PART 32

DRACO Malfoy now spent every waking moment of his days trapped within the webs of fear his heart had woven. Trepidation clawed it's way into his heart , piercing the veins , injecting his senses with confusion , panic. He did not know why it was that he had been suddenly disregarded for the mark - left undisturbed to his devices , as though it were no longer needed for him to take the Dark Mark. He was grateful , but a sickening feeling of unreserved guilt made sure to strike the walls of his mind - as he realised that someone else had to pay , instead of him.

It should have been him , the heir who had to pay the price for his family's grave mistakes in the eyes of the Dark Lord. 

Now , he woke up each morning to live the same day over and over again. Several genealogy books , the mysterious letter with the initials 'E.M.R' , and the unknown identity of Ailee Morrison now occupied his time , as he waited for Evanna to visit him - his only link to the outside world of gloom , asides from the 'Daily Prophet' which he was spared to read. Trapped within the walls of the melanoid manor , he read the same book over and over again - Evanna's favourite Alchemy novel - annotating sentences in preparation for the subject which he would take upon going back to school , as well as a few other magical documents that held valuable incantations. Expanding his knowledge , his skill - that was all he did until he felt too tired to lift a finger.

Suspiciously , each genealogy book did not contain a page of the Frey family , or of the Gaunt family - both part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight , although the latter was extinct.

Could it be that both families were tied together ?

No , the Gaunt family line ended with the death of Merope Gaunt , and the imprisonment of her brother and father.

But he did find something quite riveting.

Someone had married into the Morrison family , one of the four siblings. And that someone happened to be Ailee Frey , possibly sister to Lyra Frey - the only Frey mentioned throughout all the genealogy books he read in the vast expanse of the ever-etching rivulets of time.

So , one afternoon , he gathered himself up - walking towards the parlour where his mother spent most of her time , now that Death-Eaters occupied almost every crevice of the manor. He had deliberately locked himself within the four walls of his room at the west wing , drowning himself in reading of all kinds , and cracking the enigma that was Evanna Frey.

He had stood in front of the enormous room , by the mahogany door varnished to perfection - his gaze fixated upon the woman who sat upon the piano stool , ears straining themselves as clear , melodic tunes knitted themselves between the air. His mother's pristine hair was in an elegant , yet hurried style - streaks of silver scintillating deeply as the slight wrinkles on the corners of her steel coloured irises seemed engraved onto her skin that had appeared to age faster in the past couple of days. Her onyx robes brushed against the floor , and a ghost of a smile had played at her lips as she had played the piano.

He had hated to disrupt his mother , but he eventually knocked.

Narcissa had looked up to see her son standing at the doorway , and the light smile on her lips had turned into a widening grin.

"Hello darling. Do you need anything ?", She asked. She had been asked by Evanna to not let him know of her replacing him , and she had obliged. She was immensely grateful for the sweet Ravenclaw , and she did anything to keep Draco away from catching a scent of the affairs - even if it meant him staying within his room most of the times and away from her.

"Actually , yes", He had said with a small smile , before walking across the soft Persian carpets , footsteps almost muffled as he took a seat beside her , gaze lowered to the ground before he had pulled out a piece of folded parchment from his pocket.

"Why is it that not a single genealogy book contain the Frey family line ?", He had finally asked , meeting his mother's gaze. Narcissa's eyes had clouded in genuine curiousity.

"Not a single Frey mentioned ?", She mused softly. "The genealogy book covers only wizarding families of Britain ?"

"Yes , but I have checked French directories as well."

"That's strange... but then , the Freys have always been a family enshrouded in secrecy", Narcissa concluded absently , fingers brushing against the ivory keys of the piano. She asked him about his well-being , his unhealthy having of cutting himself off from them - not having come out of his room except for once , when he was on an obligatory visit to the Zabini Manor. He brushed her allegations off , saying that he was fine.

The truth was , he felt trapped within an endless void of grey - the same hue of the infinite realm of Zeus. He was incapable of escaping the prison his parents had unknowingly created , the venom of his ancestors afflicting his veins without his wish. Although he had not been forced to be a Death-Eater anymore , due to some miracle he had no knowledge of , he felt the walls of the manor closing in on him - the other Death-Eaters sharing the same roof as him giving him looks as though it were 'his fault and loss' that the Dark Lord had not chosen him to do the task anymore.

After an etched moment of silence , Draco asked once more ,"What was she like ? Evanna's mother ?"

"Hmm ?", She asked absent-mindedly , before nodding her head.

