Friday 18th August.
Two weeks left of summer holiday and I have never been happier! I won't have to see Malfoy every day—
Never mind.
He goes to Hogwarts too.
Other than that bad information, everything else has been alright. I pay attention to the days Malfoy goes out with his mates. That way, I can stay at the manor whilst he's out. When he's in the house, however, I run away to Daphne. She bombarded me with her letters after receiving mine and the only logical act I could think of doing is running to her.
Daphne has been to Malfoy Manor before, lots of times, she knew Malfoy before Hogwarts because of pureblood connections.
The conversations we have at her estate are more on the risqué scale. From what she's told me, her and Blaise exchange letters and meet up often. He's been more touchy with her, stuff like grabbing her waist and my days, I don't want to know the rest.
Best friend senses, she knew something had "happened" between me and Malfoy. I told her the funny parts: Malfoy has a fear of spiders, he calls me Rosie, I chased him around the house and I used Ascendio on him which caused him to be flung at a reasonably high distance. I swear it was an accident. I was trying to practice the spell until he walked in.
Then I told her about the more... Well, the parts that haunt me. How he called me dear to make me lose in golf and how I felt. Obviously, I felt like giving him a good beating with my club.
Daphne likes to make hypothetical conclusions.
"What if you stood up and he saw you in your dress? What if he picked you up only to see that your dress is see-through?? What if he– No, he's not like Theo. He wouldn't dare to think so scandalously. Remember, he was raised by Narcissa."
She's almost sour that these fake situations never happened and yet, she likes to tease me about the real ordeal.
The last thing I told her was the difference in Malfoy's behaviour. He used to always push me, pinch me and make me fall on purpose. Now, he only uses magic to do that. I honestly can't remember the last time he stuck his foot out for me to trip over. Daphne thinks he has stopped being overly macho because he's matured.
It sounds fair but also complete rubbish.
There's got to be a catch.
Apart from Daphne, I've also had fun in the manor. I danced in the ballroom with Mum, took care of the plants in the garden with Narcissa. I played music with Camden and Lucius — they both had to find a way for me to keep track of the rhythm, sorry I'm no musical prodigy — and I drew a lovely sketch of the albino peacocks in their waistcoats that Narcissa now keeps hanging in the sitting room.
Since school is starting soon, everybody in this day and age must know that Diagon Alley is the best place to go and get supplies.
The only resources I need are new school shirts. That's exactly why Mum, Narcissa and Malfoy (for whatever reason) are taking me to Madam Malkin's.
The small bell rings as we walk in, indicating our presence. Surprisingly, very few witches and wizards are here buying their uniforms. There are plenty of people outside.
"Lovely to see you again, Dutchess." Madam Malkin comes up to us in her mauve dress, she does a curtsy to me and Mum. "Mrs Malfoy."
"New school shirts for my daughter, please." Mum smiles.
Malkin takes us further into the shop so I can get fitted. There are many clothes on racks and hangers, many ties and many colours. She uses nonverbal magic to lift her measuring tape; it wraps around my waist and chest. Malkin tells the adults and Malfoy to take a seat as she sets me on a stool and starts taking down my measurements. Mum hands me a copy of Witch Weekly from the small table and she starts talking to Narcissa.
I lift my hair up so that the measuring tape can tightly wrap around my bust. I look at Malfoy, making sure he isn't looking at me. He isn't. The tape moves on measuring my shoulder and arm length before Malkin throws some fabric on me.
As Malkin works her magic, I flip through the magazine. There's been a fashion show in Muggle Italy a few days ago and some of the clothes are cute. It looks as if mixing bright and dark colours is a popular trend. Ooh, there's going to be a wizarding fashion show in Paris next week to close the summer season. I need to go with Daphne. If I see Heather Laveau I'm going to rub it in Camden's face.
That is if he hasn't bought tickets already.
In no time, Madam Malkin finishes her work, she packages it up neatly and the two adults bicker over who will be paying.
