Chapter 18: Gold and Silver
The chill in the dungeons syphoned the warmth from Draco's muscles. It had been the perfect time to commandeer the Prefect bathroom when everyone else enjoyed dinner in the Great Hall. The long soak appeased his sore back from his poor decision of sleeping in the Room of Hidden Things the previous night. Why did he even try to work on the cabinet during his current mental and emotional state? Exhaustion ruined his ability to focus on his spell work. To make matters worse, sleep evaded him yet again. It was a delight that even with draining fatigue, his guilt continued to plague his thoughts. He had hoped to try to retain the fading warmth from the bath by going straight to bed.
However, any chance of Draco's original plan for the evening disappeared when he saw all the familiar faces surrounding the fireplace. The majority of the sixth year Slytherins were chatting in the most comfortable area of the Common Room. A smug Blaise lounged between Tracey and Daphne on one of the tufted black leather sofas. On the other, Millicent had tucked herself into the corner while Gregory sat on the opposite end. No one had been willing to sit between the nervous pair. Instead, Theo was casually leaning against the back of the sofa angled in a way to keep his focus on Pansy. She reclined on the love seat opposite of the fireplace. Parkinson's legs had been thrown over the side of the arm rest in a manner not usually seen as appropriate for a witch of her standing. It seemed that only Vincent was missing. Given the hour, Crabbe could be coming back from a detention. Although, Draco could admit that as they shared less and less classes together, he wasn't really sure what Crabbe or Goyle did most days anymore.
"Draco, good to see you. I was beginning to think you'd been hiding from us." Blaise's tone was bored.
Draco knew that this occasionally meant the Zabini heir was concerned but didn't want to show it. However, there were plenty of times it was simply boredom. Draco had no interest with trying to determine the truth of it now.
"Never." Malfoy drawled as he stiffly joined his classmates.
Draco chided himself that it was important to at least attempt to socialize before he collapsed into his bed. At the sound of Malfoy's voice, Pansy sat up to turn expectantly to him.
"Come sit." Pansy shifted and patted the empty spot on the loveseat next to her.
"I'm fine." Draco shrugged when her face fell. "I have all my things with me."
The tired prefect had carried all his toiletries here. Draco didn't want to toss his things around in the common area. He hoped that annoyance he felt didn't reveal itself on his face. What did she expect? He would never leave his personal things out on the coffee table for everyone to stare at. When he had that ghastly thought, his gaze moved to the furniture between everyone. In the center of the table, there was an invitation. The garish mistletoe etchings in the corners felt grossly out of place in the beginning of October.
"Merlin, whose mother started the mad Christmas competition this time?" Draco was thankful his mother was not participating in the folly between the socialites this year.
It felt like every year someone sent invitations out earlier in order to snag the best date to be the hostess. It was an inane little farce witches did in their social circle. Most of Malfoy's youth he had watched his parents depart for the revolving door of parties. The holidays usually meant many lonely nights with only the house elves delivering minced pie.
"Professor Slughorn even put my mother to shame this year." Zabini smirked in response.
"Yes, and Blaise has snagged himself an invite and a plus one to a Slug Club Christmas Party." Nott explained.
Of course, the returned Potion Master had to carry on the tradition of hosting the exclusive party. It shouldn't surprise Malfoy. What Slytherin students didn't want to be collected by Slughorn? The former Head of House's network of talented pupils was legendary. It practically guaranteed accomplishment in wizarding society after Hogwarts. It was hard not to be a tad bitter about being uninvited. Draco and Theodore both knew they would have been on that list if their fathers hadn't been arrested.
"This git has declared he is going stag." Pansy rolled her eyes unamused with Zabini's decision.
"How could I ever choose between you beautiful ladies?" Blaise brought a hand to his heart in mock apology.
Tracey and Daphne both couldn't help but laugh at the half Italian's charm.
"You'll get your entertainment from watching who pairs up, Pansy." Draco quipped.
