The Once and Future Dragon King
By Tulzdavampslayer
Chapter 3 – Diagonally Inclined.
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Draco stared across the table at his fellow Slytherins. The four of them were the only students left in Slytherin House after Voldemort's attack on Hogwarts of the previous year.
"Now, what did you three snivelling little girls need to run crying to daddy Draco about at seven in the morning? I was trying to sleep."
Draco watched their individual reactions to his comments thoughtfully. He had always taken a great deal of pleasure in his taunts. He wanted to laugh out loud as he saw Pansy's eyes do that 'thing' they did. Whenever Pug-sy Parkinson was angry, her eyes went stony. Millicent was the complete opposite. As Draco well knew, most of the time she'd run from the room crying if Draco even looked at her. It was all because of that 'incident' in second year when he had 'accidentally' turned her toes into wood. Personally Draco didn't think it very fair, as second year was a long time ago, and there had been way too much thought-babbling so far in the story.
Draco was particularly interested by Blaise's response. The tallest girl of the small group stood up slowly, walked around the table, and leant closely against Draco's chair. Draco wasn't entirely sure what Blaise's motives were for this surprise move. Perhaps she had some witty comeback, or maybe it was one of the famous Zabini death stares he'd heard so much about… The closeness of his face to hers was sending his little male mind into all sorts of other-
"ow!"
…or maybe she was just going to slap him up the back of his head.
"Geez Malfoy, no wonder you've never had a girlfriend."
Draco's mouth opened, and then shut again. He would have protested… if it wasn't so true…
Pansy's eyes remained stony, but she spoke with a clarity that simply screamed "CALM!"
"We need somewhere to stay for a while. Everybody wants to kill us."
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Albus Dumbledore knocked a finger irritably against the clock's glass, but the hand showing an ornate latter A continued quite rebelliously to swing backwards and forwards, as if unsure where its subject was, or even who it was. Then, as the wizard stared at the infuriating clock, a new hand appeared, emblazoned with the letter L, and began to swing as well.
Albus Dumbledore frowned.
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Elaine just couldn't contain her excitement. Diagon Alley was so huge, and there was so much to do! She looked up at her adopted parents, grinning her tiny face off, before running after Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione.
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Albus Dumbledore was getting a little annoyed at Fawkes' attention-seeking behaviour.
He swatted at the Phoenix pecking at his left earlobe and returned to the musty tome in front of him.
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Harry grinned up at Hagrid.
You couldn't help grinning at Hagrid in those days. Ever since Goyle had attempted the Imperious curse during the Hogwarts Battle and completely botched it, Hagrid hadn't been able to straighten his now beautifully permed hair and beard. It truly was a sight to see.
Hermione offered to try a straightening charm she'd used herself, but Hagrid had grown to like his new 'do' since that fateful Halloween.
"Come on Hermione, if he likes it, let him keep it," Ron whispered.
Hermione replied with a shush. "Just because he likes it, doesn't mean he can have it. It's a completely preposterous idea! It wouldn't work at all!"
Ron gulped as he realise they weren't talking about Hagrid's curls anymore.
As the others listened patiently to Hagrid's insane proposal to put a few colours through, Ginny hissed to her friend.
"Hermione, can I talk to you alone for a bit?"
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Albus Dumbledore swore.
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Draco, stepping out of Flourish and Blotts, heard urgent whispering from the side of the buliding. He wandered nonchalantly over to find a tiny girl with long blonde hair eavesdropping. The girl that is. Not the hair. Hair can't eavesdrop. Hair doesn't have ears.
"Hey, kid," Draco whispered. The girl spun around, her icy blue eyes instantly measuring him up.
"You'd be Malfoy then."
Draco blinked. The child must be somebody's younger sister. "At nobody's service," he said mockingly and bowed deeply.
The little blonde giggled and held out her hand. "I'm Elaine. I'm a first year."
Draco was surprised to find that he found the girl's giggle unusually natural, unlike other girls' simpering nonsense. He took her hand and shook it firmly. Draco could tell this girl would be sorted to Slytherin, or he'd kiss a Dementor.
"How do you know me, first-year-Elaine? And what's your last name?"
The girl smiled. "Oh, I don't know who my parents were. I grew up in a Muggle orphanage. But my adopted sister and brothers talk about you a lot. Especially Ginny. She says your name in her sleep sometimes." Elaine grinned broadly, but saw Draco's face fall in disappointment.
"You're a Weasley."
She shrugged. "sorta."
Draco turned to walk away, but the cogs in his brain finally started to turn and he spun back to the eleven year old.
"What do you mean she says my name in her sleep?"
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Albus Dumbledore slammed his head against his desk three times.
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Ginny and Hermione, hidden behind Flourish and Blotts, froze as they heard Draco's voice. They quickly ran around the building to see Elaine smirking confidently at a very confused Malfoy.
The two girls were stunned into silence, but as they would not be knocked into an amusing, yet embarrassing, scene if they remained silent, they burst into very loud, very vivacious laughter.
Draco spun angrily on them. When he saw the short redhead standing there, the anger left his face, to be replaced with a taunting smirk, strangely almost identical to Elaine's. But of course nobody noticed and/or cared, because Ginny and Hermione were still laughing and it was really very funny to watch.
"So." Draco interrupted their amusement. "Weasley." He stepped closer to Ginny, who had stopped laughing and had become rather nervous really.
"You've been dreaming about me, have you?"
Ginny blinked. "Uh… what? I mean… uh…"
"Calling my name…" Draco was now much too close to Ginny for her liking. "…to the skies…" He leant over so their faces were only inches apart. "…in your sleep?"
Ginny's eyes widened. "OH!"
She must have sleep-talked during her nightmares!
Draco's smirk broadened. "'Oh'? You've caught up then?"
Hermione pushed Draco away from Ginny. "Oh give over Malfoy. She's not dreaming about you like that. She's been having dreams about your father."
Draco blinked for a moment. "Oh. …Weasley that's disgusting!"
Ginny had had just about enough of Draco's gutter-mind. She stepped forward, and throughout the following little speech continued to poke him in the chest. Hard.
"look, you stupid, sexually frustrated little boy, I dream about being sent to Azkaban. I dream about your father coming back. I dream about him finishing what he started with you. And I dream about him killing me! They're nightmares! I have nightmares! Alright?"
Draco pouted. "Well, you're no fun," he said, and turned to leave. Before he did however, he gave Elaine a grin and a quick wink. Elaine returned it without a moment's thought.
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Albus Dumbledore was not happy. Since the appearance on the clock of the L, a G had appeared, as well as a K, an N, an F, an S, a D and, an H.
They were all coming back.
Not just himself.
Not just Arthur.
Lancelot, Guenevere, Kay, Nimue, Morgan Le Fay, Morgause, Mordred and Galahad were coming back as well.
And all the hands, except for his own, the M standing of course for Merlyn, were swinging, ticking, and spinning their way around the clock.
It just wasn't fair.
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TBC whether you like it or not! Mwaha.
A/N – another chapter through! And still no ideas for 'Love or Lose'! * cries * ah well. pleeeeeeeease review, it's my lifeforce!
And thank you to my one reviewer.
Grr! --- tulz out
