Malfoy Invasion

By Cassandra Sisenta

A/N: HELLO!!! New chappie! **throws confetti** Thanks so much for the reviews! I love you all!! ^_^ Well, we finally have some D/G interaction. Now, I'd really like it if you left what you would like to see happen in this fic. New ideas are really welcome! R and R!!

Chapter IV

Malfoy Musings and Weasley Protection

If anything, Draco didn't allow himself to assume where his cousins would be placed. Appearances were deceiving. This he knew of course. You can't just tell where anyone would end up by just looking at them.

Look at Potter, for example. He may look like nothing special, but he was the sodding Golden Boy of the whole Wizarding World.

And so he remained tight lipped through the quiet inquiries of Blaise Zabini and the annoying pleas of Pansy Parkinson all through out the Sorting, allowing fate to run its course.

He only allowed himself to comment after his cousins' houses were called.

Adriana would be able to live comfortably with the Ravenclaws. They were an intelligent, bordering on bookish lot who would serve equal to Adriana's own intellectual person. They were also mostly people of restraint and reserve. Adriana was never really that personal with other people besides family. They wouldn't have any trouble coping with Adriana's need for solidarity at times.

It was also convenient for him for it would be easier to visit her every once in a while since there was some sort of quiet alliance between the two houses of Slytherin and Ravenclaw.

Julian being sorted into Slytherin would have been a given if Draco hadn't seen what Julian was really made of.

Surely, the Malfoy arrogance and features couldn't be the only reasons the Sorting Hat placed him in Slytherin. Julian could be as cold and arrogant as any Malfoy was brought up to be but there was that redeeming quality in him that couldn't have been possibly missed. The boy wasn't touched with the prejudices that he, Draco, was taught.

Why put him in the house that practically bred that prejudice?

It may be un-Malfoyish for him to think so, but he didn't want Julian to be in Slytherin and have him listen to all the pure blood babble, especially now that he had seen that same prejudice to be the cause of death.

Lucius died because of Voldemort's cause.

Could the Malfoys escape their dark fate?
After seeing what awaited him that past summer, to play lapdog to a creature who killed if he merely wanted to, he'd do anything to fight it.

He didn't know what to feel when Rizza was sorted into Gryffindor.

In truth, he didn't even care that much anymore about house rivalry and he was particularly getting weary of fighting with the lot of them. Nothing was really coming out of it and it was all the same thing over and over again. Why bother continuing?

It was getting awfully boring.

But dislike for the scarlet and gold Gryffindors remained of course. Old habits die hard you know?

On dealing with Rizza, he certainly wasn't going to go around and welcome her to Hogwarts in his own fashion with the help of Crabbe and Goyle if you could catch his drift. He wasn't even going to think of doing her harm just because she was in Gryffindor, certainly not.

He would be sent Howlers not only by his Mum (she could certainly yell a gasket believe it or not) but also by his uncle and aunt, whom were very protective of their youngest.

Adriana would surely hex him dead, cousin or no.

And Julian—well, he didn't know exactly what the boy would do, but if his similarity with Julian runs that deep, along with his apparent loyalty and protectiveness to his twin, he should be wary of him.

What he was being cautious about was how the Gryffindors would treat Rizza. He should be worried. The whole school practically loathed everything the Slytherins were and the Malfoys were prominent Slytherins. Who knew what they could do to her?

And what exactly did he do once he thought about this, being the veteran Malfoy among the current generation of Malfoys in Hogwarts?

Cross the Great Hall to the Gryffindor side and warn his cousin about possible danger.

He could feel the curious and somewhat cautious stares that he was getting as he walked to the Gryffindor table. Professor McGonagall visibly tensed while beside her, Professor Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling strangely as they always did. Severus Snape's cold and calculating stare bored on his back as his sharp black eyes followed his every movement.

Even the Gryffindors have sensed his approach and it wasn't soon when his gaze met with Ron Weasley's glare.

"You lost Malfoy?"

Cool hostility returned as Draco smiled coldly at the red-haired Weasley before saying, "I don't think so Weasley. This is the Gryffindor table is it not?"

"Exactly." Ron's eyes narrowed as he got up from his seat. "That's why I'm asking if you're lost."

The hall had fallen silent in anticipation of the Slytherin's retaliation.

"As flattering as it is, you being so concerned for my well-being, I don't happen to be here for another show of your uncouth temper. I have come here to have a word with my cousin."

The retort laced with his usual bite of sarcasm was enough to satisfy the anticipating masses as they broke into whispers once Draco had swept away with Rizza beyond the large wooden doors of the Great Hall.

