Hide Away

Hide Away

Chapter 15- new and dangerous thigns

We made our way to the parlour, which was on the other side of the train.

At first I was uncomfortable at how to act, but I got used to my role as the rich spoiled wife.

The parlour was a large rectangular chamber that was dimly lit with small pot lights.

People were littered around the room and some were smoking and drinking, while many played cards. They all looked like Malfoy's class so I whispered to him, "You should fit right in."

He smirked at me and whispered back, "Naughty Joanne."

I rolled my eyes and surveyed the people. Many of them were from breakfast this morning, yet several were ones who hadn't been there.

My eyes landed upon Evan and I gasped. He was staring directly at me and there was something in his eyes I couldn't read.

He was smoking a cigar and was sitting directly across the room from us, his eyes watching us unblinkingly.

I glanced at Draco to see if he noticed this peculiar behaviour, but I found him getting a drink.

Before I had found him handsome and quite innocent looking, but his eyes were so dark and the way he was looking at me, made him look like some kind of demon.

Suddenly he got up and went to the bar, which was right beside where I was sitting. He passed by me and didn't even look at me.

I stared at him in confusion and surprise and didn't even notice the note he dropped in my lap.

I looked down and saw a folded napkin. I opened in strategically so no one would notice.

'Meet me tonight in my cabin 666, after dinner. Come if you know what's good for you,' it said.

I looked up and found Malfoy coming towards me with a drink. I quickly dropped the note into my purse and he sat down.

"Do you want something to drink, dear?" he asked me.

I shook my head, searching the room for Evan. He had gone.

I turned to Malfoy and said something, but my heart wasn't in it.

I was thinking about that note. It looked as if it had been written in blood, but then again he was a wizard. He could have made some special ink for his quill to write with. Some ink that looked and smelt like blood.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asked me.

I looked at him and nodded. "Fine."

"Here, have some," he said passing me his drink.

I put up my hand. "No thanks. You remember what happened the last time I drank, Mal...I mean Neil?"

He smirked and nodded. "This isn't vodka though, darling. Its only champagne."

He gave it to me again and I drank some quickly, just so he would leave me alone.

After a few minutes, I got bored.

"Now what?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "Nothing. Just relax."

He glanced at me and saw that I was perched on the edge of the plush sofa seat.

He shook his hand put his arm around my shoulders. I tensed right up as he pulled me back to lean into the sofa.

Then I felt his arm slither around my waist, resting on me right hip.

I pinched myself. Hard too, I might add. Just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

I felt like the luckiest girl on earth right now, sitting next to Draco Malfoy, with our bodies touching and his arm around my waist.

I could feel the warmth from his body and could smell his cologne.

My heart was beating wildly against my chest that I thought the whole chamber heard it.

My body was tingling and I was sure my cheeks were turning red.

Malfoy just acted cool like he did this sort of thing everyday and just took another sip from his drink.

I wasn't bored anymore, that was for sure.

A lady near us started speaking in Turkish to Malfoy.

"Merhaba. Hello. Where are you from?" I heard her say, thanks to my translation spell.

"I am from Istanbul here in Turkey and my wife is Greek," said Malfoy. "She can't speak Turkish."

My mouth opened to protest but then I faintly remembered our passports that said I was Greek and he was Turkish.

The woman was young, about thirty. She smiled at me and said to Malfoy. "Evet. Yes. You make a good couple anyhow."

She sat back down in her seat and I glanced at Malfoy to see his reaction, but he looked pleased. He saw me looked at him and smirked.

"It's a good thing. It means we're not causing any suspicion when we're pretending to be married."

I nodded. "I think I'll go to our cabin now. I'm getting bored."

"What are you going to do there? Read?" he asked, smirking.

I had been planning to read! "Ye...no. What are you talking about?"

He laughed. "That's what you used to do when you were in sixth year. Read all lunch or do your homework."

I stared at him for a second, trying to figure out how he that and then I remembered that we had dated.

I was surprised he still remembered that. "You still remember?"