It was going to be a dreadful process to watch over the next two months. There would be plenty of interest and speculation on who each Slug Club member would ask to accompany them to the festivities. There would be at least a few bumbled attempts that will dominate the gossip cycle.
"Yes, it has already begun. Can you believe Granger asked Weasley during Herbology! It was truly painful to watch the two of them." Tracey reported to the group.
Draco sneered in disgust at the very thought. The only comfort it wasn't fucking McLaggen. Weaselbee was a blundering buffoon. The comic relief of the golden trio had kept things platonic even after a professional quidditch player bowed out. Granger and Weasley's row during the Yule Ball was not some great secret. The youngest wizard of the ginger brigade had been unable to tally up that one plus one equaled mutual interest. McLaggen did not entertain innocent notions for his pursuit of Granger. Weasley was the lesser of two evils in Draco's mind; but, Salazar, he hated it.
"Whatever will Peeping Potter do with Granger off the market? Someone better warn poor Chang that he might be back like another round of pox." Daphne and Pansy cackled at Millicent's dryly delivered comment.
Draco responded with a half-hearted chuckle as the group laughed at Millicent's inside jokes about their least favorite Gryffindor. Malfoy's exhaustion only worsened his internal isolation. He didn't even enjoy a spirited round of Potter bashing like old times. How much more separated would he feel from his housemates as this year continued? Draco tried to keep up with their conversation. Being around people after Granger's dating life was the topic de jure was a terrible idea.
"I got an early morning with Arthimancy. Professor Vector is assigning us our topics tomorrow." Draco yawned feeling dead on his feet.
"You just got here…" Pansy pouted as he made his way to leave.
Draco paused from slight discomfort.
"If he oversleeps Vector's class; it just means another weekend detention. Plus, are you not sufficiently entertained by me?" Zabini interjected saving Draco from having to respond.
Good nights and farewells were exchanged. Once the dormitory door closed, Malfoy's shoulders sank with relief. It was considered a luxury to have the room to oneself at Hogwarts, especially on a school night. It was a reprieve for him. There was no other people's sounds and smells overwhelming his senses. Draco enjoyed the welcome break. He mindlessly went through the process of getting changed for bed and putting away his items. As he put away his prefect badge, he heard Nott's footsteps approaching the door. Draco did not even look up when the reserve sixth year entered.
"Malfoy?".
"Nott" Draco rubbed his temple hoping this conversation would be quick.
"I know you and Pansy have quite the history together. It's been 5 months since the last time you two called it off. Are you still interested in her?" It was a direct question that had a simple answer.
"No, I'm not." There was a prolonged silence between the two of them after Draco responded.
"Honestly, I think Pansy misses the idea of a good match. But, we've never been one." Draco felt honesty was the best to handle the awkward subject.
"I want to ask her out for Samhain—" Theo started to explain.
"You should." Draco was firm with his support.
Nott nodded and his shoulder eased with a large sigh of relief.
"Get her some flowers. Some—" Draco was attempting to remember some helpful information on Pansy's favorite but was interrupted by Nott.
"Black and white poppies." Theo knowingly smiled.
Draco laughed and shook his head in agreement. Pansy would probably be equally mad about Theodore as Nott was about her by the time it was winter solstice. Draco had never really given the absolute attention Parkinson had always craved. Trying to remember what she liked had always been a chore for the Malfoy heir. Draco was willing to bet that it was probably as easy as breathing was for Nott. The parents would be pleased as well. Pansy and Theo would surpass even Leo and Imogen's infamy with the possibility of a future marriage unifying another generation of the sacred twenty-eight families. Who didn't love when another pair of silver Slytherin sweethearts formed a lifelong partnership?
"Are we settled then? I am exhausted." Draco turned down his sheets to get ready for bed.
"Yea, of course." Nott could not contain his lovesick and hopeful grin.
