Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.
Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar.
Chapter 9 - Some People Learn Their Skills...
That night, after the Two Twits were asleep, I was still lying awake, trying to picture where Theo had come up with the concept of anyone being daft enough to call a Cerberus Fluffy. I heard a noise behind me, and looked up at the blank stone wall. Something was there but I couldn't see it. I sat up and checked the wall, hoping to find out what was there. It wasn't any colder than usual, so it couldn't be a ghost in the wall. I frowned, listening, as the noise moved upwards. It sounded like hissing ... like a snake. I really wished I had read more of that Parseltongue book, now, but it didn't seem to want to teach me.
"Theo." I whispered.
"Wha?" came the muffled response. I'm glad he's such a light sleeper - I didn't want to interrupt the snore-fest at the far end of the room.
"Hear that?" I asked.
A pause, then, "It's nothing - burst water-pipe or something - go back to sleep."
"No." I said, adamantly, "I'm sure it's a snake. I haven't gotten as far as understanding very much but -" I paused, as I actually recognised one of the hisses ... 'hungry' ... "It's definitely a snake, Theo - I just recognised a word."
"What word?"
"'Hungry'."
"So? It's probably just some castle-vermin, looking for some castle-rodents." Theo said, stifling a yawn.
"I guess." I replied, not entirely convinced.
* * *
The next morning, however, the hyperactive rumour-mill was working on the fastest spread they'd ever pulled off - by the end of breakfast, everyone knew that Colin Creepy Creevy had been petrified. The Heir of Slytherin strikes again. And I just happened to hear a snake in the walls, last night ... coincidences are just a fool's way of explaining what they can't connect - I do not believe in coincidences. Especially when I KNOW that the monster is a Basilisk - a type of snake, specifically the King of Serpents - and this is not a good situation.
Cat, Blaise, Theo, and I all made our way outside, towards the edge of the lake. We sat down on a dry spot of grass and Theo was first to speak, "Your snake did it - right?"
"First off - it's not MINE. But, yes." I answered, noting the girls' confused expression. I smirked evilly at them, "I have been trying - with next-to-no success - to teach myself to speak Parseltongue." shocked doesn't quite cover it - and Blaise looked afraid of me, now. "I know I heard a snake last night and I'd bet anything that it was what petrified Creepy."
"How'd you figure that one?" Cat asked.
"Because certain giant magical snakes with deadly venom also have the innate ability to kill you by looking at you ... I'm not sure how Creepy and the cat got away with mere petrification, to be honest." I said, in an attempt to sound cryptic.
"What sort of -" Blaise started, but Cat interrupted.
"Basilisk." she answered Blaise's unfinished question.
"That would be right, yes." I said calmly.
"But ... I don't get it ... how would something like that get around the school?" Cat asked.
"We heard it in the walls." Theo noted, before I could say it.
"I'm not going anywhere on my own, from now on." Blaise muttered, before looking fearfully at me, "And you ... you're learning snake-language ... do you know how evil that is? You'll get like Him, one day, if you keep it up."
"Hah!" I replied, pouring as much irony as possible into the one syllable, "I can't even get the damned book to let me learn from it - the chances of my turning into an evil-snake-tongued-git are minimal ... I'll just have to be satisfied with being an evil-git."
"Right." Theo said, in the tone that means to say 'you're nuts, but I'll agree with you for the sake of a relatively easy life'.
"So why don't we tell someone what we know about this?" Cat asked.
"I plead the fifth." I said nervously.
"How would you manage to incriminate yourself, if you told?" Theo asked edgily.
"Not myself. I'd either get someone else, close to me, in trouble ... or I'd end up regretting the day I was born, if said someone else finds out who ratted on their evil scheme." I said, carefully trying not to give away too much.
Unfortunately, Blaise was an observant girl, "Your father? He's behind this?"
I stared at her (as did Theo and Cat) for a few seconds, before saying, "Technically ... there's no conclusive evidence to incriminate him, but if I was the one to report it - and they would undoubtedly ask how I'd figured it out - no Auror worth a Weasley would let me go without getting the truth out of me, and then ... there would be trouble."
"So we can't go to the authorities, because you're afraid of getting your dad in trouble?" Theo asked, "But if he's the one who's behind it, why protect him?"
"I can't betray him." I whispered, looking down at the ground, then I looked up at them, "And you can't tell anyone, either. I told you this in confidence - right?"
