The Heart Is Not Black or White

Chapter 31

The last thing I thought I would be doing this summer was sitting at the Malfoy dinner table. Yet here I was, trying to avoid looking at Draco.

It was just a few days ago when Dad had announced that we were going to be having dinner with the Malfoy's. Apparently, my father was good friends with Draco's father, Lucius, and the Malfoy family wanted to see my parents before they left for America this summer. I begged and pleaded not to go. The thought of dining with Draco gave me a queasy feeling in my stomach. I didn't know what it was, but I didn't like it.

My begging and pleading was no use, because on July 30th, my parents forced me into a grey dress and pushed me almost the whole way to Malfoy Manor. And that's how I found myself sitting diagonally from Draco, staring down at my empty plate.

Mr. Malfoy was making conversation with my father. The man had this air of dignity, as if he was superior to the rest of the world. I could now see where Draco got it from.

"Tell me, Grumio, what were you doing in America all these years?" Lucius asked, sounding very skeptical.

My father choked back a cough. "Oh, um, I was offered a very good position in the American ministry as an auror. We came back here so that Marissa could start her education at Hogwarts."

I knew for a fact that my parents fled to America to hide from dark wizards and to protect my grandfather. For some reason my parents wanted to keep that a secret.

"And what a coincidence that Marissa and Draco end up in the same year and House!" Narcissa said. "How do you like Slytherin, Marissa?"

I looked up from my plate. Everyone was looking at me. My cheeks burned, but I answered calmly. "I love it," I said truthfully.

"I understand that you are a beater on the Quidditch team?" Mr. Malfoy asked me.

"Yes. I was sort of a substitute last year, but now I'm a permanent player." I smiled, becoming more comfortable.

"You should see her play," said Draco. "She puts shame to the Weasley twins."

I was surprised that Draco complimented me. We ended off the year on a sort of friendly note, but still. Maybe he was just acting friendly in front of the grown-ups, but it wouldn't kill me to be nice.

"I bet Draco will make Seeker this year," I said. "The boy who got the position last year was the only one as good as Draco, but he's graduated now."

"We should come to some of the Quidditch games, Lucius," Narcissa added.

"If Draco makes the team I'll plan on it," he said. "Now, Marissa, Draco tells me you're also very gifted at Potions."

Draco talked about me to his family? "I'd say I'm pretty good at Potions. That class is fun, and Professor Snape is a great teacher, but he's tough. Defense Against the Dark Arts is my best subject though. Draco is the real star in Potions class."

My father and Mr. Malfoy exchanged looks. Narcissa beamed at Draco and my mother looked glum all of a sudden.  That's when I realized that my mother had barely spoken that night. I could sense thick tension in the room, the cause unknown to me.

Silver platters suddenly appeared on the long black table. One had a large roasted chicken, another a bowl containing Caesar salad, and the last one was a bowl of spaghetti.

"I had the house elves make spaghetti, because I'm told that's Marissa's favorite," said Narcissa. She seemed like a very simple housewife. She constantly beamed at her two boys and clung onto their every word. Narcissa acted like a normal mother, but something in her eyes told you that she had been through more than you know. Her eyes told you that there were family secrets, secrets that she would guard with her life.

"That was very kind of you, Narcissa," my mother thanked her.

Our two families ate and chatted through the rest of dinner and dessert. Mostly the grown-ups asked the children questions about their first year at Hogwarts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were very nice. They were a bit stuffy, but I decided that I liked them. Draco was very stiff tonight, but he wasn't insulting me like usual. He was, in fact, very polite to my family. It was probably the workings of his parents.

After our dessert plates disappeared, Mr. Malfoy asked, "So what do you plan on doing during your vacation over in America, Grumio?"

Dad wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, "We plan to visit a couple of old friends. I doubt that we'll be able to make another visit to the States until Marissa finishes her education at Hogwarts, so a few months down there might be good. We plan to stay until the Holidays. Hopefully Marissa will join us for Christmas."

I looked at my father suspiciously. The real reason that my parents were going to the U.S. was to be with my grandfather, who unfortunately had not much time left. Also, why wouldn't we be able to visit until after my seventh year at Hogwarts? Yes, my dad was working as an auror at the British Ministry and I was at school now, but were we really so busy that it was impossible to visit America?

My dad saw the suspicious look on my face. He gave me a wink, and I knew that all would be explained later. Draco looked back and forth between us. He had seen the little exchange between me and my father. I froze. Draco narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, then looked away. I relaxed.

"Alright." Dad stood up and put his napkin on the table. "I'm afraid we must be off. Beatrice and I leave early tomorrow, and before that we have to drop Marissa off at the Weasley's."

"The Weasley's?" Lucius's face turned into a slight sneer. Oh no. I should have guessed it. If Draco was so obsessed with having 'clean blood', I should have known that his parents would be too.

"Now, now Lucius. I know how you feel about them but I trust them with my daughter." The sneer disappeared from Lucius's face, but I could tell he wanted to say more. I bet he would've if he didn't respect my father so much.

"Marissa."

I looked into Draco's grey eyes. There was a twinkle in them and a smirk plastered on his face. Seeing that signature smirk made me blush. "Yes?"

"Promise me that we'll work together to kill Potter on the Quidditch Pitch this year?"

"I know we will."