Hellllllllllllllllo peeps!!!! How is every one!!! Alrighty then. Sorry, I
have been watching Ace Venturer........ANYWAY!!! This chapter was GOING to be
much longer, but ya know, it is still RATHER long and I wanted to post it
so you'll just have to wait to see if Draco gets the dark mark in the next
chapter...opps.....have I said too much...hehe!!! Ne ways!!! Thanks for the
reviews!! U guys RULE!!! I hopes you all like this chapter...OH....and I KNOW I
have like a MILLION spelling mistakes..... preferably the word 'from' which I
tend to spell 'form' coz I am blond and I'm an idiot. Ne ways!!! Take care
every one and enjoy.........bixxxx
Disclaimer: ........Yo....I'm not J.K Rowling... there fore, I don't own ANYTHING!!!!!!!!
Draco woke up the next morning feeling extremely tired and hung over. The night before, the Slytherins, being Slytherins, had smuggled Alcohol into their chambers instead of coco- like Dumbledore had ordered, and the whole of years five to seven and gotten well and truly slaughtered.
Draco was feeling particularly crap considering his up and coming initiation, therefore probably drank a considerable amount more than everyone else- well, every one to the exception of Blaise, who in the middle of a game of truth or dare, dared HIMSELF to get so hammered he couldn't even remember his own name.
Draco was debating weather or not he should get up, or just admit defeat and stay here for the entire day. Oh it was a very tempting offer, but staying in bed just wasn't an option. He had so much on his mind. Above all things, he still hadn't made amends with his mother or Snape. They were the first things on the agenda.
He slowly sat up. As his head began to throb, he felt a weird sensation in his body. His stomach seemed to contract so violently that he thought it was about to explode. Without warning, his legs seemed to carry him out of the room and down the corridor to the boys toilets, where, inevitably, he vomited with passion, into the toilet.
Once he was sure that everything that was going to come up, HAD come up, he sat back down on the floor, his knees drawn into his body, and his head resting in his arms.
He managed to get quite conformable sitting on the cold tile floor (A:N haven't we all done that.....ok maybe its just me.....) when he heard a knock on the door.
"What" he shouted, instantly regretting it when his head began to throb again.
"Its me...Pansy....can I come in?"
Draco groaned inwardly, not really being able to stomach what Pansy had to say to him, but agreeing none the less.
She cautiously opened the door and entered. She sat next to Draco on the floor and said nothing. She simply held her head in her hands, probably suffering from the same thing he was.
"I saw you come in....or rather RUN in as the case may be.." Pansy tried to laugh to lighten the mood but it only resulted in her head hurting even more.
"Yeah......last night was something else huh?" Draco commented, trying to sound amused but not finding it funny in the least.
"Uh huh. I wont be drinking like that again for a while."
"Mmmm, me neither."
They sat in silence for a while longer, when they both heard a retching sound from down the corridor, and the door to the bathroom was flung open by non other than Blaise. He ran to the toilet and threw up half in, half out the bowl.
"Oh Blaise!" Draco and Pansy said in unison, as they both held their noses and tried not to gag themselves at the vile smell.
"Sorry" came the muffled reply from with in the bowl of the toilet.
Blaise stood up to the sink and splashed some cold water over his face. He then flushed the toilet, then put the lid down so he could sit on it. Fortunately, he had his wand handy in a special pocket his boxers- Only Blaise would think to do something like that-Draco thought, and he took it out to clear the mess off the floor and make the room smell a little fresher.
The three of them were quite content to sit in silence, nursing their poor heads.
They sat for not much longer than 10 minutes, when Blaise finally spoke up.
"So what's on the agenda today folks?"
Pansy eyed him suspiciously. "What have you got planned Blaise?"
"Huh...oh nothing....I just thought.....well I got that nice selection of jokes and stuff form Zonko's shop that my brother sent me for Christmas and I thought I might use it."
Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Blaise....I don't even intend to leave my room today after last night, let alone play stupid little pranks on people."
Pansy simply nodded.
"Ok....."
More Silence.
"So..."
"Just shut the fuck up Blaise" Draco and Pansy yelled.
It wasn't long before the groups were joined in the bathroom by Tanya and Millicent. "Ah, so this is where the party is happening" Tanya giggled, much to Draco's annoyance. Crabbe turned up not long after, and soon the bathroom was so packed, it was difficult to move.
Just when Draco thought it couldn't get anymore claustrophobic, they heard the door open, and in walked a very hung over, very NAKED Goyle.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Millicent, Tanya and Crabbe all yelled in unison.
"Put some bloody clothes on you crude" Blaise yelled.
Goyle simply wobbled on the spot. "I cant.....I......-"that was all he managed to get out before he keeled over and threw up right in the middle of the floor.
()
Later that day, Draco had returned to his room to find a huge pile of presents on the floor next to his bed. He remembered not having opened them yesterday being too busy, so he lifted them up onto his bed and began to rip them open.
He had one form Pansy, Tanya, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle and even from Snape. This gesture filled him with guilt because of the way he had acted towards the potions master. He also had one from his parents. He suddenly felt the urge to talk to his mother and clear the air.
Fleeing the room, he grabbed his cloak that lay sprawled over one of the sofas in the common room, and he ran out of the entrance hole. He ran down the corridors, taking a few short cuts that he had learned of over the past 7 years, and eventually came to a stop out side the potion masters office
He wrapped on the door. "Hello. Professor. Are you there?"
Draco waited for a moment before the door was thrown open. Draco looked into the eyes of Professor Snape and Dumbledore.
"Draco. What a pleasant surprise. We were just talking about you." Dumbledore beamed.
"You were?" Draco asked as he stepped in and took a seat next to the head, while Snape sat at the chair behind his desk.
"Why yes. We were discussing how to get you out of this death eater situation, and wet think we have a plan."
Draco's face lit up. "Oh"
"Yes, Professor Snape and I have been working on a room, hidden in the depths of the castle, that is surrounded by spells so that once someone is locked in there, they cant get out."
"Ok..." Draco was confused.
"But more importantly..." Dumbledores smile grew even bigger. "No one can get in"
Draco now understood the plan. "I see."
"Yes. So, we plan to hide you in this room when your father comes to collect you. When he arrives, we simply tell him that you had all ready left, and should be arriving at the Manor by the next train from Hogsmeade."
Draco nodded. "Ok.....But what happens when I DON'T arrive by the next train. He's gonna come looking for me."
"This is true Draco. But you see, your father can not touch you while you are in the room. Therefore, he has no way of catching you. He will simply think you got lost or side tracked. And then, after Christmas, we will simply have to keep him away form the castle by any means possible." Dumbledore smiled
Draco smiled. Ok, this plan may not work in the long run, but it was gonna give him that little bit of extra time that he needed.
Dumbledore stood up to leave. "Well, I think my work here is done" He eyed Draco then the potions master, who hadn't uttered a word since Draco had arrived. "I believe you two have something to discuss. Good day to you." And he was gone.
Snape didn't say anything, determined to be stubborn and not be the one to say the first word. Draco sighed and looked at his professor.
"Sir...I'm.....sorry....for the way I acted. It was stupid and childish of me, and I KNOW that you and my mother are only doing what you thought was best for me. I was wrong and I'm not afraid to admit it now." Draco hung his head in shame.
