Smile Like You Mean It

Phew! Recovering from a night out on the town today, but decided it would be too mean to make you guys wait for more!! So here's chapter 10, full to the brim with insights into plans and how people feel... And I finally decided to give in and show a little of what's going through Draco's head...


Enjoy my darlings! x


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Chapter 10 - Reflections and Planning


By the time Aera returned to the Gryffindor common room she was close to missing curfew. Both Harry and Hermione gave her strange looks as she entered but she ignored them. She had no energy for a discussion during which there would be many meaningful looks exchanged between the two. Instead she headed straight up to the dorm and fell into bed.

It was some time later that Hermione followed her up. Aera had been lying with her arms folded behind her head, staring at the ceiling. She wasn't sleepy and doubted she could have slept, even if she wanted to face the tormenting dreams that would be sure to come.

"Hey." Hermione called over softly, unsure of whether to approach. Aera glanced over which the other girl took as invitation. The bushy haired young woman sat on the edge of her bed and looked down at her hands.

"I need to talk to you." she said softly, not meeting Aera's gaze. Aera didn't reply. It wasn't that she was angry at Hermione. She had felt too much in the last hour or two to give into another emotion. She felt empty, drained. She would listen to what Hermione had to say, see if it made anything a little clearer.

Finally Hermione looked up, there was wariness in her eyes. She self-consciously rearranged her shirt collar. "You're keeping something from us. I notice things, Aera, and what I see has made me more than a little cautious of you. I saw the look that Sirius gave you, he knew who you were. The same with Hagrid and a number of the other teachers. So why is it that you won't tell us? Harry doesn't realise they know, he doesn't watch for those sort of things."

Aera felt quite surprised. She hadn't expected a straight out question. She tried to find something to say in reply that wouldn't give her secret away.

"Yes, you're right." she eventually said, making Hermione's eyes light up with eagerness. "But I still can't tell you." Irritation flickered through the honey-coloured gaze.

"Why not?" Hermione snapped, her hands going still on her lap as she always did when angry.

"Because Dumbledore asked me not to. I know you don't believe me when I tell you he sent me here, but it's the truth. If I was to tell you the full truth right now, you, Ron and Harry would question and question and question all I say. You won't believe me, I'll tell you that straight out."

Hermione frowned, her forehead creased elegantly. "So is that why you're holding back? Because we won't believe you?" she gave a little laugh, as if confused. "Surely you know us a little better than that. We're a very accepting group of people. Except maybe Ron." she added after a moment.

'Then why don't you look past the facade that Draco Malfoy holds up for the world to see!' Aera wanted to shout. 'He's not what you think he is!' But it was not the time to battle those demons.

"I guarantee you won't believe me. This truth is beyond anything you could dream of. I have an alternative, however."

Hermione sat up, interest radiating off her.

"It will take you just over a month to brew a Truth Potion. Make up some Veritaserum and I will answer your questions so you will know that I am speaking nothing that is not the truth."

Hermione's mouth had dropped open from the start, now she chewed her lip uncertainly. "It's very difficult to make. If we made it wrong it could quite easily kill you. It would be easier to steal it from Snape's private supplies and I know the boys would prefer that..."

Aera shook her head emphatically. "No, if you did that and got caught you would find yourselves in a whole load of trouble and I don't want that. I'd go to Dumbledore and ask for some but he's not to know that I'm even considering telling you anything." 'Besides,' she added in the privacy of her own head, 'I need the time to come to terms with what I'm doing and plan ahead.'

Hermione nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll talk to the boys about it. You don't need to keep repeating this and I promise we'll keep it to ourselves." She got up and retreated to the common room. As the door swung closed Aera could hear Ron's guffawing laugh drifting upwards.

She grabbed a pillow and gripped it to her face, groaning loudly. Was this the wisest course of action? She cursed herself. Only one day inside Hogwarts' walls and she was already planning to do exactly what Dumbledore had warned her not to.

Her thoughts drifted to a certain platinum haired young man. What had she been thinking? There was no doubt that his touch fuelled the emergence of wanton side to her that Aera had never believed existed. She remembered the way his arms had held her, the way his mouth had caressed hers and she shivered. Even now, far away from that dark corridor and those heated blue eyes she felt the warmth suffuse her body. As Sirius had so carefully pointed out, desire was a dangerous thing.

She made up her mind. She would avoid traipsing around the castle alone, she would avoid confrontations with men and most importantly, she would avoid at all costs Draco Malfoy.