They all nodded. "So what do we do about it?" Blaise asked, "I mean, telling the teachers is the best thing to do, really. So what's second best - Draco, you tell us, since you chose to take away our safest option for us." she said, in a vicious tone.
"Well, for a start, if you hear anything unusual - specifically hissy or slithery - run away, or if you must look, use a mirror. It's the same principle as a Gorgon - the mirror will stop its gaze from killing you." I said calmly, "It shouldn't come to that, though - the monster is only supposed to attack Mudbloods and Squibs."
"Is that it?" Theo asked, surprised, "Self-protection? What about making sure the school doesn't get closed down, or Snake-Lover doesn't come back, or whatever other nefarious schemes He might have planned?"
"Self-protection is a priority." I said coldly, "But if you want to play hero, stalking the Weasley-girl and trying to deprive her of her diary would be the best solution."
Blaise snorted, "You are a coward, Draco," she said coldly.
Cat, meanwhile, had developed a smirk that could only mean she was plotting something, "Guys ... aren't we forgetting something, here?"
"What?" we all asked.
"Well, there is a threat within the castle. We are supposedly the house in the know about it. Rule number 28: 'even in the worst of times, someone turns a profit - make sure it's you'. I suggest we start conning people into buying 'protective' trinkets at exorbitant prices," she said, her eyes glittering at the thought of a profitable scheme.
"What, prey tell, might these trinkets be?" Theo asked, getting into the idea.
"Anything, really. Anything that can claim to have protective powers over any form of monster. Anything from amulets to ward off demons, to pieces of animals retrieved from Potions class which would just smell." Cat said, grinning.
"That's a good idea." Blaise said, seeming to like the concept, "I know where we can get the amulet sort of thing very cheap. Double or triple the price, and we've got ourselves a nice little enterprise, here."
I shook my head sadly, "You three are incorrigible. You realise this really IS the worst of times? If this keeps up, the school will have to close down."
"I know, but better be packed off to Beauxbatons with some money, than flat-broke." Cat said bluntly.
* * *
That evening, I took my Parseltongue book and ventured out of the common room, weaving through the dungeon corridors, until I found the tapestry of Salazar Slytherin, himself. I slipped behind it and into a small room that resembled a study. I only knew about this room because Father had told me about it. No one else knows about it, as far as I know.
I opened the book to the first page and looked down at it, "Please." I whispered, "I need to know. It's important. If I know, maybe I can help, somehow." who am I kidding? I already know enough to help and I won't for fear of my father. Still, it seemed to work. Very slowly and reluctantly, the book started to let me read it properly - started to let me actually learn what it had to teach.
I went back there every night, for a couple of hours each time. After nearly three weeks, I had read five chapters, which was much better progress than I had been making before.
Then, on Friday, as I was leaving Lockhart's classroom (having set one of the paintings of Lockhart on fire, causing the real Lockhart to run around in circles squealing desperate pleas of "Do any of you know any fire-extinguishing charms?" and "Help, help, fire, fire!" while the painted version of himself ran off into another painting of himself, and started discussing all his greatest achievements, in a sickening way that made me wonder when the two painted Lockharts were going to start challenging each other to arm-wrestling or duelling, to prove which one was better at being Lockhart) when I was confronted by a pair of identical Weasleys. The evil twins loomed over me, with equal glares on their faces.
I tried to pass them, but they deliberately stood in my way, and when I tried to shove past, one of them grabbed my arm and the other one pointed a wand at me, "What do you two want?" I snarled.
"We want an explanation." the one with the wand said.
"And maybe a confession." the other one added.
"What are you two on about? And while we're at it, what are you on?" I asked angrily.
"Ha, ha." the one holding my arm said sarcastically.
"Come on." the other said, turning and walking down the corridor. The one who was holding my arm walked off after him, continuing to hold my arm ... effectively dragging me with them.
We didn't go far, before they dragged me into a disused classroom and closed the door. "Right." the Weasley with the wand said, pointing it at me threateningly. "Tell us what you were doing in the secret room in the lower dungeons, for the last week."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to sound innocent.
"Don't play dumb with us, Malfoy." the twin who was still holding my arm said, "We know you were there. What were you up to?"