Snape actually smiled. "Its ok Draco. I understand. You were upset and you had every right to be. Granted some of the things you said were hurtful, and it did take me rather along time to calm your mother down after you left. But you weren't entirely to blame. I should never have hit you. I'm sorry."
"No.... I think you did me a fervor. A bit of a reality slap." Draco laughed.
Snape laughed too. For the next hour, they spent time together just talking, until it got rather late, and Draco decided he should talk to his mother.
He managed to get rid of Snape, so he could use the floo network.
Snape was happy to leave. Draco threw the floo powder into the fire stuck his head into it. He then shouted "Malfoy Manor, Narcissa's study."
In a puff of Green smoke, Draco closed his eyes. With in a few moments, he opened his eyes and looked around his mother's study.
His mother wasn't around, so he called out... "Mother.....MOTHER...."
There was silence for a while, and then Draco heard footsteps coming down the corridor. The door was then thrown open and Draco looked into the disheveled face of his mother.
"Draco!" She exclaimed. She ran to the fire, and knelt down infront of her son. She then took his face in her hands and kissed him all over.
"Mum.....mum....MUM!!" Draco had to raise his voice to get his mum to stop kissing him.
"Oh sorry Draky baby....what are you doing here?"
"Well..... I erm...came to apologize...."
Narcissa smiled and her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Oh Draky.....don't be silly. I know you were just upset. Severus told me you had been going through a bad time at school. I am your mother. If I wasn't here for you to shout at who else would put up with you." She laughed. Draco joined her.
"Yeah but still. I had no reason to say those things to you. And I have felt guilty ever since."
Narcissa cupped her son's face and rubbed his checks with her thumbs. "Darling. I forgive you.....now..... What was your Christmas like....."
Draco and Narcissa spent the next few hours talking, until Snape came back to his office and poked his head through the fire, telling Draco that he needed his office to do some work and could Draco talk to his mother another time.
Draco and Narcissa were more than willing to stop their conversation. Saying their good-byes, Narcissa giving Draco another few soppy kisses, they broke apart.
Draco left Snape in his office and went back to his dorm, feeling slightly better.
()
The next few days went by quite smoothly. Draco and Ginny didn't spend much time together- infact, they rarely saw each other, unless it was to walk by each other in the corridors, where they simply smirked at each other, making it seem as though there was nothing out of the ordinary going on.
Ron and Hermione were back on good terms with each other, cuddling non-stop and kissing whenever they were alone.
Harry's relationship with Hannah Abot had been on the rocks ever since Christmas, when she had bought him a huge present, saying it had cost her a fortune and he had completely forgotten to buy her anything. They were constantly at each other's throughts about one thing or another, and would usually have one big argument after another. They would then spend the evening making up, spending the nights in each other's dorms, and then they would find something else to argue about. This didn't bother Harry, as he found it rather exhilarating throwing pissy fits at each other and finding new and creative ways to make it up to each other.
So the week after Christmas went by rather quickly, and, not before long, it was the day before New Years Eve.
Draco had managed to slip a note into Ginny's hand earlier that day when they were passing in the corridor, telling her to meet him down by the lake at 11:30 that night. He had something special to show her.
So at 11:30, Ginny headed down to the lake, donned in Harry's invisibility cloak, which she had, yet again taken form him with out asking- she just hoped he had no need for it right now- to meet Draco.
He was waiting for her at the water edge. She stood watching him for a while. Occasionally he would pick up a stone, throw it a top speed into the middle of the lake, where the squid would reach a tentacle out of the water and hit it with such force, it flew off into the distance above the Dark Forest.
Ginny smiled. She crept up behind him. She placed her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
It was very tranquil. Neither said a word as they looked out onto the lake as it glistened in the moonlight, every so often, rippling where the squid skimmed the water surface.
After what felt like an eternity, but still not long enough, Draco tuned to face Ginny and smiled. With out saying a word, Draco took Ginny by the hands and led her round the edge of the lake. They walked for about 5 minutes, Ginny not knowing where they were heading.
"Where are we going?" She almost laughed when Draco didn't reply, but carried on walking, dragging her behind.
Eventually, Draco stopped by a small patch of grass under a tree, just to the side of the lake. Ginny looked down, and noticed that there was a blanket layed out, with two candles floating just above it, and two glasses. There was also a small hamper, and a bottle of something was popping out of the top of it.
"Oh....Draco..."
Draco sat down on the blanket, pulling her with him. He then reached for the glasses, handed one to her, and took the bottle out of the hamper.
She then let out a laugh as he held up the bottle to show Ginny. "I'm Sorry, its all I could get at short notice."
Ginny looked puzzled, until she read the label. "Cherryade" She laughed out load.
"Hey its not funny. Oddly enough the Slytherin stack of Alcohol had run low, and I discovered the wonder that is fizzy pop over the summer. They were serving it in a wizard café I went to. Odd huh. Well any way. I fell in love with the stuff and got the name of the man who owned the café and asked him if he could owl it to me while I was at school. I have a stash of it in my dorm, under my bed." He laughed.
Ginny laughed even harder. "You silly twit" She wheezed.
Draco playfully smacked her arm and poured her some of the drink. She took a mouthful and spat it out, with a look of disgust on her face.
"Am I meant to feel like I've just eaten a few Fire crackers?"
Draco just laughed. "It's the fizz. Try it again. You get used to it."
Ginny looked skeptical. However, she took another sip...then another....and another....she found her self getting used to the taste.
"Hmmm....its quite nice." She mused.
"I told you" He smiled as he drank his own.
They drank the entire contents of the bottle, then Draco moved to sit behind Ginny, while wrapping his arms around her waist and lacing his fingers with her own.
Ginny sighed happily as she settled back against the strong chest that was behind her.
"So what is all this in aid for?" Ginny sighed.
Draco buried his face in her hair. He so wanted to share the fact that he was to become a Death Eater with Ginny, but he just didn't know how she would react.
"Oh.....I just.....wanted to see you. Spend time with you."
Ginny smiled. She felt her heart melt. "You're going soft" She laughed.
Draco tensed. "I'm sorry. SOFT! Don't make me laugh."
Ginny laughed harder. "You are. You do this for me. You're going soft."
Draco growled. "Genevra... I am NOT going soft!"
Ginny doubled over holding her chest.
"What is so funny now?" He fumed.
"You.....you...." she wheezed. "You called me Genevra.... You've never called me that."
Draco could only laugh. Not because what he said was funny, just because he couldn't watch Ginny doubled over laughing her socks off and not find it funny.
Ginny soon calmed her breathing down and sat up, facing Draco. The moon light was casting a shadow on the right side of his face, and it make him look like a work of art.
"You know some one should paint you"
"Sorry" Draco said with a laugh.
"I'm mean...." Ginny blushed, thankfully it was dark so Draco wouldn't see. "You...you're so......beautiful"
Draco smiled and reached up a hand to stroke her face. "I'm nothing compared to you"
Ginny nearly cried. She threw herself at Draco and kissed his face all over.
Draco laughed. "Get off me you mad women." Ginny sat back and beamed.
Draco watched her for a while. He couldn't help but think that she was, infact, very beautiful.
His thoughts strayed however to the next day, when he would have to go into hiding.
Ginny noticed Draco face fell. The happy look that was once occupying his features turned to a sad, far away look.
