ch 1. dinner

Instructions

"Do I have to wear this, mum? It looks unbelievably itchy." Lillie grumbled as she eyed the tight black dress which was laid out on her bed. She ran a hand through her dark brown hair, trying to loosen the tight curls she had just done. "Lillie, for the 100th time, we're going to a /fancy/ dinner. You said yourself; you don't like puffy dresses. Besides, you'll look gorgeous in it," her mother said as she leaned against the doorway. "Just try it," she said, gently, and turned back around and left. Lillie picked up her silver heels that were laying on the floor and ran her fingers across the small jewels. They were her mother's old heels, and now they were hers. She didn't like sparky things too much- but she decided to wear it because her mother loved it so much. She slipped into the dress and looked at herself in the mirror. "Mum was right," she whispered as she stared at her reflection. "She's always right," the mirror said back, and Lillie scowled. "Coming, mum!" Lillie yelled as she hurried down the grand staircase. The house was eerily quiet; the only noise was Lillie's heels clicking against the pristine marble floor. Her parents were waiting for her at the base of the staircase. "Will we be going through the floo network?" she asked her father. He shook his head. "Not very safe, nowadays. No, we'll be using a portkey," he said. Lillie looked up at her father incredulously. "We've never gone to the Malfoys through portkey before!" she said, her eyes wide. Her father gave her a knowing smile. "Put a coat on. It's cold outside," he said, simply, while he shared a look with his wife. Travelling through the portkey was unpleasant, least to say. "Messed up my hair," Lillie thought, annoyed. She also let out a few colourful words which had earned her a few disapproving looks from her mother. Lillie and her parents stood at the foot of the Malfoy Manor. "Shall we go then?" Her father asked, and her mother took his arm. Lillie walked behind them, absorbed in her thoughts. /"The manor looks beautiful as usual,"/ she thought, but immediately chastised herself. /"Dont let Malfoy catch you saying that,"/ she reminded herself. Suddenly, the dark-oak wood door flung open. A small house-elf stood there, trembling. "Master, your guests have arrived," he squeaked, as he let them in. "Your coats?" the house elf- Fink- asked, and Lillie shrugged hers off happily. "William!" a voice boomed. It belonged to none other than Lucius Malfoy. Her father's solemn face broke into a smile. "Lucius!" he greeted him. Lucius turned to greet her mother. "Vivienne," he nodded to her, "Lilliana," he said, now turned to her. Lucius led the Lockewoods to the living room, where Narcissa and Draco were waiting. The greetings didn't take long- there was much to discuss. The men were talking about something; they were very hushed about it. The women on the other hand, were gossiping loudly and laughing. Lillie scowled at Draco. Everytime the Lockewoods had came over, she had gotten into some sort of petty argument with him. She took her usual place on the couch, next to him. Draco ignored her, as usual. He didn't have seem to forgiven her for calling him "Ferret Boy". They spent the next 20 minutes sitting in silence, refusing to talk to the other. "Draco, the other /guests/ will be coming anytime now. How about you and Lillie go upstairs, to your room?" Narcissa said, her voice gentle, but Lillie could tell that she wasn't asking him. Draco got the hint, as well, and stood up. "Nice room," Lillie said, smirking, as she leaned against the wall, prodding at his posters of quidditch players with her wand. His room was what Lillie had expected it to be- flamboyant; full of Slytherin banners and other things. Draco narrowed his eyes, as if he wasn't sure if Lillie was being sarcastic or for real. She invited herself to sit down on the stupidly large bed. "What do you suppose they're talking about?" she asked curiously, and looked up to meet Draco's eyes. Draco rolled them. "They're obviously talking about something to do with the Dark Lord," he said, as if it were obvious. Lillie glared at him. "I knew that much. I just want to know /what/ it is they're saying," she persisted. She looked at the grandfather clock, which was across the room. It was 8 pm. She rest her head against a pillow and let her eyes close. "Lillie," a voice whispered and a pair of cold hands shook her. Lillie woke up with a jolt; she sat up so fast she hit her head against the headboard. Tears sprang into her eyes but she forced them to go away. Draco stepped away from her, alarmed. "Come downstairs for dinner," he said, smirking. Lillie glared at him. "Was my bed comfy?" he asked, sneering on their way down the stairs, and Lillie threatened to push him down. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she sat down at the dinner table. Her mother, conscious as ever, glared at her. "Manners!" she mouthed, and resumed talking to Narcissa.