Chapter 14: Saturday Spies

Draco's Pov:

Saturday. The best day. Sleep in late. No homework to worry about. No school at all. Not a care in the world...

"Drakie Poo!"

Damn. Who is shouting like that at this hour? Do they have a death wish?

"Draco," the voice whines, "get up already."

"Goway," I mumble into the pillow.

"Drakie Poo, you promised," she says in that same annoying whine. I cringe under the sheets. What was it I promised her? Then it hits me like a brick.

"Can't I sleep a bit longer, Pansy?"

"No, Draco, you promised."

"Then get the hell out so I can get dress," I growl. She hurries out of the room, but not without adding her own snide remark.

"Somebody's grouchy this morning."

"Yeah," I add softly to the closed door, "I am a little unhappy, and it's all your fault, bitch."

"You're only a little unhappy, Draco?" a voice pipes up from the bed next to mine. "That's got to be the understatement of the century." I throw my pillow at Blaise as he laughs hysterically. "So what did you promise her?"

I let out a huge sigh. "The other day she wanted to try out my Nimbus 2001 - just to see what it was like flying it, I guess. But I told her she couldn't fly it unless she knew how to fly a broom in the first place. She never did pass flying lessons our first year here. I was hoping she would give it up as a lost cause, but I don't have that kind of luck. She begged me to teach her today and I agreed just to shut her up." I frown as I comb out my pale blonde hair. "I am not looking forward to this."

"Is she really that bad?" Blaise asks, smirking.

"She's worse than the Weasel," I chuckle, referring to the youngest Weasley son. Ron, isn't it? Or Lon - something like that, I think, but then I shrug. Forget it, I tell myself. It's not worth the effort remembering.

"Don't get yourself killed, Draco," Blaise says. "If you do, you won't be able to serve the Dark Lord anymore," he adds with a smirk and a laugh.

"I don't have that kind of luck."

I finish getting dressed and walk as slowly as possible down the stairs. Eventually I make it to the Common Room where Pansy is anxiously waiting. The second she catches sight of me, she leaps up and grabs hold of my hand, dragging me through the door and into the dungeon corridor.

"Draco, you move too slow," she whines. I glare at the ceiling and take a deep breath. This is going to be a loooong day.

"Pansy, get off of my arm!" I snap. She lets go, but not without a shocked look followed by that pout she thinks will make me warm up to her. Yeah, right. Not likely.

We get to the Quidditch stadium and, looking up above the stands, I see the Gryffindor team having what looks to be try-outs. Pansy groans in annoyance.

"Stupid Gryffindors. Now I'll never get to try the Firebolt."

I smirk to myself and wipe the smirk away before Pansy sees. For once I am glad to see a Gryffindor. I don't dare tell Pansy that the old Quidditch pitch is still available - it's just a mile or so behind this one. Hopefully she won't remember it even exists.

"Sorry, Pansy." I fake an apologetic tone and expression. "We'll just have to try again some other time." I don't suggest any certain time this time around, hoping I can use it as an excuse later. Pansy pouts some more.

"Can't you jinx them or something, Draco?"

"No, Pansy. We'd get into serious trouble - especially since one of the people flying up there is our DADA professor's daughter." I add this last bit in immediately after I notice Leia make an amazing and difficult pass to another player - a young girl, most likely fourth year or third. As we stand there, I watch Leia score a few goals and play a great game. She works well with the Weasel girl and the younger one. They make a good team, I must admit. Although, as pleased as I am to see some real talent on one of the House teams, I really wish she could have been on ours. Then we wouldn't need to cheat to beat Gryffindor. Pansy heaves a heavy sigh beside me.

"Fine. Let's go." She stomps off toward the castle without even waiting for my response. I take the opportunity to climb a nearby tree in the hopes of escaping her company for the day. She's nice and all, pretty too, but she's not my type. She can be clingy at times, too. I think that above all else is what turns me off. I like being able to say, "I want to be alone," and actually getting to be alone. With her I never know if she's going to let me be or refuse to do so.

When she gets about twenty feet off, she turns around and darts her eyes across the grounds, looking for me.

"Draco?" she calls. "Draco?" Again, but this time in a more frantic tone. "Where'd you go?" I feel a twinge of guilt for ditching her, but I remain on the branch. I shouldn't just leave her worrying though.

"I'm taking care of some unavoidable business," I shout, throwing my voice so that it sounds as though it is coming from the bushes. "Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later." It wasn't a total lie, anyway. I will catch up with her later, and I do have some business to attend to. As she walks back to the castle, sulking over this interruption of her plans, I pull an envelope out of my pocket. It came during the night, but I was too tired to read it then. Now I glance at it and recognize my father's handwriting.

Son,

That surname is unknown to us. The Dark Lord may know something of that family (for he seemed pleased by your letter about their arrival at Hogwarts), but no one dares to ask him. If this is part of a plan of his, he will inform us in due time. Keep a watchful eye on both of them and keep Him informed as though they are two complete strangers. That may be why he hasn't told us of them, if he knows of them, so as to keep our reports as complete as possible.

Remember your duties,

Father

Folding the letter back up, I make ready to climb out of the tree. But the sound of laughter stops me. I peer down through the leaves and branches to see none other than Potter and his band of freaks. Gerwin is among them. So she may be part of the Dark Lord's plan, eh? I wonder if she is on our side or theirs, I think as they pass by without knowing I sit watching. They seem to be discussing the try-outs. Suddenly, Gerwin leaps into Potter's arms and shrieks with joy. I'm guessing she made the team.

For reasons unbeknownst to me, my face gets hot with what could be anger or jealousy as she hugs Potter. But what reason have I to be jealous? What do I care if she hugs Potter? I think she can do much better than him, but that doesn't mean I think that better someone should be me.

After they have gone, I get down from the tree and make my way to the castle. I sit down at the Slytherin table and shovel down some food in the last ten minutes of lunch.