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: Sorry this took so long - it's the Star Wars fanfics... they're addictive for me to write... intoxicating, even (there's a choccie-product for whoever spots the joke there).
kraeg001: Yep - it's a bad idea to cross a Slyth girl, that's for sure.
Simply Myself: Heh, glad you like it.
dragonsprincess: Sorry it took so long. I love the PoA movie, too... except the werewolf. I mean, did that look like a werewolf to anyone else?
Lillei: I'm not sure how to work the final test, but... I don't think your idea fits, in this story.
auburnbeagle: I wasn't the first writer to call her Milli, I'm sure. You certainly don't to ask need my permission.
Lolua: I'm not sure why Bertha was in Albania... but she was away on a mission for Bagman when she found her way there. Milli's mom's an auror? Oh, yeah... so she is... I should try to remember these things. The reason he never asked her before was because he never needed her help before. Riddle is as common a name as Black... it's in both Muggle and Wizard families.
lairyg: Ok, you are a lot like Theo. I like insane people (as long as they're the benign kind of insane, like Theo and me.
kAT: Glad you like it.
Melora Maxwell: Woo hoo! You reviewed! You guessed right - what choccie product would you like? PoA was brilliant, 'cept for the wannabe-werewolf with no hair. And while I've got you here, how've you been? I've not heard from you in ages (and haven't had the chance to check your fic in ages, either).
Hp-inufan: Thanks.
Witch of Darkness: Glad you like it - that's the whole reason I write Slyth-fics. If you want Slyths with personality, you could try reading Slytherin Rising or The Serpent's Society - both are excellent Slyth-fics.
duochang97: I actually liked PoA, except for the werewolf... but the books still rule, by far. I can't imagine Draco (canon Draco, not my little innocent boy) as a DE... he wants to be, to please his father... but he's no killer, he's just a spoiled little boy... Cruciatus, I could imagine... AK, no way. Glad you like my version of him, though. Sorry I took so long.
I'm not the weakest link: Thanks. Sure, you can quote my stuff. I would be honoured, actually.
xenelle: I was trying to make Voldy's mother out to be a good well-balanced pure-blood (probably with some distant Weasley blood on her mother's side)... she was a nice girl, with Muggle-born friends... she just fell in love with a Muggle prat. Voldy was the result.
snackfiend101: Welcome to this fanfic! "Hm...maybe I should start with the Philosopher's Stone." very good idea. "Mini-Revan" heh heh - actually, Damien was based wholly on what I think Draco should grow up to behave like... especially if he became Dark Lord for a while, and then got caught by the good guys. Ok, I'm ranting, I'll stop that now.
elliy2002: Glad you like it.
firehottie: Sorry I took so long.
dragon-femme-fatale: You're right about the Quidditch cup, and Luna... but it's only the final of the Quidditch cup that happens in GoF - the matches leading up to it take some time. As for Luna, she's a year younger than Harry, so she joined Hogwarts in CoS, even if Harry didn't see her till OotP. Thank you for drawing my attention to CoS ch3 - I needed to fix Ginny's name. About Theo, I'm sure it was your imagination. And I already broke my kneecap a few months ago :p
Wow, that was a long list of reviewers - I bow to you all, and am humbled that so many people like my stories.
"Your world is a strange place" -Teal'c "So's yours" -Daniel Jackson, Stargate SG1
Chapter 27 - It's Not My Fault!
When we had sat down, Pansy watched Hermione like a hawk, in spite of the fact the Terrible Trio were at the back table and we were near the front of the class - I paid more attention to sorting out books and ingredients for the actual work we were supposed to be doing.
Eventually, however, "Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger. I must ask you not to discuss it in my class," Snape said coldly, his voice was as usual quiet but impossible to ignore. Everyone glanced up too see what he was referring to. Pansy's grin broadened. "Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape added, looming over the three Gryffindors.