"You have a very bad reputation here Drake." Rizza sighed, shaking her blond head as she spoke. She looked sad for a moment before she looked up to look at him with curiosity on her face. "Why am I not surprised?"

He smirked and gave her head a pat. "Malfoys are the Big Bads of the Wizarding World, Rizza. Thought you knew that."

"How could you live this way?" Rizza asked in a quiet tone that made Draco assume the worst.

"Have they tried to harm you in any way?" He asked, his eyes suddenly turning icy as it always did when turning into a quite rage.

"No!" Rizza immediately clarified what she said. She knew about Draco's feud with the Gryffindors and she was awfully sure that Draco would gladly off them if she gave him the word. "I can see what you're prepared to do Draco and you better not go through with it!"

Those wintry gray eyes focused on her and he bit out tersely, "And what's stopping me?"

The little girl sighed, looking more and more exasperated as the moment stretched. "As much as it pains you for me to mention it, I happen to be one of them now."

Draco's eyes fell on the Gryffindor badge and the gold and burgundy tie that adorned her standard Hogwarts uniform. He somehow caught what she wanted to say.

Harm one, Draco and you hurt me.

"No one could possibly miss that." He drawled out semi-nastily in answer to her earlier statement. She was right of course.

You become your house sooner or later and she's starting to grow that affinity for Gryffindor already. He also went through the same process. How could he forget?

But still, he had to keep cautious.

He debated with himself whether he should continue with what he wanted to say next. It was totally out of character for him, but then again this was his cousin he was talking to. He didn't have to keep up appearances.

"Look Rizza, I have the right to be protective. As you said, us Malfoys don't necessarily have the purest of reputations and we do have a lot of enemies. What I want you to do is to come to me quickly whenever anyone at the least tries to harm you in any way. Do you understand?"

By this time, he had already taken to kneeling down on one knee in front of her, very aware that people were already coming out of the Great Hall and were watching them curiously.

Rizza wasn't making any confirmation whether she did understand. She just stood there in front of him, staring curiously as well.

Draco growled deeply in his throat when he realized what she was doing. He should have known. "Are you planning on making people pay about a hundred galleons soon? A performance like this costs a lot you know."

"A Malfoy on bended knee. Father would have a laugh if he saw you. Especially you." Rizza was giggling as she watched her cousin get up and make like he was covered in the filthiest dust from head to toe.

"A female Malfoy on her arse would be more of a spectacle if I could say so myself." Draco returned, not letting her get away with her comment.

"Right." Rizza had her hands on her hips, looking at him with doubt on her face as she said. "Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Prince, would just destroy his impeccable image and taint the Malfoy name by trying to do something juvenile like tripping his own cousin."

She laughed at the hilarity before speaking once more. "Anyway Draco, aww! I didn't know you cared for little old me."

Draco would have grimaced at the way Rizza was batting her eyelashes ridiculously if she hadn't continued. "I just don't understand why Slytherins make such a fuss over Gryffindors. They're very nice people."

The gray eyed, white blond pride of Slytherin gracefully arched his shoulders in an aristocratic shrug as he answered her in the weariest of tones that expected to explain everything,

"Red and green just don't mix, Rizza."

"But Christmas is an awesome holiday and green and red usually go together during that time."

"That's why I hate Christmas."

Rizza was looking at him like he was sick. She pouted.

"Party Pooper." She accused before going back to the subject at hand. "Really Draco, you should try befriending them. I know for a fact that you'll just along great with Ginny."

The name she mentioned surely sent Draco into a fit of shock and disbelief. He looked at his cousin as if he had never seen her before.

Ginny WEASLEY and him? Preposterous! The mountain air in Scotland must have really gone to her head.

"You do know that she is a Weasley don't you?"

Rizza nodded so enthusiastically he thought her head would come off. "Right down to the red hair and freckles!"

Draco wanted to slap his forehead in the most undignified manner. There was also that nagging urge to strangle Larizza Olivia Malfoy dead. Certainly, in the name of the Malfoy-Weasley feud, he could be allowed that pleasure. Can't he?

Please?

Of course not.

So in the frantic search for something to say to her, Draco could only come up with one statement.

"Rizza, you're raving mad."

"Rizza, there you are."

Speak of the Devil. Guess who would come walking out of the Great Hall but the lady in question herself.

Ginny Weasley smiled at Rizza and totally missed Draco's presence until she was near enough.

He always had this creepy ability to blend in with the dark even with his pale skin and that shock of white blond hair.

"Oh, Malfoy. I didn't see you there."

Seeing that she was polite enough to not start a war with him in the presence of his innocent (**cough**) cousin, he allowed her the privilege of having him bow his head in greeting to her.

