Chapter Thirty-One – Pura Solum 5th October 1978
Landing with a thud in Diagon Alley, Izabella stumbled slightly, pulling away from Lucius' strong arms as he tried to steady her. She ruffled her hair then gasped quietly as she looked up at the restaurant in front of them.
“Lucius! We can't eat here.”
“Why not?” he questioned with a frown.
“Have you seen what I'm wearing?” Izabella hissed. Lucius sighed and wrapped her arm through his.
“You look wonderful.” he said quietly as he lead her inside.
“Mister Malfoy! It's wonderful to see you again.” gushed a tall, thin blonde woman, smoothing out her green and black waitress uniform as she approached them.
“Good afternoon Lucy.” Lucius replied politely.
“Mister Malfoy, I have your table prepared.” said a small balding man, gesturing towards the back of the restaurant, before grasping Lucius' hand and shaking it firmly.
“Thank you Anthony. Let me introduce you to Miss Izabella Prince.”
“It's a pleasure.” Anthony replied, taking Izabella's hand delicately as she smiled in response.
“Shouldn't you be in Potions class?” Lucy joked with a girlish giggle.
“Shouldn't you be serving people their food?” Izabella retorted icily, pursing her lips and arching her eyebrow. As the girl began to stutter before her, Izabella inclined her head then made her way towards their table, her head held proudly and her teeth clenched. She buried her face in a menu then waited for Lucius to be seated before glaring at him fiercely.
“Why did we have to come here Lucius?” she snapped.
“Because it's excellent food.” he replied innocently. Izabella responded with an unelegant snort and a shake of her head. “You have the wrong idea about me Izabella.”
“Anyone would get the wrong idea about someone who eats at 'Only Pure'. Everyone knows it's where the Death Eaters have their meetings.”
“Izabella-”
“I'm not a child Lucius. I know about everything. The Order do-”
“As in the Order of the Phoenix?” Lucius said in a sharp voice. His eyes stared into hers, his face tense and his fists curled. Izabella swallowed loudly and shrugged.
“Izabella, tell me-”
“No Lucius! I'm not doing this. I'm not giving you information, nor am I trying to get information from you. If you want to be friends with me-”
“I don't want to be friends with you.” he said, his eyes filled with emotion and his lips curled into a sad smile. Izabella sighed, her head tilting to one side.
“I don't know what you want anymore.” she said quietly as a waiter approached their table to take their order.
Their dinner arrived and they held a pleasant conversation, mostly general things about Izabella's return to Hogwarts. Their table was cleared and for a moment there was silence. Then Lucius reached across the table suddenly and grabbed Izabella's hand.
“I miss you.” he said quietly. Izabella sighed but didn't remove her hand from his grasp.
“Lucius, I can't. Not now, that I know what you're a part of.”
“I'm doing the right thing Izabella. For me and my family.”
“And what about the families of your victims? Are you doing the right thing for them?”
“Don't say it like that-”
“But that's how it is Lucius!”
“Izabella please. I'm not asking you to be a part of it.”
“But it's a part of you.” she whispered. Lucius groaned and ran his fingers through his hair.
“You know me Izabella! It isn't who I am.”
“Then stop. Don't do it.”
“I have to. I'm not as strong as you are.”
“You haven't even tried to say no Lucius.”
“He will kill me Izabella. And my father.” he said desperately. “We're Purebloods. It's expected of us.”
“Do you agree with the things he says?”
“Yes.”
Izabella shook her head and stood up quickly.
“Wait! Hear me out.” he said grasping the top of her arm. “I agree with what he says. Not what he does.”
“It's the same thing!” she said, attempting to pull herself out of his hold.
“Izabella I love you.”
She stopped struggling and looked at him through blank eyes.
“You don't Lucius. If you did, you wouldn't become one of them.”
She turned sharply on her heels and strode out of the restaurant and into Diagon Alley. Lucius ran after her, grabbing her shoulder and forcing her to turn towards him.
“Lucius let me go.”
“Say you don't love me and I will.” There was a pause, before he smiled smugly. “I thought so.”
Before she could protest, Lucius' lips engulfed hers, his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her close against his chest. Eventually, she stopped attempting to make a rational thought and instead wrapped her arms around his neck, melting against his frame.
After a lifetime, her lips were freed and she breathed heavily as he rested his forehead against hers, their bodies still pressed against each other.
“Thank you.” he whispered, pressing a kiss on top of her head.
“I've not forgiven you yet.”
“I can wait.” he said, smiling down at her as he winked. Izabella sighed and stepped away from him.
“I need to think Lucius.”
“I understand.” he mumbled, giving her a one armed squeeze and breathing in the smell of her hair as he did so. Izabella rolled her eyes and grabbed his hands, disapparating back to Hogsmede.
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