Greg was still not speaking - and Vince kept on trying to tempt him to eat. That was concerning, troubling even... but it was expected. What wasn't expected was the mess that the girls were making of the table. They had been seated as decorum demanded - but that appeared to be where the decorum stopped. Both of the Greengrass girls had decided to flirt with Draco Malfoy - which was fine, they were notoriously competitive with each other, and though Tori had the finer body, Daph had a keen wit that made up for her shortcomings (pun intended). It had all gone to hell, Draco Malfoy reflected, when Pansy walked through the door. Daph had been trying to feed him some grapes - and Tori had her arm twined around his, cooing over the pumpkin juice (which was just pumpkin juice).
Pansy's mouth had dropped, and then she shrieked (which had done nothing for her usual mellifluous voice), "He's my fiancee! Get your own!" And before Draco Malfoy could even open his mouth, Pansy had her hands twined around his neck, more restraining him than actually hugging him.
"Such a pity, dear - to see such a fine specimen" Daph had deliberately let her eyes caress the length of Draco's body, the gleam in her eye nearly predatory, "handed to someone so ... crude."
"Oh, I totally agree, dear sister! Why, I'd cut the best figure with him on the dance floor." Everyone knew that Tori could dance, and only the most imprudent would twit her on the subject. She tended to get violent rather than nasty - and blood never went with anything!
Draco Malfoy had had enough. It wasn't going to get any better, anyway. Three women under one roof meant trouble, and not just in China. He rose to his feet, shaking, as he said to all of the girls, "Get off of me. You may prevail upon my hospitality, but you will not presume to touch my person. I have not granted you such liberties, and that is final." Stunned, Pansy let her arms drop - her mouth falling open into a silent apology that he acknowledged with a glare. She was just trying to protect me, I know... but even the best schemes have flaws. The other girls turned back to their food, talking as if there wasn't an empty chair between them.
Draco Malfoy headed into his bedroom, his hand gently fingering the thin blue book for a moment, as he considered. The girls would sort out their own territory, if I can only let them alone long enough for them to squabble without me as a bloody distraction. He began to pace, making two turns in the foreshortened bedroom (so unlike the Manor!), before he froze, hearing in his head Severus Snape's words - If you must leave, leave the wand, and go disguised. It... would work - if he only dared to do it. To enter the Muggle world - some purebred part of him protested at the entire idea. But, to be deadly honest, his more adventuresome side thrilled at the adventure. Looking at himself in the mirror, he began to edit - still not certain exactly what he was doing, let alone daring to contemplate where he would go. Simply out would have to do. Blonde hair, a honey gold - a workman's deep tan, and sparkling blue eyes (his eyes always danced like fish snatching flies off a clear river). He could do more, he knew - but all Slytherins knew that the best disguise kept enough of yourself that you'd still feel comfortable with it. Setting down his wand, he walked towards the front door, knowing that the only people who would notice him were Vince and Greg (the girls were still fighting... obviously, or he wouldn't be leaving).
Stepping out the door, he took a breath of fresh air, and felt freer than he had ever expected to feel.
[a/n: Did you want more squabbling? Can you see where this is going? Write me a review - other stories are calling.]