"Let The Acting Resume"

Back straight, head held high and keep on smiling. It had been drilled into her since she was able to walk. Her long blonde hair always had to be brushed and kept in perfect condition and she wasn't allowed to do anything without consulting her parents first.

Here she was, smiling and laughing at someone's lame attempts to crack a joke. A party held by her parents which she was forced to endure. The fake shining smile on the outside had been used so often it was the only smile she used and not even her parents could tell that it was not genuine.

Her only friends were chosen by her parents, and they were hardly friends. There was one person however, that she felt she had a lot in common with. She had no idea why because they hardly spoke, but she felt connected to him.

"My, my! You look absolutely stunning today Felicity!" One of her mothers friends said, staring at her long blonde hair. Felicity smiled a thank you, taking one of her mothers other 'tips' and not wasting her breath on actually saying the words.

"Indeed, she does!" someone else agreed. "How do you do it? You must be only sixteen, and you could be the worlds most beautiful woman!" Felicity stretched her smile wider to make it seem like she was impressed with what they were saying. Inside, though, she hated how they always gushed over her looks. Each year they commented on how she was growing up into a beautiful young lady. And now at sixteen, she had apparently become one.

"Felicity! There you are." she turned her head with the smile still in place to see her father walking over with a smile of his own.

"Hello Father." she said, her smile staying steady.

"My darling daughter, you look so cold! Do come inside where it's warm." he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and steering her away from her mothers friends. "Besides," he added quietly. "There's someone that wants to see you." Felicity did not resist, as she was used to being called away to the odd someone that wanted to see her. There was always at least one of them at each party.

"Felicity!" she looked to see her mothers stern eyes telling her to hurry, and her father pushed her ahead of him. She mentally made sure her smile was still firm, and hurried forwards to where her mother also pushed her forward.

"Who is it this time, mother?" Felicity asked quietly.

"Mr and Mrs Malfoy are here. You know how long I've been trying to gain their respect! Make sure you remind them how much of a good friend you are to their son. Hurry now!" Her mother said, shoving her through another door and then plastering her own smile to her face.

"Mr and Mrs Malfoy, it's such a pleasure to see you." Felicity said, extending a hand to shake Mr Malfoy's out-stretched one.

"And it is such a pleasure to see you, Felicity. What a fine young lady you have become. Wouldn't you agree, Draco?" he asked, turning to where his son stood.

"Of course." Draco said quickly, smiling at her.

"Well now, what school was it you attended, dear?" Mr Malfoy asked, as if he had forgotten since the last party and the last time she had told him.

"Beauxbatons." she replied smoothly. "It's an all girls school." she explained before he could ask. Mr Malfoy laughed and glanced over at her mother.

"I see you're making sure she doesn't run into any boys that could ruin her!" he joked. Her mother giggled and nodded. Felicity looked over at Draco, where his smile was quickly fading into a grimace.

"Yes well, Felicity knows that she isn't to date anyone before getting permission from both her father and I." her mother said.

"You know what," Mr Malfoy said suddenly, looking over at Felicity and then Draco. Felicity felt her skin go cold but forced her smile to stay on her face. "I think perhaps there is someone that would be absolutely perfect for her."

"Really? Who might that be?" her mother asked, playing dumb. Mr Malfoy glanced at Mrs Malfoy, who was smiling with approval, and then turned back to Felicity's mother.

"My son." he said. No, no, no, no! The one word was screamed over and over in Felicity's head. How could this be happening?

"What a splendid idea!" her mother exclaimed. "Felicity darling, what do you think?" she asked. Felicity turned to her mother, still smiling but not as much.

"He is quite a handsome gentleman, but the choice is up to you." she said slowly.

"There's a good girl." her mother said proudly, beaming. She almost said, 'Look how well we've trained her', but decided against it.

"Well then, perhaps we should leave them to talk." Mr Malfoy suggested, linking his arm through his wife's and leading Felicity's mother out. Felicity and Draco were left alone in the room. This is going to ruin the tiny bit of friendship we had! Felicity thought sadly.

"Why didn't you throw a tantrum?" Draco asked as soon as the door closed. Felicity raised an eyebrow, her smile gone.

"Do you want me to get in trouble?" she asked.

"Oh, so that's all your worried about. Little Felicity, always does what her parents want because she's afraid of the consequences." Draco scoffed.

"Well if you're so outspoken, why didn't you object?" she snapped. Draco glared at her and then looked away.

"Okay, so maybe you're not the only one." he mumbled. Felicity couldn't help but smile in victory. "But what are we going to do? No offence, but I don't like you like that." he said.

"None taken, as neither do I." Felicity replied.

"Well at least we agree on one thing." he said, folding his arms. Yes, Felicity thought to herself, this is what we have in common.

"I guess we'll just have to pretend." Felicity shrugged. Draco looked her up and down, thinking about what would be involved on his behalf and wondering whether or not it would be worth it. "Come on, at least we'll both know we're pretending!" she urged.

"I guess it wouldn't be too bad." he muttered.

"So should we link arms?" she questioned. His face contorted into a look of disgust and then he sighed and rolled his eyes. "Gosh you don't have to look so grossed out, it's not like I asked you to kiss me!" she said angrily.

"And thank goodness for that!" he said, eyes wide in horror as he thought about what would happen when their parents expected them to do just that.

"It sounds like you've never even contemplated being with someone. Haven't you ever thought about it?" Felicity asked.

"Apparently not half as much as you think about it." he smirked.

"Draco, I need to tell you something." Felicity said, looking into his eyes with a serious expression. Draco swallowed and nodded, knowing that now was not the time to make another smart remark.

