Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Harry Potter series. Happy now??
Draco's Dilemma
It was past midnight, hours before Draco Malfoy had fallen asleep but something was obviously bothering him. He kept tossing and turning and moaning, something that wasn't quite normal for him. There were no bed bugs, no illness, so it must be a nightmare…
OoOoO
"Today is lovely isn't it?" asks Pansy. The two of use were walking down Diagon Alley. I was loaded with her shopping bags which I humbly offered to carry for her. My arms feel like they're going to fall off.
"I suppose," I say, trying to maintain a cheerful tone. I am bored. Shopping isn't something I particularly enjoy but my mother and Pansy insisted I go on an outing for the day. Like I really need fresh air. I get enough of that thank you very much.
We just reach the owl emporium when I notice some slim, blonde girl, standing across the street, is staring straight at me. I can't see her face properly since she's wearing over-sized shades but in her rather small hands, I can see she's holding a camera, much like the one that slime, Colin Creevy used to take with him. She lifts it up and takes a picture of me. Click.
I stand there, frozen. Since when did I have a stalker?
"Draco, are you all right?" She takes a hold of my hand and tried to pull me around to face her. But I ignore her. And I don't budge.
"Hey! Hey you!" I call to the girl. She smiles, as though my attention was pleasing, and takes another photo. And then another one. Click. Click.
"Stop!"
Pansy, who just caught on to what was happening, started yelling too.
"HEY! HOW DARE YOU TAKE OUR PHOTO!? I DON'T EVEN HAVE MAKE-UP ON!"
The girl stops grinning, and starts to run. I notice her high, pointy high heels. How can she run so fast in those?
I grab Pansy's hand and we sprint after her, yelling "Stop, come back!"
But no matter how much we called, she just wouldn't stop. In my frustration, I extracted my wand from robes and yelled"Stumbeleous!" aiming straight for her feet.
Just as I hoped for, she tripped and fell flat on her face. She tried to get up but by then, Pansy and I had caught up to her.
Pansy pulled out her wand too and pointed it at the stalkers throat.
"Who are you?! And why are you taking pictures of me?!" I ask furiously, glaring at her. The girl stands up, dusts herself off and sighs.
"My name is Jenny," she says, taking off her glasses. Now I see her eyes are light brown and she has rosy cheeks. "And, isn't it obvious why I want your picture?" She bats her lashes.
What the hell does she mean by that?!
I give her the most bewildered expression I could muster and say "It's supposed to be obvious why some stranger is stalking me?!"
Pansy starts scowling heavily and I can feel her hand stiffening in mine. Did she realize something I didn't?
"You're after my boyfriend aren't you!?" She looked ready to kill.
"Well, actually, no. Although I'd love it if he would dump you for me…everyone would prefer us to be together."
"No one says that!" Pansy went from furious to livid in a matter of seconds. It's a bit creepy now that I think about it.
"Well look at me. I'm gorgeous. Now look at you. You have a face that looks like a pug!"
"Urgh! You stupid, shallow cow! Draco would never want someone like you! You should go to h-"
"Pansy! Shut up and let her finish!" I shout. She stops talking instantly and looks at me as though I've slapped her. It's not my fault! She is bloody annoying sometimes.
"I sell your photos. Yours, Harry Potters, Hermione Grangers, Ron Weasleys… anyway, I make good money."
"So you stalk us?! All of us?!"
"Just the popular people. Not scum like your girlfriend. I'd dump her if I were you." She smirks at Pansy whose hands ball into fists. But I give her a "Don't say anything" look and she unwillingly obeys.
"So, so girls like you buy my picture?" I say in my calmest voice.
"Yeah. Some are in the business of 'stalking' and snapping the pictures. Others buy them for ten galleons each, minimum."
"And just how do you track me everywhere?" I stare sternly at her. She laughs.
"I can't tell you everything! Then I'll be out of business!"
"You're already out of business! You think I'm going to let you sell my pictures?" Honestly. How stupid is she?
"You may have caught me but there are loads of photographers-"
"Stalkers." I correct her.
"Fine, stalkers out there in the market."
"Will you help me stop them?"
"No." Jenny smiles sweetly at me. I impulsively seize her wrist and hold her so that she looks me straight in the eye. She squeals with delight.
"I never dreamed I'd be touched by you! I think I'm going to faint!"
"Please do. Then I can dump you in the rubbish bin where you belong without you making a fuss," Pansy mutters crossly, folding her arms. Jenny shoots an angry glare at her.
"Tell me who's doing this. Now."
"I'm sorry Draco. If I rat out my colleagues, I'll never get another photo."
"You shouldn't EVER take another picture!"
Jenny pulled her wrists from my grip, frowning.
"But you're so… so…" she seemed to flounder for the right word.
