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Don't Embrace the Past	By : AnasellaEmm Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3065 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Disclaimer: I own this stuff�.. not

A/N: The chapter title comes from the song �Is It Any Wonder� by Keane

Thanks to my koukla for her help on everything!

Thanks for all the lovely reviews guys, they mean so much to me. Don�t forget to tell me what you think of this chapter!!

Chapter 5: A Puzzle I Don�t Understand
Draco watched his employees present another client�s case to him, citing bankruptcy and irreconcilable negotiations on mergers. Dragon Elgin Enterprise took care of most of the Wizarding world�s finances, including Hogwarts, most stores in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, and Draco�s favorite: Dunvale Apothecary Inc., where Samira worked.

�And finally, we have agreed to settle the business�s previous incomes and profits from the past five fiscal years,� Blaise concluded.

Draco nodded his head in agreement and gestured for his subordinates to take seats as he stood up to address them.

�Good work, team,� he started. �Next week, we�re meeting with some Ministry officials to go over covering individual basis financial advising. They want to make it so that Ministry workers have the option of using Dragon Elgin Enterprises to help them get out of debt, control and organize their spending more wisely, and to invest correctly in different stocks and bonds.�

Before Draco could continue, Daphne Greengrass, a former Slytherin and the company�s secretary poked her head into the boardroom.

�Mister Malfoy, I�m sorry to interrupt, but you�re 1:00 appointment is here,� she said.

�Thank you, Daphne, I�ll be right there,� he replied, trying to remember who it was he was meeting.

�Ok, Blaise, wrap up this meeting and go over the minutes with Carlos. Report back to me before you leave today,� Draco said, leaving the room and approaching his office.

He almost tripped over his own feet when he found Samira sitting on his desk, her legs crossed and her smile bordering on wanton hussy.

�Sami! What a pleasant surprise,� Draco exclaimed, walking towards his desk.

�I thought it would be nice to repay the visit you gave me from a while back,� Samira said, standing up from the desk and meeting Draco halfway with a peck on the cheek.

�I�ve missed you,� he said, hugging her to his chest.

She smiled and felt all melty and gooey at his words. �I�ve missed you more,� she said with a laugh. �But it�s only been a week since you last saw me. Melania has been talking about you nonstop since then.�

�Seems she has similar tastes in men as her aunt,� he teased.

Samira rolled her eyes and took a seat on his desk again. �I was wondering when I would be able to see you again, because I�ve been completely swamped at work and I know you�ve been busy.�

�How did you know I�ve been busy?� he asked, sitting next to her on his desk. He would have liked to do more than just sit with her on that desk� primarily, shag her petite little body into oblivion� but they could save that for a rainy day.

Samira blushed a bit as she held his hand, �I might have flooed your office once or twice� or nine times.�

Draco laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. �That just about makes me the happiest bloke around here,� he whispered, kissing her cheek.

�What? Me stalking you like a complete weirdo?� Samira laughed.

Draco laughed again and couldn�t help himself from kissing her smack-dab on those plump pink lips of hers.

�God, you taste good,� he said after pulling away and leaving her flustered and blinking rapidly.

Samira smiled and licked her lips, feeling exciting things happen to her nether regions. Just being around Draco, her body lusted after him like a bloody dog in heat.

�I was thinking about making dinner for you,� she said. �Tonight, since it�s Friday. You want to come over?�

�I�d love to,� Draco said, unable to wipe that stupid smile off of his face.

�Ok, good,� Samira breathed. �I was afraid you�d say no.�

�Why on earth would I say no?� he asked, stroking her cheeks with his thumb.

�That�s just my inner low-self-esteem talking, ignore it,� she smiled.

He laughed and brought her lips to his again. She rubbed her lips on his seductively, teasing him by keeping them closed and then snaking her tongue out to touch his lips.

�Now boss, do all your appointments get this treatment?� Blaise asked from the door, leaning against the frame and smirking at the two of them.

Samira practically shot to her feet, smoothing down her clothes and aiming her gaze to the floor. Her cheeks flamed with color and Draco wanted to cast an unforgivable on Blaise for making her uncomfortable.

�Ever heard of knocking, Zabini?� Draco asked, standing up from the desk and inviting Blaise into the room.

