Unexpected Changes

Chapter Six


“Thanks for this Kali.” Krista said as she was helped into the costume Kalista had designed for her and made with the help of magic since it was made on such short notice.

Their dresses were slightly similar in design but Krista's dress stopped at her knees and hugged her tight at all her womanly curves while Kalista's was floor length. The accessories the girls brought quickly when they were passing through Hogsmeade on the way up to the school, including their shoes.

“No problem. Besides I enjoy doing this, I wish I didn’t have to use magic to help me finish it up but it wouldn’t have been ready on time if I hadn’t. And it isn’t like you could wear the costume you picked out before it would have been to suspicious. Anyway, I think you look better in this costume because it is tailored to fight you.”

“Do you think it is okay to continue to make friends with Draco and Blaise. I have a bad feeling as though it will blow up in our faces.” Krista said worrying her lips.

Kalista stopped from putting the final touches onto her costume and turned to face Krista. She had been thinking the same thing earlier. But she couldn’t bring herself to give up seeing the blond. She has had a crush on the boy for years to give up when so close, almost hurt to think about.

“I know, Krista. I feel it to. I don’t want to lie to him about who I am, and I don’t plan on doing so.” Kalista said as she turned away from Krista so she could continue to putting on the rest of her accessories, “I told him already that I didn’t plan on sharing my past with him. I have also told him that he knew me from before but not where and when. He asked so it isn’t like I could lie to him about it.” Kalista told her when she saw the look that Krista was giving her as almost like a warning. “I will tell him a bit about my past but it will be vague and as close to truth as I can get it without letting him know exactly who I am. I don’t know. Talking with him today, and actually seeing something other than the what he always shown the rest of world is intriguing. He isn’t the bastard we always thought him to be. And I like that about, and I want to know more about him and in return I want him to know more about me as well I don’t want him to think that everything is one-sided between us. But at the same time it will probably always be him that tells more about the past than I ever would. I wish I could. But a lot of my past as you know is entirely to dark and I want to forget it ever happened. And to tell him that, I fear he will look at me with pity and I don’t need that. I already have you Sev, and Remus trying hard not to press the wrong trigger like I am delicate-”

“Kalista we don't-”

“I know none of you mean it Krista, but for once I want someone to look at me as though I am not about to shatter. Or look at me and be reminded of everything I have been put through. I want him to see me for me. Without all of the bullshit I have gone through. So I am not going to lie to him about who I am, I will be myself around him, but there is just somethings I won't be able to tell him. You can take the same approach with Zabini or anyone else that you wish to. But we will have to be careful. Most of our story we already have worked out the rest we will have to come up with on our own and make sure it is as close to the truth as we can get it.”

“If you get to close to him than what?”

“I don’t know. I am focusing on the now at the moment. Something beyond all this I don’t want to worry about. As far as I am concerned when everything is all said and done I still plan on going to live in New York. I want to cross that bridge when I get there.”

“I can live with that.” Krista said nodding in understanding, as she slipped her shoes on. Well they were more like slippers in a sense, but they were stylish and went with her costume completely. They didn’t help give her height but Kalista's didn’t either. And they doubted anything will help them even reach beyond the chin of their dates unless they wanted neck breaking hells which both girls op-ed out of.

“Ready?” Kalista asked her, but no sooner than the words left her mouth there was a knock on the door. “Guess that will be our dates.” Kalista giggled as she and Krista went to go answer the door.

If they weren’t sure about their costumes before they definitely would have been now. Both of their dates looked like their eyes were about to come out of their sockets as they looked over the both of them.

~*~HPDM~*~

Draco couldn’t believe his eyes when he looked at Kalista. Since he laid eyes on her earlier today he knew she was beautiful but now she was absolutely stunning. Her dress was pure white and clung to her and fell to the floor completely hiding her feet.. The sides of the dress were made of thin white lace so you could easily see her tanned skin. The dress showed enough cleavage to make him salivate and to also leave his imagination running wild. Her black hairy was in ringlets that she had pinned back but enough left to frame her face while the rest fell down her back and stopping just shy of the small of her back. Her makeup was enough to be almost nonexistence but in Draco opinion she didn’t need it any she was beautiful enough. He was paying so much attention to her dress and face that he missed the wings that were so thin that you could see through them. Like her dress they were white but when the light hit them the right way you could see a multitude of different colors reflecting off of them.

