Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

Stage I

Pretension

Step One

Exposition

Draco Malfoy rode in the ornate carriage with his wife, the former Pansy Parkinson, as they sped towards the residence of her best friend, Virginia Weasley, no, Zabini now. He could hardly understand how a Weasley could be his wife's best friend or marry a Zabini, as they were at the bottom of the aristocracy, but now was not the time to debate over such matters. The countryside of France passed before Draco's eyes as he peered nonchalantly out the window while Pansy looked in a handheld mirror, her other hand nervously rearranging her hair.

"How do I look, dear?" her syrupy voice dripped, and Draco cringed. He turned to look at her, hair arranged in the latest fashion of the ladies. Her face was heavily applied with rouge and other makeup women put on that were starting to smudge due to the sweat caused by the heat of her many clothes and the narrow confines and tiny windows of the carriage plus the humid temperature outside. Her small body was squeezed into an even smaller dress, and her eyes looked up at him with apprehension at his words.

"You look just fine, dear." His words relieved her greatly, as he could tell from her mien of herself, though she continued to peer into her mirror nervously.

Draco heard the sound of the switch hitting the horses' back stop and felt the carriage slowing down. Pansy patted her hair one last time before storing her mirror away in a satchel and sitting primly, awaiting the halt of the carriage.

The door opened, and Draco stepped out, glad to be rid of the stuffiness of the coach. He turned back towards the open door and held out his hand, and his wife's gloved hand daintily settled onto his as she stepped carefully out of the carriage. A servant rushed down the steps of the manor to greet them while their driver led the carriage away.

"Lord and Lady Malfoy, please come in. Lady Zabini has been waiting eagerly for your arrival," the butler spoke in English that held a thick French accent, eyes never meeting any of theirs.

"Tell the servants that they may speak to me in French," Draco replied fluently in French, and the butler nodded with his head down, though Draco detected surprise.

Pansy looked at him also with astonishment in her eyes, and Draco held out his arm, saying, "Let us go inside, dear. Basking in the sun right now would be unhealthy for your complexion." Hearing these words, she immediately took his proffered arm, and the couple made their way up the marble steps leading to the entrance of Cieux de Paradis.

The butler had already entered the grand manor, and he led them down exquisitely carpeted corridors to the Sitting Room. When they entered, they found a lady sitting with her back to them, head quickly turning at their entrance. She immediately rose and glided towards the door to greet them.

The lady curtsied first to him, her eyes downcast and modest. They remained so until he gently raised her gloved hand to his lips, in which they looked up to meet his placid grey ones. Red hair arranged also in the latest fashion, face heavily shadowed with colors, body in a lilac dress of the current style, and on her neck, a brilliant gold locket.

"Lady Zabini, it is a pleasure to meet you," he told her smoothly, and Draco noticed a faint blush upon her already painted-red cheeks.

"No, it is my pleasure to meet you, Lord Malfoy," she replied.

He released her hand, and Lady Zabini moved to his wife. "I am glad to be reacquainted with you, Lady Malfoy."

"It is my pleasure to see you again, Lady Zabini. Please just call me Pansy."

Step Two

Complication

"Likewise, please call me Ginny. You too, Lord Malfoy. Please come in and seat yourselves." Ginny settled back onto her couch while Draco and Pansy settled themselves onto the couch opposite her. The redhead rang a silver bell, and a maid bustled in and curtsied.

"What may I do for you, Lady Zabini?"

"Bring us some tea," Ginny told her. The maid quickly left, and Ginny turned to them once again. "I apologize, but my husband is on business in Paris. He shall be back in a few days, though."

"What a shame," Pansy said, though Draco could fee the dishonesty radiating from her. An awkward silence descended over them, with Pansy and Ginny occasionally trying to start conversation again by using small talk, though the silence refused to be permeated. Draco felt desperation between them, as if they thought their friendship would lapse into nothing. But that couldn't be right. They exchanged letters with each other often, so how could such a strong friendship all of a sudden be severed? The blond had a feeling that there was something deeper beneath the surface of things, and though a bit curious, he had no real inclination to discover the truth as it did not directly concern him.

The maid returned with a tray of tea, and as she started towards the small glass table between the two couches, she tripped. Pansy opened her mouth to scold her, even though she wasn't their servant, but before she could do so, the pot of tea spilled onto Ginny's dress. Ginny quickly stood up, avoiding the scalding liquid and sending the teapot clattering onto the floor. Pansy immediately stood up and strode over to the trembling maid, and she slapped the servant so hard that the maid fell into the spreading puddle of hot tea.

