The Life and Times of Denebola Black

Deni spent most of the rest of the day at work. When she got home she was so tired she stripped as she walked across her room until she fell face down on her covers in naught but her undergarments. After she awoke the next morning and took her shower she went to her library clad in a red lace bra and matching thong under a red gauze robe where she penned a quick note and sent out her owl Athena, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, off to Malfoy Manor with it. She then sat down with a book, curled up on the sofa.

She was still in this position an hour later when her fireplace lit up green with the head of Narcissa Malfoy. At the sound of the flare in the fire she had looked up and while she had been surprised by the woman in the fire, she had invited her to come on through. "Good day, Madame Malfoy," she greeted the woman, bowing her head, though not moving from her position on the couch.

"Isn't it a bit early in the day for such attire?" the elder woman asked, a look of distaste on her face. Deni knew the woman was wondering if she was waiting for a visit from her husband.

"I have no plans for the day as of yet, as Draco has not yet owled me back and I didn't want to get dressed until I knew what I would be doing. Besides, it is my house and I wasn't expecting company." She said this in a bored voice, signaling that she didn't know why she was even answering the woman as she put a marker in her book and laid it aside. "Would you care to take a seat, Madame? I can have a house elf fetch you some tea or something if you would like."

Narcissa sat down on a chair that was kitty corner to the couch Deni was on, now with one bare leg tucked under her and the other draped over the edge so that her toes touched the floor. "That would be lovely, thank you." Deni inwardly cringed; the Malfoy matriarch intended to stay for a bit, but her face showed none of this. Instead, she called a house elf to retrieve the tea.

When Narcissa was content with her tea, Deni started again. "And to what do I owe this visit to, Madame?"

"I came to apologize for Draco's behavior the other night; it was not how he was raised to act."

"That is very kind of you, but both he and your husband have already apologized, and I have accepted." She gave the woman a shrewd look before she continued. "I think that the real reason you came here was to find out if I have yet decided of whom to marry because you want me to stay away from your husband." Narcissa looked shocked; neither woman had ever spoken to the other of the affair before. "And I have promised Draco that if I were to choose him, that would be the case. Blaise, on the other hand, wants to watch." There was a small smirk on her face as she said the last sentance but before the blonde woman could make to reply there was a scraping sound on the window where Athena was bumping into it in a bid for attention.

Deni stood up and walked to the window, giving Narcissa a view of her firm ass and slim back through the gauze robe. Athena flew through the window and settled on her perch as she allowed Deni to take the note from her. She read through the letter and smile down to the parchment.

She walked back to her previous seat, now showing the woman the front of her perfect body, the body that had been freely given to the woman's husband more times over the past two years than she could count. Once she was sat she looked her lover's wife in the eye. "Madame Malfoy, I understand that you don't like me and I understand why. But if it weren't me it would be someone else. I know it and you know it." She then stood back up. "I have to go get ready for my date with Draco now, so unless you have something else to say....." she let the sentance trail off.

Narcissa stood up, smoothing out her robes. "No, nothing else, Miss Black. Have a nice time with my son."

"I certainly hope to." Deni then escorted Narcissa to the entry hall, where the woman apparated home.

Two hours later Deni arrived on the doorstep of Malfoy Manor in dark blue low rise flare jeans, a baby blue ribbed turtleneck and a black peacoat that went to the spot where her ass met her legs as well as baby blue gloves and scarf. Her long hair was left down with a blue denim bucket hat on her head. Her makeup consisted of pink lipgloss, but her eyes were done in understated blues and her trainers were baby blue. A house elf answered the door and showed her into a front parlour.

When Draco entered the room her jaw almost dropped but she caught herself just in time. She had rarely seen him in muggle clothes and he was a scene to behold. He wore slightly baggy light khaki cargo pants with a fitted navy jumper underneath a black leather trench coat with black leather gloves. His hair was styled so that it looked slightly tussled, but more with magic than hair products, as the blond hair was still silky and soft.

He walked up to her and took her gloved hand in his, bringing it to his lips. "So, where are we off to in muggle clothes?" he asked, only a slight distaste in his features.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Draco, I know you hate muggles, and really, whatever, but you do look quite dashing in their clothes."

"I look good in everything."

She shook her head at him, a faint smile on her lips, thinking how she would bet that he would look just as good in nothing. "Muggle London."

Five minutes later, after apparating into Diagon Alley they walked through The Leaky Cauldron into muggle London. Despite their warm clothing it was still rather chilly and the two discreetly cast warming charms on themselves. She grabbed his hand and pulled him down underground so they could catch the tube. It wasn't his first time, but he definately hoped it would be the last and he pressed himself against her as much to try and not touch any muggles so as to be closer to her.

It wasn't a moment to soon for him when they made it to their stop. They then walked over to a large outdoor skating rink that was chock full of muggles. They rented skates and made it to the ice. Draco, who had never been ice skating was unsteady on his blades and he was gobsmacked at Deni, who after a while of showing him how to skate enough so he wasn't falling down and grasping onto her for support left him on a bench to go off on her own for a few minutes. As he watched her, she started to draw a crowd with her delicate moves, along with her jumps and spins that would rival those of some Olympic skaters.

When she skated over to her date, there were a few people clapping for her. She collapsed onto the bench, breathing heavily with her cheeks flushed and laid her head on his shoulder. He couldn't help but think of how he would like to have her with the same reaction only in a different situation. When she caught her breath and they handed in their skates they went over to a stand and purchased hot steaming cups of hot chocolate. "How did you learn to skate like that?" he asked.

