Disclaim Her: My English teacher is evil! She must die...
Chapter 18: Are we dating?
"Malfoy."
He looked up from the book he was reading. I decided to ask him a question that had been nagging at me since my conversation with Dumbledore.
"Are we...dating?"
He made a face.
"And why would you ask a question like that?"
"Just something Dumbledore said."
He answered slowly, as if weighing his words.
"Well, dating would imply that we are...boyfriends."
"I know..."
"But it would also imply that we get together and snog and occasionally fuck-"
"More than 'occasionally', I'd say."
He continued as if he had not heard me. "-which we do, so..."
"...So?"
"So, I would say yes. We are dating."
"Okay. Glad we figured that out, Malfoy."
"You know, someone is going to think it's wierd that we're...dating, but we still call each other by our last names."
"Why?"
"...You have no previous experience with relationships, do you?"
"It's kind of hard to get experience when you're locked in a cupboard for half of the year, then watched like a hawk the other half."
"I guess I have to agree with you on that."
We sat in silence for a while before I spoke again.
"I suppose you could call me...Harry...when we are alone."
He gave me a small smile. "Same goes to you."
"I can call you Harry?"
He smacked me.
"You know what I meant, asshole."
I laughed for a moment, then sobered. "This is going to complicate things, you know. If we slip again, if someone important sees us next time, it could be dangerous."
He snorted. "No shit."
I was quiet for a moment, wondering if I should really ask the question that I was considering.
"Mal-Draco."
"Yes?"
"Have you taken the Dark Mark yet?"
He looked at me, obviously evaluating my intentions.
"Yes."
He lifted up the sleeve of his robe and removed the glamour, revealing the Dark Mark, along with numerous scars that crisscrossed over his arm.
"You've met him, then. Voldemort."
"Of course. So have you. What's the big deal? It never mattered before."
I ignored his question. "What is he like? To his followers, I mean. I've only seen his torture sessions."
Once again he turned his piercing gaze on me.
"Why?"
"I was just wondering." It didn't sound convincing, even to me.
"Don't give me that shit, Potter. Are you thinking what I think you are?"
"What happened to calling me Harry?"
"Answer the question."
"I was just wondering, really. There are only two real sides in this war, and they aren't Light and Dark. It's either Dumbledore or Voldemort. And at the moment I'm not too happy with Dumbledore."
"Don't be an idiot, Harry. You know as well as I that the Dark Lord would kill you on sight before even considering letting you join him."
"You still haven't even answered my question about how he treats his followers, anyway."
He rolled his eyes. "He treats us alright, I guess. I mean, I haven't been tortured yet, at least."
It felt wrong to laugh at the offhand way he said that, but I did anyway. "So, altogether, he's like an honest Dumbledore?"
"Pretty much. Except he has no qualms about torturing people for information. And most of his followers are insane, not to mention stupid."
"Does that include you?"
He hit me. Again.
"What is it with people smacking me? Have I suddenly turned into a human punching bag?"
"Yes."
I was in a very good mood, despite the direction our conversation had headed.
"So...really, there is no reason for me not to run off and join Voldemort other than his wacko minions?"
"As much as I hate to say it, there are your...friends."
"Hermione and I are kind of not speaking at the moment, so she isn't all that important. But Ron...the only reason he's in danger is because he's friends with me. There was that time during the tournament where we hated each other, but since then, he's been the best friend anyone could ask for. He's even stopped gagging whenever I mention you."
"You mention me?"
"Only in passing. But, like I said, I don't know if I could give him up."
"Well, it's not like I'm forcing you to make a decision. You started this conversation. You could always remain neutral..."
"That is not an option. Even if I decided to stay out of all this, 'all this' would come running after me."
"I suppose you're right."
"I know I'm right."
"On second thought, you and the Dark Lord would get along just fine. You both have a huge ego."
"Yeah, laugh now. You wait. It just might happen."
Draco gave me a strange look, as if he had just realized that I might be serious.
"Let me know when you decide, okay? I don't want you running off to join the Dark Lord without telling me."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say."
He leaned forward and looked at me, as if he was trying to read my mind and find out what I had planned.
"I mean it."
"I know."