a snape and a Malfoy

THE GARDEN

After the tense and formal meeting between their parents, Draco, feeling uncomfortable in the heavy atmosphere, glanced at Cera, who stood quietly beside Severus. He wasn’t exactly sure how to talk to her—it was all very awkward with the adults discussing serious matters around them. Clearing his throat and deciding that perhaps it would be better to escape the drawing room, Draco spoke up.

“Hey, Cera,” he began, trying to sound casual but failing slightly as he still felt a little stiff. “Want to, um… see the garden? It’s really big. I could show you around.”

Cera looked up at him, her dark eyes studying him for a brief moment before she nodded silently. The idea of leaving the room filled with watchful adults seemed like a welcome change, and besides, she had heard about the vast grounds of Malfoy Manor and was curious.

"Alright," she replied softly.

Draco gave a small, relieved smile, glad she hadn’t turned him down. He motioned for her to follow him as they slipped out of the drawing room and into the long, marble-floored corridor. It was lined with portraits of Malfoy ancestors, their eyes following the two children as they made their way through the house. Draco led her down a grand staircase and through the large double doors that opened up into the garden.

As they stepped outside, the tension between them eased a little. The vast, beautifully landscaped garden stretched out before them, with rows of well-kept hedges, blooming flowers, and marble fountains glittering in the afternoon sun. Peacocks roamed freely, adding to the sense of luxury and grandeur.

“See, I told you it was big,” Draco said, trying to sound more confident now that they were outside. He led her along a stone path that wound between tall hedges and trees, their footsteps quiet on the gravel.

Cera, though still quiet, seemed more at ease as they walked. “It’s beautiful,” she finally said, her voice soft. She paused to admire a row of bright, exotic flowers, bending slightly to get a closer look.

Draco, eager to fill the silence, added, “We’ve got all sorts of magical plants here. Father hires some of the best herbologists to make sure it’s perfect. Over there,” he pointed to a distant section of the garden, “there’s a small hedge maze. It’s not too hard to get through, but it’s fun.”

They continued walking, the initial awkwardness slowly giving way to a more comfortable silence. Despite the fact that their meeting was under the weight of an arranged future, in this moment, it was just two children exploring a grand garden, far away from the expectations their parents had set for them.

Eventually, Cera looked at Draco and said quietly, “Do you like it here?”

Draco shrugged. “It’s alright. Sometimes it feels... lonely, I guess.” He glanced at her as they walked. “What about you? What’s it like where you live?”

Cera hesitated for a moment, thinking. “It’s not as big as this, but it’s quiet. I like that.”

Draco nodded, unsure how to respond but feeling a little more comfortable around her. "Maybe next time, you can show me where you live."

Cera gave a small, rare smile at the suggestion, and for the first time that afternoon, the weight of their arranged futures felt a little lighter.