A/n No spoilers
Thank you very much to Brooke for Beta-ing this chapter. (Is beta-ing a word?)
Do You Know the Muffin Man?
When I woke up, I realised it wasn't even morning yet. I was drenched in sweat, and had obviously been thrashing around in my sleep, because my covers were scrunched up at the end of the bed.
I had been dreaming well, judging by my covers it must have been a nightmare. I tried to remember what the dream was about, but the more I tried to concentrate on it, the more it eluded me.
Deciding that what I needed was something to eat, I got out of my bed and headed downstairs in search of something to eat.
I walked down the long corridor, as quietly as I possibly could I came to a halt in front of one door, Mr. Malfoy's study I realised. There were voices coming from inside, one of these voices I realised belonged to Mr. Malfoy. What was Mr. Malfoy doing up at this time, and with company no less? It wasn't really any of my business, I told myself, but when I heard my name being mentioned my curiosity peeked. I could just walk away but I needed to know what they were talking about.
Moving closer to the door I tried to hear more clearly what he and his visitor were speaking about. I could only catch fragments of what they were saying, "Yes the girl is here……….No, no sign of it yet…….I will find it……"
Another voice cut in, "It's connected to her, Lucius. Keep the girl close and it will turn up."
Mr. Malfoy laughed-it was not a nice laugh, "Is marriage to my son close enough?"
I had heard enough. I moved away from the door and continued on my way to the kitchen.
I reached the kitchen, opened the door and entered.
Thoughts were still swirling around in my head. It was obvious that they were talking about me. I felt my anger rise, as I thought of how they talked about me as if I was little more than an object, a bartering piece.
What were they talking about? Something would turn up if they kept me near? It sounded as though they were talking about the object that Mr. Malfoy was searching for, in San Francisco. At the time I had thought nothing of it, it was quickly pushed from my mind by my other worries, mainly leaving everything I knew behind to stay with the Malfoys.
I helped myself to a muffin, chocolate chip flavour, and a glass of orange juice and sat down at the large table in the centre of the kitchen.
I knew that I was helpless, something I hated to be. I couldn't find out what the artefact was and why Mr. Malfoy wanted it so badly, I couldn't find out who the man he was talking to was and I couldn't escape the Malfoys, because wherever I went, they would find me, not to mention, the only money I had was in the account Mr. Malfoy had gave to me.
I could feel tears forming in the backs of my eyes. I refused to let myself cry, the only thing I could do was to keep my ears open, listen to everything that was being said and try to piece together the information. This would be difficult, as it wasn't long until I started school. Maybe I could ask Draco, but why would he help me? Mr. Malfoy had probably demanded that he not utter one word about whatever the artefact was, especially to me.
"Bit late to be up isn't it?" I was startled by the voice and let go of the glass. It slipped out of my hand and fell to the floor and smashed into tiny little pieces. The sound was magnified by the silence.
"Oh crap!" I exclaimed as I looked down at the glass all around me. Looking up I was relieved to see that it was Draco and not his father.
"Don't move." Draco ordered. "Don't want you cutting your pretty little feet, now do we?"
With a wave of his wand and a few choice words the glass and what remained of the juice disappeared.
"Sorry, I'm such a klutz."
With an elegant shrug of his shoulders, he brushed my apology away. "Don't worry, it's not like we can't afford a new glass."
"I was just hungry." I explained, feeling the need to justify why I was roaming around in his house in the early hours of the morning. I was nervous, what if knew that I had been eavesdropping on his father's conversation? "So I came down here to get something to eat …… a muffin." I added holding out the muffin as though to prove I wasn't lying.
The sides of Draco's mouth twitched a bit as though he was amused by my explanation.
"So I can see. I might have one myself."
"Oh, this is the only one left," Great not only was I roaming around his house and eavesdropping on conversations that I shouldn't have been, now I was eating the last of his muffins. "But we could half it." I offered. Before he could reply I broke it in half and handed one half to him.
He looked at it as though it was some foreign object. "What, no one ever shared a muffin with you?"
Taking it out of my hands, he looked at me with an odd look. "Slytherins don't share. We just take, never give."
