Disclaimer: I don't own it. JKR does along with a bunch of other folks who have paid good money for the rights to it. I just write this for my own twisted enjoyment.

Letter to No One

By RowanRhys and Dancingkatz

February 1996

I don't want to spend the rest of my life in Azkaban. I really don't. That's the only reason I haven't killed Pansy Parkinson. I know my father thinks she'd be perfect for the future Mrs. Draco Malfoy but I can't stand her. And now she's hurt Cordelia.

Actually, it would be better if I started at the beginning.

On the Saturday morning of the Valentine's Party at the Three Broomsticks I got an Owl from father... the usual complaints that I wasn't doing good enough in my classes, that I hadn't done enough to get the Mudbloods in trouble, that I wasn't living up to his standards... the usual. It didn't improve my mood because Pansy had been pestering me to change my mind and take her to the party. After she flounced off, I noticed Zabini (whose been insisting on sitting across from me at meals, which is more than enough to ruin anyone's appetite) had gotten mail, too. A letter. That was odd because he usually doesn't get anything on Saturdays.

As soon as I finished eating I got up to get ready to go into town but my shadows abandoned their breakfast and followed after me. Nothing happened until we got into the dorm. Zabini locked the door and pulled out his wand along with the letter he'd gotten. He read it to me while Crabbe and Goyle got warmed up by twisting my arms behind my back and bloodying my nose. It seems father decided that I needed another lesson and told Zabini to make sure I got it.

I'm supposed to plant something on Potter, or rather in his belongings. I'm not sure what it is exactly and I don't really care. It's still in my bookbag because I haven't figured out how to do it yet. The only time I'm near Potter is if we're Seekers in a practice match or in Potions class. It's kind of hard to slip something onto somebody flying past you at 75 miles per hour so it had to be potions class or nothing. Unfortunately, Millicent Bulstrode's my partner at the moment so I'm on the far side of the room from Potter. I can't even make the excuse of needing to get something from the supply cabinet to get close because it's on the wrong wall. Zabini gave me until lights out tonight to do it.

After they left, I pulled myself together enough to make myself presentable and headed for the Common Room where Cordelia was supposed to meet me. She wasn't there.

I didn't know why until lunch when Pansy crowed to her covey of admirers that she'd hexed that upstart 4th year who thought she was good enough to take Pansy's place as "Draco's favourite." I was about to do my own hexing when Zabini jabbed me with his elbow.

Potter, the four Weasleys, and Granger had taken seats right behind us. I decided that this was going to be my best chance to plant the thing before Zabini decided to rearrange my physiology again. I lucked out, the twins had one of their stupid inventions with them and when it exploded I got my chance. Potter actually ended up being knocked into me. I got the package into his pocket and shoved him away with one of my trademarked Slytherin insults. Then I left the Great Hall.

Zabini must have decided I'd done what father wanted because he motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to stay put and poured himself another goblet of pumpkin juice. That was fine with me. I didn't want them around.

Since Cordelia hadn't come to lunch, I figured she'd be in her dorm. She wasn't. There's some good things about being a Malfoy. I was able to bully a third year girl into checking her room. That left the hospital wing.

I took the Glamourie spell off just enough that my left wrist actually looked as swollen as it really was from Zabini's ministrations earlier in the day. It would be better to have an excuse if I was going to show up there. And I could blame it on the Weasleys' explosion in the Great Hall.

Madam Hooch grumbled and poked at my wrist with her wand, wrapped it up and gave me a potion to drink. On my way out of the treatment room I saw Cordelia. Madam Hooch hastily pulled a screen in front of the bed and chased me out.

When I got to the Common Room, Pansy, dressed for the party, was queening it in the big chair in front of the fireplace, giving her listeners a blow by blow about finding Cordelia waiting for me and hitting her with five different hexes. She didn't notice me until too late. I hit her with a Medusa curse and came here before I did worse. I hate her but she's not worth going to Azkaban for. And frankly, she looks better with snakes instead of hair.

I'm going to see if I can get in to visit Cordelia on Valentine's Day assuming I can ditch Zabini and company. Maybe I can borrow something from the Potions store room during class on Monday that will make that easier.

And I ought to find a few mice to offer to Pansy in the morning. I'm certain her hair will be hungry.