I looked up at them both, for a moment. I was outnumbered - they were both older than me and both physically stronger. I actually had been where they think I was and I had no idea if they were bluffing or not. And most importantly, one of them was pointing a wand in my face - never argue with the point of a wand. Best to admit to being there. "I was reading." I said coldly.
"You made the long journey from your common room all the way down there, every night, just to read?" Weasley-with-wand asked incredulously.
"Pu-lease." the other one said, "Just admit it, Malfoy. You're the one behind these attacks and that secret room leads to the Chamber, somehow."
I actually laughed. I was being threatened at wand-point by two older students, and I laughed. I did regain my composure quickly, but didn't stop smiling - it was funny, "You think I'm the Heir of Slytherin?" I asked, snorting with suppressed laughter, "Yeah, right. I am the Heir to precisely one thing - the Malfoy family fortune." I grinned at the glares they gave me for that - they only hate me because they're jealous ... well, that and our families have hated each other for generations, but I think it was started because of jealousy.
"Prove you're not the Heir of Slytherin." Weasley-holding-my-arm said.
I gave them a look that said they were crazy, before saying, "If I was the Heir of Slytherin, I would not be putting up with this, from a pair of Gryffindor Mudblood-lovers like you." which reminds me, where are my personal body-guards when I need them? "And why were you two spying on me, anyway?"
"We weren't spying on you, specifically." Weasley-with-wand said, seeming to go on the defensive, now. "We just happened to notice you there, where and when you shouldn't be."
"And let's face it, you're the most likely suspect for attacking Muggle-borns, considering how much you don't like them." Weasley-holding-my-arm added.
"I'm flattered." I said acidly, "People start getting attacked by magic that even Dumbledore couldn't undo, and you're blaming me. I didn't know you thought so highly of my abilities. I couldn't even get one measly teacher knocked off, last year, and you're treating me like a master criminal. Thank you."
"Which teacher'd you try to kill?" Weasley-holding-my-arm asked.
"Quirrell." I said calmly.
"Why?" Weasley-with-wand asked.
"Because I had a personal grudge against the turban. It clashed with his robes." I answered. Technically, it was true - I did have a personal grudge against the turban (its inhabitant, to be specific) and the turban did clash horribly with his robes.
They looked at each other, and then back to me, "You are kidding, right?" Weasley-holding-my-arm said.
"No. It is true." I said calmly, "But I failed - Potter killed him off, instead. Perfect Potter always has to play the hero."
"You tried to kill off Quirrell? The residence-of-evil?" Weasley-holding-my-arm asked, truly unbelieving.
"I never said I knew about that when I tried to have him killed off." I said, trying to maintain some air of being the bad-guy in this picture, "I told you, I just took a dislike to his fashion-sense - or lack thereof."
"Uh huh." Weasley-with-wand said, backing away from me as if thinking I was insane and said insanity was contagious. "We'll be watching you, Malfoy."
"We still don't trust you." the other Weasley said, letting go of my arm and also backing towards the door.
I watched as they left me on my own. I had better watch it, then. I bet they're not the only people who suspect me. I mean, one of my best friends asked me if I was the Heir, so I must be up there on the suspect list. Good thing I'm innocent, then, isn't it?
* * *
After that, I stopped sneaking out. I started putting up a silencing charm around myself and pulling the curtains around me, in the dorm, and reading there, instead. No one dared disturb me.
I'm not doing very well with the Parseltongue book, either. It still only teaches me to recognise certain words and phrases and won't let me learn to speak most of it. So far, I can only say 'please don't bite me' ... which, I'll admit, could be useful, but it's still not what I had hoped for when I'd started reading it. Maybe Father said he couldn't be bothered with it because it was so much trouble, rather than from any lack of desire to learn it.
I found out that all five Weasleys currently in education were staying for the holidays. The news got to me through the usual channels - Gryffindor-Patil talks to her Ravenclaw sister, who tells a bunch of other Ravenclaws, who then spread it, eventually to the Slytherin girls, and Cat and/or Blaise tell me. This time it was Cat - I think Blaise is afraid of me, since I told them I was trying to learn Parseltongue.
But I decided that if Weaslette would be staying at Hogwarts, then so would I. Therefore, I signed the list for staying over the holidays. Hadn't I said I'd spend Christmas at Hogwarts, this year, anyway? I know I told you - after that horrendous Christmas party Father threw, last year. I had several reasons to stay here.