Hermione was clearly biting her tongue to avoid talking back to Snape. Weasley was fuming and glaring, and I'm surprised Hermione didn't have to hold him back from trying to attack Snape. Potter, on the other hand, had the nerve to take his eyes off the infuriated professor, and was clearly more embarrassed at the fact everyone was staring than at the fact he'd been caught talking in class.
When his gaze passed over my table, I took the opportunity to press the badge I was wearing so it flashed 'Potter Stinks' at him, while Snape wasn't looking in my direction. Undoubtedly, Snape would have turned a blind eye if he'd seen it, anyway, but better safe than sorry.
"Ah... reading magazines under the table as well?" Snape asked.
"Here comes the good part." Pansy whispered loud enough for me to hear.
"A further ten points from Gryffindor..." Snape said almost cheerfully.
"Three... two... one..." Milli muttered.
"Oh, but of course." Snape said, spotting the article exactly when Milli predicted, "Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings..."
The four girls started cackling with cruel laughter. I sniggered, while Theo just grinned maniacally. Three seconds passed before Crabbe and Goyle realised they should also laugh, and they guffawed stupidly.
Snape took great delight in reading the article out loud, in a way that made it sound even more vicious and cutting than when I'd read it. It was such fun to watch. Potter was thoroughly humiliated. After he had finished reading it, Snape rolled up the magazine and noted sarcastically, "How very touching." the girls sniggered again, as they had been doing throughout Snape's recitation of the article, "Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your potions rather than your tangled love lives. Weasley, you stay here. Miss Granger, over there, beside Miss Parkinson. Potter - that table in front of my desk. Move. Now."
Potter scrambled to move to the table he was ordered to. Hermione more calmly picked up her things and walked over to the seat next to Pansy, which was directly behind my seat (Milli was beside me, Crabbe and Goyle were in front of us, Theo was behind where Hermione now sat, with Blaise beside him).
While Snape clearly focused his attention on provoking Potter, I heard Pansy whisper to Hermione, "Like the article?"
Milli joined in, leaning back to note, "Skeeter's an excellent writer, isn't she?"
"Of fiction, yes." Hermione said flatly.
"Oh, but when the Patil twins get a hold of it..." Blaise's voice was barely audible to me, but I did manage to make out what she said.
Hermione seemed not to care, "If anyone believes a word that woman writes, they deserve that inferior knowledge."
"That's a Ravenclaw insult." I noted quietly, not even looking back at her. "From a Gryffindor?" I asked sceptically.
"I'm no moron." Hermione hissed, "As you rightly know, Malfoy. I am still top of the class, remember."
"I beat you on averages last year." I snapped, turning to face her.
"I was taking twice as many classes as you." she said smugly.
I glared for a second, then whispered, "Doesn't change what you are, does it?"
"Smarter than you, you mean?" she asked innocently.
Pansy seemed to be fighting the urge to slap Hermione. Theo decided to intervene, though, "Snape." he said flatly. He hadn't once looked up from his work, but when the girls and I looked around, Snape was giving us a pointed look. No more talking in this class, it seems.
I thought wrong - there was a knock on the door, "Enter." Snape snapped.
Everyone except Theo looked up at the door to see who was there. Theo seemed to be focusing on his work, but I could almost sense his attention on the door in spite of the fact he wasn't looking at it.
Krapper- I mean Karkaroff - entered the room apprehensively, and made his way quickly to Snape's desk. The way he fidgeted and glanced around nervously reminded me a fair bit of Quirrell. I shivered slightly at that thought, and took a leaf out of Theo's book - returning to my work, but paying attention to Karkaroff.
"We need to talk." Karkaroff hissed to Snape. The sound travelled in the dungeon, but I was certain Karkaroff didn't mean it to.
Theo sniggered, "Nothing good comes from those four words." he muttered. I heard the distinct sound of Blaise kicking him under the table.
"I'll talk to you after my lesson, Karkaroff -" Snape muttered, but Karkaroff interrupted him.
