered she
was standing here as I had my whole vision about how this moment was going to
ruin my chances of favourite. I could feel my face morph into a "are you
serious" face as I started to think about it again. My eyebrows pulled together
as I glared and sputtered incoherently. She was acting so nonchalant.
"We'll talk about this after your class, okay?" She shrugged at me when I
didn't fully respond and patted me on the shoulder as she walked by. I
continued to sputter...like a GENIUS.I went back into the classroom in a
combination of fuming silence and red faced embarrassment.
I had been working on assignments alone for most of the years past due to being
paired with Neville the first time. Though back then the houses taking classes
together had switched around a lot. It used to be Gryffindor with Ravenclaw
then Slytherin and Gryffindor, then Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and finally just
Slytherin and Ravenclaw. I thought back to it as I sat down, waiting for the
class to begin and trying to forget what just happened.
"Neville...what did you just add?" I asked uneasily, looking at the brass
cauldron. It was bubbling and caused the room to smell worse than usual. This
classroom was always rather dark, being in the dungeons, the smell of mildew
and moisture hung heavily in the air. It was my second year in this class, the
first had been rocky but I found I had a slight hobby with Potions.
"U-uh..." He stuttered looking nervous as my face darkened. I waited for a
second until the mixture started to turn black, instead of the pink it was
meant to be as a cure for boils.
"NEVILLE, WHAT DID YOU ADD?" I snapped a little, reaching for him. He let out a
slight yelp and tried to take a step back, knocking over the potion as it sat
in his clunky path. I screeched as the boiling liquid hit the top of my feet
and ankles. The classroom went silent as they watched the show, the only one
that bothered to ask if I was okay was Harry.
I was a little distracted by the burning sensation and the bubbling anger in my
veins.
"YOU! WHY IS IT THAT OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE TO BE PAIRED WITH, ITS YOU?"
I screeched as I pointed a now boil covered finger. He squeaked as I
approached, trying to blindly kick the potion at him. I got a little to land on
his exposed wrist when I felt a hand on my shoulder, holding me back from
strangling the little sucker. I kinda felt like a raging bull but I didn't care
at the moment, I was just furious. Later on, however, I felt awful.
"Professor Snape?" She asked dreamily, her wand tucked behind her ear as usual.
"Miss Lovegood?" He asked back, looking the slightest bit amused. It looked
like he was trying to hide a smile behind his steepled hands as he sat behind
his desk, far from the splash range.
"What shall we do, Professor?" She asked him, sounding a little more annoyed.
He cleared his throat as if suddenly remembering he was teaching.
"Please escort them and anyone else touched by the potion to the hospital
wing." He said seriously, standing up and waving his wand to dismiss the
potion's mess.
"...Ms LOVEGOOD." I could Snape yelling as he brought me back to the present. I
felt an elbow jut into my side at the same time with some force and jumped from
what felt like an electric shock connecting the elbow to my ribs. Snape was
watching me, he looked kinda irritated...
"Yes?" I asked hesitantly as I tried to covertly rub the shock and pain away
from who ever did that.
"I asked if you perhaps knew what was the main ingredient to an Amortienia
potion." He said crossly. I opened my mouth to say Rosehip right as another
voice did.
"Rosehips." I turned to glare at the other person at the table. It was the
stupid Malfoy boy. With his stupid fluffy hair and its ability to lay perfectly
straight. It was like he'd never had acne in his life.
"Correct. Five points to Slytherin." Snape called out as Malfoy turned to sneer
at me. I didn't have much to do with him over the year. I had found more in
common with Harry and due to his hatred of the blond, I just kinda avoided
Malfoy. My family was a bit of an oddball and so we were a drag on the 'higher
ups' of pureblood society, leaving us as outcasts and disconnected to the rest
of them. Last I heard, he'd celebrated a birthday at his giant manor.
We made eye contact for what I'm sure was a mere second but felt like forever.
I started to feel warm in all different kinds of places. Places I hadn't though
about blushing before. My chest and legs felt like they were on fire, I tried
to look away but it just wasn't happening for me.
I physically couldn't, it was starting to bother me when it seemed like his
eyes had turned freaking white. WHOSE EYES DO THAT? After it registered that
they had in fact turned white I started to truly panic, adrenaline and sweat
were starting happen. It was making me very uncomfortable but I was also
enjoying the eye contact.
He finally nodded and looked back towards the board. I suddenly relaxed, like
I'd been released from some kind of bounds. I froze at the thought. What if he
had done some kinda spell? I mean I know I could be a little paranoid at times
but that was just so weird.I didn't know what to do other than try to take
mental notes each time I saw him and made eye contact, I didn't remember this
happening in the before times. Did we ever make eye contact before? Surely
we've had too. Maybe I just had a stroke.
)()(
I touched his hand once by accident when he handed me ingredients, we'd been
working in complete silence after the lecture portion had ended and the potions
began. It was just as electrifying as the first time. I tried to move away
faster but I was holding a tube of flobberworm mucus and I didn't want to spill
it. I tried my damnest to avoid all eye contact as well.
The end couldn't come soon enough and I practically ran away when Luna was done
with hers. We got to the library rather fast considering how quickly I was
walking. I heard a few comments as we went by, some were pretty normal "Oi,
look its crazy and angry. .""Bloody barmy, that one." but then there was a new
one, "Look at those baby's bounce"with a whistle of appreciation. I immediately
stopped with that one, looking around for who said it.
I looked around and spotted a shorter Slytherin, when we made eye contact I
knew it was him. His grew two sizes too big for his head while mine were
narrowing.
"What was that, Snake?" I was practically yelling at him and he tried to play
it off. It was waaay too late. I'd already seen the guilty look on his face.
"Nothing you need to worry about, Lovegood." He replied snootily. I let go of
Luna, she was frowning and biting her lip. I knew she didn't enjoy the conflict
but we were about to have one if he didn't bloody well apologise. It was a
level of disrespect I couldn't stand. If Ced were here he'd never let this arse
talk about us like this.
"Oh? Lovely, then I expect an apology for your comment." I bite out, glaring at
him.
"Not bloody like-" He started before Malfoy appeared next to him. We all had a
slight jump, excluding Luna of course. I was about to go in for blood if he got
smart with me again. Malfoy wouldn't be able to save him. They were whispering,
the short one kept letting out sounds of discontent while Malfoy's hand on his
shoulder continued to tighten.
"Right...uhm...sorry, looney. UH! I mean Lovegood." He started out shakey,
calling me by my sister's cruel nickname instead. He let out a sound of pain
and quickly corrected it. I nodded and slowly backed away, grabbing Luna's
hand.
)()(
It had been a weird day so far. At night I didn't have much of a nightmare, if
anything it was just a strange dream. I was kneeling next to the garden I kept
at home, it had all the normal ingredients for potions.
Shrivelfig, Wolfsbane, Mandrake etc... I loved my plants and there was nothing
more I loved to do outside than to tend the garden. At first I was entirely
alone, our home far off in the distance. However after what felt like a few
minutes I was joined by large pale hands. They had a few callouses but all
together looked young.
"Harry?" I questioned, for some reason I couldn't quite look up entirely. That
wasn't the strange part by any means, stranger things have happened in dreams.
"No." Was all the voice answered. He sounded my age if not a little bit older.
His voice had deepened entirely compared to the 15/16 year old boys I was used
to being around.
"Who then?" I asked, trying to get some kind of answer out of this guy. His
voice sounded pretty and when he was closer to me, he smelled like aftershave
and freshly baked bread almost.
"Do you love to garden? Or is it just for potions?" He was avoiding my
questions. I sighed and shrugged.
"A little of both I suppose. A love for potion ingredients leads to a love of
potions themselves." I replied stiffly. I wish I had a name for this guy.
"I see. Is there anything else you've got a love for?" He wondered. I shrugged
again.
"A few things. Friends and sweets mostly. Sometimes I just enjoy taking a long
hot bath." I declared. The answer startled me almost, it seemed I'd just dumped
out all the thoughts and pleasures that really only Luna knew. This was where
it got weird then weirder.
"Mhm. I suppose I chose a good spot for this meeting then?" It was like he'd
said it right next to my ear. I jumped slightly in the dream as he chuckled.
Instead of speaking I just nodded.
"What is your name?" It'd been silent for a little bit, almost pleasant while
also a little awkward. It continued to be after I asked, he seemed to be
thinking.
"You may call me, Dragon." He finally responded and I nodded to myself.
"Its time for me to go. Have a good day, love." He spoke quickly and as I felt
his lips touch my cheek, I jumped awake in my bed.
"Are you okay?" I could hear Luna whisper next to me and nodded.
"I was about to wake you up when you sort of just catapulted yourself awake. No
matter." She murmured and patted my head. She was still asleep I supposed.  
)()(
Breakfast was a little boring. Harry hung around for a few minutes, talking and
making the odd joke until his friends came around and called him back to the
Gryffindor table. When the mail came through, a bag was dropped onto my plate
of eggs and grapes causing both to splatter. The paper was bring and florescent
yellow, I decided it was Luna's as I'd never want a bag that bright and dad
knew it. 
"Luna, I think dad got you a little something." I replied gruffly as I stood up
to heft the bag off my food. She shrugged. 
"Looks rather odd but leave it on the ground, I'll look at it after I finish
reading." She called out and I nodded. Grabbing a new plate and filling it with
food. It was like I could feel eyes on my back again. It was unnerving. A few
minutes passed and I stood up shakily. It felt wrong to be in here now. Luna
watched me out of the corner of her eye as I looked around the room. Harry was
watching as was Malfoy. I couldn't look away from him again. SPELLS. ITS ALL
SPELLS, I TELL YOU. 
"Ara?" I felt Luna's hand on my arm and was able to look away. I swallowed
heavily and took in a deep breath.
"I'm uh..going to head down to herbology. I'll see you there, okay?" I stated
quickly and shuffled out of the great hall. The whole way down it felt like
there were eyes on my back the whole time. I felt someone grab my hand and pull
me behind a large rock off the path when I shrieked. 
"SH! Its just me, Ara." He put a hand over my mouth and I actually looked at
the person. Oh. It was just Harry. 
***** Soon when? *****
Still no reviews? Shaaaammme on you all.
)()(
"Holy crap, Harry!" I yelled as I smacked him in the arm. He just kinda
snorted. Stupid asshole.
"Easy to scare, I see." Was all he replied. The grin died down as I glared.
"What?" I snapped, a little pissed off he'd scared me like that. I may be over
reacting but hey, somebody had too.
"Just wanted to ask if you were alright was all." He muttered as he stuck his
hands into his pockets. I didn't answer for a second, watching him jump
nervously from leg to leg. He wasn't looking me in the eyes, either.
"I'm fine. Just got a little weird." I replied slowly. I was still watching him
shift back and forth. I had to make sure that I wasn't doing the same thing,
little blossoms of heat started up in the pit of my stomach.
"Well I saw Ferret boy staring at you pretty hard. Just got worried when you
rushed out of the room. Didn't eat much." He was just about mumbling so I
leaned closer. He was suddenly watching me with very large eyes. His nervous
shuffling had stopped finally. I raised a brow.
"What? You were mumbling." I raised both brows. He was just watching me now. It
wasn't quite like Malfoy's stare, I was just watching him watch me...
"Ferret boy's a little rude, don't you think?" I jumped as did Harry. Second
time today, goodness sake I need to get better at these things. I looked over
to see Malfoy himself looking back at me with a bit of a smile. It was like he
was trying to be friendly but had forgotten how to smile. Kinda adorable in a
way.
"Better than Mudblood." Harry barked out causing Malfoy to look away from me to
him. I was released again and began to try and covertly look around at his
wand...his literal wand, Brain.
"Things have changed. Situation is different, Potter." He sighed, looking at
Harry. Harry just rolled his eyes.
"Right. Sure it has." Harry spoke with a sarcastic tone, obviously not
believing him. I couldn't blame him though I hadn't dealt with Malfoy, just
heard of his adventures with them. Malfoy just shrugged, looking away from
Harry...back to me.
"Off to herbology, Ara?"Malfoy was talking to me again, softly. It was rather
odd to be fully addressed by him. I kinda liked the way he said it.
"I'm walking her there." Harry stated sounding just a little pissed off. I
sighed at this. Kinda understand how Luna feels when I'm always the one in
conflict and she gets to watch her sister yell fight me at someone.
"You've not got Herbology, Potter, and the bell is about to ring. You'll be
late." Malfoy stated firmly, he looked down to me and I shrugged. Harry kinda
let out a mixture of a frustration sound and a 'fine!' as he stomped off.
"You called me by my first name." I was the first to speak as we took the steps
slowly.
"I saw you got mail this morning. Landed right on the plate." ...that was his
response? He seriously was going to avoid that?
"Yup! Yes it did. It was Luna's." I responded gruffly as I clapped my hands
together in front of me. I was trying to find something to distract me.
"Are you sure?" He sounded like he knew something I didn't know. It bugged me.
"Yeah. No way my dad would ever send me something that yellow." I said the word
yellow with slight disdain, it looked bloody awful on me.
"...might not have been from your father then. Just someone who mistakenly
thought you'd like a happy yellow thing." He said sounding a little pissed off
as he stomped away and into the greenhouses. I raised a brow and sighed as I
followed him in. Eventually we wouldn't have classes with moody
Slytherins...maybe.
)()(
"Ara?" I was heading out of Herbology, kinda missing Luna. She didn't take this
class and elected to take it during fifth instead of first. Said something
about magical creatures, I knew she was hoping to find some of the ones her and
dad always talked about. Turning around I saw a Malfoy that looked to be
almost...slow motion jogging? Like his hair was flowing in the breeze... Well!
That sounded ridiculous.
"Can I walk with you?" He asked smoothly, already starting to walk with me
apparently. I wonder what would happen if I just said 'no' and walked away. I
shrugged.
"Malfoy?" I was about to ask if I could ask him a question, and I've just now
realized how ridiculous that sounds.
"Draco." Was all he replied, suddenly silent. For some reason I'd always
remembered him as being loud, obnoxious, and talkative. However, now he seemed
quite reserved.
"Why?" I questioned, see I can talk in one word sentences too. Suck on that,
time to watch him figure out whats happening.
"I feel we should be on a first names basis by now." Words just kinda flowed
out of his mouth with it barely moving, they sounded pretty.
"Why?" I posed the question again, hoping for another answer.
"I heard you have a birthday coming up soon. " He had jumped off onto another
subject.
"Yup." I sighed and looked around at the greenery. I could hear the crunch of
gravel under my shoe as we went up the rock way, the smell of damp dirt and
grass drifted up and down my face. It was autumn again.
"Malfoy, why are yo-" I started, fully turning towards him and stepping off the
path. I wanted some answers. However he ended up just cutting me off.
"Draco." He corrected and I sighed, facepalming myself. I was getting no where
with this guy. He was like a stone wall for answers.
"Draco,why are you here? We're not exactly BFF's." I started again, watching
him walk a few steps then stop to look back at me.
"I think it'll make more sense later. " He supplied as I watched him stand
completely still. I almost let out a growl as I stared at him, nearly
stonefaced. All that gave him away was a small smile cropping up on the side of
his left area. It was a smirk but a little more friendly still.
"That makes no sense." I stated a little miserable he was hiding whatever it
was. If I knew more, I could have the upperhand and it seemed like he wasn't
budging.
"I wish I could explain it but some things are better left alone." He nodded to
himself and I sighed, walking past the box of puzzles.
)()(
"Ara!" I turned around from the chest, Luna was calling out to me. I raised a
brow and looked at her shuffling with bunny slippers. Our 'dormmates' were out
or downstairs or just else where. Though even when it was night time, if I was
around they didn't speak to us.
"The gift was for you. Its full of your gardening things and a few books. There
was also some candy but I'm afraid I've eaten most of it." She explained as she
knelt under her bed and pulled out the gift basket. It was wooden and nearly
black, the paper covering it had been yellow but the ribbons were green. What
an ugly colour, yellow. It didn't go with anything. So happy and...florescent.
It was just so ugly.
I looked inside the basket to see a collapsible cauldron, some seeds, little
floating pots, bubble baths soaps and fizzies. I shifted those out of the way
to see peppermint hen eggs. Damn. She had eaten every bit of them. A black card
was dropped in front of me, I looked up and smiled at Luna's looming face. She
was adorable sometimes.
"I've been meaning to ask, honestly. Who is dragon?" She asked, sounding both
curious and like her mouth was full. The name Dragon threw me. I thought back
to the dream, it was so vivid and loud.
"Luna...are you eating those still?" I questioned, watching her chew then
suddenly stop. She swallowed and grinned at me, shrugging.
"I don't know who he is. It must have gone to the wrong person." Was all I
replied to her answer. I stood up, waving my wand and having the bag tie itself
up again with the card landing perfectly on the top.
"But you know its a he?" She was poking around again. I narrowed my eyes and
faced away from her.
"Dunno. Just assumed." Was all I responded as I shrugged. I was taking it down
stairs to the house elves, hopefully they'd know where it was meant to be sent.
)()(
A few days had passed, my dreams weren't about Dragon but...they weren't
entirely about Ced either. I was starting to feel guilty for not having the
raging nightmares and tears I'd been dealing with in the past few months.
Infact the hole felt like it was near closing. It was almost Sunday. Almost our
birthdays.
Draco and I were apparently getting closer. At least according to Harry
anyways, it seemed to him that we were almost too close.
"Hey, Ara...I uh..I wanted to ask you something." Harry wasn't sitting but he
was standing. Right behind me. It was kindaaa weird for me, everyone was
staring and chatting about him lying, as usual. I'd fight over Luna and as much
as I liked Harry, it was hard to fight for him when he didn't really care if
others believed him and his story. I did simply for Ced. I knew he wouldn't
have died for him other wise.
"Yeah?" I raised a brow as I picked up a grape and bit down on the front end.
Harry's eyes spanned over to Draco, he was suspicious and was still jumping
nervously.
"What indeed, Potter?"Draco bit out, he had apparently taken to sitting with
us. I wasn't sure why and Luna was always quiet in the mornings so I didn't
bother to ask her. She didn't comment on it other than I seemed to have lucky
ability to avoid the Nargles and their mischief.
"Malfoy." Harry addressed him gruffly, standing still now. I took another bite
of grape, watching them interact. Sometimes other people talking were just as
interesting as talking to them.
"I wanted to ask if you would come with me to Hogsmeade, f-for your birthday."
Harry stood strong until he reasoned. I shrugged, no harm in it. I didn't think
it would turn date material.
"Why not? See you after detention." I smiled as he let out a breath and turned
back to the food. As he walked past I could smell the cologne, which felt weird
but also a little awesome. I cansmell things now.
"Seriously?" He had gone silent for a tick and put his hand on my arm to get my
attention.
"What?" I looked at him then looked back at Luna, she shrugged and went back to
reading. Now he just looked irritated. My bad.
"Ugh. You'll see." He got up and stormed out. I just watched him go with raised
brows.
"Is it just me or is he moody?" I looked back at Luna and she nodded.
"Maybe hes got some wrackspurts in his ears again. I know he had them quite
often last year. " She supplied and went back to reading. I shrugged, maybe.
Maybe not. He had changed a lot though.
                                     )()(
"If yellow isn't your favourite colour then what is it?" Dragon and I were
laying on top of an ocean now. It was my chance to the aloof one this time.
"Not yellow." I stated with a grin. I wasn't making this easy for him. He just
groaned and I felt his arm touch mine, he'd moved then.
"When am I going to get to know who you are? You're obviously real." I still
couldn't roll over. I could only look a little off and when I did, all I saw
was blonde. Hard to tell if it was my hair or his.
"Soon enough. Still, I wish you wouldn't go out Sunday. I don't know if you'll
be up to it really." He sounded worried and I sighed.
 
"Gotta try it sometime. Can't keep going to Ced when hes not coming back." It
felt so easy to say in the dream. Like it didn't ever really happen, we just
broke up.
***** And now its time to DA club it all. *****
 Well things are slowly changing but this isnt a super fast thing. Also, just
in case anyone's read my Buffy story, it'll be updated sooon. Very soon. Slowly
running out of ideas here, please do supply some if you have any.
)()(
"If yellow isn't your favourite colour then what is it?" Dragon and I were
laying on top of an ocean now. He'd switch up the dreamscapes every so often in
the past few dreams. It was my chance to the aloof one this time.
"Not yellow." I stated with a grin. I wasn't making this easy for him. He just
groaned and I felt his arm touch mine, he'd moved then.
"When am I going to get to know who you are? You're obviously real." I still
couldn't roll over. I could only look a little off and when I did, all I saw
was blonde. Hard to tell if it was my hair or his.
"Soon enough. Still, I wish you wouldn't go out Sunday. I don't know if you'll
be up to it really." He sounded worried and I sighed.
"Gotta try it sometime. Can't keep going to Ced when hes not coming back." It
felt so easy to say in the dream. Like it didn't ever really happen, we just
broke up.