After a particularly disastrous Potions class (in which someone had sabotaged Goyle's potion, in extra-ordinary style, and I am sure the antidote didn't work on me completely), we were congregated in the common room. My three intelligent-non-stalker friends (Theo, Blaise and Cat) were sitting in a corner, muttering excitedly. I tried to approach them but the girls turned their backs, deliberately telling me that I wasn't welcome in their conversation. I shrugged and resorted to insulting Gormless Goyle.
"I know you're stupid, Goyle, but were you trying to impersonate Longbottom?" I asked, exasperated.
"Wasn't me." Goyle answered, "Someone threw a firework."
I shook my head, in an exasperatedly condescending way, "You know, I think you've actually got some ability to think. If you could work that out from Snape's reaction, I guess you're not totally hopeless."
He gave me a blank look, but Crabbe said, "Snape thinks it's Potter."
"No duh." I replied, mildly surprised that he had been that observant, "I doubt anyone else would be brave and stupid enough to try a stunt like that right under Snape's nose." speaking of noses, I subconsciously rubbed my own nose, which I'd swear hadn't returned to it's normal size after the incident. "Wish Snape had proof, then Potter'd get expelled." I added.
"There's a rumour." Pansy said, sitting herself down next to me, "Says Potter's the Heir of Slytherin."
"Hah! As if!" I laughed, "If Potter was the Heir of anything, he'd be the Heir of Suicidal Tendencies."
Now several other Slytherins laughed, too. Goyle then spoke up, "So who is Slytherin's Heir?"
"Yeah, some of the Gryffindors - the ones loyal to Potter - seem to think it's you, Draco." Pansy added.
"I sort of noticed. The evil twins, Weasley-and-Weasley, tried to get me to confess, the other day." I said, with a smirk.
"But who is it, really?" Crabbe asked.
"How the Hell should I know?" I asked, "It's not like I'm omnipotent ... I'd like to be, but I'm not. All I could tell you is that the Heir's not going to stop at a couple of petrifications."
"Oooo ... cryptic." Pansy said, grinning, "You do know more."
"Yeah, but I don't know who it is." I said, carefully looking her in the eyes and forcing myself not to blink - I am a good liar - I learned from the best (Father) and improved on his technique.
* * *
End of chapter 9
Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar.
Chapter 9 - Some People Learn Their Skills...
That night, after the Two Twits were asleep, I was still lying awake, trying to picture where Theo had come up with the concept of anyone being daft enough to call a Cerberus Fluffy. I heard a noise behind me, and looked up at the blank stone wall. Something was there but I couldn't see it. I sat up and checked the wall, hoping to find out what was there. It wasn't any colder than usual, so it couldn't be a ghost in the wall. I frowned, listening, as the noise moved upwards. It sounded like hissing ... like a snake. I really wished I had read more of that Parseltongue book, now, but it didn't seem to want to teach me.
"Theo." I whispered.
"Wha?" came the muffled response. I'm glad he's such a light sleeper - I didn't want to interrupt the snore-fest at the far end of the room.
"Hear that?" I asked.
A pause, then, "It's nothing - burst water-pipe or something - go back to sleep."
"No." I said, adamantly, "I'm sure it's a snake. I haven't gotten as far as understanding very much but -" I paused, as I actually recognised one of the hisses ... 'hungry' ... "It's definitely a snake, Theo - I just recognised a word."
"What word?"
"'Hungry'."
"So? It's probably just some castle-vermin, looking for some castle-rodents." Theo said, stifling a yawn.
"I guess." I replied, not entirely convinced.
* * *
The next morning, however, the hyperactive rumour-mill was working on the fastest spread they'd ever pulled off - by the end of breakfast, everyone knew that Colin Creepy Creevy had been petrified. The Heir of Slytherin strikes again. And I just happened to hear a snake in the walls, last night ... coincidences are just a fool's way of explaining what they can't connect - I do not believe in coincidences. Especially when I KNOW that the monster is a Basilisk - a type of snake, specifically the King of Serpents - and this is not a good situation.
Cat, Blaise, Theo, and I all made our way outside, towards the edge of the lake. We sat down on a dry spot of grass and Theo was first to speak, "Your snake did it - right?"
"First off - it's not MINE. But, yes." I answered, noting the girls' confused expression. I smirked evilly at them, "I have been trying - with next-to-no success - to teach myself to speak Parseltongue." shocked doesn't quite cover it - and Blaise looked afraid of me, now. "I know I heard a snake last night and I'd bet anything that it was what petrified Creepy."
