Disclaimer: I own nothing:( JK rules the world...I wish.
Chapter 3 ~~Down in Sugarland~~
Three weeks can be an eternity. Three weeks can pass as quickly as water or as slow as the wax dripping down a candle. For the past three weeks I haven’t spoken with a single member of my family, and I’ve ignored all my friends, but I they’ve ignored me as well.
I haven’t spoken to Ron since our fight three weeks ago and I don’t have any intention of doing so. I warned him; at least when Harry and Hermione told him the news he was prepared. And I didn’t even get a thank-you.
I’ve ignored all letters from my mother, and I only replied after she said she would send out a missing persons report. I wrote to her that I was fine and healthy. I can’t deal with all of them yet, I’m a coward.
Some Gryffindor courage. I guess it doesn’t get passed down by the generation. For the spent three weeks I’ve lived with the man I hated throughout school. The truth was that after three weeks I was starting to fall for Draco Malfoy. I was a terrible, terrible person.
I mean, I had just broken up with my fiancé three weeks ago! This isn’t a normal thing to do. I felt horrible, but at the same time I felt excited, and fresh. Like I had been reborn, or given a second chance. I truly believe that I was given a second chance.
Sugarland, warm breeze blowing, long dirt road
First time that I saw him was such a long time ago
I was sixteen going on seventeen
Its funny isn’t it. That the one everyone said I’d end up with would cheat on me with my best friend, and the one that we predicted would be dead at the end of our wands is the one that shows his care for me. He treats me like a lady, something Harry never did. In three weeks we dined together, talked together, washed together, and slept together, and I haven’t regretted a single moment.
After I passed out on the stairs from my encounter with Ron he forced me to rest for 24 hours, during that 24 hours never left my side. We talked and laughed, and then we talked and laughed some more.
I could trust Draco completely, and only after three weeks. I’ve known Harry for... it seems like forever, and I could never completely trust him. I know it’s wrong to compare my ex-fiancé to my current boyfriend-if you could even call him that- but I couldn’t help it. They were just so different.
I smiled to myself as I put my last earring in. I stared at my pale, freckled reflection in the mirror and felt my heart literally skip a beat. It will be the first night in three weeks that I’ve left his house. We were going on a proper date, and I didn’t know what I thought about it yet. I mean, I had just gotten out of a long term relationship, and a month later I was, it seemed like, in another serious relationship.
Blue bonnet Texas queen fell in love with a rodeo king
Down in Sugarland
Drive in movies, hot summer night
First time that I kissed him made the world seem right
The tight fitting ivory dress that Draco had purchased for me yesterday clung to my curves perfectly. It was like he knew everything about me already. Draco had changed, he had matured and grown up since the last time I saw him nearly four years ago. He chose good over evil, something everyone thought he’d never do. Hell, even I didn’t think he would, but I’ve really learned that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Draco knew his mistakes, and regrets, and so did I. They are called regrets for a reason; everybody has regrets. It’s something you wish you could do differently if given a second chance. His regrets were just more important to the person he would become.
I grabbed my clutch and made my way to the entrance grinning the whole way down. I couldn’t help but smile, I hadn’t been this cheerful since I graduated. I felt butterflies in my stomach, and my head felt like it would explode at the most minuscule sound.
For Merlin’s sake, we’ve been sleeping together for a week and a half and snogging for three weeks, why was I feeling like this? I felt like I could pass out from lack of oxygen I was so joyful!
My grin widened as I saw Draco standing at the bottom of the staircase. It was a perfect cliché moment. I placed my hand on the banister and glided down the stairs with the most poise and dignity I could muster.
The expression on his face when he saw me was worth it all. It was worth the heart ache, it was worth the change in life style, and it was worth loving him back. I kissed him and I’m sure I briefly lost consciousness when he slid his tongue along my upper lip. I was a weak, weak, girl, and I gladly gave in to his demands.
I was city bound couldn't wait to get outta this town
Suddenly everything just changed
Something told me I just might stay
Down in sugarland
I turned to Draco as we approached the restaurant and wanted to know where we were. He just put his famous Malfoy smirk and shrugged his shoulders. I silently huffed; I was a woman who clearly did not do well with surprises.
“Where are we?” I asked again, I was getting impatient.
Draco smiled, “We are at a very nice restaurant in London.”
“Oh,” I replied, well of course I already knew that! “it looks really expensive,” I let my words slip and I cringed at the whole money situation which would no doubt be brought up.
“Gin, don’t worry, you need to stop worrying about simply things like that.” He replied moving one arm around my shoulders and squeezing them gently. “Alright, let’s go in.”