He shrugged, taking his arm my waist. I perched back on the edge and turned on an angle so I faced him.

"You used to go to the library a lot and read, that's all I remember," he said.

"Oh." I slumped back into my seat.

"You were reading Artemis Fowl at one time," he continued. "I remember seeing in a muggle bookshop a few years after that and stopping to buy it. It was good."

I was so surprised that I just stared at him. "You read it?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

"All of them," he said.

I figured he was just trying to impress me in that sick way of his so I said, "Tell me what happens in the third one then."

He smirked and gave me the whole overview of the story, in full detail.

I gaped at him and he laughed.

"I remember you used to get so mad at me and stop speaking to me. You always had a quick temper and always said the most dumb things," he said, leaning back into the seat.

"Like what?" I demanded.

He laughed again. "One time when you were coming to meet me in Hogsmeade, you accidentally said that you liked that bucked toothed brute on the Slytherin quidditch team. What was his name?"

"I can't remember what I wore yesterday and you're asking me something about five years ago," I said.

He laughed. "Fair enough."

"How do you remember everything?" I asked him.

He looked away from me while he talked. "I don't remember everything, only pieces of random things you did or said."

I smiled as I looked away. He was sweet when we were married. It was like he was shedding off his mean self and showing me a nicer Draco.

There was an awkward silence then. We both were looking around the room and we weren't talking.

"How's your mother?" I blurted out. If I had taken time to think, I would've realised that the death of his mother had been headline news in the prophet.

He looked at me, and gave me a strange look. "My mother died three years ago, Joanne."

I looked down at my hands. "Sorry I forgot."

I decided not to say anything else that would embarrass me or make him uncomfortable.

"I'm going to go to the cabin now, Neil," I said. "I'll see you later."

This time he didn't stop me and perhaps he was thinking of a similar conversation he had had with me a few days ago.

***********

I went to my room and got out my book that I had been reading on the plane. It was only eleven o'clock and I was depressed thinking of how I was going to spend so many days with Malfoy.

I was also worried about that note from Evan, or was he even Evan? Maybe he was someone else altogether.

My first instinct told me not to go, but then I remembered the threatening part. I also didn't like the way he looked at me and his attitude around me.

I decided I had to go. But I needed an excuse to get away from Draco. Even though we weren't really married I felt really bad that I was going out to meet someone else.

Then I realised that it was wrong, whether we were married or not. Because we were still on a mission and he was still my boss, as I was his assistant.

I sighed and hit myself with a pillow. Why did I ever get stuck with him?!

I read for about a few hours and then I got worried about Draco. He hadn't come to the cabin in a while.

I decided to get up and see where he went off.

I checked the parlour and couldn't find him there. I hadn't been anywhere else in the train yet, so I didn't know where else to look.

I screamed inside my head with frustration. Who did he think he was, leaving me like that, with no explanation?! Then I realised that I was talking as if I was actually his wife, which as much as I wanted to be, I wasn't.

I decided I hadn't checked the dining cart, so I made my way there.

There was a waiter unloading some trays and glasses into the room, beside the entrance to the cart. So I had to wait until he was done, because he was blocking the entrance.

I could see above his arm into the cart, so I looked for Draco that way.

My eyes quickly scanned the cart when I saw him eating lunch with the light brown haired and dark eyes young woman who I had thought suspicious this morning.

Jealously boiled inside of me. Before I could control it, my quick temper took over. I didn't want them to see me, but I was mad and wanted to make some noise.

I whispered an incantation for disaster and the trolley with the glasses and trays fell right over with a loud clang.

I made my escape running to my cabin and shutting the door.

I slid down the door until I was leaning against it.

Tears were rolling down my cheeks and I laughed hoarsely.

I actually thought I had a chance with him and that maybe he cared about me, just a bit. But I was wrong, I thought as I laughed again, wiping my tears with my palms.

I could pretend we were dating, that we were married, but it wouldn't make any difference. He would still hate me forever, just like our families had done. No matter how beautiful I became, or how tall, or more intelligent, he would still continue to think of me in the same way. Which was lowly poor depressed assistant that was worth no consideration.

