The Life and Times of Denebola Black

a/n once again no torture, but no lemons either. just plot and some competition for draco.


It turned out that there were around thirty marraige proposals to sort through and by the end of the week she had narrowed it down to three. The first was Colin Grove, who was in his thirties but had never married because of how much time he spent at work as un Unspeakable but was willing to work less if he had a good woman waiting at home. He was very nice, and he was very handsome. The second was Blaise Zabini. A year ago his pregnant wife had fallen down a large flight of stone stairs, resulting in both their deaths. It had taken a long time but he was finally ready to move on with his life. The third was Draco Malfoy. She knew that she was attracted to him, and even since she had found out she was a pureblood they had gotten along quite well.

In order to come to a conclusion on which one to marry, it was decided that she should go on a couple dates with each of them. Feel how the chemistry works and see if she enjoys spending time with them. After all, if she wasn't marrying for love she at least wanted it to be someone she could amicably share the rest of her life with. In the wizarding world there was no divorce. People separated and such but the laws were all beneficial to the one who was left rather than the one who did the leaving. In one case, a wealthy man left his wife and started a new family with another woman, despite still being married. When he died a (natural) premature death leaving behind three children under the age of five as well as his girlfriend, all of his money and assets went to his wife who refused to give even one knut to her husband's children, and them and their mother ended up poorer than the Weasleys.

She had decided that they were each going to plan the first date - she wanted to know what they would consider acceptable for a first date with a woman they were trying to convince to marry them. She went to visit each of them in order to tell them this decision. Each had been happy to know that they were in the final running and Colin was especially surprised and they all looked up to the challenge though it almost seemed that Draco thought that hw had it in the bag.

She had taken the weekend off, so that she would be available whatever times her dates found appreopriate. It was seven thirty Friday night when Colin arrived at her house to pick her up. They then flooed to a lovely restaurant where they spent most of the time talking. The conversation did not easily flow, and while she was able to share many stories from her job, he could share none from his. As the dinner wore on she could tell that while he would be okay as a friend to see every now and then, there was no future with him.

While he was well educated, he didn't understand her thirst for knowledge of all kinds. She couldn't understand why he wouldn't take every chance he had to better himself by gaining that knowledge. He was looking for a woman who would be there when he got home, and not necessarily wait on him hand and foot because that's what house elves were for, and she hands down refused to leave her job. When it came down to it, they had found many more subjects that they could not talk about without some sort of petty disagreement (as compared to an intellectual banter of different sides of a subject) than those that were comfortable.

And then she learned that he had no other plans for the date; just dinner. She reflected that he really must not get out all too often. Before they went their separate ways, it was he who pointed out that he didn't think they meshed well together and that it probably shouldn't go any farther. She was just relieved that she wasn't the one to have to say it as she had feared that he wouldn't take it well, despite how the date went since he had been so happy that he had been one of the chosen ones.

She went home to take a long soak in the bath. That's where she was when Voldemort came to visit her and see how everything went. He wasn't surprised to hear of it, as he himself had been surprised of the choice, but he understood why she had made it; most of those who had put in offers were one of three things. Obviously looking for her money and standing, much too unattractive to go well with someone of her beauty, or someone who would never stand the slightest chance of stimulating her intellectually.

He had had his hopes out for either Zabini or Malfoy. While Malfoy would be a better match politically speaking and the world could always use another Malfoy-Black connection, he had the feeling that the Malfoy boy was still a bit too immature for his Deni. On the other hand, Zabini had been forced to deal with a lot and was most certainly mature enough for her and he had no doubt that she would be treated well by him he just wasn't sure if there would be any spark between them, as he had never really noticed one before amongst the two.

Saturday was for Blaise. He had told the Dark Lord what his plans were, so that He could pick out an outfit for Deni, as well as borrow another from her cupboards and deliver it to Blaise. So, when he arrived at Black Manor at three in the afternoon, she was waiting for him in a a white tank dress that reached her knees and was decorated with blue flowers and a medium weight cape the same shade of blue. She wore light makeup, and her long hair was free flowing down her back. "Beautiful," he told her as he bowed down slightly, taking her hand and gently brushing the back of it with his soft lips.

She studied his attire to try and gather some clue as to where they would be going. He was wearing white linen pants and a loose fitting ecru button down shirt, also made of linen, and no cloak. The light colors contrasted with his mohagany skin, looking all the more wonderful on him. His brown eyes, which were slanted and looked as though he had native american blood running through him from some distant ancestor, were filled with warmth as he looked at her, and face entire face was smiling. His hair, which she assumed came from his Italian father, was long and silky, pulled into a black ponytail at the base of his scull with a rubber band. At the moment she couldn't remember having ever seem a more beautiful speciman of a man. She could only guess that they were going somewhere warmer than where they were; it was January after all.

"I could say the same about you," she responded, bringing her hand up to graze his cheek before pulling it away and back to her side. "So, where are we going?" she asked.

"It's a surprise, though I do hope you trust me enough to side-apparate you."

She didn't have to think at all before she answered him. "Of course I trust you, Blaise."

"Good, now if you could please hold on tightly to me and concentrating on staying with me." She hugged him around his middle, resting her face on his chest and holding on tight like he said. He then counted down until she felt the familiar tugs of apparition. Before she even opened her eyes she could tell that she was in a temperate climate. When she pulled away from him, after holding him for just a bit onger than was necessary, she finally opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.

"It's lovely," she breathed. They were standing in the middle of one of the many vineyards his long-dead father had left to his mother.

"I was hoing that we could go for a walk and get to know each other a little better," he told her.

"I guess that's why our Lord insisted that I wear flats," she smiled. He nodded his head and they set off on the paths around the property.

