Soon, she reached my lips. I didn’t know what to do. I felt torn. I gave her a deep longing kiss to tell her that I wanted for her. Then, I pulled away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Joanie looked at me, her face unreadable. I took a deep breath before saying,” Joanie, I can’t do it now. It’s not fair to you.” Joanie stared trying to understand me.
I bit my lip as I explained softly,” I want you so much Joanie. But… you are vulnerable now. You don’t know what you are doing.”
Joanie ran her fingers through her hair and nodded. She leant back on me as we rode Lightning back to the stables and then moved back to the house.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
[ My P.O.V. ]:
I was so shocked. Dumbstruck. Flabbergasted. Everything. Mr. Draco Malfoy, son of Death eater Lucius Malfoy, Slytherins official prince and Hogwarts bad boy ACTUALLY passed the refusal test!! I don’t believe it. The words Malfoy, pass and refusal test definitely don’t go together.
The fact that Malfoy passed the test proves quite a few things.
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Things the test proves:
- Malfoy CAN actually refuse people.
- Malfoy has some self-discipline.
- Malfoy CARES for my feelings. Whoa.
- Malfoy may be date material, MAY BE.
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Lost in my thoughts, I would have bumped right into the grand-looking door of the ever-so-posh Malfoy Manor and broken my nose or something if Malfoy did not grab and pull me back.
Malfoy raised his eyebrow. I smiled back sheepishly. Malfoy shook his head slightly and gave a huge fake sigh to show his desperation. I hit him on his shoulder and pouted.
“Smile. Blaise is staying till we go back to school. He’s in the living area. Let’s go meet him.” Malfoy said as he neatened his hair and straightened his clothes. Malfoy then stepped on the doormat lying outside the door. The door flung open. I jumped. Malfoy laughed. I made a hmph sound and blushed, embarrassed.
Malfoy snaked his arm around my waist as I smoothened my already smooth hair. It wasn’t the first time I stepped into the living area but I was still amazed at what I saw. Trying not to seem so easily amazed, I scanned the room to find Blaise Zabini.
My eyes met with a tall, tanned dark-haired boy who was sitting leisurely in a couch, drumming the table with his long slim fingers. Zabini stood up once he caught sight of us. Boy, he was almost as tall as Malfoy. Okay, fine, everyone seems tall to be because I am small, happy?
Zabini was Malfoy’s best friend so I assume he can’t be that good can he? But he looks pretty good from where I stand, with high cheekbones and dark slanting eyes which seem to take notice of everything. Dra--, I mean, Malfoy wasn’t the only one who benefited from qudditch I see. AND, why do they all dress in black?
But, I still think Malfoy is a better choice. No!! I did not just say that. Ehmagod. Slytherins are out of bounds. Stay focus Joanie.
He walked smoothly towards us and Malfoy gave him a brief but friendly hug. I stepped forward and greeted Zabini with a light peck on his cheeks. That was the way upper class pureblooded witched greeted others. Or so Dumbledore told me.
Zabini’s face tingled red slightly but it was gone in a second. I notice Zabini checking me out before Malfoy cleared his throat loudly on purpose. He introduced,” Blaise, my GIRLFRIEND Joanie Winstead and Joanie, my best friend Blaise Zabini.” as he pointed to us in turn. I nodded slightly in acknowledgement.
Zabini looked at me, a small blonde in a black silk dress with a stylish mandarin collar over faded Miss Sixtys, smiling sweetly. Zabini looked at Malfoy impressed as he asked absent-mindedly,” Where did you get her Draco?”
Malfoy rolled those fascinating blue-grey eyes of his as he threatened,” She’s my girlfriend Blaise. Don’t you even think about it. Hands off.” Malfoy pretended to crack his knuckles. He then smirked and added,” Take Parkinson if you want.”
Zabini made a grossed out face and pretended to turn away and sick on the plush carpet that covered the living area. Then, Malfoy and he cracked up. I had to laugh at that. Was Parkinson that bad? Okay, with her pug face, not so appealing figure, raspy voice and sticky attitude, she may be very bad.
Malfoy said,” She hasn’t been bothering me for a week. That’s a record. Too bad she’ll be at the Christmas party tomorrow night. Then, I’ll start suffocating.” He clutched his own throat and pretended to strangle himself.
Zabini grinned, “Thank lord I’m not you.”
Malfoy straightened up and announced, putting his arm around my shoulder,” At least I have Joanie.”
Zabini pouted and said,” Now, I wanna be you.” Malfoy looked at him warningly and Zabini threw his hands up in the air and yelled a “Kidding!”