�I�ve heard of it, but I�m not a fan,� Blaise laughed. �Are you ever going to introduce me to your lady friend, or am I going to have to do it myself?�

Draco rolled his eyes. �Samira, this is my most annoying employee, Blaise Zabini. Blaise, this is Samira Dunvale.�

Blaise picked up her hand and gave it a kiss, causing Draco to roll his eyes again. �A pleasure to finally meet you, Samira. Oh, and Draco�s lying, I�m also his bestest friend, not just his most annoying employee.�

Samira smiled. �Bestest? Have you been hanging around with my niece? She uses similar vernacular,� Samira said, a playful smile on her face.

�I�ve met your niece and I must say she�s as cute as a button,� Blaise commented.

Draco snorted. �Did you realize this after you refused to hold her or before you allowed her to wash her hands in the toilet while I was looking for her bottle?�

Blaise smothered a laugh with a cough and gave his most charming smile to Samira who was raising her eyebrows in merriment.

�Now is there a reason you�ve interrupted my appointment?� Draco asked.

Blaise suppressed a snort at Draco�s choice of words. �Daphne just informed me that our mothers have invited us to dinner on Saturday at the Manor. Your parents want to meet my new step-father, number 8 I think, and they want you and me to attend.�

Draco groaned and slumped into his chair like a child who hadn�t gotten his way. �I�d rather serve the Dark Lord again,� he mumbled.

Samira shot him a scandalized look and shook her head.

�Did they say if we could bring guests?� Draco asked, resigned to his fate of attending dinner with his parents.

�I�m not sure, it�s your old house, so it�s not like they�re going to turn you away if you bring Samira,� Blaise guessed. �I wouldn�t bring a guest if my life depended on it� my mother would think I was finally settling down. This comes from the woman who goes through husbands like a drunk goes through liquor.�

Draco laughed at his friend� but noticed when Samira forced a laugh, her eyes turning wary and fearful. He would stow that away with all the other questions he had for her about her peculiar behavior and slips of the tongue.

�So do you want to go, Sami?� Draco asked.

�Dinner at your parent�s house?� Samira asked, gnawing her bottom lip with her teeth. �Umm� ok, I guess that would be alright.�

�Don�t be nervous about it,� Blaise assured. �The Malfoys� barks are far, far worse than their bites. Mrs. Malfoy is the sweetest lady when you get to know her.�

�I�ve met her before,� Samira said. �And she is lovely, but I�ve only known Draco for three weeks, isn�t it too soon to meet the parents?�

�If you�re not ready to meet them, Sam, then I�m not going to force you, frankly, I�d give up my inheritance not to show up to this, but if I go, I�d like to show you off.�

Samira smiled. �Ok, I�ll go.�

�Thank the heavens, because now they won�t bother me about girls,� Draco sighed with relief.

�Oh, they�ll still do it, except now you�ve dragged poor Samira into it,� Blaise laughed.

�I�m sure it won�t be that bad,� Samira said. �In fact, I think it�ll be fun.�

Blaise and Draco exchanged looks. �Sure� fun.�

Samira laughed and looked down at her watch. �Oh, but I�ve got to run, I have a meeting at St. Mungo�s and my father will be upset if I�m late. I�ll see you two tomorrow, and Draco, I�ll see you tonight. 8 o� clock ok?�

Draco nodded and kissed her once more before watching her leave his office towards the communal floo in the hallway.

Blaise looked at is friend and shook his head. �You are in so deep.�

�Huh?� Draco asked, turning back to his office.

�You, my friend, are smitten. S-m-i-t-t-e-n. Smitten,� Blaise sang.

�I have no idea what you�re talking about, Zabini. Maybe you should get back to work and sort out if you�re thinking clearly or not,� Draco said, pushing his friend out of his office.

Blaise laughed as he was unkindly pushed out of the door by Draco, who was clearly in denial.

-------------------------------------

�So how�s it going with this Malfoy fella I heard about?� Rosa Dunvale asked Samira. Rosa was Michael�s wife and Melania�s mother, making her Samira�s sister-in-law.

�It�s going� wonderful,� Samira sighed as she walked by Rosa who was pushing Melania in her little cart.

Samira, Rosa and Melania were at the wizarding grocery shop in Diagon Alley.