"Clarissa listen to me, I'm pretty much her Godmother you must let me pay."
"Have you forgotten that I am her mother? It's my responsibility to deal with her expenses."
Get me out of here.
Luckily for me, it seems like the ferret boy and I share the same feeling. We look at each other, back and forth, repeatedly.
Think about it, imagine seeing two ridiculously rich mums arguing over the fees of a shirt that a) isn't even expensive and b) is for school. It's all stupid. Poor Malkin, she's probably thinking that these ladies have gone crazy.
"No, no friend of mine is to pay for my child. Especially you as you're my best friend."
"I'm practically her second mother!"
Malfoy walks forward.
"Alright, enough."
He reaches into the pockets of his trousers and the sound of coins is heard.
Mum and Narcissa both look at each other, confused and lost. Then, that look changes into a scary look, they smirk and their eyebrows wiggle.
Malfoy brings the coins out of his pockets, not even bothering to count or check. He just pays. Knowing him, it's all just Gold-Galleons.
"Keep the rest." He tells Madam Malkin.
"Oh, I can't."
"Yes you can. Don't try to argue with me because I assure you, I will not hesitate to act like my mother." He turns around from the counter with a package in his hands. "Let's go." He walks past all of us and to the outside.
"That's one way to sort it," I say to myself.
"Don't lie, what he did was very charming." Mum whispers behind me.
"Yes but—"
"She said yes!" Narcissa giggles.
Good heavens, give me a break.
Walking out of the clothing shop, Malfoy is waiting there and holding a box with pink decorative ribbons. It's amusing to say the least. He reminds me of a husband buying a present for his wife.
Not that I'm the wife. But he did pay for me, that's considered a present— Oh my Gosh I need to stop.
Narcissa has to head to Gringotts Bank to sign something for Lucius. Mum decides to go with her. I tell them I want to go to Amanuensis Quills and I made the mistake of not saying the word 'alone' because together, they chose to leave Malfoy with me so I can be "protected and safe".
Funny when I could kill anyone who touches me. Not to mention, it's a quill and ink shop. What's remotely hazardous about a quill shop? The chances of me getting attacked by a hundred of angry quills are low.
"What exactly are you planning to buy?"
"To buy you a life."
Malfoy sarcastically laughs and I think about what I want as we enter the shop.
"I'll get more colour-changing ink, maybe a few more normal ones."
"Adria!"
A voice catches my attention. The voice of Cormac Mclaggen. He walks towards me and I impatiently bring him into my arms. Though, I quickly let go after realising that there are people in the shop and a lot of them are looking at me. Mainly the children who I can tell are buying their supplies for Hogwarts, they look at me in awe.
I clear my throat. "Cormac. It's great to see you again."
"I should be the one saying that." His eyes search me up and down. "You look beautiful."
Malfoy scoffs before mocking Cormac. "You look beautiful."
I give him a dirty look before Cormac speaks up, he approaches Malfoy and puffs his chest out. Their height isn't extremely different, the Gryffindor is the tiniest taller. Either way, they both look like pigeons with their puffed-out chests.
Seriously, what is it with men trying to look superior? Confidence is quiet, arrogance is loud.
"When was the last time you called her beautiful, Malfoy?"
"When was the last time you kept it in your pants, McLaggen?"
"Malfoy." I whisper-shout so that I don't attract attention to us. "That is vulgar."
"What did you just say?" Cormac grits his teeth.
Watching fights is a form of entertainment but, not right now.
"I know you've—"
I interrupt Malfoy, pulling Cormac back.
"So," I laugh, "What are you doing here? You could've written to me so we can meet up."
From the corner of my eye, I see that Malfoy isn't happy with me. His jaw is clenched and he's practically staring into my soul. He's going to thank me sometime or later. Cormac is the one I'm worried about, considering that Malfoy has a better temper.
Thankfully, Cormac turns around to me. "That's the whole reason why I'm here, I just bought a few more quills so I can write to you."
"What a man." Malfoy rolls his eyes.
