disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKRowling not me.

Authors notes: summary of this story can be found in first chapter. Replying to review I actually don't really know what is going to happen yet and I know this is not very good but I shall figure it out. :)

In the Skin of a Slytherin

Chapter Two

Draco arrived at the Great Hall the next morning unbelievably early, even for himself, this was due to his restless sleep and after waking for what felt life the hundreth time decided to wake up even if the sun wasn't going to start showing itself and casting light on this part of the world for another hour or so.

He sat in his usual seat in the middle of the Slytherin table idly coating his croissant with chocolate spread. Usually he did not let anything so unhealthy enter his body but this was an exception and some sugar may help him stay awake for the day. His mind was on the letter though. He would have to corespond to his Mother's letter quickly, his parents would be less suspicious if a reply was given soon. He would also have to be rather careful with his wording. When the chocolate came into contact with his tastebuds it was like heaven and he closed his eyes savouring the delicious, forbidden taste.

The doors creaked and Draco's eyes shot open to find the source of the noise. What he saw surprised him. The door opened slightly and who else but the Golden Boy walked through into the Hall. As soon as Potter noticed he was not alone his face became quite comical in Draco's opinion; with his eyes bulging slightly and his mouth open faintly. Their eyes connected and they looked at each other for a while before Draco rose a questioning eyebrow and the Boy Who Lived's cheeks tainted a faint red before he carried on walking to the Gryffindor table and scooped some porridge into his bowl.

Draco watched the other boy who very rarely brought the food up to his mouth to eat. The Saviour was soon leaving the Great Hall before anyone else entered. This made Draco even more curious about Potter but decided that he had more important things in his life at that particular time that needed prioritising although he would keep an eye out on the other boy for anymore strange behaviour.

It was not too long after that the other students of Hogwarts began to drift into the Hall for breakfast. Draco noticed that some of his Slytherin third years had taken two spaces usually occupied by fourth years. That could cause a stir amoungst the house and he noted to watched those two years closely for the following few weeks.

Soon the other seventh year Slytherins entered the Grat Hall with the exception to Pansy. This aided Draco's mood to brighten imediately. Blaise was soon sitting across from him with the rest of the year surrounding them.

"Morning Draco." He called brightly while dishing himself up with breakfast.

"Zabini," Draco replied, it had not been a good morning and Draco never shortened things down so therefore just stuck to Blaise's name with a small nod.

Blaise's eyebrows rose at the sight of Draco's breakfast. He silently questioned Draco but Draco was not going to answer him, especially not around such a crowd so therefore discreetly but pointedly shook his head once. And Blaise nodded in understanding.

The rest of breakfast went by quietly for the seventh year Slytherins, many having noticed the ingredients on Draco's plate and not wishing to be the victim of one of his bad moods. The only one who would usually talk to Draco in one of his moods was Blaise but even he was silent this morning. Draco did not really mind about this, he carefully watched the interactions between the third and fourth years, proud that they had not made a spectacle yet not expecting less. He would have to be in the common room that night. At that thought an idea came to him.

"Zabini," he called, Blaise's head came up to look at him from his breakfast questioningly. "when was the last time we held a competitions night in the common room?"

He asked, Blaise usually held this information for him and often planned these events. " the annual first night of school. Welcoming the first years."

" I believe we are in order for another then, it is already October. We shall have this month's one tonight then. Could you get the message around? I would like everyone present it is a tradition after all."

"And what shall we be playing?" Blaise asked raising an eyebrow, it was very unusual for Draco to act spontaneously.

"The usual I think. Although there seems to be some tension between the third and fourth years so maybe not the very potent ones." Draco replied contemplating.

Blaise nodded showing that he had seen it too and had also taken a note of it. Slytherins were nothing if not observant, for to be sly and ambitious one must learn surveillance skills and listening is also crucial.

It was becoming very close to the beginning of their first lesson so the year stood as a whole and left together, talking about what should be played that night. It was one of the things most Slytherins looked forward to.

The morning went by uneventful for Draco and mainly involved taking notes and planning. He had come to a decision in History of Magic to send his response to his parents at lunch therefore being able to give his mind wholly to the sports that night.

That was why Draco sat at the table at lunch with a scowl on his face, repeatedly slicing his chicken while carefully choosing his words for the letter.