"Ah , Lyra - what a fierce person she was. It feels odd to speak of her in the past tense , and after all she had done for Lucius and I , I could not even pay her a visit before death struck. And with all the work for the Ministry due to our kind , there is not even time to investigate her death. I do not believe it to be heart attack as the Mediwizards claimed. It is something greater. Poor , poor Evanna. The lovely girl could not even shed tears due to the grief and pain at the funeral", Narcissa spoke.

 "She had graduated by the time I joined Hogwarts , and was a teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts. She resigned from her post in 1965 , when I was in the fifth year. Lyra then took up her father's position at the Wizengamot upon his death , the sole heir to an entire empire of wealth. Her father was an influential ministry man , a great friend of my mother's - Deimos Frey. Her mother was named Catherine Allaire , a lovely person. Lyra was a natural orator , and immediately rose in ranks and in popularity - before she was marked due to some unknown reason. Unlike our family , she was never caught due to her mark when the dark lord fell for the first time.

"I know I should not speak ill of her , although her flaws were greater than her rights. However much of a good speaker she was , however much she excelled at academics and radiated beauty and grace - she was very cruel."

At this point , she lowered her voice even more - if it was even possible , and Draco saw her mouth the words 'Silencio.'

"She spoke inhumanely of muggle-borns , half-bloods and even blood-traitors. So very lowly and brutally that sometimes , I found-I found myself incapable of believing her words. It felt surreal. Sometimes I find myself creating a contrast between Evanna and Lyra , and I find it difficult to accept that they are related , that a person as cruel as her had brought up someone as sweet as that girl. Lyra was so deluded by her ambition and our ideals that she forgot herself on the way to pursue her ambitions - so deluded she was that she brought the Frey family , that had been neutral for a long time , completely to the dark side before pledging herself to the Dark Lord."

"What about Evanna's father ?"

"He passed away a little after her birth. That's what Lucius and I heard."

Narcissa exhaled lightly , her gaze lowering to the expensive carpet that adorned the floor.

"Did she have any ... sister ? Or perhaps a distant relative ? By the name of Ailee ?", Draco pressed on , unable to suppress his curiousity.

"Yes. Yes , I think she did. Ailee was not very distinguished , though , and not may knew about her. During my first year at Hogwarts Ailee was already in her last year - but she was quite helpful , even though we hardly interacted."

"What happened to her , then ?"

"She was disowned when she married some muggle-born. I don't know where she is now. Although , two years ago - it was believed that she was working for the MACUSA , which was strange considering her husband was in the British Ministry."

Draco nodded , that was all he needed to know as of then. He stood up , after wishing his mother with a brief good evening and a genuine smile. He would have to make a short trip to the MACUSA even though he had been forbidden to step foot outside.

                                                                  _________________________

The hummingbird in her ribs threatened to burst out of pure exhilaration , as she walked through the hallways of the Malfoy Manor that had grown more than familiar to her in the last few weeks. However , the only thing that differed in this visit was that she could finally meet Draco. A month of not responding to his letters was taking a toll on her.

That shell of a wizard she was forced to serve - it ignited flames of hatred so fierce within her , that it could burn colosseums to the ground. The Alliance was relying on her for their liberation from the servitude of Lord Voldemort , to rid them of their marks so they could serve her - and the trip to Albania for which she had to leave four days later.

Besides , school will begin soon - and I have hardly prepared anything.

Admittedly , they had to sit for their O.W.L exams the previous year , and the sixth year could cut them some slack - but Evanna wished to take up Alchemy as well as Advanced Arithmancy , and either did not come easy.

Unlike every other day , she walked right past the doors of heavy gold that were closed - not required to sit within that day. Narcissa smiled at her welcomingly , although her lips quivered with tire , and the elegant lady led Evanna through the halls , towards the wide flight of stairs embellished with a smooth fabric of cerise that flooded the wooden steps like rivulets of blood.

Her footsteps were muffled by the soft , silken carpet - as she walked upstairs. Standing under the gaze of a thousand ancestral portraits glaring down at Evanna - Narcissa intoned softly ,"Draco's room is the third door to the left. Do let me know if you need anything , dear."

Evanna thanked her graciously , as she watched the Malfoy matriarch offer a grateful smile and disappear down the staircase once more.

Trying her level best to put on a genuine smile , she walked towards the designated door - before knocking on it.

"Come in", His voice came muffled from the other side of the varnished walls - and her fingers curled around the door knob before she pushed it open.