He could tell Blaise was having the same reaction to Krista. She was a fairy as well but her dress stopped above her knees and hugged her tight. She had the lace on her sides as well that allowed you to see her skin that was slightly paler than Kalista's. Where her dress stopped their were tights that hugged her legs fitting as though it was a second skin. Her wings were same thin white wings that gave off the same light show when at the right angle. Both girls also had a light brush of glitter across any exposed skin making them look even more like fairies. They were without a doubt very beautiful.

“Wow.” Draco and Blaise said at the same time both of their eyes locked on their dates, continuing to take them in. They were almost in disbelief that these gorgeous woman chose them to escort them tonight.

“It isn’t to much is it?” Kalista asked Draco timidly as she smooth the nonexistence wrinkles on the skirt of her dress.

“No, you look absolutely beautiful. I just wasn’t expecting you to actually have costumes when you had to confirm with me that there was a ball tonight.” Draco said breathlessly as he continued to look her over.

“Well I did tell you I had a pamphlet about the Ball but I was just making sure that I had it right from one of the students here at the school. And besides I never go unprepared.” Kalista told him, loving the way that he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. She also saw that Blaise couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off Krista either. As far as she was concerned she had made a great accomplishment with these dress just by the reactions she was receiving. “So are we going to stand here all night while you boys stare at us our are you actually going to escort us to the Ball?” Kalista asked the teasingly causing both boys to blush than extend their hands to their dates. “Thank you gentleman.” Kalista said as both she and Krista giggled at the boys blushes.

“Those wings look real.” Draco told Kalista as he lead her through the Slytherin Common Rooms.

“Well I hope so, the spell that I used on them was not an easy one. And took me twenty minutes for each wing and I had four to do!” Kalista told him excitedly. “But it was worth it though. It was one of the last things I decided to do when I made these costumes. I thought it would be awesome to see Krista as a fairy.”

“You made these costumes?” Draco asked surprised. Not noticing the looks that the four of them were receiving from the other couples in the Common Rooms, who were also preparing to depart for the Ball.

“Isn’t she amazing? She has great talent.” Krista gushed as she smiled at her sister, causing the younger girl to blush.

“I am not that good. It was just something I threw together.” Kalista said shyly as she tried to hid her blush from them by hiding her face on Draco's shoulder.

“But you are.” Blaise told her. “If you have designed something as stunning as you have these costumes than you have some real talent.”

“Thank you, Zabini. But they are just costumes.”

“But he is right Kalista.” Draco told her as she put his hand under her chin so she could look up at him. She was about a foot shorter than he was and he found that absolutely adorable. “You have great talent. I wouldn’t mind hiring you to design a few things for me if you do men fashion. And I have been thinking of the perfect gift for my mother for Christmas, and you designing her a dress might just be it.”

“You want me to design a dress for the Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy?” Kalista asked him dumbstruck. “That woman is like the Princess Diane of the Wizarding World!”

“And if you ever wanted to make a career out of designing clothes, than you can definitely get their by having woman like Narcissa Malfoy wearing your clothes.” Blaise told her as he and the others chuckled at her reaction.

“See I told you I wasn’t be biased.” Krista told her sister. “And I think it would be awesome for you to do that, and open your own boutique when we get back to New York. You can do muggle and wizard clothing.”

“You plan on returning to New York?” Blaise and Draco asked the girls simultaneously.

“Well of course, we plan on returning to New York. We haven’t permanently moved to the UK again. And we really don’t plan on doing so. We are here until the end of the school year maybe a week or two afterward so we can watch all of the Tournament, but after we plan on going home.” Krista told them. Both boys still looked like they had been dealt a fatal blow but they soon put themselves back together.

“We didn’t really mean to give you both the impression that we were staying, for that we are sorry.”

“No, we just thought that with the many Purebloods males, ourselves included, that you girls have giving some thought to being courted. After all that is what the Tournament is all about. Meeting people from all over the world for a chance to find a potential spouse.”

“But the Tournaments aren’t specifically open to Pureblood males anymore right?” Kalista asked them the boys stopped them in front of a pair of hug oak doors.