"How'd you figure that one?" Cat asked.
"Because certain giant magical snakes with deadly venom also have the innate ability to kill you by looking at you ... I'm not sure how Creepy and the cat got away with mere petrification, to be honest." I said, in an attempt to sound cryptic.
"What sort of -" Blaise started, but Cat interrupted.
"Basilisk." she answered Blaise's unfinished question.
"That would be right, yes." I said calmly.
"But ... I don't get it ... how would something like that get around the school?" Cat asked.
"We heard it in the walls." Theo noted, before I could say it.
"I'm not going anywhere on my own, from now on." Blaise muttered, before looking fearfully at me, "And you ... you're learning snake-language ... do you know how evil that is? You'll get like Him, one day, if you keep it up."
"Hah!" I replied, pouring as much irony as possible into the one syllable, "I can't even get the damned book to let me learn from it - the chances of my turning into an evil-snake-tongued-git are minimal ... I'll just have to be satisfied with being an evil-git."
"Right." Theo said, in the tone that means to say 'you're nuts, but I'll agree with you for the sake of a relatively easy life'.
"So why don't we tell someone what we know about this?" Cat asked.
"I plead the fifth." I said nervously.
"How would you manage to incriminate yourself, if you told?" Theo asked edgily.
"Not myself. I'd either get someone else, close to me, in trouble ... or I'd end up regretting the day I was born, if said someone else finds out who ratted on their evil scheme." I said, carefully trying not to give away too much.
Unfortunately, Blaise was an observant girl, "Your father? He's behind this?"
I stared at her (as did Theo and Cat) for a few seconds, before saying, "Technically ... there's no conclusive evidence to incriminate him, but if I was the one to report it - and they would undoubtedly ask how I'd figured it out - no Auror worth a Weasley would let me go without getting the truth out of me, and then ... there would be trouble."
"So we can't go to the authorities, because you're afraid of getting your dad in trouble?" Theo asked, "But if he's the one who's behind it, why protect him?"
"I can't betray him." I whispered, looking down at the ground, then I looked up at them, "And you can't tell anyone, either. I told you this in confidence - right?"
They all nodded. "So what do we do about it?" Blaise asked, "I mean, telling the teachers is the best thing to do, really. So what's second best - Draco, you tell us, since you chose to take away our safest option for us." she said, in a vicious tone.
"Well, for a start, if you hear anything unusual - specifically hissy or slithery - run away, or if you must look, use a mirror. It's the same principle as a Gorgon - the mirror will stop its gaze from killing you." I said calmly, "It shouldn't come to that, though - the monster is only supposed to attack Mudbloods and Squibs."
"Is that it?" Theo asked, surprised, "Self-protection? What about making sure the school doesn't get closed down, or Snake-Lover doesn't come back, or whatever other nefarious schemes He might have planned?"
"Self-protection is a priority." I said coldly, "But if you want to play hero, stalking the Weasley-girl and trying to deprive her of her diary would be the best solution."
Blaise snorted, "You are a coward, Draco," she said coldly.
Cat, meanwhile, had developed a smirk that could only mean she was plotting something, "Guys ... aren't we forgetting something, here?"
"What?" we all asked.
"Well, there is a threat within the castle. We are supposedly the house in the know about it. Rule number 28: 'even in the worst of times, someone turns a profit - make sure it's you'. I suggest we start conning people into buying 'protective' trinkets at exorbitant prices," she said, her eyes glittering at the thought of a profitable scheme.
"What, prey tell, might these trinkets be?" Theo asked, getting into the idea.
"Anything, really. Anything that can claim to have protective powers over any form of monster. Anything from amulets to ward off demons, to pieces of animals retrieved from Potions class which would just smell." Cat said, grinning.
"That's a good idea." Blaise said, seeming to like the concept, "I know where we can get the amulet sort of thing very cheap. Double or triple the price, and we've got ourselves a nice little enterprise, here."
I shook my head sadly, "You three are incorrigible. You realise this really IS the worst of times? If this keeps up, the school will have to close down."
"I know, but better be packed off to Beauxbatons with some money, than flat-broke." Cat said bluntly.
