hey guys! well, this is going to be on hell of a party, i can say that much. do be kind and leave some reviews, you know i'll respond!! if you get bored and want some more reading, check out my L/N one-shots "Perfect Make-up" and "Hello Stranger". thanks for reading up to this point! you guys are wonderful! much love! ;) ~nomikkin Chapter 24: The Christmas Party and the Aftermath
Draco stood at the bottom of the staircase, waiting for Isabell and experiencing a déjà vu in the process. He sighed deeply, wanting to get the night over with so that the day would come faster. It’s not that he wanted her to go; on the contrary, he wanted her to stay, but he would not risk her life any longer. When he held her in his arms at the hospital, demanding that a mediwitch or mediwizard see her immediately, he was overwhelmed with a hysterical feeling. He couldn’t quite explain it, but he knew that it had to be some form of love … at least he guessed.
“Psst! Draco! Draco!” a voice whispered.
He looked over at the rounded doorway that led to the living room to find Crabbe sticking his fat head out, peering at his master. His eyes seemed to be filled with a strange sort of fear that only could be brought out by someone with an exuded confidence.
“What do you want Crabbe?” he asked testily.
“Will you hurry up already!” he replied.
“I’m waiting for Isabell.”
“Well she needs to hurry up!”
Goyle then stuck his head out above Crabbe, nodding in agreement, “Yeah, Pansy won’t stop asking about you. She’s even started,” he took a gulp, “dancing with us!”
There was a loud, sudden shriek from the dining room, “Where are you freaks?!”
“Please hurry!” Goyle pleaded, his eyes wide with horror for what was just around the corner.
Draco rolled his silver eyes at them, completely ignoring the fact that they were now bowing on their knees as though begging for mercy. He sighed, looking back at the empty hallway and closed entrance of Isabell’s room. He wasn’t surprised that she decided to take longer than usual; after all he did tell her to leave. His mind wandered, contemplating on how she was taking it. Would she be alright with it? Was she upset? Angry? Depressed? All of the above? Or was she taking it like a Vartier, sucking in all of the emotion and never letting it out until it’s too unbearable? He went for the latter; that was Isabell’s style.
The door finally squeaked open, but it took a few moments of tension to reveal the lovely Isabell to Draco. She stepped out of the darkened abyss of her room and exposed her bright and shining beauty. Draco almost thought he had to look away. Her dress traveled down in white, tulle ripples as she trotted down the steps. The gold embroidery over the light, sheer top layer made her seem like one of the Greek goddesses that his mother had always showed him pictures of when he was little. She sheepishly smiled, brushing back a curling red lock that had fallen in front of her bright blue eyes from her clipped up hair.
“So … what do you think?” she asked, holding out her arms to give him a full view.
This time he noticed the gold colored bow right below her bodice; it was small enough to add that delicate touch, just like Isabell. He nodded his approval of her and held his arm out, a movement that meant he wanted to get the party over with as fast as possible. She slid her arm through his, letting the young Malfoy guide her toward the doorway that lead to the living room. She held him back a little bit, slowing down their steps to the party, gazing into his eyes. He knew she had something to say and he, in all honesty, didn’t know if he wanted to hear it.
“I’m quitting,” she announced, halting Draco into a complete stop.
“You’re quitting what?” he asked.
“Fags,” she answered.
“I hope you’re not asking me to do the same-”
“I’ve already asked too much of you. You don’t need to quit with me,” she interrupted. “You do, however, need to keep your promises.”
“I haven’t had sex yet and I won’t while you’re still here,” Draco grinned.
“What about being civil with your parents?” she inquired, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m working on it. After what happened the other night I would expect you to forget that,” he retorted.
“A Vartier never forgets,” Isabell sneered, ending their conversation.
The duo linked arms again, walking towards the doorway. When they entered the room of shady politicians, secret Death Eaters, and even a few Hogwarts students, all eyes seemed to turn to them for a moment. Draco felt his friend squeeze his arm with urgency and he snapped his eyesight over to where she was looking: Pansy was making a B-line towards them. Isabell made no effort to be civil with the girl; she just splashed on a mask of disgust.