"Draco..." she reached out a hand to touch his face.
"Hmmm?"
"Are you ok?"
"Huh....o yeah.....look Ginny....we need to talk..."
Ginny tensed and she whipped her hand away from his face.
Draco noticed this and grabbed it back. He brought her hand to his mouth and affectionately kissed each finger in turn.
"Ginny I ...... I have to go some where tomorrow...."
"Oh..."
"Yeah..... I mean...... I was meant to go home...but I'm erm...... not any more...."
"O...k. I'm sorry Draco. I don't understand."
Draco took Ginny's hand away from his mouth and placed it on her lap. He then stood up and walked towards the lake. He took off his socks and shoes and let his feet make contact with the cool water.
Ginny was confused. She took off her own shoes and followed.
She gasped at the coldness of the water, but followed Draco in nonetheless.
She walked over to him, the water now coming up to her knees; Fortunately she was wearing a skirt. She wrapped her arms around his waist and waited for him to speak.
"Its just.....that time when my parents came to the school, when my father........well ya' know.....any way..... he asked me to go home over New Years. I said I didn't want to but he's expecting me there tomorrow. Any way. I told Dumbledore and Snape, and they are going to help me hide, so my father can't take me home."
"Hide?" Ginny asked confused.
"Yeah....but Ginny you have to promise me.....you wont tell any one this information. Not even Granger."
Ginny shook her head and kissed his shoulder. "I wont. I swear"
"Thank you"
"Will you tell me why. Why are you hiding?"
"I will tell you. Just not yet"
Ginny nodded. She could cope with that.
Ginny tightened her grip around Draco, as if holding onto him for dear life. They stood that way for a few moments longer, before Draco got a wicked idea. A smirk formed on his face as he unlaced Ginny's fingers and turned around to face her.
Ginny could tell he was up to something from the mischievous glint in his eye. Before she had the chance to run away, he grabbed her around the middle and threw her over his shoulder. He then turned around and ran further into the depths of the lake.
"Draco! Don't you dare!"
Draco just laughed. "What punishment do I get if I do?"
Ginny started to kick her legs, just missing Draco's face by inches. "If you do I'll throttle you in your sleep."
Draco laughed even harder. "Is that a promise." He took another step. The water now just reached his waist.
"Draco I mean it"
"So do I" Draco was still laughing as he took another step to further himself into the lake. However he wasn't prepared for the muddy depths to give way to his weight and both he, and Ginny fell into the water with a 'Splash!'
Draco was the first to resurface and he laughed as he spat water out of his mouth and shook it out of his hair. Ginny swam to the surface a few moments later, spluttering and kicking her feet about, as she couldn't reach the bottom of the lake to stand up.
Draco swam over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist to support her until the spluttering subsided. She wrapped her arms around his neck and glared daggers at him.
"Draco Malfoy you little shit. I told you not to do that! Do you think that THIS is what is known as 'playing it safe'? Wait until I get back to the common room and people see me drenched like this. They're gonna ask questions."
Draco placed a hand over her mouth to stop her ranting. "Ginevra, are you a witch or not. You can just cast a drying spell"
Well now Ginny felt like an idiot, and her blush showed it too.
Draco laughed and took her off guard by kissing her hard. It took her breath away. As the kiss depend, it became more passionate and Draco slipped in the tongue. He lifted her shirt up and let his hands wonder over the bare skin of her back. This time he didn't feel Ginny tense. She just let him carry on. He then removed his hands from her back, down to her skirt, which had already traveled half way up her thigh because she had wrapped her legs around his waist and it had bunched up in the process.
He placed his hands on her thighs and dragged them up painfully slowly. H e made sure that the moment he felt her tense, or he sensed that he was moving to quickly, he stopped. But as it was, she seemed pretty wrapped up in the kiss, and didn't seem to notice what he was doing to her body.
His hands traveled up even further and came to rest on her bum. He kept his hands there, enjoying the sensation of having them there and not being told to take them away.
"You really are filthy Mr Malfoy" Ginny laughed into the kiss. She still hadn't pried her self away from his lips.
"What can I say. I'm a bad boy" Draco laughed back.
"Yes...you are..."
"Are you going to punish me now?" Oh how he hoped.
"Nope....I'm gonna leave you hanging." And with that, Ginny pried her self away from his arms, and swam back to shore.
Draco didn't move. He just stared at her, gob smacked. He soon regained the feeling in his limbs and swan after her. When he reached her, she was just casting a drying spell on herself.
"What was that for?" He asked, agitated. He then noticed a little 'problem' in his pants and adjusted them slightly.
Ginny turned to him. "If I had let you carry on you would have had me right there and then in that filthy lake. I am not going to let my first time be in the middle of a murky lake with some big ugly squid getting a front row view." Ginny sounded serious.
Draco just whined like a 5-year-old. "But Ginny..."
"No buts Draco Malfoy!" Ginny pointed a finger at him. "I am trusting you to make my first time special." She then pointed her wand at him and cast a drying spell.
Draco huffed and adjusted his trousers once again. "Fine." He huffed again.
Ginny smiled as she walked over to him, ignoring the little problem in his nether regions, she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him an Eskimo kiss. "Please Draco. It will happen. Just don't rush me ok. It will be well worth the wait if you are just a little more patient."
Draco sighed in defeat and wrapped his arms round her shoulders. He planted a kiss on her head.
"I know. And I will make it special. Just don't keep me 'hanging' as you put it for too long. I'm needy" He pouted.
Ginny laughed and kissed him. "Well I can see that" She then pulled out of his embrace. "Come on. Lets clear this up and get back to the castle before we are missed."
"Yeah ok" Draco sighed.
10 minutes later found them in the Entrance Hall, saying their good-byes. There were a few 1st years standing near by so they couldn't chance a kiss. Instead, they just smiled at each other, and when Ginny was sure no one was looking, she blew a kiss to him. They then went their separate ways.
(!)
The sun didn't even bothering coming out on New Years Day! It was almost as if the weather could sense that today was going to be a bad day.
Draco was roused out of his slumber early by the sound of Crabbe snoring. He turned onto his side to look at the clock by the side of his bed. It was only 6:27.
Rolling over, he hid his head under the top pillow and shut his eyes tight, trying to block out the sound that was Crabbe snoring. He later heard the sound of Blaise growling, and a pillow being thrown at Crabbe. However this didn't stop his snoring, as he merely rolled on to his side, clearing his throught, which made the sounds of his snores even louder.
Draco gritted his teeth. He could cope with it for all of 5 seconds, before he growled in frustration and got out of bed, dragging his quilt along with him.
He exited to dorm and entered the common room. He sent a spell at the fireplace- he was getting good at wandless magic- which lit it up nicely, and snuggled down on one of the sofas under his quilt, and fell asleep.
It was some hours later, that Pansy Parkinson climbed out of bed, feeling a bit peckish, and, putting on her slippers and grabbing her dressing gown- she was only wearing a extra large Slytherin t-shirt- went down stairs, intent on going to grab some food from the kitchens.
She made her way across the common room, and as she reached the door to step outside, she heard a steady breathing noise coming from one of the sofas!
She tiptoed over to it, not wanting to wake the person sleeping there. She gasped when she saw a mop of blond hair peeping out of the quilt. She instantly knew who it was.
