Veiled Alliances - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

𝟓 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤

˚₊‧⁺⋆♱this ones a bit of a long one, strap in.

i, warmly, introduce

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

I stepped into the tent, the warm glow of the lanterns casting a cosy ambience over the scene. The aroma of dinner wafted through the air. Everyone was sat at the table discussing the game.

Before I could slip away to my bed, the twins spotted me and waved me over. "Elia!" George gestured enthusiastically, while Fred chimed in, "Come sit, we're talking about the game!"

I offered them a smile but hesitated, about to decline their invitation. "I've already eaten, mate," I explained, my mind already drifting towards the letter I had received from Draco, wanting to read it again.

No matter! Come, come," Arthur insisted, motioning for me to join them.

With a resigned sigh and a smile, I relented and took a seat at the table. The conversation shifted to Viktor Krum, and Ron included me in the discussion. "Oi, Elia! You've laid eyes on Viktor Krum, haven't you? Your thoughts?"

"I don't think Elia was paying much, if any, attention to the game," Fred teased, earning a laugh from the others.

"That's disgusting," Harry gags, but laughs with the others.

With an amused roll of my eyes, I playfully nudged him under the table. "I'll have you know that Draco was chatting with his dad's mates from the Ministry almost the entire time," I retorted.

"Oh, I'm sure," George scoffed.

"How was the Minister's box anyway?" Hermione inquired, her tone laced with curiosity.

"I reckon it was pretty much the same as where you all were. 'Cept for the glass dividing us, of course. And there was food," I remarked, attempting to play down any disparities.

"So, it was nothing like where we were," Hermione laughed.

"Cedric missed you," Ginny teased. I smiled looking down at my hands.

"He's a bit older than us, isn't he?" Harry remarked, casting a curious glance my way.

"I'm sure it's not like that," I muttered.

"Oh, it was like that," Hermione laughed.

Harry continued to regard me with a questioning expression, and I responded with a look of my own. "What?" I mouthed silently.

In return, Harry simply shrugged and gave me a nonchalant expression, as if to say, "Nothing."

I rolled my eyes and got up from the table. "I'm off for a bath."

"I call dibs next," Hermione chimed in hastily as I made my way out.

I made my way to my bed, retrieving a change of clothes and Draco's letter. Carefully, I descended the two steps and drew open the curtain leading to the bathroom before shutting it firmly behind me. Placing my clothes on the sink, I began to run the bath, adding a generous amount of citrus bubble soap. Leaning against the sink, I unfolded Draco's letter, eager to immerse myself in his words once again.

My Dearest Aurelia,

Happy 14th Birthday. Another year older, another year wiser. I'm still older than you, however, and don't you forget it.