CHAPTER 18
September 19th 2001
Draco Malfoy closed the office door of Hermione Granger with mixed feelings of accomplishment and mortification. Only now he was faced with Astoria Greengrass smirking at him from behind her desk. The receptionist's eyes were fox-like in their stare, and her lips were painted a deep red once more. How could someone look so innocent and immoral at the same time?
"I take it that she liked the gift." Astoria grinned as Draco strode over to her.
"How did you know I got her a gift?" He questioned suspiciously.
"Mr Malfoy, I must remind you that these tiled walls are thinner than they appear. I hear everything."
Draco sighed, placing his hands on top of the counter that wrapped around the table she sat at. Drumming his fingers against the black wood.
"You are not as pure and chaste as you pretend to be, are you Astoria?" He tilted his head in observation.
"I can be whatever you want me to be, Mr Malfoy."
The absolute cheek of it.
"I know you do not have as busy a schedule as you told Miss Granger. In fact, I think your calendar is all clear today. Do you plan to isolate yourself in your office all day once more? I would be happy to bring you some tea to soothe your sorrowful heart."
Astoria picked up a feathered quill and leant back on her chair, stroking the plumage between her index and thumb. Draco tilted his chin down to glare at her with his silver eyes, twisting his jaw trying to hide a smile.
"What happened to the sweet witch that was my assistant? I do miss her greatly." Draco played along with her game.
"She is still here. Only, you have literally kissed my ass so I no longer have to kiss yours anymore."
What a fucking bitch. It was like she was a clone of Pansy Parkinson.
"I heard that there is a ministry quidditch game happening this weekend." Astoria changed topics, lifting herself off the chair and leaning her forearms on the desk. "I have a proposition that you might like to hear."
"Please, Miss Greengrass, enlighten me." Draco looked in between his fingernails, pretending to be disinterested in this conversation.
"What do you say that you and I attend the match together?"
"Are you asking your senior leader out on a date?"
"Not entirely. I am simply proposing a new work project that could benefit two ministry employees."
"How, may I ask, do either of us benefit from being seen together in public?"
"I am in need of a promotion. Being seen with a department head on my arm will show the intellect and poise that the politicians of this world are looking for."
"And my gain?"
"You will have someone to make Miss Granger jealous. Or have someone to distract you from your feelings for Miss Granger. Whatever you prefer."
The offer was incredibly alluring. As much as Draco wanted to use Astoria to make Granger jealous, he knew that he would only end up being more aggravated by trying to destroy her perfectly stable engagement. But… Seeing as he had nothing better to do and the looming fear of his father's disapproval was absent, he might as well use the receptionist to get over his love for Granger.
"If I were to accept this deal, I would have some conditions." Draco placed both hands in the soles of his pockets. Using his calm and tall stature to create dominance in these terms.
"Go ahead." She encouraged.
"Firstly, do not call me by my first name at this outing." He began. "You may refer to me as 'sir' or 'Mr Malfoy'. I do not want it getting mixed inside your head that we are equals here or out there. Secondly, I am not doing this to make Miss Granger jealous so do not try to make her envious. No matter how hard you try, she will not be. Finally, I am playing at the match, so when the ministry inevitably wins, I need you to run onto the field and kiss me as passionately as you can."
"If you are not doing this to make her jealous, then why must I kiss you so enthusiastically?"
"Because, it will distract me from seeing her comfort him, when he loses." Draco confessed.
"I see." Astoria sighed. "Well these are terms I can agree with. It looks like we have a deal… Mr Malfoy."
Draco pressed his lips into a line, took a hand out of his pockets and stretched it out for her to shake. The young witch took his palm into hers and they sealed their fate. The sound of Tim McClivert leaving his office broke their grasp. The Games and Sports department head nodded in their direction.
"That was all the messages you were left this morning, Mr Malfoy. I shall deliver your paperwork later this afternoon." Astoria played it off cool.