"I want to talk now, while you can't slip off, Severus. You've been avoiding me."
I noticed Milli, who had actually returned her attention to her work, perked up at this and was now listening intently. Clearly her journalistic mind had decided there was a story here.
"After the lesson." Snape repeated.
Karkaroff remained in the room, like a bad smell, until class was dismissed, and I didn't get a chance to find out what that was about.
x x x
"Bet ya it's their Mark he's talking about." Theo said, so casually that anyone passing might have thought we were talking about a mark on a piece of homework. I knew better.
"You think?"
"He was holding his arm half the time he was in the classroom." Theo said as if this was indisputable proof - to be honest, it wasn't far off.
"You didn't even look at him." I noted.
"That's what you think." Theo said, grinning.
"You scare me, boy." I snapped.
"Thank you." Theo said cheerfully.
Cat caught up with us, "You boys want to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"
"Not if you're taking us on another home visit." I noted.
"Oh, no. I was going to Honeydukes. Can't really visit when he's not home, can I?" she said nonchalantly.
"And you know he's not home, how?" I asked.
"Oh, he's near Hogsmeade. I'm not certain where, but he doesn't want me visiting tomorrow." she said, shrugging.
"And how do you know this?" Theo asked, this time.
She shrugged again, "I just know."
"Good enough logic for me." Theo noted, "She IS a Seer."
Cat smiled weakly, "The third task'll be interesting."
"How so?" I asked.
"Remember the curse we read about in first year?" she asked him innocently.
"'May you live in interesting times'?" Theo asked.
"Yes." Cat said, frowning, "Well, I know for a fact the task shall be that type of interesting."
"Could you be any less specific?" I asked sarcastically.
"I'm not an Oracle." she hissed, "But the best I can say is be grateful you didn't get chosen, Theo. Diggory isn't going to fare well."
"Well, that's because he's a Huffle, isn't it?" Theo asked.
"Oh, but that's not the reason." Cat said, shaking her head and walking off in a different direction from us.
"Cryptic, much?" Theo asked.
"Just a little." I said, sarcastically.
I guess if the Seer says the event is cursed, it'd be safer to keep my distance from it. I'm considering skipping it, but then I'd never see what she meant by 'interesting'.
It's months away, anyway. I'll have time to figure it out by then, I'm sure.
x x x
That evening, Hermione cornered me in the Library. "You rotten little ferret!" she snapped.
"What did I do?" I asked defensively.
"You gave Skeeter that article, didn't you, even though you knew it wasn't true!" she snarled.
"I didn't!"
"I saw you talking to her in Hogsmeade, you liar!" she growled. I winced, sure that she was going to slap me again, any second - it's not so much I'm afraid of her, but I wouldn't fight her even if she did hit me, and that weakness is what scares me.
"I was getting information from her, not telling her anything." I said, frowning, "I'll be lucky if she doesn't badmouth me next after the trick I pulled on her!"
"What did you do?" she asked, seeming less angry now.
"She asked for the dirt on you." I explained, "I told her I'd give her everything I knew if she gave me information in exchange. Then when she'd told me everything I was interested in, I told her that the worst dirt I could get on you was that you were a bookish Mudblood. She was most displeased, to say the least."
"You lied to her?"
"Well, yeah. Sort of." I said, smirking.
"So the article...?"
"It's not my fault. I think Pansy was the one who told Skeeter all that crap." I noted, "I mean, from the fact her name is mentioned."
"And the fact Skeeter called HER 'pretty'." Hermione added.
I laughed, "She's not that bad looking. She just doesn't understand that makeup is not supposed to be applied with a trowel."
"And you do?"
"You've seen my mother - can you honestly say I would never know how a woman puts on make-up." I said flatly.
"True." she mused, smiling, "She would be beautiful if she didn't scowl so much."
"Weasleys' presence is the reason for that scowl." I said flatly.