A couple of hours later they were sitting on a wooden bench under a beautiful large tree. She was amazed at how much they had in common and how much she hadn't known about him, despite being friends for the last four years; they had become close when they were head boy and girl at Hogwarts.

"Now, it's on to dinner for us," he said and she hugged him close again so he could take them to their next destination. They appeared on a beach, the warm waters of the Mediterranean lapping onto the shore. "It's just a little bit this way," he told her. He took off his shoes and shrunk them to put in his pocket and she followed suit as he rolled the bottoms of his pants a couple of times. He took her hand in his as they started walking along the beach, both oblivious to the people who stared at the gorgeous couple who looked as though they were at a photo shoot for some type of cologne or something.

It took less than five minutes for them to pass through a magic barrier that separated the muggle area from the magical area... it wouldn't do to have muggles spot witches and wizards who were too thoughtless to not use magic in public. He brought them to a blanket that was charmed to repel all sand, and they sat down to eat a picnic dinner and watch the sun set over the water.

When they finished he looked at her. "Two more stops, my dear," he told her and she once again let him sweep her away. This time they ended up in his Manor house in Scotland. He guided her to a room where he told her that there was a change of clothes and a hairdresser waiting for her.

Fifteen minutes later she was back in his presence. She was wearing a red dress that went all the way to her silver heels, every one of her curves accentuated, the sleeves tight against her skin until they billowed out slightly, the ends reaching the middle of her hands when they were by her side. Her cloak was long and black, lined with warm fur. Her makeup was now more dramatic, whith smoky eyes and red lips matching her dress. Her hair was piled on her head in a mass of curls, held together by magic and a single red rose and her jewelery was all diamonds, from the necklace to the three pairs of earrings in her ears.

She was not at all surprised to see him in a black muggle tuxedo. Black with tails, as well as a red vest and white shirt, and diamonds for cufflinks. He also was wearing a long fur lined cape. When she had come down the stairs, he had been mesmerized by hewr beauty and she by his. "So, where to next?" she asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.

"You'll see," he answered. When they landed at their final destination and she opened her eyes, she saw where they were and jumped into his arms, kissing him softly on the mouth. When she pulled away, she looked up at him and smiled as she wiped away the lipstick she had left on his lips, noticing that his eyes were glazed over. "So I take it that you like it?" he asked.

"No, Blaise. I love it." She then linked her arm with his and walked across the crowded Moscow street to the ballet.

As she was falling asleep that night she was wondering how Draco could possibly do better.

It didn't take too long for her to find out, either.

The next day Draco arrived at Black Manor at five in hunter green dress robes, the dark colors doing for him what the light ones had done for Blaise. When she came down the stairs in her own dress robes; long, tight-fitting and deep purple. Her cloak was a silver lamee (I know its spelt wrong, I was more going for pronunciation) that matched her silver eyeliner, the same silver shoes she had worn the night before, and silver hair combs.

He took her the the number one premiere wizarding restaurant in all of Britain. They were immediately escorted to the best table in the house. They then spent the time talking amicably until it came time to order. The waiter came to take their order and Draco took it upon himself to order for the both of them, saying "I will have the filet mignon, well done and the lady will have the flaked salmon."

It was at this point when Deni felt the need to speak up. "Oh, I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, but that isn't what I want. I will have the chicken parmesan."

"Of course, miss," the waiter answered, glancing uneasily to her date, who now had a scowl marring his features before leaving the table.

"What was that about, Draco? You know that I don't like fish."

He had the decency to blush a little, despite the fact that Malfoy's don't blush as he looked into her face. "I forgot, Deni. I'm sorry." She eyed him curiosly, as though she thought he might be lying, but decided to accept his apology. From there they continued to speak of other things, keeping the conversation light, though he kept trying to steer the direction it was going in.

After they were done eating, he apparated them to a chalet that his family owed in St. Morritz. The living room was overflowing with white candles, rose petals strewn across the floor and a fire burning brightly in the hearth. She looked around thinking that it was a tad bit cliche, but still rather romantic.

He took her cloak from her and set it down on a chair with his own. He then went over to a small table where there was a bottle of champagne chilling. He uncorked the bottle and poured each of them a healthy glass. He clinked their glasses together and they each downed the alcohol, mixing with the wine from dinner.

After putting their glasses down on the table, Draco sat on the couch in front of the fire. When Deni went to sit next to him he instead pulled her to sit on his lap, where she could feel his growing erection against her ass. "Draco Malfoy, what the hell are you doing?" she angrily asked as she tried to scramble out of his lap.

He only held her close, his arms encircled around her waist as he ground himself into her. "What, Deni. You know that this is what you want." She could smell the alcohol an him as be breathed huskily into her ear.

"No, Draco. This is not what I want. I don't know where you got the inpression that I have sex with people on the first date, but it is something that I most definately do not od." The more she struggled against him, the tighter he held on to her.

His face grew angry as he looked at her. "So, it's fine for you to sleep with my father, who by the way is married to my mother, but I'm not good enough for y-" His wirds were coming out slurred as the alcohol delved its way into his bloodstream, and he was unceremoniously quited by a rather hard slap to the face before she apparated out of his lap and into her rooms at the castle leaving her cloak behind.

The minute she arrived she went to her fireplace and flooed the Dark Lord, asking him to summon Lucius. When her two lovers arrived at her rooms, she was still in the same clothes she had worn on the date but sitting on her couch with a blanket around her, her face streaked with runny makeup from her tears.


a/n there's a reason why draco has acted the way he has and it will be explained in the next chapter, though im sure most of you have already figured it out (unless its only obvious to me because i planned it). umm, im sure there are a lot of inconsistincies in actual geography and what i wrote but i didnt feel like doing the researc for such little details like whether they would actually be able to watch a sunset from where they were located.. things like that.