- Secrets of the Forbidden Broomcloset -
Authoress Ramble: Ahh god I've been gone forever. Sorry, darlings .. but I've been busy, at least, I have that excuse. Between school and work, it's very difficult to find time to write, and sometimes, even the motivation. Not to mention the fact that I spent two weeks away with my boyfriend for Christmas, and he loathes this pair ... heh, heh. Well, this chapter is a little short and simple, but I'll pump out more soon, certainly at a faster pace than this one. I hope you had happy holidays!
Warnings: This story has been rated for repeated use of language and sexual content (none now). Also, it is slash, though I don't feel that should influence the rating ... read as your morals and inhibitions permit.
Disclaimer: Obviously Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger et cetera, et cetera, all belong to J.K. Rowling, the rich genius authoress of the entire Harry Potter series, and also her publishers, et cetera, et cetera, though all original plot lines independent of her novels and her characters belong to me as they were derived from my own twisted mind, et cetera, et cetera, so please do not sue me as I am but a poor, lonely, slash-loving girl authoress, et cetera, et cetera.
Semi-Important Note If You're Confused: Today is Wednesday morning in the story.
This chapter is dedicated to HP-DM fanart drawers everywhere!
An image is worth a thousand chapters!
Draco Malfoy sat unpleasantly at the breakfast table, chewing eggs that tasted like salted rubber. Recent events had ruined the menial joy of even food, it seemed, and it was only to keep up appearances that he ate his customary mouthful of various dishes. He would not starve himself for misery caused by Potter.
He kept his eyes carefully adverted from the direction of across-the-room, flicking them between his friends and occasionally down at his plate as Pansy rattled on, twirling her fork in the air as though conducting an orchestra.
And then she had the nerve to accuse me of sleeping with him, she said offhandedly, and catching his eye, pausing to smile before continuing. So I told her, don't you fret about it, darling, that was years ago! What a paranoid twit ..
Draco sighed, stabbing a sausage with unnecessary force. How long would this insanity go on? He couldn't dwell on it forever, he would eventually need to move on. He wondered how much skill one had to gain in order to erase memories from one's own mind with precision.
That's, umm, unfortunate Pansy, Blaise said over the blonde's shoulder, chewing his slice of bacon slowly, appearing to think very carefully before replying. She does sound ... foolish. Very unlike a Ravenclaw ..Ohh, I love a Ravenclaw, she smirked devilishly, nudging her fork into her hair and spinning it. They have excellent creative thinking skills, especially on the spot, you know. And they always remember their favors ..Can we talk about something other than shagging, please? Draco snapped, scowling warningly at her before beginning to obsessively cut his sausage into tiny, obscure pieces. Goddamn meaningless conversations ..Oh, right, Ravenclaws, yeah, Blaise stuttered. So, Draco, did you, uhm. Catch the Quidditch World Cup this past summer?
Draco turned his head slowly toward him, eyes narrowed with irritation, the violet shadows beneath them obvious.
Of course I did, he spat. My father receives tickets every year!Oh, right, of course you did, Blaise said quickly, his grin sheepish. I, ahh, missed it myself. Could you relate a play to me? In... in detail? Draco frowned, aghast. You want to hear about it now? In the middle of November? You didn't say a bloody word about it before!Oh, don't mind me, off to the little witches' room, Pansy chirped. She slipped from her seat, quirking her eyebrows knowingly at Blaise. He held her eyes for a long moment, his stomach sinking at the prospect of the task ahead of him, before turning back to his blonde friend.
Draco was not one to be easily fooled, but perhaps, just this once, he could be in the least distracted.
Well, it just, ahh, popped into my head, he said, his cheeks reddening with the effort of trying to be effectively casual. His charge's silver head had dipped back down toward his plate, his matching eyes bitter and sullen.