"Well yeah, but not with him." He sounded a little annoyed. I sighed again as I
rolled onto my side. I could feel the stomach pains in the dream even.
"Are you alright, love?" He rolled closer, I could feel his hand splayed open
over my stomach. I nodded, keeping silent.
"Just been feeling under the weather." I thought about trying to force myself
to wake up and decided to try it. I could shuffle down to the hospital wing and
grab some meds or something. I focused on it. Hard. Ignoring him ask about me
or what I was doing, I just focused all my possible energy. It resulted in me
jumping up again, but now I was awake. If he was real, he'd probably be pissed.
Oh well!
I got up and tried to quietly shuffle out of the dormitory, though honestly
even if I had woken someone they wouldn't have stopped me. I guess I was just
trying to be considerate. How odd for me. I was almost down to the library area
before I was technically caught.
"Ara?" I heard a voice and froze mid-step in the hallway. The voice was deeper
and accented as it echoed against the dusty old castle's walls.
"Maybe." I wanted to slap myself in the head for it. If it was a teacher or a
prefect, they'd just have confirmed the identity. I COULD HAVE SPRINTED AWAY
FROM THEM. Good job, Ara.
"Do you realize how late it is?" The voice asked sounding a mixture of relived
and amused...it also sounded like it was getting closer to me. I guessed it was
male.
"...Maybe." Apparently this was now my go to statement for when I panicked. I
could feel the heat coming and smell their...cologne? Not even sure, they just
smelled really good. Like really reaaally good. I just wanted to smell them
more...the thought just occurred to me how positively creepy that sounded. WHY
WAS I GETTING SO FREAKY? The male was totally silent now, all I could hear was
breathing. It was much darker than I thought it would have been at 4 AM.
"Do you know you're in the dungeons?" He spoke again, sounding a little
breathless. I shrugged and didn't realize for a second that we were in fact in
the dark so he couldn't really see my reaction. Wait a second...the dungeons?
How'd I get so lost? And how was I not caught?
"Wait, seriously?" I checked with him. I couldn't see his face exactly but I
could hear him. I turned and tried to walk back the way I'd come from to make
contact with a torch hanging out over the wall. I heard my forehead make
contact before I jumped back from the shock of something cold and pointy
hitting my head. When I was taking steps back apparently I ran into the guy as
well, tripping over the very tip of his foot. I could feel the toes as I fell
and felt his arms grip my back and biceps.
"You need to watch where you're going." He still sounded just as breathless but
a little worried, it like he was trying not to breath in almost. God, he
smelled good.
"Its a dungeon, how the hell am I supposed to see giant light holders coming
off the wall?" It was meant to come out as a frustrated yell but I could almost
feel his face in front of mine. It was distracting. I reached up and felt his
face, it was smooth and his nose was pointed.
"Your uh...face is awfully close." I muttered, letting my hand drop to my side.
I kept getting the urge to kiss him, I couldn't think about anything else. He
muttered something that sounded like 'fuck that' and I felt lips hit mine. It
took me a second to respond before I just wrapped my fingers in his hair and
reciprocated.
I pulled back breathlessly and moved out of his arms quickly. It was hitting me
on just how sudden this was, and how odd. I mean just kissing strangers in the
dark at 4 AM? Who does that?
"Ara." I tried to move but found I was rather...stuck. How unfortunate. Why did
I keep adding 'hows' into things?
"What?" I turned back towards the voice and it sounded like he sighed.
"Something very special is going to happen soon. I've made my peace with it and
planned accordingly, its time you did too." He stated. I frowned into the dark,
what bit of sense did that make? Absolutely none.
"What the hell does that even mean? Prepare for a thing that I don't know?" I
asked sarcastically.
"Not only that, who goes around kissing people in the middle of dark hallways?"
I sounded rather bitter and truth be told, I was getting a little aggravated
with the constant lack of answers.
"Ara, listen to me. This is a dream. You're dreaming, love. The kiss never
happened." He sounded closer and I scoffed. My lips were still getting over the
electricity it had supplied.
"What even? Who are you?" I asked incredulously, did he just go around kissing
people then claim its a dream? What a bloody lunatic. I turned to walk away
from the crazy man I just made out with when he caught my arm and pulled me
towards him.
"What are you do-" I started sounding both panicked and the beginning stages of
anger. I could feel his wand pointed right below my rib cage.
"Somnus somnare"He cut me off by mumbling the spell under his breath. I could
feel the drowsiness hit me as the sleeping spell smacked into my chest, my legs
wilted and my eyes closed.
)()(
"Ara?" I blinked twice when it looked like I was staring at a mirror, but I
looked worried. My body shook one more time and I realised it was just Luna
waking me up. Oooooo today was the birthday! I always got a little excited for
it.
"Yes?" I raised a brow as she frowned down at me.
"It's time for breakfast." She replied moving away from me. I nodded as I
slowly sat up, stretching. She was still watching me.
"What?" I questioned, feeling my hair and face.
"Where did you go last night?" She tilted her head, still looking worried but
also curious. I raised another brow at her.
"No where?" I replied slowly, getting out of the bed. I mean I had a dream I'd
gone somewhere but I hadn't actually gone anywhere. It was one of the weirder
dreams, honestly.
"Do you feel alright, today?" She stared at me for a second, suspicious.
"Yeah. Better than yesterday." I stared back wondering what was going on when
she just shrugged and turned to walk out the door. Weeeeiirrrddd.
)()(
"Ready for Hogsmeade?" Harry sounded both determined and excited. I nodded
getting up and grabbing paper. I had finished opening the gift from Dad and
Harry. Luna got another pair of her funny glasses that she claimed she could
see the Nargles with.
After 16 years together, I kinda just accepted her beliefs. Trying to say they
weren't real just got her riled up and I didn't really want to do that. I'd
gotten some candy from him, sometimes I didn't think he knew what I was into
anymore. He resorted to candy nearly every year now.
Harry's gift was more conservative, a bottle of low key perfume and a few gift
cards to shops in town. I was still flattered he'd gotten it and got one for
Luna as well, if anything I appreciated the fact he got Luna something as well.
Luna gave me a hug and slipped on her glasses, skipping down the great hall.
The walk over was colder than I thought it would of have been. I started to
shiver halfway, Harry stopped us and took his hat off. I raised a brow at him
as he shook it a little and stuck it on my head. I stared at him for a second
before it slipped over my eyes and then just burst out giggling.
"Good job." I said between giggles
"Well you have a small head, its hard to get things to stay." He retorted
shifting it up a little and waiting for it to fall back down. When it didn't he
nodded and started to walk again, I followed his lead. Eventually we came
to...Madam Puddifoots? Oh god. I was going to feel ssooooo out of place. We
stood outside of it for a second before I looked over at Harry. He was frowning
and looked like he was taking in deep breaths.
"Harry...don't take this the wrong way but I'd much rather go grab something at
a more casual place with you. " I posed quietly and watched the relief go over
his face.
"Oh thank goodness. I was terrified I'd have to drink out of a pink cup." He
turned to me with a grin and stuck out an arm for me to take. I did slowly and
we walked to a pub down the street. It felt...odd but also interesting to be
holding Harry's arm on what seemed like a date.
We sat down in the crowded, loud room and got butter beer. It smelled of
butterscotch as per usual and the room itself smelled of foods. I looked around
at all the witches and wizards chatting and laughing then back at Harry. He
looked like he had something on his mind.
"Is there something you wanted to talk about, Harry?" I poked his hand on the
table and he looked towards me, he was thinking. He'd been wearing gloves until
now and when I took in the results of Umbridge's detentions I could understand
why. It looked like there was permanent scarring at this point. I was good at
remaining silent with the women, she seemed to enjoy it and I didn't really
want the scarring.
"I just...I wanted to see where this went before I asked but...Ara. I know the
Dark Lord is back and I know Umbridge is in on it. Hermione, Ron and I were
putting together a class of our own to practice for him. I don't want to be
unprepared. You believe me, right? I mean if anything, Cedric would have wanted
it." He spoke with some level of urgency and leaned closer as his voice
lowered. He was nervous about it but also excited as he reached out to hold my
right hand. I nodded and smiled at him.
"Of course, Harry. Both Luna and I do. I'd love to come, I can even ask Luna if
you'd like." I patted his hand trying to be some what of a comfort. I watched
as his shoulders relaxed and he let a true full blown smile appear on his face.
"Perfect. The first meeting is today but we don't have to go right away. I mean
Hermione will tell us everything." He nodded quickly and shrugged. He looked a
lot more relaxed now. I let out a little giggle at the fact he looked like goo
now.
"Nah, lets go. It could be fun!" I said cheerfully and squeezed his hand. Maybe
he was a good idea after Ced. 
***** Bang bang, he shot me down *****
)()(
We'd found our way past everyone and snuck out to the Hog's Head Inn just
outside the village. The meeting had been relatively successful. I was
beginning to realize that Harry had become an icon, gathering support as the
ministry let Umbridge run rampant on the school. Many of the kids that came had
the scars to show from every detention with her. Really the only person I was
surprised to see was Draco, he sat silently in the back only coming up to sign
the sheet. He didn't look at any of us or comment when Ron called him out for
being there.
"Draco?" His silence worried me and I reached out to touch his forearm as he
leaned down to sign.
"What?" He jerked and glared at me. I swallowed hard, trying to keep the pangs
of hurt down and looked away.
"Nothing." I shrugged and looked back at Harry when I felt his hand hesitantly
move to sit on my thigh. I gave him a smile and watched Draco grab his coat,
leaving in a flurry of stomps and grunts.
"Think we should even bother keeping him on the list? He could be a spy for
Umbridge and You-know-who." Ron asked looking at Harry. He frowned, thinking.
"I think we should. He doesn't feel like a spy, ya know?" I addressed Harry, we
all knew he was pretty much the leader of the group. He nodded slowly.
"We'll keep him informed for now but heavily watched." He looked back at me as
he talked and I smiled. Sounds fair to me!
"Well! Now that its finished, we can be on our way." Hermione stood, giving me
a mischievous smile as I narrowed my eyes at her behaviour. Ron nodded and
stood too.
"Right, wanna head to Zonko's, Harry?" Ron put on his coat and looked back at
Harry expectantly.
"Uh..." Harry wasn't sure how to phrase it and nor was I honestly. He looked
back at me and I raised a brow.
"Ronald, we'renot going with them." Apparently neither of us had too, Hermione
did it for us. She sounded a little exasperated and I suppose dealing with Ron
all the time did that to someone. I watched as Ron's face become narrowed and
confused looking.
"Ron, they're on a date." Hermione sighed as I tried to stop a grin at her
expense from coming on. It was just a little funny in my eyes as I watched his
face form an O of understanding and turn red at the same time. He mumbled a
sorry and pulled her out of the room.
The rest of the date went by quickly as I slowly realized how cute Harry could
be. I wasn't sure how I hadn't noticed it ever before. He had the most adorable
smile and his laugh made me laugh, I felt like something could be missing but I
also tried my damnest to ignore it. I was sure it had something to do with Ced.
The birthday date ended with a small peck in the hallway before we entered the
castle.
It was dinner so we went to the great hall, electing to sit next to Luna. She
mumbled a hey and continued writing on her letter, after a while I got curious.
I leaned closer to her and she just gave in.
"Its to daddy, I'm writing to ask if we can do a story on Harry and You-Know-
Who's return. Thought it might help him out a little." She murmered keeping her
eyes on the paper and hand steady.
"Actually that would be great, Luna. Thank you." He replied sounding both a bit
surprised and flattered.
"It wasn't all my idea, Hermione suggested it a day or so ago." She replied
just as softly as before, picking her head up to enchant the letter to not open
and sealing the envelope. I raised a brow at the enchantment.
"Why the extra security?" I asked as I watched her tuck her wand back over her
left ear.
"Nargles." She replied as her eyes drifted up to Umbridge and back down to me.
I nodded, understanding what she meant. She handed the letter to me, I'd
imagine it was to give to the house elves. Eventually she got up and wandered
off towards the dorms, I'd imagine. Harry squeezed my knee and got up too. I
gave him a nod as he went by.
I was focused on waiting for Umbridge to look away long enough for me to stuff
the letter into my back pocket. She finally did and I stood up, acting as
though I was stretching and stuck it in the pocket. I was just hoping it was
short enough to not stick out. I wasn't wearing the long robe today. I tried to
casually walk out of the dining hall and noticed Draco had fallen into step
with me.
He seemed to walk with me until we were in the lower levels with the kitchen,
he wasn't saying anything. Just walking alongside me. We'd almost reached the
kitchen corridor as we took the stairs.
I tried to quicken the pace to get out of the awkward feeling that I'd gotten
from a silent walking partner and missed a step, instead landing on my ankle. I
let out a hiss as I lost traction when I tried to correct it. I closed my eyes
and figured this was going to end painfully but I'd survive. I'd basically
given up and let myself freefall but I felt someone try to grab my arms as I
went. I opened my eyes to watch Draco reach out for me with wide eyes as we
both fell down the remaining stairs. I closed my eyes again waiting for the
bottom of the steps as we were now propelling each other but instead I felt a
harder body and head a "Oomph"
"Draco?" I opened my eyes and sat up on top of him, he looked winded and seemed
to have frozen in a forever surprised expression. I started to get worried when
he didn't react, still holding the expression. I leaned down over him, trying
to take weight off of his torso. He blinked twice and looked down then back up
to my face, beginning to grin.
"What?" I raised a brow and shifted to sit by him this time, kneeling on the
stone next to him. I didn't like the look on his face.
"Nice bra." He spoke quietly but I heard it all the same. My mouth dropped open
right as I let my hand fly to slap the hell out of his stomach. It was the
first time I'd ever heard something like that come out of his mouth. The sound
of my hand landing on his stomach echoed up the stairwell. It was a hollow
noise off his stomach too.
"Agh! Bloody hell, watch it. I was just used as a human cushion for your
clumsiness." He sat up, breathing rather shallow. I began to feel a little bad
for smacking him that hard. Frowning at him as he rubbed his stomach to get rid
of the burning sensations I'd imagine, I just shrugged. I got up and continued
to wander down the hallway trying to find the painting of a bowl of fruit.
I heard him get up then felt a hand on my shoulder suddenly. I jumped and spun
around, my hand to my heart as I glared at him. He raised a brow and pointed
past us...at the exact painting I'd been looking for. I may have been a little
bit flustered. I leaned down to ticke the pear. It squirmed laughed and then
transform into a green door-knob, allowing me to open the door and saunter
inside to hand off the letter.
After we left the kitchens we walked until it was time to go down our separate
hallways for bed. I turned to try and say goodnight to the odd slytherin but he
was gone. He'd pretty much disappeared. It seemed like he had this special
ability to be however quiet as he wanted, whenever he wanted. Wish I could do
that.
)()(
Dragon had apparently decided to leave me be in the dreamworld for a few weeks,
however it also left the door open for more nightmares. They weren't fun but it
didn't hurt as much. Really the only one that did was of my mother and her
accident. I could still hear her shouting and the screaming as it all
backfired. It left me with little appetite the next morning. Draco was an odd
mix of distant and incredibly close at times. He seemed to be getting worse and
worse as the days passed us by and Christmas break come closer.
Each meeting I'd see him get thinner and more tired looking. Even his spell
work was getting off-kelter, per se. Sometimes a simple Expelliarmus would take
him ages to conduct, he'd wave the wand around a few times then actually do it.
He also kept throwing back potions at odd times.
"Ara. Malfoy. Time for your guy's duel." Hermione was conducting this session
of DA, Harry was in a detention again with Umbridge. She'd been getting onto
him rigorously lately. I supposed it was due to it being close to holidays and
she simply had no one. I nodded and walked away from the refreshment's table. I
went to one side of the mats and watching him go towards the other. We bowed
and took on our stances, his looked more tired.
"Alright. Here we go." I could hear him mumble it as it looked like he was
about to cast, I moved faster than him sadly.
"Expelliarmus." I spoke calmly but firmly as watched as his wand flew and he
shrugged, picking it up. I frowned and looked back at Hermione to see her
frowning as well.
The duel wasn't over quite yet but I'd won one round already. We faced again
and bowed. It seemed this time he had more energy, moving to cast as soon as we
finished with the ritual. I was taken off guard by his momentum and barely had
time to throw a shield up from his hex.
"Good grief, I see you've got your pep back!" I replied breathlessly as he
continued to fire the hexes and jinxes that I tried to block each time. I sent
back a few innocent ones, some to turn his legs into jelly, others to stick his
tongue to the roof of his mouth.
"I see you've not nothing outside of a shield, love!" He sounded like he was
enjoying it, almost laughing as I kept trying to defend the spells. I was
getting tired, not used to dealing with such a constant onslaught.
"Love?" I froze for a second as the nickname processed and felt his stinging
hex hit my torso. The burning sensation immediately started, but it got
stronger.
"AH!"I yelped as I fell backwards with it's force. It was the first time in
ages he'd actually hit me with something and holy shit it hurt.
"Malfoy, what did you use?! SHES BLEEDING, YOU BASTARD." Hermione was yelling,
I either didn't hear him or it just didn't register what he replied. Everything
was burning, I blinked twice as faces surrounded me and the noises blurred,
Draco's was the closest. I vaguely noticed my clothes felt kinda wet. He picked
me up gently, he looked so pale and tired. Almost as tired as I felt. Something
deep within me just wanted to cuddle, Draco and it was the oddest thing.
***** Bang bang, that awful sound *****
Chapter Notes
     Past two chapter titles have been taken from Nancy Sinatra's song,
     'bang bang', just felt like they fit! ^_^
"Where are we going?" I asked Draco feeling a little woozy with all the
movement and sudden pain. The world went between spinning and a deadly halt at
random times, it tended to go with the waves of pain. I kept wanting to just
turn and cuddle with him or hug him or something.
"Hospital, love." He replied quietly, still looking ahead and gruffly pushing
people out of the way. He sounded guilt-ridden and worried at the same time.
"Why do you keep calling me love?" I questioned, I was curious enough to take
on a hex from him in the middle of a duel.
"Do you remember being told about a Veela heritage?" He was now asking me a
question, I slowly mhm'd recalling the letter from my father and Hermione's
constant questioning.
"Ara, I need you to listen to me seriously for a second because otherwise I'm
going to take legal action. Okay?" He sounded quite serious. We stopped moving
for a second and suddenly all my attention was focused on him and a piece of
his blonde hair that curled up against the rest of his straight hair. It was
kinda adorable that it all went one direction except for one little hair. I was
kinda tired, honestly.
"Ara." I raised a brow as he started to snap his fingers in front of my eyes,
taking my attention away from the rebel hair.
"Sorry, I was watching one hair be rebellious." I replied with a slow grin. I
felt kinda light, like I was floating on air. My eyes were getting heavier
though.
"We have mates and I've found mine." He stated this and deadpanned as I watched
his face. I gave him a soft pat on the shoulder in congratulations, ah well.
Time to stop crushing on him! Sad times for Ara.
"Congrats, who is she? Or he?" I added it on just in case though he didn't seem
the type, bur as far as I know, you can't help who your mate is.
"Bloody hell, I just told yo- ugh. Its you." He started out sounding annoyed as
hell then switched it up, apparently finding patience as he lowered his head
and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You're funny." I replied and started to giggle as he continued his walk. I
started to blink sleepily as he continued to talk, he asked if I understood
something and just mhm'd then too as I finally just went to sleep.
)()(
I woke up in the hospital wing with a slight migraine and the ghost feeling of
a hand on my own. I opened my eyes to see the familiar stone ceiling of
Hogwarts in its carved, detailed beauty. I took in a deep breath, relishing in
the lack of the antiseptic smells that were usually found in hospitals. I did
smell some cologne though, it smelled alright I suppose. It was a mixture of
sandalwood and something like rain.
"Ara?" I looked over to meet relieved green eyes. Harry was here, lovely.
"Hey." I replied sounding a little crackly. I guessed that my voice hadn't been
used in a while. Or my body for that matter, I was sore everywhere I tried to
move or stretch.
"Do you remember how you got here?" He scooted closer to me with his stool and
I nodded. I remembered most of the trip. The end was a little fuzzy though.
"So you remember how you and Malfoy got into an argument and all?" He tilted
his head and raised both eye brows as I stared at him for a second. I slowly
started to nod, that was apparently our cover story. He made the oddest
expressions sometimes.
"How long have I been in here?" I questioned, looking around at the setting sun
out the windows and back at Harry. He frowned.
"Almost two days. Luna and the gang came by a little bit ago but you were
asleep. It took some time for your wounds to heal up and the blood loss was
kinda ridiculous. Did you know you were anaemic?" He almost babbled and I
raised a brow.
"Uh...How? How could I possibly be anaemic?" I stared at him for a second. We
were both speaking quietly though I think it was just in reaction to me
speaking just above a whisper.