"It's not that hard. I learned to skate when I was really little and the rest of it is a lot like ballet, only on ice."

"Well, there's no chance I'd be able to do that."

She put her hand to her heart and feigned a look of shock. "What, you mean there's something that Draco Malfoy doesn't think he can master? You must be slipping." She was now shaking her head at him. He smiled at her teasing before he caught them both by surprise and quickly leaned in and kissed her drying lips with his own. It was a sweet kiss without tongue but it made her whole body warm and tingly.

She put one of her hands on the back of his head and gently held it in place so he couldn't pull away yet even if he wanted to; which he most certainly did not. One of his arms snaked its way around her waist and she found herself pressed up against him. When the hardness that was rubbing against her registered she pulled away. "We have dinner reservations that we must get to," she whispered into his ear.

As they crossed Tower Bridge they noticed that anyone walking was giving one area a wide birth. They arrived to the spot and found three heads attached to wooden poles, signs underneath proclaiming that they had been beheaded for "Crimes Against The Dark Lord." Most muggles either didn't know who the Dark Lord was, or didn't believe in him. But they didn't want to be nead the severed head that had been charmed to not putrify.

Deni didn't recognise one of them; Draco told her that he had worked at the Ministry and his father had found out that the man was trying to find help in opposing a law that Lucius was passing. The second was Ron Weasley. Apparently his dance hadn't dome much to help him stay alive. The third was Tonks, her hair still a spiky bright purple.

When she saw these last two, Deni started to laugh. She then addressed each of the decapitated heads and kissed their lips, telling them that they shouldn't have been so foolish to cross her master. More than one muggle and random wizard passing gave her a look of disgust mixed with fear; a woman who was willing to kiss a dead dismembered head on the middle of Tower Bridge was not a woman to be trifled with. Draco just joined in with her laughing.

When they arrived at the restaurant even he could see that while it was muggle, it was exclusive. When they walked into the lobby the maitre'd, who was new to his position, gave them a look wondering if perhaps they had made it into the wrong restaurant. After all, most of their paritioners did not come to dinner in such casual clothing. In fact, it was against the rules; this was a black tie restaurant.

They walked up to where the maitre'd was standing, Draco's hand resting on the small of Deni's back, both of their faces red from the cold and hair askew from the wind. "May I help you?" he asked the pair snidely.

Draco was about to say something all together uncalled for but Deni put her hand on his arm, effectively silencing him. "Well, Girard, is it?" she asked as she pointedly looked at his name badge. "We have reservations under the name Denebola Black. If you could please show us to our table?" While her demeanor was that of perfect calmness her voice was the coldest Draco had ever heard from her. It just promised a world of hurt to anyone who would go against her wishes. In effect, she sounded just like a spoiled little rich kid.

While he could hear this promise in her voice, Girard still looked at her distastefully before scanning through his reservation book. "Ah, here we are. I'm sorry, Miss Black, but as you are a half hour late for your reservation the table was given to another couple. Perhaps if you could come back another day..." He trailed off at the look of unadulterated fury on the young woman's face.

"Girard, is Mister Schaffer here?" The maitre'd blanched significantly as the beauty in front of him asked for the owner of the restaurant by name without looking to anything to find out the man's name.

"Y-yes, Miss Black," he stammered out.

"Could you be so kind so as to retrieve him for me?" she asked, her voice now syrupy sweet.

Five minutes later a portly balding man in an expensive suit came into the lobby and walked directly over to Deni and Draco. Draco had the vague feeling that he had seen the man before but he couldn't place him. "Miss Black, I am so very sorry about the mix up. Girard is very new, but no need to worry as he has been let go; his replacement will be taught to remember how to treat our patrons."

"I trust that they will," she answered, her voice still cold.

"Here, let me take your coats and then I will personally escort you to your table." Deni nodded to Draco that it was okay to do as she took off her coat, gloves, hat and scarf and followed the portly man to the coat check.

"Thank you, Mister Schaffer. This is Mister Malfoy. Tell your staff that he is to be treated with no less respect than myself."

"Consider it done," the man answered, a slight quaver to his voice. He recognized the young man as the son of the Minister of Magic; both of which had been present for his degredading torture by the beautiful lady's hands for being treated (if truth be told) not well, but better than they had been tonight, at his establishment.

As they made their way to the table that Deni had reserved, the previous occupants having been moved to a less desirable table with a small scene, many heads turned to the stunning young couple that was being led by the owner, wearing casual clothes, to the best table in the house.

When they were seated Draco looked to her with questioning eyes. "It helps to have muggles in high places afraid of you," she told him. They spent the rest of the alcohol free dinner with steady conversation, the topics and words freely flowing from each; often agreeing but occasionally butting heads. Both were comfortable with their banter, no matter what the subject, and by the time they left the restaurant (with their meals on the house) they were both in high spirits.

When they parted at Black Manor she had to restrain herself from taking him to bed, but she didn't want to think that she would give herself to him so easily. Especially since while she was leaning towards choosing him, she had still not made her final decision.


a/n the Roman name for Athena was Minerva. Just a little tidbit for you. Also, I know that traditionally everything happened on London Bridge, but since that's now in Arizona, I'm using Tower Bridge. I have no idea if there is a big ice skating area in London or not but there is for my purposes. oh, yeah.. and believe it or not, i enjoy reviews, so if you could....