Draco lay with his knees tucked into his body and his back against the arm rest. He had the quilt pulled up over his face and only his blond hair could be seen.
Pansy sat down on the end of the sofa and just watched him. She laughed out loud at the thought of what Draco's sworn enemies would do if they saw how sweet and vulnerable he looked right now.
After a few moments, she felt him stir, and he popped his sleepy head out of the quilt to look at her.
He squinted his eyes, as if he didn't quite recognized her at first, but then he realized who it was, and relaxed into the pillows behind him.
"Morning" she cooed.
"Mmm...hi" was his reply.
"What are you doing down here?" Pansy asked, as she slipped one of her hands under the quilt to tickle his feet.
Draco gave an extremely girlish yelp as he felt her cold fingers on his feet. "Gerroff" he moaned.
Pansy just laughed. "You haven't answered my question, why are you down here?"
Draco tried to kick her hands away but she wouldn't budge. "Fine women. I came down here coz Crabbe was snoring and I could sleep. Now piss off"
Pansy laughed. "What ever. I'm going to get some food. You wanna come?"
Draco pondered this for a second, but at the mention of food his stomach contracted and made an awful rumbling sound.
"I'll take that as a yes then shall I?" She reached out a hand to help him up, which he took, and they left the room together.
They walked in silence. Draco not really keen on talking, and Pansy wanting to talk, just not wanting to say the wrong thing.
They arrived at the kitchens and immediately were bombarded by house elves.
They both stuffed their faces before heading back to the common room. On the way, they happened upon Snape and Dumbledore, wondering the corridors, having a nice little chat about something.
Draco grabbed Pansy and pulled her into a small cove in the wall where they wouldn't be seen.
"Is it all ready Severus?" They heard Dumbledore say.
"Yes Professor. I think everything is up to your standards. And I think Master Malfoy will be well hidden"
Pansy gasped and shot Draco a side ways glance as if to say, 'What are they talking about?'
Draco however, just gritted his teeth, intent upon hearing what they were talking about.
"I will collect Draco as soon as he is awake to take him there" Snape carried on saying.
"Good job Severus." Dumbledore spoke. "I trust the other teachers are aware of this"
"Only those that needed to be told sir. Professor McGonagal and Professor Flitwick helped with the charming of the room, to make sure that it was unreachable to those who didn't know where it is!"
"Good. Well I think all is settled then. I would like to speak to Master Malfoy before he is placed in the room though. Bring him to me as soon as he is awake."
"Yes Sir" And they rounded the corner, and were out of sight.
Draco gritted his teeth, awaiting the outburst from Pansy.
And it came.
"What the hell were they talking about Draco? Where are you being taken? What does Dumbledore want with you?"
Pansy was almost shouting as she said this, and she was now standing in the middle of the corridor where anyone could hear her. With out thought, Draco covered her mouth with his hand and dragged her to an empty classroom.
He sat her down on the table and put a locking and a silencing charm on the door.
Pansy opened her mouth to say something, but Draco intervened.
"Look, Pans... I guess I cant really get out of telling you what is going on. Not after that little interlude."
Pansy looked angry ash she shook her head. "No you bloody well cant. What's going on Dra?"
Draco sighed. "Its just.....I was meant to go home today....well as far as my father is concerned I am, but there have been a few, changes."
Pansy stayed quiet and Draco took this as an indication to continue.
"You see.... I was meant to be going home today to be initiated as a Death Eater" Pansy Gasped. "But the thing is.... I ....don't want to" He paused to look at her, to see her reaction.
She couldn't speak. She was well aware that the war was coming, and she knew that Voldemort would be gaining as many followers as possible, even if it meant taking people out of school to become one, but somewhere in the back of her mind, she believed that the war would all be over before it got to this.
She wanted to cry. The look of worry mixed with sadness in Draco's eyes was too much for her to stomach.
She stood slowly and took him into an embrace.
Draco was shocked at first. He was expecting a fight, or at least a telling off on her behalf. But not this.
When Pansy pulled away, she was crying. She stroked his face with the back of her hand and smiled a teary smile.
"You poor thing. Why didn't you tell me?"
Draco pulled away from her.
"Why do you think. I was expecting you to go mad. I thought you would try and encourage me."
"What! Of course not. Do you actually think I WANT this to happen?" Draco shrugged his shoulders defeated. "Ofcourse its not. Everytime I go home I get my Death Eater father telling me how he can't WAIT for me to join him. I've been wanting to get out of it for years. I can't believe this is happening"
Draco was shocked. "But I thought..... if I had known this was how you felt I WOULD have told you"
"Yeah well.. too late for that. What is all this hiding crap?"
"Huh? Oh, Sev and Dumbledore have come up with this 'room' that is meant to keep me safe. No one can get out, no one can get in, that kinda thing"
"Oh I see. And your father can't find you there?"
"Nope"
"What about after that? Won't he come looking for you?"
"Probably, but I guess Dumbledore will do his best to keep him away"
Pansy sighed and hugged Draco again. "What is the wizarding world coming to ay? And when will that stupid Potter prick do what he's bloody supposed to and play the 'boy-who-refuses-to-die' and get rid of that maniac?"
Draco laughed and hugged her back. "God knows!"
(!)
It was later that morning, when most of Slytherin house were awake, the 7th years were sitting on the sofas by the fire, when Snape entered the room.
He didn't have to say anything at all. He simply nodded at Draco. Draco, sensing his doom, stood up to leave.
He headed towards the entrance to the common room, when someone grabbed him from behind.
He turned to see Pansy. She threw herself at him and hugged him tight. He hugged her back.
Just as she was pulling away, she whispered a 'Good luck' in his ear. He smiled at her, before following Snape out of the door.
Draco and Snape walked in silence for a while, until they got to one of the upper levels and Snape told Draco that Dumbledore wanted to see him first. Draco pretended to act surprised, of course he knew Snape was taking him there first.
Once inside Dumbledores office, Draco sat down, as did Snape, while Dumbledore told them the plans.
"Now Draco, you understand that while you are in this room, no one can reach you. Is there any one you wish to know where you are?" Draco shook his head. "Ok, now Severus and I will take you there and lock you in. We will then come and get you out once we are sure it is safe for you. Is that clear?" Draco nodded. "Good. Then what are we waiting for, lets go!"
Draco followed Dumbledore and Severus out of the office. They then led him down several corridors, up several flights of stairs, then down a passage that he had never seen before. When they had been walking for about 20 minutes, they came to a stop, so abruptly so, that Draco almost walked straight into Snapes back.
"Here we are." Dumbledore sang. He muttered a few words, then the wall before him slid open.
Dumbledore and Snape stood to one side, to allow Draco to pass them into the room.
Draco smiled. He liked what he saw. The room was not huge, but not little either. It was painted a very dark green and had a small black leather sofa in the middle, as well as an open fire on the opposite wall. There were a few bookshelves and what looked like Draco's broom stick lay on the floor by the fire, as well as a broom survicing kit.
"Severus thought that you may get a little bored while you are in here, so he insisted you be allowed your broom so you can polish it up for the up and coming games." Dumbledore beamed.
Snape then stepped forward. "The book shelves are full of books from each of your subjects so you can use this time to get some revision done as well"
'Great!' Draco thought.