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Draco Malfoy sat on his bed, the curtains around him closed. In his hand he clutched a quill and on his lap sat a piece of parchment. Only one word had so far been written, 'Father', and his eyes gazed at it, unseeing. His mind was elsewhere, down a corridor where a dark haired girl pressed against him.

Malfoy frowned to himself. He had no idea what had possessed him to reach out of his hiding place when he had seen Aera passing, lost in thought. All he had known was that since the day in dressmakers, he hadn't been able to get her face out of his head.

The times they had come face to face in between had been moments of bewilderment for Draco and he knew that wasn't characteristic of him. His eyes followed her when she was in the room and when she spoke his stomach lurched, as if with nerves. But to be nervous of a slip of a girl? He was a Malfoy! It wasn't that he had never chased a girl before, finding their beauty compelling, but the women he sought gave in fairly easily to the pleasures of the body. He had never felt the need for... more.

His eyes focused on the parchment, reading once more the 'Father' written there. Lucius Malfoy had sent his son a letter which Draco had received on return to the dungeons. His father had plenty of questions about this new Vale girl, the main one being why Draco hadn't mentioned her. Lucius's impatience irked Draco hugely, but no more than the rest of his father's shifty qualities.

Though Draco resembled Lucius physically in many ways, they had few similar traits beyond that. During the summer Draco had begun to question the wisdom in following a man so obviously insane. Without breeding between wizard kind and muggles, Draco believed that magical folk would soon die out. Having children with someone too close in blood-ties created difficulties like inherited disorders. In recent years Mungo's had begun putting more research into the outcome of interfamily marriages. Draco had himself researched the results, which would be shocking to the wizarding world once it became more publicised.

He wanted to distance himself from Voldemort before then. Those who backed out of his service due to this new information would find themselves still outcast by those who had fought him. If he could remain indifferent until then there would be no need for the Malfoy name to be more damaged. He would slide back into society unscathed by the conflict between the two sides.

But if it was easy as that, why did he still feel this unrest? Aera's face floated once more into his mind. Her expression changing when she looked into the mirror. She was hiding something, as he himself was. But he couldn't figure out what.

She had appeared at ease when first looking, her face reflecting a scene that she accepted as true. But then she had seemed surprised and confused before a look of fear and self-disgust took over her features. What had she seen that had upset her so much? He had seen that same look in her eyes when she ran from him in the hallway. What did it mean?

His father's request at more information on her ran through his mind and he felt a surge of anger. The quill was thrown to the foot of the bed as he scrunched up the paper and ripped it in half.

A moment later Draco looked at the two pieces in surprise. He never acted out of anger, he had been trained as a young boy to exercise caution when showing emotion. But the emotions that had risen inside him so suddenly had been nothing he had hitherto experienced. He focused his thoughts and examined the emotion that had consumed him so forcefully. It took him a moment to realise what it was. Protectiveness.

This revelation made him pause. Was that really how he felt? Protective of this girl who he knew next to nothing about? There was no denying it though. He wanted to keep her away from his father, hide all he could about her. Realising Lucius would not be satisfied until Draco at least replied to his inquest, he picked up a new page of parchment.


Father,

This girl you speak of, Aera Vale, has only just joined Hogwarts, as you know. She was sorted into Gryffindor and has since been seen keeping tight inside their circle. I have nothing of relevance to report on her as I am unable to discover anything. Her history is simple, she is a transfer from the French school, though her blood status is unknown. I will be sure to keep you fully informed of any new developments.

Until then,
Draco


Draco reread the letter and felt some satisfaction. There was nothing inside which would hint that his own interest in this new girl was anything more than a vague curiosity. The story of where she had transferred from was common knowledge and Lucius had likely already winnowed out that information from one of his contacts. Draco was honest in his writing of her parentage. He knew nothing more about her than that she was originally from England and had been sent to Beauxbatons.

He sealed the note and pressed the insignia of the Malfoy crest onto it, using the wax from the candle by his bed. It was safe enough to leave it till morning to send so he shoved the letter under his pillow.

As he rested his head on the cushion he found his mind wandering once more to the illusive Aera Vale. The way she had felt in his arms, her body against his. It had felt so... right. Their kiss had burned through him, searing the sensation against his lips.

Draco was aware of himself growing hard. That damn girl had a lot to answer for. He ran the scene through his head again, reaching under the blanket to release some of the tension.


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Well...? What do you think????

I thought I should add in a little of how poor Draco was feeling after the meeting in the corridor as it's crucial for the future of this story. :)

Anyway, ever onwards. Don't forget to pweese review!

Aera