"Please excuse me while I change myself," Ginny's soft voice wafted towards them, and Pansy replied, "I am coming with you, Ginny." The two ladies exited the room while Draco relaxed into the couch, amused. The fallen maid quickly collected the scattered tea things and scurried out of the room. Moments later, another maid came and mopped up the spilled tea, and Draco was left alone after that.

Step Three

Concentration

"Lord Malfoy, a letter," a servant said minutes later, entering the room and bowing. Draco took the letter from the servant and dismissed him, then looked at the letter. His name was written on the front of the envelope, and he turned it over to see a serpent wrapped around a sword imprint on the back in red wax. Draco used a finger to break open the seal, and he took out the letter and opened the folded paper.

Draco,

I trust that you have arrived safely at Cieux de Paradis. How is France right now? You have not been back since when you were eight. If you have time, would you visit Rose Aube and tell your grandparents that your father and I send our regards.

How is your stay with the Zabinis? The Zabinis are an old line, almost as old as the Malfoy line. Be sure to be on good graces with Blaise. An alliance may prove useful. Do, however, avoid the Weasley. We do not want you associating with such disgrace. In fact, I am surprised that the elder Lord Zabini agreed to such a match, but no matter. Had your father and I known that Pansy is friends with such riffraff, we would have looked elsewhere for a suitable match. Have you heard that the youngest Weasley male, Ronald, has married the daughter of a lowly merchant, Hermione Granger? The family has neither shame nor honor, and their blood becomes more tainted every generation.

There has been talk about a revolution in France. Be back before the end of summer because I have heard that the rebels are intent upon seizing the king and queen and executing them, and those two won't return to Paris until the beginning of autumn. Once the revolution starts, there will be no transportation, and I hear that they are intent on killing all noblemen.

Do send Blaise our regards, and good luck.

Avec amour,

Lady Narcissa Malfoy

Draco folded the letter along its creases precisely and carefully before slipping it back into the envelope and putting the papers in his pant pocket. He withdrew a handkerchief from the pocket of his vest and dabbed it upon his moist skin, frowning at the heat.

Step Four

Attention

Pansy and Ginny reentered, Ginny now dressed in a white summer dress. "Lord Malfoy and Pansy, would you care to see our grounds?" asked Ginny, and Draco nodded his consent, finding nothing else to occupy his time.

Ginny led them through the grand mansion, showing them valuable antiques and priceless treasures that even Draco had to marvel at. She then led the two onto the grounds, showing them the forest, gardens, orchards, and lake.

Dinner was warm between Ginny and Pansy, the two exchanging gossip, horror stories, and other womanly tales. Draco even joined in the talking after a while, and a peaceful, friendly atmosphere descended between the three of them.

While Pansy and Ginny held picnics and went sightseeing the next three days, (shopping was scheduled for later days), Draco found his way into the library since he had nothing much to occupy his time with. He was fascinated by the wide selection of books in the large library, and the more philosophy and politics he read, the more the xanthochroid wanted to meet Blaise Zabini, the owner of the fascinating and intriguing volumes.

Step Five

Confusion

The next day, after breakfast, as Ginny and Pansy were about to visit Lady Delacour, an acquaintance of Ginny's, a servant rushed in with several bags. Behind him followed a gentleman. When he took his hat and traveling cloak off, his eyes met Draco's, and Draco immediately froze midwalk to the front door. After giving his hat and traveling cloak to a nearby servant, he smiled charmingly and kissed Pansy's hand, which earned him a blush. After repeating the same action with Ginny and watching them leave, he strode over to Draco and held out his hand.

"Lord Malfoy, I presume? I am pleased to meet you," Blaise said in flawless English.

"Lord Zabini, likewise. I admire your English," Draco replied in perfect French.

"Oh? Why thank you, Lord Malfoy. And please, call me Blaise," he responded in French.

"I am honored to. Please call me by Draco."

"Draco..."Blaise murmured. "A fascinating name, wouldn't you say?" he asked, his lips near Draco's ear. Draco kept his face stoic, though his heart raced wildly.

"Blaise...Your library is most enchanting. The many books I found were quite stimulating to my mind."

Blaise drew back and laughed. "Ah, yes. I found those books interesting as well, which is why I purchased them. However, will you excuse me? I just came from several days of travel, and it would be best if I freshen up."

"Oh, of course," Draco said, mentally chiding himself.

"Bon. Doux est le mieux savouré frais, après tout," Blaise replied, and he headed for the stairs, leaving a bemused Draco to ponder over his words.

Step Six

Association

The xanthochroid headed for the library, and after lunch, Blaise joined him, dressed in a fresh suit of clothes.

