Chapter 9: Seventh day: The (first) snappings.
- 'Come on Malorie, get up.'
Can somebody remind me why I feel so depressed?
I open my eyes slowly.
Now, I can remember.
- 'You look even more tired than you usually do, I've never seen so much shadows under your eyes.'
I've never cried that much either.
- 'Thanks for waking me up, Millicent', I say.
I get up slowly and get dressed.
- 'My god', Pansy moans. 'There are only three days left, how am I going to get Draco back? Malorie, do you have an idea?'
Take my place…
- 'Dress up as Potter and you'll have his full attention', I say, sounding indifferent.
- 'Don't joke', Pansy squawks. 'I'm serious.'
- 'But so am I', I say cynically.
- 'How did you make Blaise come back to you?' Pansy asks.
- 'What?' I ask, surprised.
- 'Everybody knows he tried to go out with you again, during the seventh years party', Millicent explains.
He can't have come out with the news, the bast…!
- 'After you'd rebuffed him, Blaise drank a lot', Millicent explains. 'And he told everybody.'
Yes, he can.
- 'Great', I say cynically.
I grab my bag and go out of the room, I hurtle down the stairs. The door of the common room opens without me touching it.
I must be really upset.
I spot Blaise and I stop, ready to go and tell him off, when suddenly, the door of the boy's dormitory opens.
My Draco…
I freeze right in the middle of the common room. Draco has frozen too, down the stairs. We look at each other.
One… Two… Three seconds.
At last I look away and speed toward the way out.
I shouldn't have looked at him in that silly way, because I must have looked silly…
--
Sitting at the Slytherin table, I can see Millicent and Pansy moving dangerously towards me.
I shouldn't have picked a seat were there were nobody around me.
Suddenly, Draco sits down next to me, astride the bench.
I stay stoical, I don't turn round to look at him.
- 'You've changed your mind?' I ask in a low voice.
Please no!!
- 'No', Draco answers.
Thank god.
- 'On the contrary, we need to meet today', Draco states insignificantly. 'To have a moment to ourselves…'
Visualize a choir of about a hundred members. Make them wear white dresses, the kind of white that really shows the dirt. Put all those beautifully-dressed people in a church, add a very bright white light on top of the choir. Now imagine this choir starting to sing « ALLELULLA, ALLELLULLA !! » Do you get it? This gives you a small idea of my emotional state right now.
- 'Don't talk that loudly', I whisper, discreetly pointing Pansy and Millicent. 'We'll see.'
- 'I'll wait for you anyway', Draco says, standing up.
…
He'll wait for me…
Pansy and Millicent sit down on each side of me.
Now I am surrounded by stupidity.
- 'What did he want with you?' Pansy chuckles, leaning towards me.
Don't touch me Pansy, chuckling might be infectious…
- 'Nothing, he was thinking that he hadn't insulted me for a long time, he wanted to make up for it', I explain.
- 'Really?' Pansy says, sounding disappointed. Next time he comes to talk to you, I mean, to insult you, could you tell him something about me?'
Well, listen, I know I'm a little cracked, but I'm not that sadomasochist. Don't be angry at me Pansy, but we all have our own problems.
A loud and noisy sound heralds the arrival of the mail.
To my great surprise, I notice Miss Pimpernel, who wasn't suppose to leave the owlery.
I'm even more surprised to see that Miss Pimpernel isn't flying towards me at all, but toward the Gryffindor table.
She crashes right in front of Potter who's just received some mail brought by his transsexual.
Potter stands up violently. He stares at the Slytherin table, he looks up and down the table.
To shorten his search, I give him a fake friendly wave. Potter spots me at last and beckons to me to fetch Miss Pimpernel.
This guy is really stupid, I'd like somebody to explain to me how he managed to save the world.
I resign myself and, with a smile on my face, I stand up and walk self-confidently toward the Gryffindors.