"Hmmm. Looks can be deceiving, then. Your whole family are all bigoted."
"And damned proud of it, Mudblood." I said, smirking.
"You're an evil little prick, aren't you?" she asked, yet she didn't seem angry, she seemed amused.
"Yes." I answered brightly.
She shook her head and decided not to argue either way, "So, what evil have you been up to recently?"
"Trying to work out how to get our latest Defence teacher fired." I said honestly.
"You're persistent." she noted, "Do you think if the subject dies sufficiently, they'll start teaching Dark Arts, or something?"
"I can hope." I said, smirking, "But seriously, I just don't like the teachers."
"I can tell why, this year, but we happened to like him."
"He's an evil demon in human form, using Polyjuice from that hip-flask to look like an ex-Auror." I said flatly.
"Firstly, Polyjuice doesn't work on demons, they can take human form more easily than that anyway... secondly, the fact you don't like him does not make him evil - if anything, it makes him good... thirdly, who would want to impersonate a lunatic?"
"Another lunatic. One more insane even than Theo." I said pointedly, "The man threatened me with grievous bodily harm last week!"
"You probably deserved it." she said calmly.
"Teachers are not allowed to threaten students with... that sort of thing." I growled, "Hell, there's laws against caning us anymore, much that Filch and my father disagree with such laws." she sniggered at that comment. I glared, "And I swear to you, he's not Moody. I have ways of knowing."
"Such as...?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Several different leads say the same thing. Watch the man, damnit. You're the good guys, you do something about it!" I snapped, "Cause I sure as hell won't."
"Coward." she noted.
"And still alive because of it." I retorted.
"I'm sure." she said sarcastically.
"If I had a Gryffindor mentality... I'd not have run away in the Forest in first year." I counted on my fingers, "I'd have tried to stop Quirrell personally. I'd have told someone about Riddle in second year. I'd do something about Moody right now. Any one of those would have gotten me killed, but you lot seem to have a natural tendency for surviving the unsurvivable. Damn it, if the rumours are true, Potter's seen a Dementor's face and lived to tell about it!"
"Yes... well." she said, frowning, "I suppose you've got a point. But you're still a coward."
"Better a living coward than a dead Gryffindor." I said flatly.
She smirked, "We don't die easily."
"Tell that to-" I stopped myself, knowing it'd annoy her if I'd finished the sentence ('tell that to Potter's parents').
Her eyes narrowed and I'm sure she guessed what I was going to say, "Be thankful I'm in a forgiving mood, since I realised you didn't give Skeeter that article, otherwise I might have slapped you for even thinking that."
"You're not a Legilimens, are you?" I asked warily.
"No, I just have a fair idea of the level your ferret-brain thinks on some of the time, Malfoy."
"So you concede the point that I have a brain, then?" I asked innocently.
"Funny." she said coldly.
I shrugged, "Force of habit, I automatically say the nastiest thing I can think of. You should think me considerate for stopping before I finished the sentence."
"Hmph." she folded her arms, "Well, I learned from first year. I'll pay attention to your suggestion to watch Moody, but I think you're just being paranoid."
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." I retorted.
She giggled, "I suppose. I should go, before anyone sees me talking to you in a civil manner."
"We wouldn't want that, would we?" I asked, smirking.
"It would ruin your reputation and annoy my friends." she said, smiling brightly, "Which is more important to you?"
"It's a tough decision." I said, pondering the possibilities of seriously irritating Potter and Weasley, "But I think my reputation is more important to me than Potter's misery."
"Good." she said cheerfully.
"Somehow I think I just lost an argument I didn't know I was having..." I said warily.
"You did. I'm glad to see you don't hate my friends more than you like your anti-hero image." she said, grinning.
"You sneaky little Mudblood." I said, without any malice.
"Thank you."
"Get out of my sight before someone sees us talking to each other!" I said, in much too good humour to suit the words I was saying.
