Title: Pretenses (1/2)
Author: redcherry11
Beta: sundance201

Final Word Count: 4,434
Challenge responses:

Category A: 5th (Slytherin Christmas)

Category B: cordial, festive, merry

Category C: "Merlin Bless Us, Every One!"

Category D: Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Draco knows he must maintain certain pretenses but what happens when the pretenses waver? Draco invited Harry to a Slytherin Christmas Eve party, a party that might change their lives forever… including Draco's pretenses.
Warnings or spoilers: male/male sexual relationship
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter, but I don't. Nothing involving Harry Potter belongs to me so please don't sue!

Pretenses

By: redcherry11

Pretenses were everything within the Wizarding world. In order to succeed, one must uphold certain pretenses. The Malfoys are one the most powerful families in the wizarding world because of this. Therefore, it's my, Draco Malfoy's, the only Malfoy heir's, sole responsibility to maintain a pretense of indifference and superiority. I must always be composed and elegant, poised and sharp. It is my duty to walk with my head held high, making people believe that I am better than them. It was true after all.

My pretenses have never once faltered. I didn't falter after my father was found out to be a great Voldemort follower and was kissed by a Dementor. Even after the entire wizarding world accused my poor, innocent mother of helping Lucius and Voldemort. These occurrences were easy compared to when, a couple months, at the welcoming feast, Harry bloody Potter walked in. My, my how he'd changed. How was it possible for me to maintain a pretense of hatred when a sex-god in eyeliner is strolling past me?

Of course, that was a couple of months ago, and now as the Holidays were rapidly approaching things were… the same. I haven't been able to effectively taunt the git or his stupid friends. In fact, I don't believe I want to hurt him anymore… He has silently wiped away all of my pretenses.

Harry Potter was aimlessly wondering through the corridors. He'd been doing that lately in order to think. Especially since his two best friends, Ron and Hermione had left him alone for the holidays after Dumbledore insisted that he stay at Hogwarts over the break. Harry didn't really mind actually, he liked to be alone, but sometimes, especially around Christmas time, he wanted someone he could talk to. Harry quickly shrugged these thoughts away as they were quickly depressing him.

Harry glanced at his muggle watch and noticed that it was almost 3am. Harry decided to take the long route back to the Gryffindor common room. It wasn't like he had any reason to get back to his bed. Classes were out and students weren't required to do anything but rest.

When Harry returned to the portrait hole, he noticed a deep green card tucked into the frame of the Fat Lady's portrait. He stuck it into his pocket and walked through the portrait and up into his bed where he immediately fell asleep.

The next morning, when Harry awoke, he was actually in a good mood. He rolled over to retrieve his glasses when he heard the crunching sound of paper. It was then that he remembered the card so he pulled it out and started to read it. It read:

i Potter,

Gryffindor has lousy parties. Come to the Slytherin party on Christmas Eve. The password is "Slytherin's Do It Better."

DM

p.s. party starts at 6 /i

Harry could not believe that Draco Malfoy of all people was inviting him to a Slytherin party! i Of course I'm not going to go, /i thought Harry.

i I can't believe that I actually invited Harry to the party! I really don't know why I did it! What are the other Slytherins going to think? I guess I could always go tell them now and pretend that it was some devious ploy to get the Golden Boy away from his precious tower and into the "evil" dungeons… Wait… /i

With that thought, Draco gracefully ran down to the Slytherin common room and gathered the majority of the Slytherin house. He spoke as though he has complete power, which for the most part, in the Slytherin house, he did. Draco said, "my fellow Slytherins. I wanted to let you all know that I invited Mr. Harry Potter to our little party tonight." A few surprised gasps and hissing noises sounded throughout the room. Draco wavered. i Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. I don't want Potter to get hurt and that's probably what's going to happen. No. He's coming, and I'm not going to let any one of them lay a single misplaced finger on any part of his person. /i "Now listen. As I'm sure you've noticed, he's one of a few Gryffindors still here at the castle and surprisingly, the entire seventh year clan is home for the holidays… except him. He's bound to want to party, and what better opportunity to set a trap for the imbecile?" …Uh oh… "Are we in agreement?" The entire room of Slytherins nodded their heads. "Great. Now, any ideas of what we should do?"

Blaise Zabini immediately shot his hand in the air. When Draco gave him a nod he spoke in deep tones, "I have a box of Cordial Cherries. We could poison them." Right then, all of the blood drained out of Draco's face.

A bit breathlessly, Draco countered Blaise's idea by saying, "tsk tsk, my dear Blaise. We do not wish to kill him. But perhaps we could… charm them. We all know the git hides things from the world. We could place a Truthful Charm on the cherries and then gather around and play a nice, festive game of Truth or Dare."

"Well if we're going to play Truth or Dare, we might as well also charm the cherries with something that would force Harry to submit to any and all of our dares," Pansy interjected. A few random agreements sounded around her.

Draco had no choice but to agree. "Alright, it's settled. Blaise, may I have the box of cherries please. I'll be the one setting the charms as no one else is as capable as I." The Slytherins were used to his arrogance so no one said anything. "But let's get one thing clear. We do not wish to harm him in any way because that would result in suspension and probably even expulsion. None of our parents would be too happy with us, even if it was to get rid of the useless boy."

TBC

I have the rest written, it's completely done, but I won't post until I get a sufficient amount of reviews… it's greedy and rude, but an author must do what an author must do! I love you guys soo soo much so please, just review!