�Michael told me that this bloke does something with accounting,� Rosa said as they looked at the produce.

�He owns his own financial company,� Samira said. �And Rosa, he�s just about the most fantastic person I�ve ever met.�

�You really like him, then?� Rosa asked with a grin.

Samira nodded her head and put some fruits into their cart. �Melania likes him too, don�t you sweetheart?�

�Yeth,� Melania agreed, though she had no idea of whom they were speaking.

�Have you told him about Seb--� Rosa started.

�No,� Samira said quickly, her smile disappearing. �It�s in the past.�

�Samira,� Rosa said in her most mothering voice. �If you really care about this Draco, then you have to tell him about what happened. He deserves to know and especially if you�re thinking of being serious with him� even if you don�t think it�s not necessary, he really needs to know.�

Samira�s eyes filled with hopelessness and sadness. �I really care about Draco, Rosa. I don�t want to give him a reason to leave.�

�If he cares about you as much as you do him, then he won�t leave for what has happened to you. It�s not as if it was your fault.�

�I�m not ready to tell him,� Samira said in a small voice. �He�ll think the worst of me� I already do.�

Rosa shook her head in exasperation. �Ok then� I won�t tell you how to run this relationship into the ground, because you seem to be doing a pretty good job of it yourself.�

Samira ignored her sister-in-law and picked up Melania from the cart, because she was getting fussy.

�Now what else are you going to make him for dinner?� Rosa asked, changing the subject.

�Uh, I was thinking of making some couscous with lamb� like mum taught me,� Samira said.

�Can�t go wrong with Moroccan cooking,� Rosa said as they turned into the meat section of the grocery shop.

SMASH

�Oh my goodness, I�m so sorry!� a redheaded woman apologized after hitting their cart with hers.

�It�s not a problem,� Rosa said, backing up. �Are you ok?�

The woman nodded and looked relieved. �I�m glad your daughter wasn�t sitting in the cart, I�m really so sorry.�

�Don�t worry about it, we�re all fine,� Samira added.

A brunette woman came up next to the red-headed one, with a little baby in her arms. �Ginny, where on earth did you go?�

�I told you I was going to check the price of these nappies,� the red-headed one replied.

�Auntie Tham! Look, baby!� Melania shrieked, pointing to the brunette woman, who was indeed carrying an infant.

�He�s adorable,� Rosa said. �How old is he?�

The one named Ginny smiled. �He�s a month old and he�s my first.�

�He�s just about the sweetest thing I�ve seen,� Samira said, looking at the little baby. �What�s his name?�

�James,� she replied. �After my deceased father-in-law.�

�That�s so lovely,� Rosa said sincerely. �And he really is such a cute baby� going to grow up to be so handsome.�

�Thanks,� she replied. �I�m Ginny, by the way.�

The rest of them introduced each other, ending with Samira.

�What a pretty name,� the brunette said. �It�s Arabic, right?�

Samira nodded and looked closer at the brunette woman. �My mum is from Morocco.�

�Is there something on my face?� the one named Hermione asked.

Samira shook her head and laughed. �No, sorry� it�s just, I feel like I�ve seen you before, I just can�t remember where.�

�Oh, well maybe we work together� I work at the Ministry with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Do you work there perchance?� Hermione asked.

Samira shook her head again. �I work for my father�s company. I just can�t remember where I�ve seen you before, but I know for sure that I�ve seen you somewhere.�

Hermione thought for a moment and handed baby James over to Ginny. �Um, maybe we went to school together. Did you go to Hogwarts?�

�No, I went to Beauxbatons� my boyfriend went to Hogwarts, but I haven�t met any of his schoolmates except for one.�

�Oh? Who�s your boyfriend?� Ginny asked. Any gossip was welcome by her.

