Some Like It Mild

By Kukaburry

Chapter 16- The Last Book

"Good morning," Laurie groggily yawned, snuggling deeper into Draco's embrace. "We are going to be in so much trouble if we get caught leaving here." She giggled, not really caring if she got into trouble or not. She stroked his arms and hands.

"You shouldn't do that, you're turning me on again," he growled provocatively in her ear.

She grinned into his arm and used her free hand to find his stomach and slid a hand down, trailing towards the hem of his underpants.

.Tap. Taptaptaptap. TapTapTapTap. "What is that fucking noise?" Draco growled, not wanting to move from this spot for the next year of his life.

Laurie exhaled and sat up, looking around. A slender window at the rear of the room was silhouetted by a gorgeous owl. "I think your owl is trying to get your attention."

Draco sat up and opened the window to let the owl in. Laurie appreciated the view he was allowing her, she stared at him almost possessively. 'Woah, hormone overdrive here.' Stark naked herself, Laurie stretched and joined Draco by the window. He seemed confused and distracted and had no reaction when Laurie began kissing his bare shoulders.

"Impossible. I can't believe it," Draco repeated while reading the note several times over. He turned sharply and jumped into his clothes. "I have to find out."

Laurie, startled and upset, tried to get an explanation for his urgency. "Where are you going?"

"I can't tell you that." He replied sharply, threading his hands through his hair. "I just have to go. I don't know when I'll be back." Without another look back, he had gone through the door leaving Laurie completely alone. She walked towards the door and noticed the note lying on the floor. 'He is dead.'

"You look like a zombie Rye!" Susan greeted Laurie in the Ravenclaw common room. "What happened last night, you never came back?"

Lily walked in and knocked over two first-years in an attempt to get to Laurie. "Rye! What happened? Are you okay?"

In that moment Laurie broke down crying and pulled them into their private chambers and confessed everything that had happened last night. "I thought we were close. I mean, we spent the together and I even talked him into reading my dad's book to me. How could he not even talk to me about that letter he got?"

Both Lily and Susan considered this quietly. "How do you feel about him?" Lily asked softly.

"I think I'm in love with him." It was such a simple word, but it felt right. "I don't know how I feel after this morning. It's really damn irritating." Her temper flared as she thought about the scene once again. "He didn't say a fucking word. He just left, the little prat."

"Rye, calm down. I'm sure there's an explanation." Lily said soothingly.

"Yeah, like maybe it was a coded message from one of his other girlfriends," Susan chimed.

Lily smacked Susan in the back of the head. "Can you do us a favor and not talk for the rest of your life. Our friend Rye is in a crisis and you're making the situation worse." Susan looked like a stricken puppy, eyes glossy and sad.

"Well it could have been…" She mumbled, pouting. "Fine what do you think it was miss smarty-pants?"

Lily looked at Laurie carefully. "I think maybe it was from a relative?"

Laurie scoffed, unbelieving. "I like Susan's version. It would be just like Malfoy, wouldn't it?"

"No, that would be like the Malfoy you used to know. Not the Malfoy you know now," Lily countered, determined to get Laurie to see her side. "Let's just wait and see. I'll bet you three boxes of licorice wands, ten chocolate frogs and fifteen pumpkin pasties that he owls you tonight."

At midnight, Lily apologetically handed over a basket of chocolates to a very annoyed Laurie. "Okay fine. So maybe I underestimated the time. He'll definitely owl you tomorrow!"

"Aren't you going to bet me something? How about a couple of boxes of butterbeer?" Laurie said sarcastically. "It'd be the best combination with all of this chocolate."

Lily glared at her. "Har har. Shove it. I'm telling you, he'll either be back here tomorrow or you'll have a letter from him. If not, then something serious must have happened."

Knotting began churning in Laurie's stomach. "Well I don't care either way do I?" She choked out stubbornly. "He can fall off a broom for all I care." Lily looked at her sadly, knowing deep down she didn't mean those things.

The rest of the week passed without a whisper of where Draco had gone. Even Blaise was mystified at his disappearance. "He's never left school like this before. I haven't seen him anywhere."