Not that I'm really self-confident, I'm not mad, I'm heading for an hostile land here…
- 'Take your bird back', Potter yells.
You want the war? Hold on Potty, I'm a world champion at this game!
- 'People will notice one day', I say sadly.
- 'What?' Potter asks furiously.
- 'You often come to talk to me using your owl as an excuse', I state calmly. 'One day somebody will be lucid enough to make people realize that the famous Harry Potter can't give the sentimental life of an owl that much importance.'
Potter looks appalled by my reasoning.
- 'She's not going to like that, your girlfriend, Jenny Weasley', I say, giving Ginny a sorry look.
- 'Ginny', the involved one corrects me, hiding her amusement.
- 'And your hatred for the Slytherins is too suspicious', I carry on. 'Don't people say that love and hatred are very close feelings?'
I know something about that.
- 'Don't worry about my owl, she'll leave when yours will', I say.
- 'Malorie', Potter says suddenly, a cruel look in his eyes.
Be careful Potter…
- 'I don't allow Gryffindors to call me by my first name', I say coolly.
- 'Really, are you sure of that?' Potter asks wearing the same cruel look.
What's does he think he's doing now? He's not going to come out with the news, is he?
Ron, Ginny and Hermione have turned their heads to look at Potter straight away, he's ignoring them despite their alarmed faces.
- 'Now that you've hurled enough stupidities for the day', Potter explains, 'You can leave.'
Is he threatening me here?!
- 'I intended to leave you, precisely. Dear Gryffindors', I say, greeting the other students in a friendly way, to their amazement.
I do an about-turn and goes away, trying to look as dignified as possible
I hope he's going to be told off for having dared to threaten me of revealing my connection to his friends.
--
The last potion class of my schooling. I've been waiting for that since my first lesson ever.
I move forward in the corridors, staying slightly behind the other Slytherins who're also going to the potion lesson.
- 'Hey…'
I turn round and see Ron's face in the doorway of a half-open door.
I head for him, he opens the door and closes it after me.
- 'Hermione and Ginny have asked me to tell you that they've forbidden Harry to do that again', Ron explains.
- 'All things considered, I was really provoking him', I admit.
Ron suddenly stares at his shoes.
- 'And… Well…', Ron starts.
Go on.
- 'About Hermione, what you told me yesterday…' Ron carries on with difficulty.
Are you going to tell me in the end?
- 'I think I'll tell her soon', Ron ends.
Really? Will the one hundred and fiftieth time be the one?
- 'Fine', I say, 'That's fine.'
I turn round to the door.
- 'That's all?' Ron asks, sounding surprised.
- 'That's all what?' I ask, turning round.
- 'Usually you cry at me that soon is not soon enough', Ron explains.
- 'Well, yes, but, do whatever you want Ron, and we're going to be late', I say.
I turn away to the door again. Ron doesn't follow me. He stays rooted on the spot, looking petrified.
Draco, Draco, see what I'm doing because of you.
--
He's looking at me!
- 'Now, your potion should have become canary-yellow', Professor Slughorn states.
At last, I look attentively at my cauldron and notice that my potion is brightly red.
- 'Well, Miss Moon', Slughorn says, stopping right in front of me. 'I'd got used to much less appalling results.'
And I had to struggle this year to get those not too appalling results…
Professor Slughorn moves away to go into raptures over Potter's and Hermione's cauldrons.
- 'Ooohh', Slughorn cries out, delighted.
What have I just told?
TOC.
A small bottle has just rolled to my feet, I look up to spot the owner of the bottle.
It's out of the question that I pick it up if it belongs to a Gryffindor. Or to Pansy, because if it does, there's a risk the thing might blow my face up.
No, Draco's the one who moves closer to me.
- 'Don't touch it Moon, it's mine', he says.
I notice several students watching the scene.
- 'Don't worry, I'm not stupid enough to touch anything that belongs to you, Malfoy', I say.