�Draco Malfoy,� Samira said and then regretted it when she saw the looks in the other girls� eyes. �I�m assuming you know him.�

Hermione smiled. �Let�s just say we weren�t what you would call friends.�

�Oh!� Samira said suddenly. �I remember where I�ve seen you. You were at lunch one day with this red-headed man and Draco and I saw you. Granger is what he called you.�

�That�s my surname,� Hermione said with a knowing smile. �You seem like such a nice person, why Malfoy?�

Samira didn�t know whether to be offended or not. �Draco is a really great person. I don�t know what he was like in school, but knowing what I do about his past, he seems to have changed for the better.�

�Well, that�s good then,� Ginny said. �I just always thought he�d end up with that cow, Parkinson.�

Samira stowed that piece of information for later and smiled at them. �Is the man that you were with at the restaurant related to Ginny?�

Hermione nodded. �My husband, Ron, is Ginny�s brother.�

�Interesting,� Rosa added. �Must be a sisters-in-law shopping day today.�

The women laughed and bade each other a goodbye as they got along with their shopping.

�Bye BABY!!� Melania squealed as the other two women left. She had been quiet the entire time, saving up for her grand goodbye.

When Hermione and Ginny were out of sight, Samira turned to Rosa. �Well, that was awkward.�

�Who would have thought that they would know Draco? And know him in the not nice way. Seems they don�t like your boyfriend very much.�

�Yeah,� Samira agreed. �Turns out Draco doesn�t much care for the brunette. I don�t know about Ginny, but since she�s the redhead�s sister from the restaurant� I wouldn�t think he�d like her much, either.�

Rosa laughed. �Childhood rivalries are the most immature form of any relationship I have experienced. They sure do make up for some good drama, though.�

Samira rolled her eyes at Rosa and they continued their errands without running into anymore of Draco�s childhood nemeses.

-------------------------------------

�I simply cannot eat another bite,� Draco lounged back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. �It was amazing, Sami� you�re a great cook.�

Samira smiled so sweetly that it made his stomach feel empty again. Lately he�d been wondering why the little things she did affected him so much. He�d only been dating her for nearly a month, but it seemed like they were so much more than just a regular old couple. Or maybe it was that he wanted more.

Whoa. That thought had never� ever� entered his mind before. He had never been with a girl as long as he had been with Samira. She made him laugh, she made him smile� she made him forget about his troublesome past. Her exoticness gave her a trait of being mysterious, unable to be figured out. But he desperately wanted to figure her out.

�I�m really glad you liked it, Draco,� she said, picking up his plate and taking it to the kitchen.

He followed her and leaned against the counter as she washed the dishes the muggle way.

�I never think magic cleans dishes as well as hands do,� she explained.

Draco nodded as his thoughts strayed again. All he had been doing for the past few weeks was letting his thoughts stray... mostly to Samira. He thought about her when he was at work, when he was at home. At any given moment, he was usually thinking about her. And that was a bit scary for a man who had never thought that much about another human being.

�So about tomorrow night,� Samira interrupted his thoughts. �What should I wear?�

�Preferably� nothing,� Draco teased. Samira laughed and blew soap suds at him.

�Can you imagine me showing up at your parents� house wearing nothing?� Samira asked.

Draco�s eyes raked over what Samira was wearing. She always dressed so professionally with her feminine suits with skirts that fell just below the knee, leaving oh so much to his naughty imagination. Tonight she had opted for a denim skirt that went to her knee, putting Draco in a quandary. He wanted her to show off her irresistible thighs, but then, he wouldn�t want her to go out in public like that.

Was he becoming protective? Lord have mercy� he was turning domestic. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that she should hike up her skirt more, but only for him. But he kept his mouth shut, knowing that women probably didn�t like being told what to wear by men.

�Did I tell you that you look stunning tonight?� he chose to say.

Samira dried her hands on a towel and approached Draco predatorily. �Did I tell you that you look stunning every time I see you?� she replied.

Draco smiled and brought her into his arms, taking in her flowery scent that caused most of his brain processes to run into each other in a traffic jam of cognitive proportions.

They still had not� um� done the deed. Kissing that made their eyes water, yes� but no nooky. He wondered why they had waited so long.

�Draco, I think we should clear something up,� Samira said softly, nuzzling her face into his neck. Yeah, she really shouldn�t be doing that if she wanted his undivided attention.

He gently nudged her away before she could feel the affect she was having on him� down south. �Yeah?� he asked.