Her bewitching caramel optics took in the enormous expanse of the room - the emerald duvets that neatly covered the four poster at the center , the walls a mercury almost the same hue of Draco's eyes. Shelves embellished by books of all kinds towered against the walls , rising into the ceiling painted with frescos , melting into the nothingness of the room.

Orange flames enlightened the crevices , pristine furniture and a marble fireplace emblazoning the elegant place. It was much like her room , except for the colours. She preferred pale blues , or ultramarine shades.

His head had been bent over a book , feet curled underneath as he sat atop the couch that had been obscured by parchments and heaps of books . Draco turned his head , asking ,"Who's there ?" - frustration lacing his tone. Needless to say , his voice hitched in his throat as he saw Evanna stand at the doorway , a sheepish expression on her face.

Her copper hair was left open - delicately enhancing the curve of her shoulders as it gently whipped in the zephyr - crystal optics mystified in all their gleaming glory , dressed impeccably as usual. She had barely forced a smile for him when she felt arms wrap around her in the flurry of a second - an exhilarating scent of fresh mint and cologne invading her senses.

He tightened his embrace around the girl , as though letting go would result in them never meeting again. He whirled in the fragrance of the redolent lavenders that surrounded Evanna. She tentatively returned the gesture - a smile slipping onto their lips as they drowned themselves in the presence of the other.

Neither cried , despite having met after nearly a month and a half - but were at peace , the other half of their souls having reunited.  As they pulled away , Evanna stood on her toes , kissing his cheek - before pulling away , laughter escaping from her cherry lips as peony coated his pale cheekbones.

 "Where had you been ?", The boy asked as he cradled her face between his hands - thumb brushing against her cheeks as she dimpled , running her hands through his stardust hair.

"I am so sorry love , I had some family business in Greece", She replied - watching as his eyebrows creased in worry the longer her took in her face. Although she looked as radiant as ever , even tire marred her bones. Pale rings of violet were etched onto her skin under her eyes - her figure slightly weak , an air of weariness surrounding her.

"Ana , are you alright ?", He asked , concern seeping within his voice.

"Of course I am , just a little tired", She said , waving him off with a smile as she walked away from him , towards the shelves of books and the pristine mantelpiece. A silver candlestick adorned it , and a small picture frame with a moving picture of Draco and his mother , laughing as the latter tried to hold onto his younger self.

"You were such a cute child", She chuckled , as she picked it up  examining it.

"I still am cute."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Evanna walked around the room , fingers brushing across the spine of the leather bound , delicately imprinted books - before stopping in front his desk. More frames littered the corner of the fine mahogany , most of them pictures of them together - as kids , as well as recent pictures.

Draco came up to her , hand brushing against her palm as she intertwined their fingers.

"So many pictures ?", She asked , tilting her gaze to look up at him. She could never get enough of his mesmerising eyes , and although it scared her to no ends knowing that she cared too deeply for him to risk his life - she wanted him to stay next to her , for eternity. Or for as long as time permitted. Previously , she had completely ridiculed the theory of immortality. But after stumbling upon the legend of the three brothers - she knew there was a way to increase the minimal time given to them.

And even though it was dangerous , Evanna had sworn to do it. She needed him. She felt weak when she felt this way , but at the same time , her soul relished in the rasasvada of love - love and affection no one had ever bestowed upon her.

"Yes. Preserving memories", He replied with a slight smile.

They sat across from each other - examining and delicately observing the moving pictures , reminiscing the sweet times that were so different from their present. One who had to lie , the other who had to bear them.

Laughter rose from the bottom of her throat , as she pointed at their picture - taken together on Evanna's eleventh birthday , the day she received her letter. Their arms were slung around each other's shoulders - toothy grins planted on their faces. 

Draco leaned forward with a grin , but it was wiped from his face the moment he realised the reason for her laughter.

"Oh merlin , that bloody hair", He muttered , as Evanna clutched her stomach. His hair had been gelled back in an almost abominable hairstyle till the third year , when he had realised that the peculiar 'aristocratic' style was getting him nowhere.

In the picture , his hair was done the same way - an unhealthy amount of gel applied on his platinum hair. Draco covered his face with his hands , resting his elbows on his knees as he let out a groan of frustration - embarrassed in front of his girlfriend once again.

The only good thing that came out of it , was that when he removed his hands that had shielded his eyes - he found her laughing , the mellifluous sound echoing around the room with vigour as the shoulders of the Ravenclaw hunched together.

Draco could have recorded the sound into muggle tapes , and played it all over again when insomnia plagued his sleep - and smile as he remembered her radiant self.

[ A/N : long awaited update. shitty chapter , i know. exams end tomorrow ]