Stairway to Heaven

Misty never would have imagined that helping someone pick out dress robes would be exhausting.

That was before she met Blaise Zabini.

Not only was the girl completely self-centered, she was a perfectionist as well. Everything had to match, from the lace trim on her robes to the polish on her nails.

Blaise had turned down at least five dress robes before deciding on a terribly frilly set of purple ones. It had taken what felt like hours for her to choose a pair of shoes, and then Misty did hairstyle after hairstyle before dinnertime arrived.

Finally, Blaise had gone, telling Misty to prepare a bath for after dinner, and to warm up the bed sheets, because this manor was terribly cold.

Misty had to use all the willpower in the world to resist going straight to sleep. Instead, she occupied herself by magicking Blaise's robes into the closet and tidying up the room.

Misty soon grew hungry, and, having missed the servants' meal, she conjured up some cold peanut butter sandwiches and went into her room to eat them. She was just starting on her second one when someone knocked at the door.

"Miss Tewdwr? Miss Tewdwr!" It said in a high, squeaky voice that sounded somewhat familiar.

Misty yanked opened the door and saw the little house-elf, Riffy, in the hallway.

"Riffy! Schwmae," Misty greeted.

The elf bowed slightly before handing up a note scribbled on a small bit of parchment.

Handmaiden-

I will be back in my room by 8:30. Lay out my nightgown and some towels for the bath.

~B.Z.

Misty groaned. "She had to send me a note during dinner to tell me this?!" Misty asked the house elf.

"Yes, Miss, she wishes to feel as comfortable as she is in her own home while she stays here," Riffy squawked.

"I deeply pity the servants at her manor," Misty said, before thanking the elf and going back into Blaise's rooms.

There was, of course, a large and luxurious bathroom attached to Blaise's rooms. Misty went and filled up the large bathtub with hot, bubbly water, before conjuring some fluffy orange towels and laying them out.

In a few more minutes, Blaise's nightgown (which looked just as fancy as her robes) was laid out, and the bedclothes had been warmed and turned back. Misty was just about to go back to her room and get ready for bed when Blaise arrived.

"Dinner was absolutely delicious," she boasted, while slipping off her expensive shoes. "Draco sat next to me and we talked all night!"

Misty felt a stab of envy. Draco used to be her best friend, whenever he had come to visit her family with his parents. They had so much fun together, dreaming of the future. Now, even though they lived in the same home, he hardly acknowledged her presence.

"He's such a dahling boy," Blaise continued, "and so handsome!"

Misty nodded. "I agree, Mistress."

Blaise stared, and there was an awkward silence. "That," she said icily, "was too bold for you to say."

"Excuse me," Misty snarled, losing her temper, "but Master Draco has been my friend ever since we were children."

"How dare you speak so disrespectfully!" said Blaise shrilly. "Draco and I went to school together for seven years! I know him as if he were my brother!"

"Bit disgusting of you, then, to call him handsome, if he's like a brother to you," Misty replied smugly.

Blaise glared daggers at her. "Do you presume to speak above your station?"

"Isn't it too late for presuming, since I've already spoken?" Misty threw back.

Blaise scoffed. "Get out. Out of my rooms, now. I've had enough of your cheek. And if you give me any trouble tomorrow, I'll report you to Lucius Malfoy."

Misty was on the verge of saying something more, but she bit back her words. She couldn't lose her job--her family depended on her to support them. And to lose it because of this...this...this swine would be a twist of the knife.

Misty turned swiftly on her heel and went back into her rooms.

Her last thought before drifting off to sleep a few minutes later was that at least Blaise would have to clean up after her own bath tonight.

~*~

Misty slept deeply that night, but she was woken abruptly by a shout from Blaise in the morning. Stumbling out of bed and through the door, Misty managed to stub her toe and get herself into a horrid mood, even before breakfast.

"You called, Mistress?" she snarled at Blaise.

Blaise, heaped under mountains of blankets, sat up and leaned against the headboard of her bed. "Yes, I need to get ready for breakfast."

"The door between our two rooms exists solely for you to walk through it," Misty explained impatiently. "Mistress."