"I believe it's dead already Draco and if it wasn't given to you dead it sure is now so can you please eat it?" Blaise tried to joke but the only response he got was a sneer and even harsher dicing of the meat.

After more scowling and dicing of chicken Draco stood speaking to the whole, " I have something that must be done now. I shall see you all in transfigurations." Already walking with his head held high before he had finished the last sentence. Giving no time for the others to question him.

Draco sat by the window of the owlery. Really he should have found a quiet, empty classroom to write his letter, it definitely would have been better than this room. It smelt appalling with all the owl droppings on the floor, and the parts of mice that had only been halve eaten and the rest left to rot on the floor. There were also feathers everywhere. And then there was the screeching of some of the owls, did they not know they were supposed to be nocturnal creatures? Especially a small one that repeatedly flapped, excitedly around his head. Draco kept having to swat it away. But it was the view in this room that he enjoyed, it expanded out over much of the grounds and the quidditch pitch could be seen easily from here. that would be useful information to store when the other house teams were practising.

Draco decided he had spent enough time viewing his surroundings and tried to write his letter.

Dear Mother,

I wish you are in good health and all things at the Manor are well. I am writing in response to your last letter and apologise for not contacting you sooner.

He paused here, that was his usual introduction with minor changes to the wording so needed no contemplation or thought, the rest would though.

I shall await information on the celebration. I can understand my requirement to attend. I should like you to know that I wish to follow my beliefs in all business and both Father and yourself have taught me astonishingly. It would give me such satisfaction to be amoung such people as our business associates.

If this event takes place during my time at school please be assured that I shall work extremely hard and make sure I have not missed anything in my education, I realise that this year is particularly important for my future.

Your dedicated son, Draco Malfoy.

Draco reread the letter several times and was satisfied with it although not pleased. It was extremely hard to deceive to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy but he felt that letter was as good as he was going to be able to construct. His parents were prejudiced enough to believe that he was excited about joining the psychotic Dark Lord.

He did share some of his views with his parents about muggleborns taking away the tradition of purebloods and he understood why they felt like that, due to the fact that he was brought up in pureblood society and understood how muggleborns were not taught the traditions of wizarding society therefore these events could not take place at Hogwarts for instance. But Draco did not find it appealing to marry a second cousin, he had even heard of first cousins marrying. Incest did not attract him and can cause a lot of problems with the children being born so muggleborns were needed to carry on wizarding society. He was torn and that was why he wished to keep out of the war.

Draco soon sent off his letter watching the eagle owl fly off until it was too far away to be distinguished and then set off for transfigurations.

The buzz of the Slytherin table at dinner that night was electric. Word had spread about the events night and all were excited. Obviously this was kept to a minimal as they did not want to cause any others to be suspicious of them. Everyone from the other three houses seemed to believe that all Slytherins were in league with the Dark Lord and if they were excited it was probably due to an attack happening soon, unbelievable. Draco sat at the table feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from him that had been pulling him down for the past several days.

" I was thinking we should start with the money games Draco. How about you?" Blaise asked him.

" If you start with the money games you shall not be playing a great sum of money, people need to be eased into the atmosphere, especially the younger ones."

"that's true, what do you suggest we start with then?"

"Truth."

"You think people are more willing to give up secrets than money to start with?" Blaise asked looking sceptical.

"There are some who believe money is worth more than anything else, I wish to correct that view especially with the times we live in today. Tonight is about teaching and learning."

Blaise rolled his eyes, " yeah, teaching and learning, not pleasing and earning. We heard you the last time and the one before that."

The whole of Slytherin table was finished with their meals a lot sooner than usual ready to go.

The games began at seven thirty giving people time to finish their homework beforehand and would often go on until the early hours of the morning but Draco wanted to finish them early if others wished to play on they were allowed but if there was any cheating Draco would not be the one to sort it out.

At seven thirty Draco stood and called for attention the rest of the house giving him their full attention imediately.

"I realise that it is now half way through October and we have not had a games night since the initial welcoming of the first years. That is why tonight was a late notice and the room is not decorated as usual but I am certain some decorations will not affect your minds ability to play." Draco stopped as the door opened and allowed Pansy and a boy in.