“Hello Draco,” Pansy smiled, placing her hands onto her hips. She was trying to make a model pose but the young, naïve girl just looked like had broken her back and contorted into some strange position.
“Hello Pansy,” he replied, forcing on a fake smile, knowing that his father was watching him with his manners-radar.
Pansy looked the couple up and down, examining their attire closely. A grin crept over her features, her mind most likely coming up with a witty remark. But before she could open her mouth to over flow the two with insults about Isabell’s choice of dress, Draco lead his red-headed friend onto the dance floor, gracefully. She rested her cheek on his shoulder, being as careful she could be, not wanting to get make-up onto his black jacket. Draco rocked her gently to the rhythm of the music, sighing with relief of being able to get away from his ex.
“Do you still want me gone?” she whispered.
“This isn’t the time to discuss this,” he replied, his tone just a quiet.
“I just want to know if I should pack my things later tonight or not,” she stated calmly, staring back up at him.
“I don’t want you gone, Isabell. I want you safe and if that means you have to leave, then so be it,” he declared.
She wrenched herself gently out of his grip, “Right, well then I’ll just get some fresh air.”
“Are you feeling sick?”
“No, your nobility is suffocating me,” she snapped.
Draco watched his goddess depart from him for the moment, her lungs apparently filled up to the brim with his need to protect her. He felt a delicate tap on his shoulder and turned around to find Pansy holding out a glass of champagne to him. He snatched it up with an eager grasp, downing the flute of light alcohol in a quick second.
“I’ve got the worst headache,” Draco growled, seizing the glass of champagne from Pansy’s clutch. It was gone by the time she blinked.
“Draco,” she breathed, sliding up next to him, “that’s not the way to get rid of a headache.” She held out her palm to him, exposing a small white pill with a large red star in the middle of it, “Take this.”
He stared at it for a moment, wondering what it was she was really giving him. For as long as Draco knew Pansy, he had learned one thing; he could never trust her. He looked back at the opened up backdoor that led to the outside. Isabell stood alone, being showered by the moonlight as a cold breeze drew her skirt to side. His eyes traveled back to the pill and, without a second thought, he popped it into his mouth just as quickly as he had downed the champagne.
Isabell sighed as she strolled over to her bedroom door lazily. The night had been filled with old men approaching her, Draco disappearing with Pansy every time she needed him, and Crabbe groping her ass every chance he got. She had had enough and now, with her heels dangling from her fingers, she was ready to go to bed. She pushed open the door with her exhausted body craving the four poster bed.
Her figure suddenly paused in the moonlit room; there was a scuffle of feet behind her. Isabell tensed up as she slowly turned around and caught her breath at the grey, bloodshot eyes that stared into hers. She furrowed her brow, wondering why Draco’s appearance had changed so drastically. He smiled and widened his eyes as he cupped her face into his hands, dragging her near.
“I love you,” he whispered.
The smell of champagne fluttered around Isabell’s nostrils and she scrunched her face up in repugnance, “Draco, you’re drunk.”
“I’m drunk on love!” he replied, laughing a bit as she pushed him out her bedroom door.
“You need to sleep,” she soothed, shoving his hands off of her face gently.
A slender, milky arm slithered around Draco’s broad shoulders and Isabell discovered Pansy trying to drag him away with the same drunk expression across her face. She tugged onto her ex-boyfriend, stealing him away from Isabell, who was, for the first time, thankful. She watched them carefully as they toppled over into his bedroom, their laughter bouncing off the walls. A confession of his love to his best friend shot out from the closing door of his room, but she chose to ignore it as she shut her own door. Isabell wondered if maybe him being drunk was just a way to hide his true feelings about her. Maybe, as he was under then influence, he was able to unleash the secrets without feeling as though he made a huge confession. It would be just like him, but she didn’t think he would resort to such a thing on a night like this, especially with Pansy handing him drink after drink. No, Draco was definitely not understanding what he was doing or saying just then.
