A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters.
Sorry for the short update, I'm fighting some things right now. Please be patient.
Draco had started becoming more aware of his housemates, especially at meal times, since that was when Granger had said they were looking at her. He kept his eyes open for anyone looking towards the muggle-born girl, or just in the general direction of the Gryffindor table.
Warrington seemed to like to look that direction. Draco tried to recall what he knew about the seventh year boy. It wasn't much, he played quiddich, but that didn't help much. He was on the team too. He wished she would have given him a little more information, but he knew she was terrified. He didn't doubt they had threatened to kill her if she told.
"That mudblood is looking at you again, Draco," Pansy muttered glaring across the room.
"Don't call her that," he stated more out of habit than anything. He'd been trying his hardest to rid his own thoughts of that nasty word.
"Why? That's what you called her, or at least, you used to. Why'd you stop?" she asked suddenly looking at him.
"Got in trouble with Snape, don't fancy scrubbing more rusted cauldrons," he replied with a shrug. "Besides, mother and father would prefer I keep a low profile this year, especially with Potty making all that fuss about you know who being back."
"Fair point, let him get in trouble for once," she added with a delighted smile. "I heard that he got detention for a month with Professor Umbridge."
"Good for him," Draco commented dryly watching as Granger, he really should start thinking of her as Hermione, glanced in his direction and then quickly turned away. Pansy seemed to follow his eyes.
"Why are you watching them? Seeing if Potter will do a trick or something?"
"No, remember, keep your friends close and your enemies closer, I might have been asked to keep an eye on him, just in case people start believing his nonsense, remember the house guest I mentioned." Pansy's eyes widened as she nodded.
"Right, so, what are you going to do if people start believing him?" she asked softly.
"Discredit him somehow, same way the Prophet is doing right now. The more people are unaware of the truth, the more of an advantage we have." Draco hated the words slipping from his mouth, they echoed his father's almost perfectly.
He did not want to become a man like that, but right now, his main duty was protecting Granger, and he couldn't do that if Pansy started managing to figure out what he was really doing. Besides, spying on Potter might actually be useful. He was sure his father would agree.