“Well not anymore no, but muggle-borns definitely can not participate. They do not have the magical capacity to keep up. It is mostly Half-Bloods that come from long lines of Pureblood families and the Purebloods themselves that participate.” Blaise told her with Draco nodding at his words in agreement.

“Well that is not far. I am sure some of the muggle-born males can keep up.” Krista said with a frown.

“They can't actually. Their magical cores aren’t great enough to get them through most of the more strenuous task. The Tournament is more than a test of strength, agility, and knowledge of the wizarding world but a test of your magic. Even a lot of Pureblood wizards are magically drained by the time of all of the games are over.” Draco told them. “These Tournaments are somewhat like the Tri-Wizard Tournament but that is to test teens and their magical strength. But this Tournament has grown men participating, they will be ruthless. Though killing is forbidden, maiming and disposing of your opponent in other ways aren’t. Even though with some wizards being careful not to kill their opponents it has been known to happen especially towards the end when a wizard has been magically drain of most of their magic.”

“And you are participating in these games?” Kalista asked him worriedly.

“There is no need to worry. In all honesty the games are not that bad. It is very rare a wizard is maimed or killed.” Draco said trying to reassure her. “Now are we ready to go in?” he asked inclining his head towards the great oak doors.

“One more question than we can go inside.” Krista said

“Ask away.” Blaise said to her.

“What does one win at the end of the Tournament?”

“2 million galleons and a marriage contract if the girl is not already betroth.”

“Marriage contract to whom?” Kalista asked worriedly.

“Well to any girl of his choice. That's why we thought you girls knew. Coming here wasn’t simply observing the Tournament but also entering yourselves for Marriage Contracts.”

“WHAT?!” both girls shouted their voices ten pitches too high causing their dates and several others around them to wince.

“Well it isn’t exactly a well known fact about the tournament especially to those outside of Pureblood families, but that is how it goes.”

“And how do we take ourselves off the rooster?” Kalista said almost hyperventilating.

“Formally write to the committee that is over looking the Tournament, but I will warn you now, the chances of you girls getting out of this is slim to none.”

“And what happens if we walk away?”

“Banishment from the Wizarding world.”

Both girls breath a sigh of relief, “On, well we have no problems with living in the muggle world.”

“They also take your wands you do realize that right?”

“You are kidding me right?” Kalista laughed. “Haven't you heard of wandless magic?”

“You can do wandless magic?” Draco asked her almost in shock, Blaise holding a similar expression.

Krista and Kalista looked at both boys as though they had grown two heads, “Can't the two of you?”

“No, we can't. We were never taught how to do so.”

“Oh.” was all Kalista could say. Severus and Remus had been teaching her how to preform wandless magic for almost a year and a half now and starting teaching Krista the night before while she was waiting for Kalista to finish up her sketching and she had done pretty well for someone that had just started. But then again when it came to magic Krista had always caught on quicker than most.

“Well I guess you girls won't have much to lose than, would you?” Blaise said still in a state of shock as he and Draco begun to lead them through the Oak doors.

As Draco led Kalista into the room he could feel the stares that were on them but more importantly were on Kalista. He knew from the looks of many of the men in this room they were seriously thinking and wanting to court her. He wasn’t going to have it. She was his! He knew that was a pretty strong response for a girl he had just met but he felt something strong for her. And if he had to win the Tournament to protect her from all the other men in here that would want her just for her looks than he would. He knew of many of the Purebloods here that he was easily more powerful then them, he also knew that being the a Malfoy son that his knowledge of spells were also greater. His family had a history of delving in to the Dark Arts, no Malfoy worth his salt would or could deny that he knew various spell of Dark Magic. He would also be quick to tell you that it was intent behind the spell the was worth the most. And for Draco, if they gave him enough reason to, he would make the hatred behind spell particularly strong if it meant to protect the woman he had on his arms right now.

“They are all staring.” Kalista whispered to Draco as she leaned into him.

“Well that would because you and your sister look absolutely stunning in your costumes. And if I must say so myself, when I saw you tonight you took my breath away.” Draco said staring her in her eyes as he spoke. He like that his words had made her blush but not the fact that she had turned away hiding her adorable blush.

