Disclaimer: I don't own anything, though I wish I did. The Characters, Location, and everything belong to JK Rowling.

Author's Note: This is not compliant with HBP. I love the book, but it makes a pre-started story hard to continue.

The Trouble With Draco Malfoy

Chapter Nine: You Gotta Roll With the Punches

I woke up this morning and felt fully relieved that I didn't cry in front of Draco. He would have killed me for if I had. I decided that no matter how much I thought that Markus Colby was cute, I couldn't go for him, or even do the revenge thing. I decided that Draco would be extra mad if I tried his patience to much, and I could tell that I had been trying it. I would not, however, give up on the letter-writing ordeal. There would have to be away around that and I would figure it out. I will just write the letter to my parents at lunch, make Becca recopy it and send it this evening.

God, if Draco finds out, he will kill me. What do I have to do today anyway? Oh, shit, first day of classes. I have to go before I miss breakfast. I quickly got up and got dressed in my Hogwarts robes (could they get anymore ugly and tacky). I swiftly decided that the robes needed some style, and green. I choice to use a green saddle bag, and swiftly threw in all of my books. I figured that since I didn't know my schedule yet, it was better safe then sorry. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and tied it with a green hair tie. I also wore a necklace with a silver dragon with green eyes on it that Narcissa got me for my birthday when I was nine years old.

I looked Slytherin, I thought as I looked into the mirror. Well, okay, if my hair was blonde instead of brown, maybe I would be even more Slytherin like, but there is nothing that I can do about that (I don't like bleach). I walked into the common room that I share with Draco and noticed that the blond boy was waiting for me.

Draco smiled when he saw me and did something that I didn't expect; he complimented me in a nonsarcastic voice. "Mollie Starre, you look very nice very Slytherin. I am pleased with this effort on your part. Though, judging by the size of your bookbag, you don't know the schedule. Here I have it."

Draco then went through my bag and took out the books that I wouldn't need until this afternoon. I was amazed at the transformation. At that moment, my decision became final, I would not do anything that would make Draco cross with me, yesterday was just a bad day. "Draco, you seem to be chipper this morning. You haven't been with another girl have you? You wouldn't do that to me." I teased him with a smile on my face.

"Oh yes, I was with Pansy Parkinson. Of course I wasn't with someone else, you silly goose. I would only do that if I thought that you were cheating on me, and since I have no reason to worry about that, I am not with another girl. I will tell you the reason I am in a good mood," he said while taking my hand and leading me to the great hall, "I saw Pansy off. She dropped out of school. Oh, and about yesterday, you will still serve both of your punishments, but I am not angry about that. You just saw your parents for the last time; it is understandable, though it had better not happen again. Come though, we had better hurry and eat so we can get to History of Magic."

"Oh god, I hear that is the most boring class. Maybe I can get some sleep in that class. Pansy, gone, her parents must have freaked when they heard their daughter got into Hufflepuff. I guess it is a good thing you weren't engaged to her." I said smiling, and then I realized that I was in public and wiped the smile off my face into a neutral bored look.

"I am happy, and Pansy isn't half as pretty as you. Now eat your breakfast so that we can leave. Oh and here is your mail, it came earlier." Draco said with a small, almost invisible smile.

"You came here earlier? Oh, thank you." I suddenly spotted Mandi and Becca, forgetting to take the mail from Draco. "Hi. How are you all? You will never guess who the most enthusiastic wizard of the day is?"

"Markus Colby?" Becca said, trying to hint at the plan to me.

"No, Draco. He actually complimented me today." I replied.

"Oh, I should have complimented someone as pretty as you a hundred times. Yesterday was an off day when it comes to our relationship, wasn't it, love?" Draco cut into the conversation.

"Oh, yes. Bad day. Lots of thing said that weren't meant. Lots of plans made that weren't meant to be." I replied, looking directly at Becca.

"What plans were made that we are not keeping?" Draco wanted to know.

I didn't know what to say. Mandi spoke up, coming up with a good believable plan with a straight face that only a Slytherin actor could come up with. "Oh, we were planning on going to the library today during lunch and finding a few curses to try on the Gryffindor, hoping that we would have potions with them after lunch. Of course, it would have to be double potion because a single period wouldn't be long enough. Snape would have defended us on anything against the Gryffindors."

"Yeah, but why can't you come, Mollie. It would be great fun, and we do have double potion after lunch today." Becca asked.

"I have other plans with Draco." I replied, looking down at my plate. "Come on, Draco, lets go to class. Can you two, ummm, not follow; I wish to speak in private with Draco."

"Yeah, sure. If that is what you want Mollie. See you in class." Mandi said.

"Later, Mollie. When we have more time, we will look for curses. We have seven years after all." Becca said, attempting humor.

"Bye." I said. When Draco and I had walked away and up the first staircase, I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. "Draco, I was wondering if Becca and Mandi might be permitted to come into our living room."

"Yeah, sure, whatever you want, as long as it isn't before next week. Oh, and here are your letters. One from mother, one from father, and one from you parents." Draco said. The first part of his sentence was said in a voice that said that if I wanted him to remain in a good mood, I had better not push it.

"Oh, thank you for the letters. I will reply to your parents in History of Magic. And thank you for permitting them to come into our living room. I was speaking of next week anyway." I said. White lies like this won't kill you, Mollie.

We got to the classroom and sat down in a seat in the back of the room, as far away as possible from Binns, the ghost professor.