Crystal Power

Chapter 7: - Not So Happy Birthday

Draco burst into her room at around eleven and ordered her to wrap up warm for their excursion. He quickly left requesting that she be in his study by half past. Sulkily, she dressed in bottle green woollen robes and cloak. She brushed her hair viciously and stomped to see him ensuring every door she passed through was slammed shut.

"Vir, please do leave some of the castle intact. After all, it is our home." He examined her outfit and nodded.

"Stop staring at me. Anyway, this is your home not mine," she growled. He stood and approached her.

"Are you going to be this troublesome all day or will you behave?" She stood silently. "Good, pass me that quill will you?"

"Get it yourself, Malfoy!" She snapped back.

"Temper. Imperio." The curse hit her before she realised what had happened. "Vir, pass me that quill." She walked over to the desk and returned with the quill. "Very well, we shall proceed." He picked up two shiny Firebolts and handed her one.

"Thank you." He led her out side and they stood in the courtyard, the snow fluttered on to her hair and made her look angelic. They mounted the brooms, she pulled the hood over her head and they set off into the sky. They travelled at a constant speed and within the first hour the sky cleared and revealed blue skies. It was still light when they landed for a meal around seven pm. They had passed through the north and were sat in a small Italian restaurant. Over the meal Draco ordered the waitress over and began asking questions.

"Where are we?" he demanded rather than asked.

"Erm, Skipton, Sir." The petite red head answers with a slight smile.

"Yes, and where is Skipton?" he was getting irritated.

"North Yorkshire," he rolled his eyes and pointed at his wine glass. Silently the waitress poured him a glass of the vintage. "Anything else?"

"No." The girl nodded and left the couple alone. "The food is adequate don't you agree Vir?"

"It's nice, I like it." He took a sip of the wine and promptly spat it out. The sound of disgusted customers caused the waitress to return.

"Sir, what is the problem?" she asked politely.

"This is your finest vintage?" He pointed at the bottle.

"Oh, yes. Our very finest." Vir actually pitied the girl; she wasn't to blame.

"I give better stuff to my house elves. If this wine is anything to go by, Skipton must surely be an awful place." He was receiving angry glares from the other patrons. "Come Virginia, we must make haste." Vir stood obediently and began to follow.

"I do apologise if the meal wasn't up to your standards." The waitress was grovelling. "But, I don't get how you can judge a place by the wine we serve."

"Good night," he replied frostily.

"You're an arrogant pillock, go back to yer posh southern restaurants and slaves or whatever ya call 'em." Like Vir her red hair illustrated her temper.

"Hold your tongue, girl." His voice was deadly quiet and his eyes glistened menacingly. Instead of commenting she drew back her hand and slapped him across the cheek, Draco stared stunned.

"You don't scare me." She turned to a man in a suit. "Enzo I QUIT!!" With that the young waitress threw don her apron and stormed out, promptly followed by the witch and angry Dark Lord.

*****

Silently they flew further south, the light growing dimmer. Finally they landed away from a busy road. Vir looked at him expectantly and he grabbed both Firebolts and removed the controlling spell.

"Pillock, why did you put that curse on me?"

"To ensure you didn't escape, I couldn't risk it." His lip curled slightly.

"Why are we here?" she asked, gritting her teeth.

"Your birthday, I said it was important. Come." He began to walk briskly away from her.

"What's so important?" Vir didn't know whether to be angry with him, intimidated or curious. He stopped and looked at her.

"Within half and hour you will see." He then continued away from her towards a collection of large stones. She removed her cloak, and guessed that they must be further south of the castle as it was warmer. She followed after him trying to remember as much detail of the events over the past week or so. He reached a stone circle and then stopped.

"Vir, you see that flat stone over there?"

"The one in the horseshoe?" she asked.

"Yes, go and lay on it. Don't question me just go." She frowned and then obeyed. Turning her head she watched Draco stand directly opposite her around 200ft away by a large rectangular block. Time passed slowly and cars rushed by on the road that ran parallel to the site. She watched to cars rush past, the lights blurring. The world around her began to slow to a standstill, everything ground to a halt. She looked scared at him; his platinum bangs were blowing wildly around his face. Then everything stopped.....