Sighing heavily, she trudged over to her closet where her bright pink suitcase sat, waiting to be packed and waiting to be carried on home. Isabell flopped down onto her knees, rummaging through it, trying to find her nightgown. Her mind became distracted from her task of finding something to sleep in as he eyes caught sight of a glossy, folded piece of paper sticking out of a pile of clothes. She pulled it up and smiled at the cover; it was a pamphlet for the Hogwarts Express. Isabell tended to keep one around in case she ever wanted to return to the school during her Christmas and Easter vacations.
‘Maybe I’ll go back to Hogwarts instead,’ she thought to herself, skimming through the times and dates.
Sure enough there was a train leaving for Hogwarts on Christmas morning at ten o’clock sharp. Nodding in agreement to her decision, Isbell placed the leaflet on the carpeted floor of the wardrobe. She continued on searching for one of her many nightgowns that she had brought with her along this trip. Sleep was calling to her just like the Hogwarts Express would be calling to her in the morning.
Isabell woke up with a start, wondering where she was for a moment. Her eyes snapped over to the large window beside her bed and she found that it was morning; Christmas morning to be exact. Today was her last day in the Malfoy Manor. Last night was her last night to sleep under Egyptian cotton sheets. No more servants, no more real food, no more bubble baths, no more … Draco. Maybe she could convince him to come along to Hogwarts with her, although it seemed useless to even ask, she could give it a shot.
She threw the covers off of her body, missing the soft touch of them already as she jumped down to the bed with a groggy moan. Isabell walked over to her closet and slipped into some jeans. She sleepily ambled out of her room and down the hallway, only to end up at Draco’s door. It was ajar, letting some of the foggy sunlight trickle out. She could hear him snoring softly and it made a chill spin down her back, creating goose bumps out of a mix of excitement and fear.
“Draco,” she whispered, pushing the door open.
He turned over onto his side, a small smile playing over his lips as he took in the image of his best friend standing in the doorframe. But to his dismay, her expression of matching happiness fell apart as an arm plopped over onto his bare chest. Pansy sneered at Isabell as she pulled her naked body up for a full view. Draco’s jaw dropped as he tried to think of something to say but he never knew himself to ever break a promise to the girl standing at the door. She pursed her lips, looking like she was going to throw up with tears rimming her eyes. Before he could make a motion to get out of bed, Isabell had already spun around on her foot, storming off to collect her things.
“Isabell!” Draco hollered, tumbling out of bed and onto the floor. “Isabell wait!”
His hand grasped onto a pair of black boxer-brief and he threw his lower body into them, wanting to at least cover himself. He climbed up to his feet with Pansy calling out after him, telling him to leave the red-headed bitch. He stopped dead in his tracks, pausing to say one thing to her.
“Pansy, why don’t you go screw yourself because I’m not going to do it for you anymore,” he hissed.
Draco sprinted down the hallway, slamming himself up against the opened doorframe of Isabell’s bedroom. She already had her heels slipped over her feet, her fur coat covering her body, and a shield of depression wrapping itself around her heart as she tugged onto her pink suitcase. Her face was chiseled with anger as she glanced at the young Slytherin before her.
“Let me explain, please,” he begged.
She ignored him and breezed past his slouching figure, her feet now reaching the staircase. Isabell didn’t know if she could listen to him … she was afraid it would break her heart too much. He knew what he did wrong and she wasn’t ready to forgive him; she had to think.
“Pansy slipped me a drug last night! It was E or X … I can’t remember what it was called, all I know is that it made me do stupid things!” he exclaimed.
Her body froze at the front door, “Made you do stupid things? Like have sex with her for instance?”
He nodded in agreement. She continued on, “And it made you say that you love me as well, right?”
His voice was caught in his throat at this statement. Isabell snorted evilly as she shook her head in disbelief; could she have honestly believed him last night? He didn’t love her; he was just being stupid, like he was now. She couldn’t bear to look at him, his guilty face making her heart almost break. Almost.
Isabell turned to the door, opening it up to the cold, frigid winds that blew harshly outside. She felt someone take a hold of her suitcase and discovered it to be the chauffer, trying to haul her belongings to the town car in front of them. She tossed him a grateful smile and clambered into the pre-opened car. Draco tried to run after her, but by the time he smacked himself up against the doorway, he was too late; the car was already dragging itself out of the rounding driveway.