She smiled innocently, and turned and left.
x x x
End of chapter 27
Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long - it's the Star Wars fanfics... they're addictive for me to write... intoxicating, even (there's a choccie-product for whoever spots the joke there).
kraeg001: Yep - it's a bad idea to cross a Slyth girl, that's for sure.
Simply Myself: Heh, glad you like it.
dragonsprincess: Sorry it took so long. I love the PoA movie, too... except the werewolf. I mean, did that look like a werewolf to anyone else?
Lillei: I'm not sure how to work the final test, but... I don't think your idea fits, in this story.
auburnbeagle: I wasn't the first writer to call her Milli, I'm sure. You certainly don't to ask need my permission.
Lolua: I'm not sure why Bertha was in Albania... but she was away on a mission for Bagman when she found her way there. Milli's mom's an auror? Oh, yeah... so she is... I should try to remember these things. The reason he never asked her before was because he never needed her help before. Riddle is as common a name as Black... it's in both Muggle and Wizard families.
lairyg: Ok, you are a lot like Theo. I like insane people (as long as they're the benign kind of insane, like Theo and me.
kAT: Glad you like it.
Melora Maxwell: Woo hoo! You reviewed! You guessed right - what choccie product would you like? PoA was brilliant, 'cept for the wannabe-werewolf with no hair. And while I've got you here, how've you been? I've not heard from you in ages (and haven't had the chance to check your fic in ages, either).
Hp-inufan: Thanks.
Witch of Darkness: Glad you like it - that's the whole reason I write Slyth-fics. If you want Slyths with personality, you could try reading Slytherin Rising or The Serpent's Society - both are excellent Slyth-fics.
duochang97: I actually liked PoA, except for the werewolf... but the books still rule, by far. I can't imagine Draco (canon Draco, not my little innocent boy) as a DE... he wants to be, to please his father... but he's no killer, he's just a spoiled little boy... Cruciatus, I could imagine... AK, no way. Glad you like my version of him, though. Sorry I took so long.
I'm not the weakest link: Thanks. Sure, you can quote my stuff. I would be honoured, actually.
xenelle: I was trying to make Voldy's mother out to be a good well-balanced pure-blood (probably with some distant Weasley blood on her mother's side)... she was a nice girl, with Muggle-born friends... she just fell in love with a Muggle prat. Voldy was the result.
snackfiend101: Welcome to this fanfic! "Hm...maybe I should start with the Philosopher's Stone." very good idea. "Mini-Revan" heh heh - actually, Damien was based wholly on what I think Draco should grow up to behave like... especially if he became Dark Lord for a while, and then got caught by the good guys. Ok, I'm ranting, I'll stop that now.
elliy2002: Glad you like it.
firehottie: Sorry I took so long.
dragon-femme-fatale: You're right about the Quidditch cup, and Luna... but it's only the final of the Quidditch cup that happens in GoF - the matches leading up to it take some time. As for Luna, she's a year younger than Harry, so she joined Hogwarts in CoS, even if Harry didn't see her till OotP. Thank you for drawing my attention to CoS ch3 - I needed to fix Ginny's name. About Theo, I'm sure it was your imagination. And I already broke my kneecap a few months ago :p
Wow, that was a long list of reviewers - I bow to you all, and am humbled that so many people like my stories.
"Your world is a strange place" -Teal'c "So's yours" -Daniel Jackson, Stargate SG1
Chapter 27 - It's Not My Fault!
When we had sat down, Pansy watched Hermione like a hawk, in spite of the fact the Terrible Trio were at the back table and we were near the front of the class - I paid more attention to sorting out books and ingredients for the actual work we were supposed to be doing.
Eventually, however, "Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger. I must ask you not to discuss it in my class," Snape said coldly, his voice was as usual quiet but impossible to ignore. Everyone glanced up too see what he was referring to. Pansy's grin broadened. "Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape added, looming over the three Gryffindors.
