T E N

On the first day back to Malfoy Manor, Draco Malfoy had certainly not expected to be awoken by a goddamed shriek at four in the morning.

What has the midget done now before the crack of dawn? He grumbled to himself, pulling off his covers and moving over to look through his window when he saw a line of smoke. Smoke. Emitting out of the small one storey house right outside the boundary of his manor.

"Merlin help me—" He muttered under his breath grabbing his wand from his bedside table and apparating outside Eclaire's scorching residence provided by the ministry for spying purposes.

The moment he opened the door to her house, he was assaulted with the overwhelming smell of black smoke making him cough out.

"Eclaire?! What on Merlin's name did you do?!" He shouted amidst the smoke. He heard small footsteps running towards him as Eclaire appeared out of the smoke looking a sight. Her face was covered with black soot, hair frizzy, wearing pink pygmy puff pajamas, barefoot and clutching a pan filled with water.

"Draco! What a lovely surprise!" She exclaimed looking between him and the scorching mess. "Now may not be the best time—"

"I can see." The silver haired wizard glared at her as she shifted under his gaze. He swiftly moved his wand muttering an incantation. "Aguamenti." The fire immediately died down on contact with water and all that was left was a room full of moistened black ash. The entire room looked a sight.

He swiftly turned back to find the short haired witch trying to tiptoe past him.

"And where do you think you're going?" He asked sternly making her halt abruptly spilling the water in the pan that she held.

Oops. Busted. Eclaire thought as she sheepishly turned around to face the silver haired wizard. His face set in a glare as his blue eyes held enough ice to freeze the arctic once over, his hair tousled as if he'd just gotten out of bed, which he probably did considering the sun is yet to come out, she thought to herself.

Eclaire had the sudden urge to run her hands through his hair.

She cleared her throat putting the pan down on the floor with a clang. "You see it was all a tiny mistake."

Draco raised one of his eyebrows as if to say 'really?'.

"Okay maybe things might have gotten a teensy bit out of hand," Eclaire said making a motion to pinch her index finger and thumb together, "but I was going to handle it!" She said clapping her hands looking at him confidently.

"With a cooking pan?" He asked not believing her.

"Well, I couldn't find a bucket and it was the closest thing." Eclaire said trailing off looking anywhere but him.

"You're a fucking witch, Eclaire! You could have used your wand!" He exclaimed at her.

"Well that's the thing you see.." She said smiling guiltily at him. "My wand was the one that started the fire."

Draco inhaled a deep breath as he felt an incoming headache.

"How the bloody hell—"

"It was cold okay!" Eclaire exclaimed before the taller wizard could finish. "And the fire in the fireplace was about to go out so I took out the firewood and was throwing it in one by one but I also had my wand in the other hand and I threw my wand in instead of the wood that was in my other hand and by the time I realised what I did, it was half charred but I tried to get it out I swear! And so I put my hand in the fire to get it out—"

"You did what?!" The silver haired wizard exclaimed looking down at her hands to see if they were fine.

"Yes, I understand it wasn't my brightest moment but my hands are fine now." Eclaire said proudly showing Draco her hands.

"I still don't understand how half thehouse was on fire when I arrived?" Draco asked raising another one of his brows. Now that Eclaire thought about it, she quite liked his eyebrows.

"Yes, you see, I pulled the wand out of the fire but the fire was well, hot and I dropped the wand on the carpet and it caught on fire and I tried to put it out with my slippers but I forgot they were made of bamboo so that caught on fire as well and so I ran and filled the first thing I saw with water which happened to be this." Eclaire said squatting down patting the pan on the floor.

This woman's going to be the death of me. Draco thought as he heaved a sigh. We haven't even been back for one whole day and she's burnt down her house.

Draco walked swiftly towards her door while Eclaire still sat in her squat position watching him. He turned back.

"Well?" He asked pointedly. "Are you capable of walking or do I have to drag you out?"

"Me?" Eclaire asked pointing a finger towards herself.

One of Draco's eyes twitched.

"No, I'm talking to the goddamned frying pan."

"Why would—" She began confused.

"Yes, midget I'm talking to you." Draco glared. "Are you going to sleep in this mess?" He gestured to her house which quite honestly, was in shambles.

"Well, it's really not that bad—" She was cut off by the sound of a shelf falling down. "Okay, yeah it is pretty bad." She said jumping up and following Draco out of the house.

The snow crunched beneath her bare feet as she shivered under the onslaught of the cold December air.

"Your hand." Draco grumbled out as Eclaire clutched the silver haired wizard's forearm. She felt the familiar sense of warping as the duo apparated into the Malfoy manner.

"Oh dear!" Eclaire saw an older woman with greying hair exclaim as they apparated right in front of her.

"Hello!" Eclaire smiled.

The older woman nodded at her absently, still reeling from the fright.

"What are you doing up at this ungodly hour, Mrs Martha?" Draco asked on seeing his housekeeper scared out ofher wits.

"I was about to start preparations for breakfast, Master Malfoy." Mrs Martha said looking up at the silver haired wizard.

"Oh! Can I help?" Eclaire asked excitedly looking up Mrs Martha.

"No you wil not." Draco muttered out before Mrs Martha could reply. "Mrs Martha, would you mind showing Eclaire to a guest room on the first floor? Find her some clothes to change into while you're at it."

"Ofcourse, Master Malfoy." Mrs Martha said as she beckoned Eclaire to follow her. Eclaire looked up at Draco to see him nod towards the direction the older lady was headed at.

