This is post-Hogwarts story, with flashbacks to school times. Main characters: Draco Malfoy, Theo Nott, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass.

I try to unravel what is in crooked Slytherin's minds and it's not always pleasant so it's for mature readers.

English is not my mother tonque and I'm afraid there can be a lot of mistakes. Don't hesitate to correct me, especially if sth is hard to understand. I need beta... desperately. Any volunteers? :)

Thanks for reading and, well... Maybe review?

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Disclaimer: All rights belongs to J. K. Rowling. All canon characters, plot and situations are not owned by me. I make no profits from this story.

Warning: Story rated M for language, violence and graphic sexual scenes.

This chapter is rated T.

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"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

CHAPTER 1

Malfoy Manor, 10th March, 2004

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True Slytherins were proud of lack of emotions, coolness and complete indifference during ordinary every day conversations. And Theodore Nott was genuine Slytherin, at least when it came to unconcerned behaviour. But this time, even for him it was impossible to stay neutral.

Maybe – just maybe – the reason behind that was the fact that Draco Malfoy asking a favor was not an ordinary every-day thing. Even if he was going to ask his best friend. Even if it would be a simple question, unlike this time when he was actually pleaded of help.

They were sitting in the living room at Malfoy Manor, several bottles of beer were on the table. Theo nearly choked while tried to swallow the liquid and at the same time Draco eventually expressed his ridiculous statement.

„Hell, no".

Draco hissed with disapproval. Obviously, he was not accustomed to hearing refuse.

„Don't overreact, Nott. I'm not asking you to shag worthless Hufflepuff or worse... A bloody Gryffindor".

„Why suddenly call them names. I've got an impression that you are in good terms with Gryffindors now", his friend replied.

Draco should know, Nott said it just to buy some time and invent a proper answer but he didn't realize that yet. In fact, he felt like he was attacked and had to defend himself. „I'm in good terms with some of them at work. But it has nothing to do with shagging."

Nott narrowed his eyes like he was pissed but Draco hadn't have enough time to think what was the reason behind this. Blaise who appeared in his chimney just a seconds before, sat down on the armchair next to his.

„When it comes to shagging Gryffindors, I can volunteer", he offered.

„Sure you do", Draco commented while Nott remained silent. Surely, he was angry and Draco started to wonder when did he say something wrong. It was not easy to piss off Theo Nott and, despite he tried it several times and never succeed, he as hell hasn't needed to succeed now. He hated to admit it even to himself but he did need Nott's help.

„So, have you seduced Hermione Granger?", Blaise asked. „Or maybe she made it to seduce you?"

Draco was too surprised by that to show any anger. He just gazed at his dark-skinned friend with concern.

„Are you mad, Zabini? One of your ex-lovers finally have cursed you?", he reached out his hand in a sign of peace. „How many fingers can you see?"

Blaise sent him a crooked smile.

„Very funny", he said. „Don't play games, Malfoy, just admit that you are fascinated with that bushy-haired Gryffindor and you need someone to fuck her so you will be able to get over her".

Draco stayed calm. Very unusual of him because, despite he was a Slytherin, he always was short-tempered. „What makes you think that?"

Now Blaise looked uncertain.

„Well, you are talking about getting laid with a Gryffindor so..."

Eventually, Draco's lost his patience.

„Fuck, Blaise, you are so narrow-minded. Are there any thoughts in your brain which are not involved with sex?", he hissed.

Zabini looked confused.

„So what were you talking about?", he tried to arrange pieces together. „Sleeping with whom?"

Draco took into consideration the idea to hex him so he just shut up and it will be possible to finish this conversation. But he decided to solve it another way, especially when he noted dark Nott's gaze on Zabini's face. Better not to initiate casting spells.

„You listen carefully...", Nott started in low voice but Draco immediately cut him off.

„It is not about sleeping with anyone and it has nothing to do with Gryffindors", he explained. But he was curious so, instead of clarifying misunderstanding, he asked. „ What makes you think that I am fascinated with Hermione Granger?"

He considered it the most reasonable question during this ridiculous conversation but Blaise looked somehow surprised.

„Well, you meet her every day at work and for a while I haven't heard you complain about her sapient attitude or called her names. I've started to think you have a crush on her. But don't worry, that could be worse, back at Hogwart's we all were sure that you have been madly in love with The Boy Who..."

Well, here we are. Everything was clear at least.

„Shut up, Blaise. I don't have time for those rubbish", he said in a warning tone. „I can face you later and you will lose that duel like you always do. But now, I have a serious issue here to resolve".

Dark-skinned wizard shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something what sounded like „We will see".

Draco turned his gaze to Nott who looked like his usual indifferent self. „I suggest you take it into consideration. My future marriage depends on it".

Blaise made a sound like he was choking and both his schoolfriends turned their eyes to him. „Alright, now I'm really curious. Can you please tell me what is going on?".

Draco gave up. He didn't want Blaise to be involved, he hasn't even know that Zabini will come today – and it reminded him that he should shorten the list of people allowed to enter Malfoy Manor via chimney network.

But Blaise was here already so it's better to just tell him what was going on and he would shut up. At least, he should be.

