"Can I help you with something, Trancy?"

The flirtatious way in which the words were said made a shiver run through Phyton's back. He paused as he headed out the Slytherin common room, and turned hesitantly, a gaping smile making it clear he was uneasy.

"Ha...Hi, Nate." Phyton muttered faintly, a boy with ruffled brown hair and an elegant presence came to stand before him, eyeing him with dangerously narrowed eyes like a predator to its prey.

"Ooh," the boy who went by Nate said, bringing his fingertips to his lips in a coquettish expression as he spoke, "I only ask since you seem so lost and everything without Rizeth leading you by the nose."

Slight shock came into Phyton's face, but he opened his mouth and closed it once more seeming strained. "Gh..." he only muttered, lowering his eyes. "Do you... do you know where she is, Nate?" he asked.

Nate's smile widened at his reactions, it was almost a pleasantly happy grin. "Oh, of course I do, but why would I make it so easy, Trancy?"

Still smiling, Nate's fingers snatched to grip Phyton sharply by the chin, jerking his head back so that their eyes met. For a moment Phyton thought Nate would kiss him, but the impertinence in his brown eyes clearly told him "aren't you a sweet, little filth?"

"Ah...Nate..." Phyton complained faintly, his teeth grinding, "what do you want?" he asked weakly.

Nate drew back his hand gripping Phyton and brought it to his own chin in a thoughtful gesture, his pleasant smile turning into a devious smirk as he eyed the boy. This gave Phyton a sudden feeling of fear.

"You already know what I want." Nate answered almost in a snap.

Phyton gave a small whimper in his throat, an embarrassed blush coming to his face as he looked away uncertainly.

"Na-Nate..." He protested faintly.

That day of all days he had to run into Nate, Phyton thought bitterly. And him being, too, possibly the only one who could point out were Rizeth might have left to so early in the morning. He had planned to go to her room early and attempt to apologize for anything and everything until she forgave him, but she hadn't been there that morning. Her bed was still unmade, but she had left long ago, according to her roommates.

"Is she... is she having breakfast in the main hall?" Phyton attempted softly, but Nate shook his head right away with impatience.

"Nu-uh, no free information, Trancy. You can go to the main hall, but then she will have most likely gone off farther, making it harder for you to catch up with her."

Phyton did not know if Nate was only trying to trick him, but he heavily suspected it. He gnawed on his lower lip nervously, unsure of what to do. Nate did have a point, but...

"I'll—I'll..." Phyton became even more nervous as he began to turn away from Nate, an apologetic expression coming to his face. "I'm s-sorry, Nate, but I'll—I'll look for her myself, th-thanks."

As Phyton tried to hurry away, he yelped surprised as he felt a tight grip snatch him by the shoulder, jerking him back. Phyton cringed as Nate held him tightly by both shoulders, looking down at him with the faintest trace of hostility, his brown eyes dangerously set on him.

"Is this the way to treat those who try to help you out?" he said in an indignant tone, but then with a murderous smile creeping into this lips, his voice turned low and seductive. "You're a rude little boy..."

Nate suddenly leaned into Phyton, making him catch his breath in a panic. Phyton blushed flustered as he felt Nate's hair tickle his cheek, his body automatically tensing as his space was invaded.

"What—what are you—?" Phyton blurted nervously, but Nate cut in impatiently with a "Shhhhh."

"You're an awfully rude little boy, you know that?" Nate continued in his low voice, his hot breath making the small hairs on Phyton's neck prickle. "But don't worry, lucky you, I know a really good way to force it out of you."

"Kh—!" Phyton swallowed, trying to become smaller in Nate's grip.

An amused laughter rang around them and both boys froze, but Nate recovered himself quickly as he noticed the way Phyton's big feminine eyes seemed to widen even more on the verge of tears.

"Trancy, you look like a little lamb about to get swallowed by the wolf." An especially mocking voice said.

Nate released a snicker, and still gripping Phyton tightly, lifted his lips from his ear to look at the approaching boy, a nice, simple smile of comradeship coming to his lips. "Glad you could join the party, Malfoy." Nate said in a pleasantly sweet voice.

Phyton watched as Malfoy, a boy with sleek blonde hair, approached them. Walking behind him like bodyguards were two bigger, meaner-looking brunette boys. Phyton gulped. The common room was slowly filling, more with the commotion they were making, but nobody seemed to be willing to help Phyton out.

"Ma—" Phyton began calling Malfoy's name in a feeble attempt of rescue, but closed his mouth abruptly. Malfoy gave him an interested look as he stood up to them, a teasing smirk coming naturally to his lips.

"Now," he began easily, leaning casually on his side as he stood, "what did you have planned for him, Nate?"

Nate gave a soft laugh as he released his grip on Phyton's shoulders to rest a single arm around his back. Small sweat beads were visible on Phyton's temple as his gray eyes shifted from Nate to Malfoy anxiously.

"Well!" Nate exclaimed easily, tilting his head as he met Phyton's eyes in the most relaxed way, "I am a man of word, Phyton, so I will first tell you what you want to know. Yes, indeed, Rizeth left a while ago to eat breakfast in the main hall, but she also carried a stack of books with her, so she is most likely studying in the library at the moment."

Phyton exhaled, closing his eyes momentarily as he gave a relieved smile. "Thanks. Then I'll go and—" Phyton began to walk out from under Nate's arm, but he was suddenly yanked back by the collar, almost chocking as he stumbled backwards.

"N-Nate!" Phyton complained alarmed, as Nate slid his hands to the back of his head, and right under his jaw as if he was about to twist his neck from behind. "Kh—!" Phyton only managed to whimper, small tears beginning to rim his eyes.

Malfoy stood before him, still smirking as he laughed along with the other boys."Why so fast, Trancy?" He said playfully.

"Yeah," Agreed Nate from behind Phyton,"I just gave you my part of the deal, now you have to pay me back! And I'm not cheap, just so you know."

Nate brought Phyton closer to himself. Phyton cringed in a panic, unsure of what to expect.

"Wha... What do you want from me?" Phyton uttered weakly.

"You know what I want." Nate replied straight off in his impatient tone.

Malfoy tried to stifle a laugh with his hand as he eyed Nate, his eyebrows arching upward. "Are you really going to make him do it?" he said a little incredulous.

Nate nodded unhesitant at him, a triumphant expression coming to his face. "Like everyone isn't dying to see it, anyways..." He replied with a teasing smirk.

Malfoy gave a little laugh, as he brushed his fingers through the back of his hair, but said nothing. The two other boys behind him exchanged amused smirks.

Nate finally released his grip on Phyton, shoving him on the back so that he stood right in the middle between him and Malfoy. Phyton had a desperate look to his face as he began to shake his head, the tears starting to rim his eyes. He squeezed his eyes shut, his knees becoming unsteady.

"Mildred!" Phyton heard Malfoy call out towards an end of the room, "bring me your nicest dress, so Cinderella can go off to meet her prince."

The common room was nearly full by then. Snickers erupted all around them as Phyton once more opened his eyes.

He met Nate's predator glare as he stood above him, his slender fingers pressed coquettishly to the side of his face as he smiled pleasantly down at him.

"Start getting undressed, Princess, you don't want to be late to the ball." He told Phyton with a cruel ease.