Dearest Readers,

For those of you who hate Draco, you're just going to have to get over it because he's not going to be a jerk or a huge pussy in this book. I just thought you should know. I also realize by doing this I'm practically giving up my ability to call him a ferret, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Also the song I use and consequently the name of the chapter is Miserable at Best by Mayday Parade. I have no rights to this song and am merely using it as…well…read and you'll find out, now won't you.

Oh and while we're doing this, I also don't own any of the characters besides my own OCs and one would hope you can decipher the difference between the two.

Finally, thanks for the lovely reviews I got. They really do make me smile and encourage me to write.

Love,

Scarlett

Chapter 5

Ever since Katie signed Marley up to swoon Draco, it became one of Marley's main trains of thought. She'd never not used words to hook a guy. But in all actually, the biggest part of flirting was physical. It was all about the way you sat, looked, swished your hair and smiled.

Marley was absent mindedly gnawing on a baby carrot at lunch, while Bernard purred on her lap as she thought about this. Take Bernard for example. He couldn't talk, but she loved him dearly. She wasn't about to go sit on Draco's lap and purr.

But she could get damn well close.

The witch sipped her orange juice and looked down the table at Draco.

The pureblood wizard was eating a sandwich and seemed to be only half-listening to Pansy talk about something or another. Next to him sat Crabbe, but on his other side was a rather pregnant gap between him and the next student where Goyle usually sits.

"Really" Marley thought, "If I wanted to do this thing, now seems like a pretty opportune time."

With that she brushed Bernard off her lap, shook up her curls and sauntered over to where Draco sat and took Goyle's seat.

Instantly, Draco recognized her sudden appearance and his attention broke away from Pansy's conversation (about two headed horses…?) and stared at Marley warily.

He didn't do anything, but look at her with something like a curious sneer on his face.

The witch gave a radiant smile and a little wave.

"Hello." Draco responded maintaining an arched eyebrow.

Thinking on her toes, Marley gave Draco's silk tie a little tug.

Quickly, he looked down at his neckwear and then back at her, "You like my tie?"

She nodded.

Draco gave her a half grin, "Me too."

Marley just looked at him with a happy expression on her face, waiting for him to make conversation. Sure enough, after a minute, "So, unfortunate what happened to you, not being able to talk." Draco stated.

Marley nodded and rolled her eyes, in a way that said: You have no idea.

"So it must be rough then?" He gathered, not waiting for a further response, "I suppose it's one of those thing we take for granted, talking, personally I couldn't live with out it."

The witch gave a look of agreement.

Slowly Draco caught on that he would be the one doing all the talking, "I use it all the time you know; to show Crabbe and Goyle how to do things, talk to my father…" He trailed off there, his face fell slightly.

It was big new when his father went to Azkaban; no doubt it makes him sad. Briefly Marley envisioned her own father; sitting in his favorite leather chair, smoking a cigar and reading. It made her heart ache, but she pushed away the memory and pursued the conversation at hand.

She didn't want him sad so she moved the exchange along. She pointed to Crabbe with a confused expression.

Draco looked at Crabbe, "Crabbe? Goyle?" A nod from Marley, "Oh, he got a stomach ache last night and decided not to come to classes today." Draco smiled, "I'll tell you what, if those two bears didn't have a mouth to eat with, I don't know what they'd do with themselves." Crabbe was busy in the gossip further down the table and oblivious to Draco's comment.

The speechless witch shrugged and then pointed to her stomach.

"You're not fat." Draco responded almost instantly.

Taken a back a bit Marley shook her head and hands in a gesture implying "No, no no!" Then she pointed to herself and then pretended to be stuffing her face with invisible clumps of food.

Draco chuckled lightly at her actions, "Oh you eat a lot?" Marley confirmed, "I doubt you eat nearly as much as them. It's atrocious really."

Marley mouthed "I don't know" and grinned, before tossing back her curls.

It was then that everyone got up to go to class. Marley decided then, that since Greg wasn't going to be around today that she would take his place and try and warm up to Draco.

Between then and dinner, Marley rediscovered how much Draco loves to talk. During Divination, Draco completely ignored Professor Trelawney and informed Marley on everything there is to know about Slytherin quidditch. Then in Care of Magical Creatures he told her about the library of curses and hexes they had at his house. Informing the witch that in his free time there he would study up on them; she gathered he felt pretty tough from that. He didn't talk much in potions, which was okay because Marley was having fun playing mind games with Snape. Or shall she say Severus.

"If I called you Severus from now on, who would really know?" she asked as they were all supposed to be writing an essay, "The way I see it, there's no proof. It's he-said-she-said." Marley gave a little grin of satisfaction.