As Draco opened the doors to the entrance I was astounded by how many waiting couples were sitting along the bench waiting for their turn to eat. It was a Saturday night and no restaurants that I had ever been to took reservations on a Saturday.
“Draco, we’re going to have to wait forever, should we go somewhere else?” I asked looking around suddenly disappointed that we probably wouldn’t be eating at this nice restaurant.
I felt him squeeze my hand, “no need to worry.” He walked up to the hostess who had a strained smile on her over done face. Draco brought his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him I liked how he showed some public affection.
“A table for two please,” He paused, “the Malfoy table.” He pleasantly told the hostess. Her eyes widened with realization that he was indeed a Malfoy and she nodded her head, whispered to the blonde waitress standing next to her whose eyes widened as well before she ran off.
“Please follow me Mr. And Mrs. Malfoy.” She smiled, this time it seemed even more strained. I felt myself blush as she thought that I was Draco’s wife. I looked at Draco to see his reaction and he simply nodded. My stomach just about dropped onto the floor.
Down in sugarland doing the best we can
Holding hands staying up all night
Swinging stars from satellites, down in sugarland doing the best we can
Falling in love again down in sugarland
“Draco,” I whispered as we walked past several couples eating. “Why didn’t we have to wait, why did they look terrified of you when you said you were a Malfoy?” I had always known that there were perks to being a Malfoy, but this, it wasn’t like we were famous or anything...at least I wasn’t.
“This used to be my mother and father’s favourite restaurant before they died,” He started as he pulled the chair out for me.
The hostess unknowingly interrupted him, “please, Mr. Malfoy, if there is anything you’d like don’t hesitate to ask. My name is Isabella and your waitress will be here any moment. Should I give you a moment or can I get any drinks for you and your wife?”
“A bottle of your finest white wine please,” He asked looking at me to get my approval on the choice of drink. I nodded and felt myself blush again. He didn’t correct her.
“Sure thing Mr. Malfoy, anything else?” She asked smiling down at Draco.
“No thanks, not yet anyways.”
As soon as she turned around and left to get our wine Draco continued, “my parents never liked to wait so father made a generous donation to the restaurant and basically bought this table.” He chuckled to himself as he finished.
“He bought a table in a restaurant?” I asked not believing what I heard.
“Seriously?”
“Yep.”
“Wow”
“I know, the things he’d do to get what he wanted, but at least we can benefit from his purchases now.”
I laughed taken back at how he calmly he spoke of his parents. Less than a minute later the waitress brought our wine.
“My name is Lucinda, and I am so sorry it took so long Mr. Malfoy, we wanted to find the best for you,” she announced nervous at what he reaction would be. He simply nodded and smiled at me clearly enjoying her nervousness. “Here you are,” She handed myself a glass first and then one for Draco, “are you ready to order yet?”
“Not quite Lucinda thanks. We should be in a minute though.” Draco reply sipping his wine after, I smiled at how he drank it, there was no smelling, or sloshing, he just sipped it.
I can’t believe she thought it took her awhile! I mean, she was gone less than a minute. I took a sip out of my glace and nearly choked at how flavourful the wine was. It was with no doubt the best wine I had ever tasted.
I hadn’t had muggle wine a lot but I could tell the difference between the good stuff and the cheap stuff. On top of all of that Draco was surprisingly nice to the waitress, we hadn’t really been out in a lot of public places together recently so I had no clue that if his behaviours towards me would be towards others as well. You know what they say, if your date if nice to you but mean to the waiter they aren’t a good guy.
“Wow, this is really good.” I whispered to Draco after the waitress left. He simply nodded and smiled. We were perfectly comfortable in complete silence.
Tumbleweed is a turning like the hands of time
When I was sixteen going on seventeen
I didn't know much of anything
Living the American dream down in sugarland
Our evening was spent in pure bliss. Everything seemed to be too good to be true. Our meal was great, the service was excellent, and Draco had been superb. I stumbled out of the car with Draco holding me up by one arm. I was a known klutz and extremely un-coordinated, the two glasses of wine I had didn’t help. Draco laughed as I started mumbling to myself. “what!” I grumbled side stepping and nearly walking off the step.
“You didn’t have that much to drink Ginny Weasley!” He laughed again, I smiled to myself. He was right and I knew it. Alcohol and I never mixed well together.
“Ginny!” an all too familiar voice called from the distance. I froze in my tracks and Draco’s head snapped up. He pulled out his wand and forced me behind him.
“Lumos,” Draco whispered holding his wand high above his head, “who’s there?” He called out.
“Ginny?” The voice replied. I gasped as I realized who was there. He stepped out of the shadows with a bottle of fire whiskey in his hand. “Ginny!” He exclaimed suddenly glad he had found me.
