Two
Draco returned to the Slytherin common room after his confrontation with Leda disturbed but not shaken. Crabbe and Goyle had not heard Leda's threat to Draco's person and believed that she and Draco had shared a passionate if not romantic interlude. This was a mistaken belief Draco allowed them to have.
Pansy was waiting for him when he appeared.
"What do you think you're doing?" Pansy asked hands on hips.
Draco inwardly groaned, but kept all emotion from his face. "Don't be ridiculous, Pansy," he said in a scathing voice as he tried to push past her.
"Oh, so now I'm ridiculous," she retorted stepping in Draco's way to stop him. "What the hell do you think you're doing with that…that…bitch!"
Draco sighed and dropped his bag into a black leather chair. Crabbe and Goyle took seats on the couch for the best view of the impending argument.
"Yes, Pansy, you're being ridiculous," Draco explained in an unnaturally clam and cold voice. "What difference does it make what I'm doing with Leda? It has nothing to do with you."
"Nothing to do with me!" Pansy shrieked gaining the rest of the common room occupants' attentions. There had been a few watching with interest when Draco entered, but now every pair of Slytherin eyes were watching it's house's highest profile couple fight it out. "I'm your girlfriend, Dracie! If you think I'm just going to lay down and accept it while you go off with another girl, you've got another thing coming!"
Draco rolled his eyes at the unnecessary drama Pansy was creating for herself. She acted as though they were married. She had to known that a Malfoy was better than a Parkinson any day which meant their relationship was going nowhere. She didn't really expect the two of them getting married one day. It was very amusing.
Before Draco knew what was coming, a stinging pain on his left cheek forced his head to whip around. He touched the reddening flesh gingerly as he turned to find Pansy standing with a purple face and raised hand. "This is not funny, Draco Malfoy! Don't you dare smirk at me while I'm dying inside! Have you ever once considered how your actions hurt me?"
Draco dropped his hand heavily, and everyone leaned back preparing for the whiplash that Draco's temper would create. It was true. The moment Pansy had slapped him something had gone off in his head, but rather than uncontrollable rage he felt a cool understanding fall over him.
He grabbed Pansy's wrist roughly and forced her backwards until she fell back into a seat. Draco saw the fear in her eyes, and in their reflection he could see his enraged self staring back at him.
"Listen to me carefully," Draco ordered talking calmly into her face loud enough that everyone could hear. "I don't give a damn about you, Pansy. I never have, and I never will." Tears started to form in her eyes at his harsh honesty. "I was only using you, but now you're usefulness had outlived my interest."
"Dracie, don't say that!" She whimpered as tears began to fall down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, alright. I'm sorry for hitting you, but I just love you so much. We can work this out!"
Pansy tried to caress his face with her still restrained hand, but Draco tightened his grip harshly and kept it from reaching its goal.
"No," he said in a cool tone. "We are done, Pansy! I've never considered you my girlfriend. You were only someone I could go to when I need a certain itch scratched." Draco heard some of the boys chuckle at that comment. "You've been good for nothing even that. So leave me alone!"
Draco shook her wrist to drive home the point before releasing it, grabbing his bag, and turning for the door to the common room. He saw Crabbe and Goyle rise to follow him, but he held them off with a motion of his hand. He needed to cool off before he was around people, but at least things were unequivocally at an end with Pansy.
This all occurred on a Monday. The next Saturday was declared a Hogsmead weekend. Somewhere between Leda's threat and the end of his "break up" with Pansy, Draco had decided that he would be taking Leda on a date that day.
This decision was the reason Draco on Wednesday night approached Leda's table in the library. He'd come alone having dismissed Crabbe and Goyle for the evening to terrorize young Gryffindors on their own. He'd pretended to have empowered them to do so without his guidance to keep them from witnessing his interview with their class mate, for, although he didn't really believe she would turn his offer down, he couldn't be certain.
She'd chosen a place in the back of the library where she would not be disturbed frequently by students pulling books, holding whispered conversations, or otherwise meandering and distracting others. She monopolized a whole table to herself, and her books covered almost the entire surface subtly warding off anyone's attempts to join her.
Draco ignored the hint and stood behind the chair across from her while asking, "Might I join you?"
Leda looked up, betrayed her annoyance on her face for a moment, and then returned to the parchment in front of her. Draco took her silence as permission and sat down quickly. Leda ignored him, but he was happy to sit and watch her. He found that recently studying Leda Vieson was becoming his favorite pastime.
Draco had noticed that Leda usually wore her hair up during the week. She would wear it in a ponytail high atop her head as well as low towards her neck, she wore it in a bun with loose bits flying away from her head, and sometimes she would wear that beautiful golden blonde hair in braids. Draco hated those days. It felt as though her hair was being choked and himself right along with it. Tonight it was in a high bun, and her hair was particularly wispy and free.
"What do you want?" She asked abruptly looking up holding her quill above the parchment ready to continue when Draco was gone, something she seem to anticipate very quickly.
Draco didn't hide the disappointment he felt at not being allowed to openly observe her for longer. He remembered his reason for coming, though, and pressed on.
"Saturday we are allowed to visit Hogsmead," he observed.