�I�m sure you�re wondering,� she started, biting that luscious lower lip of hers. �Why we haven�t um, had sex yet.�

�Is that all it would be between us?� Draco asked, unable to believe those words were coming out of his mouth. Who was the female in this relationship? �Just sex?�

Samira shook her head dazedly. �No, it wouldn�t Draco, that�s what I�m trying to say. I don�t want it to be just that� and that�s why I�ve been waiting. I don�t want to ruin what we have by jumping into bed with you. And I don�t want you to think I�m some ice-queen who doesn�t want to jump your bones, because I do.�

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. She sure was being honest.

�Ok, so I sound like a complete skank talking like that, but I just wanted to get it off of my chest. You do understand, don�t you?�

�Yes, I do� and you don�t sound like a skank,� he reassured her, pulling her back into his arms.

She just felt right in his arms� and that thought also scared him. But a good kind of scared.

�I�d ask you to stay the night, but I don�t want you to get your hopes up,� Samira said, muffled against his chest.

�Get my hopes up? You mean we wouldn�t have a slumber party, tell ghost stories, braid each other�s hair, and paint our toenails?� Draco asked, keeping a straight face.

Her laugh made his heart race. Gracious, she could get him all wound up without even trying� little did he know that he was doing just the same to her.

--

Leaning into his embrace, Samira wiped at her eyes, which had grown wet with all her laughter. His arms surrounded her and it felt so good to be with him, relying on his strength� but that was a dangerous road. To depend on a man�

But she felt so wonderful when he held her and caressed her skin with the lightest of touches, sending all the heat of her body towards a central point she wouldn�t mention in front of others.

�We could just talk, I could make some tea,� she said. �I feel silly admitting this, but I just don�t want you to leave yet.�

Draco smiled against her hair. It smelled like� perfection� if that had a smell. �I don�t want to leave either. Put the kettle on and I�ll meet you in the living room.�

She watched him walk into the living room, secretly thanking anything that would listen that Draco had removed his cloak and she could watch his tight behind in those black slacks that hugged him so deliciously.

Samira walked to the refrigerator and stuck her head in the freezer to cool her racy thoughts down. Damn that man and his gargantuan sexual appeal.

She decided to use her wand to boil the water faster and make the Earl Grey tea using loose leaves. She carried the two mugs into her living room to find Draco standing in front of her TV watching with wide eyes.

�What on earth is that, Sami?� he asked, pointing to the screen.

Samira held in a laugh as she watched Draco�s horrified face.

�That�s Melania�s sing-along show. I must have left the tape in there,� she said.

�Children watch this?� he asked with worry. �A red monster looking thing with a high-pitched voice� shit, Sami� this is what nightmares are made of.�

Samira laughed again, diverting Draco�s attention from the television. �That�s just Elmo.�

�Elmo? That thing Melania was crying about last week?�

Samira nodded and placed the mugs of tea on the coffee table. �He�s a puppet, or a nuppet� I forget what it is� oh! A muppet.�

�What the hell�s a muppet?� Draco asked, flopping down onto the leather couch near Samira.

Samira shrugged and scooted closer to Draco on the couch, resting her head on his shoulder. �I have no idea� but Melania loves it and as long as it keeps her happy, then it stays.�

�You really love that kid,� Draco mused, snaking his arm around her shoulders.

Samira couldn�t think of a time she felt more comfortable.

�I do,� Samira said simply.

Draco cleared his throat and his next words surprised her. �Are you ever going to tell me why you have such an aversion to alcohol? I know it�s not just a preference, but I think there�s more to the story than you�ve shared with me.�

Samira released a shaky breath. How long could she keep him in the dark? �Not tonight, Draco. Please?�

He nodded against her and kissed the top of her head. �Fine, another subject. You pick.�

Samira thought for a moment. �I ran into two of your former schoolmates yesterday when I was shopping with Rosa.�

�Yeah? Who were they?� Draco asked, running a finger down her arms and making it hard for her to remember what she was talking about.

�Well one of them accidentally ran into our cart, her name was Ginny and her friend was named Hermione,� Samira said.

Draco choked and sputtered on the sip of tea he was taking. Samira patted him on the back as he coughed up the Earl Grey that went down the wrong pipe.

�You met the she-weasel and the mud� and Granger?� he said, his cheeks pink from nearly choking to death.

Samira looked at him with her big brown eyes. �They seemed very nice� until I told them that I was your girlfriend.�

�They weren�t rude to you, were they?� he asked, a hint of anger taking over his voice.

