The Marriage Decree

Chapter 50: One Trick Pony

Once Draco's dressed and brushed his teeth, he heads back downstairs into the living room to find that the record had reached the end. He flicks the switch, turning the player off and removes the record, placing it back in its sleeve. Glancing around the room, he discovers that despite them not spending much time in the house, the living room is a mess with the couch cushions and blanket strewn on the couch and a few books lying on the coffee table along with a nearly empty glass of water.

He sets to work draping the blanket evenly over the back of the couch then plumping the cushions and positioning them correctly in the corners of the couch. He collects the glass of water, taking it into the kitchen to wash up, pausing when he notices that the window is slightly ajar. He swiftly casts his eyes around the kitchen, placing the glass of water on the counter before running into the living room and up the stairs.

"Athena!" He calls, thankful that she isn't deaf. "Athena, where are you!" He calls as he frantically searches the bathroom and bedroom but she's nowhere to be found. "No." He curses, running down the stairs, two at a time, then back into the kitchen where he throws the kitchen window wide open. "ATHENA!" He shouts, running into the garden, a few people in their own gardens and over on the green stare at him as he casts his gaze to the sky, wondering why he bought such a tiny bird.

"Lost someone, Malfoy." Someone calls but he doesn't pay attention.

A faint chirp sounds from somewhere nearby and lower to the ground. He follows the sound of the chirp with his eyes to find Athena sat atop of the flamingo's head.

"Athena!" He sighs in relief, rushing over to her and carefully picking her up. "I wondered where you had gotten to my dear." He mutters to her, stroking the top of her head.

Athena closes her eyes, nuzzling her head against his finger affectionately.

"Lost someone, Malfoy." The voice he now recognises as Geoffrey's asks again.

With a deep sigh, he looks down at the gnome deciding to humour him for once.

"Get on with it then, Geoffrey." He nods at him as he crouches down to his level.

"Get on with what?" He asks.

"Whatever terrible joke you're about to tell me."

"I'm no one trick pony, my friend, I can do other things," Geoffrey says angrily.

"Really? What else can you do?" Draco asks doubtfully.

"I can hold a conversation for one thing, not that you would ever know since you never come to visit me. Do you know how my conversations with Pinky are?" He asks. "None existent." He answers straight away.

"As far as I'm aware, all you can do is talk." Draco points out.

"Rude. You know, words can hurt." He says. "All you care about is getting your joke and going."

"I don't actually care for your jokes, I'm just being polite," Draco tells him.

"There you go again, hurting me with your words. You know what, you're not getting a joke today and it was a really good one so you're missing out." Geoffrey scalds him.

"I doubt it," Draco mutters, standing back up.

"Fine, I'll tell you." He calls, rolling his eyes. "What do you call a magical owl?" He asks.

Draco frowns. "Aren't all owls magical?" He questions.

"Are you going to play along or not?" He frowns at him, trying to hold in a smile.

"Fine, I don't know."

"Hoo-dini!" Geoffrey bursts out laughing, slapping his knee.

"I don't get it," Draco states in confusion.