Draco cast the normal collection of spells for privacy. He had no interest to hear Crabbe's snores if insomnia struck in the middle of the night. The last step of his nightly ritual in the dorms was to secure his wand for the evening. His heavy eyelids and weary muscles made him sink into his mattress. The warm downy comfortable blanketed him in reassuring comfort. The exhaustion was finally catching up to him and he succumbed to deep sleep.
The great ballroom at Malfoy Manor had been transformed in a way he never seen before. None of the balls his mother had hosted ever looked like this from when he had spied up from the overlook from the private quarters on the second story. Instead of hiding at the very edge in the corner like when he was a child, he stood in the center to see the entire room below. It was as if winter personified had elected to hold its court here. The tall arched windows with black casing had been frosted over. The outside view of the estate and gardens had been obscured. The tied back, black velvet curtains had a crackling design which seem to slowly grow from the hem. It was as if the thick fabric had been frozen indoors. The chandelier had icicles dripping down from the crystals. The black and white checkered marble floor had a sheen which reminded Draco of a frozen lake. The whole room was glistening as it captured and reflected the light. The ballroom was empty save for the very center where the Malfoy crest was interlaid danced Granger. Merlin, she was the very definition of breathtaking. That periwinkle silk dress was fitted to her every curve before pooling at the floor. She was too ethereal to be real. When she twirled alone, he saw that her back was exposed. There was small, beaded trim along the back edge of her dress. Those tiny crystals only caught more of the light which haloed her. Her curls were threatening to spill down from being pinned up with an interweaved mistletoe crown. She was so beautiful. He was such a sap to not want this moment to melt away. Suddenly, something caught Granger's eye. She stopped with a beaming smile. It made Draco's heart ache.
However, Granger had not noticed him above her. Her eyes had never even chanced a look above to where Draco Malfoy watched her every move. No, the crowned queen's focus was on Weasley. The pair needed no conversation. Instead, Weasley's greeting of a bow was answered in return by Granger with a deep curtsey. The sourness that brewed in Draco's stomach could not be ignored as that pair began to glide in the waltz together around his family crest. Each perfect step made an icy chill spread through him. When her white glove caressed the ginger's face, Draco refused to observe them any longer. Maybe he was a coward for not saying anything. He would look the fool to tell them to stop. It was easier to slink back to the private rooms of the Manor and never have to watch this scene of Granger adoring Weasley. However, when he turned to flee the couple on the dance floor remained the center of his vision. No matter how he tried to walk away there she was just getting closer to that wizard. The pain was too much for Draco when the pair's lips met in a kiss. No sound was uttered when he tried to yell to tell them off. How dare they snog in his bloody home! He wanted to demand Weasley go back to his hovel. When Draco's hand went to grab the banister, he was shocked. Instead of being able to lean down and lecture them he banged against an invisible wall. The panic grew, and he kept slamming his fist against his inescapable prison. Each hard strike another person joined the ballroom. Unfortunately, each new visitor did not join the dance but stared directly at Malfoy. First was his father. Lucius did not make a single attempt to save Draco. There was no sympathy for him. All Draco found in his father's eyes was cold disgust. When he saw the horrified look on Pansy's face, Draco noticed the terrible truth that his hands were no longer his familiar body. Instead, his werewolf form had thrashed against the barrier. A shriek of terror came from Madam Rosmerta as she pointed at him. The terrible taint of dark magic felt unshakable in his cage. Then a blood curdling scream from an immobilized Bell echoed in the room. There was no escape for the monster now. In that moment of desperation, the bone chilling cackle of Voldemort cut through all the whispers. Draco was helpless as the floor underneath shattered like glass beneath him as darkness blanketed his vision.
The descend in his dream lurched Draco awake. There was a struggle with his down comforter to sit up from how he had tossed and turned while asleep. His heart pounded as he tried to gulp in air. Draco cursed himself for not partaking in a vial of dreamless sleep. As Draco eased back against the pillow, he despised that it would be only a matter of time that his mate would be with another.
