8. More scheming is done

I finally managed to finish my novel. There were maybe ten chapters left when all the events just tumbled down on my head and I didn't find a minute to read anything but school related texts. Annoying.

Catherine does escape that dreadful place, but not in a way I had suspected. Instead, she turns to the least expected person and realises she's in love with him; it even seems as though she was formerly being mean to him because she was too sure of his love/ attraction for her and also wanted to get his attention. I hadn't expected that!

ooOoo

Ravenclaw slut caught by Filch wandering around after curfew; somebody must have tipped him off. Has to clean Owlery, no wand allowed. Harry complained to Ron and Hermione that he can't find 'something' and they were all secretive… like I haven't known about Heavy Poofhead's Invisibility Cloak and Marauders Map for ages. Both come in handy at times.

Plan: E
Mission: getting rid of love-sick twits
By means of: making DM proclaim his incessant love and our mutual attachment

Wait, did I just say mutual? No, I didn't. I wrote it.

What I mean is, of course, that I will make him say 'mutual' but he will know that I don't mean it. That my feelings towards him haven't changed in the least. So I'll just talk to him and ask him to help me.

ooOoo

I haven't spotted Malfoy in days. He seems to have vanished into thin air, and whoever I ask just smirks conspiratorial, winks at me but shrugs their shoulders. I think all my friends have gone insane.

I asked Ruber to find him for me, but he came back telling me that his master had ordered him to not tell me anything about him or his whereabouts, and since I'm not his real mistress and can't order him otherwise, I have to admit that Malfoy made a really good move there. He is very sly, oh yes, he is.

ooOoo

But so am I. I found him in the Room of Requirement; he had left the door wide open so I had no problem finding 'his' room, where he is obviously working on something. I have to find out what exactly, though – he flicked his wand as I entered and all was gone.

I didn't even remember he is so tall; I barely reach up to the middle of his upper arm. First I asked him why he'd been so upset the other day when he knocked me over, and he smiled sadly and said that he'd found out I was having a date. That made me feel guilty, I don't know why. It's just that I don't exactly want to hurt him; I just want to get him off of my ba- no wait! I decided to go out with Randy because I wanted him back, not off of my back. So yeah; I guess I succeeded in making him jealous. Kind of. But he still didn't ask me to ditch Randy and let him be my Tail again. Aarrrgh!

So then I questioned him about the Ravenclaw girl that had been ogling him. He gave me one of his 'looks' that I can't put into a drawer labelled 'puppy-dog-eyes' or 'sad' or 'jealous', but which always cause my stomach to plump a few inches towards my abdomen and my chest to feel all tight, as if I was about to suffocate. He didn't say anything, though, just 'looking' at me until I felt very uncomfortable.

Whatever; I did it, I asked him for help. I was quite nice to him, too, offering my silence on the fact that he almost wet himself the first time we went on a Muggle rollercoaster together. He said he didn't care if I told every single person in the Wizarding World and that the only way I could make him help me is by getting married to him instantly. No way!

Plan E: Failed.

I'm running out of ideas; it's one and a half more weeks to go!

ooOoo

Plan: F
Mission: regaining Shadow
By means of: just letting go

I decided I'll wait until Hogsmeade, and then see what happens. In the meantime I dropped two buckets full of water on Malfoy's head to relieve tension; the second one when he'd just dried and re-done his hair after the first, so he got mad enough and tickled me insane. That was fun! Plan F: Partly successful.

ooOoo

That annoying brat from Ravenclaw is still looking at him every chance she gets! Hasn't she learned her lesson yet? Will think about something to keep her in check.

ooOoo

Told Dean she has been staring at him and that I overheard a conversation between some of her friends in the bathroom, where they were wondering if ever he would turn his attention away from me and to her. And that she was really upset about the mean prank some awful person had played on him, but that she still thought he looked rather handsome with the mask.

I think it worked; Dean has recently developed an unaccountable interest in the goings on at the Ravenclaw table, and stopped eyeballing me. I even heard rumours he has asked her out this Saturday. I'm just that good.

ooOoo

It is now official: Hermione is going to be my sister-in-law! While it was always clear to any of us that had eyes attached to their heads, Ron was rather anxious and feared she'd turn him down. Men!

I'm very happy. Even though sometimes Hermione is a bit unnerving, and she has no bloody notion of Quidditch, I do like her a lot, and I think her and Ron will be very happy together. She asked me to be her bridesmaid, of course, and I'll gladly be! More readily, in fact, than for Fleur and her pompous wedding!

Ron proposed Friday night at dinnertime in front of the whole school, and everyone burst into applause and congratulated them. I have never seen his ears as red. Malfoy reached the two of them just as I was hugging Hermione; he looked as though he was ready to vomit all over my brother when he embraced him to wish them all the happiness in the world. Why was he so green in the face? It's not like this is an occasion to feel sick or be sad. Malfoys!

ooOoo

Hogsmeade weekend: Plan B put to action.