I looked at them fooling around. I never knew Malfoy had such a fun side, like this. I smiled subconsciously. Then, Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy strolled down the stairs into the living area. “Boys…” She sighed and gave me a wink.
I giggled appreciatively. Malfoy quickly got up and greeted her, “Hello, Mother.” They were standing properly but I could tell that they were having a wild fist fight behind their backs.
Mrs. Malfoy sighed again and rolled her eyes at them. “While you boys continue to goof around, I’ll bring Joanie out for Christmas shopping. When I come back, I hope the house won’t be in too big of a mess. Draco darling, please show Blaise to his room before I come back in the evening.” Mrs. Malfoy said.
Malfoy purposely stepped forward and objected, “But Mother, Five hours without Joanie? I’ll miss her too much. Please don’t do that.”
I rolled my eyes and slapped his shoulder and said, “As if.”
Mrs. Malfoy nodded and grinned. “Blaise here, will keep you company. Won’t you Blaise? Come on Joanie, let’s go.” I moved away from a puppy-faced Draco and stuck my tongue out at him playfully.
“What?! No one sticks their tongue out at me! You’ll be punished Joanie!” Malfoy exclaimed in mock-anger. He grabbed me and gave me a solid kiss with tongue.
Mrs. Malfoy sighed and shook her head as I quickly pulled away from him. “Draco, please do that when I’m not around. Thank goodness Joanie. Otherwise, we’ll never get to the boutique. Bye boys.” Mrs. Malfoy called as we walked out of the door, headed for the limousine.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Guess what. You’ll never guess it.
Mrs. Malfoy brought me to a high-end designer boutique somewhere in posh London. It was good. I ruffled through endless racks of gorgeous outfits. It was good. I was being waited on hand and foot by the cheerful boutique staff. It was good. I saw Pansy Parkinson strut in nose in the air. It was bad. Horrible in fact.
Clad from head to toe in Burberry, decked in 3 1/2 inch Jimmy Choo heels which she can hardly hobble in, drowned in an entire bottle of Chanel No. 19 and a face caked with half a Anna Sui cosmetics counter, she was a disaster. All her clothes and accessories looked ah-mazing but it was wasted on her. Smirking when a few staff rushed over to serve her, she browsed through the clothes.
Then, she noticed Mrs. Malfoy, who was standing next to me. Clutching her Prada messenger bag, she cooed shrilly,” MRS. MALFOY!!” and waved her plump hand wildly in the air, trying to catch Mrs. Malfoy’s attention.
Mrs. Malfoy looked up and smiled good-naturedly at her. I could tell from the look on Mrs. Malfoy’s face that she couldn’t stand Parkinson but was too nice to tell her off.
My lips curled to form a small smile on my face. Parkinson stood in front of us, but ignoring me of course. “WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE. MRS. MALFOY.” Parkinson cooed loudly, apparently wanting to publicize her close relationship with the Malfoys. Does she have to be so loud in everything she does?
“Nice to see you here, Pansy.” Mrs. Malfoy said politely.
Then Parkinson noticed me. She stared at me rudely and asked shrilly,” WHO IS THAT?! HOW DARE YOU LISTEN TO MY CONVERSATION?”
I plastered the fake smile and allowed not even a small fraction of the annoyance I felt on my face. I said as politely as I could,” Hello. I am Joanie Winstead. And I was here all along so I wasn’t eavesdropping. I just didn’t feel the need to participate, Parkinson.”
Parkinson’s greasy mouth formed an ‘o’ shape as she opened it to retort but Mrs. Malfoy cut in and announced,” She’s Draco’s GIRLFRIEND. I brought her for Christmas shopping.” I could tell she practically emphasized on the word ‘girlfriend’. I smiled brightly, flashing Parkinson a glimpse of my even pearly-white teeth.
Parkinson’s smug look changed into a look of sheer horror. If you were one of the staff in that boutique, you will think that she just witness the death of someone. She stammered,” B—BUT… BUT WHAT ABOUT ME!!!???”
Mrs. Malfoy’s clear blue eyes twinkled as she assured,” Don’t worry Pansy. You have always been Draco’s friend.” She good-naturedly patted Pansy on her back. Parkinson let out a piercing sob and then turned to throw me a killer stare.
She shrilly exclaimed,” WINSTEAD, DON”T BE SO HAPPY! THE FIGHT’S NOT OVER YET. I WILL NEVER GIVE UP! NO ONE, I REPEAT, NO ONE CAN STEAL MY DRAKIEPOO FROM ME!!” I shrugged and returned to browsing through the clothes.
