Draco Malfoy and his Unknown Fate:
Author's Notes: The names on the list were all in different fonts to simulate the handwriting of the students, but unfortunately it won't show up on FF.net. *cries* And it was so pretty, too! Anyway, yeah.
Warnings for this chapter: Er. Mild swearing. Nothing else. Well, someone makes fun of Lockhart. Again.
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm merely borrowing them for the time being. This will be slash (eventually). Don't like it? Don't read it. Otherwise, enjoy.
Morag MacDougal
Lisa Turpin
Lavender Brown
Harry Potter
Neville Longbottom
Emma Dobbs
Ernie McMillian
Anthony Goldstein
Draco scanned the list of students staying for Yule break and scowled at the innocuous parchment in his hand. Only unwanted children, losers, and orphans had to stay home for the holidays and Draco had always taken pride in the fact that he, unlike several of his less fortunate classmates, had always been welcome at home even if his parents weren't the most loving of individuals.
And now he was one of these misfits.
Biting his lip, Draco took out his self inking quill and prepared to sign his name, larger than the others because despite the fact he was ashamed of being abandoned he wasn't about to let anyone else know that. Even if he had been tossed out onto the street, he was a Malfoy and he still had his pride. He kept that thought in mind as he drew the quill over the parchment.
Draco Malfoy
He passed the scroll down the table once he'd scrawled his name down with a flourish, unsurprised when no one else signed it. Pansy shot him a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, I got you a really nice Christmas present. You'll love it; I know you will." It made him feel a bit better, like she'd intended it to.
Draco sent her a quick half smile. "Thanks, Pansy. So, do you think Snape will like his present?" He had introduced Pansy to Mr. Jigger by owl and the Slytherin girl had managed to come to an agreement with the Apothecary owner. Snape would get a 15% discount every time he purchased something at Slug & Jigger's Apothecary for the next five years. It must have cost a pretty penny, but Pansy's gifts were always extravagant and expensive, so Snape probably wouldn't think much of it. It was a thoughtful gesture and no doubt the Potions Master would appreciate it. It was just one tiny step in Pansy's extensive plan to ensnare the oblivious Potions professor.
"Oh, I hope so!" The female Slytherin prefect said, gnawing on her lip with worry. "You don't think it's too much, do you?"
"From you? No. It'll be fine." Draco assured her.
"I feel bad. Leaving you here all alone. There aren't even going to be any other Slytherins this year." Pansy said fretfully in her usual tone.
"Yes. I'll waste away in the dungeons, unloved and alone and when you come back from vacation you'll find my lifeless, yet oddly attractive corpse by the common room fire in a poignant pose of despair." He flung his hand against his forehead and feigned a swoon that landed him propped up against Crabbe's bulky shoulder. The shoulder was shaking from laughter. "And then you'll say, 'Poor, gorgeous Draco. We never should have left him behind. Oh woe!' That's what you'll say, alright." Draco sat back up, smoothing his hair as his House mates cracked up around him.
"Sure, Malfoy." Snickered Baddock, who was two seats down.
Draco sniffed. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Warn them about what?" Said a warm voice next to him. Draco swiveled around to see Stephen Cornfoot smiling at him from a few feet away.
"Nothing." He flashed the other boy a quick smirk. "What are you doing braving Slytherin territory?"
"Thought I'd drop by to say hi."
Draco cast a swift look to the Ravenclaw table and saw Lisa Turpin making eyes at some Hufflepuff. Well, that explained it. "Really." He said, his voice dangerously even. Lunch was almost over and a few people had already left the Great Hall.
"Yes, really. I mean, it's been a while." Stephen brushed a bit of brown hair away from his face, smiling sweetly. His eyes were a soft hazel color and his skin fairly tan for a Ravenclaw considering the fact they usually spent all their time inside studying.
Draco stood, putting himself on even ground with the other boy. "It's nice to see you again then. How's the girlfriend?" He asked, raising one eyebrow.
"Er, Ex-girlfriend actually. And she's fine."
"Mmm. So that's how it is." Stephen blushed a little, color coming to his cheeks and he glanced around the hall quickly. Draco followed his gaze, but no one was really paying them much mind as far as he could tell. His eyes swept over the Gryffindor table and he was surprised to see Potter watching them attentively, his brow furrowed.
He looked almost… disapproving? Well, screw the Boy Who Was A Prude.
"Any particular reason you dropped by?" Draco murmured, smirking flirtatiously as he lightly touched Stephen's elbow. He looked up at Cornfoot from underneath his pale lashes, gratified to see the way the other boy's eyes darkened lustfully. Over the other boy's shoulder Potter's frown deepened. Stephen grinned and leaned in to speak in a low voice near his ear.
"Just wanted to know if you were up for a snog is all." Draco drew his head back to stare at the Ravenclaw and watched his gaze flicker to the side. His own eyes followed and the Slytherin wasn't surprised to see that Lisa Turpin was suddenly ignoring her Hufflepuff in favor of glaring daggers at them.
He snorted. "I'll pass. I'm not fond of being used as a method of revenge."
"Er." Stephen blushed, looking abashed. "Sorry, Draco. I didn't mean to drag you into this."
Draco smirked nastily, but he kept his voice fairly neutral. "Yes, you did. Scamper off back to your table, now. I'm sure she'll forgive you if ask nicely and if not… Well, I'm sure someone else more obliging would be up for a snog over there."
Stephen sent him a last sheepish smile before heading off and Draco watched him go, rolling his eyes at the other boy's back before turning back to where Pansy had been watching them with great amusement. "What a twit, trying to make his girlfriend jealous. Still, I guess this just proves you've still got it, huh?"
"Shut up." He said, grinning despite himself. "I can't help being so pretty."
Pansy started giggling and Draco kicked her shin in irritation. "I'm sorry!" She gasped. "It's just you sounded so much like Lockhart; I'm witty, and pretty, and gay!" The mocking voice was a falsetto cooing that did indeed sound like Lockhart at his vainest. He narrowed his eyes at her, though she knew it was half in jest.
"Oh, you're going to pay for that. When you least expect it, mark my words."
"Right." She scoffed. "Like you - oh, my. Well, isn't that interesting."
"What?" Draco asked, peering around to see what his friend found so fascinating. Usually nothing short of an emergency or a glimpse of her beloved Snape could get her to stop running that motor mouth of hers.
"It seems like Mr. Potter is a bit jealous of your beau. He's currently attempting to shoot Avada Kedavra from his eyes at Cornfoot. Looks like you've pulled another one. And the Boy Who Lived, no less."
Draco twisted about to see Potter who was indeed pinning Stephen with a glare so fierce the Ravenclaw should have burst into flames on the spot. The green eyes Draco so admired were snapping with anger. The Slytherin licked his lips; how had he never noticed how hot Potter looked when he was in a temper? Or perhaps, some appalled part of him realized, he had. Had he spent the last five years yanking Potter's chain because of some twisted attraction?
Probably, he admitted silently to himself. It sounded like something he'd do.
"Well, well. Isn't that fascinating." Draco almost purred, pleased at this new twist.
"Guess you finally have a chance will Potter the rotter after all And all this time I thought you were just mooning hopelessly after - Ouch! You jerk, that hurt."
Draco just smiled innocently at Pansy who was nursing her arm where he'd pinched her.
To be Continued
Comments and constructive criticism are more than welcome.