Draco catches me up and leans to get his bottle back.
- 'Nott's just told me you've made much progress this year in potion, and that it's the first time you're making your potion wrong', Draco whispers. 'Are you distracted Malorie?'
Malorie!! I've got those butterflies in my stomach every time.
- 'Not at all', I say.
- 'I hope this isn't because of me', Draco whispers with a small smile on his face. 'I haven't stopped looking at you since the beginning of the class, that's not what distracted you, is it?'
Yes it is.
- 'No', I answer in a low voice. 'It's the end of the year, that's it…'
Behind Draco, I can see Pansy waving at me.
What's the goose doing? Is she chasing flies away? … Ho yes, I know, she wants me to tell Draco about her.
- 'Why is Pansy skipping on the spot behind me?' Draco asks.
- 'Do you have a third eye?' I ask, surprised.
- 'No, I can see her reflexion in the window right in front of her', Draco explains.
I smile for one short second before wearing my neutral face again.
I need to control myself…
- 'Hey', Draco says, looking delighted. 'You're jaws muscles are working.'
- 'Very funny', I reply.
- 'So, about Pansy?' Draco asks.
She's in a too high stage of stupidity, we can't do anything for her any more.
- She asked me to tell you about her', I confess.
- 'Ho', Draco says. 'In that case I'm going to turn round and give her, for the first time in four days, a friendly smile.'
Don't do that!!
- 'Perfect', I say. 'That would help me, since we're supposed to help each other, precisely.'
Draco turns round, then moves back towards me.
- 'Don't forget', he whispers. 'We need to be able to talk freely today.'
You said it more nicely this morning..
- 'I'm not forgetting', I say.
Draco turns round and moves away for good.
--
A few short seconds later, Pansy whispers to me a thank you between her cauldron's rose fumes.
Whenever you need me Pansy…
--
As soon as the bell rings, heralding the next charms lesson, the students rush toward the door.
You won't believe how much students like charms lessons.
I wait for the crowd of students to leave before going out myself.
I go out and spot a mob of students.
- 'It was an accident!' Draco yells.
I don't know what you did, Draco, but coming from you, I'm not that sure…
I move closer and see Ron and Draco facing each other. Hermione and Potter are standing right behind Ron.
- 'All my books have had it', Ron yells.
Between Ron and Draco lies Ron's torn bag. All his books seems covered with a black indelible ink.
- 'So what, it's the end of the year, you won't need them any more', Draco cries out.
- 'You did it on purpose', Potter cries out.
- 'I admit that this is something I'd be able to do to Gryffindors', Draco says. 'But here, the risk of being in trouble is too high…'
Draco glances at me briefly.
What does he mean 'being in trouble'? Could it be that he… no, it can't, he's too proud…
- 'Ron', Hermione holds him back. 'I think it was really an accident.'
Hermione, too, glances at me.
At least we're two to think this…
- 'I'm not that sure, he's a professional liar', Potter says.
- 'That was a good thing for you, me being a professional liar, you never could have destroyed the Dark Lord without my precious help', Draco comes out with.
Scoop!
- 'Potter, you should listen to Granger', Draco carries on. 'I've noticed that she's often right.'
Hermione displays a surprised face.
So do most of the students, including me.
Now it's Ron's turn to glance at me.
- 'You haven't noticed anything, Malfoy…' Potter starts.
- 'Yet, according to what I've understood, you'd never have managed to find the Dark Lord's Horcruxes without Granger and Weasley', Draco hurls. 'It's a pity for them that all the glory is only yours…'
What are the Horcruxes?
- 'Without Harry, Voldemort would still be alive', Hermione states calmly.
- 'I know', Draco admits. 'I'm only saying that Harry's role was less important that it seems to be, and that yours and Weasley's were much more important that what people think.'
But what is he talking about, were Ron and Hermione that active?
All the students are listening to Draco, appalled by those revelations.
