Showdown
Tiger Lily smiled as she was gently pushed back over Professor Malfoy's desk. He began to kiss her neck, but just then, a tiny, excited little owl flew in and perched on his head. Her big eyes widened and she forced back a grin.
"What in bloody hell is on my head?"
Before he could swat the owl off, Tiger grabbed it. "Calm down. It's just Pig."
She took the letter from the owl and let him fly off. The professor looked over her shoulder.
"It's from your aunt."
"I know, dearest. I can read."
She set the letter on the desk and turned back to him, but he said, "Shouldn't you read that?"
She glanced over at it. "Not right now . . . I'm busy," she said, grinning mischievously.
"What if it's something important?"
"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes.
Dear Tiger,
We're all absolutely wonderful here. Your uncle's going on about the Chudley Cannons—again.
Tiger Lily noticed him trying to read the parchment over her shoulder and pulled away from him.
"What?"
"You wanted me to read the bloody thing. So let me read it. It's more than likely personal."
He sighed. "Very well."
I'm glad that everything's going well, and that you're finally beginning to take school seriously. Now, on to the important things . . . That professor you sent me a picture of is an old . . . er, friend . . . of mine. Yes, I do agree that he's beautiful. But I already told you that. He was the Head Boy when I was Head Girl.
Tiger glanced up at him with a grin. Good choice, Aunt Mione . . . but he's mine now.
"What?"
She shook her head and returned to her aunt's letter.
Your uncle and father weren't terribly fond of him, though. Neither was I, for that matter . . . But as you can see, he's absolutely gorgeous, so that almost made up for it. You see, he was constantly on about our families. Your mother's and uncle's family are purebloods, but are "muggle-lovers." And your father's family, as well as my own, have some muggles in our lineage. His family was the worst kind of purebloods. They thought themselves above all muggles, muggle-borns, and muggle-lovers.
That's partially what the Malfoys were known for, and Draco, your beloved Professor Malfoy, was extremely good at keeping his family's reputation.
Draco? Tiger thought.
Anyway, dear, don't let that change your opinion of him. He might have changed.
I love you, dear. Tell Bi that I love her too.
Love,
Aunt Hermione
"Hang on," said Tiger Lily, a concerned look spreading across her face. She paused. "Bloody hell."
"What?"
Tiger Lily was blood red and looked absolutely furious. She glared at him fiercely. He gulped.
"I—you—we—argh! . . . I told you about—and you didn't—" She gestured between herself and Draco Malfoy.
"Tiger? What are you on about?"
She raised her hands to her mouth with a look of disgust, her eyes widening. "Oh my God. You're old enough to be my father!"
"Kitty. I—I can explain."
"Explain what! That you've known this whole time? That you lied to me? I told you everything and you never said a word!" She threw her aunt's letter on the floor (for lack of anything better to throw) and ran out of the room. Draco sighed to himself as an odd pain in his chest hit him. She was crying as she fled, with her hands over her face to try and hide it.
A moment after the door had been slammed shut, Draco leaned down to pick up the letter. He looked at it, confused. What could have set that off?
He read it and found out quickly. "Damn! You've really messed things up this time, Malfoy. First Ginny and now Tiger Lily."
He placed the letter in a pocket of his robe and headed toward the Ravenclaw tower. When he got to the seventh year girls' dorm (after fighting with the stairs, which weren't sure if they should let him up or not, as he was a professor), he knocked, but there was no reply. He entered the room and looked around.
"Tiger Lily?" The room seemed abandoned. "Tiger?"
He saw an extremely old piece of parchment on what seemed to be Tiger Lily's bed and walked over to it. The Marauder's Map. Finally the blasted thing would help him out. She was headed toward the Whomping Willow. He sighed again and followed her, taking the map along with him.
When he reached the door to the Shrieking Shack he cringed, but entered anyway. He stopped in his tracks. He'd just stepped into what seemed to be an altered universe; there were students everywhere! Dancing! Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from the stage.
"Hey Hogwarts! How are you tonight?" It seemed everyone in the place screamed. "I said, how are you tonight!" This time they were even louder and Draco grimaced. "Listen up! We've got a little surprise for you tonight!" Catcalls and more screaming answered Tiger Lily and she grinned. She was no longer in the simple jeans-and-blouse outfit she'd been wearing before, but was in an extremely daring outfit he didn't think should be legal. It was a recklessly short skirt paired with what looked like a muggle bikini top. She had on strange armbands and combat boots, and her hair flowed down to her waist. "Okay, here we go . . ."
Extremely loud music began and Tiger started to dance. On stage. Draco forced himself to just watch, even as she began speaking to the music.
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Professor Draco Malfoy raised an eyebrow. It seemed he hadn't begun to really know her yet after all.
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He let out a "Huh."
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As she sang this she pulled Blaise Zabini, Jr. up onto the stage with her and they danced together.
Draco scowled at the move they did with that line and crossed his arms, making himself look for all the world like Tiger Lily's angry bodyguard.
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He let out a strangled sound that almost sounded like an indignant growl.
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Draco's face was as red as Tiger's had been not an hour before.
Song lyrics This time she pulled up Nate Wood and began to dance with both boys. Draco clenched his teeth and gripped his wand tightly. Song lyrics
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She finished the song and kissed each boy on the cheek in turn. They smiled at her and each gave her a hug before hopping offstage. Bianca left the bar to Blaise so she could go talk to Tiger Lily. She grabbed T.L.'s arm and pulled her to a corner of the room.
"Tiger!"
"Kat!" She gave her cousin a hug, grinning.
"Tiger, we have a problem."
"What is it? Did Uncle Fred and Uncle George give a kid some of their jinxed candies again?"
"Worse."
The raven-haired girl's smile faded. "What?"
"There's a professor here."
Her eyes widened and she paled. "Oh, Merlin. It's not McGonagall, is it? Please tell me it's not!"
"No, I think we'll be okay."
"What! How can you say that? Bianca, there is a professor here! A pro-fess-or!"
"It's Professor Malfoy." Tiger's eyes darkened. "What?"
She began to give Bianca a brief explanation of that afternoon and realized, as she reached for it, that she didn't have her Aunt Hermione's letter. "Damn it!"
"What?"
"I threw down the letter before I ran from the room."
"So?"
"So, Professor Malfoy has it . . . Which means . . . Accio Letter!" She caught it and handed it to Bianca. "Here. Enjoy."
The auburn-haired girl read what her mother had written and her eyes widened. "I don't believe it . . ."
"I know!"
"Why is Mum writing to you and not me?"
"What! I swear, Bi, you can be as thick as Uncle Ron sometimes."
"I'm only kidding, Tiger. Gosh, lighten up." Her cousin threw a nasty glare her way. "Now . . . Seriously. How are we going to get him back?"
"I've got the perfect plan."
"Ooh, do tell."
"Well, I'm going to need your help.""With what?"
"I need your outstanding charm abilities . . ."