"Tell me." he said.

"I want to go to Hogwarts." she said. "I haven't told anyone though. Can you imagine the look on my parents faces?" she said.

"What's the big deal? I go to Hogwarts." he shrugged.

"Exactly! If we pretend to be in love, they might send me away to Hogwarts so that I can be near you more, and then I'll finally be where I've always wanted to be! And we'll only have to pretend to be in love when we get back for the holidays." she explained. Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"I like that idea." he said, stepping closer to her.

"So do I." she said, smiling up at him as he stepped closer again. "So we'll do it?" she asked. He nodded, and hugged her. Felicity smiled as she hugged him back, her eyes closed and her head against his chest. He will never know, she told herself.

"Okay." Draco said, stepping back and linking arms with her. "Let the acting begin." she rolled her eyes and smiled as they both walked out of the room.

"Felicity darling! Oh my, how stunning you look together!" her mother said excitedly, finding it extremely hard to keep in her happiness. Mr and Mrs Malfoy nodded to each other in approval and came over.

"I'm amazed we didn't think of this before." Mr Malfoy said. "Mrs Blair, perhaps you should fetch your husband so we can have a little chat." Felicity's mother nodded eagerly and went to find him. Felicity glanced up at Draco, who looked down at her and smiled encouragingly.

"Felicity! Come over here and tell us who that man is!" someone called, and Felicity giggled slightly, leading Draco over to them.

"This is Draco Malfoy." she said, her famous fake smile on her face.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all." he said, smirking. Felicity glanced over her shoulder and saw her parents talking to his parents. They all seemed to be in agreement about something, and Felicity had a feeling she knew what it was.

"So how long have you been together?" Felicity turned back to answer the next question thrown her way, smiling softly.

"Around one minute." she said shyly. They all 'aww'ed and Draco moved his hand down to hold hers instead of linking arms. She glanced up at him with a slightly confused look in her eyes. His only reply was a smirk.

"Felicity! Draco! Come back over here please." They turned once again to walk to their parents and stood patiently, waiting to hear what was going to be said.

"We've had a bit of a chat." Felicity's mother said, the excitement she was trying to conceal already spilling out.

"We have decided that you will get married when you are old enough. If you want, you can think of it as a bit of an arranged marriage. Though I hardly think you'll disagree with our decision." Mr Malfoy said, looking at Draco as if daring him to say something.

"That's a wonderful idea!" Felicity said, keeping her fake smile in place.

"Yes, it is." Draco agreed. Felicity's mother could have fainted with happiness, and Felicity wondered if she should ask her if she wanted to marry Draco instead, but kept her mouth shut to avoid getting told off.

"Well then, now that everyone has agreed on the matter, perhaps we should go and legalise it?" Mr Malfoy suggested. Draco squeezed Felicity's hand before she could freak out, letting her know that whatever happened he would help get them out of it.

"What a wonderful idea! Let's!" Mrs Blair said, linking arms with her husband happily.

"We shall end the party early and tell everyone to go home." Mr Blair said. "Felicity, would you show Draco the garden?" Felicity nodded, glad that they would be able to get away from it all for a bit and led him off.

"Just a bit further, we'll round the corner and then we can let go." Draco whispered to her. She nodded, still smiling. It felt so weird as she had never held hands with anyone for this long in her life! As soon as they rounded the corner, Draco took his hand away and wiped it on his pants. Felicity did the same and moved away from him slightly.

"Well, this is the garden." she said, waving her hand at the expanse of green grass, trees and beautiful flowers that seemed to stretch on forever.

"Come on." Draco said, leading her through her own garden and far away from the house.

"Where are we going?" she asked, laughing as he smirked back at her.

"I have no idea, just somewhere away from those adults." he responded. She rolled her eyes and felt a real smile tugging at her lips.

Eventually Draco stopped walking at a waterfall and sat down on a boulder, stretching and leaning back against another larger boulder that was behind him. Felicity glanced around, very aware of the fact that she had never been here before and wasn't sure if they were even allowed. Trying to swallow this thought, she sat down beside him.

"What's beauxbatons like?" Draco asked, his eyes closed as he was completely relaxed. Felicity bit her lip in thought, thinking about what she could say to him.

"It's okay I guess. All the people there are a lot like the people here." she explained.

"In what ways? Rich, annoying and up-themselves?" Draco asked, opening his eyes and looking over at her with a smirk. With a laugh, she nodded.

"Draco," she started, then wondered whether or not she should actually say it. He was watching her with interest, waiting for her to continue. "This is going to sound really strange, but I've never felt like I feel right now with you." she said.

"What are you saying?" he asked slowly.

"Usually when I'm around people, even people my age, I always have to act. But right here with you, I'm myself! It just feels so strange because I don't even know who I am." she said. Draco looked down, seeming to think it over. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, unsure.

"It's kind of the same for me." he said quietly. "Though I do have one other friend that I can be myself around." Felicity nodded and also looked down. "It's actually pretty funny, cause his name is Blaise Zabini." Draco chuckled, looking over at her again.

"You mean it's funny because it's like my last name?" Felicity asked, grinning.

"Yeah. Blaise, Blair. Almost the same." he shrugged. She laughed and looked up at the sky through the trees.

"What if we do get married?" she asked suddenly.

"We won't, don't worry." this time he laughed. She rolled her eyes and playfully whacked him on the arm.

"We should start heading back, it's getting dark." Draco looked up and nodded, standing up and holding out a hand to her.

"Come my lady, and let the acting resume." she laughed and took his hand, heading back to her house.