The Seductress

The Seductress

Part 11

Memories

Fifteen year old Draco Lucifer Malfoy sat in the armchair, near the fireplace. He checked the time. Only six more minutes to go. The seconds ticked by, still remaining in his head. The minutes seemed forever to roll by, but he sat there patiently, waiting for the strike of midnight.

---- -- Flashback ---- --

Mother's foolish babbling got Draco extremely bored sometimes. She was walking about the manor as if she was a maniac, avoiding house elves and putting on her makeup, wearing random dresses before choosing a light cream colored gown that hugged her curves nicely. Narcissa Malfoy hardly ever got dressed for anybody, so nine year old Draco found it amusing that she was acting as if this was so important.

Apparently, his mother's best friend had a small girl that was younger than him that was celebrating her birthday today, and his mother was eager and rather excited to see her old schoolmate from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after so many years. His father of course, wished to stay home, and his mother was happily accepting his decision nicely.

When they had gone to the party, Draco was one of the first ones there. He vaguely recalled remembering his mother embracing a plump, woman with a head full of red hair, but he ignored this and went off to pondering the rooms. The house was well groomed, but it was small and crowded, and his father would surely turn his nose up on it. He opened the door and peeked through, and widened his eyes.

The room was very tiny, and two beds lay in opposite corners. In a wide, mirror, a girl was standing, turning herself around, looking at herself in a small, satin dress that hugged her body and fit like second skin. She had red straight hair that went across her neck, and brown eyes, as what Draco could tell from the mirror. Shutting the door softly so she could not hear, he felt his heart pounding against his chest. A sudden unfamiliar pang in his chest sounded. The girl was beautiful. She looked about the same age, but she was smaller, and had a much more delicate figure. She was breathtaking. Her small red lips were crossed into a mere frown, which gave her another ravishing appearance of concentration.

As the other guests came in and shook hands, their children squealed and giggled, destroying the house. A tiny girl about the age of ten came toward him and grinned. "Your handsome, has anybody ever told you that?" she said shyly. Draco examined her with distaste. She was small, with brown hair and dull brown eyes. Nothing compared to the birthday girl in the satin dress.

He shook his head in reply and she blushed. "My name's Mandy Murphy, surely you know of me? My father's in league with yours in the Ministry," she said haughtily, shaking his hand furiously.

"Oh, okay," he said, not paying attention to a word he said. She squinted her eyes and snorted at him. Picking up the remains of her white puffy dress, she raised her chin up and walked away, muttering to herself.

By the time all the guests had arrived, the house was so crowded Draco could hardly walk. He spotted a bundle of kids whispering to each other. Mandy was in the crowd, and waved him over. Hesitantly, he accepted the invitation and walked into their group.

"We're going to play hide and seek," said a boy named Tom who had a bundle of brown hair.

"So, who wants to hide?" asked Mandy, looking around. Several of the kids raised their hands. Suddenly, a door from the room Draco had been looking in earlier opened, and in walked in the birthday girl. She was still as beautiful as always. Cold hearted as Draco was, he could not deny it. Her eyes shining, she looked around, her face in a deep frown.

"Is that your girlfriend, you can stop staring now," snapped Mandy. Draco jerked back into attention.

"I can stare at whoever I want," he exclaimed.

To his pleasure, the girl swished over, and she smiled at them.

"May I play?" she asked politely.

Tom was rather reluctant.

"Let her play," Draco had said. She had smiled at him hopefully, and it made him melt.

Finally, the beautiful girl was accepted into their game. Mandy was supposed to help her hide. Worried about this, while the others counted, he sneaked across the rooms, and heard Mandy's voice. There was a sound of a door slamming and a soft click, and footsteps left the room.

"Let me out! Please, someone! Ouch!" he heard someone scream, banging against something.

He hurried into the room, and looked around, trying to detect where the sound was coming from. He spotted a big wooden closet that was slightly shaking.

There was another cry, and he touched the lock with one finger. Quickly, it opened.

The girl stepped out, fear in her eyes. His pupils widened when as she started to stutter, and he merely noted that there were blood on her beautiful dress. The blood was smeared across her dress, and her hands was full of it.

Deep in frustration of Mandy, the little bitch, he took her hand, and felt himself quivering. A tingle surrounded his body as he drew his fingertip across her smooth, delicate hand. She was so small, so innocent, that it seemed a shame such a beautiful thing should bleed. The pain healed.

"How did you do that?" the girl asked, surprised.

Draco shrugged, muttering a dumb reply. The beautiful redhead turned around, looking at her dress. She started talking, but he knew he should stay no longer.

He ran quietly out of the room, dread filling his chest. His eyes blinked, and through his closed eyelids, he still remembered the smear of blood, grasped across the sinful red.

--- -- End --- --

He leaned over, and another second ticked. It was time. It was October 6th now, and only a few years before had this happened. Smiling sadly, he closed his eyes.

"Happy Birthday, beautiful girl," he whispered.