Draco snorted, plunging a fork into eggs he had no intention of ingesting. I don't really recall. Ireland won by a landslide, and then the fans of both teams got wasted on firewhiskey. The same drawl as every year ..That's really great, Blaise swallowed, nonchalantly reaching for a biscuit. He used the moment to quickly dash his eyes toward Pansy, who had made her way successfully to the Ravenclaw table and was now bending over her prime target. He watched as she let her pool of hair drape over his shoulder, her pouty mouth bending toward his neck.
She whispered something devilish into his ear, and within moments the chesnut-haired Ravenclaw stiffened, dropping his utensils. With a cheery pat on his shoulder, Pansy turned away, making her way now toward the Great Hall doors. A few minutes later, the Ravenclaw stood, and the two disappeared.
Blaise breathed a sigh of relief, letting his biscuit drop to his plate. She had slipped away, unnoticed by Draco's deathly glares. His part of the breakfast mission had been, at least for now, successful.
.. think there were some bonfires. Green ones, for the winning colors .. and .. yeah.
Blaise turned slowly toward the blonde, who was muttering quietly to himself, his eyes wide and glazed over. He felt his lips twist downward doubtfully, a tightness brewing strangely in his chest until he realized - with some shock - what it was he felt. He felt, just vaguely, pity for his friend.
Pity, pity for Draco Malfoy. And then, suddenly, it came to him. Just how vital this insane plan of Pansy's really was. Draco, in some impossible, unlikely way, needed this, if only to kick-start something greater.
Blaise uttered weakly in response to Draco's broken description. He fingered his biscuit idly, digging his fingernails into the crispy crust. Pansy was gone, wasn't she? He could probe now, he could take a little risk. He could see if it were a little true, if it were possible. Hey ... you know who would be really .. a lot more fun to talk with about Quidditch? I mean, ahh, who knows a lot more about it than me?Half the school? Draco snapped, not lifting his eyes from his mangled food. Fuck, I need a coffee.No, I mean, Blaise said, stopping to take in a deep breath. I mean.Spit it out, god, Draco murmured, his eyebrows furrowing slightly in irritation.
Harry Potter.
Blaise had never heard such a terrible silence before. It rang in the air like the ringing that comes up occasionally in your ears, shrill and unending, engulfing. He watched as Draco twitched, his eyes shutting closed and his teeth grinding together slowly.
Ehrm, I meant .. not ..Have you been talking to her? Draco whispered, a nearly inaudible, dangerous whisper.
With .. her? Blaise squeaked.
Yes with her, with that miserable, meddling, sassy little bitch of a woman .. wait .. god, where the fuck is she? Draco snapped, lifting his head to swing it back and forth along the table. Everytime I want a bloody word with her she's gone .. bloody .. well?! Where is she? Blaise muttered, blanching. The little witches' room?
Draco turned to him slowly, his silver eyes blazing. As soon as they reached his face, bore into his own eyes like daggers, Blaise knew that he knew. Draco was not easily fooled.
He dropped his fork, leaning toward him suddenly, his eyes black ice.
Tell me, Blaise .. where is she?In here, Pansy whispered, pushing insistently against his shoulders. The Ravenclaw, a lanky but attractive boy named Ferdinand, walked toward the door. He hesitated, staring reluctantly at the gold-plated word Witches embossed in the wood.
Are you sure it isn't charmed against letting boys inside? he asked, turning his head back slightly to look, dumbfounded, at Pansy.
Nonsense, what man would want to try? she snapped, her eyes glaring up and down the hallway warily. She pushed hard against his shoulders, frowning. Now in with you already!
Ferdinand grunted, obliging as he let himself be pushed toward and through the swinging door. As soon as they were both inside, Pansy snatched his hand and guided him hastily into an empty stall, shutting the door quickly behind them. As expected, the bathroom was empty - most girls preferred to use their much cleaner, more elegant dormitory bathrooms in the morning.
What the bloody hell is this about? Ferdinand said irritably, frowning down at the girl standing just inches away from him, their two bodies pushed together awkwardly in the stall. Couldn't you have owled me?Too slow, Pansy said quickly. Now sit on top of the toilet.What? I am not going to sit on top of this dirty-If someone walks in here, they can't see two pairs of feet! Now sit, honestly! Pansy hissed shrilly, shoving him in the chest. Ferdinand gasped, outraged, but sat up on top of it anyhow, his legs dangling.