* * *
That evening, I took my Parseltongue book and ventured out of the common room, weaving through the dungeon corridors, until I found the tapestry of Salazar Slytherin, himself. I slipped behind it and into a small room that resembled a study. I only knew about this room because Father had told me about it. No one else knows about it, as far as I know.
I opened the book to the first page and looked down at it, "Please." I whispered, "I need to know. It's important. If I know, maybe I can help, somehow." who am I kidding? I already know enough to help and I won't for fear of my father. Still, it seemed to work. Very slowly and reluctantly, the book started to let me read it properly - started to let me actually learn what it had to teach.
I went back there every night, for a couple of hours each time. After nearly three weeks, I had read five chapters, which was much better progress than I had been making before.
Then, on Friday, as I was leaving Lockhart's classroom (having set one of the paintings of Lockhart on fire, causing the real Lockhart to run around in circles squealing desperate pleas of "Do any of you know any fire-extinguishing charms?" and "Help, help, fire, fire!" while the painted version of himself ran off into another painting of himself, and started discussing all his greatest achievements, in a sickening way that made me wonder when the two painted Lockharts were going to start challenging each other to arm-wrestling or duelling, to prove which one was better at being Lockhart) when I was confronted by a pair of identical Weasleys. The evil twins loomed over me, with equal glares on their faces.
I tried to pass them, but they deliberately stood in my way, and when I tried to shove past, one of them grabbed my arm and the other one pointed a wand at me, "What do you two want?" I snarled.
"We want an explanation." the one with the wand said.
"And maybe a confession." the other one added.
"What are you two on about? And while we're at it, what are you on?" I asked angrily.
"Ha, ha." the one holding my arm said sarcastically.
"Come on." the other said, turning and walking down the corridor. The one who was holding my arm walked off after him, continuing to hold my arm ... effectively dragging me with them.
We didn't go far, before they dragged me into a disused classroom and closed the door. "Right." the Weasley with the wand said, pointing it at me threateningly. "Tell us what you were doing in the secret room in the lower dungeons, for the last week."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to sound innocent.
"Don't play dumb with us, Malfoy." the twin who was still holding my arm said, "We know you were there. What were you up to?"
I looked up at them both, for a moment. I was outnumbered - they were both older than me and both physically stronger. I actually had been where they think I was and I had no idea if they were bluffing or not. And most importantly, one of them was pointing a wand in my face - never argue with the point of a wand. Best to admit to being there. "I was reading." I said coldly.
"You made the long journey from your common room all the way down there, every night, just to read?" Weasley-with-wand asked incredulously.
"Pu-lease." the other one said, "Just admit it, Malfoy. You're the one behind these attacks and that secret room leads to the Chamber, somehow."
I actually laughed. I was being threatened at wand-point by two older students, and I laughed. I did regain my composure quickly, but didn't stop smiling - it was funny, "You think I'm the Heir of Slytherin?" I asked, snorting with suppressed laughter, "Yeah, right. I am the Heir to precisely one thing - the Malfoy family fortune." I grinned at the glares they gave me for that - they only hate me because they're jealous ... well, that and our families have hated each other for generations, but I think it was started because of jealousy.
"Prove you're not the Heir of Slytherin." Weasley-holding-my-arm said.
I gave them a look that said they were crazy, before saying, "If I was the Heir of Slytherin, I would not be putting up with this, from a pair of Gryffindor Mudblood-lovers like you." which reminds me, where are my personal body-guards when I need them? "And why were you two spying on me, anyway?"
"We weren't spying on you, specifically." Weasley-with-wand said, seeming to go on the defensive, now. "We just happened to notice you there, where and when you shouldn't be."
"And let's face it, you're the most likely suspect for attacking Muggle-borns, considering how much you don't like them." Weasley-holding-my-arm added.
"I'm flattered." I said acidly, "People start getting attacked by magic that even Dumbledore couldn't undo, and you're blaming me. I didn't know you thought so highly of my abilities. I couldn't even get one measly teacher knocked off, last year, and you're treating me like a master criminal. Thank you."
"Which teacher'd you try to kill?" Weasley-holding-my-arm asked.
"Quirrell." I said calmly.
"Why?" Weasley-with-wand asked.
"Because I had a personal grudge against the turban. It clashed with his robes." I answered. Technically, it was true - I did have a personal grudge against the turban (its inhabitant, to be specific) and the turban did clash horribly with his robes.
They looked at each other, and then back to me, "You are kidding, right?" Weasley-holding-my-arm said.
