Chapter 4

If consequence do but approve my dream,
My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.
-Iago

Montague licked his fingers and tried to smooth down his wiry hair.

"Well then? Respectable enough for you?" He demanded.

"Very nice." said Malfoy. "But your collar – here –" He reached out and straightened and folded the bent collar of the clean, white shirt that Montague had on under his robes. The shirt looked at least one size too small.

Malfoy sniffed. "And aftershave too? You've outdone yourself."

"Shut it." Montague shoved him back. "The only reason I agreed to do this –"

"Of course." Malfoy cut in. "I know this isn't easy, but it has to be done if you want Potter and the rest out of the way. Have you got straight in your head what you're going to say?"

"Yeah." Montague muttered.

"Let's go through it one more time." said Malfoy.

Montague exhaled loudly through his nose. He fixed his gaze on a point beyond Malfoy's shoulder.

"Look, Johnson…just wanted to say…" He pulled a face and tugged at his collar. "You know…you played a – a good game, and… shit! This isn't going to work."

"You were doing fine."

"It sounds fake."

"It sounds like you're pissed off –"

"I am."

"That's fine. It makes it more believable. No one expects you to be on top of the world; we lost the match. You're obviously going to be disappointed. The point is, you're a good enough sport to acknowledge them as the winners."

"Yeah, right."

"Just charm Johnson, do whatever it takes. Once she's loosened up, imply you'd like to have a drink with her in the common room –"

"How do I do that?"

"Comment on the party or something, ask her if she's enjoying herself. You can even make a joke about how you've probably put a dampener on the celebration. She'll have to deny it to be polite, at which point you can thank her and tell her you appreciate her agreeing to talk to you. Just don't tense up if it's awkward – turn it to your advantage."

"Right..." Montague was looking rather pale and staring at Malfoy as if he'd just started speaking Swedish. Malfoy sighed. He rarely let on just how adept he was at analysis, but on the occasions when he did, it tended to spook people.

"Just make sure you focus on her, don't even think about the rest." He said.

"So how am I supposed to get her on her own?" Montague demanded. "And while we're at it, how the hell am I going to get in to talk to her in the first place? They're not going to let me through the door."

"Actually, it's a hole in the wall… I'll go in first and tell her you want a word. It'll look more polite that way."

"So it'll just be me and her?" Montague fidgeted with the too-tight cuffs of his shirt. Malfoy hid a smirk. Montague's nervousness would work in his favor. Malfoy could easily imagine Angelina feeling a thrill of dominance when confronted with the Slytherin Captain's awkwardness. But was Montague really capable of charming the girl? Malfoy studied his blunt features. His mouth was crooked, but capable of a full smile. He formed his words with roughness, his voice deep, rather nasal. His nose was flat and brutish and dominated his face. Slow, slightly squinting, his eyes weren't unpleasant beneath heavy brows. In his present gruff, exposed state, there was something appealing about him.

"You'll be fine." said Malfoy.

"Let's just get it over with."

The echo of music suddenly spilt down the passage. Malfoy could guess the source of the noise. He glanced at Montague meaningfully. At the Captain's terse nod, they set off.

Rounding the bend in the corridor, they spotted of a small group of Gryffindors clustered around

the entrance to their common room. The portrait of the Fat Lady was hanging obligingly open as two boys clumsily maneuvered a crate of butterbeer through the hole in the wall.

"Wait here." Malfoy said. Montague hung back and Malfoy hastened towards the group. He was not surprised to find Ginny among them, waiting. Her face was white and pinched.

"I was starting to think you weren't coming." She said coldly.

Malfoy looked past her. "I'm here now."

"Well, can we go somewhere and talk?" She smiled tightly, her voice scornful. "If you think you can make the time."

"I've just had quite a shitty day, I don't know if you're aware of that. And it isn't going to be over until I do this thing for Montague, so can we just go inside…" he took her by the shoulder and tried to steer her towards the common room. She resisted him, twisting around to look back down the corridor.

"Montague? What is he –?"

"We'll talk about it later." Malfoy said impatiently. "Oh, by the way," He lowered his voice. "Did you get those things I asked for from Fred and George?"

Ginny reached into her robes and drew out a crumpled brown paper bag. Malfoy snatched it from her.

"There's one of everything like you asked for." She said flatly.

"Good." Malfoy quickly checked the bag's contents before tucking it into his trouser pocket. "I promised Fred I'd hand a few out, let the Slytherins have a taste of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."

Ginny said nothing.

The Gryffindor common room was packed despite the lateness of the hour, and the celebratory mood was still thick in the air. Malfoy lost Ginny in the rowdy gaggle through the portrait hole and he made no effort to relocate her. He decided to make of the fireplace, where the most people seemed to have gathered. On his way, he accidentally knocked into someone's elbow, causing them to spill their butterbeer.

"Sorry." He muttered, starting when he found himself face-to-face with Angelina.

"Watch it – oh, it's you, Malfoy! Fancy seeing you here." She said loudly, drawing a few stares. She made a point of clapping him on the shoulder. "Nice bit of flying today."

"Thank you." Malfoy assumed his most charming smile.

"It was actually a fun game – and I'm not just saying that because we won." Angelina went on solemnly. "Great to finally play one of those 'good, clean' ones Madame Hooch is always harping on about, you know?"

"Listen, Angelina," Malfoy wet his lips, feigning hesitation. "Um, I actually need to speak to you about something."

"What is it?"

"It's – it's Montague. He's acting a bit strange."