I cried some more and then told myself to get a grip of myself and just accept the terms. I would never be happy because that was something I wasn't allowed to have.

When my fate was being decided it was written that I would never ever be happy.

I cried and then I got up and sat on the bed, picking up my book from where I left off.

I started reading and didn't hear the door open or close.

Draco was here and I refused to look at him.

"Do you want something to eat?" he asked me.

I still refused to look up. "No."

"Are you sure?"

"I said no."

"All right, all right. No need to get all bitchy on me," he said, turning to leave.

I put my book to the side and got up. "Excuse me? What in bloody hell's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm sorry I asked if you wanted something to eat. I won't do it again," he said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Oh sure. Make me sound like the bad one. You're the one who's enjoying their lunch out there, not even giving a damn about me!" I yelled, standing up.

"Why should I give a damn about you?" he demanded. "You're the one who left the parlour all grumpy. Do you expect me to go running after you every time you get mad?"

I stared at him, incredulously.

"Shut up and go eat your lunch with your bitch!" I screamed.

"I will!" he shouted right back. He opened the door and walked through, slamming it on has way out.

I flopped on the bed and screamed my head off into the pillow.

After I finished that, I did some more damage and then fell exhausted on the bed, sleeping.

Around five o'clock I woke up by a noise. I opened my eyes slightly, as the sun was in my eyes.

Standing in front of the bed was Draco standing before his closet, looking for a shirt to wear.

He didn't have a shirt on and was talking to himself, just muttering about how much he hated me and why did he ever get stuck with a crazy cow like me. Those were his exact words. He called me a bunch of words that I don't think I'd like to repeat. It made the anger that had shrunk before, swell into the size of a balloon.

He kept turning back to see if I was awake, but I had a special talent that I could peek out of the slits of my eyes. People always thought I was still sleeping because it looked like my eyes were closed.

He finally picked a black shirt and then walked over to the dresser beside the bed and pick up his bottle of cologne. He put some on and then brushed his hair quickly, gelling it by taking some gel in his fingers and running it through his hair.

I was still mad at him, so I was gritting my teeth as I watched him.

Then he turned around and stood above me, watching me. I could that he was annoyed as he looked at me. Suddenly he reached out and was about to touch me, when he drew his hand back. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

I decided to close my eyes fully and just waited for him to go.

A few minutes later, I heard the door close softly behind him.

I was still tired from yelling, not having eaten anything all day and it causing my sugar levels to rise. So I just closed my eyes and fell asleep again.

After an hour or two, I awoke, feeling dizzy and tired. I got up, looked around the room and nearly screamed!

The room was a disaster. Suitcases were strewn open and a few lamps were lying on the ground after I had thrown them.

The sheets were on the floor as well and I had dumped all my clothes around my room and had thrown them in various corners.

I sighed and walked to bathroom and nearly screamed when I saw myself. My hair was a mess from sleeping and the straightening spell had worn off. My dress was wrinkled and my eyes were red and puffy from crying and yelling.

I stripped my clothes and got into the shower. I felt a little better after my shower and picked out a blue dress to wear.

After I combed my hair and made sure that my cabin was clean, I glanced at the time. It was seven o'clock and my stomach needed some food, I decided.

I slipped on some shoes and then made my way to the dining cart. I decided that I was still mad at Draco and didn't care where he was, or whom he was with.

I looked around the cart and saw several new people there, but some from this morning. Evan and the brown haired-girl were gone.

I saw Draco sitting alone at a table. I thought about whether I should sit with him or not.

I didn't want to, as I was extremely mad and wasn't in the mood to fight, but I thought that if I sat at a separate table then it would seem suspicious and people would notice.

I sighed and went to the table.

I sat down and didn't say anything and he didn't say anything either.

Draco called the waiter and ordered something. I then gave my order to the waiter.

Our food arrived and we ate it in silence. I only picked at it, because I was trying to think of an excuse of leaving the cabin and going to meet Evan.