"No. It is true." I said calmly, "But I failed - Potter killed him off, instead. Perfect Potter always has to play the hero."
"You tried to kill off Quirrell? The residence-of-evil?" Weasley-holding-my-arm asked, truly unbelieving.
"I never said I knew about that when I tried to have him killed off." I said, trying to maintain some air of being the bad-guy in this picture, "I told you, I just took a dislike to his fashion-sense - or lack thereof."
"Uh huh." Weasley-with-wand said, backing away from me as if thinking I was insane and said insanity was contagious. "We'll be watching you, Malfoy."
"We still don't trust you." the other Weasley said, letting go of my arm and also backing towards the door.
I watched as they left me on my own. I had better watch it, then. I bet they're not the only people who suspect me. I mean, one of my best friends asked me if I was the Heir, so I must be up there on the suspect list. Good thing I'm innocent, then, isn't it?
* * *
After that, I stopped sneaking out. I started putting up a silencing charm around myself and pulling the curtains around me, in the dorm, and reading there, instead. No one dared disturb me.
I'm not doing very well with the Parseltongue book, either. It still only teaches me to recognise certain words and phrases and won't let me learn to speak most of it. So far, I can only say 'please don't bite me' ... which, I'll admit, could be useful, but it's still not what I had hoped for when I'd started reading it. Maybe Father said he couldn't be bothered with it because it was so much trouble, rather than from any lack of desire to learn it.
I found out that all five Weasleys currently in education were staying for the holidays. The news got to me through the usual channels - Gryffindor-Patil talks to her Ravenclaw sister, who tells a bunch of other Ravenclaws, who then spread it, eventually to the Slytherin girls, and Cat and/or Blaise tell me. This time it was Cat - I think Blaise is afraid of me, since I told them I was trying to learn Parseltongue.
But I decided that if Weaslette would be staying at Hogwarts, then so would I. Therefore, I signed the list for staying over the holidays. Hadn't I said I'd spend Christmas at Hogwarts, this year, anyway? I know I told you - after that horrendous Christmas party Father threw, last year. I had several reasons to stay here.
After a particularly disastrous Potions class (in which someone had sabotaged Goyle's potion, in extra-ordinary style, and I am sure the antidote didn't work on me completely), we were congregated in the common room. My three intelligent-non-stalker friends (Theo, Blaise and Cat) were sitting in a corner, muttering excitedly. I tried to approach them but the girls turned their backs, deliberately telling me that I wasn't welcome in their conversation. I shrugged and resorted to insulting Gormless Goyle.
"I know you're stupid, Goyle, but were you trying to impersonate Longbottom?" I asked, exasperated.
"Wasn't me." Goyle answered, "Someone threw a firework."
I shook my head, in an exasperatedly condescending way, "You know, I think you've actually got some ability to think. If you could work that out from Snape's reaction, I guess you're not totally hopeless."
He gave me a blank look, but Crabbe said, "Snape thinks it's Potter."
"No duh." I replied, mildly surprised that he had been that observant, "I doubt anyone else would be brave and stupid enough to try a stunt like that right under Snape's nose." speaking of noses, I subconsciously rubbed my own nose, which I'd swear hadn't returned to it's normal size after the incident. "Wish Snape had proof, then Potter'd get expelled." I added.
"There's a rumour." Pansy said, sitting herself down next to me, "Says Potter's the Heir of Slytherin."
"Hah! As if!" I laughed, "If Potter was the Heir of anything, he'd be the Heir of Suicidal Tendencies."
Now several other Slytherins laughed, too. Goyle then spoke up, "So who is Slytherin's Heir?"
"Yeah, some of the Gryffindors - the ones loyal to Potter - seem to think it's you, Draco." Pansy added.
"I sort of noticed. The evil twins, Weasley-and-Weasley, tried to get me to confess, the other day." I said, with a smirk.
"But who is it, really?" Crabbe asked.
"How the Hell should I know?" I asked, "It's not like I'm omnipotent ... I'd like to be, but I'm not. All I could tell you is that the Heir's not going to stop at a couple of petrifications."
"Oooo ... cryptic." Pansy said, grinning, "You do know more."
"Yeah, but I don't know who it is." I said, carefully looking her in the eyes and forcing myself not to blink - I am a good liar - I learned from the best (Father) and improved on his technique.
* * *
End of chapter 9