He spotted a couple of his cousins at the other side of the room and begun to lead the four of them in that direction.

“Draco!” Caius said waving him and his cousins friends over. “And Ms. Kalista, it is a pleasure seeing you again.” Caius said as he kissed her hand.

“It is nice to see you again as well” Kalista told him politely.

“Hello Zabini. Long time no see. Where have you been the past couple of holidays. You haven’t graced Malfoy Manor with your presence in about two years it seems.” Caius told him.

“Been dealing with family matters. I'm sure you heard about my father being sick. I had to help keep up the family business and such while he was ill.”

“I was sorry to hear about that. But I hear he is doing better which is always a plus.” Caius told him with a smile. Then his eyes flickered over to Krista who was holding on to Blaise's arm. “And who is this stunning Fairy beside you?”

“This is Krista, Kalista sister. Krista this is Draco's cousin Caius Malfoy.”

“And the others around him are Corvin, Cassia; Caius' twin sister, Apollo. and Jaeger.” Draco told them. “Cousins, this is Krista and Kalista Pavens. They like the rest of you are visiting the UK for the Pureblood Tournaments.” than he turned his attention to Kalista. “Corvin is my other cousin I told you about participating in the games with me.”

“You girls arrived this morning, correct?” Cassia asked them.

“Yeah, Krista didn’t feel like waking this morning and we had some stops to make on the way here.” Kalista said as she playfully nudged her sister.

“Two of the most beautiful girls here snatched up before the rest of us could even have a chance to say Hello to them.” Corvin said with a dramatic sigh. “Couldn’t give the rest of us a chance could you?” he said smiling at Blaise and Draco. “Couldn’t even think about charming you away Draco. He learned from the absolute best. Uncle Lucius could charm the robes off a nun.” he said to Kalista causing her and Krista to giggle and Draco to glare at his cousin.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Draco said but you could hear the hint of amusement in his voice.

“Oh please Draco. We both know that you and Uncle Lucius inherited the Malfoy Charm tenfold over. I don’t even think that grandfather could charm as much as the two of you could.”

“My charm wasn’t learned from my father, it was naturally given.” he said chuckling even to himself unable to keep his face straight around his cousins.

“Natural charm huh? Should I be wary of your advances then?” Kalista asked him her eyes and voice both filled with amusement.

“No, my advances are quite honest. And if you would have allowed me to, I would have loved to have court you. But than again I think I still might, I am sure I could convince you to stay in England.”

“I am pretty sure you could, but I will have to refuse the offer.”

“You are a strange woman, Ms. Pavens.” Jaeger told her. “Refusing the hand of a Malfoy? Many woman would kill to be given such an offer.”

“I am not like most other woman. Besides I have plans and dreams, that will only interfere with what your family intends for Draco. Besides he has just met me. I am sure there is some other woman here that will catch his attention soon enough, and I will be a distant memory.”

“I highly doubt that Kalista. You are not one so easily forgotten.” Draco told her.

“You have done it before. You will be able to do so again. Now enough talk, I want to dance.” Kalista said as she grabbed Draco's hand then turned back to his cousins. “It was a pleasure to meet you all.” she told them than dragged Draco towards the dance floor.

“Your sister is in for one hell of a ride for the next couple of months.” Corvin said to Krista who had been talking to Cassia.

“What do you mean?” She asked him worriedly. She had missed most of the conversation but she had heard enough towards the end.

“We know our cousin,” Caius said to her, “And he is not easily going to give up if ever. When we say he has perfected the Malfoy Charm we are not lying. And every Malfoy, male or female, always get what they want. Draco is no different. He wants your sister and he will not rest till he has her.”

“Kalista is not a possession.” Krista said unable to keep the protectiveness from her voice that was making her sound somewhat cold towards them.

“And he will not treat her as one. We Malfoy men are taught to take care of our women.” Jaeger told her. “Most of us have not married out of obligation but out of love. To others she may appear to be nothing more than a trophy wife to him, when they marry because I assure you now that will happen, but to Draco she will be his world. I know that look in my cousins eye, we all do and so does Blaise. There is nothing in heaven or hell that will keep him from getting her and keeping. I have seen that look countless times from my father and uncles when they look at their wives. I have even seen that look on Corvin when it comes to his girlfriend Jolene.”

