A/N: This one was okay. Not exactly how I hoped.

Prompt #24: 8/1/17

505 words, according to Google docs.

He whirled around for the fourth time that evening, narrowing his eyes at the dark shadows hugging the walls of the dungeons. Nothing moved. Groaning in frustration, he raked his hands through his hair and stalked on, his footsteps the only sound in the corridor - but wait. There it was again. A faint rustling sound traveled through the air. The sound of being followed.

Draco knew he was being unreasonably jumpy after his father popped a surprise visit to his dorm a week before, but he couldn't help it. Casting around one final glare, he marched off, determined not to turn around again.

Which is why, of course, he did so a mere five seconds later.

His breath caught in his throat as he noticed a glint of something in the darkening shadows - hair? A weapon? - his stalker was getting more daring.

That's it. He'd had enough.

"Who are you?" he demanded, drawing his wand and taking a defensive stance. More rustling. He could now make out a dim shape in the shadows - small and decidedly feminine - Pansy? No, it couldn't be. She was taller than that, certainly…

The girl stepped out from her position near the wall.

"Weasley?"

"Hello, Malfoy." She calmly pocketed her wand, tucked a roll of parchment in after it, and smiled at him. Draco blinked, silent in a rare moment of confusion.

"W-Weasley?" he finally managed. Her smile widened.

"Yes, that's me."

He sputtered on for a few moments, then said, "Were you stalking me?"

"Yes." Her voice was completely steady and unwavering, which intrigued him - it wasn't every day that he met a girl who didn't immediately melt in a puddle at his feet.

"And that's all you have to say?" he drawled, recovering quickly and quirking an eyebrow. The girl smirked.

"Yes." Wait - she smirked? That was his thing!

He couldn't help notice that she was good at it too. Had she learned that from Pansy?

Now that he thought about it, he'd seen them around the castle together a lot - pouring over books in the library, taking walks on the grounds, and working together during class. That was strange. He made a mental note to interrogate Pansy about it as soon as possible.

"Why?" he asked, keeping his voice carefully neutral and uninterested.

"Because I find you fascinating." She said this with no fanfare or embarrassment - only blunt honesty. Interesting.

"Has the littlest Weasley been spying on the big bad, Slytherin?" She exhibited the first sign of emotion other than amusement then - a faint flush spreading across her cheeks.

"So what if I have?"

"Then I'd say you were rather impulsive, foolish, inquisitive, and have good taste." It took a few moments for the last part to sink in, and she gaped slightly.

"Um, thanks?" He smirked.

"No problem, Weasley." He straightened, tucked his wand into his pocket, and gave a slight nod. "See you around."

He left her standing there, a sly grin slowly spreading across her features and a second plan forming in her mind.