WHEN GODS SLEEP - DRACO M.

FOUR.

WHEN GODS SLEEP
Chapter Four

At age ten, Epione was a little prodigy.

          Her dress was long and puffy, dark green tulle resting graciously on the velvet seat, taking significantly more space than her small frame. Her back straight, as if pulled by invisible strings, and her hands, well-trained, producing magic of their own.

           At age ten, the little prodigy joined her younger sister in charming marriage contenders at pureblood gatherings.

          From the small crowd, their mother nodded approvingly, a smug, sickening smile plastered across her red-rimmed lips. She was sure to have officially tucked away the same-aged, yet much less prestigious, Greengrass sisters.

          Themis had already been sold away, years prior, to her highest bidder, the Notts. Rhea, however content, was sure to be much more pleased with her other daughters. She had, after all, bred for the sake of catching up to the many heirs being produced – particularly her youngest, Asteria, who was her plan A for attracting the ultimate prize, the Malfoys.

         Epione bowed politely and nearly tip-toed to the appetizer table, where stood Draco, munching down on a small lime cookie. He didn't bother looking up from his sweet - in fact, he seemed rather upset. The dark haired girl tugged gently at the sleeve of his shirt.

          'What is it, Elly?' He said, pouting. Clearly, she wasn't the reason for his sour mood, or he wouldn't have called her by nickname.

          She leaned against the table, her obtrusive dress brushing his legs. 'What's wrong?'

          He looked up, then, cold gray eyes focused bluntly into hers. She felt her face heat. He took his time, as if deliberating, perhaps only lost in his mind, or maybe she just looked a bit too ridiculous with the golden specks in her lids.

          'Nothing,' came his tardy reply, a soft undertone,  'just wondering what married people do.'

          Her cheeks only reddened, comprehending his trail of thought. Behind them, the adults gathered for one more exhibit, clueless to the fact these children of theirs had some conscience too. Grabbing a slice of cake for herself, she pondered his words.

          'Mother and father go to important things together.' She noted, sinking her fork into the glazed layers. 'Maybe it's like having...uhm...a business deal thing.'

          'Partnership,' he corrected haughtily, shaking his head vehemently, 'and I don't think it's just that. My mum told me if I was really lucky then maybe I could fall in love like mum and dad did.'

          She scrunched her nose at that, a weird look perturbing her pretty face.

          Before she could say much else, her sisters joined the two. Themis dragged her by the hand as the youngest sat down by Draco, head low. Epione felt a significant temperature drop as they neared the windowsill, not particularly because any cold was sweeping through, but because she was being held a little too tightly, and her mother was gazing pleasantly at the two they left behind.

* * * * *

The Great Hall was never particularly quiet, but the deafening noise it's preoccupied students produced was definitely one of a kind. News extended from the Sixth Years to the remaining of the castle, spreading panic and unnecessary commotion. Epione watched as her eldest sister feigned the smallest of frowns, hands reaching to caress her peer's milky skin. She looked away, blushing cheeks.