The door swings open and there is his mother, if I didn't say it already she's gorgeous. Long black hair that shines down her back, she wears a dazzling knee length red dress. The deep v-neck is embellished with beautiful black stitching and beads. Draco pulls open the door and she waves to me.
"Hello Pearrrrl."
"Good evening." I remember my manners. She smiles and usher's us inside the huge house. I wonder if I'll get to meet Draco's father and little brother. I know his little brothers sick and doesn't go to school. She leads us to their living room and the door creeks open. There, above the fire place a big banner says "Happy birfday Pearl" in big scrawling print. A smile creeps over Draco's mothers face.
"He wanted so much to greet you but Cygnus feel asleep just before you came." Her face is kind and loving as she says this.
I sit with Draco as his mother runs to the kitchen. We sit in silence and I wonder exactly where his thoughts are.
"Draco?" He nods. "Whats wrong?"
"Nothing Pearrrrl I just wish my brotherrrr wasn't so sick. He makes mama so worrried."
"Is there no cure?" I wish I hadn't asked. His face tightens and the soft look leaves his eyes.
I gaze uncomfortably around the dimly lit room. 2 black leather couches and a matching leather armchair, 3 tall bookcases and countless old portraits line the walls. A huge mahogany table is waiting for us. Before he can answer his mama bustles in with a tray of steaming something. She See's me eyeing it up and laughs.
"It's a spring roll."
"All I know is it isn't glorp log" We all laugh. I pick up the strange little tube of pastry and bite into it. A strange tast floods my mouth. "mmmm real food" and we all laugh harder.
"We arrrrre almost rrready to eat, we'rrrre just waiting forrr Papa." Draco purrs in my ear as his mother bustles out again. It's silent for awlee and Draco excuses himself to take the plate back to his mother. I sit and wait for him. My heart leaps into my throat when the door is pushed back on its hinges. It creeks loudly and a little boy wanders in. He's pale, deathly pale. His skin is almost transparent. He clutches tightly to a book.
"Hello Pearrrrl." His voice is so soft I have to lean forward to hear him. "Will you read to me?"
He climbs into my lap and hands me the book. I read to him about a Bunny rabbit (whatever that is, I have a faint memory of a earth holiday) that is a vampire. Several days ago I found a book in my locker called Dracula and the 2 books sound similar. But Dracula is about a man not a rabbit. We read on until Cygnus falls asleep in my lap. I Finnish reading the book while I wait for Draco. When I look up I see Draco, his mother and father, tears shining in their eyes standing in the door way.
"I'm I'm sorry." I stammer.
"What for?" Draco's Papa's voice is deep and even like his son's. "This is a gift you have given us! Cygnus hasn't come out of his bed in 2 weeks." I look down at the sleeping child in my lap. Draco sits beside me on the sofa and his father sets the table. Cygnus wakes up and starts to cry.
"whats wrong ?" Draco's mother is beside us in a minute.
"I wanna sit at the table with Pearrrl." with shaking hands she rushes out to set another place at the table. Draco takes my hand and we start to talk about the teachers in our school. His father comes in and leads us to the table carrying Cygnus.
As we eat Draco's family asks me questions and Cygnus watches me eat.
"So where were you born?"
"On earth." They look at me surprised.
"I was sent here after my father left my mother and she thought there was going to be a war."
They nod. "Both my parents where scientists." Draco's father looks at me with his intense stare and the words die on my tongue. Thankfully we can pretend to be to busy chewing to talk.
"This is really good Mrs. Tega. Um what is it?"
"the white lumps are mashed potatoes, the green stuff is asparagus and the other thing is..."
"chicken!" I almost yell
"Yes its chicken."
"I used to love chicken. I love yours Mrs. Tega." A happy mood descends on our dinner and stays until the desert when a strange thought occurs to me. "Hey Draco why do you and your brother have star names if you guys where born on earth." The room falls silent. Cygnus left during supper and we are just finishing off a desert called ice cream as we lounge in the leather sofas. Mrs. Tega talks first.
"Pearl there are secr..."
Mr. Tega's hand clamps around her mouth. And he whispers something into her ear. She nods at Draco and he puts a hand on my neck. Very slowly he takes my pules then writes out a note.
Are you wearing any
jewelry from your aunt?
Nod if you are.
I nod and point to my earrings he pulls them out and crushes them. I realize if they where trakkers he just destroyed my last hope for help if I get in trouble.







