Taming

Mirabella Zabini sat down at her vanity and impatiently ran a brush through her long hair. She was going to be late for her first class. She hated coming back here after the hols. It was so hard to get used to getting up early again. But it was unthinkable that she show up to a class, even first thing in the morning, looking less then her best. Her family had always been famed for beauty, and Mirabella herself was no exception. And she knew it.

“Aren’t you ready yet?” asked an impatient voice. Glancing in the mirror, Mirabella saw her friend Kira Vaisey waiting for her.

“Nearly. You didn’t need to wait.” Mirabella put her brush down and began to apply lipstick.

“Well, I thought you might want to commiserate over this completely revolting turn of events.”

“And what turn of events is that?”

“Mira! Honestly. You know exactly what. This disgusting Scorpius thing!”

“While I’m certainly happy that something disgusting happened to Scorpius, I’m afraid I missed the rumor. I got back late last night, so I went straight to bed. You know how I look if I don’t get at least eight hours of beauty sleep. Blasted early classes.”

“Mirabella,” Kira said her name gently, sympathetically, and Mirabella got a whisper of dread in the pit of her stomach. “I’m referring to the fact that over the hols, Scorpius got engaged.”

Mirabella heard a strange buzzing in her ears and her fingers instantly curled into claws. “To whom?” she asked haughtily, even though she feared she knew the answer already.

“Albus Potter of course. Who else has he even talked to in months?”

“He can NOT be marrying Albus Potter.”

“Well, he certainly thinks he is.”

“There’s a mistake. Scorpius wouldn’t do something so gauche as to ask a bloody boy, especially that Potter fool, to marry him.”

“Well, I heard it directly from Stephanie Mills, and you know her gossip is always spot-on. Apparently he gave Albus a ring and everything. They aren’t keeping it a secret. Those nasty Weasleys and their little group of friends were all talking about it, rather loudly and obviously, at supper last night. And Scorpius was right there in the thick of it, accepting congratulations.”

Forcing down the outraged shriek that threatened to escape, Mirabella forced herself to remain outwardly calm. It wouldn’t do for anyone to think that she was actually upset. “I know the Malfoys well. Draco was my father’s childhood friend, and they’ve remained close. I know that a family like the Malfoys would not participate in such an obvious sham.”

Kira held up her hands. “I’m just repeating what I heard. You would know better than me, of course. It’s just that… I don’t want to overstep my bounds here, but I know you’ve always said that when Scorpius was ready to settle down that you two would get married. I know you must be hurt and disappointed…”

“Kira, if you don’t want to overstep your bounds, you’re too late. You have obviously misunderstood the situation. I have no particular wish to marry Scorpius Malfoy. It’s our fathers’ plan. Draco and my father have practically had us betrothed since our birth. It was simply assumed that when Scorpius grew out of his party-boy phase that I would take my rightful place as his wife. But it was always about duty, not desire. And nothing has changed. This Albus Potter thing is a phase as well. It always is with Scorpius. You know how he is. Nothing holds his interest for long. But he does know about duty and what it means to be from a family like the Malfoys. He’ll tire of Albus Potter soon enough, and if I’m still available, I might consider his inevitable proposal.”

She could tell that Kira doubted her words, at least a little, and it rankled her. But she kept her emotions off her pretty face, and Kira finally nodded. “I was just afraid that you would be upset.”

Mirabella forced a laugh. “Honestly. If the things that Scorpius Malfoy did had any power to hurt me, I would’ve killed myself years ago. I honestly couldn’t care less. People like Scorpius and I do things for power, for money, for tradition. Not for something as silly as lust. Now run along to class or you’ll likely get detention. I need to finish my face.”

“You’ll get in trouble if you wait too much longer.”

“When have I ever cared about a little detention? If there are other people as silly as you are who will expect me to be, of all things, heartbroken over this news, than I have to look my best or people will think I’m pining away like some sort of jilted lover. Merlin, I hate when gossips get all a-twitter over ridiculous things.”

Properly shamed, Kira apologized, “I didn’t mean to offend you. I can tell that you honestly don’t care. But I know that you slept with him a few times, and I just thought you might be more serious about him.”

Mirabella rolled her eyes. “Who hasn’t slept with him? I know you have.” Kira had the grace to blush. “A girl has to get her jollies somewhere and at least he’s better in bed than most of the disgusting trolls around here. But that’s all it was. Now go ahead and let me finish.”

“Sorry. I’ll see you at lunchtime.” Mirabella gave her a dismissive wave, and Kira left the room. Mirabella waited until she heard Kira’s footsteps fade away, and then she peeked out the door, looking left and right. Then she spun back into the room, breathing heavily. Everything that was supposed to be hers was slipping away! From the first time she’d visited Malfoy Manor with her family, she knew she was going to do everything in her power to be Scorpius’s wife.

For years, she’d put up with his behavior, consoling herself with the thought of that beautiful, regal house (the only house she’d ever seen that was worthy of her), and all those piles and piles of gold. And of course, Scorpius himself. His cool blonde beauty was the perfect compliment to her caramel skin and chestnut hair. They were the ideal couple in every way.

And it was slipping through her fingers thanks to some disgusting, low-born boy who was just the latest in the endless line of people that Scorpius had fucked. It was simply untenable! With a movement as quick as a snake, she grabbed the brass unicorn figurine from her dresser and hurled it straight into the vanity mirror, which shattered into a thousand glimmering shards.

She didn’t feel any better, so she finally let lose the scream that had been building inside her since Kira’s news. To her shame, there was a lump forming in her throat. She threw herself across her bed and began to sob.

When she could breathe again, she sat up. Grabbing her wand from the bedside table, she pointed it at the mirror and said, “Reparo.” The glass flew back in the frame as smooth as new. Mirabella looked at her reflection. Her eye make-up was smeared all over her cheeks, her eyes were red and puffy, and worst of all, her face was blotchy.

Looking at her repulsive reflection, the last bit of sadness was replaced by the feeling that had been slowly overwhelming her – rage. She sat down and began to wipe her cheeks clean.

“I am going to kill Albus Potter,” she said aloud. A slow smile twisted her pretty features into a frightening grimace, but for once, she didn’t notice her own reflection. She was too busy trying to think of a suitable plan.

*********************

Eventually things settled back into a routine, and most people seemed accepting of Albus and Scorpius as an engaged couple. They cheered for Gryffindor at Hugo’s Quiddich matches, studied diligently for their N.E.W.T.s with Rose, and gabbed about the wedding plans with Lily. And at night, in their bed together, they made love frequently and satisfyingly. Sometimes quickly, tearing each others’ clothes off, wild and animalistic. Sometimes it was achingly slow and tender, and they clung together desperately, afraid to let go.

But it was always perfect. That was the thing about Albus. He was always perfect. Scorpius couldn’t believe how lucky he was. How lucky they both were to have found each other. And now they were going to get married and live happily ever after. They’d finally decided on a date – August 24th – because Scorpius wanted to do it as soon as possible, but Albus insisted that since they had N.E.W.T.s to contend with, they’d have to do most of the work for the wedding after graduation.

That didn’t matter, though. There wasn’t anything that could stop them now. Their love was too strong, and no power on this Earth could ever touch it.