"You," said Lucius in what I hope was surprise and not disdain.
"Me," I answered saying the first thing that came to my mind.
"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be somewhere?"
"Well, I, I was just going to find Draco. I'm sorry if I've..."
"Save it," retorted Lucius, cutting me off, "Get out of my way."
I remember watching him storm away and the decision I made to follow him. Well, actually, there wasn't much deciding involved. I just followed him. I don't know why, but I still went about it carefully down a corridor and stood in the shadows as he went into a room, locking the door behind him. My better judgment told me not to crouch in front of the door to listen, so I passed the room once to survey the area.
"Yes, that'll work," I thought when I looked into the room to the left of Lucius. The room looked like some sort of guest room, with a large bed, mahogany dresser with a mirror on the wall above it, and a nightstand next to the bed. It looked as if it hadn't been used in ages even though the house elves dusted it daily. That did not matter to me though, I had chosen the room for different reasons. You see, the room had a large walk-in closet that connected to the room Lucius was in, which made it perfect for eavesdropping without being seen. So, I entered the closet, locked it with a charm, and found a comfortable spot that allowed me to see Lucius through the blinds of the closet door. I remember how nervous and jumpy I was then. What if I was caught? I dismissed the thought and to ease my mind, I analyzed the room. It was just like the room I had entered in except that it had a fireplacewith a roaring fire going in it. When I realized Lucius was standing in front of the fire, my breath caught in my throat. He was bathed in the fire's red light and had a look of dark maliciousness as the ever changing shadows danced over his tall body. I don't know whether it was the shadows or the excitement but there was something about the way his silver hair glowed orange and the way that he stood tall and proud and frightening in his anger that made me tremble slightly and become entranced. Lucius and Draco were so alike and so different in so many ways. It was as if I were having an epiphany. I was beginning to admire him as Draco did, yet I hadn't even known Lucius for a day yet. I wondered vaguely to myself about where all this was coming from and what it all really was, but I could hardly care at that moment. It wasn't until a face appeared in the flames that I had realized that I was still holding my breath. I instinctively sprang backwards into a pile of rags and my breath came out in a gasp. The shock soon dissolved into curiosity as I regained normal breathing and eased closer to the door of the closet.
"Hmm...Lucius. I trust you received my urgent owl?" said the floating head.
I gazed at the head. It was pure white, its nostrils were slits like that of a snake's and its eyes were blood red with blacklines for pupils.
"Yes, I received it and that's why I was expecting you, Lord Voldemort," came Lucius' response.
My hand flew over my mouth to muffle another gasp.
"That's Voldemort! He sure doesn't look like much," I remember thinking in amusement, "He's supposed to be tall, powerful, and intimidating. There has to be more to him...No. There is more to him."
"Then you must already realize what it is I would like to talk to you about," said Voldemort.
"Actually, my Lord, the owl I received only stated when and how you wanted to speak to me. The reason why is unknown to me," lied Lucius easily.
The eyes on Voldemort's face narrowed but he still spoke with an even voice, "I sent her out to the ministry yesterday, Lucius."
"Yes, my lord. Do continue."
"If you would let me. She made it to the door, but guess what she came upon, Lucius?"
"I do not know, my Lord."
"Arthur Weasley, Lucius. She came upon someone from the Order. You said no one would be around Lucius. It was your job to make sure we had no interference. I trusted you, Lucius. I decided to give you a chance, but no, your information was useless. She had to take care of Weasley."
"Then surely, my lord, there was no harm."
"No, there was no harm...accept for the fact that Potter saw through his dream and informed Dumbledore before Weasley could die! You messed up, Lucius."
"My lord, it was a miscalculation. I assumed that the distraction caused would be enough to occupy the entire Order. I did not realize they'd leave the idiot Weasley to guard it."
"You do realize that you will have to pay for your 'miscalculation,' don't you, Lucius? Being on first name basis with me does not make you exempt from my WRATH!"
With a last look of hatred and a roar of the flames, Voldemort's head vanished. Lucius stayed where he was, head hanging, silver hair falling over his shoulders. Suddenly he lifted his head and smoothed out his robes as if to pull himself together and then left the room. I stayed rooted in my position, trying to understand the situation and wait for the coast to be clear. After a few moments, I stood up and left my hiding place. What could have been so important that Voldemort wanted? Who is "she"? What is the Order? And wait, isn't Arthur the name of Ron's father? Geez, is Ron alright? I remember how those questions were just burning in my head as I made my way back to Draco.