Now I wasn't guilty about going to meet Evan. I felt that I had every right to go when he had met with that girl (I wish I knew her name! I was tired of calling her 'the girl').

I was actually looking forward to the meeting, as it would distract me from Draco and his attitude.

A ready-made exit came for me when Draco finished his dinner and I was halfway through mine.

"I'm going to the parlour," he said.

I nodded and continued to pick at my food.

As soon as I saw him leave the cart, I jumped up and handed my still full plate to the waiter and made my way to my cabin.

I entered it cautiously, just in case Draco had lied to me, but sighed with relief when I saw that it was empty.

I got out a bit of makeup and put some eyeliner on. I just wanted to make myself look a bit more mature, so Evan would know that he was dealing with an adult and not a little kid, which was sometimes how I behaved.

I then took my waves out of the loose ponytail I had put them in before and checked myself in the mirror.

I took a deep breath as I examined myself. I thought I looked pretty professional and mature so I made my way across the hall and looked for cabin number 666.

I found it easily and stood there for a minute, just trembling and taking several deep breaths.

The door opened suddenly and I screamed.

Evan had opened the door and, unlike what Malfoy would perhaps do, which was raising his eyebrows at me, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into his cabin.

I was glad the parlour was far from here; otherwise I would've been dead.

I had expected Evan to have a smaller cabin, as he was only one person, bit instead he had a cabin that was the same size as ours. I glanced at it quickly, before I turned my attention to him.

I straightened up and said, "What do you want?"

"Ginny, Ginny, Ginny," he said, smiling viciously at me. I suppose it was a handsome smile, but it looked evil from the way his eyes glinted. "Or shall I call you Joanne?"

I gasped slightly and then recollected myself. Of course I had no ability to think on my two small feet, but this time I had prepared well (during dinner) and my good acting saved me.

"What's your point?" I asked; acting like the wealthy authoritative wife I was pretending to be.

"Why did you lie to me about your name?" he asked. "What's your real name?"

"Why should I tell you?" I asked.

"Because you had planned a date with me and had told me your name was Ginny who had an awful boss, and now you are married to your boss and your name is Joanne. I would think you did owe me a bit of the truth, don't you think?"

I brushed some bangs out of my eyes. "Indeed. My name is Joanne Rowling and I am married."

"Proof?" he asked.

"I don't have to prove anything to you," I said. "I lied about him being my husband because we don't like to disclose that fact in the office. We work together and that day I was having a bad day with him, and decided to call him my boss because he was bossing me around that day," I said.

He nodded and said, "Indeed and that's exactly why you called my that night to ask me for a date."

"A date?" I wrinkled my nose. "Oh great, my housemaid Sally must have gotten the number. She's always doing stupid things like that," I said. "No wonder she was so excited about some spice she wanted to go out and buy the next day which was called Eveander." I shook my head and pretended to be exasperated at my housemaid.

"Who's Ginny then?"

"Ginny is my pet name, that my mother sued to call me. But my full name is Joanne," I explained.

He seemed to believe it, but he wanted proof. "Show me your passport."

I raised my eyebrow at him. "Excuse me? I don't have to show you anything."

"You don't, but I have my wand and I can be a bit more forceful with it," he said.

I cursed myself for leaving my cabin without my wand, but there was no going back now.

I rifled through my purse and handed him my passport. I was so thankful that Draco worked for the Ministry and had gotten our passports officially changed and not with his own magic, which was illegal.

Our names, birthplaces, relationship and birth dates had been changed strategically.

He skimmed through it and then I whispered 'Accio passport'.

It came flying to my hand and I left the cabin.

I trembled as I went to my cabin. I had been so scared there, not having my wand and being in a room alone with him.

I must have been crazy to meet him like that. Draco didn't even know where I was and what if something happened to me? Actually, he probably wouldn't even care if I were dead or alive, I thought as I pushed in the key to the cabin.

It was just as I had left it and Draco wasn't there either.