"If you like any of my books particularly, you may have them," Blaise told Draco, sitting next to him and sipping tea.

"Oh, I couldn't," Draco replied, putting the book down on the glass table between their couches. Blaise picked the book up, and he extended Draco's hand towards him before opening it and setting the book into the blonde's open hand. His fingers then curled Draco's over the book, and their eyes met across their hands.

Draco was in a haze. Blaise's touch ignited a fire within him. He was breathless like a virgin on her wedding night, and he wanted more, much to his horror. Blaise's blue eyes held something akin to a predatory glint, and everytime their eyes met, Draco felt a bond, a connection, flame up between them, and he wanted to know what it was.

The burn of Blaise's skin left his own, and Draco found himself clutching the book, Blaise smiling amiably at him. "Do take what you like, Draco," he said, and Draco detected the hint of an offer beneath the seemingly innocent words.

"Then I thank you for your kindness, Blaise. Also, Father and Mother send their regards."

"Oh? I am honored to receive regards from personages such as your parents. Please send my regards back."

Step Seven

Invitation

A comfortable silence lapsed between the two men. Draco reopened the book and began reading, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Blaise watching him. Draco pretended that nothing was amiss, and he saw an almost feral grin spread across the other man's face.

Someone knocked on the door, and after Blaise said, "Enter", a maid came into the library.

"Dinner is ready, Lord Zabini," she said timidly.

"Good," Blaise replied. "Come, Draco," he turned to the blonde, and rising, extended a hand towards the door. Draco rose from his seat and mimicked Blaise, who led the way to the dining room.

A sumptuous dinner was served, and Draco was about to head to his room when Blaise interfered with a request, not that Draco really minded much as he had not much to occupy his time.

"Would you like to stroll with me on the grounds?" Blaise asked, his eyes shining. Knowing that he would be considered impolite to deny the offer as he had no excuse and not wanting to refuse, either, Draco accepted Blaise's request.

"Did Ginny show you the grounds already?" Blaise asked as they walked on a clear-cut path across a lush meadow, the slowly setting sun in front of them and staining the sky a fiery orange.

"Yes, she did. Your wife is a lovely hostess, if I do say so myself," Draco replied honestly, turning to look at the other man. Blaise only smirked.

"You don't know the half of it," he said smugly, mouth twisted into a sneer, and Draco wondered if Blaise was indeed suggesting what he thought he was. Blaise, however, said no more on the subject and continued walking, leaving Draco to ponder over his phrase as they strolled through the grounds.

Step Eight

Intention

The rest of the stroll went by peacefully, and Draco found himself in Blaise's private study afterwards. The room was stacked full of books, and in the center of the side opposite the door stood a magnificent mahogany desk, papers, quills, and inkbottles arranged neatly on top of the smooth wooden surface.

Blaise led him to a glass table by a couch that sat opposite the writing desk, and he placed two chairs opposite each other around the table. He motioned for Draco to sit, then retrieved a small, golden key from a pocket on his vest, opened a drawer of the desk, and took out a transparent object.

After setting everything up on the table, Blaise smiled at Draco, and if he had not seen Blaise in the library, Draco would have thought that Blaise was quite innocent. "You do play chess, do you not?" he asked.

"Of course," Draco replied.

"Good," Blaise said back, still smiling. Draco found himself admiring the glass chess set with the skillfully carved pieces and the minute detail on them. And though the chess set was indeed beautiful, it was nothing like Blaise's beauty, which he saw everytime he looked down at the board to move his pieces as the clear board reflected Blaise's features; though the other's features were distorted, Draco, who had been raised to admire beauty, could still discern the pulchritude in the specimen before him. However, he refused to allow Blaise's haunting beauty deter him from the matter at hand--winning the game.

He had expected Blaise to be a difficult opponent, and he was correct, but he soon found that Blaise was much more difficult than he had thought at first. Blaise was cunning, setting traps without his notice, causing Draco to almost fall into several of them. The blonde narrowly escaped checkmate several times.

Then, all of a sudden, Draco found himself with no moves left. He looked up to see a half-smile, half-smirk on Blaise's face, which strangely enhanced his host's natural beauty. "Checkmate," Blaise said smoothly. "You were a worthy opponent, Draco. I have not played such a game of chess in years."

"You beat me," Draco said, more of an exclamation than a statement. "I have never lost before. Malfoys always and only win."

"Yes, but what a Zabini wants, he gets," Blaise replied, smirking, and Draco had a feeling that this chess game was just another part of a larger plan. Though he knew it deep inside, Draco's mind refused to acknowledge the truth. For now.

"The night is late, Draco. I suggest you retire and have a good night's rest. Would you like to go hunting tomorrow?"

