Unwelcome Desires 2 - Draco's Return

Oh, shit, she thought to herself, Why now. My eyes are all red and blotchy, and I bet I look like I haven't slept in days. What shall I do? I'll ignore him, maybe he won't notice. Hang on, I'm worried about my appearance? I don't still like him, do I? It's been five years. Eek, don't look at him, he won't notice you. It has been five years, he won't know it's you.

She walked past, muttering a small "sorry" and hoping to get home without him noticing her. No such luck, unfortunately.

"Ravens," he said calmly, acknowledging her presence.

"Draco," she replied, in the same curt fashion. She hoped her emotions didn't show on her face.

Again, she tried to escape, but he was blocking her path.

"Your eyes are red, Ravens," he said. He sounded almost, well, caring.

"I know," she said, trying to stop her voice from cracking.

"Why?" he demanded suspiciously.

"It's none of your business," she said, "now can I go home?"

She pushed past him and went to a floo grate, glad to be rid of him. Crystil threw in the powder, and went spinning back to her London apartment.

~o0O0o~

She stepped into her warm home. It was exactly as she remembered it. The sofa was in front of the fireplace, the dining table was just visible through the kitchen door, and sunlight bathed the room in a warm evening glow. And Draco Malfoy was standing by the bookshelf.

"Ravens, you made it," said Draco. He sounded like he was welcoming her into his home, not the other way round.

"How did you...?" she asked, sounding amazed.

"Get here?" he said, finishing her sentence, "I apparated," he said in a tone that settled the matter.

"But... my security spells..."

"You should upgrade those. I shattered them with a simple curse."

"Dark magic," Crystil muttered under her breath, and then, to fill the awkward silence, she said, "It isn't that fast anyway."

"Yes it is. I apparated the minute you pushed past me."

Crystil wanted to tell him to go away. She didn't want him nosing around in her private business. But she couldn't make the words come out of her mouth. Instead, she snapped back with,

"Well, what do you want?"

"I want to know what's wrong."

"I don't know what you mean. I'm fine."

"You don't fool me, Crystil."

Her breath caught in her throat. It was the first time he'd said her first name since she'd seen him in Diagon alley. In fact, she hadn't heard him say her first name much anyway. And it sounded so warm and comforting. His usual 'Ravens' sounded cold and hard, like he didn't care. But the way he said her name like that made her want to tell him everything. Before she knew it, she was sitting on her sofa, crying on his shoulder and telling him how her mum had died.

When she had told the whole story, she was surprised to see his eyes were wet with tears. He saw her staring, and quickly looked away. When he turned back, his eyes were steely, as if they had no emotion. After what seemed like an age his eyes softened and he said,

"Touching, Ravens."

It sounded like he meant it, too. He passed her a tissue and she dried her eyes. He pulled her close, like he was actually her friend. Malfoy was being nice! As he moved slightly, something caught the light. She recognised it as the delicate little silver chain with the white flower pendant she had given him the last time she'd seen him.

Draco saw her staring at the chain, and smiled inwardly. He remembered the day he had received it so vividly, and he knew it would stick in his mind forever.

*Flashback*

Lucius raised an eyebrow at his son coldly as the boy approached, looking regal but respectful.

"Draco," he greeted him curtly. "I understand Slytherin once again failed to win any of the honours it deserves. For your sake, I hope your ridiculous exploits did not contribute to this letdown and that you are now mature enough to accept your proper responsibilities."

"Yes, Father," the boy responded dutifully.

"Good. Follow me. You will not keep your mother waiting."

Draco rolled his eyes behind his father's back and snapped his fingers at the house elves pushing his trunk to get them to hurry up. As he walked, he absentmindedly stuffed his hands inside his pants pockets but jerked them quickly out in surprise when his fingers came in contact with something in the left-hand side. It was a small white box, rather nondescript, and he opened it with growing bewilderment.

If he had not been so practised in the art of emotional control, his shock at the object inside might have registered on his face. Instead, his lips merely twitched in a slight smile. Tricky girl, he thought. He closed the box back up and shoved it deep into his pockets. The last thing he needed was for his father to see that he had been given a gift.

Especially when the gift was a sparkling white flower pendant on a silver chain.

*End flashback*

They sat silently for a while. Crystil curled closer towards his body, letting the warmth flood her. It was Draco that broke the peace and calmness.

"Now, I need to ask you a favour."