Hermione was clearly biting her tongue to avoid talking back to Snape. Weasley was fuming and glaring, and I'm surprised Hermione didn't have to hold him back from trying to attack Snape. Potter, on the other hand, had the nerve to take his eyes off the infuriated professor, and was clearly more embarrassed at the fact everyone was staring than at the fact he'd been caught talking in class.
When his gaze passed over my table, I took the opportunity to press the badge I was wearing so it flashed 'Potter Stinks' at him, while Snape wasn't looking in my direction. Undoubtedly, Snape would have turned a blind eye if he'd seen it, anyway, but better safe than sorry.
"Ah... reading magazines under the table as well?" Snape asked.
"Here comes the good part." Pansy whispered loud enough for me to hear.
"A further ten points from Gryffindor..." Snape said almost cheerfully.
"Three... two... one..." Milli muttered.
"Oh, but of course." Snape said, spotting the article exactly when Milli predicted, "Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings..."
The four girls started cackling with cruel laughter. I sniggered, while Theo just grinned maniacally. Three seconds passed before Crabbe and Goyle realised they should also laugh, and they guffawed stupidly.
Snape took great delight in reading the article out loud, in a way that made it sound even more vicious and cutting than when I'd read it. It was such fun to watch. Potter was thoroughly humiliated. After he had finished reading it, Snape rolled up the magazine and noted sarcastically, "How very touching." the girls sniggered again, as they had been doing throughout Snape's recitation of the article, "Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your potions rather than your tangled love lives. Weasley, you stay here. Miss Granger, over there, beside Miss Parkinson. Potter - that table in front of my desk. Move. Now."
Potter scrambled to move to the table he was ordered to. Hermione more calmly picked up her things and walked over to the seat next to Pansy, which was directly behind my seat (Milli was beside me, Crabbe and Goyle were in front of us, Theo was behind where Hermione now sat, with Blaise beside him).
While Snape clearly focused his attention on provoking Potter, I heard Pansy whisper to Hermione, "Like the article?"
Milli joined in, leaning back to note, "Skeeter's an excellent writer, isn't she?"
"Of fiction, yes." Hermione said flatly.
"Oh, but when the Patil twins get a hold of it..." Blaise's voice was barely audible to me, but I did manage to make out what she said.
Hermione seemed not to care, "If anyone believes a word that woman writes, they deserve that inferior knowledge."
"That's a Ravenclaw insult." I noted quietly, not even looking back at her. "From a Gryffindor?" I asked sceptically.
"I'm no moron." Hermione hissed, "As you rightly know, Malfoy. I am still top of the class, remember."
"I beat you on averages last year." I snapped, turning to face her.
"I was taking twice as many classes as you." she said smugly.
I glared for a second, then whispered, "Doesn't change what you are, does it?"
"Smarter than you, you mean?" she asked innocently.
Pansy seemed to be fighting the urge to slap Hermione. Theo decided to intervene, though, "Snape." he said flatly. He hadn't once looked up from his work, but when the girls and I looked around, Snape was giving us a pointed look. No more talking in this class, it seems.
I thought wrong - there was a knock on the door, "Enter." Snape snapped.
Everyone except Theo looked up at the door to see who was there. Theo seemed to be focusing on his work, but I could almost sense his attention on the door in spite of the fact he wasn't looking at it.
Krapper- I mean Karkaroff - entered the room apprehensively, and made his way quickly to Snape's desk. The way he fidgeted and glanced around nervously reminded me a fair bit of Quirrell. I shivered slightly at that thought, and took a leaf out of Theo's book - returning to my work, but paying attention to Karkaroff.
"We need to talk." Karkaroff hissed to Snape. The sound travelled in the dungeon, but I was certain Karkaroff didn't mean it to.
Theo sniggered, "Nothing good comes from those four words." he muttered. I heard the distinct sound of Blaise kicking him under the table.
"I'll talk to you after my lesson, Karkaroff -" Snape muttered, but Karkaroff interrupted him.