"You didn't have enough vitamins or something. We need to get you on a better
diet, sweetheart." He said sounding determined. I sighed and shrugged. We went
silent for a second as I heard the doors open up and a set of feet walk quickly
towards my cot. Must be Madame Pomfrey. She always sounded like she was in a
hurry.
"Ah! I see you're awake, Ms Lovegood." Madame Pomfrey came around the corner
quickly, checking me over magically before she started to shoo out Harry. He
was still holding my hand and his grip tightened at her news.
"She's got some important business to attend too, Mr Potter. I think its best
if you come back in just after dinner or wait till tomorrow." She turned
towards Harry, motioning for him to go out the door. He frowned at her, looking
a little worried.
"What kind of business?" He looked back at me, I shrugged. I had no idea what
kinda business I had going on. I was just as clueless as he was.
"Now now, not to worry. Shes in good hands, Mr Potter." Madam Pomfrey tried to
comfort him with that notion and I raised both brows. What the hell was going
on?
The doors opened again, this time a few sets of feet hit the floor. They were
all walking quickly as well, though one of them I recognized. They were softer,
slower, and sounded more like a leisurely walk than anything else. It was
Draco.
"Ms Pomfrey, Mr Potter." Professor Snape appeared first, nodding to the Nurse
and Harry. I was a little thrown off by my potions professor showing up at the
end of my hospital cot. A shorter pale but also older female with a top of
brown hair curled into her white blonde and pulled off to the side stood with a
taller pale man whose hair was just as white blonde.
He had to be in his 40's or 50's. Otherwise he'd had a difficult and stressful
life so far. The woman had a friendlier face though she was also smiling while
both men looked serious as hell. Draco came to stand next to the blonde man, I
looked between the three pale blondes and figured that they were related. I
guess those were his parents.
"Malfoy, what are you lo-" Harry started to talk sounding a little pissy when
Madame Pomfrey physically pulled Harry away from my grasp. I almost leaned
forward to try and grab at his hand again as he looked back at me, just as
panicked as I was.
"I'll be right outside, Ara! I promise!" He was yelling back as she took him
outside. The doors closed and all was silent again. I stared at them, staring
back at me. I suddenly realized that there was no one else in the wing at the
moment, that was odd for Hogwarts. It was like every other student wound up
here at least once.
"How romantic, don't you think, Draco?" Professor Snape snickered and looked at
Draco for a reaction, he was on the verge of chuckling and I didn't like it. I
glared at him, he was just baiting Draco.
"Ara..." Draco started talking, he was hesitant and it looked like he was
trying to find the right words.
"Draco..." He glared at me for the sass, I just stared back at him. I was
trying to not give anything away on my face but by the look on his mother's
face it was obvious I was terrified. I pulled up the sheets and crossed my
arms, I was on the defensive.
"Ms Lovegood, or Ara if I might call you that?" His mother started talking as
she watched her son's attempt go down in flames. She took a step closer towards
me and I almost wanted to take a step back...if I could.
I just shrugged, I didn't really understand what this family wanted with me. I
mean their son cut my torso open, apparently...did the whole family and a
potions professor have to come by so I wouldn't prosecute him?
"Well the thing is, dear, my Draco has a bit of a problem, you see." She
confessed softly, still trying to bond with me I guessed. I raised a brow and
slowly nodded at her to continue.
"Really only something that you ca-" She started before Draco cut her off.
"Mother. Let me handle it." He was almost insisting upon it but she seemed to
be just as insistent.
"But Dragon, shes apart of the family now and you weren't doing all that good
of a job." She admonished, turning towards him. I caught the Dragon bit and
froze right as he did.
"Dragon?" I almost whispered the name. He froze the same time I did, looking
back at me as I looked up. It only confirmed he was guilty.
"You! You were in my dreams!" I declared sounding rather irritated before I
remembered we were in front of an audience and took it down a notch to passive-
aggressive glaring.
"How else was I supposed to get closer to you?" He questioned and I rolled my
eyes, looking away from him.
"Well I had been wondering why you needed my books." Snape sounded amused as
hell, it bothered me to no end.
"You could have, oh. I don't know...maybe talk to me?" I retorted glaring at
both the professor and Draco.
"I did!Multiple times over months, and look where we are, Ara!" He exclaimed as
he threw his hands up in the air and I rolled my eyes again.
"Yeah look where were are, I'M IN A BLOODY HOSPITAL BED AND YOU'RE HERE WITH
YOUR FAMILY." I ended up shouting, forgetting about the other three people in
the room. I was just angry as hell now. He scoffed, sounding insulted.
"Are you bloody serious right now? I only joined the club to be near you! While
you're off dating the fuckin' golden boy, soaking up all his fame. Tell me,
Ara, has he shagged you yet?" He bellowed right back, slamming his hands on the
cot. It shook rather ferociously as he did, I was little worried it was about
to collapse from his hit. I barely heard his mother try to get in a word of
warning or to calm him down, I wasn't sure. I was just getting more and more
angry.
"Maybe he has! MaybeI even liked it! Oh wait, I BLOODY LOVED IT." I was just
straight up screaming now as I sat up in the bed, my voice cracked but I still
got my point across. It hurt a little to sit up that fast and stretch the
bandages but my anger kept it all numb. I watched him through slitted eyes. His
eyes turned almost black, he was shaking with his fist's balled up. To be
honest, it wasn't even that great. I just wanted to piss him off, and it
appeared to have worked. 
"Ms Lovegood." I jumped a little as the older Malfoy's voice tumbled through
and shook my ear drums. His voice was low and loud. He was a little angry from
the vein pumping in his forehead. I raised a brow, rage and indignation fueled
my bravado against his glare.
"As being friendly and kind to one such as yourself obviously does not work, I
shall speak plainly. My son is dying. He has wasted too much time attempting to
court you in the traditional fashion. He has been continuously kept on potions
to fight off the effects of being an unbonded full-blooded Veela during his
courtship years. You may only be a quarter Veela but I assure you that the laws
concerning Veela's and their mates will still apply to you, Madam." He bite out
each word with near perfect pronunciation and calmed me down in a near instant.
"Lucius..." The women was practically scolding him as she shook her head and
frowned. He glared and looked away from her back at me, he was still standing
tall on his points.
"How do I know you're not lying?" I questioned quietly looking between the four
of them, noting Draco's pallor. Lucius practically growled but Draco held up
his hand to his father.
"It's true, Ara. I told you this when I took you here and Snape can account for
the potions." He was leaned over onto my cot, motioning back to Snape as he
said it. I scoffed at his story.
"Yeah, I was also almost dead from bloodloss,Draco. You could have told me I
slept with McGonagall and I wouldn't have remembered. Obviously hes with your
family, how could I believe him now? Plus theres the fact that they seem bound
and determined to have me join them, is Voldemort missing death eaters?" I
snapped at him, he glared back at me. I didn't like this situation at all, it
seemed that my options were quickly dwindling down to either letting him die
and move on with my life, accept that I have to share my life with him now, or
be served a letter from the Ministry.
"Ara! My family changed sides specifically for you, because I knew you would
refuse to ever take the Malfoy name otherwise. Why can't you just accept that
I'm telling the truth?!" He roared and I actually shut up for a bit. He
genuinely just scared the shit out of me. It took me a second to process it,
that he'd just confused and quieted me. I bit my lip as I sat there, processing
it.
"Just to defend his point and apparently my honour, Ms Lovegood, I have
actually been giving him a cauldron full of different potions to sleep, eat,
lessen headaches and fevers..." Professor Snape added quietly, not sarcastic
for once. I glanced at him before looking back at my hands, folded neatly in my
lap. A few minutes passed, I still said nothing and they didn't add anything
else either.
"This is a bloody disaster." I heard the miserable whisper before I felt a
weight near my legs on the cot. I looked up to see Draco leaned over with his
hands over his head. His mother looked worried, watching him. I watched him and
his mother for a few more minutes before I submitted. I didn't want to kill
someone and I didn't want to watch his mother cry over the loss of her only
child.
"Fine." I sighed, looking back down at my hands.
"Really?" Draco hesitated, I picked my head up to shrug at him.
"Sure." I restated, watching his and his mother's face light up.
"Lovely! I'll owl your father immediately, you'll spend part of the break with
us and of course the other half with your family. Oh! I just can't wait to get
started on the details of your ceremony, Dragon." She exclaimed as she kissed
his head and grinned at me then her husband. It was the smile of a woman who
just figured out her son wasn't about to kill over and while I wasn't happy
about this, I was happy it made her happy.
***** AH, shit. *****
Chapter Notes
     Woooooooo, long day. 3 chapters long. Sorry guys, it'll be new soon.
     Just needed to get out all the angrys.
)()(
Draco's family informed me of what was expected by February and what I would be
getting in return. I was to 'preform' as his mate within reason after the
ceremony in December. When I asked what this meant Lucius merely chuckled and
pointed towards Draco, it irritated me but I just glared at him and let it go.
In return I would be given financial stability and the Malfoy for myself and my
family, as well as safety from the upcoming war. When the elder Malfoy brought
out the contract and discussed the safety, it was an almost immediate
signature. Keeping my family safe from harms way was a slightly bigger factor
than dating Harry. Maybe he'd die before me? It seemed that was the only way to
break the contract. Outside of keeping each other alive, everything else was up
to debate, apparently Draco wanted it that way. Silly Draco.
"Now then, as the contract is out of the way its time I explain Severus's
position. He'll be here to make sure you're fulfilling your part, Ms Lovegood.
Its not that we don't necessarily trust you, its just a probationary measure.
Well to be frank, I don't trust you whatsoever." He gave me a sickly sweet
smile which I returned in folds. He gave me a short bow and a nod to Draco, his
wife squeezed her son and waved towards me.
I slowly nodded towards both of them, things were moving kinda fast for me. It
all kinda made sense now, I supposed. I was kinda oblivious to the world's
coming and goings as Draco sat with me, he seemed to be reading through it all.
I was out of it till I heard Draco talking and looked at him strangely.
"That'll do, thank you, Minxy." Draco thanked the floor and I heard a pop. I
looked down to see nothing there but a table with a plate of food. I leaned
back, staring at Draco like he'd gone mad.
"What?" He questioned. He'd noticed me staring at him and after a few minutes
asked about it.
"You just spoke to a table, Draco. Its a little off-putting." I remarked, my
vision flickering to him then the table. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Nonsense. It was a house elf, she brought you dinner." He replied and looked
back down at his books. A few more minutes passed as I inspected the Malfoy
heir. He'd gotten taller and more fit over the years, his face showed the most
of it once you looked past his current haggard state. His cheek bones had
become more pronounced as had his jawline. His hair was the same as it'd ever
been, he still had one rebellious curl. His eyes were still a pale blue but not
as pale as my own...Oh shit, hes looking at me.
"Are you enjoying the view?" He quipped, looking back at me with an arrogant
smirk.
"You wish." I scoffed, glaring at him. What an arrogant prat. He chuckled again
and went back to his reading. A few minutes passed in silence and I began to
look at the food, it smelled wonderful. Mince meat pie and potatoes.
Eventually I started to take small bites out of it then a few larger ones. When
I'd worked halfway through it, the doors opened to the infirmary again. They
didn't sound like they were moving very fast, if anything they were skipping.
Luna came skipping around the corner, giving me a small smile and stopped when
she noticed Draco.
"Draco. Still catching up on the novel, I see." She did a half curtsy and
looked at him.
"I might be, Luna." He grinned and nodded his head at her in greeting.
Apparently these two had some sort of understanding him and I didn't have. I
narrowed my eyes and raised a brow towards Luna as she pulled up a chair and
sat next to him.
"How do you two know each other so well?" I asked looking between the two of
them.
"Well to be honest, at the beginning of the year I thought I might be mated to
her. So naturally I started to try and spend more time around her." Draco
looked up and then at Luna, who nodded.
"I noticed it too at first. Then one day in potions he said he knew for sure
and that it wasn't me and we figured it had to be you." She added, looking back
at him then me. I raised a brow and crossed my arms.
"And you never thought to share this information with me? Your twin sister?" I
was a little insulted at the fact these two shared a lot more with each other
than me.
"No. I came into the phases much earlier than you apparently and He asked me
not to. He said he wanted to get to know you the old fashioned way instead of a
letter." Luna supplied softly looking back down at her hands. I scoffed and
looked away from both of them
"I realize you might not think its the best situation right now, Ara, but it
really is for the best." She was murmuring now, almost apologetic. I glared at
Draco, I was honestly blaming him for the split I now felt with everyone even
Luna. It was like since I was mated to this guy, I couldn't live a regular life
like I had been. I refused to answer her, just sitting there, glaring.
"Maybe now is the best time to discuss arrangements, Draco." Luna directed as
Draco shook his head He closed his book and took in a deep breath. Holy crap he
turned my own sister against me. MY OWN SISTER.
"No. These are things that she and I need to discuss in private, Luna." He
looked towards her and I almost let out a sigh of relief. She nodded,
understanding him apparently.
"Well, Harry is about to come back. Good luck!" She paused looking back at me,
I narrowed my eyes and watched her sigh. I wasn't about to hug her goodbye. No
way in hell. She nodded and skipped back out the way she came.
"Draco, you need to leave." I declared, glaring at him.
"No. I'm not leaving you alone with another male. It went against every
instinct I had and now I know why. Just the thought of you two...It makes me so
angry."He whispered, looking a little heard broken and angered at the same
time. I sighed as he seemingly got over it and moved on to reading again. Harry
and I had gone some ways but it wasn't nearly as bad as he seemed to be
thinking, we just shagged once or twice. Its a normal thing for couples in love
to do. Jeez. Why am I rationalizing sleeping with my boyfriend...or was
boyfriend. This was going to hurt.
"Do I really have to break up with him?" I whispered it, looking down at the
white bed sheets. I really didn't want too. At all.
"...I'm sorry, Ara. It won't have to be right now but eventually, yes. Besides,
once we're bonded you won't think about that twat anymore anyways." He grumbled
at me.
"Really?" I questioned looking up at him again. He reached out for my hand and
took it softly.
"Any wounds caused by past lovers will close up. That lot will pale in
comparison to us. I promise." He kissed my knuckles as he declared it and I
frowned.
I sighed then jumped as the doors came open once again. It was totally Harry.
This was going to suck ass.
"Ara? Sweetheart? Are you alright? I mean I heard some shouting before Pomfrey
banned me until dinner." He sounded a little put off by being banned but I
nodded anyways. I was technically fine.
"Then why is hestill here?" He asked looking at Draco. We both shrugged at
that. He was...there? It seemed he'd always just be...there. Always. I mentally
glared at the concept but begrudgingly accepted it none the less.
"I'm just around, Potter. Get used to it." He replied, still reading the book.
He wouldn't even look up at Harry. Harry glared but walked around to the other
side of the cot. I smiled at him as he took my hand.
"Well I wanted to talk to you about Winter break plans. I mean its already
December." He started, looking between me and our clasped hands. I smiled,
nodding. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Draco pick his head up.
"I can see you some of the month if you'd like Harry." I proposed, looking at
him for an answer. He nodded, grinning.
"That would be great. I'll be at The Burrow with Ron for most of the time, just
owl me whenever." I declared and this time, I nodded. Sounded fine to me. The
Burrow was relatively close to my home, I could easily floo there instead of
having to take that freakin' death machine everyone calls a broom. I looked
down at his hand and frowned.
"That bitch is doing a real number on you." I muttered as I turned over his now
permanently scarred hand. The wounds were still fresh from Yesterday.
"Well I won't give in. No matter how much she throws at me. We've still go the
DA." He spoke in a low voice but brought my hand up to his lips, kissing my
hand. I smiled at him, I don't care what Draco says, Harry's wonderful. We
stared into each other's eyes for a moment or two before we just started to
lean towards each other. My eyes started to close when I heard a great big bang
of something heavy falling. I jumped and pulled away to look around for the
source.
"Sorry, you two. Dropped the book." He declared, giving me a haughty look. I
sighed and leaned back to merely kiss Harry on the cheek. Right. Forgot he ran
my life now.
"You should probably get to bed, Harry." I murmured and looked up at him. He
sighed, nodding. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.
"Come on, Malfoy." Harry called. He walked to the end of my cot, looking
expectantly at Draco. I cringed as Draco shook his head.
"I have special privileges, Potter. Talk to Pomfrey if you need some extra
reassurance, Potter." He retorted sharply and went back to reading his stupid
bloody book again. Harry growled and stomped out of view, probably going
towards Pomfrey's office. The door slammed behind him and I jumped at the echo.
"Did you really have to be such an ass?" I questioned hotly after a few minutes
of silence. He let out a sarcastic bark of laughter. He snapped the book shut
and dropped it on the table next to me as he got up and walked towards me.
"Oh I don't know, did I? Ara?" He sneered and I flipped him off as he leaned
down. Soon he was only a few centimeters from my face, definitely a personal
bubble invasion.
"What? Just wanted to be in my face? Do I just smell really good, Malfoy?" I
snapped at him, getting more riled.
"Draco." He corrected as he rolled his eyes and only leaned in a centimeter
more. I was sorely tempted to just headbutt him and get it over with.
"Whatever, Malfoy." I leaned in a centimeter more, testing him. He raised a
brow at my obvious defiance.
"Really, Ara? We just ended a fight and you want to start another? My parents
and you precious boyfriend aren't here to save you." He cautioned and I just
rolled my eyes. What could he possibly do? He was officially under contract to
not hurt me again.
"Big deal, Malfoy. I don't need them to 'save' me, you're under contract not to
hurt me, you prat." I declared smugly. He sighed for a second, I could only
assume it was for the remarks and insults. I was a little angry and bitter over
today...Juuuusst a little.
"I can do a lot of other things that are on the contract, Ara. You better just
bloody call me Draco already." He snapped and I let a laugh out in his face. I
was trying to ignore the fact he looked sexy as hell right now and smelled
great.
"What the fuck ever...Prat." I had paused for a second, the other things bit
had just registered and they were a rather daunting prospect. Something about
the smell reminded me of a fuzzy memory, I couldn't quite remember all of it.
"Why are you so bloody aggressive?!" He took a step back and waved his hands
around as he yelled.
"Because you took my life away!" I yelled back, just as angry. He scoffed at
that and got back in my face. I looked between his lips and his eyes, trying to
stay focused on his eyes.
"I was already in your bloody life, you bint!" His voice echoed in my ears and
I just glared harder. I was trying my best not to jump at the fact his voice
was loud.It did help distract me from his freaking face though. That was nice.
"Harry was a bigger part than you would have been! The rest you just fuckin'
took over!" I screamed it all, trying to be louder than him. My voice was high
pitched normally but yelling, the sound was shrill and grating.
"Leave him out of this!" He was back again, louder this time. I opened my mouth
to yell something else back when he reached out and pulled my face towards his.
All of a sudden I felt lips crushed against mine, the sensation was both
startling and surprisingly...good? It was really good.
Holy shit. I reciprocated what turned into a french, fighting for power in the
kiss, he didn't seem like he was going to give it to me. Before it fully
registered, I moaned...Outloud. For fuck's sake, Ara. COULD YOU HAVE NOT KEPT
THAT IN? He pulled back and I just barely kept myself from whining and reaching
out for more. It caused a memory to pop up, it was Draco in the stupid
Dungeons. He had gotten rather close apparently.
"I told you so." He was smug as hell, twirling a piece of my hair between his
finger tips. He wore a shit eating grin as he stared down at me.
"HUSH. I don't want to hear it." I declared putting a hand over his mouth.
Thank goodness Harry hadn't been there, all the guilty feelings started to
bubble up. Why was I in such a ridiculously over complicated situation???
***** My bad. *****
Chapter Notes
     witpot: nonsense in devon dialect
     gimp: idiot/fool/imbecile
It'd been a few days after the big fiasco in the hospital. I'd been let out
since then and since then DRACO...I mean Draco, the darling man-child, has not
left my side, what so ever. Ever the faithful, watching, all
knowing...veela..guy-thing. Every time Harry got close, whether it was holding
my hand or a kiss on the cheek it was like Draco had a complete body
malfunction that ended in him flattening Harry.
At one point we were just walking through Hogsmeade on a weekend, he had
something to tell me. Something about a nightmare that scared the ever loving
crap out of him. Harry had just barely touched my hand when next thing I knew
he was face down on the snow covered ground, Draco on top of him.
"Uh..What?" I started looking down at the two of them, I was almost snickering
but that was more just from the surrealism of the situation. Draco looked a
little more smug than usual...Harry was just mumbling curses into the ground.
What does one even do in this situation? Abruptly Draco was shoved off and over
to the side. I face palmed as Harry stood and grabbed my hand, walking off.
"I don't get it, Ara. Why does he have to be here literally every time?" He
asked sounding pissed off as hell. I sighed.
"Its the veela thing, Harry." I muttered quietly as I watched people stare at
us.
"Yeah so what if hes your 'mate'? You're bloody taken." He was taking long
strides, looking behind us at Draco every once in a while.
