Summer break has arrived. Grace was excited, but nervous at the same time. She really wanted to visit Draco's house, but she was nervous about meeting Narcissa. She was also nervous because she didn't know how to convince Severus to let her go.
At the beginning of the summer she received a letter, she didn't even have to open it, she knew it was from Draco. And, as she had expected, it was an invitation for her to come and visit him.
Grace left her room and went to where her father was.
"What is it, dear?" Severus said, sitting on his chair in the living room, without taking his eyes off the book he was reading.
"So, Dad, first I wanted to tell you that Draco and I are officially dating..." Grace said. Her heart stopped, not knowing what reaction to expect from her father.
Severus, surprisingly, didn't seem too shocked or bothered by the news. "After seeing the boy waiting almost two whole days outside the Hospital Wing I already imagined this."
Grace continued, without looking into her father's eyes. "He invited me to his house. Today."
"Alright."
From a various number of possible reactions, that wasn't what she expected.
"What do you mean? You're not going to fight me and forbid me to go to his house? Wow, not so long ago you wouldn't have let me go even if he was just my friend..."
"I know that if I forbid you to go, you two will find a way to get together anyway. And I also like that you were honest with me and told me about the two of you. But I'm leting you go mainly because I know that Narcissa will be there and, knowing her, she won't leave you alone for a second."
"Thank you, dad." Grace said, hugging him.
She hurried upstairs to her room, chose what to wear, and got ready. Since she couldn't apparate yet, as soon as she was ready, Grace went to Severus, and the two of them apparated at the entrance to Malfoy Manor.
"I'll be back later, Dad." she said, going to knock on the front door.
She barely knocked on the door and Draco opened it.
"Did you miss me?" he said, grinning.
"Of course I did." Grace said, stepping forward to wrap her arms around his neck and kissing him.
The two walked in. Grace looked at everything, she had never seen such a big house before.
"Come on, Mom is in the living room waiting for us." Draco said, taking her hand and guiding her through his house.
When they got in the living room, Grace soon saw Narcissa. She was very beautiful and elegant.
"Mom, this is Grace, Grace, this is my mom." Draco introduced them.
Grace let go of Draco's hand and went to greet Narcissa.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy!" Grace said, with a soft smile on her face while she went to shake Narcissa's hand.
"So polite! Draco speaks very highly of you. It's very nice to meet you too, dear, but you can call me Narcissa." Draco's mother said, returning the gesture.
Grace grinned, while her face became red. Seeing how nice and loving Draco's mother was, Grace became less worried.
The three of them sat in the living room, Draco and Grace together on a couch, holding hands, while Narcisa sat across from them.
Narcissa was the first to speak, "Draco mentioned that you are a great student, it would be good for him to be around good influences once in a while..."
Grace chuckled. "Yes, I always help my friends with their classes when I can, I would love to help Draco when he needs it."
The three of them were talking for some time in the living room.
"Mom, I'd like to show Grace a little bit of our house, if you don't mind." Draco said.
"Of course, darling."
Hand in hand they went through the kitchen, dining room, library, and several other rooms of the house until they reached Draco's room.
"You are really spoiled by your mother, aren't you?" Grace said jokingly.
"Well, since I am an only child... She never had any other children, I don't know why. But I know she was always excited to meet her future daughter-in-law, you know, she always wanted to have a daughter."
"Your mother is nice. Not at all like I imagined." Grace said sincerely.
They both sat down on the edge of the bed.
"It is only my father who is the way you are thinking. My mother was never like that, she just looks like that." Draco said, looking down to his hands.
There was a silence between the two.
Grace noticed that Draco looked a little worried.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing..."
"I'm not that absent-minded, I know there's something you're not telling me." Grace said, looking straight into his eyes.
He took a deep breath before he began to speak, "Look, I planned to tell you everything when you came here. First of all, promise you won't leave me after what I tell you?"
Grace was even more worried now, "What is it?"
"Well... I-I'm now a Death Eater."
As soon as Draco told her, he looked deep into Grace's eyes, he had started to sweat, he had no idea how she would react.
"W-What?" her voice trembling and weak.
Draco sighed and lifted the sleeve of his left arm, showing the Dark Mark.
Grace was open-mouthed. She didn't know what to think. Involuntarily tears began to stream down her face.
"W-Why did you do that Draco?" Grace was almost sobbing.
"You know I didn't have much choice. My family would have been in danger if I didn't accept. My father forced me."
Grace was silent.
"I wanted to be the first person to tell, I didn't want you to hear it from anyone else." Draco said. Grace was still not talking. "I only agreed because I know it's the only option for me. The only way for me to protect myself."
Grace still said nothing.
"Grace?" Draco called.
As she had never seen before, Grace noticed a tear drain from Draco's eye. He put his hands on Grace's face.
"Please say something... I want you to be honest with me."
The two were facing each other. Green eyes staring into gray eyes.
"I understand if you don't want anything more to do with me... But I didn't want to lose our friendship... All my life I've lived with a father who was never nice to me, and since I entered Hogwarts and met you, I never thought I could love someone as much as I love you and-"
"What did you say?" Grace asked.
"I love you, Grace."
Grace leaned close to Draco and kissed him.
"I love you too, Draco."
The two of them stayed in bed, cuddling, for some time.
"Do you accept me, even after this?"
"Of course I do." Grace said, putting both of her hands on his cheeks and looking at him.
"Just promise me one more thing."
"Anything." Grace said quickly.
"Please don't tell anyone. I wouldn't want anyone at Hogwarts to know."
"I promise." she said.
They both kissed again.
"I think my father should be expecting me home any minute now." Grace spoke.
"Right. I'll take you home if you want to."
The two left Draco's room and he took Grace to say goodbye to Narcissa.
This would be an unforgettable day, both for Grace and Draco.