"Ok" Dumbledore piped up. "I guess we shall leave you to your self then Draco. There is a toilet over there-"Dumbledore pointed to a door on the opposite wall that Draco hadn't noticed before. "as well as a shower and towels if you wish to use them. Enjoy your self, if you can, and try not to worry, it will all work out for the best." Dumbledore winked at him, before stepping back, and muttering a few more words. The door closed. Draco was on his own now.
Disclaimer: ........Yo....I'm not J.K Rowling... there fore, I don't own ANYTHING!!!!!!!!
Draco woke up the next morning feeling extremely tired and hung over. The night before, the Slytherins, being Slytherins, had smuggled Alcohol into their chambers instead of coco- like Dumbledore had ordered, and the whole of years five to seven and gotten well and truly slaughtered.
Draco was feeling particularly crap considering his up and coming initiation, therefore probably drank a considerable amount more than everyone else- well, every one to the exception of Blaise, who in the middle of a game of truth or dare, dared HIMSELF to get so hammered he couldn't even remember his own name.
Draco was debating weather or not he should get up, or just admit defeat and stay here for the entire day. Oh it was a very tempting offer, but staying in bed just wasn't an option. He had so much on his mind. Above all things, he still hadn't made amends with his mother or Snape. They were the first things on the agenda.
He slowly sat up. As his head began to throb, he felt a weird sensation in his body. His stomach seemed to contract so violently that he thought it was about to explode. Without warning, his legs seemed to carry him out of the room and down the corridor to the boys toilets, where, inevitably, he vomited with passion, into the toilet.
Once he was sure that everything that was going to come up, HAD come up, he sat back down on the floor, his knees drawn into his body, and his head resting in his arms.
He managed to get quite conformable sitting on the cold tile floor (A:N haven't we all done that.....ok maybe its just me.....) when he heard a knock on the door.
"What" he shouted, instantly regretting it when his head began to throb again.
"Its me...Pansy....can I come in?"
Draco groaned inwardly, not really being able to stomach what Pansy had to say to him, but agreeing none the less.
She cautiously opened the door and entered. She sat next to Draco on the floor and said nothing. She simply held her head in her hands, probably suffering from the same thing he was.
"I saw you come in....or rather RUN in as the case may be.." Pansy tried to laugh to lighten the mood but it only resulted in her head hurting even more.
"Yeah......last night was something else huh?" Draco commented, trying to sound amused but not finding it funny in the least.
"Uh huh. I wont be drinking like that again for a while."
"Mmmm, me neither."
They sat in silence for a while longer, when they both heard a retching sound from down the corridor, and the door to the bathroom was flung open by non other than Blaise. He ran to the toilet and threw up half in, half out the bowl.
"Oh Blaise!" Draco and Pansy said in unison, as they both held their noses and tried not to gag themselves at the vile smell.
"Sorry" came the muffled reply from with in the bowl of the toilet.
Blaise stood up to the sink and splashed some cold water over his face. He then flushed the toilet, then put the lid down so he could sit on it. Fortunately, he had his wand handy in a special pocket his boxers- Only Blaise would think to do something like that-Draco thought, and he took it out to clear the mess off the floor and make the room smell a little fresher.
The three of them were quite content to sit in silence, nursing their poor heads.
They sat for not much longer than 10 minutes, when Blaise finally spoke up.
"So what's on the agenda today folks?"
Pansy eyed him suspiciously. "What have you got planned Blaise?"
"Huh...oh nothing....I just thought.....well I got that nice selection of jokes and stuff form Zonko's shop that my brother sent me for Christmas and I thought I might use it."
Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Blaise....I don't even intend to leave my room today after last night, let alone play stupid little pranks on people."
Pansy simply nodded.
"Ok....."
More Silence.
"So..."
"Just shut the fuck up Blaise" Draco and Pansy yelled.
It wasn't long before the groups were joined in the bathroom by Tanya and Millicent. "Ah, so this is where the party is happening" Tanya giggled, much to Draco's annoyance. Crabbe turned up not long after, and soon the bathroom was so packed, it was difficult to move.
Just when Draco thought it couldn't get anymore claustrophobic, they heard the door open, and in walked a very hung over, very NAKED Goyle.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Millicent, Tanya and Crabbe all yelled in unison.
"Put some bloody clothes on you crude" Blaise yelled.
Goyle simply wobbled on the spot. "I cant.....I......-"that was all he managed to get out before he keeled over and threw up right in the middle of the floor.
()
Later that day, Draco had returned to his room to find a huge pile of presents on the floor next to his bed. He remembered not having opened them yesterday being too busy, so he lifted them up onto his bed and began to rip them open.
He had one form Pansy, Tanya, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle and even from Snape. This gesture filled him with guilt because of the way he had acted towards the potions master. He also had one from his parents. He suddenly felt the urge to talk to his mother and clear the air.
Fleeing the room, he grabbed his cloak that lay sprawled over one of the sofas in the common room, and he ran out of the entrance hole. He ran down the corridors, taking a few short cuts that he had learned of over the past 7 years, and eventually came to a stop out side the potion masters office
He wrapped on the door. "Hello. Professor. Are you there?"
Draco waited for a moment before the door was thrown open. Draco looked into the eyes of Professor Snape and Dumbledore.
"Draco. What a pleasant surprise. We were just talking about you." Dumbledore beamed.
"You were?" Draco asked as he stepped in and took a seat next to the head, while Snape sat at the chair behind his desk.
"Why yes. We were discussing how to get you out of this death eater situation, and wet think we have a plan."
Draco's face lit up. "Oh"
"Yes, Professor Snape and I have been working on a room, hidden in the depths of the castle, that is surrounded by spells so that once someone is locked in there, they cant get out."
"Ok..." Draco was confused.
"But more importantly..." Dumbledores smile grew even bigger. "No one can get in"
Draco now understood the plan. "I see."
"Yes. So, we plan to hide you in this room when your father comes to collect you. When he arrives, we simply tell him that you had all ready left, and should be arriving at the Manor by the next train from Hogsmeade."
Draco nodded. "Ok.....But what happens when I DON'T arrive by the next train. He's gonna come looking for me."
"This is true Draco. But you see, your father can not touch you while you are in the room. Therefore, he has no way of catching you. He will simply think you got lost or side tracked. And then, after Christmas, we will simply have to keep him away form the castle by any means possible." Dumbledore smiled
Draco smiled. Ok, this plan may not work in the long run, but it was gonna give him that little bit of extra time that he needed.
Dumbledore stood up to leave. "Well, I think my work here is done" He eyed Draco then the potions master, who hadn't uttered a word since Draco had arrived. "I believe you two have something to discuss. Good day to you." And he was gone.
Snape didn't say anything, determined to be stubborn and not be the one to say the first word. Draco sighed and looked at his professor.
"Sir...I'm.....sorry....for the way I acted. It was stupid and childish of me, and I KNOW that you and my mother are only doing what you thought was best for me. I was wrong and I'm not afraid to admit it now." Draco hung his head in shame.
Snape actually smiled. "Its ok Draco. I understand. You were upset and you had every right to be. Granted some of the things you said were hurtful, and it did take me rather along time to calm your mother down after you left. But you weren't entirely to blame. I should never have hit you. I'm sorry."
"No.... I think you did me a fervor. A bit of a reality slap." Draco laughed.