Samira put her hand to his cheek and leaned over to kiss his other cheek. �No, but they didn�t understand what a nice girl like me was doing with a rascal like you,� she said with a jesting smile.

Draco relaxed under her soft touch. �I still don�t understand,� he replied.

Samira scoffed at this. �You are a magnificent person, Draco� it doesn�t matter what you were like in school or what you did. What matters is the person you are now. We�ve all made mistakes and we all have things in our pasts that we regret. Don�t allow anyone to let you think poorly of yourself for what has already happened.�

Draco felt like he had heard a similar speech from her, but thought that they spoke so much that things were bound to be repeated.

�Now, no more self-pitying,� Samira said in the same tone she used to scold Melania.

�Ok, Auntie Tham,� Draco laughed.

His laugh and smile made her want to grab his face and kiss his lips until they were chapped�

Which was precisely what she did.

-------------------------------------------

Samira looked around the massive dining room of Malfoy Manor as she was led by Narcissa and Lucius. Draco kept a firm grip on her hand, keeping her from completely hyperventilating.

She knew that the Dark Lord had once used this very house as a hideout towards the end of the war. But that wasn�t the thing that scared her� she was excitably nervous that she would screw up in front of Draco�s parents.

She wiped her sweaty palm against the light green cocktail dress she had bought on a whim. It rounded her shoulders with winged straps and fell down to her knees, hugging her curves modestly.

At the door, Narcissa had embraced her immediately, since they had already met once, they were practically family, according to Narcissa, of course.

Lucius pretty much epitomized the meaning of aristocratic gentleman. His charming smile and superb manners were not what Samira expected from Voldemort�s old crony.

They ushered the young couple into the dining room where Samira spotted Blaise sitting next to an extremely dolled up, but beautiful woman and a man who seemed to be half her age sitting on the other side of her.

Introductions were thrown around quickly and before she knew it, she was sitting in between Draco and Narcissa, facing Blaise and his clearly dysfunctional family.

The first course:

�So, Samira, Draco tells us you work for your father�s company,� Lucius started as he made polite conversation.

Samira nodded and dabbed at her mouth with the napkin in her lap. �I head the potions division for his apothecary company.�

�Oh, a working woman?� Blaise�s mother, Esmeralda, said. She used a tone that assured Samira that it was not good to be a working woman.

Samira smiled politely, but she knew deep down that she could never fit in with the likes of the extravagantly wealthy purebloods.

Narcissa raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. �What�s wrong with being a working woman, Esmeralda?�

The dark-haired woman waved a hand in the air. �Nothing, nothing. I�m old-fashioned, darling. Don�t pay me any mind. I�ve always been an advocate for a woman taking care of her household.�

Blaise rolled his eyes so that only Draco, Samira and Narcissa saw his action. Samira and Draco suppressed laughs.

�Would you make her quit, Draco?� Esmeralda�s young husband asked. He seemed very arrogant and perfect for a woman like Blaise�s mother.

Draco cleared his throat and stilled his hand which was moving a fork around on his plate. �I beg your pardon?�

�Would you make Miss Dunvale quit her job to take care of the household?� he asked again.

Samira would have laughed out loud, if it were appropriate. But it wasn�t appropriate.

�I wouldn�t ever force her to do anything she didn�t want to do. She has a mind of her own and can make decisions better than any man I�ve ever met,� he said solidly.

Samira wanted to pounce on him right there and then and lay the biggest kiss on him that she could manage. Good thing she had a bit of self-control.

A house-elf walked around and poured each of them a glass of wine. Samira�s eyes widened slightly, her brain quickly trying to figure out how to not drink the offending drink and not insult the Malfoys.

�Oh, we don�t drink,� Draco said, being the chivalrous, noble man that she was starting to fall for� fast.

Lucius bit back a laugh and miserably failed. �Since when, son?�

Draco shrugged his shoulders. �I�ve given it up and Samira doesn�t drink either.�

Narcissa could read her son better than anyone could imagine. She hid a knowing smile and ordered the house-elf to serve Draco and Samira some freshly made mango juice.

�Draco,� Blaise started to say, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. �You must tell my mother how handy you are with a nappy and baby bottle.�

Draco narrowed his eyes at his best friend, but quickly replaced it with a half-smile.