"I want to talk now, while you can't slip off, Severus. You've been avoiding me."
I noticed Milli, who had actually returned her attention to her work, perked up at this and was now listening intently. Clearly her journalistic mind had decided there was a story here.
"After the lesson." Snape repeated.
Karkaroff remained in the room, like a bad smell, until class was dismissed, and I didn't get a chance to find out what that was about.
x x x
"Bet ya it's their Mark he's talking about." Theo said, so casually that anyone passing might have thought we were talking about a mark on a piece of homework. I knew better.
"You think?"
"He was holding his arm half the time he was in the classroom." Theo said as if this was indisputable proof - to be honest, it wasn't far off.
"You didn't even look at him." I noted.
"That's what you think." Theo said, grinning.
"You scare me, boy." I snapped.
"Thank you." Theo said cheerfully.
Cat caught up with us, "You boys want to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"
"Not if you're taking us on another home visit." I noted.
"Oh, no. I was going to Honeydukes. Can't really visit when he's not home, can I?" she said nonchalantly.
"And you know he's not home, how?" I asked.
"Oh, he's near Hogsmeade. I'm not certain where, but he doesn't want me visiting tomorrow." she said, shrugging.
"And how do you know this?" Theo asked, this time.
She shrugged again, "I just know."
"Good enough logic for me." Theo noted, "She IS a Seer."
Cat smiled weakly, "The third task'll be interesting."
"How so?" I asked.
"Remember the curse we read about in first year?" she asked him innocently.
"'May you live in interesting times'?" Theo asked.
"Yes." Cat said, frowning, "Well, I know for a fact the task shall be that type of interesting."
"Could you be any less specific?" I asked sarcastically.
"I'm not an Oracle." she hissed, "But the best I can say is be grateful you didn't get chosen, Theo. Diggory isn't going to fare well."
"Well, that's because he's a Huffle, isn't it?" Theo asked.
"Oh, but that's not the reason." Cat said, shaking her head and walking off in a different direction from us.
"Cryptic, much?" Theo asked.
"Just a little." I said, sarcastically.
I guess if the Seer says the event is cursed, it'd be safer to keep my distance from it. I'm considering skipping it, but then I'd never see what she meant by 'interesting'.
It's months away, anyway. I'll have time to figure it out by then, I'm sure.
x x x
That evening, Hermione cornered me in the Library. "You rotten little ferret!" she snapped.
"What did I do?" I asked defensively.
"You gave Skeeter that article, didn't you, even though you knew it wasn't true!" she snarled.
"I didn't!"
"I saw you talking to her in Hogsmeade, you liar!" she growled. I winced, sure that she was going to slap me again, any second - it's not so much I'm afraid of her, but I wouldn't fight her even if she did hit me, and that weakness is what scares me.
"I was getting information from her, not telling her anything." I said, frowning, "I'll be lucky if she doesn't badmouth me next after the trick I pulled on her!"
"What did you do?" she asked, seeming less angry now.
"She asked for the dirt on you." I explained, "I told her I'd give her everything I knew if she gave me information in exchange. Then when she'd told me everything I was interested in, I told her that the worst dirt I could get on you was that you were a bookish Mudblood. She was most displeased, to say the least."
"You lied to her?"
"Well, yeah. Sort of." I said, smirking.
"So the article...?"
"It's not my fault. I think Pansy was the one who told Skeeter all that crap." I noted, "I mean, from the fact her name is mentioned."
"And the fact Skeeter called HER 'pretty'." Hermione added.
I laughed, "She's not that bad looking. She just doesn't understand that makeup is not supposed to be applied with a trowel."
"And you do?"
"You've seen my mother - can you honestly say I would never know how a woman puts on make-up." I said flatly.
"True." she mused, smiling, "She would be beautiful if she didn't scowl so much."
"Weasleys' presence is the reason for that scowl." I said flatly.
"Hmmm. Looks can be deceiving, then. Your whole family are all bigoted."
