Hell Tastes Sweet

Chapter Seven

Pansy considered for a brief, crazy moment the possibility of running away from the office. It took her a couple of seconds to realise that, even if she could figure out how to get out of there, she was sure that she had as many chances of success as she had of becoming the next Minister for Magic.

Finally, looking down to the floor, Pansy decided to give up and with the smallest voice said:

"It doesn't matter anymore…".

"What?" Hermoine asked.

Pansy lifted her head and, looking straight at Dumbledore, repeated:

"I said it doesn't matter anymore…Draco is dead now…".

Voicing it had been even worse than thinking about it. Now it was definite. Pansy felt the familiar knot coming up her throat threatening to choke her. Now, more than ever, she wanted to be alone in the darkness of her room in her parents house.

"What are you talking about Miss Parkinson?" she heard Dumbledore's voice say from what seemed a huge distance.

Pansy looked around herself and saw the looks that her three fellow students were giving her. Harry was surprised and Ron was just confused. It was the way that Hermoine was looking at her that was most disturbing, a mix of disgust and…pity. Hermoine Granger pitied her. Pansy thought it was way too unbearable to hold her gaze and decided to return her attention to the floor.

"Parkinson, Professor Dumbledore asked you a question…" she heard Harry say.

Pansy, suddenly remembering the old professor, looked up once more and repeated:

"Longbottom said that…there had been a loss…you know… in the prison's attack…"Pansy said and then, as if realising the full impact of her own words and the revelation she had just made, brought her left hand and covered her mouth with it as if trying to prevent any further information to come out of it.

"I knew it!! I just knew it!! He's involved Professor…I knew it!!" Hermoine exclaimed suddenly raising her voice as much as she could without shouting.

Pansy felt even more trapped. Then, something finally registered in her head.

"Sir, are you saying you know who died?" Pansy asked Dumbledore.

"No Miss Parkinson, we don't know who died but we most certainly know it wasn't Mr Malfoy nor Mr Malfoy senior for that matter…all we know is that none of our Aurors killed anyone. The Death Eater who died last night was killed by one of their own…" Dumbledore said while carefully searching for any reaction coming from the Slytherin girl.

"Sir…are you quite sure of that, I mean…how do you…" Pansy began to ask but was interrupted by Dumbledore.

"We collected the Death Eater's body and we're trying to identify him. We are certain it's not Mr Malfoy though…".

Dumbledore went quiet for a few moments as if trying to give Pansy some time to process the information. Then he let his blue eyes wander around the room locking them briefly with Harry's before saying:

"Miss Parkinson, I'm already sure of it but, I'd like to hear it directly from you…was Mr Draco Malfoy involved in the attack?".

Pansy remained silent for a couple of seconds before looking back at Dumbledore. Seeing it was useless now to lie, she nodded.

"What exactly was Mr Malfoy doing there?" Dumbledore insisted.

"He's…" Pansy started saying but got interrupted by Hermoine.

"He's a Death Eater, isn't he?".

"Miss Granger..." warned Dumbledore causing Hermoine to blush and to get suddenly very interested with one of her shoes.

"Miss Parkinson, is Miss Granger right?" Dumbledore asked.

"YES! He's a Death Eater…and I'm very proud of that…" Pansy suddenly exclaimed causing Hermoine to look back at Pansy shocked at the Slytherin's daring.

"Are you really?" Professor Dumbledore asked obviously not believing Pansy's affirmation.

Pansy remained silent again pondering whether she was actually proud of the fact that Draco had sold his soul to the Dark Lord. Ultimately, she decided that she was more scared for him than anything but she wasn't going to give the three Gryffindors nor Professor Dumbledore the satisfaction of knowing this.

"Yes…of course I am…" she said trying to convey to her voice as much conviction as possible.

"Well…then…Miss Parkinson, I would only like to ask one more thing of you…" Professor Dumbledore said ignoring the inquisitive looks the three Gryffindors were giving to him.

"What is it?" Pansy asked hoping this would soon be over and she would be allowed to go back to her room.

"I would like to ask that you report to me everything you may find…odd…regarding Mr Malfoy's behaviour…" Dumbledore replied.

"Are you…sir…are you… asking me to…to spy on Draco?" Pansy said so shocked she wondered how she had actually managed to formulate the question.

"No, no…by any means…I am just merely asking you to perform your duty as the school prefect that you are…only that I would like you to dedicate a bit more attention to Mr Malfoy's activities…" Dumbledore said provoking Hermoine and Ron to smile, smiles that were quickly removed from their face as Dumbledore looked at them both.

"But…" Pansy started.

"I don't need to remind you that both you and Mr Malfoy are still on probation as school prefects after…last year's events…and you should find this a great opportunity to show to me that your loyalty is to the school first…" Dumbledore said with such a neutral tone of voice that it was hard to understand whether the whole thing was a threat or a mere reminder.

Pansy was utterly astonished and horribly embarrassed that Granger and Weasley had found out about hers and Draco's precarious status as school prefects. She looked to the floor for the umpteenth time when Dumbledore said:

"So, can we count on your collaboration for this…delicate affair? I trust you will inform me of everything regarding Mr Malfoy…to start with, I'd like to know as soon as he's back and…if he says anything to you…I'd like to hear about it too…".

Pansy could only nod. She really had no option but to accept. For now. She had to think of a way to get away of this situation, only that now was neither the time nor the place to refuse.

To be continued…

A/N: So, Draco is not dead, I apologise to everyone that was thinking of getting the champagne out to celebrate!! I would also like to apologise for the two cliffhangers from the previous chapters…I don't like them myself is just that right now the story needs a bit of suspense… Thanks again for all the reviews…you're great people!!!