The next day...
It was the lesson before lunch. Pansy, Daphne and Louise were in Potions. Snape had just set them all off making draughts of Living Death when Draco, Theodore and Blaise slipped in. They joined the three girls at their workbench but, unfortunately for them, Snape spotted them and pounced.
"Why are we late gentlemen?" he asked smoothly.
Draco muttered something and Snape nodded, walking away.
"How is it that those slimy gits get away with everything?" Ron grumbled at the other side of the classroom.
"Detention Mr Weasley" Snape said calmly, glaring at the Gryffindor.
"How did he hear me?" Ron groaned in a low voice.
"He must have ears like a bat" Harry replied, just as quietly.
"Mr Potter, you will join your friend Mr Weasley on detention" Snape called as he glided across the classroom to check on Crabbe and Goyle's potions.
Draco, Theodore and Blaise snickered, but the three girls got on with their potion-brewing.
At the end of the lesson, the six of them walked to the Great Hall together.
"So, where were you boys at?" Pansy asked Draco.
"We were talking to Alex, he'd heard a rumour that Potter suspects we're Death Eators" he muttered.
"What?" Pansy, Daphne and Louise looked startled.
"Look, we'll tell you this afternoon, okay?" Theodore said in a low voice.
The three girls didn't look satisfied, but nodded. As they found their usual seats, Pansy spotted Harry Potter watching the six of them suspiciously.
Snickering, Blaise muttered "how about we give him something to stare at?"
The others chuckled quietly, nodding.
Theodore snaked his arm around Louise, pulling her close to him. "Let's make it look like I'm whispering dark secrets to you" he breathed into her ear.
She pretended to look shocked, trying her hardest not to laugh.
Draco had scooted close to Pansy and they had their heads together, looking for all the world as though they were plotting some dark mission.
Daphne and Blaise went all out. Daphne scooted onto his lap and appeared to be whispering into his ear.
Shooting their friends amused glances, the other four noticed that Blaise was pinker than usual. As they kept up this act, tthey attracted attention from not only Harry and Ron, but from other students too. Astoria Greengrass, Daphne's younger sister, was staring open mouthed at the six older students huddled down the table from her. One student in particular, looked torn between amusement and horror. Alex Lestrange was watching the antics of his sister, their cousin and their friends with a mixed expression. In the end, he simply rolled his eyes and left them to it.
As students began to leave the hall and head to their afternoon lessons, the six Slytherins stopped by their dorms to pick up their brooms (only the most up to date models of course) before heading out onto the (deserted) Quidditch pitch.
The six of them mucked around for a little while, chasing each other around and playing mid-air tag, but they eventually put in some proper practise.
By the end of the two hours, they were all red-faced and sweaty, but laughing and having a great time.
"Lou, you have to try out for the team; you're amazing!" Theodore called to her as they all landed.
She grinned. "Thanks Theo" she replied. "I'll think about it! Anyway, are you three going to talk to us about this rumour or not?"
The boys exchanged looks as the six of them sat down on the grass.
"Look, are you three Death Eators?" Louise asked impatiently, but in a low voice. "It doesn't bother me if you are, I know for a fact, my brother is one"
"Lou, I'm not sure if this is the right place for having this conversation"Theodore said uncomfortably.
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Screw that, everyone else is in lessons or their common rooms; we might as well tell them" he shrugged.
"Look, we are Death Eators, at least we attend the meetings and are classed as them, but we don't have the Dark Mark" Draco explained in a low voice.
The girls nodded, but Daphne looked suspicious. "Are you sure you don't have it?" she asked cautiously.
"For crying out loud Daphne! I think they'd know!" Pansy exclaimed.
"Prove it" Daphne said sharply.
Rolling their eyes, the three boys rolled up both sleeves, revealing unmarked arms.
"Does it matter anyway?" Blaise asked Daphne anxiously.
She shook her head. "I don't mind if you're Death Eators, I just didn't want to think you were lying to me" she replied quietly.
The boys looked relieved. "Can we talk about something a little less depressing?" Pansy asked suddenly.
"Yeah, like this family meeting Alex, Lou and I have to go to tomorrow; what an excellent way to spend a Saturday, I think not" Draco said gloomily, lying down on his back on the grass.
The others laughed. "Don't be so moody Dray" Louise grinned at him.
He scowled at the sky. "Well it doesn't exactly sound fun" he retorted.
Pansy gently combed her fingers through his silky hair. "Maybe it won't be all that bad" she said soothingly.
Draco was relieved when Blaise and Theodore changed the conversation to try and persuade Louise to tryout for the Quidditch team because it meant no one was paying enough attention to him to notice his lightly blushing cheeks...