"And damned proud of it, Mudblood." I said, smirking.
"You're an evil little prick, aren't you?" she asked, yet she didn't seem angry, she seemed amused.
"Yes." I answered brightly.
She shook her head and decided not to argue either way, "So, what evil have you been up to recently?"
"Trying to work out how to get our latest Defence teacher fired." I said honestly.
"You're persistent." she noted, "Do you think if the subject dies sufficiently, they'll start teaching Dark Arts, or something?"
"I can hope." I said, smirking, "But seriously, I just don't like the teachers."
"I can tell why, this year, but we happened to like him."
"He's an evil demon in human form, using Polyjuice from that hip-flask to look like an ex-Auror." I said flatly.
"Firstly, Polyjuice doesn't work on demons, they can take human form more easily than that anyway... secondly, the fact you don't like him does not make him evil - if anything, it makes him good... thirdly, who would want to impersonate a lunatic?"
"Another lunatic. One more insane even than Theo." I said pointedly, "The man threatened me with grievous bodily harm last week!"
"You probably deserved it." she said calmly.
"Teachers are not allowed to threaten students with... that sort of thing." I growled, "Hell, there's laws against caning us anymore, much that Filch and my father disagree with such laws." she sniggered at that comment. I glared, "And I swear to you, he's not Moody. I have ways of knowing."
"Such as...?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Several different leads say the same thing. Watch the man, damnit. You're the good guys, you do something about it!" I snapped, "Cause I sure as hell won't."
"Coward." she noted.
"And still alive because of it." I retorted.
"I'm sure." she said sarcastically.
"If I had a Gryffindor mentality... I'd not have run away in the Forest in first year." I counted on my fingers, "I'd have tried to stop Quirrell personally. I'd have told someone about Riddle in second year. I'd do something about Moody right now. Any one of those would have gotten me killed, but you lot seem to have a natural tendency for surviving the unsurvivable. Damn it, if the rumours are true, Potter's seen a Dementor's face and lived to tell about it!"
"Yes... well." she said, frowning, "I suppose you've got a point. But you're still a coward."
"Better a living coward than a dead Gryffindor." I said flatly.
She smirked, "We don't die easily."
"Tell that to-" I stopped myself, knowing it'd annoy her if I'd finished the sentence ('tell that to Potter's parents').
Her eyes narrowed and I'm sure she guessed what I was going to say, "Be thankful I'm in a forgiving mood, since I realised you didn't give Skeeter that article, otherwise I might have slapped you for even thinking that."
"You're not a Legilimens, are you?" I asked warily.
"No, I just have a fair idea of the level your ferret-brain thinks on some of the time, Malfoy."
"So you concede the point that I have a brain, then?" I asked innocently.
"Funny." she said coldly.
I shrugged, "Force of habit, I automatically say the nastiest thing I can think of. You should think me considerate for stopping before I finished the sentence."
"Hmph." she folded her arms, "Well, I learned from first year. I'll pay attention to your suggestion to watch Moody, but I think you're just being paranoid."
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." I retorted.
She giggled, "I suppose. I should go, before anyone sees me talking to you in a civil manner."
"We wouldn't want that, would we?" I asked, smirking.
"It would ruin your reputation and annoy my friends." she said, smiling brightly, "Which is more important to you?"
"It's a tough decision." I said, pondering the possibilities of seriously irritating Potter and Weasley, "But I think my reputation is more important to me than Potter's misery."
"Good." she said cheerfully.
"Somehow I think I just lost an argument I didn't know I was having..." I said warily.
"You did. I'm glad to see you don't hate my friends more than you like your anti-hero image." she said, grinning.
"You sneaky little Mudblood." I said, without any malice.
"Thank you."
"Get out of my sight before someone sees us talking to each other!" I said, in much too good humour to suit the words I was saying.
She smiled innocently, and turned and left.
x x x
End of chapter 27