Draco Malfoy and his Unknown Fate:

Author's Notes: This is a pretty short chapter, sort of an interlude really.

Warnings for this chapter: Swearing. That is all.

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.

Draco woke up, lifting his head groggily to see what had startled him out of sleep. He'd accidentally conked out on his couch while doing his Ancient Runes homework after dinner and he could have sworn he'd heard something. Moments later he was proven right as someone banged on the entrance to his prefect quarters. Groaning he hid his head and wished whoever it was would go away. He wasn't up for another visit from the Weaselette and he couldn't think who else it could be. He almost managed to drift off again when he heard the sound of grinding stones and Pansy's voice. "…right in here. Of course, he might be taking a bath, but I doubt he'd mind if you waited for him to get back. Never mind. Draco, get up."

Draco grunted and ignored her some more, wishing she and the mystery guest would just sod off. Pansy poked his neck.

"Draaaacooo. Come on ickle Drakie-do." She said in a sing song voice. "Wakey wakey."

"Fuck off." Draco slurred sleepily, cracking open one eye to see her smirking down at him. He stretched, pushing his sock clad toes against the leather arm of the couch and wiggling them.

Pansy was still smirking at him, which would have made him suspicious if he'd been capable of thinking beyond Tired. Mmm. Sleep. Go 'way. "Wake up, Draco. You've got a guest and it's only seven. I will cast a tickling spell on you if you don't get up right now."

"Fine. Be a bitch." Draco groaned theatrically as he hauled himself upright and let his head flop to onto the back of the couch. He was startled to see Harry Potter standing next to Pansy, shifting his weight

uncomfortably, but looking amused nonetheless. "Oh, hello. I didn't know it was you. I thought it might have been the Weaselette again."

"Ah. That explains it." Pansy murmured and Harry's eyebrows rose.

"Ginny was down here?"

Draco was attempting to fix his hair and answered reflexively. "Is that her name? I thought it was Ginger. She came down to apologize for her brother after the Streeler incident. Her mum gave me fudge. It was actually pretty good."

"I found him loitering outside your room. I thought I'd rescue him from the lynching that would occur if any of the others saw him. I'm off, though. Have fun you two."

Draco yawned despite himself and shook his head to clear it. He blinked a few times and then sat up right properly. "Right. Thanks Pansy." He watched her leave and then turned to Harry, smiling slightly as he arched one eyebrow. "So, is there a reason you've decided to grace me with your illustrious presence?"

"Oh, I just wanted to drop by to say hi. Ron and Hermione are busy doing couple things and Sirius and Remus said they had stuff to do and that I should come by Friday. So, you know."

Draco folded his legs underneath him and gestured for the other boy to sit, which Harry did rather hesitantly. Obviously, he was feeling left out. Draco considered teasing him about it, but decided not to. It seemed like a rather sensitive subject and he didn't want to offend Harry. And wasn't that a change of pace. "How about a game of chess?" The Slytherin suggested after a moment of thought and he was rewarded with a grateful grin.

"Yeah, sounds good." Draco won both games they played easily. They spent both matches bickering with each other all the while about the merits of Quodpot and he had the feeling that even if he'd lost horribly it would have been just as fun.

Draco took that to mean that they were really friends now and keeping that in mind he even managed to keep his gloating to a minimal, which was really as nice as he got.

To be Continued

Comments and constructive criticism are more than welcome.