Out of Hand by relativelypositive
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I make no money from the use of J.K. Rowling's characters.
Chapter 10: Brave
Slytherin Common Room
"Explain to me again how you got engaged?"
"Dalila and I had sex. Lots of sexy sex."
"But you barely knew each other."
"We couldn't help it."
"Couldn't help it?"
"It's a valid excuse!"
"But you knew what the consequences were. How could you go through with it?"
"We were on vacation, she was there, and she was so hot. We really couldn't help it. Boobs, Draco. They were right there! They are so amazing."
"But how…"
"Listen. I didn't plan anything. I just let it happen. Sometimes I think fate stepped in, and sometimes I think I was really horny and couldn't handle it anymore. I was fourteen. Every girl made me crazy. I can't say I loved Dalila at the time, but we've been engaged for over two years! We've shagged hundreds of time since then, and we even talk a little. It may not be common knowledge, but my engagement is not a disaster."
Draco wondered how much talking they did. He wondered if Blaise really knew Dalila now, or if since they lived in separate countries, it was always like a vacation when they visited each other. Like nothing was real.
"You know all the advice my father gives me?"
"Devious, crazy shit. Love it."
"Do you think it's keeping me from finding the right girl?"
"Do you think she's at Hogwarts? Because the only girls you're saving yourself from here are the ones you've known your whole life."
"Not all of them."
"Are you talking about Granger again?"
"Did you feel, I mean physically, any different when you realized you were engaged? I felt my magic racing yesterday. I've never felt anything like that. I was terrified! But she's…Granger. How do I…"
"You don't. You don't do anything. If you let it go, let her go, it will go away!"
Draco didn't want to let go of the feeling. He just didn't like that it came from interaction with Granger.
"Have you ever thought about Granger as a girl?" he asked Blaise.
"Hell yes." No hesitation.
"Really? Because I'm struggling with it. She's never been an option."
Blaise laughed a bit. "Not for you. I thought about it."
"Like wondering about what she's like, you know, when she's your friend?"
"No, I wondered what she'd taste like if I kissed her."
"Blaise!"
"You asked."
"I cannot get used to you talking about things like that."
"One more amazing thing about being engaged! I can talk about the sexy sex all the time!"
Draco didn't know what he wanted to do. He didn't like Granger. But he didn't know her. She didn't know him, either. She was always around, but until yesterday they had barely spoken. And then it was only to argue or sling insults.
What did he really know about her?
She was a Mudblood. That had always eclipsed everything else. He was conditioned to disregard her.
He thought back to what she'd said on the train yesterday. He hadn't agreed with everything, but she had some valid points.
She was scary smart. His parents always said that Malfoys were clever and wouldn't have survived if they weren't. She was really what he was looking for in that sense.
She was stupidly loyal. She stood by her idiot friends no matter what. He understood that. He admired that. He wondered if she would be as loyal to him if they were engaged. He was sure there would be some clashing loyalties, but when they were married they'd be stuck with each other. Wouldn't she have to be loyal to him?
Would he have to be loyal to her?
She was pretty. Beautiful, even. But it was an unadorned beauty that his family would scoff at. She'd look ridiculous if she tried to tart up like other girls did. Draco didn't know if he liked that or not.
Draco's mother had always said that beauty was a mask. It fooled you into thinking the person underneath was worthy. He had been cautioned not to become infatuated on looks alone.
If there was one thing that threw Draco off about Granger, it was that she was nice. When she didn't have to be. To everyone. She'd even been nice to him before he started calling her a Mudblood and sneering at her all the time.
When he thought about it, she'd been very nice to him in the last couple days.
She had apologized a couple times. That had surprised him. She even apologized again in the paper. Somehow Draco knew that she wouldn't purposefully hurt him.
If they were engaged, she would try to make it work.
His mother would love her. She admired strong women, regardless of their views. She wouldn't be thrilled about Granger's heritage, but she wasn't as militantly against Mudbloods as his father was. She would see all Granger's good qualities and work past her shortcomings.
She would stand up to his father.
She was brave.
He would kill her.
"What happens if we're already engaged?"
"What do you mean?"
"How…how do I keep her safe?"
Blaise's eyes about popped out of his head, but they were interrupted before he could reply.
"Guys! What's the plan for this afternoon?" Greg sat on the armchair across from Draco and Vince stood behind, looking curiously at Blaise.
"You look like you've been smacked silly, Blaise. What's going on?"
"Draco's lamenting his love life."
"Huh?"
"He's all mopey because he doesn't know if he's engaged."
"I think you'd know, right? Somehow?"
"Draco, admirer approaching," Blaise warned.
"That's brave, coming over here with all of us watching! Give her credit for that," advised Greg.
Draco sat up straighter and prepared for battle.
"Draco, could I talk to you for just a moment?"
He turned a little and saw Astoria Greengrass. This family worked quickly.
He gave her an obvious, scrutinizing once-over.
"Where's the other one?"
"Daphne?"
"No! The other one! The pretty one!"
"The pretty one?" Astoria was about in tears. Draco almost felt bad.
"Yes! The pretty one! I've seen you in Diagon Alley with her. Where's she?"
"Are you…you…are you talking about my mother?" Astoria asked in disbelief.
"That's your mom? She's hot!" Draco tried not to smile. He allowed himself a smirk. "Is she single?"
"Is my mother single?"
"Yeah. Available."
"No, my mother is not single, you ass!"
Astoria stalked away, fuming.
"That was a work of art," admired Blaise.
"Number five. It's a classic for a reason." Thanks, Dad.
Draco was congratulating himself when he felt a heavy hand drop on his shoulder and the boys fell silent.
"Please come with me, Draco. We have business."
Draco stood and followed Professor Snape into his chambers.
"Prepare to floo."
"Where are we going?"
"It seems you and Miss Granger have let things get out of control." Snape gave Draco a glare. "You should have come to me immediately. Now we have to put out fires."
Snape grabbed a fistful of floo powder, stepped into the fireplace and forcefully announced, "The Ministry of Magic!"
Draco was stunned. The Ministry? He must be engaged!
He had the thought that he could floo somewhere else…anywhere else. He could run.
In the end he knew he'd never be able to escape this, and flooed to the Ministry.
Snape glared at him and spoke in a clipped voice. "Take your time. I'm sure we're here for a leisurely stroll."
"Sorry." Snape had a way of making Draco feel remorseful when no one else could.
Snape led Draco to the lifts and directed them to Level Nine.
"The Department of Mysteries? What are we doing here?"
"Your father has been caught trying to break into the Ever-Locked Room."
"Why? What's in there?"
"The greatest mystery in the universe. Love."
A/N:
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