Snape laughed too. For the next hour, they spent time together just talking, until it got rather late, and Draco decided he should talk to his mother.
He managed to get rid of Snape, so he could use the floo network.
Snape was happy to leave. Draco threw the floo powder into the fire stuck his head into it. He then shouted "Malfoy Manor, Narcissa's study."
In a puff of Green smoke, Draco closed his eyes. With in a few moments, he opened his eyes and looked around his mother's study.
His mother wasn't around, so he called out... "Mother.....MOTHER...."
There was silence for a while, and then Draco heard footsteps coming down the corridor. The door was then thrown open and Draco looked into the disheveled face of his mother.
"Draco!" She exclaimed. She ran to the fire, and knelt down infront of her son. She then took his face in her hands and kissed him all over.
"Mum.....mum....MUM!!" Draco had to raise his voice to get his mum to stop kissing him.
"Oh sorry Draky baby....what are you doing here?"
"Well..... I erm...came to apologize...."
Narcissa smiled and her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Oh Draky.....don't be silly. I know you were just upset. Severus told me you had been going through a bad time at school. I am your mother. If I wasn't here for you to shout at who else would put up with you." She laughed. Draco joined her.
"Yeah but still. I had no reason to say those things to you. And I have felt guilty ever since."
Narcissa cupped her son's face and rubbed his checks with her thumbs. "Darling. I forgive you.....now..... What was your Christmas like....."
Draco and Narcissa spent the next few hours talking, until Snape came back to his office and poked his head through the fire, telling Draco that he needed his office to do some work and could Draco talk to his mother another time.
Draco and Narcissa were more than willing to stop their conversation. Saying their good-byes, Narcissa giving Draco another few soppy kisses, they broke apart.
Draco left Snape in his office and went back to his dorm, feeling slightly better.
()
The next few days went by quite smoothly. Draco and Ginny didn't spend much time together- infact, they rarely saw each other, unless it was to walk by each other in the corridors, where they simply smirked at each other, making it seem as though there was nothing out of the ordinary going on.
Ron and Hermione were back on good terms with each other, cuddling non-stop and kissing whenever they were alone.
Harry's relationship with Hannah Abot had been on the rocks ever since Christmas, when she had bought him a huge present, saying it had cost her a fortune and he had completely forgotten to buy her anything. They were constantly at each other's throughts about one thing or another, and would usually have one big argument after another. They would then spend the evening making up, spending the nights in each other's dorms, and then they would find something else to argue about. This didn't bother Harry, as he found it rather exhilarating throwing pissy fits at each other and finding new and creative ways to make it up to each other.
So the week after Christmas went by rather quickly, and, not before long, it was the day before New Years Eve.
Draco had managed to slip a note into Ginny's hand earlier that day when they were passing in the corridor, telling her to meet him down by the lake at 11:30 that night. He had something special to show her.
So at 11:30, Ginny headed down to the lake, donned in Harry's invisibility cloak, which she had, yet again taken form him with out asking- she just hoped he had no need for it right now- to meet Draco.
He was waiting for her at the water edge. She stood watching him for a while. Occasionally he would pick up a stone, throw it a top speed into the middle of the lake, where the squid would reach a tentacle out of the water and hit it with such force, it flew off into the distance above the Dark Forest.
Ginny smiled. She crept up behind him. She placed her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
It was very tranquil. Neither said a word as they looked out onto the lake as it glistened in the moonlight, every so often, rippling where the squid skimmed the water surface.
After what felt like an eternity, but still not long enough, Draco tuned to face Ginny and smiled. With out saying a word, Draco took Ginny by the hands and led her round the edge of the lake. They walked for about 5 minutes, Ginny not knowing where they were heading.
"Where are we going?" She almost laughed when Draco didn't reply, but carried on walking, dragging her behind.
Eventually, Draco stopped by a small patch of grass under a tree, just to the side of the lake. Ginny looked down, and noticed that there was a blanket layed out, with two candles floating just above it, and two glasses. There was also a small hamper, and a bottle of something was popping out of the top of it.
"Oh....Draco..."
Draco sat down on the blanket, pulling her with him. He then reached for the glasses, handed one to her, and took the bottle out of the hamper.
She then let out a laugh as he held up the bottle to show Ginny. "I'm Sorry, its all I could get at short notice."
Ginny looked puzzled, until she read the label. "Cherryade" She laughed out load.
"Hey its not funny. Oddly enough the Slytherin stack of Alcohol had run low, and I discovered the wonder that is fizzy pop over the summer. They were serving it in a wizard café I went to. Odd huh. Well any way. I fell in love with the stuff and got the name of the man who owned the café and asked him if he could owl it to me while I was at school. I have a stash of it in my dorm, under my bed." He laughed.
Ginny laughed even harder. "You silly twit" She wheezed.
Draco playfully smacked her arm and poured her some of the drink. She took a mouthful and spat it out, with a look of disgust on her face.
"Am I meant to feel like I've just eaten a few Fire crackers?"
Draco just laughed. "It's the fizz. Try it again. You get used to it."
Ginny looked skeptical. However, she took another sip...then another....and another....she found her self getting used to the taste.
"Hmmm....its quite nice." She mused.
"I told you" He smiled as he drank his own.
They drank the entire contents of the bottle, then Draco moved to sit behind Ginny, while wrapping his arms around her waist and lacing his fingers with her own.
Ginny sighed happily as she settled back against the strong chest that was behind her.
"So what is all this in aid for?" Ginny sighed.
Draco buried his face in her hair. He so wanted to share the fact that he was to become a Death Eater with Ginny, but he just didn't know how she would react.
"Oh.....I just.....wanted to see you. Spend time with you."
Ginny smiled. She felt her heart melt. "You're going soft" She laughed.
Draco tensed. "I'm sorry. SOFT! Don't make me laugh."
Ginny laughed harder. "You are. You do this for me. You're going soft."
Draco growled. "Genevra... I am NOT going soft!"
Ginny doubled over holding her chest.
"What is so funny now?" He fumed.
"You.....you...." she wheezed. "You called me Genevra.... You've never called me that."
Draco could only laugh. Not because what he said was funny, just because he couldn't watch Ginny doubled over laughing her socks off and not find it funny.
Ginny soon calmed her breathing down and sat up, facing Draco. The moon light was casting a shadow on the right side of his face, and it make him look like a work of art.
"You know some one should paint you"
"Sorry" Draco said with a laugh.
"I'm mean...." Ginny blushed, thankfully it was dark so Draco wouldn't see. "You...you're so......beautiful"
Draco smiled and reached up a hand to stroke her face. "I'm nothing compared to you"
Ginny nearly cried. She threw herself at Draco and kissed his face all over.
Draco laughed. "Get off me you mad women." Ginny sat back and beamed.
Draco watched her for a while. He couldn't help but think that she was, infact, very beautiful.
His thoughts strayed however to the next day, when he would have to go into hiding.
Ginny noticed Draco face fell. The happy look that was once occupying his features turned to a sad, far away look.
"Draco..." she reached out a hand to touch his face.
"Hmmm?"
"Are you ok?"
"Huh....o yeah.....look Ginny....we need to talk..."
Ginny tensed and she whipped her hand away from his face.
Draco noticed this and grabbed it back. He brought her hand to his mouth and affectionately kissed each finger in turn.