"Thank you, Miss Greengrass." Draco put his hand back into his trousers before swiftly turning on his heel to go back to his own office. McClivert brushed the encounter off and made his way to the elevators down the hall.
Astoria blew a kiss at Draco when he turned around to now walk backwards. In one swift move, he caught the air kiss and pretended to chuck it away before turning back around and entering his workspace. He was finally alone.
After a day full of paperwork and avoiding leaving his office, Draco made his way home. Stepping out of the living room fireplace, he could sense that he was not alone. The air was thicker and the curtains had been opened to let the sunset light in, which meant that someone had broken in.
Quietly dropping his briefcase onto the floor, he pulled out his wand from the inner coat pocket. He took off his shoes so he could walk silently in socks along the black and white tiles. Tip-toeing and hiding behind cornered walls, Draco gradually made his way up to the second floor of the apartment. His bedroom door was open. Whoever was in here, was doing some very sloppy work in being discreet.
Bringing his arm across his chest with wand on hand, he braced himself as he entered the room. Quickly turning the corner on his heel Draco pointed his wand at the mystery figure sitting on his bed. Rage filled his eyes. But when he saw the frightened woman throw her hands up in surrender, he immediately relaxed his shoulders and lowered his wand.
"Pansy." He exhaled aggressively. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"Me!?" The pointy nosed witch shrieked. "You're the one trying to kill me! What the fuck are you doing?"
"I thought you were an intruder."
"Why the hell would someone be breaking into your house? Your father is dead for Merlin's sake." Pansy clutched her chest, trying to catch her shocked breath.
"Old habits die hard."
Draco remained standing near the door, unsure of whether he should apologise for freaking her out or not. Then again, why should he apologise when she invited herself into his house without permission. Furrowing his brow, the blond crossed his arms.
"What are you doing here, Pansy?" He asked roughly.
"What do you think I am doing here? Theo and I had an argument and I needed to let some steam off."
"Oh, right." For a moment there, Draco had forgotten that they tend to lean on one another with sex when their lives get messy. Pansy patted the mattress, inviting him to sit next to her.
"The Daily Prophet tells me that it is Granger's birthday today." She stated while he took his seat.
"That it is."
"And what exactly did you get the mudblood?"
"Why does everyone assume I got her a gift?" He threw his hands up in annoyance.
"Because despite your attempts to not be, you are pathetically easy to read." She giggled. "So what did you give her?"
"What did you argue with Nott about?" Draco threw a question back in defence.
Pansy sighed.
"The wedding."
"The wedding or the marriage?"
"Do not get all psychological on me, Draco Malfoy." She slapped the side of his arm.
"Well?"
"The marriage, I guess. While Theo is aware of this unspoken agreement you and I share with one another, I think he pretends to be less bothered by it than he really is."
Draco nodded his low hung head.
"Am I wrong to assume that he is also pissed off that you are less bothered by it than you pretend to be?" He asked.
"I know that what we do will not last forever. But can I not enjoy it while I can?" She replied.
"I do not have the ethical answers for you, Pansy. I am just your boy toy."
The witch groaned and threw her body back against the mattress. Draco followed suit and laid down next to her, a lot more gracefully.
They both lay there silently for a few minutes. Draco couldn't help but remember the feeling of having Granger hug him early today. It was like fire and ice had ran through his body. Her smaller figure fit perfectly with his larger frame, two puzzle pieces connecting together. The smell of her honey scented shampoo had overwhelmed his senses, it took everything in him not to lift her up onto the desk and kiss every inch of her skin. Throwing his arms around Granger's neck loosely was the most restraint he had ever shown in his entire life.
He was actually grateful that she accidentally touched his scar. It gave him reason to back away. Truthfully, he played the moment off to be more dramatic than what it really was. Her touch did not frighten him the way that others did, but it also scared him more than any other woman's did.
The feel of Pansy's hand on his thigh broke the daydream.
"How was the engagement party on Saturday?" She asked in a whisper.