"Slytherins." I mused. "That's the house you're in at school right?" I was eager to learn about Hogwarts; after all I would soon be studying there, for a whole year.
The mask of arrogance was once again firmly back on his face. "The noblest house of Hogwarts, and the only house worthy of a Malfoy. It has produced many great wizards over the years, and generations of Malfoys have been sorted into that house."
"Generations?" I asked, through a mouth full of muffin. "So getting into that house is like a tradition for your family. No one has ever been sorted into another house? Like Gryffindor?" I asked remembering what house Harry and his friends were in.
Draco snorted at this. "No Malfoy has ever been sorted into that house and you better hope that you're not sorted into it either. Father will kill you. No, he'll probably take it out on me, assuming that I allowed it to happen."
Mr. Malfoy and Draco seemed to take this house business seriously. It was starting to make me nervous. I hoped that I wouldn't be sorted into Gryffindor, I didn't want to get on the wrong side of Mr. Malfoy and didn't want Draco suffering because of me.
"Do you like being in Slytherin?"
"Of course." He said quickly, as though it were a practised answer.
"Really, because all you've said about it is that it produces noble wizards and that they don't like to share."
"Well, you have to be strong to survive in Slytherin, the weak are weeded out. You only form friendships if you can get something out of it and then still you can't turn your back, in case they try and stab you in the back. I'm the leader among them, I have to control them, bully them into obedience or they'll turn on me."
"That must be hard for you. You must be really lonely," I said softly reaching out my hand and gently placing it over his hand.
He didn't look at me, just continued to stare down at the table. I think that he felt that he had said too much.
"Well now you're here," he answered raising his eyes to look at me.
Now I was the one who felt uncomfortable. Draco seemed so sincere and here I am thinking of the ways to escape him. I felt guilty and then I felt angry. Why should I feel guilty? Sincere or not there was no way I was going to even consider marrying him or even liking him one little bit. I refuse to like him. I didn't want to have this conversation anymore
"I'm tired Draco. Maybe we should go to bed." I said adding a fake yawn, for effect, which if I don't say so myself sounded very realistic.
The smirk returned to Draco's face and his cocky self confidence also returned. He stood up and pulled me up with him, so that his body was pressed against mine. "Well, if you're that eager to jump into bed with me, let's go."
Being in such close contact with him, made me lose my head and my ability to speak, "Ugh," I tried to sound disgusted but it came out more as a husky groan. I pulled away from him, trying to put some distance between us. "I don't think so." I replied.
It didn't seem to perturb him in the least. "Sure, sure, getting cold feet now, are we? Come on, I'll walk you back to your room." He said. He offered me his arm, trying to look gallant, but he looked more like a naughty angel who was about to have his way with someone.
Against my better judgement I took his arm and we began the walk back to my room in silence. As we approached my door, I began to feel nervous. I hoped that he wouldn't try to kiss me, because I might just let him. No, no I would not let him. I have more self control that that. I couldn't let myself begin to like Draco in that way, because there was no way I was going to marry Draco, I was going to escape… somehow.
I went to open the door to my room. I was eager to escape Draco and my growing attraction towards him.
"What, no good night kiss?"
I ignored that comment and the voice in my head telling me to kiss him. I gave him a quick smile and entered my room, closing the door behind me.
A/n Thanks to all my reviewers. AlmyraElvana, jjp91, redberry.
Verity- I agree the chapters are short, as you can see I'm trying to make them longer, but it's difficult. Thanks for, your comments, they are helping and hopefully, I can improve my story.
steffie snape- I'm sorry to hear you're having problems with ure story. Writer's block sucks, but I'm sure you'll get over it. Look at how long ure story is already. Anyway, thanks for reviewing and hope to see u update soon.
Syrus- Thanks for the review, I haven't stopped reviewing ure story, and I just haven't had much spare time to read. As soon as I have time I'll go back and read it.
Cecelle- Thanks for your advice on putting an email address up, that is what I have just done. Thanks also for all those lovely reviews, hope you keep reading.
Has anyone else finished reading the new Hp book? I thought it was great. Is anyone going to include the plot into there fanfic?