When I told Harry about it he took it rather well. His exacts words were "As
long as your hearts not in it, I'm not worried." I asked if he knew what I'd
have to do and Harry nodded.
He knew. He declared it'd only be once but if it happened again we were done.
He was one the most understanding boys I'd ever known in my life, sometimes I
think its just because he needed the attention he never got at home and the
affection fills the hole...well done Ara. That was dark as shit.
"Its just going to keep happening till Christmas, I'm sorry babe." I sighed
again looking up at him. He let out a deep breath and nodded. He remembered
why.
Eventually we found a table in the corner of the usual three broomsticks, Ron
and Hermione met us there. As he discussed the dream concerning Mr Weasley
being attacked by a snake in the Ministry, I watched Ron's face turn white. I
couldn't blame him though what worried me more was that Harry seemed to be in
the point of view of the attacker himself.
===============================================================================
It was officially winter break and I wouldn't see Luna or Harry for around 2
weeks. Just the thought drained all colour from my face and made my tummy knot
itself up. Though when I looked at Draco's family standing at the
platform...just waiting, I could feel my face turn even paler. And here I
thought all the blood was already in my stomach making me ill! They were both
just standing there with stoic faces until Draco and I came around the corner.
The sudden onslaught of nerves wasn't reserved for just his parents though,
honestly it was reserved for things like riding a broom too high up or being in
a train cabin alone with Draco. Just scary, nerve-wracking, adrenaline pumping
things...and Draco's parents. The ride over was strained if nothing else.
"Do you not understand that after this, Potter and you are history?!" I'd
pissed him off again through refusing to break up with Harry. He was stomping
around the cabin throwing his hands up and wrinkling his suit. We were
surrounded by muggles and in the back of my mind I was worried we'd attract
attention.
"Do you not understand that after this only my name is yours?" I retorted
angrily, crossing my arms and glaring at him. I could practically hear the
magic starting to crinkle and crack around me.
"Oh, love. I'm afraid not. You're expected to act as my mate, in essence my
wife." He paused looking back at me. Sneering, he explained the situation I'd
gotten myself into. I could really only describe the equivalent of the feeling
to having cold water thrown into my face.
"Not bloody likely." I scoffed as I stood too, getting in his face. My black
dress was tight until the very ends where it fluffed out right above my knee.
"You signed your name, its really bloody likely."He asserted and paused again,
looking at my lips. I was briefly reminded of the kiss in the hospital and
immediately pulled back from him. A muggle slid the door open a tad bit and I
watched as Draco's head spun around to glare at them.
"Occupied." He stated in a half yell and a half command. I watched the girl's
face drain as she slid it back quickly, shuffling off hurriedly.
"We'll see about that, prat." I continued crossing my arms over my chest and
looking away from him.
"Oh we will indeed, pet. Especially when I get to the marking and bonding bit
of the vacation. Oh, I think you'll be singing a different tune after that
little bit." He smirked at my face of disgust and sat back down. I flipped him
off and felt some happiness when he practically snarled.
I was brought out of my reverie when I noticed how close we were to the elder
Malfoys. Narcissa pulled me into a hug where I just awkward patted her back,
unsure of what else to do. Draco's father just glared at me, I returned it in a
softer fashion making sure to stay away from Draco as well. I felt close to an
awkward third wheeler that wasn't liked by anyone...or just that friend that no
one wanted to take along but had to because they were just standing there.
"Oh, Lucius. Enough. The girl is obviously just as hardheaded as you and we
really must be going." She gently tapped his shoulder, dragging his attention
away from me. I heard some snickering and looked over to see Draco laughing to
himself.
"What?" I hissed as we started to walk. He stopped and raised a brow. I did the
same back and instead he motioned me closer with his finger. I obliged, moving
only a little. He shook his head and mouthed the word 'Closer'. I narrowed my
eyes and moved a little closer, leaning with my ear towards him.
"There." He whispered into my ear leaving the oddest and somehow delightful
string of tremors down my arms and back. I halfway expected him to say
something but instead he just wrapped an arm around my waist, resting his hand
on my hip. I felt as though my back was supposed to freeze but
instead...I...relaxed? I was puzzled for a few seconds until my thoughts went
blank for a stretch.
Draco smelled really frickin' good. It was odd, like I'd smelled it before but
if I had, why couldn't I remember it? I jumped as a flashbulb went off,
blinding me and killing my corneas. It was a bloody camera. I should have known
this would attract press. It felt like there was a lot of voices and yelling in
the back around as I was lowered but they were muted. I was still entirely
distracted by Draco's smell.
Draco's hand started to almost pet my hip, he was trying to comfort me? I was
more and more conflicted as I stared blankly in front of me. We were in a car.
Wait a god damn second here.
"When...when did we get into a car?" I was more or less asking myself but it
seemed that the entire car heard me. I felt crazy. How did I miss a block of
time?
"You shouldn't be using your allure that much on her, Draco." Narcissa stared
at me for a second before glaring at Draco. Lucius raised a brow at this.
"It was for her own good. Otherwise she'd panic and run at the sight of
cameras." Draco responded hotly, defending himself.
"Allure?" I repeated the word aloud. That meant to attract something right?
But...Oh my god.
"DID YOUDRUG ME, MALFOY?" I swiveled around to glare at Draco.
"No! Not at all." The colour left his face as he raised his hands in surrender.
"You haven't told her?" Lucius spoke this time, more curious than anything
else. I attempted to glare a hole into Draco's head as he sighed.
"Dear, he hasn't done anything of the sort. Its something that many can't
control!...Though obviously Dragon has figured out how too." Narcissa started
to try and defend her son but eventually gave up with a frown.
"It's something Veela's emit naturally if their mate is entirely unwilling or
hysterical. Calms them down. Frankly, its for the best with one like you, Ms
Lovegood." Lucius explained with distaste colouring his words. As I took in
what was going on as I scoffed at the man's explanation. He raised a brow as I
bit my lip.
"Thats not very fair, Mr Malfoy." I retorted with some annoyance as I crossed
my arms over my chest. I was beginning to be just a little infuriated.
"Oh? How so?" He dared me to respond and start the fight.
"Well for one thing, I never bloody asked for any of this. Nor wanted it,
gimp." I was more than willing as I replied with some resentment, calling him
out as the fool he was. The Irish accent was coming out as I got angrier.
Narcissa was sitting there watching the exchange with pursed lips.
"Lovely. She's from the slums and speaks like it." Lucius scoffed, smug now. He
sat back as I narrowed my eyes, blood running to my face.
"Enough." Draco's words came out sounding rather angry.
"Good. Its all fuckin' witpot to me anyways." I hissed as Lucius looked away.
The car went silent for a second, Narcissa was looking worriedly at Draco. I
looked over to see him.
"We will discuss your use of improper language when we're alone, Ara." Draco
spoke with a forced calm as he turned and stared out the window. I rolled my
eyes and looked the opposite direction, deciding to not have anything to do
with him.
"Its so lovely to have the family together." Narcissa spoke softly in a
whisper, I think it was honestly to herself as she stared down at the
floorboard, frowning. If anything I felt remorse for my actions simply for
Narcissa. She seemed to only want both of her boys to be happy but I'd thrown a
wrench in the works with my stubbornness.
)()(
"You need to remember whats expected of you, Ara. Malfoys don't go around
cussing each other out in public." Draco was pacing around me as I sat on the
bed. I sighed and looked at my nails during his little episode. I should paint
them some other colour than bright blue...maybe purple. All of a sudden the bed
jumped as I looked up to see his face right in front of mine.
"PAY ATTENTION." He bellowed as I stared wide-eyed at him. Okay! He was
starting to scare me now. I could see how this could turn bloody quite fast.
"You have all of zero respect for me, don't you? Thats why you continue on your
little charade with Potter." He was still only a centimeter or two away from my
nose. I pursed my lips as I took in the shaking. I moved back a little, trying
to get out of his general vicinity. He only moved closer, straddling me now.
"Do you think I wantto be the slave of some bint that couldn't give less of a
damn about me? And its all because of my blood. I don't even have a choice in
the matter! Y-you, selfish bitch. Its been like this all my life, this has only
been an issue for you the last few months.You don't notice anything but whats
right in front of your eyes." He wrapped his hands around my shoulders,
squeezing.
"Draco...you're getting very worked up right now." I used a honey coated voice,
trying to calm him. I decided to put my hand on his shoulder, the muscle under
it stilled but the rest of him continued to shiver and shake.
"Oh and don't even let me not mention the fact that my father is forever
discussing her status." He was still yelling but now it seemed like he couldn't
hear me. I furrowed my brow at him.
"Draco?" I tried to pull my shoulders out of his grip, it'd started to hurt. I
couldn't at first, so instead I just yanked backwards, pulling him on top of me
as I fell back on the bed.
"Shit." I muttered as I stared up at him. He'd stopped talking, instead just
looking at me. At least he wasn't shaking anymore? I guess? I wasn't sure if I
should be thankful for that or not just yet.
"Um..." To be honest I wasn't sure what I should be doing right now, I kept
feeling warm but not the regular kind. More like it was all rushing downwards,
I was starting to get embarrassed at how easily Malfoy could get me horny. Just
felt like it should take a little more than that. I bit my lip at the thought,
trying to focus on the pain.
I kept going back to thoughts about his member, what it'd feel like and tried
to shake them off. I bit down harder on my lip. I tried to look away from his
face but kept glancing back. His eyes had darkened, they seemed like they were
almost black. That thought in itself was distracting, I wanted to shift but I
was too worried I'd touch something I didn't want to really touch. Well I did
but I didn't. I'm a very conflicting girl, alright?
"You've hurt yourself." It came out as a bare whisper. I looked back at Malfoy
as he leaned down, focused on some thing on my chin. He looked like he was
debating something.I hesitantly moved my hand up to feel it for anything
odd...it was wet? I looked at my hand and saw the red. I was bleeding. I nodded
slightly, so I had then. I froze as I felt his tongue glide over my chin and up
and over my lip.
"You shouldn't hurt yourself." He mumbled as his tongue retracted from my lip.
I stared at him with utter confusion, where had the angry, hysterical malfoy
gone?
"What the hell was that?" I whispered back to him, I felt confident enough he
wouldn't pop a wing or a fang or something now. He propped himself up with an
elbow as his body relaxed on top of mine. It didn't feel like he was all that
heavy.
"...I was angry." He sighed as he picked up a piece of my wispy thin hair with
his other hand.
"You weren't listening and I knew you weren't. I won't take disrespect lightly
and I don't believe you do either, Ara." He stared at it as he spoke. He
sounded much older than 16 at this point.
"I realize that you feel your life is over, love. I do. I can't explain to you
how much your life hasjust begun though. Me? I was doomed from the start to
become, basically, a willing slave to a woman that was more than likely never
going to have to deal with the amount of unadulterated lust, love, worry,
affection, jealousy, that I was going to deal with." He brought the bit to his
nose and breathed in, smiling at it afterwards. The sight was almost...sweet.
"Sorry." I mumbled apologetic. I'd honestly never thought of it from his
perspective and felt like it was something I should have done anyways.
"Its not your fault. No one ever taught you. Really the only way my mate would
know is after the bond was made or she was already a full-fledged Veela." He
shrugged at the apology. I looked away from him as he went silent, not moving.
We were just laying there, almost cuddling as he fell to the side of me.
"C-can I try something?" Draco asked softly, I looked over at him and raised a
brow.
"Please?" He asked softly as he stared into my eyes. I waited a second before
nodding slowly. It seemed innocent enough. He leaned up over me again, putting
his hand under my chin. He was gentle as he tilted my head down and his to the
side.
"Close your eyes." He whispered as I narrowed them but then slowly obliged. It
felt odd but at this point I felt like I owed him enough trust to close my eyes
around him. It seemed I held his life in my hands.
I felt his lips touch mine softly, they matched for a second as we breathed in
sync. It tasted warm and sweet all at once it felt like even our heart beats
matched each other perfectly. It was an alien and odd feeling to me, the
affection I felt in that moment for him. All at once, just as it'd started, the
kiss ended. He pulled back as I opened my eyes.
"I knew we were made for each other." His eyes were smiling back at me, as he
stroked my chin with his thumb. He was gentle, soft, affectionate...all those
things I didn't think he could possibly be in my eyes. I'd always used that to
fall back on and stop myself from every even humoring the thought of Draco and
I. I started to panic as I realised that this was the time I actually felt
something when we'd kissed. Harry's words flashed to the forefront of my mind,
'As long as your hearts not in it, I'm not worried.' Oh god.
***** Alright, heads above water. *****
I rolled the opposite direction as fast as I possibly could until I felt the
bed disappear out from under me. I cringed as I hit the nightstand and fell off
the tall bed with a slight shriek and a loud clatter. The lamp tipped slightly
but was caught by Malfoy's magic, leaving only a book and a clock to fall on
me. I tried to block my head with my hands but found they never fell.
"You know, if you wanted me on top, all you had to do was ask." He spoke into
my ear lowly with a husky overtone. I tried to roll but found I was locked in
by two knees and felt an arse land on my own. I let out a loud groan as I laid
face forward.
"Get off." I grounded out into the ornate carpet surrounding his bed. I'd tried
to just roll of the bed, like a normal person. Well...not so much. I'd pretty
much rolled away like a nut case and hit my head then fell what felt like a
meter to a floor. Okay, I pretty much got what was coming to me...note to self,
don't roll that fast anymore off a bed that was this high in the air.
"This doesn't feel...like...I don't know, wrong?" I mentioned to the floor. It
honest to goodness felt like I was just waiting for his mother to come up here
to scold us and send me home with a nasty note of taking her son's innocence.
"How?" He spoke softly and sounded affectionate if nothing else. I felt the
weight lift off, a second later there were fingers running through my hair. It
was soft and gentle, they felt good...oddly. Though I also just liked people's
fingers in my hair sometimes. Tensing, I heard a soft knock on the door. Aw
shit.
"Come in." Malfoy called out with calm confidence in his voice as he continued
to play with my hair., I was wishing that he'd just sit on the bed or like on
the other side of the room. Just so I couldn't be blamed for any funny
business. The door creaked open and a heeled foot stepped in clicking across
the hardwood. Oh god. Its exactly who I don't want to see us like this.
"Dragon?" Narcissa called out hesitantly from the other side of the room.
"Down here." He announced from the floor. I didn't want to roll over at this
point, my cheeks would be red and I'd have the imprint of a nightstand corner
on my forehead.
"Oh. Its good to know that you've made up, dear. Can I possibly steal her away
for a bit?" The heels snapped along the floor until they stood behind us. I
felt an arm wrap itself around my waist as a kiss was planted softly on my
shoulder. Gross.
"Of course, mum." I was hauled up by the arm, frowning at the ground. Was I
always going to be treated as a cloth doll? Tugged and pulled wherever they
wanted me to be? Was that my life now?
"What happened to her head?" She sounded anxious as she tilted my head up with
soft nimble fingers, I looked her in the eye while she turned it to the side.
She was looking at the nightstand's mark. Pointy bastard.
"She rolled a little too quickly off the bed and smacked herself." Malfoy
replied nonchalant. I glared at the space behind Narcissa as she frowned at her
son.
"You ought to be taking better care of your mate." She reprimanded.
"Yeah, Malfoy." I admonished with an air of sarcasm. I was baiting him and we
all knew it.
"She doesn't learn if I don't let her experience it for herself. Shes far too
difficult for that." He explained with a shrug to his mother, completely
ignoring my bait. Damn.
"I still need her to be scrape free for the ceremony. It won't due to have your
mate bruised and battered from her own excursions." She sighed, letting go of
my face. I glared back at Malfoy as he nodded, understanding.
"Oh good. Can't beat me before the ceremony, Malfoy." I muttered to myself. I
just needed to be bruise free for a ceremony.
"I'll send her down once I'm sure the lesson has held, mother." He nodded to
her. She sighed but agreed anyways, nodding to herself as she went out the
door. It shut softly behind her, sealing.
"Muffliato." I turned around as he casted it.
"Oh shit." I muttered to myself as I watched his eyes zero in on me, backing
up. I knew I was in trouble for the Malfoy bits...probably also the beat
comment.
"You're not going to be able to hide any where this time, Ara." He motioned to
the room with his hand as he took calm, measured steps towards me.
"What are you doing?" I felt my voice raise as panic hit me. I wasn't sure why
I was so panicked, I mean it was just Malfoy. He wouldn't hurt me, probably...
"Your instincts know whats coming. Look inside." He bent his head at an angle
towards me. I backed up until I hit a wall. This was like three times in one
day that I'd pissed him off. New record, Ara. Thank you, me.
"Come on now. Focus! Why do you think you're anxious?" He stopped in front of
me, arms crossed. It seemed like he'd expected this reaction, I didn't though,
I hadn't expected any of this. I almost felt guilty. That threw me for even
more of a loop. Why wasn't I just around Harry? I could have just winged it and
focused on Harry, but nope! Had to give in for the protection of a family that
felt like I was better off not knowing anything.
"I can't." I hissed as I slid down the wall and pulled my knees to my chest. I
couldn't focus on any one thing with my mind so all over the place. I felt
overwhelmed some how. I felt a tear prick in my eye and heard a whine slip out,
making my shoulders lock up. I felt ridiculously overwhelmingly emotional and
it was none of the happy, nice ones. It was all the kinds that made your chest
hurt and your tummy spin.
"Obviously you have." I looked up at Malfoy, he'd crouched down to my level. He
had a small proud smile, the weight lifted at the smile but I didn't understand
why.
"How?" I asked incredulously as I took in a deep breath. I was trying to shove
all those confusing bits down and out, to calm myself down.
"We've made a connection at some point. You let me in, pet." He sat down on the
floor now, sounding excited and almost a little relieved.
"Nonsense." I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. No. I refuse to have any sort
of connection with the guy that took just about everyone away from me. He was
the enemy in all of this, not me. I glared, tears gone until finally his smile
turned into a frown.
"What the hell?" His brow furrowed at he stared at me with confusion evident.
"What?" I barked as I stood, checking my hair for a mess in his dresser's
mirror. I was angry with myself for almost crying in front of an ass like him.
"Hold on there." I turned away when he stopped me by grabbing the back of my
dress. It had me like a human rubber band, I was snapped back almost instantly.
I turned back and raised a brow.
"Did...did you just push me out?" He asked sounding incredulous.
"Excuse me?" I questioned.
"Did you just cut off the bloody connection?" Now he sounded a little angry
with me. I almost cowered as he demanded an answer. I shrugged with some
rebellion as I glared at him. I'd decided long ago on the train that I'd make
this as difficult as I could for him.
"You did." Now he sounded like I betrayed him as he pushed me back, looking
hurt.
"I'm not following, Malfoy." I bit out with some level of a passive aggressive
attitude.
"You know, I tried to have the nurturing attitude with you. I really did." He
scoffed as he glared at me.
"Oh for all of five seconds?" I rolled my eyes at it. All of a sudden I was up
against the wall I'd just walked away from. I froze as I heard a low growl, my
shoulders and legs locked up, leaving me to stand there and stare confusedly at
him.
"Hah! You've not cut the whole thing, you just thought you had." He sounded
victorious with his breath brushing my cheeks. He'd practically propped me up
against it with his knee in between my legs and his hands keeping my arms back
against the wall. I shook my head after I couldn't get a word out against him.
I expected him to do something; stab me, magic me into thinking this was a
bloody dream, kiss me, or just literally anything but stare at me.
"Now that I have your undivided attention...Firstly, love, its Draco or sir if
you'd fancy that. Not Malfoy, Prat, Asshole, Arse or anything else. Secondly,
the ceremony is in a week. You're better off slowly connecting with her instead
of getting ran over by her that night." He smirked at the last bit as I
frowned.
"Her?" I whispered as I started to slowly relax again.
"Whatever little part of you thats Veela, pet." He explained as he motioned to
my body.
"Now run along to my mother. I'm sure she'll want to discuss the dress or
something of the sort." He tilted his head and leaned closer to my neck, I
tensed as I felt him plant a soft kiss there and take a step back. I stared at
him for a all of a minute, he just smirked back at me until I turned and went
towards the door without a word.
"Ara." He called my name with some level of command forcing me to stop with my
hand on the door's handle.
"If you started to panic remember to just call me." He stated as I robotically
nodded, still focused on the whole lock up bit. I stood there for a second
until I realised I wasn't moving, I was just standingthere.
"You may go." He was quiet but the words seemed to be the key to my legs
working. I left the room without a word.
)()(
"Oh lovely!" I jumped and spun with a hand to my heart. It was just Narcissa.
Good god, this place was huge. I felt like I'd been wandering around for ages,
the paintings kept yelling at me too.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." She looked back at me, hands folded with a
softer smile on her face.
"Its fine. All your portraits here did the same thing." I gave her a forced
smile as I turned and followed the woman up a set of spiral stairs to the side.
She laughed at this, apparently it was normal.