“He barely knows her.”

“The heart doesn’t need a calendar or a clock to go by. Sure the brain may, but not the heart. And Draco is one to go by his heart more than his brain. Just don’t tell him that I told you.” Apollo told her. As he looked out on the Dance floor where Kalista and Draco were dancing to a slow song.

“If he does by a chance win her over, will he take care of her? Kalista has been through enough I don’t want to see my baby sister hurt any more.”

“He will take care of her. The Malfoy family has a very strict honor code. They do not mistreat their spouses. If a Malfoy so much as hit his wife than he will face the wrath of his family and it is not pleasant to have one angry Malfoy on you to have several is pure suicide.” Blaise told her as the Malfoys around them chuckled.

“You would know something about that wouldn’t you Blaise. I remember the one time you were on the receiving in of Draco's wrath you were lucky to walk away with just a black eye.” Corvin said causing his cousins to laugh at Blaise from the memory.

“His wrath was unjustified that day. And if you remember I also busted his lip.” Blaise said lifting his nose in the air in a fashion that made Krista laugh at him.

“Well come along Blaise I want to join my sister on the dance floor.” Krista told him as she grabbed his hand. “It was a pleasure meeting all of you. You have been very...insightful.”

“Pleasure is all ours, Ms. Krista.” Cassia told her before the couple walked away.

“Those girls got those boys smitten.” Corvin chuckled to his cousins.

“Well they do seem like a nice pair of girls,” Caius said as he watched them from dancing.

“I think they are both hiding something.” Apollo told them causing his cousins toll look over at him. “Yes they are nice girls. But they are also very mysterious as well.”

~*~HPDM~*~

“You do know I was very serious about what I said back there with my cousin, right?” Draco said as he held Kalista close as they danced to a slow song by some band he didn’t know.

“Draco, I am leaving at the end of everything. And I seriously think that you should court one of the other girls here. They will be much less trouble for you.” Kalista told him as she looked up at him from where she had her head on his chest. “You deserve someone untainted. My past has left me with one to many scars and I don’t want you to be the one that has to heal them.”

“Why not?”

“Because it wouldn’t be fair to you.”

“Let me make that decision Kalista. You have something that none of these other girls here have. Most of them I know from all the many gatherings my family has dragged me to or held ourselves. And some I know from here at Hogwarts. I’ll admit that not all of them are superficial or boring. But they don’t have what I am looking for. With you I feel as though I can share anything and everything with. I don’t see myself having a future with those other girls but with you I can see it. And I want it and want it with you.” Draco said staring in her eyes. She could see all the different emotions in his eyes.

She could also see herself having a future with Draco. But then she thought about what would happen when she told him about who she was. And to her it would always be who she was and not who she is. Harry Potter to her at the moment is just a memory. An identity that she has gladly given up so she could have a chance to be happy and to be free from all that held him back. She wasn’t going to let him ruin it for her now, but in her heart she would always know that Draco deserve the truth and it was one that she couldn’t get give to him. She wanted the future she could see with Draco with ever fiber in her being, but how could she have it if he didn’t know about who she was before?

“I see it too Draco, and I want it. But my past is always going to keep me from having it with you.” she said laying her head back on his chest.

“And why is that?”

“Because I will never be able to tell it all to you. I just broke the chains that they had on me, I don’t want them to bind me again.”

“I already told you I am willing to take what you can give me. I am not worried about your past I am more focus on the now. As long as you don’t base us on lies I am willing to take any and all parts you can give me.” Draco said placing his hand under chin and turning her face back up to look at him.

I hope you don’t regret those words one day but I know I will regret this decision one day, Kalista thought to herself as her and Draco lips met.

The kiss start out as gentle but soon became very passionate. Kalista thought her heart would explode from the kiss. She never felt such rightness at the moment that Draco lips met hers that I was enough to make her feel faint. In that moment she knew she was going to give herself to him the rest will have to wait for another time.

“You win, but I want to let you know that it won't always be this easy.” Kalista told him when they broke for air and Draco set his forehead against hers.

“I don’t expect it to.” He said smiling brilliantly at her. “I would be disappointed if you didn’t make the rest of my life a challenge.” he said before he placed another kiss on her lips but a quick one this time....