Chapter 26: Part Two
This next bit I {Ivy} wrote, what begins to happen to Draco was a bit hard t write, but the writing is very dear to me. Let me know what you think, even though the bulk of it will be in the next update.
He shook his head and decided to avoid her he was going to have to leave, just a short walk around the school, anything to get some breathing room.
He marched out of the common room door and made a point of not looking back, if she followed, fine. He would just make a very blatant point of ignoring her.
He turned the corner and marched down the hallway, hoping that he wouldn�t feel ill again, he wanted to be in his best form to give his gifts to Ivy...speaking of Ivy...he stopped and stared out the window towards their cottage, across school grounds. Suddenly, his heart leapt into his throat.
There were lights on! It wasn't Snape, he was on school grounds, Draco had passed him in the hallway! THEY HAD TO BE HOME!
He placed his face eagerly against the window, that meant they were back in time for Christmas; he could visit them first thing in the morning! A predatory smile grew on his lips and he looked as if he wanted to leap through the window to get to Ivy, what h neglected to notice however was Sestine, standing only a few feet away...her face forlorn with a hint of jealousy. He didn't see that at all, all he saw in his mind's eye was Ivy...falling into his arms, as he knew she must.
Snape had no idea that Ivy or Osanna had returned, he was however very irritated that his owl had not yet returned with the letter. He sighed deeply and instead turned his attention to wrapping his gifts for Christmas. He hated wrapping presents, the present only being an exception because it was Osanna's present he was wrapping. He picked up the ruby-red orb and hefted it's weight in his hand, it was perhaps not the most romantic gift, but he had to keep up the illusion, and it was very rare and unique. The orb would allow Osanna to see the location of any dragon on earth and focus in on it, he knew how she loved the creatures, and she would adore this. He wrapped it carefully and set it aside in a green gift bag. Her other present, the glimmering, waterfall of a diamond necklace, accented by stardust, well that would be her gift from her "Secret Admirer"...and she would love that as well. He also had a gift for Ivy, nothing fancy but giving her a gift would do two things, keep up illusions, and perhaps solidify her not telling Osanna of his letter and package he had lost.
He had procured for her a pair of basilisk fang daggers, ornately carved and set in silver with emerald insets, he knew that giving these to her was perhaps "dressing up a fire with gasoline" as it were, but he desperately hoped she would have the sense to use them as display pieces.
Once the gifts were wrapped he set them aside, he would patiently wait until they returned, then give them their gifts.
Back in their cottage, Ivy and Osanna were attempting to relax. They lay sprawled on the couch, their feet kicked up.
"So when do I get my gift?" Ivy asked, smirking at Osanna.
"And what makes you think I got you ANYTHING?" Osanna countered back, grinning mischievously.
"Because a single Christmas since we have known each other has not passed by where we haven�t tried to outdo each other on our gifts to one another!"
Osanna chuckled. "All right, your right, but you get it tomorrow, same as everyone else"
Ivy pouted profusely, which only caused Osanna to throw a pillow at her head.
"HEY!" Ivy said, trying not to giggle, she threw the pillow back, missing she instead hit George who had curled up in Osanna's lap. He chuffed loudly and blew a smoke ring in annoyance.
"FINE!" Ivy said. "You don�t get your gifts until tomorrow EITHER!"
Osanna chuckled and shrugged. "So be it...........however the sooner we get to bed, the sooner we get Christmas!"
Ivy nodded in consent and followed Osanna, who was carrying George up the stairs to their bedroom. Within a half hour or so, both women and dragon were curled up in bed, Osanna's head on Ivy's chest.
Draco had also resigned himself to sleep, and he had been doing just that in a peaceful manner, until about 1:00 a.m. He felt his stomach twinge and cramp again, he rolled over onto his other side, determined to ignore it. Perhaps it was just something he had eaten.
He had no idea just how correct he was.
A few moments later a sharp, fiery pain shot up his chest, causing him to stiffen and stop breathing for a second. He felt as if he were choking on the air he was breathing. He gasped for air, clutching at his throat. It felt as if fire was flowing in his veins. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he felt himself began to panic, his breath came in short gasps and he felt like a cornered animal. He wanted to run, but he couldn�t feel his legs beneath him, he wanted to scream, but no sounds could come out, it hurt to blink, it hurt to breathe.
He was alone, and for once, just this once, he was scared shitless.