UNDER MY SPELL
Well then. The last chap was really fluffy, so this one isn't going to be. It'll be short, so you'll have to wait until chapter five to find out what Ron and Hermione are going to do. Really get engaged? Or just pretend? Maybe forget the whole thing? Hmmm…well, you'll find out next time!
CHAPTER FOUR: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Draco sat in the modest living room of his flat in London. He sipped his coffee and opened the morning paper.
He flipped through the news, glancing at the articles at what the Ministry was up to today, and the things that had occurred over the night. Always the same old thing, he mused. Nothing had changed in six years. Fudge had failed at his little stunt. That was all they needed, another Voldemort, more bumbling and useless than the first.
He laughed softly. That was a dangerous opinion, never to be voiced. It wasn't important, not anymore. That was over and done with. It had all been much ado about nothing, in Draco's opinion.
He turned the page again, and glanced at the wedding announcements. Then he saw it. Right in the middle of the page was a picture of Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley smiling with their arms around each other.
Potter
Weasley
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley of Ottery St. Catchpole
are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter,
Virginia Weasley, member if the Accidental Magical Reversal Squad,
to Harry Potter, formerly of Little Whinging, Surrey.
Harry is the son of the late Lily and James Potter and the Defense Against the
Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Their engagement party will take place on Halloween at the Weasley home,
and the wedding is set for May 21st.
Draco nearly spat his coffee all over the Persian rug. Well, it was hardly a surprise, the way those two hung all over one another at school. He was, however, fairly surprised that there wasn't a big article about the wonderful Harry Potter to accompany the short announcement. The media usually milked any mention of Potter to the limit. He remembered the eight page article that ran in the Daily Prophet when Longbottom died. They recounted every detail of his miserable life, with only a sentence or two about Longbottom. The next day there was an editorial written by Potter himself about how the media should have respect for the dead and he demanded they write an article all about Neville to honor his memory. Do gooder. Draco sneered.
He folded the paper up neatly and replaced it on the coffee table, and placed his empty mug beside it. He decided he might just have to crash this engagement party. Put a new spin on the festivities. God knew, he needed to get out more.
Draco didn't really have a job, per se. He lived off the dwindling Malfoy fortune, and when money was tight he did freelance jobs for whoever was willing to pay for his services. But no matter what he did with his days, his nights were always oppressively lonely.
Damn it, he scolded himself. No one wanted anything to do with him and his past. His father had taken care of that. Even his cronies Crabbe and Goyle that lived by his side at school had gotten lives of their own. Doing what, he couldn't imagine.
Sure, he had dates, but what did that matter? He was alone. His father was a fool and quickly losing popularity and his mother, as far as he could tell, sat around the house all day touching up her makeup.
He recalled that Weasley had taken the job as manager of the Chudley Canons, a team that he was quickly taking to the top of the league. And his girlfriend Granger was working in the D.E.S.C. and inventing some useful spells. The article mentioned that Ginny was on the Magical Reversal Squad, and there wasn't anybody in the magical world that didn't know Potter was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Draco grinned. He was sure Snape loathed him more than ever for that.
Ah, but even Snape had gotten married and had children. Draco shuddered. He couldn't imagine greasy haired toddlers wandering the halls of Hogwarts.
Tap, tap, tap. Draco turned to see a brown barn owl at his window. He opened the window and watched the owl swoop in and deposit an official looking letter into the palm of his hand and swoop out once more.
Mr. Draco Malfoy—
I have a special assignment for you. It has come to my attention that Harry Potter is getting married to Virginia Weasley. I need more information about him and his whereabouts, habits, and schedule. This is where you come in. An undercover assignment, if you will. Three thousand galleons up front and five-hundred galleons per report. Effective immediately. Report to my office at two p.m. tomorrow for your money.
Draco glanced at the signature and nodded in understanding. He knew that the effort was worth the money, and would take up the job. It wouldn't be difficult, he mused. He would just do what everybody thought he was best at: worm and weasel his was through the situation.
He entered his gray and white tiled bathroom and looked at his reflection. His white-blonde hair was long and mussed, his cheeks gaunt and sharp, and there were dark smudges under his eyes. He would have to get a hair cut, and maybe some sleep before he started this job. Potter and the Weasleys would have enough trouble trusting him without him looking like a wreck. People tended to trust those who looked neat and kempt.
Once again, he laughed at himself. Much ado about nothing, he muttered.
***
Draco knocked lightly on the office door. He heard a curt, "Come in" and opened the door.
"I knew you'd be here, Draco."
"How could I pass up such an offer?" He pulled up a chair and sat in front of the desk.
"How indeed. Now, I believe two thousand galleons was the promised amount?"
Draco chuckled. "Nice try. Three grand or no deal."
His employer scoffed. "It was worth a try. Now, you know what I need?"
He nodded. "Schedule, habits, whatever comes up, I imagine."
"You imagined correctly. I believe you have a party to crash in a few days?"
"Yeah, I'm sure they'll all be pleased to see me."
See, plot filled and fabulous as promised. Well, I like it at least. Who is this mystery person, and why does he/she want to know about Harry? Keep reading to find out! Oh, and make sure to review…