His brows furrowed, Draco had never seen this boy before, not in his own house nor in any other and they looked about the same age, Slytherin robes were not that hard to come across. The boy had brown hair and from where Draco was blue eyes. His skin was almost as pale as Draco's own. He immediately thought of glamour charms, one of the other houses had probably become suspicious of them, well let them pretend to fool him, let them make a fool out of themselves for someone not of Slytherin would not be able to play well at these games. Draco smirked.

"How glad I am for you to finally join us." He called to the late parties. Draco's eyes connected with Blaise and Blaise shot a glance at the mystery guest and giving Draco a quizzical gaze, and Draco nodded acknowledging that he knew what he was doing. "Is everyone now present Zabini?" he asked.

"All accounted for yes" was the reply and he nodded, able to start.

"we shall play an easy truth game to begin with, for those of you that have not played this before I shall tell you what this game consists of. To begin with, each person shall take a drop of veritaserum, we shall play as a house for this game I feel so please remember we are playing with first years. Each person shall have a chance to ask a question and will also have to answer a question. Some may have more than one go. The objective is to tell the absolute bare minimum that you can, being evasive. Once you have had your go you can move on to another game or stay with this one if you wish." Draco and Blaise had already discussed this, Draco always asked the first question and he would ask Blaise so that if others didn't like this game he could set up others.

Blaise preferred playing with money anyway whereas Draco favoured games where he could get insights onto others personalities, their fears and their embarrassing moments, he found it very useful information for being the leader of Slytherin.

"Could I please remind all first years they must be in bed by nine and this progressing a half hour with each year group. This may be a good social event but there will be no awful grades due to this. And a good night's rest is always needed for a mind to work." He called set bedtimes had always been issued through the house of Slytherin a competitions night or not.

"Veritaserum is being distributed, you shall be given one drop, if you do not take it there are enchantments in the room that shall make you glow red." Red had been the decided colour as it was the opposite of green therefore seen easily and also many associate it with Gryffindors.

Everyone was soon given their dose Draco being the last, ready to start. Once the chatter had died down Draco began.

"Blaise, would you tell us about the time you thought worms were the most delicious spaghetti you had ever eaten?" Draco smirked as Blaise scowled, Draco often reminded him of this but he found it hilarious and so did most of the first years, usually relaxing them into the game.

"I was three at the time. I also thought Draco was a girl." Was Blaise's answer. The first and second years burst into fits of giggles and Draco glared at Blaise. " Felton" Blaise shouted over the crowd to a first year boy with mousey hair. "why were you screaming the other morning?"

"There was a mouse in the dorm room, but I didn't know it wasn't real." First years were always bad at these games but over time they get better. The game went on like this for quite some time with mainly First years being questioned and many soon left to play the game Blaise had set up. Meaning that Blaise was beginning to get quite a few winnings.

"Draco," Draco turned to where his name was being called and found it was the mysterious guest and Draco silently berated himself for not hearing this new comers answer, he could have found out a lot by it. He scratched out Hufflepuff as none of them would have asked him a question when none of his own house had. "I wish to speak with the Dark Lord are you planning on meeting him soon?"

Draco swallowed. That was a question usually silently agreed to be forbidden. Technically there were no rules but the Dark Lord was a touchy subject for all Slytherins and many people in other houses too. Draco thought that the mystery guest was likely a Gryffindor, Ravenclaws would have realised all subjects on the war were not talked about. But this question had been asked in a strange way, I wish to speak to the Dark Lord? It sounds as if there is a traitor amoung the Lions but who? That would have to take more thought for now Draco had to answer before he spilled out the complete truth.

"I have no reason to speak to the Dark Lord." That answer could be taken both ways, he had no reason because he was not in league with the creature, and also he had not been assigned anything by the Dark Lord. "what is your name?" he shot back quickly.

"James." Was the simple reply. He could not think of any Gryffindor with the name James. And the game went on with Draco sat, in his high backed chair above the rest, lost in contemplation.

"Draco." A voice sung and he knew before facing her that it was Pansy. "who in this school would you most want to kiss?" her face looked eager, longing, malicious and ready to kill all at the same time. Draco rolled his eyes, she would pick this question, again, it was such a juvenile question.

"Anyone but you Pansy." He replied effortlessly. Causing her lips to curl into a sneer and run from the room. He rolled his eyes again, she seemed determined to have a relationship with him and it was not going to happen. The only reason he had gone to the Yule ball with her was because she kept pestering him and she could dance although barely.