Each day that past made Laurie feel more violently ill. Each day brought her closer to Draco's party where she would have to go with Damion instead of Draco.

"Rye, that's not very kind. Damion asked you first, you can't just run away now," Susan scolded her when she suggested she miss the masquerade ball completely. "I don't understand why you're obsessed with Malfoy all of a sudden, but that's no good reason to throw away such a nice guy like Damion." Laurie grudgingly saw her point.

"You're right Susan," she sighed, dreading the thought of meeting Damion again. "Maybe I'll fall in love with Damion over-night and I can forget about Malfoy forever." Sadness wrenched her heart when she spoke these words and she knew immediately forgetting Malfoy was impossible.

The day of the masquerade party dawned and still neither hide nor hair from Draco. "Here, I'll help you get ready," Lily offered.

"You're such a good friend Lily. I'm sorry I get angry at you so often. You're almost always right… except about Draco."

Lily tugged extra hard on Laurie's hair. "None of that. You know damn well you love him and he loves you. Why do you think he tried so hard for the past two weeks to change your mind about him? He wasn't trying to seduce you, he was trying to WIN you."

"Oh great, now you're comparing me to a game of chess," Laurie muttered darkly.

Lily smacked her lightly. "Stop sounding so dark and hateful. You haven't stopped to appreciate the fact that me, Susan, Fred and George have been by your side through all of this. You're going to go to this party, Draco or no Draco, Damion or no Damion and enjoy yourself because you deserve it. And because you look damn fine if I do say so myself."

"Maybe if all else fails, I'll bring you home in my bed," Laurie purred jokingly.

"Tres grotesque. If I were a lesbian I'd go for you," she laughed, doing the finishing touches on Laurie's make-up. "Really, you look ravishing. Any guy would take their pants off for you tonight."

Laurie looked herself up and down in the mirror and agreed that Lily had done wonders. "I still can't believe I get to wear this dress."

"Yes, it does make you look like a princess." Laurie turned a half-smiling face to Lily. "Go enjoy yourself and tell me all about it tomorrow."

Laurie was met at the door by both of Draco's parents. "Yes, Reynolds. Please come in. In the kitchen we have refreshments and everyone is gathering in the main foyer. Please take this masque." They handed over a blue and silver masque of a raven, perfect for a Ravenclaw- The jewels glittered in the dim light, it was truly stunning.

"Thank you," she said, completely awed by the intricate design. The foyer was completely packed, there was no room to walk without stepping on a shoe or tripping someone.

A hand grasped her underarm. "My dear Rye, will you dance with me?" She turned to meet the gleaming eyes of Blaise hidden behind a black bear masque. "I'm surprised you came tonight. Draco doesn't seem to be here," he informed her immediately.

She sniffed, pretending not to be the least bit concerned by this news. "Like I care. I'm actually looking for my date, Damion. Do you know him or have you seen him?"

For some reason he grinned. "No, I'm afraid I haven't seen him."

Laurie's heart sunk even lower. "I guess he's just late. Why didn't you bring Lily?"

Rolling his eyes in disgust, Blaise mumbled, "She's a half-blood. I doubt Malfoy's parents would bend their party rules even for their own son." He seemed truly out of spirits about the ordeal.

"Well, maybe you should skip out on the party and go visit with her instead," she suggested as though it were the most logical step to take.

"I would, but I'm sure Draco would kill me if I left you alone at this party." Laurie's blood curdled at that statement.

"What's that supposed to mean Zabini? Are you and Draco planning something? That would explain his weird disappearance better than anything. Did you send that letter on purpose with a hidden message?"

Blaise's pale complexion turned strawberry. "Woman you need to calm down. You are so untrusting of everyone! Maybe I know something about Draco that you don't know, did you ever think of that?" He breathed in deeply, trying to calm down. "Look, Draco is mad in love with you. I don't know where he is, but I know he wouldn't want you to be at this party by yourself. Does that make you feel better?"

Laurie tried to give him her most sour look. "Fine. I don't completely believe it, but you can leave as soon as Damion arrives." Blaise sighed heavily and shook his head in exasperation. 'If she only knew.'