He spun around and apparated up to his bedroom where Pansy was standing with the sheets covering her body in the middle of the floor. She had placed herself in front of his closet, not wanting him to go after the bitchy Vartier that had stormed off into the blizzard. Draco shoved her violently onto the ground, not even bothering to ask her to move. She screeched at him, cursing his existence and the love she felt for him going unreturned. He finished buttoning up his white collared shirt and threw a black robe over his body as he glimpsed at her. He bent over menacingly, staring the pug-faced pureblood down.
“Get out of my house and don’t ever come around me again. Is that understood?” he whispered, his breath reddening her face.
She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. He was beginning to take on the form of his father again. He ignored her whimpering noises as he stormed down to Isabell’s room. He looked around the place for clues, any sign of where she might have gone to. If Draco knew his friend well, and he did, he knew that the last place she ever be found is the obvious: her home. He strolled into her wardrobe, clenching his fists at the sight before him; she had hung up all of the clothes he bought her including the Oscar de la Renta one she wore the previous night. He slammed his closed hand into the wooden door, creating a large, knuckle imprinted form. Suddenly, his grey eyes caught something on the floor. It was a glossy piece of paper with the Hogwarts Express strewn across the cover, the words “train schedule” painted over the picture in gold writing. Draco disapparated to King’s Cross.
Tears rolled down Isabell’s cheeks as she felt the train roll away from the station. Her glossy eyes stared outside the frosted window, gazing at the blonde boy that tried to run alongside the train, but then stopped, knowing he was going to fail. The sight of Draco trying to come to her rescue just made more droplets fall down her blushing face. How could she have been so stupid as to believe that he loved her, let alone keep his promise to her? It was idiotic on her part and it didn’t make her feel any better when the door to her compartment slid open up without warning. She gasped as those emerald eyes snatched her heart and created a large in her throat.
“What are you doing here?!” she snapped, her voice cracking and her sleeves growing wet as she wiped away the tears.
“I’m going back to Hogwarts, same as you,” he answered.
“No, I mean what are you doing here in my compartment!” she barked.
“I was looking in all of them. I’m quite bored already,” he grinned, walking into the car and sitting on the cushioned bench she was on.
“What, battling the Dark Lord hasn’t kept you occupied enough?” Isabell retorted, sniffing a little bit.
“It has, but this is break and my friends and I have come at an impasse,” he stated.
“Why don’t you go and play with that little Weasel, Jenny or whatever?”
“It’s Ginny and I’m not with her,” he replied, scooting towards her a bit more so he was able to get a better look of her tear-stained façade. “Although I do seem to have a pull towards red-heads.”
“It’s because your mother was a red-head,” she responded, her nose still clogged with the phlegm from her crying moment.
There was a moment of silence between the two of them until Harry cut it with his question, “Are you alright?”
She looked down at her twiddling thumbs as she said with a weary voice, “What would you do if I said no?”
Harry inched his way towards her saddened visage, her eyes begging, pleading him to kiss her. He was the one thing in her life that she actually wanted and couldn't have. Isabell had never felt like that ... not being able to have something within her reach. She, again, urged him silently to come forward and kiss her like she had wanted for the whole year it seemed. When he didn’t receive the mental messages, she gave up and just smashed her lips against his, craving for them. Her covered body was being explored by his hands as they both explored each other’s mouths with their tongues. Isabell’s breath shortened as she pulled away for moment to speak.
“Draco can never know about this,” she declared.
“I never had the intention of letting him know. That would be like signing my own death sentence,” he replied. “Of course that’s giving Malfoy a compliment.”
“Oh shut up!”
With that she pulled him back into the kiss that they were sharing before. Part of her knew that she was doing this only for her own personal revenge, but then again the other part of her wanted the Boy-Who-Lived. He was dangerous, he was forbidden, he was something that Draco hated. Isabell didn’t know what would happen when they returned to Hogwarts, all she knew is that she wanted to be enthralled in Harry for as long as she possibly could; he was her little bit of freedom for the moment.
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