"Where the bloody hell were you," asked Draco impatiently, although I figured he was just worried, "What did mum say to you?"
He had taken me out of my thoughts but I smiled and sat down next to him on his bed, deciding that I'd think about my questions later. I ignored his original question and looked around his room. It wasn't exactly welcoming, with its dark blue walls and matching closed curtains and carpet. He had a mahogany dresser on the right of the door and a full length mirror next to that which looked as if it had been in his family for ages. The head of his dark blue curtained bed was against the wall to the right of his door. Across from the bed was a desk. The windows were on the remaining wall, but there were portraits on each wall. One was a portrait of his father. Another was of his mother and himself. I couldn't see the others (but I knew they could see me, of course) as the only light in the room, a candle on his desk and one candle burning at each of the four corners of the ceiling, gave off a dim glow, obscuring the pictures.
"What did she say?" asked Draco coldly, obviously upset that I was ignoring him.
"Nothing you need to worry about. Just that you've said good things about me and that she would like to get to know me. That's it," I answered simply.
"Then what took you so long? Did you get "
"Lost? No, I didn't get lost. I just took a detour."
"Well, I hope you're happy with your detour because now we're going to be late for dinner."
"Dinner doesn't start until 6."
"You have to change. You can't wear that to dinner," retorted Draco while pointing at my outfit, the same thing I wore to lunch.
I rolled my eyes but consented to changing. Draco left the room and I put on chocolate colored, wide leg, lace-up corduroy pants with a pleated white tuxedo blouse. Dinner was an uneventful affair; a house elf was yelled at, Narcissa attempted small talk with me, Lucius didn't, Draco boasted about how well he was doing in Defense Against the Dark Arts class and that Umbridge was taking a liking to him, and Lucius spoke of how he'd need to speak to the Minister of Magic soon. So, it's just as I said. Dinner was uneventful. It wasn't until after dinner that anything of interest happened. Draco andI were about to go to the drawing room when Lucius told me to meet him in the library. Draco led me to the room, although he didn't need to, and left me there. I sat down in the exact same spot I sat in to speak to Narcissa and waited. I knew what was going to happen, so I didn't try to think of an excuse. It would have been useless. He obviously knew I had been watching him in the guest room and there was no way I could deny that. Lucius strode into the library a few seconds later, his dark green robes flowing behind him. He sat down behind the desk and looked at me with his usual coldness.
"I'd like you to perform for me a few charms," said Lucius.
"What?" I asked in shock.
"I said that I'd like you to perform a few charms for me. Is that so hard?"
"Oh, no, no, no. Of course it's not."
"Good. First I'd like to see you perform a Summoning charm."
I did my Summoning charm flawlessly on a chair and then on several books.. I did the rest of the charms he asked me to do with ease, so I couldn't help but beam a little as I was leaving.
"You did good today," said Lucius as he walked in front of me, blocking my way to the door.
"Oh thanks," I said nervously, "I've been doing those charms since I was... "
"You couldn't possibly think I was referring to that display of mediocre magic, could you? A mudblood could do that stuff. Now sit."
He pointed his wand at my chair and I went to sit down. I had this horrible sinking feeling in my stomach as I knew what was finally coming. Lucius walked slowly toward me with a look in his eyes that I could not read.
"I know that you were spying on me during my talk with Lord Voldemort," said Lucius.
"You saw me?" I asked
"No. Actually, I did not see you. A house elf had come into the guest room to dust it and found the closet locked. It grew suspicious and waited in the shadows until you left."
"Well, what does this mean, sir? What's going to happen to me?"
"Nothing will happen to you. I was impressed that you were able to spy on me as you did. Of course, my mind was preoccupied at the time so it is not a tremendous feat. Even so, I am impressed...somewhat."
"Thank you."
"I wouldn't be so jolly if I were you, though. You are never allowed to spy on myself or Mistress Malfoy, do you understand? Spying on either one of us will make you a very unhappy child. Now get out of my sight and refrain from discussing this with my son," said Lucius icily.
