If We Break Up

Draco watched as another girl walked onto the stage. From snatches of conversation he'd heard, this place was theirs. And they called it "Kitty's Loveshack." He didn't know whether to be proud or angry, so he just watched and waited; he couldn't leave before talking to Tiger Lily.

"Okay, listen up!" the girl shouted. The screams died down. "We have an extra special treat for you all tonight. Especially for the gentlemen in the crowd." The young men started catcalling and whistling in anxiousness. She looked backstage, to the side. "Come on out, Tiger. You know you're excited."

Tiger Lily walked out in a long, black trenchcoat and Draco let out a relieved sigh.

"Shut up, Kat. You are too; it's got to be wonderful to be getting a break for once."

Kat laughed and, shaking her head, hopped offstage and headed back for the bar. The lights darkened, even on the stage.

"Hey Tiger! What's with the trenchcoat?"

"Yeah, I've never seen you that covered!"

Suddenly, a spotlight hit Tiger Lily, facing the floor. She looked up with a mischievous glint in her eyes and tried to hold back a smirk, especially as the boys began yelling and whistling again. Draco groaned inwardly as more music began and a shiny silver pole began to rise up from the middle of the stage.

Song lyrics

She dropped the coat to reveal what looked like racy underwear. As Draco squinted up at Tiger Lily, he wondered whether she were really revealing what everyone thought she was. As she kept singing and dancing, he decided he could find out later.

Songlyrics

Draco's mouth was dry. Where did she learn these things?

When the song was over, another began, but everyone finally seemed to snap out of the trance Tiger had put them all in. Draco sat at the bar, still staring at the girl.

Bianca watched Professor Malfoy in amusement as he took a seat nearby.

"Wow," said a third-year boy who had watched Tiger Lily with wide eyes.

"What is it?"

He nodded to the stage where the pole was sinking into the floor. "Where did that pole come from?"

She chuckled. "Really . . . Are you a wizard, or aren't you? It's called magic, honey."

He blushed. "Oh. Right."

She handed him a butterbeer with a smile and he walked away, smiling sheepishly. She was free to observe the victim—er, professor—once more. She'd seen his reaction when Tiger took off her trenchcoat and how he'd absentmindedly sat down at the bar.

"What's your poison, Professor?"

"Er . . . a butterbeer, please?" he said, eyes still following Bianca's cousin.

"Here you go, Professor."

He turned to take the bottle from her and realized who he was talking to (finally). "Oh! Thank you, Miss Weasley. I didn't recognize you. You look . . ." He looked at her clothing, a mid-riff one-shouldered black shirt with a black armband, and low-riding, navy blue pinstripe pants. "So different."

"Thanks, and it's Kat here, not Bianca or anything."

"Right. This is some place you girls have got here. 'Kitty's LoveShack.' How'd you pick that name?"

"Thanks again, and it doesn't take rocket science, Professor. Tiger and Kat. Kittys."

"Oh. Makes perfect sense." He looked back to Tiger Lily, who was making her way through the crowd.

"Wow."

Bianca (Kat) fought down a triumphant smile. "What?"

"She's really something."

"You have no idea . . ." Kat said quietly, then mumbled something Draco couldn't understand.

"What was that?"

"Erm . . . Nothing."

Draco nodded and continued watching Tiger. He lost sight of her, though, and turned back to Bianca.

"Excuse me . . . er . . . Kat. But I'm going to walk around a bit."

"Sure. G'bye," she said, smiling sweetly at him.

Draco walked off toward the center of all of the catcalls and whistling. He pushed his way to the front of the crowd and saw Tiger Lily dancing rather provocatively with Blaise Zabini again.

As they danced, Tiger saw Blaise's eyes widen.

"Tiger . . . There's a professor behind you."

She stopped dancing and looked over her shoulder to see Professor Malfoy. She turned around and rolled her eyes at him. "Pardon me, love. I have some business to attend to."

Blaise smirked knowingly. "Sure, love." She began to walk off, but he pulled her back. "Oh, Tiger."

"Yes, dearest?"

"Make him crawl."

She gave him a smirk that made him thank Merlin that he wasn't Malfoy. "Oh, I will."

She turned again and slowly, seductively, walked over to Draco. She put her arms around his neck and started to dance right up next to him.

"Tiger, I don't know if that's such a good idea."

She was letting her hands roam and he could feel every curve of her body. His mouth went dry.

"Why not, Professor? Don't you like it?"

He could feel her hot breath on his neck and he shut his eyes, groaning inwardly. "That's not important. I came here to talk to you."

"So talk . . . Or would you rather play?" she asked, running her hand down his body.

He let out a stifled gasp. "No! Tiger, I can't!"

"What, you don't want to play?" she asked innocently.

"No. I don't."

She turned and looked at the watching young men and pouted. In a baby voice, she said, "Aw . . . He doesn't want to play."

They all looked at her and pretended sympathy. "Awww . . ."

She turned back to Draco and kissed him lightly, then backed away, trailing her fingers down his body again. She glided away, sending a wink to Blaise, then went backstage to Bianca. Bi was waiting with bated breath.

"So? Did it work?"

Tiger smiled and winked at her. "Like a charm, dear cousin. Like a charm."