Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe doesn't belong to me. Only the plot of this story and some Original Characters belong to me. The Harry Potter books are the property of J.K Rowling (even though she has given out way too much book information…readers can use their own imaginations to fill in the blanks) and are distributed by Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Inc., at least here in the United States. Since I have taken the time to write this disclaimer, there is no reason to try and sue me.


A/N: Here is the 11th chapter of "Shattered Illusions". This is the February update. Things in RL had derailed me for a while there but I'm trying to get back on my promised schedule now. March's update should be posted within two weeks while April's should be posted toward the end of the month. Let's hope that everything goes as planned. *crosses fingers*

I would like to thank Celestialuna, Fire Dolphin, and the anonymous Jinnxxed and Laval for your reviews as well as everyone who had added my story to their Alert/Favorite lists. It is nice to know and see that Harry Potter fandom is still going strong.

As usual, thanks for reading and feel free to leave a review. Constructive criticism would gladly be appreciated.


"Shattered Illusions"

Chapter Eleven – Sheer Nerve


A month has gone by.

A month has gone by since you stepped foot into this castle and caused a commotion the likes of which we have rarely seen. A month has gone by since I looked into those brilliant eyes and was close enough to you to see a ghost of a friendly ghost settle across your face. A month has gone by since the very first sight of you distracted me beyond all reason…beyond most rational thought.

I know I'm being a bit too melodramatic. But it is as though I can't help myself. I'm not obsessed by your presence, far from it. But my attention has been effectively snared and even your practical indifference isn't enough for me to let it go.

The last person who had captured a place within my head was Potter…and obviously that didn't turn out very well. He is going to be in St. Mungo's for who knows how long. The general student body will never know what truly happened that day. I'm too much of a Slytherin to rat out my fell0w counterparts…it has to stay that way.

I wonder what you would think of me if you knew of what I have done…

" Lumos!"

"Why was I foolish enough to tell you about this passageway, again?" Blaise's amused voice sounded from behind me as we walked along the winding, darkened passageway. "Only nothing but trouble can come from this."

A smirk settled across my face at his words. "You don't have much room to talk. You weren't even supposed to know about this passageway yourself."

"Point taken."

Unknown to me until Blaise told me about it in Potions, this was the way to be able to get from the Head's Quarters straight to the dormitories rather quickly. The only problem in this case, it was supposed to be the Slytherin Head Girl, if there was one, who used the passageway to get into the Slytherin girls' dormitories. I had no idea on why the castle, upon realizing that this year there was a Slytherin Head Boy, didn't seal off the passageway completely to prevent any problems like this from occurring.

But of course, I was going to capitalize upon it.

"Was there any particular reason you couldn't have this… meeting somewhere else?"

"Too many eyes and ears." I replied, stopping short when confronted with the smooth stone wall in front of the both of us, "Who could possibly think to spy upon us in the girls' dorms … well, besides the other Slytherin girls? "

Blaise snorted softly and raised his wand, muttering the password silently. With a rumbling sound, the wall shifted open in front of us and we climbed on through. In order to not be blatantly obvious that there was something behind it, a large bookshelf was strategically placed in front of it and as soon as Blaise was all the way into the room, it closed with an empathic snap. Hide in plain sight… always would that would be an excellent option to consider.

"Draco! Blaise!"

I gave Daphne, whom had just walked in from the adjourning doors, a brief smile before dropping a kiss on her cheek. I felt bad for a moment at the pleased look that brightened her eyes when she saw the both of us; I had been so distracted by thoughts of that … LeDeux girl and my revenge upon Braff and his cronies that I hadn't been hanging out with her as much lately.

As a Slytherin, she was proudly independent and was perfectly content with going on her own path … but that didn't mean anything in the long run. I was her best friend, first and foremost…and I couldn't let some girl that reminded me of horrid choices that I was too prideful to even consider changing distract me from that.

"Have you seen Braff?" Blaise asked lazily, sitting on Selwyn's bed as if he had every right to be there. He and Isla had been together since the beginning of their sixth year; for the life of me, I didn't understand what he saw in the vapid social climber.

Even though she was from a respectable pureblood family, she held herself with no class or decorum. Most of her days here were spent hanging around Pansy; proud as can be over being the best friend of the daughter of one of the more 'elite' pureblood families. I could have no true respect for someone like that. But hey, I wasn't the one dating her. Blaise, by all accounts, was rather happy with his choice. More power to him...and I honestly hoped that he wasn't just a victim on her quest to to be a queen of the social scene.