„You know, next week I throw the party to announce my engagement officially. There will be a diviner", said Draco and he wasn't surprised when his friend furrowed brow, „I know what you are going to say but Mr. Greengrass insisted to hire him so he do this hokus-pokus and set up the best date for a wedding, all those ancient rubbish... That family is so old-fashioned that even my mother thinks they are ridiculous. That's not the point. The point is: I am going to get married in three months and I won't let Daphne to get on my way. I need someone to distract her so I will..."

Blaise grinned.

„Distract her by shagging?", he asked. „I can do that".

„You say it once again and you won't be able to do that with anyone for the rest of your life, Zabini", Nott hissed. He already had a wand in his hand but hadn't pointed it at dark-skinned wizard yet. It looked rather like he pulled it from the pocket of his robe out of boredom. „Do I make myself clear?"

„Yeah", Blaise said with a frown. „What is up with you two today? I've just tried to cheer you up because you both act somewhat weird".

„Then stop", Draco insisted. „It is my future sister-in-law, you are talking about. I would like to make it real and that's why I need my best friend's help", he emphasized the end of this sentence looking directly at Nott who hasn't reacted at all. „Astoria is trying to postpone the wedding because she is so damn loyal... And she says that if she is going to get married, her older sister should at least date someone."

Blaise snorted up.

„You are dead, man. You should be smart enough to know that this is the polite way to say: screw you. Daphne was damn Ice Queen back at Hogwart's, I don't think she could change that much".

It was very unusual but Nott looked like he approved Zabini's words.

Draco was satisfied to disappoint both of them.

„Well, you are wrong because she actually was dating a guy almost as long as I am meeting up with Astoria. I've met him couple of times, he was at the same year at Hogwart's as we were. He also tried to hex me during the battle", he added.

„His name?", Nott asked in bored tone.

„Terry Boot", Draco replied. „Damn Ravenclaw. But he hasn't succeed and he as hell regretted that".

No one put attention into his last statement. Maybe this way it was better because everyone knew that he was not that great with duels in shool days.

„I'm not surprised at that", Blaise interfered. „It appears any of Slytherins was good enough for her so she turned to those bookworms. What a shame".

Draco smirked.

„For you or for her?", he asked with malice. „You chasted after her until we graduated".

„To the beginning of 6th year, actually", it seemed like Blaise was pleased that he can correct his friend. „Don't forget, she quit Hogwart's right after that. Maybe English school was also not good enough so she choose the Beauxbatons... And at this point, you are right, it's a shame for her".

Draco hasn't said anything pretended not to notice that Blaise turned his words, which was supposed to humiliate him, in another direction.

„It was smart thing to do while Hogwart's was full of Deatheaters", Nott pointed out.

Draco looked at him with surprise. He would rather expect Zabini to say something like that because Blaise has never had anything to do with Deatheaters. No when things've turned in a serious way. Not during the battle. Unlike Nott. And Blaise could be able to remind it now, to take his revenge for threats, so to prevent that Draco decided to cut it off.

„It can't be that you still fancy her, Nott. Am I wrong?". He put it in those words in purpose, hoping to catch the wizard in a trap. Draco Malfoy was quite easy to read by his facial expression but he still has been sorted to Slytherin for a reason.

„I've never fancied her", the dark-haired wizard said in response.

Draco smirked. He was not going to give up so easily.

„Of course not. You two behaved like two damn love birds but it hasn't meant anything".

This time Nott let himself smile viciously.

„I know it infuriated you. It was part of fun. But why are you dwelling on it now when you know what true love is?

Of course it was attack but Draco hasn't have to respond. Blaise miffed loudly.

„Please. He is not able to love anyone but himself", he said and then turned to face him. „You are doing this only because your mother thinks she is so perfect for you, right? And maybe just a little bit because she is so damn attractive with her big...", he reached out his hands to make clear what he's have in his mind but then he was not able to move them because his arms numbed. „Fuck you, Malfoy".

„You better watch your attitude, otherwise you are really going to lose a valuable part of your body or even two or three at once".

Blaise's gaze expressed a lot of his thoughts but he was smart enough to not speak any of them loudly. Draco hesitated for several seconds and then cut the spell.

He was ready to defend in case Blaise would pull out his own wand but he didn't.

„I've been right, you two are acting weird lately", he said with amusement in his voice. Draco was really curious what he was thinking about. „Can we get back to the... eee... dating Daphne conversation?".

Draco furrowed his brow. „I'm not talking about this with you because you are the very last person I would ask, right after Pansy and my own mother", he said and turned to face Nott. „So, do we have a deal?"

Nott hasn't even blinked. „Of course not".

Draco almost growled with frustration. Why this man has to be so difficult, that particular mystery still remained unresolved. „Alright, no date. But do me the littest favor ever and talk to her during the party, right after divination. You distract her, I talk to Astoria so she agree in advance to set up a date in June instead of asking her annoyingly overprotective sister for permission. Is that really too much for you?"

Both his friends reacted parallel.

„How are you so sure what will diviner say?", Nott asked.

„Why in such a hurry? Have you really fallen for her?", was what Blaise asked with shock.

Draco forced himself to not show irritation.

„No Blaise, I'm not in love with her", he answered showing anything but patience. „And what do you think, Nott? I bribed him and it wasn't cheap so everything will be according to my fucking will. Anything else?"

„I talk to her. Once. I won't ask her out and you better won't mention it ever again", Nott said in a serious tone.

Draco couldn't be content with that statement but he knew better than argue with that.