"Now then, for the ceremony, it'll be a bit like a wedding dear but really only
for close family members. Have you ever been to one of those?" She looked back
at me expectantly. I shook my head slowly, I hadn't.
"Okay then we have quite a bit to practice." She smiled, friendly now. I sighed
as I followed her into ballroom of sorts. There were larger white marble
columns connecting the ceiling to the floor. The room was nearly empty except
for a black piano, causing our shoes to echo off the floors and walls.
"Is this suitable?" She asked looking back at me from the rest of the room. I
robotically nodded earning me another smile from her. I rarely saw Draco for
the next few days as it was all centered around details for the ceremony.
Dresses and dances and music and foods and table placements and how to bloody
walk,though it was nice that I didn't have to hide too much from Draco.
Narcissa took up most of my time and I slept on the floor out of spite.
He'd tried to move me at some point when he thought I was dead asleep but I
sucker punched him in the gut. I wasn't dropped like I'd expected, instead he
sort of groaned and dropped to his knees slowly laying me down on the floor.
After that he just seemed to lay an extra blanket on me when I was genuinely
asleep.
This worked fine until I had a slight nightmare, it was one of the normal ones
concerning Ced's body. The first few months, I'd talk to him in my head, ask
how he was doing these days and talk about what I'd been up too. These days I
hadn't at all some how I felt like this was his punishment for the sole fact
I'd almost forgotten him. I woke up from Draco shaking me, he'd smelled
overpowering blocking out any other smells or sounds.
"Wha-what?" I mumbled as I realized I'd been crying. I was sweaty too. Gross.
Suddenly there was a shoulder in my face, it was shaking, someone was talking.
Wait why am I in the air? My mind was muddled but calm now. Why was I annoyed
before?
I looked around to see the room was moving, no...I was moving something smelled
good. I blinked and looked next to me, Draco was on his side his hand was on my
head. My mind became clear again as I realized I was in the bed now. What just
happened here? The anxiety was coming back in strides.
"What.." I looked at the room, it was dark with the only light coming from the
window.
"Sorry. I couldn't stop myself. You were crying out for me and I just
couldn't..not...stop myself." He mumbled as he scooted closer. I blinked twice
before it dawned on me. He did the stupid veela thing. I sat up abruptly to go
back to the floor while I had the will but his hand caught me.
"Ara...please. Just for tonight." He spoke quietly but it stopped me none the
less. I sighed and laid back down, I didn't have it in me to fight it right
now. My heart was still pumping and I felt more and more scared the farther I
was away from him. I rolled on my side and looked out the window, his breath
bounced off of my back.
"You've been doing really well without me." He was just as quiet as before. I
shrugged, silent as I went through the nightmare again. It was always the
water. I didn't understand it. Why water?
"...Do you want to talk about it?" I shrugged again to his question. I wasn't
sure if he meant the nightmare or the lack of talking in the past week.
"Well I do. How often are the nightmares?" He continued I rolled my eyes and
rolled onto my back.
"Often enough." I replied cryptically.
"Are they always this bad?" He asked me some more, poking now.
"Yup." I decided that I was going to stick to one word answers.
"Can I do anything?" He sounded closer this time. I tried to look at him in the
corner of my eye out of curiousity but found it was just dark.
"Nope." I answered, popping the P just to annoy him at this point.
"No, sir." He corrected with some animosity. I rolled back onto my side as I
felt a hand on my hip.
"You're going to have to let me in at some point." He sounded determined now
and much closer.
"Kay." He was maybe a centimeter away from the back of my head. I blinked and
it seemed like things were moving in slow motion again. I wasn't anxious as my
heart beat slowed down.
"Ara..." I felt the urge to roll over onto my other side and allowed my body to
do so.
"Yes?" Something in me had me wanting to talk to him for his efforts.
"Why do you have such a strong wall?" He looked desperate and scared. I frowned
at it.
"Habit, I guess." I shrugged in response.
"Then we'll work on it." He decided as I frowned deeper.
"What if I don't want too?" I added. It'd kept me from breaking down. Kept me
strong and it kept me continuing. I neededit.
"Ara..." He had the commanding voice happening again. It almost irritated me.
"Malfoy..." I quipped, trying unsuccessfully to use the same tone.
"Seriously? We don't talk for nearly a week and you're back on that? Did you
learn nothing?" He asked hotly as I snorted and leaned a tad closer to him. He
glared hard at me.
"Ha-bit." I bit out the words in his face out of spite. I was keeping my word
to myself with making this difficult. He growled, his hand on my hip was now
squeezing.
"Excuse me?" He was giving me a second chance and we both knew it. I cleared my
throat and took in a breath.
"Ha...bit." I sneered and went to roll but found I couldn't. I was just kinda
stuck, it felt wrong to be disobeying him like this. Like I'd done something
awful that was grounds for bouts of guilt.
Abruptly he kissed me, the sounds of our teeth cracking together as he growled.
It felt like a direction was given, and I complied without thinking about it.
Some how my body just...responded. I leaned back a pinch to take in a breath
and found I was now on top of him. His hands were squeezing my hips as he took
in deep and ragged breaths. I pulled away entirely for a second, sitting on his
lap now, processing.
He growled as he sat up and pulled me back down towards him, I gripped his hair
out of anger and kissed him harder than he could do to me. He switched to my
neck, biting and pulling as he went while I scratched his back out of pleasure
eliciting another low rumble out of him. I was going to win this if nothing
else.
"Ugh, I love you." His voice was crackly and heavy with his hand was half way
up my shirt and squeezing. I moaned a second before I realized what he was
going for and stopped any more from escaping.
"Hey! No fair, this was an angry make out. Not a...love thing." I huffed and
crossed my arms over my chest. He scoffed as I stopped everything entirely.
"Seriously?" He rolled his eyes, sliding his hand out from under my t-shirt to
rest on my thigh. I nodded quickly, that was all it was supposed to be.
"And here I thought you missed me." He smirked as he shifted me on top of him
to be more center.
"As if. You said it yourself, I've been doing great." His hand squeezed gently,
causing my thigh to flex. I looked back down to see was still smirking, okay so
now he knew I was bluffing. So there may have been a few times I almost lost my
head, I think it was in Madam Malkin's that I nearly had a nervous breakdown
after the third formal robe I was fitted for. I don't know why I ever believed
his mother wouldn'ttell her only son.
"Let me just get this straight, you were totally into it, to go the whole
way...If I hadn't told you that I love you, pet?" He let his hand drift up to
my waist as I nodded. His hand was really only in the back of my mind. I was
halfway between annoyed, horny, and a little flattered he'd confessed. It was
an awful mess.
"You're afraid of love..." It was just above a whisper but it was true enough
for me to freeze.
"No!" I went to get off of him as he snorted and kept me there with his hands.
Oh good. Now he knows, he'd be even more insufferable now.
"This explains a lot." He muttered as I flipped him off out of spite, the walls
coming back up with how much it seemed he'd figured out.
"Like hell it does, prat." I was baiting him for the fact I wanted him to stop
the little discovery ride he was on.
"...Like why you only let me kiss you when you're angry. Its why you have
nightmares, isn't it? Hes the only one you've really loved since your mum
died." Draco was figuring this out too easily for my liking. It seemed he took
the bait but not quite how I wanted..now he was just listing things with a
little more passion and aggression behind his words. I huffed again and looked
away from him.
"Enough." I growled as he raised a brow.
"Don't like it now that you're the one in the spotlight, Ara? Don't want to
talk about the fact your mother died and now you won't let anyone in? Not even
your own sister?" He pushed farther, twisting his hand in the open wound. It
burned.
"Stop." I countered sounding a little meek. More meek than I'd really meant for
it to sound like. I felt weak and defeated but I was still trying to stop him
from farther.
"The fact that you'd rather cut off your own sister than admit you're too
stubborn to see what she was going through? That she hurt just as much as you?"
He hissed.
I snapped and slapped him, it was too far. He could talk about me. He could
talk about Ced but he couldn't talk about that. I tried to be there for her but
she had our harebrained father to fall on, I had no one. I was alone now even,
she wasn't. At times I hated her for it but I refused to admit it out loud, the
guilt just kept stacking itself on and on.
"You know what, Ara?" He looked back at me, not angry like I expected. I
continued to glare at him, not saying anything. He shifted me on his lap yet
again so that my stomach was pressed against the lower areas of his torso. If I
hadn't been so angry I'd probably be a lot more interested in what he had to
say.
"I'll love you anyways and one day you'll have to accept I'm not leaving
without you." He stared into my eyes with enough intensity it felt
uncomfortable to still look on. This felt wrong. So wrong coming out of Draco
Malfoy's mouth. He'd been immature and a smug purist bastard for years and
suddenly it was like a light-switch had flipped and he was...tolerable. He was
interested in all my hopes and dreams and beliefs.
"Oh what happened to my Veela just running me over for you?" I just glared back
into his stare. I was angry about a lot of things right now. From Ced's death
to the fact that my own destiny had been decided without my knowledge and
somehow everyone else knew about this except me. I wasn't as elastic as I'd led
everyone on to believe.
"I don't think you'll let her. You're just too recalcitrant." He sighed. Damn.
That was big word. I briefly pondered it as he leaned his head onto my shoulder
and started to rub circles on my back. The action confused me more than the
word. I was still expecting to piss him off but instead he was just being
affectionate? Wait...
"So...I have control?" I whispered it more to myself than to him but he nodded
anyways.
"You've apparently always had control." I stared at him for a second, almost
not trusting it.
"How do you know?" I asked suspiciously.
"You have the ability to just...force bits out. I don't have that luxury." He
sounded dreary which upset me a little but the anxiety and tension gave way
after months and months of it all choking me. It was only relief now.
I almost smiled as he picked his head back up so I just hugged him to me.
Awkwardly he began to return it and for once it felt nice. I just hugged him
tighter. This was wonderful news. I hopped off his lap and laid down next to
him, giddy now.
"You're pretty good at snogging anyways." I poked his nose as I said it. He
stared at me for a second and snorted.
"You're not too bad yourself. Go to sleep, pet. Its a long day tomorrow." He
kissed my forehead softly. I nodded and closed my eyes, drifting off into
sleep. It was okay now. Iwas calling the shots.
***** Chapter 10 *****
I was woken up by the sound of something purring into my side and back. It was
an odd sensation leading me to open my eyes to see two large windows that were
covered by dark green curtains. It gave the entire room an odd green sheen that
bounced back into my eyes on every reflective surface. I rolled onto my back,
staring up at the ceiling.
I was expecting a gray ceiling and the bumpy bed of my room in Devon but it
wasn't there. A stark white ceiling gazed back at me forcing a few waves of
homesickness into my stomach. Luna's side of the room was much more lively than
mine, she'd had the one window and her side of the ceiling was painted with
pictures of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville with the word "friends"
written in golden ink creating a circle around each of them and connecting them
together. They'd never been able to move but I always felt like they'd
breathed.
"You're up early, love." A deeper voice echoed into my ears, reminding me of
the situation I'd gotten myself into. A hand that'd been resting on my stomach
drifted up and grazed my chest lightly. I didn't respond, hoping he'd think I
was still asleep somehow. I wasn't even sure how he knew I was awake right now
anyways.
"Ara..." His voice echoed again, this time his hand drifted back down towards
my pant's waist line. It sounded like he was amused, almost like he was
smirking in the pale light.
I snatched his hand, stilling it's path to my lower half. "Malfoy." My own
voice echoed with just as much attitude as his had humour. He gripped my hand,
squeezing it.
"Draco." He corrected with a strained voice.
"Mal-foy." I repeated, sounding out the word. We'd fallen into our old habits
again and I almost felt a little comfort with that, it gave me a smile despite
the fact I was in a bed with a guy that wasn't my boyfriend...Even though said
boyfriend hadn't owled me at all since we left Hogwarts. I was little torn up
about that. Little shitter. He better be really bloody busy to not have owled
me for over a week.
"Its going to sound really bloody strange when you're addressing your mate by
your shared last name." He sounded easy going but riled at the same time,
leaving me to believe he wanted to seem like he was calm when he really just
wasn't.
I didn't respond, moving to sit up on the side of the bed. I had to give him
props, it was the most comfortable bed I'd ever slept on but I longed for
Hogwarts's bumpy mattresses or my own back in Devon out of familiarity for my
norms. I pulled the material of my top back down to my hips from where it'd
ridden up and wiped my the sleep away from my eyes.
A hand drifted over my shoulders, sweeping my hair over to the side. "Nothing
to say?" He whispered into my ear as my head tilted down to look over my
shoulder at him. His other hand came around my waist while he chuckled at my
continued silence. I was more just taken aback by how gravelly his voice
sounded and the feelings it elicited in my core.
"Well this is a rare occasion." He murmured as he started to kiss down from my
jaw to my shoulder while his hand slid up my shirt yet again. I felt myself
leaning back without really thinking. I'm not sure if it was a mistake or more
of a happy coincidence that I'd worn a tank top giving him access to start
going down my chest. I felt his hair tickle my face and the smell of him was
over powering. I was almost lost in the feeling of his lips trailing down and
down and his nimble fingers massaging my chest until a knock woke me up.
It felt hazy as Draco seemed to sigh and pull away. "Yes, mother?" His voice
wasn't nearly as gravelly sounding now, much to my surprise. If anything he
sounded annoyed as hell when I heard a door crack open. I didn't really want to
move to look at the woman as she came in, my body felt like putty and I was
actually loving it.
"Oh, my. Thats quite strong. Um. I've come to get your mate, Dragon." She
sounded taken aback and I wasn't sure at what as I started to realise I was
actually laying down on the bed again and Draco was almost on-top of me, he'd
moved for his mum though. My shirt was just covering my chest, leaving my pale
stomach completely exposed. I glanced down to process my chest was now peppered
with purple and pink marks. Damn it. He'd given me like 30 fuckin' "love bites"
all over. I'd sooner call them hickies and keep the emotions out of it though.
"I'll send her down." He nodded his head, a hand was still wrapped around my
stomach. She must have nodded to something because I heard the door close and
her heel's click away against the marble. What an odd family. Though I didn't
exactly have any ground to stand on in that area.
"Please do try to be on your best behaviour. Bellatrix will not be attending
but others will." He stroked my stomach as he stressed each word. I furrowed my
brow, wondering how I'd even gotten to this spot or why it mattered if his aunt
attended a ceremony.
"Why is she not attending?" I queried curiously.
"She's had a bit of a falling out with the family after our change in sides.
Please just behave. No swearing, common talk, or derogatory statements." He
replied grimly. I nodded slowly.
"Yeah, yeah. whatever." I waved him away as I pushed myself up and stood. I
didn't even know what was going to be happening outside of a magic oriented
bond. I know Narcissa had me meeting two or three officiators, all were just as
blond and pale as the last. I was starting to long for some brown hair or
something.She kept asking me which I felt closest too, I closed my eyes and
picked one basically. She looked proud when I had and offered up that Draco had
picked the same one.
"Ara. Please. It's essential that you are on your best behaviour." He seemed to
have followed me, holding my hand and looked urgent. I raised a brow at that.
"Why?" I tilted my head, turning to face him.
"The ceremony will just entail of you, my family, yours, and myself but the
party after will hold those who are high in the system and the bloody press."
His eyes were on mine, watching and analysing while his lips were pursed.
"What system exactly?" I raised both brows, waiting for an answer.
"The Ministry of Magic for the UK and a few other countries." He looked a
little frustrated with my questions.
I raised a brow at that and nodded slowly. "No worries. I'll be a perfect,
quiet, little lady." I responded dryly, turning back to the wardrobe to pull
out a button up and put it on. He didn't respond, going back to his own closet
and pulling out his dress robes. I was hoping he had to go through a ridiculous
number of fittings to get his clothes too but I doubted it.
"She'll be waiting in the downstairs bathroom." He called out from his closet
as I stilled near the door.
"Right." I mumbled wondering which downstairs bathroom he meant.
===============================================================================
I was a little taken aback by the dress for the ceremony itself and also the
number of people in the bathroom when I finally found it. I almost found myself
walking back out. In fact I'd gotten maybe a foot back out of the door when
Narcissa noticed me and ushered me to sit down. Lights and body heat heated the
other wise cold and colourless bathroom. Dresses were hung up on a rack on the
back wall, greens and blues glinted back at me.
"Now then, we'll have your hair up for this and down for the next." A tall
black haired woman smiled softly back at me as she waved glamour charms into
the clothes and hair pins. I stood for maybe 30 minutes before I was ushered to
the next woman who brought the dress out. I had a feeling these were all at
least half Veelas from the skin tone and the ever-clear blue eyes.
I hadn't seen this one before, it was graceful looking. Subtle hints of green
glinted back from the pale blue flows that ran from my top to bottom. It had a
scoop neckline, which entrancingly revealed the modest dress below it. My eyes
drifted along with a bit of surprise at the intricate swells and crisscrosses
that were just barely evident in the silky looking fabrics.
The delicate, black corset-like tied of my dress covered my stomach, wrapped in
black streams of fabric where the continuous flow was broken up by a small
green cloth belt worn quite high around my waist. Small live white flowers
seemed to have been charmed to sit on the neck line and lined the dress's trim
as it streamed out from my waist to the floor and behind me. I was impressed to
say the least but it all just seemed to continue.
Below the cloth belt the dress ran down and hid the sides of the skirts below.
The front of the top dress was a tad bit shorter at the front but flowed
straight down, not really breaking up the view of it all together. I glanced
behind my shoulder as my eyes followed the trail of flowers to the back. It
continued a fair length behind me and ended in a broad rectangle. I could just
see the little black shoes, I was wearing, peek out in the front when I turned
back around to face the two witches that were moving little pieces of cloth
around to be just so according to Narcissa's commands.
My blue sleeves were narrow and just a bit shorter than my arms, hanging around
my wrists. The flow of fabric was broken just below my covered shoulders where
they were divided by thick, dark aesthetic looking bands that were line with
the same flowers from the sides of my dress. Under the flowers the same fabric
was the same shade of black that was used to outline the edges of the dress.
"What flowers are these?" I asked softly, looking towards the black haired
woman that was adjusting the fabric corset along my waist and torso.
"Oh they're Sweet Autumn Clematis. We thought it would work to lighten the
dress a pinch." She smiled back. She had a pretty smile, one that lit up her
eyes and made her nose crinkle. It made me want to smile.
Narcissa seemed to nod as the women left and stepped off to the side. I felt
like I'd become her piece of art or something with the way she appraised me.
She nodded again after a second look and pulled a mirror over for me to see.
"What do you think?" She'd crossed her arms over her chest and motioned back to
the mirror with her head.
I looked the same as ever but I felt like I'd aged. I was 16 but I felt much
older than that looking back at my reflection. The wispy blonde hair had been
pulled up to see in a braid along the crown of my head with little green gems
in between the twists. I had no make up but they'd definitely covered up the
hickies that were courtesy of Malfoy.
"Its...definitely a traditional dress. Not that traditional is bad!" I nodded
slowly, putting a hand up to defend the adjective. She nodded, pulling the
mirror away.
"Lovely, well we've got maybe two minutes. Time to get you out there, Ara
,darling." She smirked, reminding me of Draco all at once. The mention of the
ceremony as she pulled me along was a little terrifying at best and she seemed
to know it as she guided me along.
I stood in front of lines of empty seats and tables that were light with black
flowers and floating candles. The blond officiator or whatever the hell he was
stood next to me, making small talk.
"As much as I appreciate the comforting small talk, lets be honest here. Is it
going to hurt?" I turned and almost glowered at him as I spoke sharply. He
looked amused as he shook his head.
"Not at all. We won't be bonding you two personally, just objects that you'll
wear. It was Mr Malfoy's wish in the case that you passed before his son." He
tilted his head down with some aspect of understanding that I completely
lacked. I thought if I said no to the bonding, he'd die. Now I was going to die
and some how this was supposed to change things?
"What happens if I die before him then?" I raised a brow, trying not to move my
arms before the rest of the people came in.
"He would have passed as soon as you if not an hour later but instead, he can
take the ring and survive maybe a year more before succumbing." He explained
hesitantly. I could see it in his eyes that he thought I knew about this, I
hadn't at all. I was told that my finger would be pricked by this guy and that
I'd end up with a ring but who knew that it's whole purpose was to allow Malfoy
to live after I kicked it.
"Of course it was." I grinded out as the doors opened, Malfoy strolled in
looking calm and collected but I could see the terror in his eyes. He'd been
dressed in rather traditional clothing as well.
"Ara. Mr Warren." He greeted us with a light but confident voice. His leather
jacket was fairly short sleeved, but it covered to well below his groin and was
almost completely buttoned up at the center. The sleeves of his jacket were
wide and reached down to his hands, they just as decorated with a band of
crisscrossed patterns at the edges.
His jacket had a narrow, rectangular neckline which revealed part of the white
shirt worn below it, and a dark leather belt, which is held together by an
intricate knot hung around his pant's line. The leather belt is entirely
decorative as far as I could tell. His pants were darkly coloured and clung to
his legs. He'd been putting on weight since we'd gotten to his families home it
seemed.
