Mine

[8]

"Are you getting dressed today?" My mother asked as I slid onto a barstool at the kitchen counter. I had been home for nearly a week so far, and it had been nice. Some days I really did not get out of my pajamas because I had nothing to do but relax and not deal with people. My father's parents had stopped by for a night, but aside from that I didn't do much unless we went out shopping or to eat.

"I haven't yet decided." I told my mum, who glanced over her shoulder to look at the clock. It was 12:31 p.m.

"Well, I'm having a friend over for tea in a couple hours, so if you could find it in you to look presentable by then, that would be much appreciated." My mother said.

"Can I join?" I asked. My mother nodded and I smiled, saying with a nod, "Then yes, I shall get dressed today!"

I loved sitting in when my mother had friends over for tea. They spent the majority of the time gossiping and it was always fun to hear what was going on, even when I didn't know the people they were talking about. Mum had let me start sitting in a couple years back and as I got older, I heard more risqué gossip.

I swallowed down some eggs before announcing that I would be going to get ready.

I had showered, applied some makeup, and thrown on a skirt and sweater before plopping down on my bed while I waited for the gossip session to begin.

"Gemma!" I heard my mum call from downstairs, signaling that her friend must have arrived.

"Be right down!" I called back, slipping on a pair of booties.

I made my way down the stairs, patting down my dark brown hair. When I was about three steps from the bottom of the stairs, I finally looked up to see three people waiting for me. Oh no.

There stood my mother with Narcissa and Draco. My bloody mother. She stood there with a wide grin, her eyes seemingly smirking at me. Narcissa stood beside her, perking up when she noticed me.

"Oh, Gemma dear, you look so grown and beautiful!" Narcissa exclaimed, causing Draco to turn around to face me.

"Thank you." I said, giving Narcissa a smile. I could feel my face heat up as Draco and I made eye contact, seeing our mothers share some look out of the corner of my eye. "I didn't realize you were the friend coming over for tea. With your son. Shall I go get Grant?"

I started to turn towards the top of the stairs as my mom said, "Oh, no, Grant and your father are out right now. I told Narcissa she'd be more than welcome to see if Draco was interested in coming with."

"Wonderful." I said, putting on a smile. Oh, that woman knew exactly what she was doing. I could only imagine what she had owled her. Probably something like "Gemma and I would love to have you and Draco over for tea. The two of them have gotten so close, maybe we'll be in-laws!" Okay, maybe not that dramatic. But based on the look I saw the two of them share, I was sure my mother and her had discussed something regarding Draco and me.

I realized then that I hadn't even acknowledged Draco aside from us making eye contact. I looked back at him, finding that he was still looking at me with a slightly amused look. I shot him a smile and made my way down the rest of the stairs, following our mothers to the sitting room.

As we entered the sitting room, my mother took a seat on a plush seat to the left of the couch, Narcissa taking the seat to the right of the couch. Wow, what a coincidence that they left the couch untouched for Draco and I to sit on together. I shook my head slightly, inhaling a deep breath. As I sat down on the end closer to my mother, a thought suddenly came over me. What in the world were we going to talk about? Surely these two weren't going to have a normal gossip session with Draco here? Then again, I guess his being here shouldn't be any different than me being present. I just wasn't sure how interested he'd be in hearing about the suspected affairs of the wizarding world.