"Oh?" Angelina frowned, moving closer. He knew had her complete attention now.

"It's nothing bad or anything…he just went really quiet after the match, didn't have a go at us like I was expecting him to. And then just now, out of the blue he told me…"

"What?"

"He told me he wanted to talk to you."

Angelina's frown deepened.

"I know how it sounds," Malfoy said swiftly. "But I honestly don't think he's trying anything on. In fact, he told me to tell you that if you don't feel comfortable talking to him, he'll go."

"Go? Where is he now?" Angelina's eyes darted about the room.

"He's outside in the corridor." said Malfoy. Angelina studied him thoughtfully.

"What do you think he wants to talk about?" She asked slowly. Malfoy pretended to consider.

"I couldn't say." He said. "All I know is that he seems nervous about it."

Angelina turned away, her gaze settling on the portrait hole.

"Seriously though, I can just tell him you'd rather not…" said Malfoy.

"No." Angelina set her shoulders. "I'll get to the bottom of this. Might as well hear what the git's got to say."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Malfoy asked.

"No. Thanks anyway. I've got a feeling this is between the two of us." Saying nothing more, she left.

Malfoy watched her. He couldn't afford to relax yet, but for the time being at least things were out of his hands. It was up to Montague now.

Malfoy was startled to feel a touch on his arm.

"Everything alright?" It was Harry. "We were starting to worry that they'd strung you up from the Whomping Willow or something."

"Oh, no, nothing quite that bad –" Malfoy cleared his throat. Faltered. Harry was leaning close in order to hear him over the music. Malfoy felt something convulsive like panic at his nearness, a stab of self-loathing. The blood beat in his cheeks.

"So they didn't have a go at you about the game?" Harry was watching him intently.

"No, oddly enough…" Malfoy forced out a light breath of laughter and repeated what he'd just told Angelina, haltingly at first, and then more fluently as the lies came easily from his mouth. His self-assurance returned as he wove in more details, strengthening the weaker parts until a luminous structure seemed to rear up in his mind and every fragment and thread seemed in his reach.

"You think he wants to make peace with Angelina?" Harry asked incredulously once he was done.

"Who knows? Maybe he fancies her." Malfoy shrugged. Just then Harry nudged him and nodded towards the portrait hole. Angelina had returned, and Montague was with her. His expression was surly, hopelessly embarrassed, and he kept his eyes determinedly fixed on his shoes. A dramatic dip in the noise-level greeted the unlikely pair. If the welcome Malfoy had earlier received from Angelina's friends had been uncomfortable, this was downright excruciating. People were pointing and gaping. The speechless crowd parted for them as Angelina, doing her best to ignore the attention, led Montague to a less exposed corner of the room where the crate of smuggled butterbeers had been deposited on a desk. As the two Captains awkwardly clinked their bottles together in some inaudible toast, the conversation in the common room didn't so much resume as explode as the Gryffindors collectively expressed their disbelief in a tumult of mutterings and giggles.

"Never thought I'd see the day." Malfoy added his voice to the general chorus. The slight tone of satisfaction in his voice must have betrayed him, because Harry favored him with a knowing grin. Before he could reply though, Hermione and Ron bustled over.

"What on earth is Montague doing here?" Hermione hissed.

"Chatting up Angelina, apparently." Ron snorted.

"Draco reckons he came to congratulate her." said Harry.

"Yeah?" Ron blinked. "Did he take a Bludger to the head during the match or something?"

"I don't like it," said Hermione. "Why does he suddenly want to act all chummy? I think Angelina may be being too trusting…"

"Hold on, weren't you the one going on about friendship between the houses just yesterday?" said Ron.

"Yes, but…I mean, I was talking about Draco." Hermione reddened slightly. "Montague's a whole other matter. He's never acted in a civil way towards Gryffindor before, let alone –"

"People's actions don't always mirror their attitudes." Malfoy pointed out. "From what I've seen, I think that since he was made Captain, Montague's always been under pressure to stir things up between the houses. I saw Snape laying into him after the match –" (it was so effortless to draw on the rich construction of lies still fresh in his mind) "– he was really giving him a hard time. Maybe Montague's just finally had enough, and what better way to stick it to Snape than this?" Malfoy smirked and glanced over at Angelina and Montague. "Then again, maybe he's just hoping to pull tonight."

Harry and Ron chuckled. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Anyway," Malfoy turned to Ron. He needed to shift the attention elsewhere. It would be dangerous to underestimate Hermione and allow her too much time to properly consider things. He slapped Ron on the back. "You, Weasely – that's the last time I listen to you go on about what a crappy Keeper you are!"

"Huh? Oh – yeah!" Ron's face lit up. "Did you see my saves? Were you watching?"

"I did notice you were upside-down at one point – when you made that one-handed catch."

"Which was that?" Ron asked eagerly. He wanted it played out again, the full blow-by-blow.

"Oh yes, there were just so many, it's hard to remember." Malfoy elbowed him. Out of the corner of his eye, he tried to keep track of Montague. From the looks of it, the Slytherin Captain was managing to hold his own in a conversation with Angelina despite still being under the intense scrutiny of everyone around him. The important thing was that he was inside.

The first stage of the plan had succeeded.

A/N: It took quite a while to update, apologies!

Review Responses: ProperT – yes, McLaggen isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but what can we expect from a guy who'll eat a pound of Doxy eggs on a dare? Thanks for the kind comments :) fifespice – phew, nice to see things are still making sense! Thanks so much for taking the time to review, I really appreciate it.