Parkinson’s face turned fire engine red and steam was almost coming from her ears and nose as she pretended not to mind me. I moved away from her as she was at least 5 inches wider and bigger than me so it wouldn’t be good for me of she decided to do something uncivilized. Well, she’s…… her?!
There isn’t much Parkinson isn’t capable of except failing to win the heart of anyone, not just boys and being pleasant.
As I moved along, she inched forward to look at what I was looking at. Everything I took a second look at or picked up from the rack, she took it too. Aargh. What a copycat. She must be trying to be as me as possible so that Malfoy will like her more.
I could hear her huff to herself,” She’s not as pretty as me. She’s not as sexy or elegant as me. She’s not as wonderful as me. Why does Drakiepoo choose her? It must be a love potion. But, I will get Drakiepoo back. He loves me and I love him. Stupid girl, trying to break us up? Not a chance. Drakiepoo must be using her as a substitute till I go to him. Aw, my Drakiepoo, staying with me. I love you!” Parkinson spastically kissed the air with a loud smacking sound.-
I felt goose bumps on my arm as I shuddered. I could her Mrs. Malfoy chuckling behind us. Ha-Ha. Now I know why Dra--, I mean, Malfoy can’t stand her. This is the first time I met her but I already hate her. She’s that bad, trust me. It’s best to stay away from her.
As I giggled inside to my heart’s content, I walked around the well-furbished boutique. Then, I saw it. It was ah-mazing. Hanging on a rack, I picked it up. The gorgeous brown layered nylon V-necked mini dress together with a stiff-looking thick white buckle belt hanging just above the waist area seemed to scream at me,” BUY ME!!”
I must have this dress for the Christmas party. It was just suitable for the occasion. I love it and Malfoy would too! I walked to the wall mirror with the dress and looked to see whether the dress matched me.
It did. My mind immediately reminded me of the chunky diamond bracelets and the ‘J’ diamond necklace I can use to glam up this outfit. Now, all I need to finish off this outfit is shoes.
At that moment the sales lady appeared by my side and handed me a pair of feminine white glitter strappy heels, as if the sales lady shared telepathic powers with me and could read my mind. It was a dream come true!! I love it!!
In a flash, I waltzed into the dressing room nearby, changed into the lovely dress and waltzed out again. Mrs. Malfoy walked towards me and examined the outfit. She smiled brightly before exclaiming,” Joanie! You look like wonderful! You must get it!”
I nodded my head, smiling. Just then Parkinson hobbled over in the exact same outfit as me. She cooed,” WHAT ABOUT ME, MRS. MALFOY??” The truth hurts.
Parkinson looked like an over-sized HIPPOTAMUS in a tight evening dress!! HA-HA!! It was a gas!! Mrs. Malfoy tried to suppress her laughter as she said,” Pansy…… You look, err, good.”
Parkinson clapped her hands gleefully, and turned her nose at me, who was almost shaking with laughter. I flashed her an innocent megawatt smile. I am becoming such a pro at this.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Having changed back into our original clothes, Mrs. Malfoy and I walked to the pay counter, being tagged by a boot-licking Pansy Parkinson of course. “Charge them to the Malfoy account please. Thank you.” Mrs. Malfoy politely instructed.
Unlike me, who only brought the beautiful brown dress and heels, Parkinson decided to buy 4 bags of clothes, all what I appeared to have taken a liking to.
I have something to confess. Seeing that Parkinson too everything I took a second look at, I purposely pretended to like some rather ugly pieces of clothes just to make her buy them. I am becoming so mean.
After the bill was settled, Parkinson clutched Mrs. Malfoy’s arm tightly and hinted coyly,” IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME SINCE I VISITED MRS. MALFOY! IT WOULD BE PERFECT IF I COULD VISIT THE MANOR AND STAY THERE TILL AFTER CHRISTMAS!”
Mrs. Malfoy obviously didn’t want Parkinson to be in the manor but was too nice to turn her down directly. She hesitated and started to say with an apologetic look on her face,” Erm, Pansy…… It may not be such a go—“
Parkinson knew that she wasn’t welcome but she invited herself. She interrupted Mrs. Malfoy by cutting in and saying loudly,” OH! THAT’S SO NICE OF YOU TO INVITE ME MRS. MALFOY!! I WOULD LOVE TO COME! I’LL JUST MAKE SOME ARRANGEMENTS AND WE’LL BE ABLE TO GO!!”
Then, Parkinson turned to make some, as she calls it, ‘arrangements’. Mrs. Malfoy shrugged her shoulders. I gave her a ‘Don’t worry look’.
It’s going to be a long Christmas this year. I sighed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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