I pull Cormac closer to me, hoping he could excuse the idiot's behaviour. "Hey, are you hungry? We can get ice cream at Florean Fortescue's."
"Yes." He smiles, I pull his arm so we can walk out together. "Excuse me but, I've got a date."
"This is not a date." I push Cormac out the door.
Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour is a favoured place to eat during summer. There's a variety of flavours in different categories such as sugar-free, sorbet, spicy, Muggle and Wizard choices.
I order a regular cherry vanilla sundae and Cormac orders a caramel chocolate hazelnut ice cream.
We sit inside. I am grateful that there isn't a crowd here, otherwise, they would actually think I am on a date. The parlour ought to get busy soon, it's quite hot.
"How are you finding Malfoy Manor?" He spoons his ice cream.
I had written several letters to numerous people and my address was the same lovely "Malfoy Manor". Daphne was the one who I begged to come and save me.
"Delightful, I got to tour around Wiltshire. Not to mention, it's so peaceful and rather friendly. The Malfoy Manor would give a welcoming effect if the exterior and interior weren't so dark. As I said in the letters, Narcissa and Lucius are nice."
I ask Cormac to share more about his summer but, I notice that some of his stories don't make sense since he wrote something else in his letters. Then again, maybe he just forgot some details.
Time goes by and all we do is talk and joke.
"Here, try some." He slides his ice cream to me, I pick up my spoon to try some of his.
"That is good, it's sweet." I slide him my sundae allowing him to try it.
The longer I look at Cormac, the more I notice how good-looking he is. He's gotten a little tanned, hair as golden and fluffy as ever, eyes just as warm. I love it when he smiles with his teeth, it's comforting. He is not conventionally handsome (not ugly either), but he draws me in.
We leave when I spot more wizards and witches coming in, I wave to a group of fascinated children.
I panic the moment Cormac holds my hand as we walk down the street. Not panicking because it's a bad thing but panicking because of the fact that this is a public place. Until I look around and realise that Diagon Alley is too packed for anybody to notice me.
More at ease, I hold his hand. Our fingers don't join or lock. We are just holding hands.
My face slightly reddens when I hear Malfoy calling me Rosie in the back of my mind. Physical touch — especially with boys — isn't something I like. It took a bit of time for me to adjust to Daphne's affectionate behaviour.
I'm not complaining though, Cormac is like Daphne in this sense.
He tells me he sees Narcissa, Mum and Malfoy outside of Flourish and Blotts and gives me a quick hug before walking in the opposite direction.
"Had fun?" Malfoy asks, handing me a brown parcel. Strangely enough, he's still holding Malkin's box.
"What is this?"
"Colour-changing and normal black ink." His voice is poised but bitter. "You never clarified how many you wanted so I bought you four colour-changing pots and three black pots."
Malfoy remembered that I wanted to buy ink and that's something I completely forgot about. Why would he buy me ink? He knows I've got money for it so why isn't he asking for me to pay him back? Scratch that, this has to be his apology to me after ruining Cormac's day. I mean he was the one who started it all with his childishness.
Malfoy rubs his temples. "You should've let that fool get angry."
"No. You know how he is." I shake my head. "What is your problem? Seriously, I thought perhaps you could just show some manners and he would do the same."
He scoffs. "Just go back to your boyfriend alright? I'm not looking to argue with you in front of all these people. I've got a reputation to remain."
"A reputation for being the biggest arse? You had no problem arguing with Cormac—"
"Leave."
Classic Malfoy. You never fail to kill my mood in less than ten seconds. I do wonder what is wrong with you and why you choose to act like an insufferable prick every day.
I grab the pink ribbon package from him and do exactly what he told me to do.
Leave.
⚠️ Disclaimer — I do not condone the love triangle trope. It might seem like there is one but, this story does not include Adria, Draco and Cormac in a love triangle.
Thank you.
I'd love to see your ideas for the next chapter because in my opinion, it's pretty unexpected.
Or maybe not...