She smiled politely back before turning back to Rizza. "Dean's looking for the first years. It's time for the house tour."

Draco watched their interaction closely, how Rizza seemed very happy around her and how the Weasel seemed to sincerely like the little blond girl. It was a curious connection that made the wheels of his head turn.

Could he trust the youngest Weasley?

"See ya Ginny! You too Drake!" Rizza waved as she dashed back into the Hall to look for Dean Thomas, the Gryffindor Prefect. Before Draco could make out a sound though, Rizza's blond head poked out again to smile at them.

"Oh and you two? Be-HAVE!" She called out in a highly accented manner that was saucy enough to make anyone uncomfortable.

When she disappeared behind the door, Draco was already seriously contemplating on sending her to St. Mungo's. He would have went on to think of his letter addressing Rizza's strange behavior to his uncle and aunt when he heard the red head beside him muttering something about someone called Austin Powers under her breath.

"Pardon?"

"Huh?" Her chocolate brown eyes turned to him, probably realizing that he was still there. "Oh, Muggle thing."

The minute she realized what spilled from her lips, he saw her stiffen and get into defensive. It almost shocked him when she said, "And don't start with your Muggle insults, Draco Malfoy!"

One pale eyebrow lifted in question.

…What? "If there is one thing you are Weasley, it's paranoid."

It somewhat amused him when she placed her little fists firmly on her waist and lifted her chin in defiance. Fire of determination glowed in chocolate brown eyes as she said, "Please Malfoy, let's get this over with."

"What are you on about? Really Weasley, you're off your rocker." He shook his head as if totally sorry for her.

This time, she raised HIM an eyebrow and tilted her head to one side. He found himself thinking how cute she was with her hair falling just so….Squash that thought right now, Malfoy.

"Is that the best you could do?"

Now this is plain annoying. Draco growled mentally. He raked back his blond hair that was somehow being rebellious today in his annoyance. The gesture itself was adding to his annoyance.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, obviously exasperated. "Look Weasley, I'm tired, I'm stuffed, I'm starting to get a headache and if it's your mental time of the month kindly tell me now so that I may continue my plans for a serious discussion with you some other time?"

The sight of him rubbing the bridge of his nose as he clenched one hand under his arched elbow must have made the Weasel realize something as she thankfully dropped the fighting stance. It took her a moment to digest everything he just said.

"I thought you were…" She shook her head before she could continue and her face shifted into an expression of doubt. "A serious discussion? Malfoy, are you feeling all right?"

It was a second instinct when you were practically chased down by Pansy Parkinson when you stepped back to avoid her touching any part of you. It was this same protective instinct that made Draco step back to prevent her from touching his forehead or something silly like that.

If anything, it was Pansy's attention that made the people she fancied sick.

"Not a step closer."

He heard her let out a most unlady-like snort as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked up defiantly at him. "I wouldn't touch you even if you were the last person on this side of the universe, Malfoy."

Right, that's what they all say in the beginning…WHAT THE HELL AM I SAYING??!

Draco was incensed. The headache was throbbing even worse.

"You were saying, Malfoy?"

He mentally thanked her for diverting his attention. Yes, this was what he needed. He needed to talk about Rizza. Yes, her safety and what he wanted Ginny Weasley to do for him.

Hold me.

 SHUT UP!!

"I want you to do something for me, Weasley."

Doubt quickly turned into incredulity. Wonderful how a few words could change everything.

"Are you off your rocker, Malfoy?"

Draco was finally too exasperated to care and without another thought, he rolled his eyes. "If not for me Weasley then for my cousin, Rizza."

This set of words really made an impact on her and this time, she looked ready to touch him, forehead or whatever. "Are you really all right?"

Her stalling was making him even more irritated as time went by and it took all his strength not to barrel down on her and push her against the wall.

"Yes, Weasley, I actually care for others beyond myself like any normal wizard would. Now, all I wanted to ask of you, if you may be so kind, is if you could perhaps make sure that no harm comes to her?"

He answered both questions he could think of that she would have wanted to ask given that she wasn't so stunned.

She was looking at him as if she hadn't seen him before. Well, she probably never really did look at him until then.

Come to think of it, neither did he look at her.

Did he like what he was seeing?

….

He WAS off his rocker.

"Could I count on you Weasley?"

The sound of his voice woke her from her trance and she nodded after a moment's hesitation.

"Sure." She answered softly.

After hearing her response, he didn't speak a word of thanks. Just another incline of his head communed that they had an understanding.

He whirled around to go back to the Slytherin dorms in silence.

If he spoke, who knew what would have happened next?