Ferret Boy – Please don't tease me about posting those new logs. ;) But, if you are serious, hurry up and post them like right now! What are you doing still reading this? Kidding, kidding. As for Let It Rain, I'm glad that Pamela's pestering you. And I hope she continues cause you can bet that I will.
Dusty Wings – I think you might be on to something there. Draco/Cho is sooooooo underrated! That's why we gotta get all the D/C fans out there to be loud and proud!
All – As per popular demand, this chapter is longer than the other two. Hopefully it's to everyone's liking. Your comments have been great. Please keep them coming. They make me happy. J
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters except for the old, callous woman (name revealed in this chapter…eek).
Chapter 3 – Things Never Change
Five years. It had been five years since Cho Chang had seen or spoken to Draco Malfoy. Yet she was looking at him now through almost frightened eyes. But she was honestly more shocked than frightened.
He hadn't changed much. He had grown taller and looked older since his sixth year at Hogwarts. His hair was still white-blonde and slicked back. His skin pale as she had remembered. His face sharp and angular with features that could be described as pretty or handsome. His gray eyes and expression ever cold and apathetic. And his mouth. Stretched into a lazy smirk that she had all but forgotten.
But why shock? She had known for years now that Draco had followed his father's footsteps shortly after graduation from Hogwarts to be branded a DeathEater. When the news had reached her ears, it had made her sad. They were on separate sides of the coin now. But, she knew that he had always had great regard and respect for his father and trusted him enough to believe that he was doing the 'right' thing for the Malfoy name.
She supposed that the shock was really a result of seeing him so calm and collected, standing before her, calling on her as if he were calling on a dear close friend. She had presumed that the plot of taking her hostage to lure in Harry Potter was a scheme born from maybe Voldemort himself. She had half hoped that Draco had nothing to do with the scheme and that maybe he had even refused to take part in it out of respect for the brief history they shared. Maybe. His foreboding presence in the room, however, seemed to confirm that she had made a severe misjudgement.
Considerable time must have passed and the silence must have been uncomfortably long. When he spoke again, his comment woke her from her reverie, "What's the matter, Cho? Not happy to see me?"
Cho stared expressionless into his eyes. She was rendered speechless.
Draco's smirk widened and he glanced over to the tray of food left at the table by her side. His eyes took special interest when he saw the food untouched. His gaze soon went back to Cho. The smirk lightened slightly and in an amused tone he drawled, "You know Cho, the food we serve here is just the same, if not better, as what is served over there. As you may recall, house elves don't tend to discriminate between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin houses. You may be pleasantly surprised."
Cho didn't find his comment the least bit amusing and remained stoic, staring at him cautiously.
Chuckling, Draco continued while he walked over to the large window, "You do realize Cho that I know what you're trying to do. Hopefully, you don't believe me to be that dense? Your efforts are futile. You will remain alive and well enough, and Saint Potter, the sentimental brave fool that he is, will come to rescue you. When that time comes, he will fall into our hands, the Dark Lord will defeat him, this bloody war will be over, and the Dark side shall reign over all. Isn't that a happy thought?"
Cho had heard enough. His presence was able to silence her, but listening to him declare his malicious intentions towards Harry now incited her. She spoke in a low and even tone, "Was that your happy thought then?"
"Excuse me?" Draco turned to peer at Cho sitting on the bed.
"Your happy thought…to see Harry defeated by Him. The happy thought needed to fight the Dementors that year while we were in the Forbidden Forest? You never told me what it was," she challenged.
"Actually, no. I was referring to our reign over the wizarding world. But, I must admit that the demise of Saint Potter comes in as a very close second…and, I see that you're just as nosy as ever," Draco responded nastily.
"I won't let you hurt him," Cho responded bravely, ignoring the comment about her inquisitive nature.
"Is that so? And how do you suppose you are going to stop me?"
"You…you can't force me to eat," Cho responded almost childishly, "it will only be a matter of time before I die. Harry won't come and rescue a corpse."
"True, I can't force you to eat. But I promise you this, Cho, as long as I am here, you will remain alive and well and Potter will be mine."
