Busy Schedule

Draco Malfoy barged into the Slytherin common room, his hair slightly rumpled and his tie hanging undone. Pansy looked up as the door slammed shut, and, taking in his disheveled figure, her jaw dropped.

'Crabbe. Goyle,' she ordered. 'Out. Now.'

The two boys shuffled away, both adoring and terrified.

'That fast?' she gasped. 'There's no way. I won't believe you. Nice try.'

'Relax, sis,' Draco smirked, plopping down on the loveseat beside her. 'It's not what you think. Although things are moving rather well on that front as well.'

'My turn. Fuck Astoria?'

'But of course,' Draco beamed.

'Excellent. The parental units owled while you were out,' Pansy informed him.

'Oh? And how is my gold-digging, whore of a mother enjoying Fiji?'

'She suspects my impotent, alcoholic father is diddling the maid.'

'Good,' Draco smirked.

'Ugh,' Pansy scoffed. 'Tell me about the Weaselette now.'

Draco smiled devilishly.

'Yes, I think that's the right answer to number four,' Ginny's frown faded as she finished the complex diagram of a trans-dimensional spell.

'Of course it is,' Draco grinned, holding up his textbook. 'I'm always right. Teacher's Edition,' he explained, pointing to the bright yellow label on the front of the book.

Ginny almost gasped, but then began giggling. 'Cheater.'

'Nah. So, I have something totally unrelated to Transfiguration. All right if I distract you for a bit?'

'Fire away,' Ginny grinned, setting down her quill.

'Well, I read your….your manifesto,' he began.

'You did?'

'Yes. I must say, I found it rather….appalling.'

Ginny chuckled awkwardly, as if unsure whether he was kidding. 'That's a first. Most people praise me for it.'

'Most people are sheep. Who are you to criticize something you've never experienced?' Draco demanded.

'I wasn't criticizing,' Ginny explained patiently. 'I just think people shouldn't experience the act of love until they're in love. And I just don't think people our age are mature enough to experience those kinds of emotions.'

'Are you a lesbian?' Draco asked.

Ginny wrinkled her nose. 'No…'

'Oh, sorry,' Draco backtracked. 'I didn't mean to offend you. I just picked up on a little bit of that lesbian vibe.'

'Right.' Ginny shook her head, puzzled, and picked up her quill. 'So, um, Transfiguration.'

'No, well, one more thing, before we start again,' Draco added apologetically.

Ginny looked up at him expectantly, her red curtain of hair shadowing half her face.

'Well, just. I'm sorry for seeming so harsh. I just don't think you should shut out all of your options like that, and discount something as "too mature." That's all I was trying to say,' Draco explained with a charming grin and a wink at Pansy, who'd just sat down with Astoria.

Kill me. Draco chuckled. Ginny glanced behind her. 'Who's-'

'Oh, that's just my stepsister. But, honestly, that's all I was trying to say. I don't want you to take what I said the wrong way.'

Ginny rolled her eyes. 'Yes, well. I wouldn't expect a man of your experience to understand my beliefs.'

Draco was flabbergasted. He'd been playing the innocent card so well. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'I'm very well-informed of your reputation,' Ginny informed him smugly.

'What have you heard?' Draco asked skeptically.

'That you promise girls the world in order to get them into bed with you,' Ginny looked him straight in the eye with an almost challenging glare.

Draco sat back in his chair, stunned. 'Who told you this?'

'A friend told me.'

Draco frowned. 'Well, that's a little tacky.'

Ginny chuckled. 'Why do you sound so surprised? It's the truth, isn't it?'

Draco shrugged and gathered up his books. 'If you say so,' he said, sounding hurt and standing up. 'By the way, I checked McGonagall's list, and she assigned us as partners on the new project. So, you might have to spend more time with me, although I suppose we could switch if you're worried about ruining your reputation.'

'Draco-' Ginny protested as he walked away, but he was too fast and too stubborn. She didn't see his smirk on the way out.

Draco Malfoy liked to leave them wondering.

'That's your idea of success?' Pansy laughed.

'I got her to think about it,' Draco insisted. 'And I got her to doubt and question my reputation. I'd say that is significant progress. And the project—she won't switch, you know she won't. That puts me in all the better of a place with her. I'll get this, Pansy, you know I will.'

'Of course you will,' she purred, stroking his chest. 'Can I take my new broom for a ride?'

Draco laughed and grabbed her hand, holding it away from him. 'Pansy, the only thing you'll be riding is me.'

She cackled. 'We'll see about that, won't we?'

Pansy pulled away slowly. 'See? That wasn't so scary.'

'You're right!' Astoria exclaimed gleefully. 'It was nothing.'

'Okay,' Pansy grinned mischievously. 'Now we're going to try again, only this time I'll stick my tongue in your mouth, and when I do that I want you to massage my tongue with yours. And that's what French kissing is.'

'Okay!'

'Eyes closed?' Pansy leaned in.