I opened my mouth to ask him the questions I had about his conversation with Voldemort, but he must have known what was coming.
He said, "That also means that the topic of my talk with the Dark Lord is not open to discussion with me either. Now, leave."
I gave Lucius a small bow and left the room. I remember wishing that he would have explained himself as I made my way to the drawing room. When I got there, I found Draco reading in one of chairs. I sat in the chair across from him and stared at the wall. It was a lush green color.
"Oh, you're here now," said Draco in stifled surprise.
I gave him a smile and he put his book down.
"Well, go on then, what happened," Draco asked with mild interest.
"You're not fooling anyone, Malfoy," I said seriously.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Draco, going back to his book.
"You've been asking 'What hapened? What happened?' since before dinner so you can't pretend now that you don't care. Ugh, anyways, about your father...He gave me a test tonight, on charms. I had to do five of them. I do believe I passed."
"Good, hopefully the next few tests will be just as easy for you," said Draco while putting his book down again.
"Cheers," I said while holding up an imaginary glass of wine.
Draco smiled genuinely, nodded, and said, "Cheers, mate."
"We have to do something."
"Yeah. Whatever you want to do. It's 10pm and I have nothing else better to do with my time."
"Truth or dare?" I asked curiously.
"Truth or what? Isn't that a muggle game," asked Draco with an appalled look on his face.
"Yeah, it is. Now truth or dare? Oh boy. You did say that you'll do whatever I wanted to do. Now, seriously, truth or dare?"
Draco rolled his eyes and bit back a comment, "Truth."
"Ahh, ya sissy!...Is your father always such a prat?"
"Yes," grinned Draco, "yes he is. Truth or dare?"
"Truth, ma lurvely."
"Now who's the sissy?...Have you ever had a naughty dream about Goyle?"
It took me everything not to bust out into a hysterical fit of laughter then. I mean honestly, Goyle? That's like having a naughty dream about a troll...but wait, trolls smell better, don't they...Huh? What? Yeah, I'll get back on the topic, but you know you want to agree with me.
"Hell no," I said, "Besides, Crabbe is the sexy one, anyway. I mean, seriously, me-ow. Who wouldn't want a piece of that? He's way too sexy for his shirt. Too sexy for his boxers. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about."
Draco tossed me a disgusted look at me and rolled his eyes.
"Alright now, truth or dare," I asked to keep the ball rolling.
"Truth," he answered back.
"Why are you so open with me? I mean, why can I read you so easily? Why do I know when you're really mad and when you're faking it? Why can I tell when you're happy and you try to hide it? Why don't you hide it?"
"That's more than one question."
I gave Draco a look that said I wasn't playing. Draco looked at me for a moment and I knew he was thinking about how he'd answer my questions. I wondered if he'd lie to me or try a "self-preservation" thing that wouldn't even be necessary.
"I guess," started Draco," it's because I feel like I can. I'm comfortable around you. I feel like I have nothing to prove to you. You bring me off my high horse all the time but don't rub it in my face. You don't treat me like some rich prat; you treat me like a person...I never told you this, but I am sorry that I hit you. I was being an idiot that day and I can't believe I resorted to muggle violence. I'm sorry."
I nodded in acknowledgement, "I forgive you."
"Now, truth or dare," Draco continued, but less playfully than before.
"Dare."
"I dare you to let me kiss you," said Draco while trying to look sweet and innocent.
I couldn't help but grin; he looked adorable, really. I leaned in slowly, but just as he came in to kiss me, I put my finger up to his lips, stopping him.
"Not now, love. Not yet," I whispered to him.
I pulled my finger away and got up. The whole time he had been speaking to me, I had been remembering what I had once overheard him say, "Voldemort will love her...this of course will put my family back on a pedestal...and my father will be prouder than ever".
I sighed, "Good night, Draco."
"Good night, Enticima," replied Draco, his hurt expression not quite hidden.
I left then and went to my room...Do you know what's odd though? That night I had a naughty dream about Goyle.
A/N: I really like the last bit with the Truth or Dare. I wasn't gonna have it in here orginally, but I thought it was too cute to cut out. Anyways, review and tell me what you think. I think I'm movin Draco a bit too fast emotionally here, as in I think I opened him up a little too soon, but we'll see what happens in regard to that...REVIEW!