"Ginny I ...... I have to go some where tomorrow...."
"Oh..."
"Yeah..... I mean...... I was meant to go home...but I'm erm...... not any more...."
"O...k. I'm sorry Draco. I don't understand."
Draco took Ginny's hand away from his mouth and placed it on her lap. He then stood up and walked towards the lake. He took off his socks and shoes and let his feet make contact with the cool water.
Ginny was confused. She took off her own shoes and followed.
She gasped at the coldness of the water, but followed Draco in nonetheless.
She walked over to him, the water now coming up to her knees; Fortunately she was wearing a skirt. She wrapped her arms around his waist and waited for him to speak.
"Its just.....that time when my parents came to the school, when my father........well ya' know.....any way..... he asked me to go home over New Years. I said I didn't want to but he's expecting me there tomorrow. Any way. I told Dumbledore and Snape, and they are going to help me hide, so my father can't take me home."
"Hide?" Ginny asked confused.
"Yeah....but Ginny you have to promise me.....you wont tell any one this information. Not even Granger."
Ginny shook her head and kissed his shoulder. "I wont. I swear"
"Thank you"
"Will you tell me why. Why are you hiding?"
"I will tell you. Just not yet"
Ginny nodded. She could cope with that.
Ginny tightened her grip around Draco, as if holding onto him for dear life. They stood that way for a few moments longer, before Draco got a wicked idea. A smirk formed on his face as he unlaced Ginny's fingers and turned around to face her.
Ginny could tell he was up to something from the mischievous glint in his eye. Before she had the chance to run away, he grabbed her around the middle and threw her over his shoulder. He then turned around and ran further into the depths of the lake.
"Draco! Don't you dare!"
Draco just laughed. "What punishment do I get if I do?"
Ginny started to kick her legs, just missing Draco's face by inches. "If you do I'll throttle you in your sleep."
Draco laughed even harder. "Is that a promise." He took another step. The water now just reached his waist.
"Draco I mean it"
"So do I" Draco was still laughing as he took another step to further himself into the lake. However he wasn't prepared for the muddy depths to give way to his weight and both he, and Ginny fell into the water with a 'Splash!'
Draco was the first to resurface and he laughed as he spat water out of his mouth and shook it out of his hair. Ginny swam to the surface a few moments later, spluttering and kicking her feet about, as she couldn't reach the bottom of the lake to stand up.
Draco swam over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist to support her until the spluttering subsided. She wrapped her arms around his neck and glared daggers at him.
"Draco Malfoy you little shit. I told you not to do that! Do you think that THIS is what is known as 'playing it safe'? Wait until I get back to the common room and people see me drenched like this. They're gonna ask questions."
Draco placed a hand over her mouth to stop her ranting. "Ginevra, are you a witch or not. You can just cast a drying spell"
Well now Ginny felt like an idiot, and her blush showed it too.
Draco laughed and took her off guard by kissing her hard. It took her breath away. As the kiss depend, it became more passionate and Draco slipped in the tongue. He lifted her shirt up and let his hands wonder over the bare skin of her back. This time he didn't feel Ginny tense. She just let him carry on. He then removed his hands from her back, down to her skirt, which had already traveled half way up her thigh because she had wrapped her legs around his waist and it had bunched up in the process.
He placed his hands on her thighs and dragged them up painfully slowly. H e made sure that the moment he felt her tense, or he sensed that he was moving to quickly, he stopped. But as it was, she seemed pretty wrapped up in the kiss, and didn't seem to notice what he was doing to her body.
His hands traveled up even further and came to rest on her bum. He kept his hands there, enjoying the sensation of having them there and not being told to take them away.
"You really are filthy Mr Malfoy" Ginny laughed into the kiss. She still hadn't pried her self away from his lips.
"What can I say. I'm a bad boy" Draco laughed back.
"Yes...you are..."
"Are you going to punish me now?" Oh how he hoped.
"Nope....I'm gonna leave you hanging." And with that, Ginny pried her self away from his arms, and swam back to shore.
Draco didn't move. He just stared at her, gob smacked. He soon regained the feeling in his limbs and swan after her. When he reached her, she was just casting a drying spell on herself.
"What was that for?" He asked, agitated. He then noticed a little 'problem' in his pants and adjusted them slightly.
Ginny turned to him. "If I had let you carry on you would have had me right there and then in that filthy lake. I am not going to let my first time be in the middle of a murky lake with some big ugly squid getting a front row view." Ginny sounded serious.
Draco just whined like a 5-year-old. "But Ginny..."
"No buts Draco Malfoy!" Ginny pointed a finger at him. "I am trusting you to make my first time special." She then pointed her wand at him and cast a drying spell.
Draco huffed and adjusted his trousers once again. "Fine." He huffed again.
Ginny smiled as she walked over to him, ignoring the little problem in his nether regions, she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him an Eskimo kiss. "Please Draco. It will happen. Just don't rush me ok. It will be well worth the wait if you are just a little more patient."
Draco sighed in defeat and wrapped his arms round her shoulders. He planted a kiss on her head.
"I know. And I will make it special. Just don't keep me 'hanging' as you put it for too long. I'm needy" He pouted.
Ginny laughed and kissed him. "Well I can see that" She then pulled out of his embrace. "Come on. Lets clear this up and get back to the castle before we are missed."
"Yeah ok" Draco sighed.
10 minutes later found them in the Entrance Hall, saying their good-byes. There were a few 1st years standing near by so they couldn't chance a kiss. Instead, they just smiled at each other, and when Ginny was sure no one was looking, she blew a kiss to him. They then went their separate ways.
(!)
The sun didn't even bothering coming out on New Years Day! It was almost as if the weather could sense that today was going to be a bad day.
Draco was roused out of his slumber early by the sound of Crabbe snoring. He turned onto his side to look at the clock by the side of his bed. It was only 6:27.
Rolling over, he hid his head under the top pillow and shut his eyes tight, trying to block out the sound that was Crabbe snoring. He later heard the sound of Blaise growling, and a pillow being thrown at Crabbe. However this didn't stop his snoring, as he merely rolled on to his side, clearing his throught, which made the sounds of his snores even louder.
Draco gritted his teeth. He could cope with it for all of 5 seconds, before he growled in frustration and got out of bed, dragging his quilt along with him.
He exited to dorm and entered the common room. He sent a spell at the fireplace- he was getting good at wandless magic- which lit it up nicely, and snuggled down on one of the sofas under his quilt, and fell asleep.
It was some hours later, that Pansy Parkinson climbed out of bed, feeling a bit peckish, and, putting on her slippers and grabbing her dressing gown- she was only wearing a extra large Slytherin t-shirt- went down stairs, intent on going to grab some food from the kitchens.
She made her way across the common room, and as she reached the door to step outside, she heard a steady breathing noise coming from one of the sofas!
She tiptoed over to it, not wanting to wake the person sleeping there. She gasped when she saw a mop of blond hair peeping out of the quilt. She instantly knew who it was.
Draco lay with his knees tucked into his body and his back against the arm rest. He had the quilt pulled up over his face and only his blond hair could be seen.
Pansy sat down on the end of the sofa and just watched him. She laughed out loud at the thought of what Draco's sworn enemies would do if they saw how sweet and vulnerable he looked right now.
After a few moments, she felt him stir, and he popped his sleepy head out of the quilt to look at her.