He came up and stood next to me. "You look brilliant." He looked me over with a
neutral expression as he complimented me. I just nodded back at him, not
replying. I wasn't all that enthused by this demonstration. It wasn't out of
love or want, it was out of a need and promised protection. Voldemort would
have a harder time without his family's influence and wealth.
The doors opened again revealing Lucius and Narcissa, both were in dress robes
but not nearly as traditional as ours. Instead she was wearing a nude dress
that was accented with gems and reached the ground, trailing behind her. He
merely wore black and white robes but held his cane in his hand. I was
flabbergasted to see my potions professor follow in after them, looking solemn
as ever. Since when was Snape a Malfoy?
Luna's dress was bright yellow that made me want to smile if I wasn't so bloody
mad with her. She was accompanied by my father whose robes were new but just as
yellow as Luna's dress. She was pretty with her hair braided and curled down
her back, her heels echoed as she almost skipped into the large marble
ballroom. I was a little sick of marble these days. I felt like it was a cold
empty stone.
"Welcome all." Warren spoke loudly, it echoed and almost made me jump but I
stopped myself out of fear I'd embarrass everyone somehow.
"Today we see the binding of Draco Lucius Malfoy and Ara Lovegood." He spoke
again after a second of people situating themselves. Eugh. His father had taken
Draco's middle name. How self-absorbed could you possibly get?
Warren turned to my with his hand extended, palm facing up. "If you will, my
lady." His voice was honey coated but I still eyed his other hand warily due to
the large looking pin he held primed and ready to stick me.
I hesitantly raised my hand, placing it in his. He gave me a small smile as he
nodded, that was probably a good thing, right? Maybe. I don't know at this
point. I was pretty close to just ripping my hand out of his and sprinting to
the jump out one of the large windows that stretched from the ceiling to the
floor. I flinched a little as his hand came flying down and pricked me then
pulled back up just as quickly.
He pulled my hand over to a sliver platter containing a necklace and a ring.
"Etium viticum vinculum" he waved his wand as he squeezed. A crimson drop fell
onto the silver ring. He patted my hand with a small smile and reached for
Draco's with a different pin. His had a large green ball at the end of it.
"Sir." Wordlessly, Draco placed his hand into Warren's waiting one. I jumped
between his expression, posture, and his finger as the man pricked him just
like he had me. He was stone faced as ever, looking empty almost. His shoulders
were relaxed, nothing gave away his current emotions right now. I was a little
thrown but maybe I was just a big baby about being stuck with a bloody needle.
"Etium viticum vinculum." Warren repeated the incantation with Draco's blood
dropped into the necklace. Both objects seemed to have absorbed it which led me
to believe it had a lot to do with the spell that was being cast. Draco's hand
fell back to his side gracefully as Warren finished his work and held the
platter up to us. I hesitated, not sure if I was supposed to put the ring on
him or what. I should have seriously paid more attention when Narcissa was
rattling on about it all.
Draco seemed to have caught on as he went and picked up the silver necklace, at
it's base hung a piece of silver that had been covered with a large M, dragons,
and spears. The background was green and black squares with a piece of writing
at the bottom that I couldn't read when it was in motion. He stepped forwards,
staring me in the eyes as he clasped it behind my neck. Vaguely, I worried that
I wouldn't be able to ever take this of or something. It was a little weighted,
the pendant at the end was close to the size of the bottom of a tea cup.
He took a step back which signaled it was my turn to do the whole creepy,
wordless stare as I put a piece of jewelry on him. I plucked the ring up off
the platter as it moved away again, probably put back on the side table.
I picked up his hand, and slid the shiny metal onto his middle finger clumsily.
He seemed to have cracked a little bit of a smile as he took it off then slide
it back onto his ring finger. Nothing was said but I could see humour dancing
around the wrinkles closest to his eyes. That reminded me of how Luna smiled,
her eyes always crinkled first.
***** Chapter 11 *****
He took my hand now and kissed the third knuckle before he held it and started
pulling me along. I guess it was over then? Should have seriously paid more
attention in the rehearsals. Damn. We went out the door first, standing outside
it until the family members...and Snape had exited the room.
Then it seemed we were dividing by gender as Luna came to stand next to me with
Narcissa. I was ushered away back to the bathroom to change into my more modern
and light dress. It was a v-line floor length black dress that had a slit
coming up to right above my knee, my shoulders were entirely exposed which was
almost nice as the women swarmed me again and pins were pulled out of my hair
as it was rearranged to fall down past my shoulders.
"Now you'll go to the room across the hall, Draco will be inside waiting for
you." She patted me on the shoulder as she motioned for Luna to go with her.
This was probably the oddest ceremony I'd seen in long while. I wandered for
maybe a good 10 minutes before I came across another set of doors that were
closed but I could hear quiet conversations from inside it.
I got lost in this place often enough that Narcissa and Draco had sent house
elf's after I wandered too long. I'd gotten to be great friends with one named
Minxy. She was a sweet little thing. I thought about peeking through the door
but felt like I could possibly intrude on a personal meeting of Lucius's or
something and he'd have me put under the Cruciatus...actually I could easily
see that happening. My luck was just shit enough it was possible.
I heard a familiar pop and looked next to me to see Minxy again. "Oh the miss
is already here. Miss needs to go right through those doors." She gave me a
smile as she started to shuffle me over to the large oak doors. Eugh. I really
don't want too.
"It'll be right as rain, miss. Don't you worry." Minxy patted my exposed shin
with a sympathetic expression covering her little face. It was adorable if not
a little saddening. I didn't hesitate to raise my wand to Lucius when he raised
his voice to the house elves when resulted in either him yelling at me or Draco
yelling at him. We were dysfunctional at best.
"Right." I mumbled as I took in a breath and pushed the door's open revealing
the gathering inside. It was louder that it sounded from out there and there
was quite the number of people here which threw me a little. I heard another
pop and assumed I was alone in this now and slowly started to edge my way out
of the door way. The heavy doors closed heavily behind me which left little to
be desired.
I didn't know anyone here. I couldn't even see my family's yellow's as all the
colours of the rainbow seemed to be here tonight. I made eye contact with a
tall, pale, blonde woman who seemed to eye me for a second. I wasn't sure if I
was supposed to tell her to piss off or smile or nod or something. I kept
walking and turned away from her as I decided I'd get a drink. Perfectly
reasonable idea considering how much I didn't want to be here right now.
I picked up the glass and sucked it down in one go. Probably not my best idea
but the empty glass refilled itself leaving me with little else to do but stand
against the wall and awkwardly glance at people. I felt uncomfortable and
bewildered in this setting with no idea as to how to act or what to say to
anyone around here. I recognized the minister of magic talking to a brown
haired man.
"Ms Malfoy, please do let me introduce myself." I turned my head to see the
same blonde woman from before, she towered over me with ease. I didn't realise
she was talking to me until she put a hand on my forearm.
"I'm Silvia Wilkes, head of the Veela laws department in the ministry." She
smiled daintily, shaking my hand.
"Ara will do Ms Wilkes." I nodded back at her with a pinched smile, not sure
what I was supposed to say to that. I almost introduced myself to here but
stopped just shy.
"I'm surprised to see that you're so far away from Draco." She tilted her head,
analysing my features.
"We all need time to our selves." I justified uneasily.
"Mm. Fair. But not many would allow their mate to wander unmarked and not have
bed them yet." She looked a little confused and suspicious as she eyed my neck.
I almost choked on my own spit when I inhaled sharply. She had to be full
blooded veela or something to know about that bit. I didn't get this chick at
all. She had to be in her early years still or just incredibly unversed in the
art of subtlety.
"Well...I suppose I should excuse myself to go find h-." I coughed as I started
to edge away.
"Is there something that is making you unhappy with him?" She cut me off with
her question, making me stop edging away and respond.
"Theres many things that make me unhappy with him, Ms Wilkes. However, the
other bit is more of a personal choice." I spoke plainly, starting to glower at
her.
"And you don't feel the bond, at all?" She was still analysing as she looked me
up and down. I felt a bit like one of the muggle's science experiments at this
point.
"I would suppose not. Have a pleasant party Ms Wilkes. " I replied shortly and
turned away from her. A second later I realised that I was back in party limbo,
no where to go, no one to talk too. I was about to call it quits and sit
outside in the garden or something when I felt a hand come around to rest on my
hips. It had to be Malfoy, there was no way in hell anyone else would do that
here.
"I've been looking for you." He whispered into my ear, tickling it. I was
guided towards a group of people that looked to be around our age. There stood
a tan boy a little taller than the girl with short black hair and two more
boys.
One's skin was dark, enough to be more than just a tan he'd gotten from flying
and his hair was short enough that I could see his head. The other boy was just
as pale and looked a bit stringy while his face almost reminded me of a rabbit.
I didn't deal with this lot, ever. I guessed the girl was Pansy Parkinson but I
didn't know who the boys were. Each of them looked serious and solemn.
"Ara, this is Theodore Nott." He motioned to the stringy one on the far left.
"This is Blaise Zambini." He moved onto the short haired boy who nodded back to
me, looking a little less serious now.
"Marcus Flint and Pansy Parkinson." I made eye contact with the tan one and
immediately remembered him from one of Harry's conversations. He'd been
complaining about Flint playing dirty games of Quidditch.
"So this is the girl, eh?" Pansy's voice brought me back to the situation with
some chagrin. I kept blanking out when people were talking and it was starting
to bite me in the ass. Especially with the ceremony, if Malfoy hadn't stepped
up I would have totally just kept on staring at him and the officiator.
"Pans." Draco's tone was a warning signal. Usually it was used to warn me I was
about to step on his toes or just hop completely over the line, this time it
was to tell her.
"I suppose I am the girl." I shrugged, looking back at her. She looked a little
taken aback at my words, or his. I wasn't sure which.
"You know we all thought Pans here would be the chosen one for Draco." Blaise
spoke up, looking a little amused as he leaned against the purple wall.
"Mostly because we'd been a thing since going to that bloody school...till you
showed." Pansy snorted with a bit of annoyance. I raised a brow at that but
didn't respond.
"Enough." Draco seemed to sigh, like he'd heard this whole thing over and over
again. I imagined he had considering she didn't look the type to give up all
that easily. She opened her mouth, glaring at me.
"I'd wager to say you still are." I spoke up plainly. She could have him for
all I cared, all we had together was apparently last names and a contract of
protection for my loved ones. Her mouth closed then opened again after a
second.
"And how much are we wagering then?" She raised a brow, leaning down to my
height. I'd slowly realised that was a little bit shorter than most of these
people. Even Draco had grown a bit since he'd turned 16 while I'd stayed the
same height.
"How much would you like to wager?" I almost snorted as Draco seemed to pull me
a little closer, his grip tightened giving me the warning I was about to step
on his toes again.
"All of it?" She looked hopeful as I pursed my lips.
"Girls..." Draco spoke up as I held up a hand to his verbal warning, thinking
about it. I heard one of the boys whistling at my actions from beside us and
figured it was Blaise. He seemed the most likely to do it since the other two
just sort of stood there, glaring at everyone and everything. I was under the
impression that all of their fathers had been death eaters, so I was a little
surprised that they'd be allowed to come here when the Malfoy's had supposedly
refrained from their side of the war.
"It being?" I tilted my head, looking at her. I wasn't giving up the protection
for Luna or my da.
"The whole bit, Lovegood. I sit with him, hug him, kiss him, sleep with him..."
She trailed off looking expectantly.
"Including tonight?" I put a finger to my lips as I hummed in thought.
"Definitely tonight." She nodded quickly. That could work. I'd get out
practically scot free and she could get bitten by a horny Veela.
"Would that nullify our contract?" I looked back at him, his face had darkened
considerably since I'd last looked at him like a minute ago. I had a feeling
I'd stepped on his toes. Or that I poking them with a stick right now and I was
about to step on them.
"Yes. It would. You can't try to stick her in your place and still expect some
sort of protection for them." He was practically snarling as he looked down at
me. I slowly blew air out of my mouth, nodding.
"Guess that's off the table then." I sighed looking back to Pansy who seemed a
bit miffed. The conversation started back up a second later when Nott mentioned
something about a new broomstick coming out next month. I was quickly getting
bored and started to creep away from the group but Malfoy seemed to be keeping
an eye out for it because every time I got more than a step away, he'd pull me
back to his side roughly.
After the third time he'd pulled me back, he cleared his throat gaining the
attention of everyone in the group. "We'll be right back." He nodded to the
group, an air of politeness covered up the fact that I knew he was a little
pissed off right now. They nodded back, Parkinson was eyeing his hand on my
waist as we turned and he pulled us out of the doors. They slammed behind us
but we kept walking, I was getting a little antsy that I wouldn't be able to
find my way back to the room if we went much farther.
***** Chapter 12 *****
Chapter Notes
     Draco's veela transformation which is really expanded on next chapter
     comes from
     Veela!Draco (art)
     By: anokaba
     on AO3.
     Also theres a major lemon below.
He took another turn down a well light hallway that was carpeted this time and
pulled me through a door. "Muffliato." He cast the charm that almost guaranteed
that I was going to be yelled at. I sighed and took a few steps forwards. I
looked back at the grey room that seemed to be the music room gauging by the
grand piano and violin as well as a few other string instruments.
"That was not being on your best behaviour." He admonished, sounding almost
calm.
I looked back over my shoulder and shrugged. "Seemed pretty good for me." I
replied lightly. I faced him fully, crossing my arms over my chest to prepare
for his rant. It seemed to never come because he just stared at me as I stared
back at him for a few seconds.
"You tried to...pawn me off to my ex girlfriend." He deadpanned. I pursed my
lips and shrugged.
"She was offering, not my fault." I added hap-hazardly.
"Behave or the night will end much quicker and I'll force you to behave. Do you
really want to have it happen in a music room?" He declared with a hard
expression. I had to guess he meant he'd mark me and somehow the bond would
force me to obey, Narcissa went over it all but again...didn't pay much
attention.
"Fine." I grounded out. He extended a hand out to me, I took it slowly.
"I wanted tonight to be...special. It took a lot of work for my friends to show
up here after we abandoned the dark lord." He sighed and pressed his lips to my
knuckles, pulling back afterwards.
"Alright. I'll be nicer." I sighed, feeling tinges of guilt sneak up on me.
"Thank you." He looked happy, might even say grateful as he began to pull me
out of the room. We wandered back to the larger room that was full to the brim
with people
"What did we miss?" Draco asked with a bit of muted excitement. Blaise and his
friend sort of just stared at us then shrugged.
"We were taking bets on how long you two would be out. Pans won." He sighed
pulling out five galleons and placing it in her open hand. The other two did
the same in succession.
"You held out on me." I glowered at her as she pocketed the coins.
She smirked and looked back up at me with a shrug. "You fell through on our
previous deal." I felt my mouth drop open as I went to motion towards Malfoy to
say he'd made me do it when he cleared his throat, giving me a look. I was
supposed to be behaving.
"Fine." I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest and looking away. Conversation
begun around me again, still about Quidditch. I just wasn't that fond of
Quidditch. I don't know whats wrong with me but I was just more into Winged
horse races than any other sport. I think it was closer to 30 or 40 minutes
when I felt someone loop arms with me, pulling me away from Draco's side
easily. Draco however looked a little on edge until he realised who it was,
spinning his head around to glare.
"Where are you two going?" He raised a brow.
"The little witches room, love." Pansy's nasal tone spoke sweetly from behind
me. Draco looked down to me with raised brows, he was wanting to know if this
was real or not. Shit, why not?
"Yeah." I added halfheartedly with a head nod as she began to pull me away. I
followed her smoothly out of the room.
"Out of curiosity, where are we actually going?" I raised a brow as we went up
a set of winding stairs.
"Oh, you don't know?" She sounded genuinely surprised as she looked back at me.
I slowly shook my head.
"No. I'm kinda lost with the manor thing." I stated slowly.
"Oh right, I forgot you lived in a shoe or whatever. Anyways we're going to
your bedroom. Which door is it?" She waved her hand around as she seemed to
recall not everyone lived in a giant mansion.
"Uh. Whichever Malfoy's is?" I tilted my head at her. I'd requested a separate
room when I got here but no such luck. She seemed put off but so was I as she
opened the door and walked in. It was immaculate as always, the bed made and my
blanket and pillow were neatly tucked in the middle of the couch.
"Well I was going to come in here anyways...do you at least sleep on the
couch?" She sounded sad as she stared forwards.
"Yeah." I tilted my head as it dawned on me that she was sad. This had been her
best-friend since she was born and significant other for a good year or two and
here I came along, ruining it all.
"Pansy...listen." I pursed my lips as she continued to stare forwards the
couch.
"We don't have nearly enough time for a potion to switch places or anything but
after tonight, he's all yours. He'll have calmed down by tomorrow and when
we're back to Hogwarts, count me out. My part is done." I was trying to make
amends. I realised that this whole thing had uprooted a lot of people for a lot
of different reasons. Right now I was supposed to be back home, possibly with
Harry and Luna getting plastered for Christmas. Instead I'd see them closer to
New Years and I'd be different some how.
"Are you being serious?" She looked back over her shoulder with a squeaky pitch
in her voice. She'd either cried or was close to crying.
"Deathly so." I nodded slowly. Her face seemed to brighten almost immediately
at that.
"Wonderful." She breathed, wiping her eyes and going towards the make up table
in the corner that I'd never used. She started rifling through drawers that
were full of product's I hadn't seen before. She took one in particular out and
pulling the stick out of the bottle, it was black as she wiped it over her eye
lashes.
She'd screwed it back into the black bottle and had wiped from under her eyes
before I asked. "What are we actually doing here anyways?" I raised a brow as
she turned back around, eyes only slightly red.
"Oh I'm going to spray his pillow with my perfume." She explained casually as
she pulled a crescent shaped glass bottle out from her bag. I raised both
brows, a smile forming as she came closer and sprayed all the pillows on the
bed.
"And what does that do?" I snorted as she capped it and put it back in her
little clutch.
"Reminds him of me." She winked as she looped our arms back together and
practically skipped down the stairs to the room again. I felt like I was
spending more and more time outof the party than actually in it, which was just
as well honestly. I didn't know what to do at their little party type thing.
When we entered and approached the group of teens, I realised that Draco wasn't
there anymore and began to search for him.
"Where'd Malfoy go?" I raised a brow, addressing the tallest boy. Theodore, I
think.
"Hes being given a good talking to by your father and sister." He smirked,
looking back at me. I squeezed my eyes shut with exasperation as I nodded. I
decided I'd follow the yellow.
===============================================================================
"Looking for someone, Ara?" Draco's voice spoke up from behind me, making me
jump slightly.
"Maybe." I retorted as I spun around to look at him. The party was essentially
over it seemed as people were slowly leaving in pairs. They'd come up to me and
wish me luck then disappear again, probably to Narcissa or something. It was an
odd ritual but nearly every one did it until it came to my own family. They
came with Malfoy.
"Wise choices have been made today Ara, baby." My father smiled softly down at
me, gliding a hand over the top of my hair. It was still styled and it'd stuck
through out the whole night. I took in a deep breath of air as I nodded, yup.
My family would survive this war. That was a good thing...Probably. No, no. It
was and I can't tell myself any different.
"We'll see you at New Years." He bowed his head to Draco and I, I found Draco
doing the same before my father wandered away. Luna came up and smiled
whimsically at me. We stared at each other for maybe a minute, having a
conversation all to our selves. Every little thought passed by her eyes into
mine and it was returned, she was grateful but regretful. I think in some ways
she'd wished that it was her in my place. She'd certainly be much easier for
him.
She pulled me towards her in a light hug that lasted close to 30 seconds as I
remembered the smell of her hair, it smelled like soft hay and flowers. I'd
forgotten what it was like to have her around.
"See you soon." She pulled back with grace and curtsied, following our father.
I felt Malfoy's arm wrap around my back, leading me away from the remaining
drunks and stragglers of the party. His own friends had left soon after I went
to find him and failed, I don't think they bothered to come say goodbye to me
for which I was totally grateful.
Some how right as Luna's yellow sundress disappeared behind the doors, I felt
absolute terror set in. It was time to head to the chopping block or bed or
whatever. I don't think I've ever been this nervous about shagging someone,
maybe I was supposed to be this nervous the first time but it just didn't
happen for me. Everything felt normal, boring even. Was it though? I mean it
was just sex. Nothing big. This is just sex. ohmerlinohmerlinohmerli-no. This
is just sex.
"Ara?" I bristled slightly as I realised we were halfway to his room now and he
was totally focused on me. I raised a brow, not trusting my voice enough to
respond. "Why do keep saying sex under your breath?" He asked incredulously.
I pursed my lips as I tried to find an appropriate response to that.
"I'm...looking towards the future." I declared lamely.
"Yeah right. You're freaking out." He snorted, shaking his head. I frowned at
the accusation but found that the feeling was smoothing over to serene peace.