Blaise recounted their adventure in babysitting Melania, using his good-natured humor and wit. He ended on the note where they found Melania washing her hands in the toilet and using a cup she found to pour the water out onto the floor.

�That reminds me, Draco,� Narcissa said after laughing for a good whole minute. �When will I get to see that precious girl again? Or better yet, when am I going to see my own grandch--�

�Mum,� Draco warned.

Narcissa raised both of her eyebrows in mirth. �Oh, come now, Draco. We all know you and Samira are made for each other.�

Draco groaned and placed his face in his hands. He didn�t want to scare Samira off, but his mother�s matchmaking prowess was an event unable to be reigned in.

Samira swallowed the lump in her throat as the conversation turned towards a point where she really did not want to go. And for reasons no one would understand.

�Your father and I were married within a month of courtship,� Narcissa rambled. �Any idiot can see that you two can�t keep your eyes off of each other, even Blaise can see it.�

Blaise laughed at the insult and winked at Draco. Samira�s cheeks were beyond pink and her heart was racing, hoping that the conversation wouldn�t go towards the dreaded, dreaded subject.

Another groan. Draco removed his face from his hands and glowered at his mother. �So, anyways, what�s this I hear about you and father going on a cruise around the Mediterranean?�

�Don�t go changing the subject,� Esmeralda said from the other side of the table. �I wish Blaise would finally settle down with a girl and continue the Zabini line.�

Blaise snorted very ungraciously. �Just one girl, mum? How boring. But then again, you can�t expect me to settle with just one girl when you�re my role model.�

Esmeralda shook her head at her son and rolled her eyes in the same manner that he did.

�Back to what I was saying,� Narcissa said, her pastel blue eyes becoming brighter as she talked more and more about the subject dear to her heart� grandkids.

�Mum, I really don�t think this is appropriate dinner conversation. Displaying my relationship with Samira around like this. You�re making her uncomfortable,� he said, his frustration slowly ebbing into his tone.

Narcissa turned to Samira. �Am I making you uncomfortable, dear?�

Narcissa was so sweet that Samira just shook her head.

�See?� Narcissa said, a smug look on her face.

Draco sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand.

�Now, Draco, don�t be so difficult. I just want to see you settled down and happy. You�re getting older and I don�t want you to wait forever to have kids,� Narcissa said.

Draco thought about the different ramifications for the things he wanted to do: suicide, homicide, just to name a few. With another drawn out sigh, he gave in. �Ok, mum. Whatever you say.�

�I�m serious, Draco. Oh, just forget it, it�s pointless talking to you,� Narcissa said. �Samira, dear, what about you?�

Samira folded her hands in her lap, avoiding eye contact with anybody but the empty plate in front of her. �What about me?�

�Do you understand what I�m trying to explain? You and Draco remind me so much of Lucius and myself that it�s pretty much idiocy not to mention your future with him. I just have that mother�s intuition where I know you two are in it for the long-run.�

Samira nodded and thanked the heavens that the conversation steered clear of Narcissa�s favorite subject� grandkids.

Lucius cleared his throat, sounding so much like Draco. �Narcissa, pet, I think they get the point.�

Narcissa huffed and shut her mouth. Lucius had the ability to command anyone and anything in the politest way possible.

�Where did you two meet?� Esmeralda asked, having enjoyed the conversation she was watching. It was better than her stories.

�I met Samira at a pub near my penthouse,� Draco clarified.

�I thought you said you didn�t drink,� Blaise said with a smirk.

�That�s right� that was the last time I touched the stuff,� he said.

�How sweet,� Esmeralda said with a grin. �Now, Samira, Blaise told me what a good aunt you are to your little niece. Do you like children?�

Samira nodded and her stomach clenched at the direction the conversation was reverting back to. Damn it all.

�I take care of her when her parents are busy and I�ve always liked children, so Melania is such a blessing to have around,� Samira said.

�Do you plan to have children?� Esmeralda asked.

Draco could practically feel the air in the room change. Samira had tensed in her seat, her breathing changing rhythm and her blinking becoming extremely rapid. He placed a comforting hand on her thigh beneath the table that didn�t seem to calm her.

