SNAKE

18 | a good summer

Lucius, Cora and Draco appeared with a pop in front of Malfoy Manor. Before doing anything else, Cora dropped to her knees and breathed heavily, fighting the urge to vomit.

"That... that was horrific", said Cora.

Lucius chuckled lightly. "Apparition for the first time may cause nausea. Most people vomit on their first time."

"I wonder why", said Cora with sarcasm as Draco laughed. He then helped her stand up and both followed Lucius to the front door.

Cora noticed the amazing, huge and dark manor. As they went inside, Cora was too busy admiring the manor to notice the small elf, Dobby, taking her belongings to her room. Nevertheless, he noticed her and nervously hurried up so she wouldn't see him.

A few moments later, a woman with both dark and blonde hair appeared. "You must be miss Coralina Potter. I am Narcissa Malfoy, pleasure to meet you", she said with a small but warm smile as she reached to shake Cora's hand. "Draco has spoken only wonders about you."

Cora noticed that Draco's mother was a beautiful woman. "The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Malfoy. And please, call me Cora."

"Narcissa, dear. Call me Narcissa", she replied. "Please feel at home, I am glad you are away from those nasty muggles."

Cora smiled thankfully at her. "I am too. Thank you letting me come here. You have a lovely home."

"Thank you", said Narcissa. "Now, Draco, please show her to her room and both of you come down later for dinner, please."

"Yes, mother", said Draco. He grabbed Cora's hand and took her upstairs.

~

Cora loved her room. It was big and decorated in green and silver, just like Slytherin. She had a big comfy bed, a bathroom of her own, a big window, a big mirror, a bookshelf, and a small fireplace with a reading chair next to it.

After unpacking, Cora heard a knock on her door. "Come in", she said.

Draco entered the room and went straight to hug her. When they let each other go, they scanned each other and Cora lightly blushed. Draco had changed over the summer and she couldn't help but think he had become more handsome.

"You're taller than me now", she said. "And your voice is deeper."

Draco chuckled. "You are taller, too. And your hair is longer."

They looked at each other in the eyes for a few seconds. They stopped when Draco blushed a bit and cleared his throat.

"I'm going to change for dinner", he said. "You should, too. There is a dress in the wardrobe mother bought for you. Wear it, trust me. The house elf will come get us when we have to go down for dinner." He then turned around and left her room.

Cora smiled to herself and then took a quick shower, dried her hair and put on the dress. It was beautiful. It was knee length dress with short sleeves, made out of white lace with black linings on her waist, at the end of the sleeves and the skirt, and on the neck. There was also a little black bow on the neck.

As she was admiring herself on the mirror, there was a knock on the door. "Come in", she said, expecting it to be Draco. It wasn't.

An elf entered the room and said, "Dinner is ready, miss."

Cora recognized the voice and turned to him. "Dobby?", she said. He seemed scared and closed the door. He walked slowly towards her.

"Cora Potter mustn't be angry with Dobby. Dobby only wanted to help keep Harry and Cora Potter safe", he said.