"There. Better, love?" His lips pressed against my head as I peered at him. Odd
but not impossible that I calmed myself down. I looked back as he opened the
door and lead me inside to stop right in the door way.
"Merlin's beard, what the hell did she spray in here?" He asked incredulously,
a hand over his nose as I started to grin.
"Perfume." I giggled at his look of absolute disgust. It did feel good on some
level that the smell repelled him but on another it was only going to make
things more difficult for Pansy and I.
"Ugh." He pulled away from me and threw the blanket I used most nights over the
pillows. I felt my nerves come back in spades as the distance between us grew.
"Better." He sighed, sitting on the bed and clumsily pulling at the bow-tie on
his dress-robes. The black over coat was already taken off and laying next to
him.
"I can do that for you." I called from the door way, gaining his attention. I
don't know what in the hell possessed me to offer that when I was already
panicking about shagging him, now I was about to make it personal.
He raised a brow as he stilled his actions. "Have at it then." He let his hands
fall to his sides as I clicked across the floor to stand in front of him. Heels
apparently gave me a sense of superiority that I'm just now seeing.
I stared only at the black silk as I weaved my fingers through it, pulling it
apart and sliding it off his neck. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time
and made the mistake of looking up when I was finished. I was caught in his
gaze again, totally unable to break away. His eyes were softer looking but had
the sharp edge of a predator's, he knew what he was going to get by the night's
end but he hadn't yet figured out how to slide me into it gracefully.
He stood slowly, giving me time to back up a bit but still maintained the eye
contact. Out of the corner of my eye I saw his hands reach around my waist,
trailing up and undo each button as he went. His cold hands fell back to his
sides after trailing back down my exposed back. I reacted without quite
thinking about his actions and took a step closer to undo his vest. It went
smoothly as he moved with me sliding it off right as my fingers set to work on
his white button-up.
I was almost impressed with how graceful I was being right when I went to take
a step to the side and tripped over the dress's front. He caught me easily with
his hands around my waist, it'd broken the eye contact long enough for me to
ogle his chest like a nutter who'd never seen skin before. He wasn't exactly a
greek god but it had a unique pleasantness to it. I wanted to run my nails down
his front like I had to his back. It'd suddenly started to feel a little warmer
in here when I looked back up to his eyes. He took in a breath then stopped, a
slow smirk forming.
I pursed my lips out of confusion before he pulled my face towards his,
pressing his lips against mine. His lips were cold but almost sweet, mine on
the other hand, like most of my body right now, felt like they were burning.
Every inch of my skin tingled and singed in pain like I was on fire, and yet,
it felt like I couldn't get enough. I felt him pulled back a little, ragged
breaths were being blown down my front.
"Strip." He whispered into my cheek, it sounded ridiculous in my mind but
apparently my fingers had other ideas. I slipped the black dress off by just
shimmying it off my boney shoulders. It fell to the floor softly, sliding down
my hips and legs. I didn't meet his eyes as I unclipped my knickers, pulling
everything off and stepping out of the pile of clothes to pull off my shoes, I
wasn't sure how far to go each time and paused after to see if he'd stop me. He
did on the shoes, putting a hand over my own as I bent at the waist.
"Leave the heels on." He spoke softly, I nodded in return and looked up, not
entirely sure what else to do at this point. Any bravado I'd had just fell off
with my dress and knickers. He seemed to realise, taking the lead he pulled me
over to the bed. I leaned back on my elbows and looked up, wondering what the
hell I was supposed to do here when his lips collapsed into mine.
He felt a little unhinged to me as I was slowly pinned to the bed with him
assaulting my lips with no breaks. I let out a moan as he pulled away, pressing
one soft kiss below my ear. I gasped, gripping his hands tightly and stilling
them as he went to roll a nipple between fingers.
"Like that, do you?" His voice was gravelly and sharper as he chuckled. I just
groaned in return as he did it again and I squeezed harder.
"Just shut up and keep going." I breathed heavily, keeping my eyes shut. It
felt like I needed to keep them closed now. He laughed lightly again but
repeated it once again, this time he nipped. I could feel my skin being softly
bit between his teeth as he sucked.
"Malfoy." I moaned and then yelped lightly as he bit down harder.
"Draco. You just stripped in front of me, I'd say we were at least on a first
name basis." He growled, letting go of my skin.
"Oh yeah? First name basis with my boyfriend's mortal enemy?" I let out a short
breath as he moved down my neck, trailing his tongue to swirl around my
breasts. His hands seem to grip me tighter as I willingly discussed Harry
feckin' Potter right in the middle of a sex thing. I could feel his breath over
my face as he seemed to glare down at me, my eyes were still closed for some
reason.
"Especially considering I'm about to be inside of you and take you as mine..."
He trailed off, pulling his hand out of mine to linger around my lady bits. He
dragged a finger over my lips, not quite moving but steady as he went. "What's
my name, pet?" He plunged one finger into me at once making me gasp as my back
arched at the sensation. I was distracted by it but it seemed to annoy him as
he pulled back out entirely. "Whats. My. Name?" Draco grounded out sharply,
pushing two fingers into me now. I had a feel it'd be three if I didn't answer
soon.
"D-draco." I breath as he started to finger me, his thumb rubbed against my
clit as he went. I could feel his hair brush against mine and his breath drift
over my neck, heat was building rather quickly, quicker than I thought it was
supposed too. He pulling at that one particular part of my neck and I felt
myself break loose, cumming hard.
I thought he'd stop at that point or at least have me suck him off but instead
he slipped a third finger in. He continued the same actions but this time, he
was rougher and faster with his fingers pushing and pulling in and out of my
hips.
Heat was building again but I couldn't quite feel anything past the combined
sensation of the warmth of his body pressing against mine and the coldness of
the room. Maybe this is why my eyes were closed. I wrapped my hands around his
shoulders, they weren't as smooth as I remembered, instead they felt ragged and
scaly, there was something soft protruding from his shoulders that I wanted to
stroke but stopped just short.
I went to ask him if he was really sure about having me cum a second time so
freaking soon, but I couldn't quite get the words out. "Draco a-" I breathed in
sharply, digging my nails into his back and dragging them as I came yet again,
unexpectedly. I was almost starting to feel bad, this was my second time but he
hadn't gotten anything at all.
He pulled out of me finally, pulling out of my hand's grasp as well. My arms
just sort of fell off of him to my sides as I heaved from pleasure and
exertion, my eyes were open but I don't know if I was really processing what I
was seeing, Draco looked almost silvery as he stripped down in front of me,
scaly almost but not quite so I wrote it off as having loosened my brain from
cumming twice so close together. I figured this was where I meant to suck him
off and struggled to sit up. He smirked at my struggles but eventually went to
straddle me, keeping a hand on my chest.
I twitched almost nervously as I took him in, he was bare, and he was perfect
looking through my haze. He had always been an odd sort of pale beautiful which
I think just stemmed from the Veela genes. He claimed it was a privilege to be
both pure blood and a full Veela. It was rare and desired for the power
associated.
I was starting to realise the power his body contained as I took him in with
his hair sticking to his head with sweat, his eyes were focused but glazed
looking. I'm sure my face was flushed and my lips were bruised looking from the
force we'd been using.
"Do you accept?" Draco's voice was sharp but smooth at the same time as it
curled around my ears. I wasn't even sure what I was about to accept but I know
I wanted it.
"Yes." I gasp, still panting from his actions before. He seemed to nod,
dragging his nails lightly down my front. They were sharper than I remembered.
I felt him shift to lay over me, his head in the crook of my neck as I felt him
slowly enter. A moan escaped my throat without thinking, pushing him into
action. I was lost in a haze again as I panted and realised how good he
smelled.
I could feel myself almost come apart as he pushed into me over and over with
the pressure building in my stomach. I barely felt his teeth cut through my
skin, in fact it felt good. I turned my head to the side without thinking to
give him room as I truly came apart after cumming for the third time in one
night.
We were panting as he moved to the side of me, or at least I was. That was an
experience that I was sort of glad hadn't happened on the floor of a music room
where I'd have to see his friends again after. I went to roll to the side of
bed, possibly get up and go to sleep on my couch but he seemed to have other
ideas. A feathery soft hand wrapped around my forearm in an iron grip.
"You're sleeping in here. Forget the couch, Ara." His voice had lighter
qualities to it which interested me but I didn't have it in me to fight or
wonder. It almost felt good to hear him say my name. I was sleepy as I laid
back onto his bed with closed eyes, the shoes being pulled off of me and
landing with a heavy clatter wasn't exactly interesting to me. Instead I was
more interested in running my hand over something pleasantly soft but pointed
feeling. I'd run my hands up feeling something like feathers tremble along with
the bed we were laying on.
"Go to sleep, love." He caught my hand lightly, little pin pricks rested on top
of my hand. I mhm'd him sleepily, turning to face him. He pulled me closer to
his chest and at first I went to pull away but gave up when his hands clamped
against my back and my head was nestled in his neck and the pillow. I can deal
with this.
***** Chapter 13 *****
I felt warm, almost too warm. I think I need to breath, like one big breath of
cold air and I'll be fine but...I can't move. My eyes snapped open as I tried
to find the source of my inability to roll and found blonde hair in my eyes. I
couldn't tell if it was mine, didn't look very curly. Looked straight and fine.
Smelled nice too.
"I'm glad my hair smells good to you." A deep voice muttered against my cheek.
I froze as panic ran through me when I recalled last night and the fact I'd
signed my life away. His hand tightened on the right side of my chest and I was
rolled onto my back to stare up at Draco with a little bit of panic and
adrenaline running through my veins. Holy shit me, he has wings?
I stared at him as his skin seemed to slowly lose it's bumps and sharpness that
could have been mistaken for scales or small feathers, his hair became less
feather like as well, receding back to the odd straight strings of white blonde
hair I was accustomed to. His shoulders were dealing with wings that seemed to
be the last to recede as his facial features became more and more human like.
"...Yes. You stroked them last night, had to force you to go to sleep." He
smirked a little as he straddled me. He looked pretty sure of himself in that
moment making me think it was entirely possible.
"And...um." I pursed my lips as I realised I'd been a little...overzealous with
him last night. "What's changed now?" My voice was squeaky as the covers pulled
a little more and I realised I was freaking naked...and so was he. Jaysus
fuckin' christ, Ara. What are you doing?
"I think you're staring at my chest right now but to be fair, I'm staring at
yours too." He smirked deeper as he leaned closer to me, drifting over my face
as he inhaled.
"Am I saying it all out loud?" I tilted my head incredulously as he shook his.
"Not at all. I can hear what you're thinking, love." He was still taking in
deep breaths around my neck and hair...why though? "Because you smell like me
and yourself, wanted to make sure the claim took to you." He explained loftily,
pressing a small chaste kiss to my cheek as he rolled off of me and stood in
all his naked glory. This thought thing was going to get really fucking
annoying, really bloody fast.
"I'm going to find a way to shut you out." I declared lowly. He glanced over
his shoulder at me and snorted at my determination.
"If you wanted that, you could have just told me." He turned back towards me. I
sat up, pulling the covers with me to cover my chest as he leaned over on the
bed. "Think of a wall in between your thoughts and the world." He smelled good
but it wasn't the same sort of overpowering scent he'd had in the past. I
stared at him for a second but slowly nodded, trying to imagine my thoughts in
one half of my mind and a wall that was being built up with the rest of the
world.
"I'm warning you now, if it's needed, I will break through but
otherwise...you're welcome to your privacy." He almost sighed but forced a
small smile onto his face.
"Why now?" I tilted my head wondering if he was being truthful and decided to
test it by thinking about a time that Harry and I shagged and Ron almost walked
in on us.
"The bond has been made, you're contract is not void and I won't have to arrest
you to take me which nearly never works anyways." He merely pecked the tip of
my nose and stood again, going to his closet. I watched his arse as he went and
decided it'd definitely worked.
===============================================================================
"Ara love, do you play anything?" Narcissa smiled at me from across the
breakfast table, breaking me out of the stillness I'd begun to enjoy.
"Nope." I shook my head, eliciting a snort out of her husband.
"Of course she wouldn't, shes from Ireland." He mused with a smirk at me.
"Better than a posh Brit." I spouted, looking him dead in the eye. He was
baiting me, but it didn't get far from Draco's objections.
"Enough." He spoke up from next to me as I merely sipped my tea and grinned
across the table at Lucius.
"She'll learn to play the violin while we're here each year." Draco declared,
making me choke on tea all of a sudden. All eyes were on me as I coughed the
splashes of tea back into my mouth out of shock. It was now Lucius's turn to
grin, though his was much more perfected looking.
"I'm sorry?" I looked back Draco with shock and the odd sense of 'did I just
hear you right'.
"You're a Malfoy. Aristocratic women play instruments, love." He raised a brow,
looking back at me.
"I...actually meant the whole 'we' thing." I pursed my lips for a good second
before I took in a deep breath and held it to count to eight. Only two more
days then I'd be in the burrow. That wasn't long at all.
It took me a second to realise the table had gone quiet, not even Lucius was
snickering at this point. I looked up but found no one was looking at me, my
eyes darted to the side to see Draco staring at the plate for a good minute
while we watched him.
"We'll discuss this later." He seemed to be an eerie sort of calm that made all
the hair on my arms stand up. I jumped as I heard a pop.
"Master Draco's friend has come by." I caught the voice and recognized it as
the squeaky voice of Minxy.
"Who is it?" He sounded short with her but respectful none the less with me
watching him.
"It's rather early for a friend, Draco." Narcissa admonished him for the friend
coming by as he spoke to the house elf.
"Miss Pansy Parkinson." Minxy answered him. I pursed my lips and elected to
take a sip of tea as he nodded to the elf. "Send her into the parlor." I was
almost taken aback at how calm he was right now. I would have honestly expected
him to be panicked and awkward with all of us here and his girlfriend showing
up...instead he just seemed...resigned?
"Ara, time to go." He stood moving to the back of my seat. I shrugged but stood
none the less,turning to push the chair back when I realised he'd already
pulled it out of my way and was waiting on me. I stepped to the side as he
pushed it back in and bowed his head to his mother. I followed his queue
awkwardly then allowed him to pull me away and down another set of halls.
Pansy sat primly in a larger arm chair near the crackling fire place when we
entered the room. Oh, great. I don't want to be apart of this.
"Draco...Lovegood." She greeted him loftily then grounded out my name in
obvious distaste. Damn. I thought we'd gotten over that little spat, apparently
not.
"Ara." Draco corrected in a sigh, he squeezed my forearm as it laid over his
own. I think he was trying to comfort me...not entirely sure as to why though.
"Right. Well, I wanted to ask if you'd like to join me for a walk in the
gardens. I know you love to see it all under the snow." She went back to a
muted happy with a small smile as she focused back on him.
"Ara?" He looked back at me for a final decision, making me freeze. Was he
going to be this nice at school too or was this a limited time deal?
"Oh I'm sure she has things to do." Pansy spoke quickly, giving me a meaningful
look. Right! I have a deal with her too. Goodness, I'm just making deals with
everyone apparently.
"Actually, I have...packing to do. I really should get going." I nodded to her
then back to him as I went to detract my arm.
"Alright. I'll be up soon enough." He let it slip away easily but wrapped a
hand around the back of neck, pulling me closer until I felt his lips press
against my forehead. Draco was affectionate the morning after, apparently. It
gave me fuzzies which in turn gave me shivers.
"Uhm. Okay." I nodded awkwardly and slipped out of the room, closing the door
behind me. I felt almost cold inside as I walked further and further away,
leaving him with a girl that I knew wanted to get in his pants. It dawned on me
that I was leaving here to do the same but somehow he was supposed to trust
that I wouldn't. What...what am I feeling? Is it guilt? Is that possible?
===============================================================================
I found myself staring out a hallway window, probably no where near where I was
supposed to be. I'd been having a sort of one-sided conversation with one of
the many Malfoy ancestor's portraits. This one was called Armand Malfoy,
apparently he'd been the first to land in Britain and was quite proud of his
conquests for William the Conquer.
"Are you even paying attention, woman?" His odd french accent made everything
sound much prettier than what it was.
"I guess." I snorted, glancing at the blonde man on the wall. I could see a
portion of the Malfoy gardens and I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was totally
trying to see if he'd be out there with her.
"Well what did I say then?" He deadpanned, glowering at my lack of response.
"I'm kinda distracted here and you were no help." I rolled my eyes, looking
away from the window to actually pay attention to the irate portrait.
"I said you shouldn't be on this floor. Its best that those of a fragile
disposition stay closer to the ground floors and the library." He grumbled at
me.
"What do you know? You've been dead since the 11th century." I responded
incredulously.
"And you call yourself a Malfoy..." He tsked me, shaking his 2-D hear. What. A.
Bastard.
"I didn't! You did, ya gimp." I pointed at him with irritation.
"Thats rather improper language for a lady." He looked taken aback, putting a
pale hand decorated in various jewels over his heart.
"Oh for goodness's sake. I'm leaving." I threw up my hands in exasperation and
began walking away.
"But I haven't told you which way to go!" The portrait yelled down the hall to
me.
I turned around as I continued to walk backwards, away from the portrait. "I
CAN FIGURE IT OUT MYSELF." I turned back around just in time to run into a
black clothed chest.
"Must you yell?" I looked up to see a tired looking Snape and took one gigantic
step back.
"Must you appear out of no where?" I retorted and promptly froze. I'd forgotten
my place with him, he was still my potions professor and I still wanted his
recommendation. Damn it, Ara.
He only rubbed his eyes as he yawned. "I didn't realise this hallway would be
so popular, Miss Lovegood." He paused then smirked, glancing back down at me.
"Or is it Ms Malfoy now?"
"I'm only 16." I pressed my lips into a thin line as I glowered back up at him.
"I can tell." He replied dryly, taking a step around me. "Draco is looking for
you." He mentioned it so casually which made me think that nothing was wrong.
"Thanks for the memo." I called warily as he continued down the hall in his
regular black robes. He didn't respond, merely held up a hand to me in response
as he disappeared around the corner. It still feels incredibly strange to know
that Snape is a family friend of the Malfoy's.
***** Chapter 14 *****
I'd opened and closed doors until finally I bumped into Malfoy himself. His
face went from dark to an oddly warmed and pleased in a snap as he recognised
me, moving back to get me enough space to stroll into the bedroom. It seemed as
though he found me bemusing. Whatever. I was going to be out of here soon
enough. 
"Where've you been, love?" He questioned me easily enough as I noticed that he
smelled...odd. Not like himself. It turned my stomach against my own wishes. In
fact, my mind seemed to just automatically jump to him having slept with her
gauging from the tousled hair and the funky smell. It was flowery, completely
different from the clean, and even the spicy aftershave smell I was used to
with him.
"No where." I replied, harsher than I meant too. I was hoping I could just
squish the feelings of jealousy that were continuously bubbling up in my
stomach. Kinda just felt like a complete knob right now. I was getting all
kinds of worked up about him and her when I'd actually left them alone
on purpose. God, Ara. Get your crap together.
"Right...well I can't help but notice you've not packed." He took in my
response with a look of growing confusion, probably couldn't get why I'd be so
grumpy after getting my time alone from him and I did say I was going to do
that. Bad, Ara. Gotta keep up your story.
"No shit. I've been wandering, couldn't figure that out from how long it took
me to get here?" I snapped, watching him raise his hands in surrender. You had
it and then you didn't, jaysus, Ara. 
I kinda just wanted to slap myself in the face at the frustration I was
currently feeling with myself. My issues with him and Pansy kept getting pushed
onto the surface. I genuinely stomped my way to the closet and began throwing
my clothes into a pile. Well then, here's a new face of Ara the drama
queen...apparently.
"Hey." He wrapped his arms around my frame in an iron lock as I squirmed,
trying to move away from him out of spite for what I was feeling. "Did you
panic while I was away? Is that what's bothering you?" I froze as it hit me.
He'd just offered up the perfect reason as to why I'd be grumpy right now, and
it wasn't that I was just jealous of his oddly rose-scented perfume right now.
I didn't respond, choosing to turn around and face his chest. It smelled more
like him here but I could still smell that foul flower perfume.
"It's natural, Ara. Completely normal, I promise." He murmured, hugging me
closer to him. I stood there for about a second before I couldn't take the
smell anymore and outright pushed away from him.
"Ara?" He questioned, looking mildly concerned. I wasn't sure if I was
expecting that kinda reaction. I pinched my nose shut as I looked back at him
with brows raised in an unapologetic look of disgust at the putrid fumes
radiating from him.
"I'm sorry, malfoy, but you reek.Just absolutely bloody awful. Ugh. Get a new
cologne, man." I waved my hand around as I started to move towards getting all
my things in order to go to Harry soon enough. I think I've actually lost
excitement for going there.
Thats a little bit of a scary though, though it was probably just because I'd
have him breathing over my shoulder the whole time. I paused my actions as I
heard him snickering, almost cruelly at my expensive. It forced my back to
straighten in some amount of insult as I looked over at him.