- 'What are you trying to do, Malfoy?' Potter asks.
- 'Well, you, Potter, you're corrupt and you're a profiteer', Draco explains. 'On the contrary, Weasley, although he's stupid and broke, is less boastful than you, since that was nearly the end of him and he's not making a fuss about it. And Granger, although she's a mudblood, is much brighter than you. You weren't even able to find Slytherin's locket which was in you own house.'
Slytherin locket? What is this all about?
- 'Shut up, some things have to keep confidential', Potter says, indicating the crowd of students.'
- 'That's lucky for you', Draco says.
- 'Don't add anything, Malfoy', Hermione says calmly.
Draco turns towards her.
- 'Fine', he says. 'Since the brains of the trio has spoken, I won't talk any more.'
Potter looks Hermione, then Draco. He goes and stands between the two of them, looking frightened.
- 'What's happening to you, Potter?' Draco asks, sounding amazed..
- 'It's to you that something's happening', Potter says, still frightened.
- 'So you're protecting Granger for fear that I might attack her?' Draco asks, smiling.
- 'Yes, I am', Potter answers.
- 'She knows perfectly well that I won't do anything to her, and so does Weasley', Draco says.
Potter turns towards Ron.
Ron, who looks furious at me. Could eyes send lightning, I would have been struck down.
- 'Little viscous dirty-minded viper', Ron grinds. 'come on Harry, let's go.'
Ron starts pulling Hermione backwards.
- 'For once I was almost nice', Draco cries out.
- 'We've perfectly understood that you're "nice" out of interest', Ron cries out.
The brave Ronnie's got it all, there are not many people who do. Everybody looks surprised, except Hermione who keeps glancing at me discreetly…
- 'I've been unmasked', Draco confesses, a smile on his face.
Oooohhh.
Suddenly, Ron does and about-turn, releases Hermione, shoves Potter, draws his wand and points it at Draco's throat.
- 'I forbid you', Ron growls. 'And if you insist too much, I'll deal with you.'
My cousin's defending me, bloody hell, I could cry out of joy!
- 'The others, around us, must be really puzzled', Draco says, hiding his panic.
Ron hasn't moved his wand.
- 'We're four to understand, that's enough', Ron says.
Me, Hermione, Ron, Draco, four, that's the right amount.
- 'Ron, stop it, you're going to be in trouble, come', Hermione cries out.
I won't do anything, you'll have to manage by yourselves.
- 'For me to be in trouble, Malfoy would have to complain, and if the right person asks him, he won't complain to anyone', Ron explains. 'Am I not right, Malfoy?'
Am I the right person?
- 'Yes, you are', Draco answers.
- 'That's not a good reason', Hermione cries out.
- 'don't forget, if you carry on with it, I'll deal with you', Ron repeats.
- 'Then you'll be able to deal with me today', Draco provokes him.
Hermione turns violently her head towards me. A big smile's spreading on her lips.
He said it…
- 'What?' Ron asks unbelievingly.
- 'You've perfectly understood. You see Weasley, the laws of nobility and blood purity can make miracles', Draco says.
Ron release his arm limply. He turns towards me, but keeps his eyes staring at the ground.
Suddenly, Ron throws a punch at Draco's face.
Hermione and Potter rush toward Ron and pull him backwards.
- 'Dracooo!!' Pansy yells.
- 'Leave!' Draco orders the Slytherins who have rush towards him.
- 'Do you want us to wipe the floor with him?' Theodore asks.
- 'No', Draco answers.
- 'Why?' Blaise asks, surprised, 'We can…'
- 'If he doesn't want to, that's maybe because he deserved it', I cry out loud enough for everybody to hear.
A few students stare at me, looking surprised.
I don't like to be the centre of the attention, I'll shut up next time.
Draco freezes and turn towards me.
- 'Yes, Moon, I deserved it', Draco agrees.