Eclaire smiled as she wound her arms around her unwilling rescuer, feeling his body stiffen at the contact and a series of colourful vocabulary escaping his mouth but Eclaire knew he didn't mean it. She craned her neck up from her bear hug to smile at him widely before muttering a "thank you!" And running after Mrs Martha.

That woman will be the death of me. Draco thought shaking his head as he too, made his way to his bedroom.

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Eclaire glanced at all the portraits as she followed Martha up the stairs, most of them sneering down at her calling her names, most common being mudblood.

Eclaire stuck out her tongue at one particularly annoying portrait as she increased her pace to follow Mrs Martha. They reached a corridor and turned right leading to an intrucately designed door. Mrs Martha put in a key and twisted the handle to reveal one of the most magnificent rooms Eclaire had ever seen.

The bed was covered in pretty lilac sheets and quite possibly the fluffiest she'd ever seen in her life. It was also twice the size of Eclaire's bed back home. The furniture was a rich brown colour including a bedside drawer and a cupboard to her left. Eclaire slowly stepped into the room and felt her bare feet hitting the softest carpet she'd ever walked on. She most certainly almost melted right there.

"The bathroom is to the right, Miss Eclaire. I'll leave your change of clothes on the bed." Mrs Martha said breaking Eclaire out of her thoughts.

"Oh! Thank you so much, Mrs Martha. And please do call me Eclaire." She smiled up at the older woman who nodded swiftly and left, closing the door softly on her way out.

A bath and a change of clothes later, Eclaire fell into a much needed slumber.

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The December snow fell softly, coating the surroundings the shade of pristine white and bringing with it an imminent chill.

"Eclaire, no." Came the voice of one irritated silver haired wizard among the bustling crowd of Diagon Alley.

"But it looks so fluffy and it's alone and it's just a baby." Eclaire whined pulling his sleeve blinking up at him.

"We're just here to get your wand not adopt every damn creature you see on the way."

Eclaire pouted. Draco almost gave in.

"Fine." Eclaire huffed out looping her hand with his as she walked beside him.

Draco slowed his steps so the midget didn't have to speed walk to match his strides. He led the duo to Twilfitt and Tattings.

"I thought we were just here for my wand?" Eclaire asked looking up the wizard.

"I need to collect the attire I'd ordered prior for the wedding." He muttered walking in, Eclaire hanging by his arm.

"Mr Malfoy! I was wondering when you would walk in." An older lady said on noticing the Malfoy heir.

"So it is complete then, I believe?" Draco asked faintly feeling Eclaire's arm slip off his own as she wandered about the store.

The older lady nodded. "Allow me to bring it to you in a moment." She said pulling out her wand and swishing through the racks of clothing.

"There won't be a need. Just have it delivered to my Manor. I'm merely here to make the payment." Draco muttered out.

The older woman clasped her hands together nodding. "Ofcourse Mr Malfoy!" She said, "This way, please." She gestured but Draco's eyes were focused on the brown eyed witch touching a dusty rose coloured fabric.

"Ah! An excellent choice miss!" Eclaire jumped on hearing the older pady talk to her. "It is the finest piece we have received this season! Why, it only came in yesterday, it did!" The older lady smiled at Eclaire.

"Oh it is very pretty." Eclaire smiled politely.

"Why don't you try it on, miss?"

"Oh no no," Eclaire said waving her hands. "I'm not looking to buy anything!" Eclaire assured. More like I'd have to sell my right kidney to afford a dress from this place. She thought silently.

"You should try it on in the least!" The older woman persisted warmly. Eclaire wistfully looked at the dusty pink fabric and ran her fingers over the tulle.

"Oh no I wouldn't want to be a bother—"

"Just try it on if you want to, midget." Draco said coming to stand next to her. She looked up at him.

"I guess trying it on wouldn't hurt." Eclaire trailed off as the older woman smiled and led her to the changing rooms.

Oh trying it on did hurt. She thought as she saw herself in the mirror. The dusty pink fabric draped across her chest in an off-shoulder sweetheart neckline with it's sleeves made of the prettiest tulle she'd ever seen. Pink crystals glistened as she moved following the entire length of the A-line skirt. The bodice sat snug against her waist floral sequins dancing all across it. The dress seemed to have come right out of a fairytail.

Eclaire smoothed the skirt out as she stepped outside to show the older lady and Draco. She heard a gasp from the older lady as she took Eclaire in.

"O good heavens! It seems as if it was made just for you dear! A perfect fit, indeed! Although the length was supposed to be a tad bit below the knees but I feel floor length works even better! Why, you do look ethereal wouldn't you agree Mr Malfoy?" She smiled at her compliment. Eclaire looked up at Draco.

"It's decent." Draco grumbled looking away. Eclaire giggled as she twirled around.

"It really is very pretty." Eclaire looked down at the dress wistfully. "But I'm afraid I cannot buy it." Eclaire smiled at the older lady.

"Oh do not fret dearie! At least you gave it a try." Eclaire nodded at the older lady and went back in to change.

By the time she returned from the changing rooms, Draco had been waiting for her at the exit door. Eclaire waved at the older lady as she exited.

"Thank you for having us! Happy Christmas Eve, miss!" Eclaire smiled enthusiastically.

The older lady smiled back. "You too, Miss Adams." Eclaire nodded as she looped her hand with Draco's and walked out.

Just before the doors closed they heard the older lady say, "Your orders will be delivered today Mr Malfoy!"

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A/N: The picture of the dress(imagine it in dusty pink pls)

A BIG shoutout to everyone who reads and comments on this story 🥺💜 Y'all are literally the sole reason I feel remotely motivated to write anymore amidst the shitshow that is my life. Your comments do make my day and I appreciate every single one of you 🥺