Randy Plouster picked me up from the Gryffindor table with a bouquet of red roses. (I can't stand them anymore… what is it with guys and red roses? So unimaginative! DM would have brought my favourite flavour of ice cream, or a butter beer that tickled in my tummy or an ancient book on Quidditch.) We went into the village holding hands, and since I didn't have any gloves my right hand turned blue in the cold weather. He didn't rub it between his hands or just tuck both our hands into his warm robes like DM did one day when mum had sent us to Ottery St. Catchpole to get pickled onions. Anyway, I'm drifting off again. It hasn't happened in a while, Doctor says it means my feelings have stabilised.

He took me to the love café right away, no glances right or left, no pointing out new things in the shops' windows, no ogling me with smiling grey eyes. His eyes are blue so he couldn't do that one way or the other, I therefore forgive him. I don't forgive him for trying to snog me the minute my bum touched the plush sofa. He didn't ask me what I wanted to drink, he didn't recommend anything, he didn't chat up the waitress nicely so she would give us extra chocolate on the side… there's just so many things he didn't do!

Oh well, I survived the day rather gloomily. On the table next to ours Dean and the R-slut were having a downright snog-fest. I knew she wasn't really interested in my Malfoy, just wanted somebody nice, good-looking and popular to show off with. So I'm very glad that I saw right through her innocent façade and stopped her from breaking his soft heart!

Randy seemed to think he had to show me he was as agile with his tongue as those two, and I had to continuously shove him away from my face, neck and décolleté, until he told me we could go to the Shrieking Shack to enjoy the landscape. Not like I like December or the landscape, but how would he know that? He never asked me what I liked or not. Still, I thought it's a good idea for I had seen DM pass us heading that direction. But he was nowhere near the 'haunted' house and Randy just tried to kiss me again. I pushed him away from me and got so angry, I told him to leave me alone lest he wanted to duel six angry red-heads, and I stormed off to my brothers' shop. As I entered, George was busy with some customers so I went to the back to say hello to Fred and ask him if they could use any help today. I caught him making out with Harry. Yuck! I backed out and merely bought some Canary Creams, while George winked at me mischievously. He must have known what they were doing back there...

I went back to the castle. A strong wind had started to blow and I had to fight my way home. My ears felt like falling off, I had tucked my hands under my armpits to keep them warm (which didn't work, by the way) and my hair was getting all messy. Bugger!

I was breathless, freezing cold and angry for not having put on my winter cloak in the morning so I started shouting out insults to the wind. It wasn't bothered at all, but I heard a cackle behind me. It was Malfoy. He had caught up with me and smirked while he strode along my side with those long legs of his. I glared at him menacingly, daring him to say anything; then I concentrated on not being swept over by the wind. Suddenly, I felt him wrap his arms around my shoulders, which felt really nice. He had given me his snugly cloak, rubbing my arms and smiling down at me. My stomach churned again, like it always does when he does something I don't like, and because of the scent of his outer wear my head started spinning again, giving me the usual feeling of empty-headedness. He then asked me if I had had an enjoyable time with my date; that caused me to grunt in distress and his whole face lit up. Even the wind didn't seem to be so forceful anymore. As we entered Hogwarts, he offered to help me get rid of all my admirers, under one condition: he wanted one kiss by the end of every day. He said it didn't have to be a snog if I didn't want to, just a kiss on his full lips. I can live with that, so I agreed. Next thing I know it was dinnertime, we were in the great hall and he hugged me and kissed me in front of everybody. Then he announced we had 'gotten back together' after a tiny disagreement and sat with me at the Gryffindor table.

It's back to Mr. Shadow Man I suppose… Plan B: Successful. I think.

ooOoo

A/N: Hello there, how y'all doing?
Did you like the newest chapter?
Is it too long/ boring/ exhausting?
Is it good?
Let me know via review, I'm in for constructive criticism, praise and even flames, because they're fun to read.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all my reviewers so far (it's 32 reviews I have received so far, and I AM SO HAPPY!): Girl Without a Life, coolmarauders, stevania-felton, Lil' Trindle, Maegboriel, LoVe Is OnLy a WoRd, Cinnamon Spice, Forbidden, Sailor Moony, justahpfan, Linette, Leah222, brown-sugar3, Claire, emmy, Slytherin Queen (cool name!), KatieMalfoy19 and kt.
YOU GUYS ROCK!
I LOVE YOU!

And thanks to Al Quincy, Momentyne and Qserenity2000. I was so proud when you, too,added my story to your favourites, so yeah: thank you a lot! (grins)

And some more thanks to KatieMalfoy19 and Momentyne for putting it on your chapter alerts list!

Hehe, I'm floating towards the sunset in an upheaval of emotions.
(men with white jackets come)
(floats away so they can't catch her)

One question I'd like to answer:
Claire - Draco did know it was Ginny who tackled him. He just chose to make the most of it and startle her, while not giving in to her attempts of renewing their silly 'war'.
:-)