- 'What's all this racket!' Slughorn yells, arriving in the corridor at last.
- 'Nothing', I say.
- 'Are you sure of that?' Slughorn asks.
- 'Yes', Hermione answers straight away.
Slughorn looks up and down the crowd of students, waiting for another explanation.
- 'There's nothing', Draco cries out.
- 'Nothing', Ron adds.
--
Least you can say is that Hogwarts is a gossip-mine.
By lunchtime, everybody knew about Draco's revelation and Ron's punch. And right before dinner, the most incredible theories about Draco's innuendoes started to spread…
I go down the marble staircase to go to dinner with the others. By this time, most of the students must have finished their meal, which reduces my chances to bump into Pansy.
What a pity.
I reach the bottom of the stairs when the door of the great hall opens to let Millicent, Pansy and Draco out. I throw myself on the side, behind a statue of Dumbledore that had been erected a few months ago.
Pansy is in her usual giggle concert, she manages to stop to say a few words.
- 'Won't you go to the common room?' Pansy asks.
- 'Yes, I will, but I've just remembered something I have to do before', Draco explains. 'See you later, girls.'
- 'See you later, Draco', Pansy cries out hysterically.
They're talking to each other. Well, I should have known that, one day, Pansy would get Draco back… And I don't even have to be jealous…
- 'Ma-lo-rie, I've seen you', Draco says, laughing.
I'm going to look like an idiot again.
I get up, as dignified as possible.
- 'So, who were you hiding from?' Draco asks.
- 'Pansy', I confess.
- 'I thought so. Have you seen? I've done what you asked me to, I've been nice to Pansy', Draco explains..
I've never asked you that…
- 'And have you seen? I haven't hit Weasley', Draco says. 'I was even polite to Granger.'
- 'I've seen', I answer.
- 'We could go and have a short walk in the grounds', Draco suggests.
'Ho, yes, that would be wonderful.
- 'You're mad, somebody could see us', I quickly say.
- 'We could wait for the dark', Draco suggests.
Good idea.
- 'I don't really want to take such a risk', I say. 'People could see us and think…'
- 'That we're going out with each other', Draco concludes, a small smile on his face.
- '…'
- 'I was very nice to your idiot of a cousin, and to your stupid muggle friend', Draco starts. 'So, you could pull your weight too, or we'll never manage. I know perfectly well that you don't want to, but we've made a decision, so make an effort.'
That's easy to say, I know you don't give a damn about me.
- 'I'll need some time to become as hypocritical as you', I say.
- 'You'll need to think about speeding up', Draco says, his beautiful smile has disappeared.
My seer's inner eye foresees a fight…
- 'Thanks, I'll think about it', I say coolly.
- 'So, about the grounds?' Draco asks.
- 'Of course not', I say furiously. 'I told you people could see us.'
- 'So, what about the Trophy room?' Draco asks coldly.
That's the snoggers room… He wants to take me to the snoggers room…
- 'The risk's still to high', I say.
- 'An empty room then, I need you to tell me some things about you in order to be credible', Draco cries out.
I'm going to faint…
- 'You want to know some things about me', I hurl furiously. 'Very well, open your hears, I hate you, the only part of my family I like is the one I have to betray in public. My only true friend, I have to betray her in public. My uncles, my aunts and my grandparents hate me for wanting to study. The only thing that prevents them to repudiate me completely is that they, too, think I'm a real, pure-blood, Moon. Well, you know what? They're wrong, I'm a half-blood!'
Will I manage to shut up one day?
Amazed by my own words, I turn round, and run away. Draco hasn't moved.
--
What's going to
happen next?
How's Draco going to react? Is he going to push Malorie back, or will he accept to carry on with their fake relationship provided that Malorie doesn't disclose her true origin?
Are Ron's intense emotions going to urge him to create himself even more intense ones…?
Is Pansy going to win a brain in the next lottery?
All this, you will know in the next chapter…
