Redamancy (d.m)

Chapter eighty two- branding

MATURE CONTENT AHEAD

"What do you mean, you're leaving?" Westeria demanded with an affronted look the next day
"Not immediately, I've still got today and another day after that" I offered with an apologetic smile, "besides we'll see each other at Hogwarts in a week"
"We won't" Aletheo muttered, nodding at Rue
"So write to me, both of you" I replied
"Why d'you have to leave in the first place?" Emerson asked with a disgruntled grimace
"I've been invited to stay with some friends" I responded vaguely
"So decline" Westeria said bluntly, and we all chuckled lightly
"Tell that to the Dark Lord, he's the one who thinks I should go" I said with a slight tone of bitterness, "oh, and don't tell Draco yet, I haven't figured out how to break it to him"
"Since when are you two a thing?" Westeria teased with a cheeky giggle
"Since I lowered my standards" I joked with a scoff, and the sound of sharp knocking cut through the wave of laughs that's arose

All heads whipped towards the doorway, where Draco leaned against the doorframe and jerked his head subtly as he mouthed come here at me with a soft smile

"Don't miss me too much" I said as I excused myself from the card playing table we were all sat at and jogging up to the door
"Hey" I greeted as I shut the door behind me
"Hey" Draco echoed as he stood with his hands in his pockets, "we're going on a walk"
"Guess I'll clear my calendar then" I responded sarcastically, making him shove me gently with a growing grin
"You okay?" I asked tentatively as we strolled past the many rooms and down the stairs

He withheld an answer for a few seconds, his hand on my back as he guided me down the stairs and out to the front of the manor

"I will be" he muttered finally, halting beside the coat hook to retrieve his own as well as mine, "put this on, it's freezing out"
"Is this the part where you tell me where we're going?" I guessed with raised brows as he shrugged on a tar black winter coat
"No, this is the part where you put your fucking coat on" he responded sternly, making me roll my eyes as I donned my own coat
"Well since you asked so nicely..." I mused, and he rolled his eyes playfully as he unlocked the front door

Malfoy Manor was located in a profoundly secluded part of Wiltshire, its property the only one for a number of miles in each direction, save the small village at the end of the road, it's bright lights and cheering of content inhabitants giving it a comforting homely warmth.

"Chuckley's Confectionery Delights?" I read the bright chartreuse letters on the sign with a sceptical tone, "you dragged me out of the house for sweets?"
"Shut up and go in, you idiot" Draco replied, making us both laugh as we pushed open the door, our entrance welcomed by a chiming bell and the soothing aroma of sugar
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy! It has been too long!" A large man with a cheery smile and a thick french accent emerged from the back of the store, wiping flour off his hands and onto his apron as he approached the displays
"Evening, Chuckley, I trust you've been well?" Draco addressed amicably, and the man nodded jovially
"All thanks to your mother and her sweet tooth" he said, catching sight of me for what seemed to be the first time since we had entered, "and who might this beautiful young lady be?"
"This is (y/n)" Draco introduced with a proud glint in his eyes as he slid an arm around my waist, "I'm her boyfriend"
"My oh my, I never thought I'd see the day" Chuckley exclaimed gleefully, "glad to know you got rid of that sickly girl, always looking like she's got the smell of owl droppings under her nose"
"Come again?" I said as my eyebrows knitted together
"That one that Mr Malfoy brought last time, I forgot the name, my old age and all that" Chuckley explained, turning his head as a woman called his name from the back, "please excuse me, I will return very shortly"

When he closed the back door behind him, I turned around to face Draco, shifting my weight to shrug his arm off my waist, but he just placed both hands on each sides of my hips securely as he opened his mouth with a frantic look in his eyes