Draco narrowed his eyes to see better from his position in the tower above. Technically, he was on lookout duty, but he might as well get a show out of it.

'Not bad,' Pansy told her.

'That was cool,' Astoria mumbled, blushing.

'And now you have something new to do with Justin!'

'Thanks, Pansy! Well, I've got Potions now. Erm, I've got another letter. Do you think you could get it to Justin?'

'Of course.'

Pansy Parkinson sighed in sick satisfaction as the fifth-year trounced away. Everything was going according to plan. She slid the second letter in her pocket right alongside the first.

'Students, students. Those of you who are quiet now and listen will not be transformed into rodents,' McGonagall promised. The class was silent. 'Excellent. This next project will last for three weeks. I've assigned your partners and topics already. The requirements are an essay, a tangible component or some type of physical example, and a final presentation.

Draco smirked knowingly, and shot a wink at Ginny Weasley, who ignored him.

Thirty seconds later, she was sitting by his side, quite unwillingly.

'All right, don't rub it in, she demanded.'

'I'm dying to know what your friend said about me.'

'Really? You really are?'

Draco nodded eagerly.

Ginny sighed. 'I've got the note right here with me.' She pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her robe and began reading: "Even more treacherous than he is attractive, he has never uttered a single word without some dishonorable intention. Every woman he has successfully pursued has regretted it. Stay away from him." What do you have to say to that?'

'I'd like to know who hates me so much that they'd say things like that about me!' Draco exclaimed.

Ginny shook her head. 'I'm not ratting them out. I was told this in confidence. I made the mistake of even mentioning it.'

'That gives me no chance to defend myself!' Draco exclaimed.

Ginny rolled her eyes. 'We've got a project to work on.'

'Oh, Justin,' Pansy whispered in a singsong tone. The corridor was empty except for the two of them. Pansy Parkinson had connections, in a somewhat creepy way, and had planned accordingly with the knowledge that his usual bathroom break was on the fourth floor during third period. Meaning that she'd decided to ditch the entirety of Charms and camp outside the bathroom.

The confused boy peered around, trying to figure out who was calling his name. 'Pansy?' He frowned, baffled. 'What are you doing?'

'I have a message or two from,' she paused dramatically, 'Astoria.'

Justin's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

'I know everything,' Pansy grinned. 'Don't worry, I'm here to help, not tell. From what I understand, you'll need it, too. It doesn't sound exactly like an...uncomplicated relationship.'

Justin shrugged. 'What did you want to tell me?'

Pansy held out the letters. He glanced around nervously, then walked over and took them. 'Thanks.'

'I'll be in touch. I have much better arrangements than the Room of Requirement. Plus, I have reason to think Daphne may be on to something. I will keep that from becoming a problem. You're welcome,' Pansy flashed a grin.

'Wait, just a minute... could I...write something for Tori? Could you give it to her?'

'Of course!' Pansy squealed with delight.

'Thanks, Pansy. I owe you one.' Justin pulled out his quill and a scrap paper, scribbled for a few seconds, then folded it into tiny pieces and handed it to Pansy.

'Any time,' she assured him, scurrying away.

Off to tell Daphne!

'Fuck her yet?' Pansy purred into Draco's ear as she dashed through the hall on the way to her Defence Against the Dark Arts, which was code for skipping Defence Against the Dark Arts with Blaise.

Draco rolled his eyes. 'I'm working on it.'

'Loser!' she exclaimed loudly, not caring about the attention she drew.

'Blow me!' Draco retorted.

'Talk later?' Pansy asked, walking backwards so she faced him as they strode through the hall.

'I'm not sure, you've got me on an awfully busy schedule.'

'Pencil me in,' she winked before gliding away.

Knock, knock.

'Come in, Astoria!'

The fifth-year timidly pushed open the door. 'Sorry,' she began, 'it's just… I haven't been in a boy's dormitory before.'

'That's okay,' Draco assured her. 'Just a quick photo shoot, like Pansy told you, right? She told you she's working on a fashion portfolio, right?'

Astoria nodded shyly. 'But why are you taking the pictures?'

'I'm just helping her,' Draco explained, handing her a golden bottle. 'Just, erm, start by standing on the bed there, all right?'

'All right,' Astoria agreed, and climbed onto Draco's four-poster.

'You could be a model!' Draco exclaimed as she simultaneously struck a pose and took a sip. 'Too bad you're not sexy.'

'Erm. Thanks?' Astoria managed. 'This doesn't taste like butterbeer,' she said, gazing at him inquisitively.

'It's just an extra fiery kind,' he explained.

Meaning, of course, Firewhiskey.

Its effects were quick on the lightweight Astoria.

'I'm so dizzy,' she exclaimed gleefully.

'Take your clothes off?'

'Okaaaayy!'

Pansy stretched her legs across Draco's, her long hair hanging across the other end of the couch.

The bubbling bottles of Firewhiskey clinked. 'To an excellent week,' Pansy giggled.

~KaleidoscopeKate