"What?" I perked my head up at him, bent at the waist as I picked up my more
casual clothes from the pile I'd gotten thanks to Narcissa. Could tell she'd
always wanted a daughter just from the ungodly amount of clothes I've received
within a couple of weeks. According to her, a girl needed a special clothing
item for every occasion. Something about you can never be overdressed or
overeducated, issue is that its totally possible to be overdressed at the
Weasleys' near Christmas.
"Your sense of smell. It's gotten more sensitive after we shagged." Draco
declared with some victory in his voice.
"Lies." I rolled my eyes and looked away from his shitty grin.
"I can tell because you smell another women on me and you don't like it. You
let me in, let the Veela out a little." He smirked, looking incredibly happy
with himself.
"Doubt thats whats happening." I felt my blush start up as I rolled my eyes and
continued my actions of shoving everything into my bag, manually. Still
couldn't use magick till I was 17 while he could, stupid full-blooded mated
Veela laws. He could do it to "protect and care for his mate" blah, blah, blah.
Loopholes for the rich and powerful I say.
"Oh yeah?" He raised a brow, challenging my nonchalant attitude as he possibly
spotted the blush that was creeping up.
"Uh huh." I nodded, pushing my clothes back into my bag. It was almost time to
get the hell outta here.
He'd gone quiet for a second which really should have warned me he was up to
something. I looked up right as he jumped me, moving me towards the bed in an
oddly gentle yet demanding way. It seemed my body knew what he wanted while I
didn't but I was still absolutely disgusted by his smell, to the point I almost
wanted to vomit on him.
"So you don't feel revolted by my smell right now?" He whispered into my ear as
I felt his hand slide up my dress to simply rest on my stomach. I pursed my
lips and stared at the ceiling while he chuckled. Oddly enough, it didn't feel
wrong to have his hand up my skirt...still felt like his mum would pop in at
any second to scream at me for taking her son's innocence.
"It's horrible, isn't it? The smell of someone else on your mate? Makes you
want to rip off their clothes, burn them, and keep them out of sight for a bit,
doesn't it? Preferably shagging until all you can smell is you." He was having
fun at this point with his voice getting gravelly with want. It was more fun
than what I was having.
"No!" I disagreed with the whole part after the burning clothes bit. I
definitely could go for burning his clothes, but I'd also be fine with burning
half of my own if they weren't so expensive.
"Liar." He snorted as his hand slipped just below my underwear line on my hips.
He glanced between my hips and my face before he continued, "If it makes you
feel better, she tried to kiss me but I ended up hitting her in the stomach. It
was completely by accident but there you go, love."
"Right." I mumbled, a little embarrassed that it actually made me feel better
to know he'd rejected her for it. He simply smirked more and kissed my nose
softly.
"Want to hear the story?" He raised a brow, tempting me to fall into his trap
of actually being interested. I shrugged instead, hoping it'd come across as I
didn't really care. 
"Alright, fine. Act like you don't caer but you have to follow me. I have a
surprise for you." He grinned motioning towards the door with the hand that had
been under my dress. I stood with him, following him to the door like the good
little dog I needed to be until the school year started as I smoothed out my
wrinkles from that little tussle.
"This was supposed to be a Christmas surprise but oh well." I felt his hands go
over my eyes as he led me, he sounded giddy. It was a little alarming to hear a
Malfoy that level of giddy. 
"Wait! Then just show me on Christmas!" I tried to skid to a stop but was only
hiked up by my waist until I started to struggle with that too. 
"Come on, it's still Christmas Eve. We like to open one present the night
before."
"But-" I started to protest until I realised he'd moved his hands away. I took
in the potions lab with wide eyes and glanced back at him in confusion. I
wasn't sure if this was actually mine to use and all or if I was just being
shown what Snape's lab here looked like...
"I figured if you make a career out of something like Potions, you don't really
need to learn something stupid like the Piano or a Violin." He shrugged,
leaning on the door frame with one leg crossed over the other. He knew he'd hit
home here with this.
"This is just...wow. Really just...brilliant. Absolutely brilliant!" I
exclaimed as I darted around to look at everything. It was extravagant in it's
set up, and perfectly sized for me. I didn't need to jump up to grab something
off the top shelf, they were all at my height or below. It almost reminded me
of my mothers lab before it caught fire. The remnants were still in place in
the basement, father never touched it again and we knew to stay out of it after
he'd caught me down there when I was 10. 
"Does this make up for the fact I smell like another girl?" He asked softly,
wrapping an arm around my waist. His hand rested flat against my stomach as I
took in each vial and cauldron with bright eyes. 
"Yup!" I chirped, not really thinking about what I'd answered. He snorted,
placing chaste kisses down the back of my exposed neck to what he could see of
my shoulder. 
"You know what's an easier way of eliminating that issue?" He murmured into my
ear, gaining my attention as he focused on his spot on my neck.
"Huh?" I questioned mainly the air as I lost focus on everything but him. His
tongue merely grazed over it and my legs seemed to just give up functioning.
Annoying little blighters. 
"Just come up to me, start kissing me. Touch me. Anywhere you want.  I promise
that I won't think about anything but you." His voice felt like honey, the way
it curled warmly into my mind. That same oddly sweet smell dangled in the air,
letting me know his allure was being used but I don't know if I really had a
say in it at this point.
Velvety soft touches slowly lowered me to the ground leaving him to straddle
me. I blinked and noticed a set of scaly looking white wings. It reminded me of
a dragon's wings yet some how, when I touched them, they were supple, downy
even, instead of cutting up my hands. The feeling was soothing in itself though
shagging on the floor of my potions lab wasn't quite how I was expecting today
to go. 
"Where would you rather then?" Draco's voice was the only clear thing in my
peaceful, lust filled fog. 
"Bed." I muttered, digging my hands into his feathery soft hair. I just wanted
more and more of him. 
This was a weird dream. It seemed I'd been raised and lowered quite a bit until
I found myself amongst the smell of lust and heavy pheromones leaking onto the
pillows. I guess last night didn't stay in that night, it seemed we were having
a repeat gauging by the fact that I could feel Draco's breathing in my ear and
hair. Sorry Harry, I was going to enjoy this. 
"Dr-drace." I was trying to talk through the sweet smell I kept inhaling. 
"What is it, darling?" His voice was just as breathless as mine though I think
that was more from the exercises that he was experiencing. 
"I can't...cum. With your whole," I pulled a hand up waved it in front of my
face, signalling somehow I meant his allure. "thing." 
"Oh, shit. Sorry." He apologised quickly as I regained most of my senses. I
blinked a few times realising were we in bed now. I'd gained my senses enough
for him it seemed as he continued what he was doing, that was shifting my body
with the strength of his thrusts.
"Gentle!" I gasped, wrapping my body around his. I felt like I needed to be
closer as possible, there couldn't be a single space between us right now. He
nodded, kissing each spot he could as he went down my neck. He'd begun nipping
at my shoulder when I jumped involuntarily.  
"Do you like it when I do that?" His voice was raspy, as I nodded, feeling the
scaly wings again and stroking them. Each stroke forced a ripple of pleasure
through his body resulting in a growl that just got deeper and deeper as I
continued. I went to do it again when I felt a wave of that high as a kite kind
of pleasure roll through me and released him as he did the same, choosing to
lay by me in some kind of embrace. 
Our legs were tangled with me on my back and him propped up by his side and
elbow. He seemed to be receding back to the Draco I knew before my very eyes.
His hair lost it's gold qualities and returned to the silver colour along with
his pointed beak-like nose, it'd melded back into the pointed button nose that
all the girls enjoyed looking at so much. 
"All the girls might enjoy looking, but I promise it'll only be your children
than have it." He smirked as I paused, realising he could not only hear my
thoughts again but he'd also pushed the whole family thing again. His mistake,
my gain.
"I guess that you think Harry has that sort of nose as well then?" I raised a
brow, lining up the bait for him to nab. As I watched his face darken into a
touch of fury, I knew it wouldn't take long. 
"You won't let that miserable sod touch you like this, you understand me? You
will not have his offspring, Ara." The fury in his voice had me thinking this
maybe wasn't my gain after all because now I was naked with a raging Veela who
also held my life, my sister's life, and my father's life in his hands. I
opened my mouth but he didn't seem to be particularly done with his rant. 
"I'll cut him up into tiny pieces if I have too, just to make him stay away
from you. No one's going to want to shag you after I'm done breaking each of
their bones one by one." His anger poisoned each word, driving home the fact
that I'd made a life deal at 16 and the only way to get out was if he died
early.
"You are mine. No one else is allowed to hold you, touch you, or kiss you like
I can. This mark makes sure of it." He hissed, straddling me again as I held up
my hands when he leaned down to my neck. Half of me wanted to show him my bare
neck, to allow him whatever he wanted to do. But the other half was more along
the lines of "FUCK HELLS BELLS, NO." . I had to make a move soon, he was
awfully close. 
I felt my head move up and twist to the side, leaving his full access to one of
my most vulnerable areas of my body. Ara, what are you doing?  This is a
terrible idea. He's going to rip your bloody thro-oh he likes it.  I watched
him relax out of the corner of my eye as he sniffed around my neck, choosing to
rub his cheeks over certain areas. When it seemed he was done, I laid there for
a second longer, just going belly up so he couldn't get mad again. 
"There." He muttered, most likely to himself considering he simply choose to
sit up now. Handing me a favourite dress of his and a brush for the possible
hair mess I had going on right now. This was an odd way to take care of me, I
guessed. 
When I'd finished, he pulled me up off the bed and wrapped an arm around my
lower waist as he smoothed over my hair with his other hand. The familiar rag
doll feeling returned as he kissed my forehead softly and began to move towards
the door with me in tow.
Just one more day.
===============================================================================
 
Christmas day was awkwardly family-like. More so than I ever expected from the
aristocratic family that seemed to forever be stuck between polite and
malcontent. Instead, everyone but Lucius was happy, and smiley. Even Snape
cracked a smile at the mini potion making kit I'd wrapped up after one of our
shopping trips down Diagon Alley last week.
Lucius and Narcissa had chosen to give me a joint present that took the form of
a bottomless bag. It'd been charmed into allowing things like my cauldron's to
go in it with little resistance. Draco had told me that my present from him
would come later.
Snape's was oddly interesting, it was simply a letter. My recommendation
letter. So far I was the most excited about that, I thought about hugging him
but choose to not push it. With my luck he'd rip it up in front of my face and
no amount of spell-o-tape could fix that.
I was led upstairs to the bedroom by Draco, who seemed a little anxious which
was incredibly off-putting. He was always in control, always sure of himself
and right now I was a little worried, if I do say so myself...Okay I was a lot
worried.
"So, your official present from me..." He started as he shut the door behind us
and I sat down on the bed. I crossed my hands in my lap as I waited and watched
him place his new broom next to the vanity stand near the door. It'd been a
joint gift from Narcissa and I while Lucius and Snape had gotten him outfitted
in all the safety gear I knew he'd never wear.
"Is that you go to the weasley's by yourself." He finished slowly, looking at
me nervously for a reaction. At first it didn't register what he'd said and I
just sort of stared at him in confusion. But then when I got it, I began to
grin.
"Holy crap, seriously? You'd do that for me?" I clapped my hands together out
of excitement.
"Yeah. I would." He gave me a small sad looking smile as he nodded. "Your
things have already been flooed there. They're just waiting on you." He
explained, motioning to the empty corner of his room. I ignored the oddly
despondent tone he had and choose to hop up and hug him to me. It took him a
moment to respond in turn, hugging me softly and letting me go quickly as I
bounced around the room.
"Right right. Okay so, I'll get on my way now then. You should call Pansy or
Blaise or someone to come over while I'm gone. Have a grand time with your
friends, love!" I called as I went about the bedroom and into the hallway,
leaving the bottomless bag on the bed. I'd hoped he wouldn't notice as I made
my way to the flooing area in their home but it seemed he did.
"Ara. You'll want to take this with you." He called softly, moving to hand the
brown bag to me as I stepped in. The rest of the family didn't come down here,
probably because they didn't know I'd leave right this second. It almost felt a
little wrong to leave without him but at the same time, I was just so excited
to have my space at the burrow back to just me.
"Right right. Thanks, love. Bye!" I was too excited to pay attention to my use
of constant pet names for him, choosing to ignore that bit too. Instead I just
kissed his cheek and threw down the ash as quickly as I possibly could, calling
out THE BURROW.
***** Chapter 15 *****
I arrived with a bit of a coughing fit as I gasped at the sensations that flew
through my body. They were a little different from what I was used to with
flooing anywhere, more pulling and nausea.
"'Bout time you showed up." I peered through watery eyes at Fred and George
Weasley sitting at couch. I spied the coffee table and glanced it a little too
long.
"Yeah, mum wouldn't let us eat till you got here. " Papers were spread around
the table that Fred covered up with his arm after noticing my curiosity.
"Sorry." I cleared my throat as I wiped my eyes with my pointers and my cheeks
with my thumbs.
"Oi, Harry. Your girlfriend's here, finally." George yelled as I heard sets of
feet hitting steps, like they were jumping off each step and onto the next.
"Ara?" I heard his voice before I saw him and I was a little disappointed it
didn't bring out the fast beating heart in me that it had in the past.
"Hiya." I greeted, turning to face the guy that had been one my mind for a good
while now.
Harry came around the corner first, kissing me at first. The kiss elicited a
low whistle from the twins which led him to hug me tightly to him, as though it
was just more reasons to show our affections. I reacted slower than I probably
should have but I was a little distracted, spotting the youngest of the
weasley's staring at us. She didn't look happy, a bit angry actually. I wonder
what about?
"How are you? Are you okay?" He withdrew quickly, our lips made an audible pop
as they unlocked. He seemed to be taking a step back to appraise me.
"I'm just happy to be here." I mumbled back, watching his green eyes dart
around my person. His eyes finally landed on the Malfoy pendant that hung heavy
on my neck right now. It felt like the room had gone silent for a pinch,
settling the alarmed feeling right into my stomach. Like everyone had the same
thought in their heads, shes one of them.
"Is that Ara I hear?" Molly Weasley's voice broke the silence as she seemed to
finally realise that someone had flooed into her home. I looked over my
shoulder to see her having exited the kitchen. She was looking frazzled but
still as warm as ever as she came closer to sweep me into a hug. I had last
seen her over the summer. We spent quite a bit of time just sitting in the
kitchen, learning to cook with a locomotor spell. She'd actually had to ask the
Ministry for permission in the first place, a sort of homeschooling thing, I'd
guessed.
"Oh good, I'm glad you're back here, safe and sound." She swelled with
happiness and overtones of that motherly feeling I'd always craved. I
officially couldn't let go of Harry now. It'd mean letting go of the Weasleys
too, I'd have nothing soft to fall back onto. Cold white marble and blue eyes
had never been less welcoming in my entire life than when Molly Weasley checked
me over for any sort of injuries.
"Now then, let's see...you...dear." She held me at arm's length, her eyes
strayed to the pendant around my neck as well. A knot seemed to have formed in
my throat, with fear building that she'd send me back having that crest in her
home. Molly Weasley's eyes darted back up to mine as I felt my lip almost
pucker, she looked pitying. As though she simply felt sorry to see me going
through such a hardship.
I was surprised when she pulled me back towards her chest in another warm hug,
"Come, come. We can finally eat now that the family's all here!" Her voice was
happy enough, grateful even as she squeezed me for a quick second and let me go
again.
Harry was the first to move, coming forwards and taking my hand to press it to
his lips in a small smile. I was a little taken aback by his sudden acceptance
of the collar I seemed to wear now.
"If mushy is what you two are going to be like all holiday," Fred began as they
stacked all their papers into a pile. "Then I don't know if we'll see you
much." George declared warily.
"I said, COME ALONG." Molly Weasley's voice cut through the prevailing
atmosphere shrilly. It got everyone moving along quickly to the table, I sat
down next to Harry who seemed quite accustomed to the fast moving food,
grabbing portions for both myself and him. I hesitantly took a few bites out of
the food he'd gotten me, with him looking quite proud of providing me with it.
Mr Weasley looked happy despite his healing injuries. Conversation darted
around school and Christmas, but it stayed far far away from the Malfoys and my
own family was nowhere to be found. Both would have been a relief if it were
not for the heavy hanging atmosphere every time conversation stilled.
===============================================================================
"You'll be with Ginny." Mrs Weasley smiled back at me, a hand softly cupped my
jaw and cheek. The day hadn't been as awkward as I was expecting. We'd
exchanged gifts and all, of course there were a number of hand knitted sweaters
and socks with an initial on each item. Harry had elected to give me a small
locket that contained a photo of us near the Black Lake, my head rested on his
chest with a small smile to greet the viewer. Each time I opened it, both of us
waved at Harry or I.
"Of course." I nodded with a small, nervous smile. "And thank you for having
me, Mrs Weasley." I nodded my head again, this time in thanks that she was
taking me into her home.
"Oh, I wouldn't have it any other way. Your sister was asked if she'd like to
stay here as well, but she decided to stick with your dad." She explained,
letting her hand fall away from my cheek.
"I imagine he needs some company around the holiday's anyways." Mrs Weasley
finished softly, hesitant about how to tread with a girl and the mention of her
dead mother. I tried to shrug it off calmly but I think it came out more
mechanically because she hugged me again and ushered me into the small room.
Ginny sat on her bed with a book in her hand. It was rather neat and tidy for a
12 year old's room...but it was probably because of the cot that was enchanted
to float across from her. Mrs Weasley patted my shoulder and left us alone,
going back downstairs.
"Hi." I wasn't greeted with much, more of a stare really.
"Hi." She said back as she stared at me and I stared at her as I shuffled to
put everything under the cot. Well this is awkward. What do you talk to girls
about? Boys? Probably boys.
"Find any good boys lately?" I blurted out, pressing my lips together as I
hopped up on my bed. Great job, Ara. Just. Great. You really couldn't have made
it any more awkward, could you?
"Um. I guess." She raised a brow at me and shrugged, "It's kinda hard to look
when you've got at least four older brothers trying to scare everyone off."
Ginny replied slowly. I nodded for a second, this was something I could talk
about. Overbearing men. Totally my subject.
"Oh, I get you there. 110%, luv." I nodded resolutely this time, holding an O.K
sign with my point finger and my thumb rolled together.
"How? Harry seems like he's the least over protective guy ever. Hes sweet and
considerate, and pretty much perfect considering he has to deal with you and
Malfoy non-stop." She declared with doubt in her voice. It seemed that news
traveled pretty quickly around here. Made sense considering how big this family
was.
"He is. It's just the Malfoy thing. He's always in my shit- I'm sorry." I held
a hand over my mouth, realising I'd just cussed in front of the baby Weasley.
"Its fine. Its not like I've never heard a swear before." She seemed to loosen
up as she grinned and shook her head at my apology.
"Right. Anyways, he's always up in my business, never leaves me alone for a
second. He can even read my thoughts now." I proclaimed with annoyance
bubbling.
"Who is?" Harry's question dragged both of our attentions to the door quickly.
I don't think I'd even realised that he was there. It seemed he'd been there
for a while though, his arms were crossed as he leaned on the door frame.
"Uh..." Ginny and I shared a conspicuous glance before looking back him with
both his brows raised now. "No one." We chorused.
"Uh huh. No one at all?" Harry stared at us patiently, a hard penetrating
trance that seemed reminiscent of an auror and his suspect. His eyes switched
off of mine when I raised a brow to focus on Ginny.
"She was talking about Malfoy!" Ginny confessed hastily, mouthing a 'sorry' to
me as I looked back at her with mock-hurt that she'd rat me out. Harry had
already identified her as the weak link.
"Ah. I see, thank you. Care to walk with me, Ara?" He looked a touch victorious
as he motioned back out the door with his head. I rolled my eyes but nodded
nonetheless. Following Harry down, it seemed that we were going outside for our
walk. Fair enough. I lit my wand, letting it act as a flashlight for us.
He was quiet for a while, taking my hand softly to lead me in the dark. I
wasn't sure as to what to say, honestly. What was there to say? I love you and
all but I was destined for this guy we're both not that fond of and hes kinda
changing my mind about it all. No biggie though. I'm jus-
"Why are you wearing his family crest?" His first question wasn't harsh,
curious and almost hurt. It made my own heart hurt.
"Well. It was apart of his father's request to do so in case I ever die- what
am I saying? WHEN I die, that his son could life for a little longer before he
passed." I explained, rambling just a little.
"Thats really shit of him. Figures its just so he can live longer." Harry
grumbled, shaking his head in the light of my wand.
"Yeah." I shrugged. Harry's locket now hung above the heavy pendant, acting as
some sort of parallel between the formal and informal that threw me for a
slight loop. Harrys was a gift of goodwill whereas Malfoy's was a reminder of
my promise. That I officially had no escape from my choices.
What a scary thought that is.
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