The professor didn't really say anything to that at first, but then he lifted his gaze to her smug expression. "It's not really he-said-she-said since she can't say anything at all." A ghost of smile passed his lips.

Marley was a bit taken aback that he responded at all, but more so she didn't know what to respond with, "Right then – Severus."

"5 points from Slytherin for being off task." The potions master declared, "Ms. Anderson, I will not tolerate taking anymore points from my house for your behavior. Your detention this afternoon will be double its original value."

"Shit." Marley thought, without a care what her personal Mindfuck thought.

Toward the end of Transfigurations Draco slid a piece of paper towards Marley with his neat hand writing at the top:

Want to hang out after class?

The witch sighed and responded:

Maybe tomorrow. I have double detention with our favorite Head of House.

Draco:

What did you do?

With a sigh, Marley:

It's a long and definitely weird story.

The wizard pulled one cheek up in a grin:

Well, I suppose I can wait until tomorrow

if it means you'll tell me the long and definitely weird story.

The witch looked flirtatiously at Draco and flashed a toothy smile.

The dungeons were dark, cold and empty after class for Marley's detention. It took a moment for Marley to gather up the courage to knock. Toying with Severus in (their?) mind was simple and relatively harmless. But here in detention, he had complete control.

But alas she did knock and deep growl beckoned her inside.

"Ms. Anderson, your task for today is simple. Scrub the cauldrons until the shine." He was standing in the doorway of his ingredients cupboards and spoke in his usual succinct manner, "There's a brush and some gloves on the tables."

With acquiesce, Marley put on some thick yellow gloves – in a most exaggerated method by pulling on the rubber and snapping it back loudly. With her brush in hand she chipped away the regular abuse the cauldrons suffered.

The room was taciturn after that. Even their minds were silent except for Marley's diligent mental profanities at the unyielding hard to reach spots. After about 20 minutes or so a gentle piano music echoed in Severus's mind. It was relatively hushed. However, curiosity caused Severus to pursue the music, to find it was coming from Marley.

He supposed it was because she wasn't directing the thought to him that it was quieter, but still he chased after the noise. It was a solemn man singing.

"Katie don't cry, I know, you're trying your hardest,

And the hardest part is letting go of the nights we shared.

Oh Cali is calling and you know it's haunting

But compared to your eyes, nothing shines quite as bright."

Of course the immediate thought on his mind was Lily. It reminded him of the night he said those awful words to her; a clear image of her hurt Emerald eyes glittering with tears and frustration glared back at him. Guilt carved into his gut. Desperately he listened for more.

"Let's not pretend like you're alone tonight,

I know he's there and you're probably hanging out and making eyes,

While across the room he stares,

I bet he gets the nerve to walk the floor and ask my girl to dance,

She'll say yes"

Each and every word of this song synced up with he's own repertoire of bad memories. The dance following that, the one he practiced so hard for so that he wouldn't have an excuse not to ask her to dance, so that she wouldn't laugh at him – even though he knew she wouldn't have before. But instead from the corners of the great hall he sulked with his new crowd of friends and watched as Potter and Lily danced the night away. Severus could feel his heart breaking all over again.

"I guess that I can live without you,

But without you I'll be miserable at best…"

Lily. Oh Lily. Severus was drowning in his own memories. Memories of her smile, of her laugh, of those gorgeous eyes. Horrid parts of his cognizance reminding the Potions Master of Potter whisking her away with his, what Severus is told, devilish charm and dashing smile. Together they got married and started a family.

She deserved a nice fairytale story like that, if only it was with someone who truly loved her. But he deserved the fate he got too. For losing his temper so fast, for saying those things, for taking the mark, for killing those people, for…

The list went on his expression soured and he knew he couldn't go on like this. Not until he could be safely back in his quarters with a full bottle of tequila to properly bury these memories.

"Stop." Severus said aloud, but his voice did falter, "Stop thinking about that wretched song." His voice stronger and pissier.

Marley, who was surprised by this outburst looked up and the piano music stopped abruptly. Instead of being smug, like she normally was toward him, she looked concerned and studied his face.

With a brusque motion, Severus shielded his bereaved feelings going back to his work. Severus couldn't help, but to hear her own thoughts.

They were simple thoughts, but the charge behind those words were sincere, "Oh Merlin! Is he okay? What happened?"

Severus didn't have the care to realize she wasn't judging or taunting him in that statement, instead what he understood was that he had unwillingly exposed a secret part of himself to a student; he was weak for not keeping his defenses up.

A/N: Sorry it's a short chapter; I had to cut it down a bit. Review, review, review! Please?