I changed out of my dress and took off my makeup. When I changed into my nightgown I felt naked and cold, so I magically sewed a piece of fabric inside the lace part that showed my cleavage, so now to hide it. I then extended the length so that it went below my knees.

I got into bed, trembling from not haven eaten anything much all day and also from all the action and emotional trauma I had experienced.

I got my book and read for fifteen minutes and soon I found out that I could barely keep my eyes open.

I dropped the book onto my side table and then slid to the middle of the bed, checking the barrier.

I hit something hard so I rolled back to my side and shut the lights off.

I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep but I felt so alone in that dark room.

I then began to think of Evan's eyes and how they were so haunting. I had always thought that Draco's eyes were malicious, but I realised today that Evan's were dead haunting.

I hugged the blanket to myself, feeling cold. I knew I wasn't well and that after my sugar levels being high all day they were now drooping low. But I refused to care.

I couldn't sleep at all, perhaps since I had such a long nap.

I lay there staring at the ceiling feeling terrified and seeing Evan's eyes everywhere. I suddenly missed my mom. Whenever I got scared from a horror book I had read, she would always hug me and hold me tight until I would fall asleep. Even when I was older, she would sit beside my bed and pat me gently, telling me that she was there.

Tears poured out from my eyes and landed on my pillow. I didn't need this now. I had spent the whole day crying and screaming. My head felt like it was going to explode, so I decided to not think about anything to serious.

I chose my favourite topic, which was a book I was reading. Pondering about who the Pure Blood Prince could be, I drifted off to a restless half sleep.

Around twelve, since I was such a light sleeper, I heard the door open and Draco come in.

Thankfully, he had enough sense to know I was sleeping and not to turn on the light. I would've lost it if he had, because now I was used to the darkness around me.

I listened to him fumble with things in the dark and then saw his dark form go to the bathroom to change.

After a few minutes he came out, turning the light off before he opened the door, so that light would not flood out into the room.

He stopped by the clothes hamper to dump his clothes in and then I saw him move across the room to the bed, where I was.

I felt his body crash softly onto the bed as the bed shifted.

He turned and then all was silent.

I was glad there was a barrier between us, because I didn't want to deal with him anymore.

I closed my eyes and wished for sleep, but sleep never came. I listened to the silent and even breathing of Draco, and wished I could also follow suit.

At three o'clock, I knew something would happen to me if I didn't get some medicine now.

Fortunately I had some of my pills (for emergencies only) on my table. There was also a glass of water, so I sipped it quietly.

I then slipped back into my covers and closed my eyes, and this time, sleep came.

*************

I woke up the next morning at eleven; feeling rested and refreshed. I had never slept that late before, maybe only when I was sick.

I turned on my side, ready to see an empty bed, but there was someone there this morning.

Draco was still sleeping and hi legs were spread apart, like he was dead and the blanket was around his legs. He was wearing boxers again and a t-shirt and looked pretty cute.

I refused to fall into his traps again. I was still upset about yesterday and refused to go all mushy gushy on him, which was every time I basically looked at him.

Against my strong self-control (ya right!), I lay there watching him sleep.

He smiled a bit and my heart just melted. I yelled at myself about self-respect and self-control, but it was no use.

I was melting again, which was whenever I saw him. He looked so adorable just sleeping like that.

I slipped close to the barrier so our noses were almost touching, but the barrier was in the way, blocking me.

I gazed at him and wished he would kiss me. I had never noticed before, but even though his hair was the lightest blond, his eyelashes and eyebrows were dark brown.

I found it the strangest thing, but I believed it made him unique and special.

I pinched myself, hard and then jumped out of bed, remembering our conversation yesterday.

I would continue to inflict pain on myself, if it made me gain some self-control. I mean what would other women think? That whenever a man appeared, we were just supposed to melt in front of him and treat him like a king? No way.

I didn't need him to make me happy and I could control my life myself.

I went into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on my face. It gave me some sense and I stopped wishing I could crawl back into bed with him.

I got dressed in the bathroom and fixed my hair.