Daphne shook her head, startled. "Not since Breakfast. Although, I did hear that he landed himself a detention from McGonagall. Supposedly, he dropped a garden snake into some second year Hufflepuff's bag during Lunch. Caused one hell of a ruckus." A smile crossed her face as she thought about it. "A rather bold move on his part…but still…"

Giving the both of us a considering look, she crossed her arms over her chest. "What's going on, Draco? How in the hell were the both of you able to get in here, anyway?"

"It's nothing of importance, Daphne." I replied, taking my own place on her bed. "You don't have anything to worry about."

"That is complete and utter cr ---." she said before Blaise cut her off with a mere clearing of his throat.

"I still don't know why you insist on keeping her in the dark." Blaise muttered, giving me a strange look. "She is a fellow Slytherin, for Merlin's sake and knows how to keep her mouth shut. You're doing her a great disservice by not trusting her."

Daphne turned her furious gaze on me; I could do nothing but growl in frustration. "So you are hiding something from me?" she hissed, angrily. I knew Daphne just as well as I knew myself; it wasn't the fact that I felt as though I couldn't trust her. I just didn't want her dragged in this any more than was absolutely necessary. But judging by the way she was looking at me, she wouldn't let this go…not until she dragged the info out of me.

My eyes closed as I remembered something my father had drilled into me ever since I was young enough to understand it. As a Malfoy, take pride in always gaining the upper hand upon our enemies before they can attack first. Secrets are a valuable asset in gaining what we want and showing our hand before we are ready to act can only lead to disaster. No matter how much you're tempted to, keep silent and on the lookout for anything that could derail our progress … that include our closest friends…

It was solid advice for me to keep in mind. Pulling her down to sit beside me, I reached out and brushed a hand against her cheek. "Just trust me on this one, Daphne. I will tell you everything when I can…and only then."

Pouting, she looked as though she wanted to continue arguing with me but suddenly, she nodded. I could barely hold back my smile; like I said, I knew her just as well as I knew myself. She was probably thinking of some other way that she could get the info without asking me outright. For as long as we've known each other, she never could outmaneuver me. I give points for trying to attempt it, though.

"All right, Draco. I trust you. I'll let this go…for the time being."

"That ---."

The dormitory door burst open as Bulstrode came in, looking over her shoulder at someone behind her and laughing heartily. Pulling up short, she grew silent as she stared curiously at me and Daphne, whom had abruptly broken apart at her appearance. I didn't know what she was thinking as she surveyed the scene; out of the Slytherin girls, she was the one that I knew the least bit about. While not on Crabbe and Goyle's level of idiocy, she barely spoke up in class and unlike the rest of us, she stayed out of the major House politics … mainly since she was a half-blood, her opinion didn't count as much.

Concerned about her opinion, I was not … but still, I couldn't afford for her to start sticking her nose in my business.

"Millicent? What –."

Hearing the voice, I had just straightened up when LeDeux walked into the dorm, causing Blaise to choke back a chuckle when he looked at me. Every single time I saw her, I had some asinine reaction that I couldn't quite control, whether it had been snapping my quill clean in two during Potions or not paying attention in Herbology, mindlessly putting too much dirt into the pot. It was a good thing that either she hadn't noticed or was kind enough not to mention it. I was a Malfoy; appearances had to be maintained on my end. I couldn't … no, wouldn't show weaknesses of any sort.

When her gaze landed on me, I felt as though I had been hit directly in the stomach. I didn't like being under that scrutinizing stare; it was though she was searching for the answers to my innermost secrets. Trying my best not to show my disquiet, I pasted a smirk on my face and gave them both a courteous nod. "Bulstrode. LeDeux."

She gave a graceful nod of her own in return. "Anna. Just call me Anna. Calling one by their last name sounds a bit pretentious, don't you think?

Daphne snorted, appraising Anna with an almost frosty look in her eyes. Anna paid her no heed and continued to look at me. "Is there some sort of problem here?"

"No… none at all."

She frowned for a moment, almost as though she didn't believe me. I didn't see why she shouldn't; she didn't know me well enough to make any assumptions about my character. But as she continued to study me with a considering gaze, I was assailed by the thought that she knew more than she was letting on. There was no logical reason for me to feel that way but I couldn't help it My ego didn't like it for sure … and something within me wanted to put her in her place; make her stop making me feel so out of control.

"Have you liked it here, so far, Anna?" Blaise asked, breaking the awkward silence. Shaking her head at the lot of us, Millicent sighed, threw her bag on her trunk, and climbed into her own bed, drawing the curtains closed.