This had better be good, Panse, he said grumpily. I'm missing my breakfast, and if we don't hurry I'll be late for my first cla-Yes yes, sorry sorry, but I have an emergency, Pansy spit out, stepping closer to him. Ferdinand cringed, leaning back as far into the wall as he could. I need polyjuice. Badly. Ferdinand said, one eyebrow raising, Well, that's no problem. I can have it to you in a month.No, that's too late! Pansy scowled. Damn you, I need it now! As within the end of this week now!Well, that's just too bad, Ferdinand said, looking down at her with a nasty expression on his face. It takes a month to brew the thing, I can't just make it appear out of nowhere.Don't you play with me, Pansy said darkly, narrowing her eyes at him. I know that you do it monthly and sell it to those in . I know everything that goes on in this school, including your underground potions ring!That doesn't change the fact that it takes a month to brew, Ferdinand grumbled.
You have to have some left over from last month, Pansy hissed. Tell me the truth, do you?Hmm ..Tell me! she snapped, reaching forward and grabbing a fistful of his robe. Gods, I don't have time to argue with you!I do, Ferdinand said at last. For loyal customers, maybe. But not for you.
Pansy tightened her grip on his robe, lifting it slightly as she gritted her teeth, fighting hard against screaming her head off at the boy. After a long, calming moment, however, she let her pent-up breath whistle through her teeth, her arm lowering as she suddenly released his robe.
she said slowly, trying her best to control her temper. Alright. Now, Ferdy, think about this. Think about all I've done for you over the years ..You've done absolutely nothing for me! Ferdinand snapped defensively.
I made you a man, Pansy whispered, her voice suddenly seductive. Come now, just one little favor .. for old time's sake?
Ferdinand scowled down at her.
Oh come on, it was great! she yelped, pouting girlishly. You know it was great ...Yeah, it was, he growled. Great until you dumped me four days later.Darling, you know we had our differences ..By owl.I was immature .. stupid, even, Pansy went on silkily. I was a stupid girl, but really now .. that was in the past .. we're so much older now .. Ferdinand considered. Fine ... one hundred and fifty galleons. Pansy nearly screamed, her pout vanishing as blood rushed her to outraged face. One hundred and fifty? That's bloody murder!For old time's sake, Ferdinand repeated smugly, crossing his arms.
You can take that money and buy yourself a whore, Pansy hissed, stabbing her finger savagely into his chest. Because by the time I've gotten through the Ravenclaw rumor mill, you'll be tiny, gay and infected with one hundred and fifty incurable diseases!
With a final humph and one last very, very dirty look, she spun on her heel and stormed from the bathroom stall, letting it swing open behind her and slam against the wall.
She was just passing the last sink when he called out to her.
he called, jumping from the toilet and hurrying out into the open area. Wait .. fifty, fifty and you tell Arianna LaFayette how you miss being in bed with me.
Pansy stopped, turning around slowly, a smirk on her lips.
she said calmly, her eyes flashing with mirth, And I tell her that you were the best bloody shag of my young life.
Ferdinand's lips twitched into a slight smile, and he nodded.
Deal, darling. Always a pleasure working with old friends.
She felt smug, elated even, until she entered the Great Hall and immediately felt his eyes.
As Pansy walked back toward the Slytherin table, she nearly died, her insides sinking and twisting within her body, her gait as slow as physically possible. She should have been pleased - step one of the mission was complete - but instead she felt as though she were about to faint.
Draco was staring directly at her, watching her every step, his eyes narrowed into unblinking slits. He knew something, and he was furious ... but she couldn't let things go sour so early in the plan, it was too important for that. She would have to cover for herself.
Bloody hell, Blaise, what the fuck did he get out of you ...'
She swallowed hard as she sat down at the table, forcing herself to remain composed, nonchalant. Draco turned on her immediately, and she turned to face him bravely, her lips set into a firm, sleek smile.