Draco knew that he would be unable to refuse the offer even if he tried, plus he did not want to. Blaise intrigued him greatly with his sly methods and exotic beauty, and Draco found himself wanting to know more about Blaise, to feel his skin, to...No, he was not going to go there.

"Yes, I would be pleased to. Take care, Blaise."

"Good night, Draco."

Step Nine

Intoxication

Draco could not fall asleep. His mind was filled with images of Blaise, smirking, smiling, sneering, but always with a feral glint in his eyes, as if Draco was his prey that he was waiting for the right time to capture, as if they were merely playing a game of cat and mouse at this present moment. And when Draco's eyes finally closed as he succumbed to sweet slumber that he thought would rid his mind of Blaise, at least for the time being, he dreamed of the other gentleman.

Blaise smiled at him, saying, "What I want, I get, Draco." He then stepped forward and pressed his soft, smooth cheek against Draco's, whispering into the blonde's ear, "Wouldn't you say, my dear Lord Malfoy?"

Blaise drew his face back, and his hands started unbuttoning Draco's vest. Draco made to protest, but Blaise placed a finger against his lips, effectively silencing him. "Shh...Draco, you don't really want me to stop, do you?" Blaise asked.

Thoughts of the immorality, infidelity, and disgrace of this situation ran through Draco's mind, but he found that he did not want Blaise to stop. He wanted Blaise to be against him, on him, in him...he wanted Blaise, period.

"Don't," his mouth croaked against his will. Blaise smirked, and just as he resumed his slow stripping of Draco, Draco found himself awake and gasping for air, the soft, feathery touch of Blaise's fingers still lingering on his chest.

Step Ten

Contemplation

What was wrong with him? He was married, he could not possibly be even thinking of having an extra-marital affair. An affair with a man, nonetheless, especially the man who was his host and the husband of his wife's best friend. Yet he wanted Blaise badly, wanted to hold the beauty that was Blaise in his arms and be on him and taste him and in him and around him and oh...Forget the Pope and his teachings. It was wrong, yet it was so right.

But no, no, he had to be out of his mind. He barely knew Blaise, first of all, but Blaise...Blaise didn't care about such trivial details. In fact, he would say that Blaise was seducing him...No, no, no. Draco shoved the thought out of his mind and resumed sleeping, though he tossed and turned the rest of the night, as if his heart was warning him that he could not deny the truth.

Step Eleven

Aggression

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, the ladies left to go shopping. Blaise led Draco to the stables to pick a horse. Blaise went to a black stallion and stroked the horse's mane, then climbed onto the horse with ease. Draco headed for a mahogany stallion.

"Good choice, Draco. Thunder is one of the best stallions on this estate," Blaise said, and Draco climbed smoothly onto the horse. A servant rode up to Blaise with two rifles and the hounds on leashes. Blaise's horse headed outside regally, Draco following and the servant bringing up the rear.

When they were near the outskirts of the forest, Blaise nodded to the servant, who climbed off his horse, opened the iron gates, which Blaise said was to prevent the animals from escaping, and set the hounds loose. Blaise urged his horse after the hounds, Draco also chasing after the hounds.

They were soon in front of a cornered boar, who was snorting angrily. Blaise held his hand out to the servant, who had followed them. The servant handed him a rifle, then rode over to Draco and handed him the other firearm. Draco took aim and fired, and though the bullet hit the boar, it did not kill him but instead, enraged the beast even more. It charged at Thunder, who bucked Draco off and turned tail, galloping away. Just as the boar reached Draco, who had hit a tree and was now unconscious, a second gunshot rang out through the clear day, and the boar fell to the ground, blood trickling out of its fatal wound and seeping into the dirt.

Step Twelve

Consideration

Blaise handed the rifle back to the servant before directing his horse to Draco. He climbed off and kneeled in front of Draco, and he put an arm around Draco's back, propping the limp body up.

"Louis, help me get him onto Lightning." Louis quickly climbed off his horse and ran to Draco, and between the two men, they were able to hoist Draco onto Lightning in front of Blaise, who had already climbed onto the equine to better situate Draco. Blaise grabbed the reins, arranged Draco's head against his shoulder, and then set off urgently for the manor.

When Blaise arrived at the manor, he had servants help him carry Draco into his private bedroom. After ordering them out to retrieve warm water and bath accessories, he slowly stripped Draco of his clothes. Blaise's blue eyes lingered on Draco's groin longer than necessary before he put Draco's arm around his shoulder, wrapped his own arm around the xanthochroid's waist, and slowly hefted Draco to the private bathroom adjoining his bedroom.