The truth game soon ended after that and many people had split up for the money competitions. Blaise joined Draco by the fire in his usual chair. They sat quietly watching the goings on around them for some time. There was quite a lot of competitiveness between the third and fourth years but nothing out of hand.

Draco glanced at the clock, the first years had already been sent to bed and it was now time for the second years to retire for the night. " could all second years please finish what they are doing and head to their dormitories you must be there in ten minutes." He called to the room at large. There were many grumbles as unhappy second years trudged to their dormitories.

"so who do you think it is?" Blaise asked quietly. Draco understood immediately.

" I believe they are a Gryffindor. Said they were called James but I cannot recall anyone with that name in either of the sixth or seventh years in any house."

"hmmmm. Neither can I. And this was said under veritaserum? That's quite a slippery Gryffindor there then. I haven't been able to pick up on any individual body language either. You don't suppose it's an adult do you?"

"No adult can get into Hogwarts and why would a teacher glamorise themself?"

"Talking about me?" a voice whispered in Draco ear and he whipped his head around to stare into ocean blue depths. The brunette then came into full view of both of them and plonked himself down on a couch nearby. " I feel very flattered you know." He grinned.

Both Draco and Blaise stared at him in utter bewilderment. Draco soon snapped out of his state of shock. " Who are you?" he demanded.

"I've already told you I am James under veritaserum what more do you need?" he cocked his eyebrow in question.

" why are you here then?" Draco asked, changing his questions feeling that the other would not get him very far.

"why would I not be?" the other questioned pointing at his Slytherin tie.

"You're not one of us snakes." Blaise intoned. His brows creased together in trying to figure out who this was. Draco would have said something about this and getting wrinkles but not when there was a stranger in their territory, especially a Gryffindor.

"Who said that? I may have the mind of a snake even though I don't have the heart of one." And still there was an infuriating eyebrow raised as if mocking them.

That was some very useful information, mind of a snake. Obviously not a Ravenclaw, although these riddles were rather good. That sentence made Draco even more certain that they had a lion in their ranks.

" Well you have not proved to us that you have the mind of a snake." Draco was trying to get a reaction out of their mysterious guest.

"Yes, I came over here for business not an idle chat." The lion replied. This took Draco aback abit but he kept his composure, the brunette may have the upper had at the moment but he wasn't going to show that.

"Pray tell what this business is."

The lion leaned in slightly as did Blaise but Draco made no attempt at moving if this person wanted to prove he had the mind of a snake very well if so then he would be under Draco's leadership not the other way around.

"I thought you would be the best one to get this information from, seeing as you are the unofficial 'Prince of Slytherin'." Draco made a face at the title. He had never liked being called that, at least their mystery lion had not included the 'Ice' that some do.

"I cannot tell you if I am the best candidate for your informer if I do not know what information you require or should I say wish for." He said coolly not only did he not like the title the lion had given but he was nobody's messenger. "Also my position within Slytherin is official enough though I am not the 'Prince'"

"I'm sorry to offend you." That line showed that this person was not of total Slytherin origin. "I wish for information on who within Slytherin has definately sided with that of the Dark Lord and who may side with Dumbledore."

Draco couldn't help his eyes bulging slightly. If he had thought the question earlier had been intrusive and against imaginable laws this was many times worse than that. Draco did not know who this mystery person was so did not know which of his snakes he would be betraying and that was against another set of unwritten laws. One snake does not reveal another to that of any other person living outside of Slytherin. Yes, Slytherins were competetive with one another and used one another but only within their own house. Outside their common room they stood as one, Slytherin had always been the house that was outcast by the others so the had to form close together.

What this lion was asking him to do was unimaginable. If he were caught doing this he would be cast out from his house. He had already sent the letter to his parents informing them that he would stand by his beliefs, going against the Malfoy name. To go against Slytherin as well? That would cause him to have many enemies, many enemies that could do him a lot of harm.

Blaise had been just as silent as he. Most likely having the same thoughts flash through his mind. He looked at Blaise who gave him a quick, hardly visible shake of the head.

"Do you realise what you have just asked of me?" Draco asked his voice so low it was almost a growl.

End of Chapter Two

Author's notes: yes it is probably very easy to guess who the mystery lion is but Draco doesn't know people in Gryffindor's middle names. Bit of a cliff hanger here. I hope to get the next chapter out in two weeks.