Thanks to njferrell for the review!
Here's my third chapter in gratitude :)
As the students left the Great Hall for bed, Severus Snape observed. Something had changed. He could not be certain what it was, exactly, but it definitely involved Draco Malfoy. As Head of Slytherin it was his duty to find out what was going on (it wasn't as though he was nosy or anything...).
Draco fled as soon as he could. His Master had promised to meet him at Hogwarts, but hadn't said where or when. The best he could think of to do was get away from other people – Master was unlikely to show up when there was a crowd of witnesses. His footsteps echoed on the cold stones as he made his way up to the seventh floor. Finally, he made it to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Quickly checking around him and seeing no-one, Draco began to pace past the stone wall opposite, muttering to himself. Before he could finish, a gloved hand appeared out of nowhere. Recognising the black figure, Draco forced himself to remain still and silent. Abruptly, the hand released him, pushing him through the door that had now appeared opposite the tapestry. As he stumbled to the floor, the man reached down and lifted him bodily into the air.
"This was foolish of you, Draco. I thought I told you to act normal? Disappearing like this will only make others suspicious." The deep, rich voice washed over Draco in calm rebuke, and he shivered both from fear and anticipation.
"I only wanted to see you, Master." The man placed him back on his feet, stepping back to appraise the youth before him. Draco was pale, but a blush darkened his cheeks, and he refused to meet the man's gaze. The man sighed.
"You will have to spend the night here with me, then." The words were spoken with an air of menace, but Draco calmed immediately. This was what he was used to.
"Come." The man led him over to the four-post bed that had appeared in the corner, and Draco found himself bound face down, wrists roped to the head board. He smiled, since he knew his Master would not see it – this is what he had wanted.
"I'm going to have to punish you, Draco. This, is really going to hurt."
It was difficult for Draco the next day. Breakfast was a nightmare, as he try to avoid as many questions as he could without seeming too suspicious. The lacerations across his back from the whip made him want to wince everytime something touched his back, and the dull ache he felt whilst walking was agonising sitting down. But these aches and pains were worth the trouble; the pleasures of last night would have horrified many, but Draco knew that his Master was strong and intelligent. He would do whatever was necessary for both himself and Draco, and hang the consequences.
His first class was Defence Against the Dark Arts – with Snape. The Professor kept shooting guarded looks his way, so Draco was careful to avoid showing his pains. Snape would probably know that something was up, but the longer Draco could put off his questions the better for all concerned. His secrets were not the kind to be divulged lightly.
Potions later that afternoon was comparatively easy. The whole lesson was rubbish, according to Draco anyway. But Because Snape wasn't there it was easier to act his part. He scowled at any praise of the Mudblood, only paid attention when he had to, and deliberately became carelessly fast with his potion. Such actions were so blatantly 'Malfoy' that little care had to be taken with details, and he allowed himself a couple of winces as his back was bumped by his over-eager classmates. In deliberately trying to garner favour with Slughorn he was even able to slip some Sopophorous Bean into his pocket un-noticed – it would be used later in a soothing balm he was running out of. Despite the fact that Potter had actually managed a better potion than he had, Draco considered the lesson an over-all win; no-one had any reason to suspect him of anything after that.
Several weeks passed in this manner – Draco keeping secrets he only half-knew himself, his Master visiting late at night whenever he could. But eventually, something happened to give Draco reason to fling himself into the Room of requirement late one evening to ask some very important questions.
"Stan Shunpike? You said you were getting someone into Azkaban, but Shunpike? There's no-one more conveniently placed than he was – the Knight Bus!" The man didn't even bother to raise his head from the Daily Prophet.
"Draco, how many times must I say this? A pretty boy like yourself doesn't need to worry about these things. However, in answer to your unasked question; we no longer need a man aboard the Knight Bus – the Shrunken Head picks up everything I may need to know." Draco, however, was hardly put at ease.
"Master, students are leaving the school. Their parents are being killed – Hannah Abbott left yesterday because of her mother's death!" The man sat up, his piercing stare boring into Draco's own eyes until he could no longer hold his gaze.
"Trust me, love. The plan is perfect, if a little slow. Our revolution is nearly beginning."
Yay, no quotes! The timeline is the same though; Stan Shunpike's arrest was reported the day after Hannah Abbott left because her mum died (p208-210)
Please review, let me know what's good and what's not - it's the only way I'll improve! Thanks. :)