He squinted his eyes, as if he didn't quite recognized her at first, but then he realized who it was, and relaxed into the pillows behind him.
"Morning" she cooed.
"Mmm...hi" was his reply.
"What are you doing down here?" Pansy asked, as she slipped one of her hands under the quilt to tickle his feet.
Draco gave an extremely girlish yelp as he felt her cold fingers on his feet. "Gerroff" he moaned.
Pansy just laughed. "You haven't answered my question, why are you down here?"
Draco tried to kick her hands away but she wouldn't budge. "Fine women. I came down here coz Crabbe was snoring and I could sleep. Now piss off"
Pansy laughed. "What ever. I'm going to get some food. You wanna come?"
Draco pondered this for a second, but at the mention of food his stomach contracted and made an awful rumbling sound.
"I'll take that as a yes then shall I?" She reached out a hand to help him up, which he took, and they left the room together.
They walked in silence. Draco not really keen on talking, and Pansy wanting to talk, just not wanting to say the wrong thing.
They arrived at the kitchens and immediately were bombarded by house elves.
They both stuffed their faces before heading back to the common room. On the way, they happened upon Snape and Dumbledore, wondering the corridors, having a nice little chat about something.
Draco grabbed Pansy and pulled her into a small cove in the wall where they wouldn't be seen.
"Is it all ready Severus?" They heard Dumbledore say.
"Yes Professor. I think everything is up to your standards. And I think Master Malfoy will be well hidden"
Pansy gasped and shot Draco a side ways glance as if to say, 'What are they talking about?'
Draco however, just gritted his teeth, intent upon hearing what they were talking about.
"I will collect Draco as soon as he is awake to take him there" Snape carried on saying.
"Good job Severus." Dumbledore spoke. "I trust the other teachers are aware of this"
"Only those that needed to be told sir. Professor McGonagal and Professor Flitwick helped with the charming of the room, to make sure that it was unreachable to those who didn't know where it is!"
"Good. Well I think all is settled then. I would like to speak to Master Malfoy before he is placed in the room though. Bring him to me as soon as he is awake."
"Yes Sir" And they rounded the corner, and were out of sight.
Draco gritted his teeth, awaiting the outburst from Pansy.
And it came.
"What the hell were they talking about Draco? Where are you being taken? What does Dumbledore want with you?"
Pansy was almost shouting as she said this, and she was now standing in the middle of the corridor where anyone could hear her. With out thought, Draco covered her mouth with his hand and dragged her to an empty classroom.
He sat her down on the table and put a locking and a silencing charm on the door.
Pansy opened her mouth to say something, but Draco intervened.
"Look, Pans... I guess I cant really get out of telling you what is going on. Not after that little interlude."
Pansy looked angry ash she shook her head. "No you bloody well cant. What's going on Dra?"
Draco sighed. "Its just.....I was meant to go home today....well as far as my father is concerned I am, but there have been a few, changes."
Pansy stayed quiet and Draco took this as an indication to continue.
"You see.... I was meant to be going home today to be initiated as a Death Eater" Pansy Gasped. "But the thing is.... I ....don't want to" He paused to look at her, to see her reaction.
She couldn't speak. She was well aware that the war was coming, and she knew that Voldemort would be gaining as many followers as possible, even if it meant taking people out of school to become one, but somewhere in the back of her mind, she believed that the war would all be over before it got to this.
She wanted to cry. The look of worry mixed with sadness in Draco's eyes was too much for her to stomach.
She stood slowly and took him into an embrace.
Draco was shocked at first. He was expecting a fight, or at least a telling off on her behalf. But not this.
When Pansy pulled away, she was crying. She stroked his face with the back of her hand and smiled a teary smile.
"You poor thing. Why didn't you tell me?"
Draco pulled away from her.
"Why do you think. I was expecting you to go mad. I thought you would try and encourage me."
"What! Of course not. Do you actually think I WANT this to happen?" Draco shrugged his shoulders defeated. "Ofcourse its not. Everytime I go home I get my Death Eater father telling me how he can't WAIT for me to join him. I've been wanting to get out of it for years. I can't believe this is happening"
Draco was shocked. "But I thought..... if I had known this was how you felt I WOULD have told you"
"Yeah well.. too late for that. What is all this hiding crap?"
"Huh? Oh, Sev and Dumbledore have come up with this 'room' that is meant to keep me safe. No one can get out, no one can get in, that kinda thing"
"Oh I see. And your father can't find you there?"
"Nope"
"What about after that? Won't he come looking for you?"
"Probably, but I guess Dumbledore will do his best to keep him away"
Pansy sighed and hugged Draco again. "What is the wizarding world coming to ay? And when will that stupid Potter prick do what he's bloody supposed to and play the 'boy-who-refuses-to-die' and get rid of that maniac?"
Draco laughed and hugged her back. "God knows!"
(!)
It was later that morning, when most of Slytherin house were awake, the 7th years were sitting on the sofas by the fire, when Snape entered the room.
He didn't have to say anything at all. He simply nodded at Draco. Draco, sensing his doom, stood up to leave.
He headed towards the entrance to the common room, when someone grabbed him from behind.
He turned to see Pansy. She threw herself at him and hugged him tight. He hugged her back.
Just as she was pulling away, she whispered a 'Good luck' in his ear. He smiled at her, before following Snape out of the door.
Draco and Snape walked in silence for a while, until they got to one of the upper levels and Snape told Draco that Dumbledore wanted to see him first. Draco pretended to act surprised, of course he knew Snape was taking him there first.
Once inside Dumbledores office, Draco sat down, as did Snape, while Dumbledore told them the plans.
"Now Draco, you understand that while you are in this room, no one can reach you. Is there any one you wish to know where you are?" Draco shook his head. "Ok, now Severus and I will take you there and lock you in. We will then come and get you out once we are sure it is safe for you. Is that clear?" Draco nodded. "Good. Then what are we waiting for, lets go!"
Draco followed Dumbledore and Severus out of the office. They then led him down several corridors, up several flights of stairs, then down a passage that he had never seen before. When they had been walking for about 20 minutes, they came to a stop, so abruptly so, that Draco almost walked straight into Snapes back.
"Here we are." Dumbledore sang. He muttered a few words, then the wall before him slid open.
Dumbledore and Snape stood to one side, to allow Draco to pass them into the room.
Draco smiled. He liked what he saw. The room was not huge, but not little either. It was painted a very dark green and had a small black leather sofa in the middle, as well as an open fire on the opposite wall. There were a few bookshelves and what looked like Draco's broom stick lay on the floor by the fire, as well as a broom survicing kit.
"Severus thought that you may get a little bored while you are in here, so he insisted you be allowed your broom so you can polish it up for the up and coming games." Dumbledore beamed.
Snape then stepped forward. "The book shelves are full of books from each of your subjects so you can use this time to get some revision done as well"
'Great!' Draco thought.
"Ok" Dumbledore piped up. "I guess we shall leave you to your self then Draco. There is a toilet over there-"Dumbledore pointed to a door on the opposite wall that Draco hadn't noticed before. "as well as a shower and towels if you wish to use them. Enjoy your self, if you can, and try not to worry, it will all work out for the best." Dumbledore winked at him, before stepping back, and muttering a few more words. The door closed. Draco was on his own now.