"Yes?" One syllable betrayed her irritation and sneaking suspicion that Draco was a simpleton.
"I am taking you as my date," Draco asserted rather than form it into a question.
"You believe so, do you?" She returned laying down her quill and leaning back into her chair slowly.
"I want to take you out on a date."
"That much I gathered on my own, but the question is would I care to join you."
"Why wouldn't you?" Draco asked confidently leaning forward resting his elbows on the table.
"Why wouldn't I?" Leda repeated disgustedly. "Why would I? You treat girls like objects rather than people, you act as though you own this school, and after seeing the way you treated Pansy, though I'm not a fan of hers, why would I want anything to do with you?"
"Pansy wasn't my fault," Draco retorted defensively. "She's the one who threw herself at me."
"And that makes it all better does it? You took advantage of what she offered knowing full well that you'd never return anything to her."
It was a commonly known fact among the Slytherin girls that Pansy had made Draco a man the night of the Yule Ball last year. The stupid girl had flown fly on cloud nine for weeks afterwards, but then rumors started to circulate that he was also dallying with some older girls in their house on the side as well then she returned to earth to whine and complain.
"Could I call myself a Slytherin if I didn't?" Draco replied with a smirk.
Leda lifted her eyes to Draco who returned her gaze with intensity. They stared at one another for a moment. The air was charged with the forcefulness of their wills clashing, fighting for dominance.
"No," she replied finally, "I suppose you couldn't."
Draco heard disappointment in her voice, and he felt a little ashamed but for what he didn't know. He felt an uncomfortable mass fall heavily into his stomach making him feel sick and causing pain at the same time. He didn't care for the feeling.
"Come with me to Hogsmead." It was an order rather than a question.
"I'm not interested, Malfoy." She leaned forward and picked up her quill obviously signaling that their interview was over.
Draco sighed quietly but kept his eyes locked on Leda's. "I really want you to come with me."
"Well, that's too bad, Malfoy. You'll have to taste the bitterness of disappoinment."
"I always get what I want," Draco said in equals parts of astonishment and promise.
" Not tonight," Leda stated firmly and began gathering her things together and stuffing them into her bag. "I'm not for sale. Your family's money, prominence, or power can't buy me." Leda stood and shouldered her bag. "Now run along. I'm sure there are plenty of girls who'd come when you call, but I'm not one of them."
Draco sat in stunned silence as Leda walked off with her head held high. He couldn't believe someone had actually told him no. He'd said yes, and she'd said no. It was unthinkable!
Far from being dissuaded by her forthright denial, Draco made a commitment to have Leda Vieson wrapped as tightly around his finger as Pansy had been. He made this vow to himself as he looked up from the wooden table to have his eyes alight on Tracey Davis.
Draco smiled to himself as he stood and walked over to the girl who was scanning the bookcases. He pocketed his hands and affected the easy, confident gait that was his signature along with a pleasant smile.
"Hello, Tracey," Draco said from behind her in a silky smooth voice.
Tracey had been reaching for a book on a high shelf. She faltered when Draco spoke and turned to face him obviously unsettled by his overwhelming charm.
"Oh, hello, Draco," she replied nervously as he moved to her side and grabbed the book she'd been trying to retrieve. "Thanks," she said as he handed her the book. "I heard about you and Pansy. Sorry."
She was lying, and Draco knew it. No girl had been sorry to hear that Draco Malfoy was fair game again, but every guy was sorry that Pansy was out looking for a guy again.
"Look," Draco said getting down to business, "I was wondering what you could tell me about Leda."
"Leda?" Tracey questioned obviously disappointed. "What do you want to know?"
"Does she like anyone?" He asked affecting disinterestedness.
Tracey looked down at the floor to think for a moment and then shook her head. "I don't think so, but she never talks about boys. She's not the gossipy sort if you know what I mean."
Draco was encouraged by this and pressed on. "What does she like?"
"How do you mean?"
"What's her type?" Draco clarified.
"I honestly don't know, Draco. Leda's never really said much about boys before. She went home for Christmas last year rather than going to the Yule Ball, so I can't really say she has a 'type.'"
"She does like boys, right?" Draco asked beginning to feel suspicious.
"Oh, yeah," Tracey returned quickly. "She did say once that she would never date someone she couldn't be friends with."
Draco nodded and took a moment to absorb that information and file it away for later. He might be able to use that.
"Anything else?" He asked flashing Tracey a bright smile as reward for her help.
The poor girl seemed dazzled by his handsomeness, and Draco felt certain he could use her in a sticky spot again sometime. Perhaps next time could be more…pleasurable for them both.
"She thinks there aren't any guys at school here who are mature enough for her to date. I think that's why she doesn't really talk about guys with the rest of us."
Draco could definitely work with that. Leda had a weakness he was all too familiar with manipulating—pride. Draco's father was probably the most prideful person he knew, and he had learned out of necessity long ago to bend that weakness towards his own goals.
Draco gave Tracey a genuine smile. The girl's knees felt weak, and without trying Draco had seduced her. He grinned and suggested they go back to the stacks and continue their conversation in private. She didn't argue, and Draco shrugged to himself. Why shouldn't he have a little fun if the girl he wanted wasn't willing just yet?