"It has been fine so far. A lot different than Durmstrang life, I would say." Anna replied, taking her own seat before giving Blaise a bright smile. "Some teachers … although horribly impartial toward those infernal Gryffindors … are rather decent. I do rather wish I had someone to help me learn my way around, though. I'm still getting lost a lot when I'm on my own…"

"You're friends with those infernal 'Gryffindors'." Daphne hissed, glaring at Anna. I gave her a sharp look before looking at Anna, who just rolled her eyes at the ceiling in apparent irritation. A Slytherin in close with them, instead of mingling among her own Housemates? What could she possibly want with them?

"I'm sure that Weasley idiot would love to show you around. Why don't you ask him?"

"Weren't you the one who informed me the day I arrived here that he's beneath me?" Anna hissed back, disgust dripping in her tone. "I'm so sorry if I have to speak to him in half of the classes that we're in together, since the dratted teachers insist on pairing us up. That doesn't make us friends. As for the first night I was here, he was the one who followed me out to the tree. I know guys; he stupidly thought he would ask me out. Of course, I shot him down."

"I'm a Slytherin who is still learning about the students in this school. Either way, I do have some standards that I intend to uphold." She finished with a frosty tone. Blaise raised his eyebrows; I'm sure he was thinking the same thing I was. Annalise LeDeux was obviously not a girl to mess around with. "Do you have any other problems that you need me to address, Daphne?"

With a furious glare, Daphne stood up. "Nothing for now. Be warned, though…LeDeux, I will be keeping my eye on you."

Anna shrugged, obviously unconcerned with Daphne's threat. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Greengrass."

Moments later, Daphne stormed out of the room, dark hair streaming out behind her. For a moment, I was tempted to go after her but I had the nastiest feeling that once she had me alone, she was going to try and capitalize upon the opportunity to try and weasel information out of me. I couldn't give her that chance, no matter how much I wanted to calm her down.

Obviously, Blaise was thinking along the same lines that I had been. "I'll go after her. There's no need for her to get herself into trouble because she's pissed off at the three of us." Blaise said, rising to his feet. " I'll see the both of you later?"

I clenched my hands and growled under my breath when Anna gave him another friendly grin. "Sure, Blaise. We'll see you around."

Returning Anna's smile with one of his own, he turned on his heel and strolled from the dorm. There was silence as I thought about I could possibly say to her. Stop looking at me like that would be one thing. It's like you can peer into my soul. It's as though you understand me when nobody else does. But how? We've never met until the day you started here. Why do I feel so connected to you? The only other person that I felt so …so out of sorts with was Potter … and he's gone … all thanks to me and my foolish choices…

"Draco…right?" Anna asked, effectively breaking me out of my thoughts.

I nodded in answer. She smiled once more, taking my breath away. I barely prevented myself from doing something else foolish, like reaching out to touch her. All that would accomplish is possibly getting me hexed. "I know that will sound a bit forward --."

"I would be glad to show you around." I said, thinking of something to distract me before I could do the any of the idiotic things that were crossing my mind. There was silence for a moment; she looked completely startled and I could have cursed myself for my presumption. I had no idea on what she wanted to ask me and here I was, just saying the first thing that came to mind without even thinking about it. What in the hell? Why does she affect me so badly?

Anna chuckled; a light, pleased laugh. "If that is your way of telling me that you wish to take me out, then you should be appalled at yourself. You're of both Malfoy and Black blood; I'm positive that as part of two of the most 'elite' pureblood families of our kind, you would have learned to conduct yourself with a bit more finesse than you showed me."

I said nothing; the control and restraint that I was known for slipped and I just stared at her, blankly. "I didn't mean --."

"It's all right, Draco." Anna replied with a chuckle, before looking at her watch and climbing to her feet. "I have somewhere to be at the moment, so I really can't spare the time to tease you much more about this. However, if that was your way of requesting a date with me, I would be delighted to go out with you. How does Hogsmeade sound? I understand that it is this coming weekend…"

I could only nod again, still speechless in my utter dismay. If only I had been paying attention to her as she turned toward the door, I would have seen the flash of deadly triumph flare in her eyes at my agreement. If I only had been looking at her as she walked through the common room, I would have seen the shuttered, closed look cross her features as she pulled back into herself. If only I had been looking at her as she walked through the halls, I would have seen someone who held secrets that she wanted nobody to find out … and a plan that she was on the verge of hatching.

If only…

I could see into the future.

Maybe, things would be vastly different.