Blaise laid Draco in the porcelain tub and impatiently waited for the servants to arrive with the water. When they did arrive, Blaise scolded them for their slowness while they poured the water into the tub. One servant stayed behind as the rest left, and he held a tray of assorted bath salts, oils, and other similar items.

Blaise surveyed all the items on the tray before reaching for a vial of oil that he knew would calm and soothe the senses. After ordering the servant away and closing the door, he stripped down to his undershirt and pants and poured a bit of the oil into the tub.

Draco awoke to find himself in a tub full of warm water and a pleasant scent wafting in the air around him. He sighed, contented, even though he had no knowledge of how or why he was in the tub.

"You are awake?" the blonde heard someone ask. Draco turned to the side to see Blaise watching him intently, dressed in only his underwear.

"What happened?" he asked.

Step Thirteen

Devotion

"You don't remember?" Blaise continued when Draco shook his head. "We were hunting, and we had cornered a boar. You shot it but didn't kill it. In doing so, you angered the beast, and it charged at you. Thunder threw you off, you hit your head against a tree, and I took you back."

"Thank you, Blaise...but I doubt all this is necessary," Draco replied, gesturing to the bathroom in general.

"Of course it is. I filled this tub with special oil to sooth you, and I wouldn't trust any of my servants near you."

Draco opened his mouth again to tell Blaise that all his efforts had been quite unnecessary though most appreciated, but when he saw Blaise's dangerously glittering eyes, he decided to just thank his host.

Blaise smiled before picking up a sponge and scrubbing Draco's arm. Draco looked at him, shocked...Blaise was doing servant's work, not that he wasn't enjoying it, but still...

"I...I can't accept this, Blaise. This is servant's work, and I cannot allow you to degrade yourself for me," Draco said.

"I refuse to let a mere servant handle the matters right now," Blaise replied with a finality to his tone, and he resumed scrubbing Draco gently, hand accidentally brushing against Draco's bare arm and causing the blonde to shiver inside.

"You should change into more suitable clothes then. I wouldn't want your clothes to be ruined at my expense, especially as you have done enough for me, and I none for you."

Step Fourteen

Temptation

Blaise smirked before slowly, very slowly, taking off his undershirt and trousers with a sensual air to them, knowing that Draco was watching his bare skin intently. "Is this better?" he asked with a smirk.

Draco felt a rush of blood to his face and to his groin, and he fought the inane urge to look at Blaise's crotch and arouse himself even more with forbidden temptations. He was extremely thankful that he had no noticeable arousal (as of now), as Blaise could very easily see it and take the wrong hint, perhaps even taking him right then and there. "If this better suits you," he managed to choke out, trying to sound regal and indifferent.

"I could think of many better things that would better suit me," Blaise purred, "but I won't mention them." He smirked again, grabbed the sponge, and resumed his gentle bathing of Draco.

Draco relaxed into Blaise's touch, and though many unthinkable thoughts ran through his head, he made no effort to stop them. His mind could do nothing to stop the torrent of emotions within him, and it just felt so good and right, as if he was a hero on a quest who had finally found the treasure that he was seeking.

The blonde opened his quicksilver eyes with his resolve set. If Blaise was indeed doing what he thought he was, and Draco was quite sure that Blaise was trying to seduce him, then he would just simply turn this game around to his favor, and doing that was a very easy task for someone like him.

Step Fifteen

Revelation

Blaise had begun scrubbing his chest, though his eyes were on Draco's. They stared at each other, each refusing to lose to the other in this game. Draco closed his eyes after a while, and Blaise smirked, thinking that he had won. Then, Draco's eyes were right in front of him, the xanthochroid's lips pressed tightly against his own.

Blaise drew back first, smirking. "I never thought you had the guts, Draco."

"Malfoys never lose," came the curt reply.

"But this is more than just a game, Draco," Blaise said, smiling, and Draco saw a hint of smugness in the smile. Damn, had he calculated Blaise wrong and made a wrong move?

"Oh? Then what is this?" he asked, not letting Blaise see or hear his self-doubt.

Blaise leaned forward until his lips were against Draco's, though there were no passion, no affection, in those lips. "This is will. And you may think you have the upper hand, Draco, but you are wrong. This is more than just a game, and the stakes are much higher. And I don't intend to stop until I get what I want."

With his statement done, Blaise drew away from Draco. He tossed the sponge nonchalantly into the tub before leaving the bathroom, naked. The raven-haired man didn't even bother to close the bathroom door behind him to ensure Draco privacy. Draco could only stare at the open door, mind numb and trying to contemplate how he had all of a sudden lost even before whatever they were doing was through.