Samira swallowed the lump in her throat and seemed to make a decision the way her eyes kept shifting around. �Um, no. I don�t plan to have children.�

Draco was surprised by this revelation, but didn�t show it. Hell, he was shocked. She didn�t plan on having kids?

Esmeralda and Narcissa showed their shock quite clearly.

Esmeralda sputtered, �But, why ever not?�

Draco instantly wished he had never brought Samira to his parents� house for dinner. He looked over at Blaise who also seemed to notice the tears stinging the back of her eyes and her shaky hands.

Samira took a steadying breath. �If you�ll excuse me,� she said and before Draco could stop her, jumped out of her seat and practically ran out of the room.

Lucius shook his head and stared angrily at his guests. �Are you lot happy now? You drove the poor girl near tears bringing up things that shouldn�t have been discussed. Draco, excuse yourself and go after her. Bring her back so these two hens can apologize.�

Narcissa and Esmeralda had the decency to feel utter guilt at what had just happened.

Draco glared at his and Blaise�s mother, standing up quickly and leaving the dining room.

He searched the entire bottom floor, looking for Samira and quietly calling her name. He ran into one of the house-elves who said they saw the pretty young woman lock herself in the bathroom on the second floor.

Well, she certainly didn�t mean to run away� but she had wanted to get as far away from the dining room as possible without actually leaving, Draco assumed.

He walked up the grand flight of stairs towards the second landing and approached the bathroom that the house-elf had mentioned.

He knocked on the door and heard a sniff from inside; a tight grip on his heart followed that sound. �Sami?�

He heard another sniff and then the sink turn on with a steady flow of water.

--

�Samira, please open up,� he said through the door. His voice held such gentleness that Samira almost started crying again.

Instead, she wiped her face on a towel and fanned her face, as if that was going to hide the effects of her sobs. She opened the door to find Draco staring at her with the most concern and worry she had ever seen from anyone. And then the damn waterworks came again.

She stepped into his arms and cried into his chest. He rubbed her back and whispered soft reassurances in her ear, all the while kissing her cheeks and the top of her head.

�I�m sorry, Draco,� she said once she had stopped crying and stood in his embrace.

�You have nothing to be sorry for,� he said firmly. �Those two had no right digging into our business and I�m so sorry I brought you here today. I had a feeling they were going to do something like this. It happens every time.�

�Everyone must think I�m some sort of nutso, running off like that,� she admitted. �I don�t know what came over me.�

But she did know�

�Forget them,� he said bitterly. He leaned back and tipped her head up with his finger hooked under her chin.

Her dark eyes were rimmed in red and stood shiny against her features. Her eyelashes had spiked from the moisture and it pretty much broke his heart.

He leaned down and kissed her softly on her pouty lips.

�Let�s get out of here,� he said quietly against her mouth.

Samira shook her head. �I can�t just leave, Draco. We�ll say goodbye to everyone first and then we can go.�

He had to hand it to her. She was made of some pretty strong stuff if she wanted to face everyone again after what had happened. He held her close to him as they walked back to the dining room.

Upon their arrival, Narcissa hugged Samira, apologizing profusely for being so insensitive and for making her feel uncomfortable. Esmeralda apologized too, minus the hug.

�Thank you for dinner,� Samira said quietly. �It was so nice meeting all of you.�

�Sorry to leave so early, but something came up,� Draco lied. �I�ll floo you later in the week, mum.�

And with that, Samira and Draco left the manor and walked out to the Apparition point.

Outside of Samira�s door to her flat, Draco ran a finger down her cheek and looked into the depths of her eyes which held so much sadness and so much mystery, that he didn�t even know what to say.

There were a million questions running through his head, primarily, what had prompted her reaction back at the manor and what she meant by saying she didn�t plan to have kids. She seemed to have noticed the inquisitiveness in his eyes, so she looked away from him and stared past his shoulder.

Leaning up on her toes, she kissed his lips and mumbled a lame goodnight, claiming exhaustion.

He nodded in agreement and watched her walk into her flat, wondering to himself when he was going to finally going to learn the truth.

It really interested him that he had to know the truth� because he was falling for her. Shit� he was falling for her so hard, that when he finally hit the ground, it had better be cushioned.
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Don't Embrace the Past