Cho had tears in her eyes at this point, "You're horrible. All those nasty things everybody ever told me about you are true. But, I defended you…I can't believe that I ever tried to befriend you. I can't believe that I ever – I hate you, Draco Malfoy."
"Now, is that any way to talk to a friend?"
Cho turned incredulous eyes onto him, "A friend? That was a long time ago and we stopped being friends the moment you decided that you no longer wanted me as your friend. Do you honestly still consider yourself to be my friend?"
"Oh, but you see, Cho. To me, friends are fleeting things. If you happen to be of use to me, I can be your best friend," the venom dripping from his words.
"Things never change, do they Draco? You used me then and you're using me now. Things will never change."
"You are so bright, Cho. A true Ravenclaw you are. I told you then that I enjoyed having all the power in our relationship and I still do." Draco now turned to face the window again so that Cho could only stare at his tall thin silhouetted form against the window, "You will always be the love of Potter's pathetic life…and as much as you deny it, he will always be the love of your life…and you will continue to defend him till the end of your days. Indeed Cho, things have not changed and things will never change."
"I don't love Harry," Cho said resignedly under her breath. She found that phrase to be very tiring now as she found herself having to repeatedly inform people, even Draco on a few occasions, that her relationship with Harry was only one of friendship. "I only defend him because he is a friend and that's what friends are supposed to do."
"Yes, well that's all very touching. As enjoyable as this visit has been, I must leave. I will advise Madame Hinze to continue to bring you food. And I will advise her to get you a bath and some proper clothes as soon as you are well enough. Good evening, Cho," Draco said once again adopting the bored drawl as he opened the door and left, but not before taking a moment to regard the room wistfully before leaving.
****************
Once Draco left, Cho sunk back down into the bed. His little visit had caused her to consume a considerable amount of emotional and physical energy that she simply did not possess. As she lay her head against the soft pillows, she couldn't help but ponder on the last comment he made before he left.
She lifted a hand and touched her hair self-consciously. It felt flat, oily, and stringy. She next moved her hand to her face. She could feel her cheekbones and her jaw tug against her dry and tight skin. She looked down at her clothes. It was her own mediwitch uniform and robe that she routinely wore while working. However, it was dirty and torn as a result of her physical efforts to fight her captors when they had first snatched her. She let out a small sigh as she realized that she must have looked like a banshee that had never known soap to exist.
Just like her earlier urge to look out the window, she now wanted to go over and look at herself in the huge floor mirror next to the large matching bureau. But just as before, her desire to sit up and walk over to the mirror was quickly extinguished as she could feel her body beginning to rebel. She sunk back down into the bed. Her eyes fell upon the tray of food. However tempted she was, she had to reprimand herself and think of Harry's safety.
But her eyes did brighten as they fell upon the spoon beside the cup of broth. She picked up the spoon and tried to catch her reflection in it. The lighting in the room was poor as it was evening time and she only had one lone candle to afford her any light. From what she could see, her eyes were dark and she was very pale. Depressed with her visage, she placed the spoon back on the tray.
It wasn't as though she was very vain. She never had any trouble making herself presentable. In actuality, it was a very simple routine. She never made a habit of wearing much in the way of makeup. The most she would ever wear was a pale pink rouge for her lips and her cheeks. That was it. Her dark locks were always healthy. If she wasn't doing something that required a lot of physical exercise, like practice during her quidditch days, she would always have it fall straight to her mid-back. She had to admit that she was lucky when it came to looks or so she was often told by many admirers both women and men.
But at this very moment, she was being vain. Why should she care that she looked like such a fright in the presence of Draco Malfoy? Wasn't she on the verge of sacrificing her life to save Harry's? Yes, she told herself resolutely. Looking presentable to anyone, especially a despicable slimy hateful git, should be last on her list at the present moment. Satisfied that her plan was set on the right path again, she promptly closed her eyes to allow sleep to prevail.
A/N: Ooooh, Draco is an evil jerk, isn't he? Just the way he should be and the way I like him. Now, we just gotta work on that sexy part. Maybe next chapter, but can't promise. Well, maybe if you ask nicely. Remember to let me know what you think! It makes me happy!