What the fuck were you doing? he growled, leaning toward her slightly.
I was .. using the little witches' room, she said easily, reaching for her orange juice and taking a long, savoring sip.
Draco breathed. Were you? For ten bloody minutes?
Pansy nodded, taking another long sip.
Can you explain, then, why you left and entered with .. with whoever that fucking Ravenclaw is?
He pointed directly at Ferdinand, and Pansy swallowed hard.
she began slowly. I didn't leave with ...Don't bother, Blaise told me everything, Draco seethed at once, his voice rising. Pansy's face paled, and she leaned to the side to glare nastily in Blaise's direction, who cringed and said nothing.
Pansy began again shakily. Well, we were .. Don't even recount it, Draco hissed murderously. Merlin, woman, I thought you had fucking standards. How could you ..Draco, it isn't like it seems, I mean, we ..... blow some disgusting Ravenclaw prat for a few Potions essays?... ehh, Pansy said, her mouth snapping shut.
I know you're failing, but frankly, that is disgusting, Draco snapped, his voice lowering now to a volume that only the two of them could discern. I forbid it, Panse. Fucking hell, come to me for help from now on. Disgusting .. what were you thinking?Heh, heh, oh you know me, desperate me, Pansy laughed. Draco, it's really .. sweet of you to offer your services, I mean, I really ..Yes, yes, Draco said dismissively, picking up a small blueberry scone and biting off a tiny niche of it. That's what .. friends are used for, aren't they? Sleep with someone with a little more brawn than brains from now on.
Pansy smiled slightly, wrapping her arm around his thin shoulders.
she said sardonically, leaning her head into his shoulder. Draco immediately shoved her off, giving her an intense glare. She removed her arm just as quickly as she'd swung it around him, giggling.
Shut the hell up and eat something, Panse, or I'll change my mind, he snapped, returning to his scone. Pansy nodded compliantly.
Ahh,' she thought to herself. First step, secure. Soon, love, you'll be blowing someone yourself. Someone with everything you need to be happy in life ... I'm too good to you, Draco dear.'
Contentedly, she reached for a blueberry scone herself.
Ms. Rose: So, darling, why don't you tell us all what you got for Christmas?
Harry: Yeah, Draco. Tell us all what a load you got from me... and Rose.
Draco: What is this, some kind of television interview? Sod off!
Ms. Rose: Oh, come now, amuse our readers!
Draco: Hmm .. very well, I'll reveal your perverse nature. From Rose, I received a sodding plastic tub of imitation whipped cream and two new black leather belts .. and from Harry ... nothing ...
Ms. Rose: You didn't get anything from him? Harry!
Harry: We talked about this before, Rose ..
Ms. Rose: Oh yes .. right then .. hehe. Well, Draco honey, if you hated the whipped cream so much, I'm gonna put a little on my pie .. oh, did you want some?
Draco: I hate pie.
Harry: I never did like cherry pie myself ... always preferred banana cream ...
Ms. Rose: What? Hey, guys, the whipped cream is gone!
Draco: Strange ...
Harry: I'll go out and buy a few dozen more.
Draco: We're hostages, fucktard. You can't just go out shopping ...
Ms. Rose: Oh, okay, Harry love, here's a twenty ...
Harry: Much thanks, Rose!
Ms. Rose: No problem!
Draco: WHAT?! No, wait .. I NEED TO PURCHASE SOME MUGGLE FOOD AS WELL!
Ms. Rose: I think we'll let Harry stick to all the shopping for now, cupcake.
Draco: Fucking hell ... Harry, while you're out, get some stamps ..
Harry: Whipped cream, stamps, K-9, right ...
Draco: You're going to purchase a dog?
Harry: What? I didn't say anything .. see you soon, Draco.
Draco: Bring home some arsenic as well.
Ms. Rose: Oh, you silly dear! That's right in the cabinet.
Draco: Dare I ask for what purpose?
Ms. Rose: Oh, you know ... ex-lovers, rapists, bad reviewers ...
Draco: I may have underestimated you ...
