Author's note: and with this chapter, this is officially our longest story. yay! actually, maybe not so much yay, since people don't tend to read really long stories. or at least i don't. -shrug- maybe i'm too impatient. anyway, tamara would like to say that she thoroughly enjoyed writing this chapter, and that she hopes you will enjoy reading it.
Disclaimer: if we were jk rowling, don't you think we'd have thought of a better pen name?
--kyra

15. In which Blaise calls up an old debt

A brief noise suddenly came from the hallway, causing them both to turn towards the door, their wands out and their eyes wide. It didn't come again, but Blaise stood anyway, moving silently towards the door. He slipped out into the hallway, looking for the person in their house. He hadn't left the door open… had he?

Suddenly, he caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye, and his mouth curled into a grimaced. Raising his voice, he called, "You can come out now, Draco."

Not ashamed in the least, Draco did come out, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes gleaming with satisfaction and smugness.

"Well?" Blaise demanded. "Would it have been too much to ask for some advanced warning?"

"Yes."

"I thought as much. How much did you overhear."

"Only the end," Draco assured him. "I was going to let you know that we'd come back, but you seemed so serious. I didn't want to interrupt you."

"How very thoughtful," Blaise said dryly. "Thank you so much for your consideration."

"Any time. Did I take you away from anything?"

"You heard as much as I did," Blaise reminded him.

"So I did. It was just getting interesting, too."

"You're the one who blew your own cover."

"I did not!"

"Didn't you? Then who squeaked?"

"Squeaked?! I did no such thing!"

"The heir to the Malfoy fortune is too dignified to squeak?"

"I am pleased to inform you that I have never squeaked in my life, thank you very much. But don't let me keep you. The love of your life is waiting for you."

"He can wait a little while longer. And he's not the love of my life."

"Then who is?"

"If I told you, you'd meddle, so you'll just have to wonder."

"I see right through you, you know."

"I'm sorry. Is the wallpaper a pretty color?"

"It is, in fact, but I was referring to your lies."

"Lies? What lies are you speaking of?"

"Unless you have suddenly developed a passion for one of the gnomes in the garden…"

"There are no gnomes in the garden," Blaise pointed out acidly.

"Then all the more reason it's unlikely to occur. As I was saying, unless you've suddenly fallen madly in love with a piece of furniture, I don't see anyone else who could have captured your affections. Therefore, it is indeed Weasley, and, as he has just confessed his undying love to you, I fail to see why you are standing out here in this hallway with me."

"You're prettier than he is."

"You flatter me. Start talking like that, and your boyfriend will think that you love me more than you love him."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Isn't he? Then what is he?"

"I'm sure I don't know, nor will you speculate as to the proper noun, thank you very much."

Draco sighed in overdone regret. "Such a pity. But what do you really want?"

"You are implying that I seek more than your company after a long separation?"

"I see through you, remember? The wallpaper has a stain on it."

"Does it indeed?"

"It does. Not to mention the fact that you refuse to look me in the eye."

Blaise met Draco's eyes.

"Cheating. Now, is there a reason you're avoiding the subject of your darling Weasel?"

"Quite apart from the fact that you are going to get hexed in a moment and I am going to laugh as I do so, there is."

"I can hardly wait to hear what it is. Incidentally, don't think you can beat me. I'm faster than you are."

"Are you indeed?"

"I am."

"My aim is better than yours."

"Are you willing to put that to a test?"

"I am indeed."

"Lovely. That will be our amusement later. Now, you were going to tell me the reason I am keeping you from your dearly beloved?"

"I was. You owe me a debt, and you're going to pay it now."

"I owe you a debt? For what?"

"For ferreting, if you'll pardon my choice of words, your mother away so that you could tell your father the truth about your own dearly beloved."

"I haven't paid that already?"

"You have not. But you're going to now."

Draco grimaced slightly. "What is it?"

"Nothing too dramatic, I assure you. Merely this: you are never, ever, in any way, shape or form, to say anything even hinting at the words, 'I told you so.'"