"Miserable." He replied bluntly.
"Care to share with the class as to why?"
"Having to socialise in a room full of air headed Gryffindors was tortuous."
"Is that the real reason?"
"Yes." He lied. "Leaving with my assistant did not help the hangover the next day either."
"Draco…" Pansy whined with disappointment.
"Trust me, I am reaping what I sowed. Astoria has manipulated me into dating her for the sake of a promotion. It is very Pansy Parkinson of her."
"Ha! I'm still friends with Daphne and I am well aware of the things that her younger sister is capable of. You have caught yourself on a sticky web, and fake dating her is the least of your worries."
"How so?" Draco lifted himself sideways and leant on his forearm.
"In her fourth year at Hogwarts she got a boy kicked out of school by tricking his parents into thinking he had gotten a girl pregnant. All because he accidentally spilled ink on her skirt in detention." Pansy explained.
"Why did I not hear about this at the time? You loved sharing gossip."
"I did." She replied plainly. "You just did not care."
There was truth behind her reasoning. Draco usually drowned out Pansy's voice in times when she found the need to spill the latest and juiciest affairs, the pettiness of it all bored him.
Feeling the mattress move beneath him, the wizard watched as she climbed up onto his waist and straddled him as he lay below her. One button at a time she began to undo her blouse to reveal a pink laced bra. Draco kept his hands to himself, not necessarily having the energy to be dominant right now. Pansy bent down and began to suckle at his neck while he looked up at his ceiling.
"I went shopping with your mother today." She spoke in between wet kisses.
"Talking about my mother is not foreplay I wish to participate in, Parkinson." Draco grunted as she moved to the other side of his throat.
"Do you want to talk about it? Your father dying?"
"We don't talk. We fuck."
Pansy lifted her head and hovered above his face. He could taste the breath mint she must have taken earlier. Their noses touched, and Draco did not know why but he felt guilty for being with her like this. Guilty over Nott's real feelings or Granger's non-existent feelings he did not know.
"If we don't talk Draco, then why aren't you fucking me right now?" Pansy hissed.
A comment like that made him realise he was done with having so many emotions. With a growl, Draco flipped Pansy off his waist and pinned her stomach down onto the bed, arms behind her back. She moaned at the change in pace.
"You want me to fuck you, Parkinson?" He rasped into her ear.
"Yes."
Draco lifted her tight skirt above her hips, and yanked her thong down to her knees.
"You want me to make you forget about Nott?" He asked, ripping his belt off his trousers.
"Yes." She begged.
"So be it, then."
Later that night Draco found himself seated on the floor of his shower. The water was at a scorching heat, and the glass had fogged up a solid 20 minutes ago. He had scrubbed away any evidence of sleeping with Pansy twice now. While the high of the sexual heat was distracting at the time, now he was left with feeling dirty and sinful.
Draco did not know when he had begun to have a change of heart, but he had a sneaking suspicion it would have something to do with the engagement party over the weekend. That night was almost like a tipping point for him. A moment of realisation where he could no longer pretend to be the cruel lone serpent who had no remorse, but rather the wall he had worked so hard to build was being broken down. Draco was scared of the person he would turn into once all the bricks were gone. There was only one person to blame… Granger.
As the stream of hot water flowed down his back, and his wet fringe dangled over his face, Draco drowned himself in his emotions. It felt like he was on a carousel, stuck going in circles feeling a rush to prove his love to Granger, but also wanting to carrow away and hide from her. He prayed that the wedding would come soon so that he would be forced to stop this nonsense.
When it got to the point that his fingers were starting to wrinkle up, Draco pulled himself up off the floor and out of the shower. Dressing into his grey sweatpants and a plain white shirt, he headed downstairs to start making dinner. A knock at his front door startled his plan.
"Who the fuck?" He muttered to himself. No one but Granger knew his street address.
Not bothered by daily death threats any more, he walked over to the entrance and pulled the door open a jar to see who it was. An all too familiar face stood in a dark blue sweater and baggy jeans.