“What do you want Potter?” Malfoy snapped becoming protective of me. This was my first encounter with Harry since I left the flat over three weeks ago.
“I came here for Ginny.” He replied firmly, and then he grinned sheepishly, “She’s my fiancée you know.”
“No she’s not Potter, and does the little Mudblood know you’re here?” Draco spat.
Completely avoiding the question Harry continued to talk, “come on Ginny, why are you here, with him of all people.” I glared at him from behind Draco. Both Draco and I stayed silent.
“Let’s go!” Harry yelled trying to grab my arm around Malfoy. Draco had had enough.
“Potter!” He yelled as he flicked his wand and Harry was now sprawled across the pavement in front of us. “You will not go near her!” Draco was now yelling loudly.
“Who are you to say that, you filthy Death Eater!” Harry replied smirking drunkenly at his horrible reply.
“Cheating bastard!” Draco now boomed, “get off my property!” and with a swish of his wand Harry went flying over the gate and onto the street.
“It’s ok Gin,” Draco whispered as he turned around to hug me, it was a scare but Harry wouldn’t physically hurt me, Draco on the other hand, should fear for his safety.
“How did he know I was here?” I whispered, “I have told no one, I haven’t even talked to my family for three weeks.”
“Shhh...”
“We can’t leave him there,” I turned to look at the unconscious Harry outside the Gate. “We have to take him back to the flat.”
“Are you crazy?” Draco protested.
“Absolutely,” I smiled back.
“Fine,” he grumbled, “I’ll apparated him back seeing as you’ve had your limit to drink.” He smiled after the last part. I scowled but agreed knowing he was right. “The house is unlocked now.” Draco told me after waving his wand in a few directions. I nodded understanding.
“Be safe, and thank-you Draco,” I whispered hugging him and then kissing him softly before turning around and carefully walking up the rest of the steps and entering the house.
“Come on Potter,” Draco laughed, as he pulled Harry up and apparated on the spot.
And I see the small town smile in your eyes
Shining like a diamond in the sky
The sweet sky, under the sweet sky
I sighed as the hot water ran through my open fingers. The bath was almost ready. I pulled my dress off and let my hair down shaking the curls loose with my fingers. My head felt three times lighter, now that I didn’t have a hundred little pins in it.
I lit a couple candles, dimmed the lights and sank into the steaming water. I pushed some bubbles between my fingers and chuckled lightly at the result. I tilted my head to one side and lay there waiting for Draco to return.
I imagined what my life would be like right now if I had never caught Harry cheating. We’d be getting married in exactly six days, and I would be marrying a lying cheating bastard. At that moment I realized that I did make the right choice, if it wasn’t for Draco I’d probably be in a million pieces right now, or back with Harry. And I didn’t like either of those options.
I had moved on so fast, I mean just over three weeks ago I was going to get married! Now, I was sleeping with a different man. And the sad truth is that I still love Harry, as much as I hate him right now I still love him and I will forever on some level. It just won’t be the level that we thought it would be.
I thought of my mom, and Ron, and Fred and George and suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to jump out of the tub and apparate to the burrow. I missed them. Tomorrow morning I would go and visit. I told myself nodding my head once to convince myself.
I heard the door to our room slam shut, and I smiled to myself because Draco was home from dropping Harry off.
Sweet skies of sugarland doing the best we can
Holding hands staying up all night
Swinging stars from satelittes down in sugarland
Doing the best we can, falling in love again down in sugarland
“Draco!” I called sitting up straighter. “I’m in the tub!” I could picture the smirk on his face and how he was hoping that he could join me, and maybe with the right words he would. I positioned myself propped up against the side with one leg over the front of the tub. When he opened the door his eyes widened with delight.
I laughed and said, “How did it go? Is he at home now? Is he safe?” Draco nodded clearly not wanting to bring talk of my ex-fiancé into the tub with us.
“What are you doing?” He asked slyly.
“Nothing,” I replied innocently, rubbing body wash up and down my left arm.
“Really?”
“Yep” I laughed inside my head at the thought of what was going through his mind. I paused for a dramatic moment and pretended to think. “Would you care to join me?” I asked after a few moments.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
This time I laughed out loud. And with that Draco was unbuttoning his shirt and sliding his pants and boxers off to join me in my steamy bath. We left our worries about tomorrow behind and relaxed together before turning in, and drifting off into a dream filled sleep.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, sugarland
Sweet skies of sugarland, sugarland
(Sugarland) warm breeze blowing
Long dirt road
Sugarland
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Please review!!!! It really makes my day better:)
The lyrics are by Sugarland and the song is called Sugarland.
I hope you liked this chapter. Thoughts?
~hpf14
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