"The door will soon need oil on its hinges, then. I should not be forced out of bed to wake you, handmaiden.

"Now get me my riding robes and boots."

Misty trudged to the closet and tore the black robes out. Lazy, she thought, disgusting, hideous, arrogant, bit--

"And, come to think of it, I don't want to have breakfast downstairs," Blaise said, interrupting Misty's thoughts. "I'd much rather have breakfast in my rooms...and perhaps Draco will join me! I will invite him on my horseback ride as well..."

Misty rolled her eyes as she took out the black boots from the closet. Stomping across the room, Misty set them down with the robes on Blaise's bed.

"Anything else, Mistress?"

"I will dictate an invitation for Draco to you. The parchment and ink is on my desk," Blaise ordered. Misty stormed to the desk and thrust a quill in to a bottle of ink.

"Dearest Draco," Blaise recited in a honeyed voice. "I would be pleased to have your company in my rooms for breakfast this morning." Misty scribbled hastily. "Afterward, you are invited on my horseback ride around the grounds. With Love, Blaise Diabola Zabini."

Misty passed Blaise the note to sign. "Diabola?" she asked with a snicker.

Blaise glared at her. "Do you remember what I said last night, handmaiden?"

"Perfectly." Misty resisted the urge to slap her. Forcing down her anger, she asked, "Would you like me to deliver the note?"

Blaise hesitated. Misty knew that Blaise didn't want to share Draco with anyone, but she also knew that Blaise wanted to get ready for breakfast. "Fine, but don't take long, I want you to help me do up my hair."

Misty hurried to the door, ready to leave before Blaise changed her mind. She was halfway out the door when she thought of something that she had meant to say. "Oh, and Mistress?" Misty said, peeking back in to look at Blaise. "I have a name, and you may show some respect by calling me by it. I am Misty."

Misty shut the door before Blaise could protest.

The halls were empty, because the servants were eating breakfast in the basement at that time. Misty quickly went down to the second floor, where Draco's bedroom was situated.

A servant usually had great knowledge of the place that they cleaned. While Misty had never entered Master Draco's room and seen the interior, she knew exactly where it was, in case any accidents happened.

Misty walked up to the third door on the left and knocked.

It took a minute for the door to swing open, revealing a very disgruntled, and dripping wet, Draco.

Misty stared. He appeared to have come straight from his bath. He wore nothing but a towel, wrapped hastily about his pale waist. His white arms bulged slightly at the biceps, revealing muscles that were previously hidden under his robes. His chest sported a few silvery hairs, and below that was--

Misty raised her eyes hastily, feeling uncomfortable. "Master Draco."

He looked impatient. "Do you have something important to say, or are you just here to take a big steamy gawk?"

"I have a note from Miss Zabini," replied Misty sharply, slightly offended.

"Blaise?" He looked interested.

"No, her father," Misty retorted, but quietly.

Draco seemed to have heard her, because he was staring at her with a strong, serious gaze.

Misty prayed that she hadn't gone too far.

Then, surprising her so much that she jumped, he laughed. It wasn't loud, or hearty, and the laughter didn't spread to his cold, untouched eyes, but it was certainly something.

Misty smiled.

"I had forgotten how cynical you were. But now I remember how many times you made me laugh...in Wales..." his voice trailed off.

Misty stared at him with an assessing look. "You used to be sarcastic also. What happened? We used to laugh together, but now you don't even--"

He cut her off. "I grew up." He seemed uncomfortable.

Comprehension dawned on her face, mixed with anger. "Are you mocking me? I am no more a child than you!"

He shrugged. "Give me the note."

"Fine! Slither out of the conversation! Change the subject! Draco, what happened to our friendship."

He opened the note and began to read, not bothering to reprimand her for leaving off his title.

"I will get you to remember our friendship whether you want to or not," Misty whispered with determination.

He glanced at her, and was surprised by the fierce look in her wild green eyes. For a moment, they just stared at one another, each taken aback by the other's behavior.

Draco lowered his eyes first. After an awkward silence, Misty turned swiftly on her heel and went back to Blaise's rooms, determined with every ounce of her body to discover what was going on.