After I was done, I went back out and found Draco still sleeping.

This was odd. It wasn't like him to sleep this late; at least I didn't think so. I then remembered that he had some back late from the palour last night.

I looked at him for a minute and then left the cabin.

I was proud of my new confidence and self-control and it made me feel better about myself.

I went to the dining cart and I saw that it was almost empty. I was glad though. I had brought my book and was ready to eat.

A waiter came and I apologized for being so late while he was getting the lunch things ready.

He brought me my breakfast and I ate it in silence and I read my book.

I was thoroughly enjoying myself, being alone.

After I was done, I gave my plate to the waiter and continued reading my book.

I really liked being here in the dining cart. It wasn't small like my cabin and it wasn't stuffy and dimly lit like the parlour.

It had windows like both sides of the cart and was comfortable.

Suddenly someone sat down in front of me.

I looked up from my book and almost gasped. It was Evan.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I was just being friendly," he said, smiling. "I just saw you sitting over here looking kind of lonely and decided to give you some company."

I smiled for two seconds and then said, "How nice of you. But I'd like to be alone right now."

He got up to leave. "That's fine. Where is your husband by the way?"

I looked up again. "Excuse me? What is it to you?"

He shrugged. "Oh nothing. I just heard your fight yesterday and wanted to know if everything was all with you two."

My heartbeat increased, but I refused to show it on my face.

He continued. "I understand everyone fights but he shouldn't have said you were getting bitchy. That was wrong."

I stared at him and then said, "I think I better go."

I left the cart quickly, refusing to turn to around. I went to my cabin and quickly locked the door, and also said some charms too.

"What are you doing?" came Dracos' voice behind me.

I turned around and saw him with a shirt in his hands. He had changed out of his boxers to black dress pants.

I glanced at the door and saw all the locks I had put on the door. Suddenly it didn't seem like such a good idea.

"I...didn't know you were going here," Is aid, quickly. "I wanted to be alone."

It must have made sense to him because he didn't say anything and just put his shirt on.

I walked past him and started to fix the bed, which was very messy. I knew there was a housemaid coming, but I needed something to do so it would look as if I was busy.

Draco just finished getting ready and I struggled within myself, whether to tell him what had just happened or not. But then I would have tot ell him everything and that would include me going out to meet Evan yesterday and I wasn't sure I wanted to do that.

Just as Draco was about to brush his hair, I said, "Draco?"

He turned to look at me and I took a deep breath.

He stared at me, waiting for me to go on.

Everything then spilled out. I told him everything about what had happened yesterday and now and how suspicious Evan was. I showed him the note and told him everything he had said to me.

Draco just stood there and listened patiently to me as I rambled on. He then took the note form me and looked at it, turning it over toe examine the back too.

After I was done, I sighed, taking a deep breath.

I looked at him, waiting to see what he would see.

He was still thinking. "I don't know what any of this means, but you should just avoid him for now."

"I do try to avoid him," I said. "But he keeps turning up everywhere I go. It's like he's following me."

He pondered. "I'm not sure what he's up to, but I'll keep my eye on him. I'll try to think about it though. In the mean time, come to the dining cart with me."

"I just ate breakfast," I said.

"It doesn't matter," he said, opening my charms and incantations with his wand. "If this Evan guy is watching your every move and saying weird stuff about us, it's best if you just come with me."

"Ok," I said and I followed him out.

I walked behind him to the dining cart and realised that maybe our fight was over now. We weren't really acting friendly though. We were both to the point and business like, which was how we should have been.

I sat down opposite him and ordered some lunch item. But I only pretended to eat; I was really looking at all the people around me. Any one of them could be connected to the case so I decided to talk to some of them when I went to the parlour this afternoon.

I turned my attention back to Draco and saw him looking longingly across the cart. I followed his gaze and my eyes landed on the brown haired- brown eyes girl.

She was waving at him and blowing kisses. I refused to look at Draco. I picked up my fork and took a bite of my noodles, failing to notice the little fly on my bite.