Potter.
"What the fuck do you want, Potter?" Draco snapped, fully opening the door.
"I was going into town for Hermione's birthday dinner, but I thought that I might pop in here first." The Gryffindor explained. "She gave me your address."
"Of course she did." The Slytherin rolled his eyes. "I take it this is about the quidditch match on Saturday? You could have sent an owl, scarhead."
"Yes and no."
Draco raised an eyebrow and glared at the wizard standing at his door.
"If you are here to ask me more questions about my father, I am not interested." He stated firmly.
"It's only one thing I want to ask. Then I will get out of your hair, promise."
With a grunt Draco replied, "Fine. What is it?"
"Why did you try to cover up your father's death?"
The Slytherin squinted his eyes and tilted his head slightly in confusion. What the fuck was Potter talking about right now? Before he could curse the Gryffindor, the idiot spoke again.
"Do you take me as an idiot, Malfoy? I'm an auror, and intrusive by nature. Did you not think that I would find out that Lucius is not really dead?"
A rage of intense anger and alarm boiled inside the Slytherin.
"What the fuck are you talking about, Potter?!" Draco yelled, slamming the side of his fist against the door. The wooden split at the pressure. "I buried that son of a bitch! I watched the bastard go six feet underground!"
"You and I both know that was not his real body!" Potter bellowed back, taking one step closer to his opponent with a puffed chest.
That slither of alarm grew into terror. Draco dropped his frown and switched it to fear, eyes wide in shock at what he was hearing
"Who- whose body was it then?" He stammered.
The Gryffindor stepped back from his close proximity to the Slytherin, turning his head sideways trying to read through Draco's confusion.
"Are you telling me you really didn't know Lucius is still alive?"
Panic spread across Draco's body faster than a snitch. Thinking back, he never saw his father's corpse at any point. His mother discovered his body. The casket was closed when they buried him. There was a definite possibility that Lucius could still be out there.
"How do you know?" The Slytherin asked fiercely. "What makes you think Lucius isn't dead?"
"The body at the morgue was polyjuiced. A healer was paid off to sign off on his identification."
"Fuck!" Draco barked, taking another punch to the door. "Do you know what this means, Potter? I'm fucked. Granger is-" He stopped himself before he could finish the sentence.
"Hermione is what?" The Gryffindor spat. "Is she in danger?"
"No." The Slytherin lied. He was going to need a quick cover up. "She's just going to be worried. Do not tell her. Do not tell anyone. I am going to take care of it."
"I am going to need to start an official investigation, Malfoy. It is going to be known by the public soon."
"Are you the only one working on this case?"
"Yes, but-"
"Then stall it as long as you can." Draco insisted with a hurried voice. "Lucius is a snake, he will hide in the grass for as long as he can until he is ready to strike. He's probably gone into isolation to throw off suspicion, and the minute you bring it to the public eye, he will do whatever it takes to stop being discovered."
"Malfoy!" Potter yelled to stop his rambling. "Are you confirming that Lucius faked his own death and you had nothing to do with it?"
"I had nothing to do with him faking his own death." Draco affirmed. A little white lie did not matter right now.
"Okay-ugh-I am going to be late for dinner. Stay low, don't do anything without advising me first. Got it?"
"I do not need your help, Pot-"
"Go it?!" The Gryffindor raised his voice.
"Fine. Yes. Got it." The Slytherin obliged.
"I mean it, Malfoy." Potter urged, turning from the entrance and began walking down the path to the exit. "Oh! The quidditch match is at 10am on the Hogwarts pitch by the way."
"Potter!" Draco yelled, making him stop. "If I had said yes to knowing that my father was still alive. What would you have done? Would you have arrested me?"
The Slytherin's heart was racing, fury bubbling in his blood.
"No, Malfoy. I never planned on arresting you." The Gryffindor answered his question, before walking down the street into London town.
Fuck.