After a couple of dances, Laurie began to feel panicked. She made up an excuse to Blaise and hurried away to a quiet corner to sulk alone. Neither Damion nor Draco were anywhere to be seen, on the one night she had wanted to see either of them.

"Why are you over here alone?" The gravelly voice shook Laurie's bones. She looked up to see an emerald green and silver snake masque cleanly placed over platinum blonde hair and smoky grey eyes. "Am I too late?"

Laurie blinked and looked down at the familiar suit. "That- that's the suit I bought for Damion!" She jumped out of her chair and touched the fabric carefully. She slid the snake masque up to reveal Draco's somber face. "What.."

Draco's lips crashed onto Laurie's before she could say anything more. He cradled her face and tried to release all of his feelings into this one moment. Laurie felt light-headed when he pulled back and inhaled his delicious musky scent. "You look beautiful. I'm so sorry about leaving you. I can explain everything."

Laurie's mind cleared and anger coursed through her veins. "You had better explain. Explain who sent that note to you. Explain why you're wearing Damion's suit…" She faltered for a moment when he began to laugh. "Oh no, you didn't! Oh Merlin you heard everything I said at the ice cream shop. I'm going to kill whoever invented that concealing potion. I swear I'm going to hex every one of his body parts off. That means you bought this dress too! I'll have to pay you back, I don't get much of an allowance anymore, but I swear I'll…" Draco put a calming finger over her lips.

"Laurie just shut up. I have a surprise for you," he turned her towards the kitchen and standing there was a man she hadn't seen in five years.

"Dad!" Her knees began to tremble and she grasped Draco's wrists for support. "How did you find him?"

He grinned at her mysteriously and nudged her towards her father. "Just go to him Laurie Reynolds."

She let his soft hands slip from her grasp as she ran at her father and was swept into a tremendous hug. "Dad, I how did you get here? Mom would kill me if she knew I was talking to you." Her dad looked haggard at that statement.

"Young Malfoy owled your mother asking about my whereabouts and it seems as though she lied and told him that I had died." Laurie blanched at the thought. "My thoughts exactly. It seems as though he went to the minister of magic himself and asked for help in finding me. I was in South Africa, enjoying a quiet life. Last night, wouldn't you know it, he came knocking on my door and told me about you. He said he wanted to surprise you by bringing me over."

Tears of anger, joy, and sorrow slid down Laurie's cheeks. She couldn't believe how much trouble Draco had gone through, and she had been mad at him all this time. "I told him you had said you never wanted to see me again. He insisted that wasn't true. I could tell from the look in his eyes he was head over heels for you, and was probably telling me exactly what he'd heard directly from you."

Laurie nodded slowly. "He's right. Ever since you left I've wanted to see you. I was so stupid for blaming you for what mom had done all along. I love you so much daddy." They both smiled at each other. "Where are you staying? Want to go back there and talk? We have so much to catch up on."

Her dad smiled slowly and kissed her on the forehead then looked at someone over her head. "You know, that is one interesting young man you have there pumpkin." Laurie blushed slightly. "I think you two should be together tonight more than you and I. We'll talk more tomorrow. I think you have a lot to tell me." He bent down to squeeze her shoulders and whispered, "Don't let him go easily."

The fire in the pit of Laurie's stomach blazed as she watched her father ease through the throng of guests. "You're not going with him?" Draco mumbled into her ear as his arm encircled her waist.

"No." She turned to face him. "There is no one I'd rather be with tonight than you, Draco Malfoy. You are a truly amazing guy."

A slow smile appeared on his lips. "So what does that mean for us, my dear Ms. Reynolds?" He teased.

Laurie stepped closer and hugged his neck. "It means, Mr. Malfoy, that I'm requiring that you read to me every night until we're both blind."

Draco pretended to consider this option. "If it means we end up in bed completely naked afterwards, I'll never get tired of it."

"I think that can be arranged." Eyes glimmering mischievously, she pulled Draco into a kiss. She slipped one of her hands into her dress, Draco watched in fascination, and withdrew a small novel. "Let's start now."

I don't know why it took me so long to come back to this story… life? :D Well I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I think I'll stick to finishing up my many unfinished stories before creating a new plot. As always reviews are appreciated.

Until we meet again ~Kukaburry