"Whatever you're going to say, I don't want to hear it ok?!" Pansy looks as though she's about to burst. "I give the compliments to Draco because I, unlike you, am lucky enough to be with him!"
"But Draco will want to hear how good-looking he is!"
"He doesn't need a slut to tell him that!" Pansy's words are followed by an awkward silence that seemed to last forever. Jenny glowers at her.
"If I'm a slut, I'm a beautiful slut. And if I'm a beautiful slut, you're a hideous whore!"
"Shut up! Both of you!" I yell. To my satisfaction and relief, they listen. "You," I say, pointing at Jenny. "Stop stalking me."
"Look Draco, as much as I love you-"
"You mean lust-" mutters Pansy scathingly.
"-Love you," Jenny said, ignoring Pansy. "I cannot. Now if you'll excuse me-"
"No! You have to make an Unbreakable Vow! Swear to me you'll stop stalking me!"
"An Unbreakable Vow? Draco, it's not that serious."
She backs away from me and Pansy, and I can see her hands slipping into her pockets.
"I'm really sorry Draco," she said, without a trace of regret in her voice and throws black dust in the air.
I start to cough and splutter because some of the dust got in my mouth and up my nose. "Darkness powder!" I manage to say.
I feel around and grab Pansy's arm and together we race out of the darkness. But Jenny disappeared.
"NOOO!" It's not fair! If this were Potter instead of me, he'd have caught Jenny, for sure. Pansy tries to comfort me.
"It's all right Draco. Don't worry. Even if they are taking your picture, there are some good things about it."
"Like what," I say sharply. She doesn't answer.
"Well?" I demand, poking her with my index finger.
"Well, I suppose this means we're famous!" My jaw drops. Famous? Of all the things she could have said to comfort me, this was the stupidest of them all.
She sees the look on my face and says "What? Isn't being famous nice? I mean, I like it."
And she accused Jenny of being shallow.
"Pansy, I don't want a stalker! I don't want to be followed around by beautiful women twenty-four seven. They can admire me as much as they please since I am admirable, but I don't want them stalking me! Pansy…" I take a deep breath. "We're over. I'm done with you."
Predictable Pansy gasps and starts sobbing. I feel a bit ashamed for being so blunt.
"Here," I say, handing her the carrier bags. She takes them, sets them down on the ground and wipes her eyes. Sticking out of one of them is an envelope marked Draco Malfoy.
"Pansy, what is that?"
"Oh! Err… nothing," she says hastily, blushing furiously.
"Accio," I cry and the envelope flies at me to my outstretched hands. I open the envelope. At least a dozen pictures of me, some them are me without a shirt, fall out.
"You buy these pictures?" I gape at Pansy as though she's grown an extra head.
"Of course not!"
"You couldn't resist buying a picture of me half naked and couldn't bring yourself to tell me about these being sold to begin with." My voice is cold, and I know my expression is cold. I can see Pansy is freezing even thought it's a warm day.
"No honestly!"
"Then what?" I say harshly. Pansy sighs.
"I really liked them. I only bought them today, I swear!"
"Right," I say barely containing my fury.
Pansy is about to say something else when we hear the sound of running feet. A whole bunch of them.
"There he is!" Jenny is back with at least fifteen girls with her, all holding cameras. Oh no, this is not good.
They all stare at me for a moment, like I' m some kind of idol then Jenny charges at me with her gang like a bunch of excited horses. Actually, the girl with the long, bony face who's closer to catching me than everyone except Jenny, reminds me of a horse.
I start running for my life, while they come after me, not pausing for a minute. As I run, look back to see how far away they are. Maybe ten feet away or so.
I feel a bit of pity at the sight of Pansy being trampled over by fifteen other girls. But not that much.
Suddenly, I remember I'm a wizard and Apparate home.
"Hi honey, how was the shopping?" my mother's voice calls to me.
"Err… fine!"
I race up to my room and bolt the door. Today was truly scary. I hide in my room with the curtains shut. And I sit brooding on my ended relationsip with Pansy and whether Jenny ever heard of "privacy" before.
The worry about being watched even now is getting to me. I don't think I'll ever be the same again.
OoOoO
Suddenly, he awoke and sat up so fast it was almost as though he'd received an electric shock. It was quite early; the sun wasn't even up yet.
"Phew, it was only a dream," he said, feeling quite relieved. He wiped the cold sweat off his face.
Draco got out of bed, and looked out the window. There was a girl perched in the window frame: a slim blonde girl wearing oversized sunglasses. Her small hands were holding a camera, much like the one used by Colin Creevy. She took a picture. Click.
Hey people! I must give credit when it's due so here's one to Zubi for his great ideas! As always read and review and I'll love you forever. Your reviews make me smile and brighten my day (and surely you like making people smile don't you?).
Thanks again,
- the Chocofreakazoid