Chapter XII

When We Live Such Fragile Lives...

Draco knew he had to make a decision. He really and truly liked GInny. That was a given. The question was, how much? He liked her enough to ruin his social standing. But did he like her enough to destroy his family? His mother... she wouldn't care. She would want him to be happy. But his father... now there was a bitter problem.

Draco sat at his table in the great hall, arms crossed over his chest and staring across the room at Ginny Weasley. He wanted her. He wanted the freedom to walk over to her table and snog her silly. If he had been a Gryffindor or someone other than a Malfoy, he would have had freedom to do that. No one would have blinked. No one would have cared.

Draco wondered if he wanted her because he wasn't supposed to have her. It was entirely likely, he knew. But part of him knew it went well beyond that. Past fascination and almost into infatuation. He liked her. Plain and simple.

Days bleed into weeks. The second task came and went and everyone started preparing for the third one.

Draco wrestled his inner demons. Ginny wrestled her own. But she was adamant. She would not break because she liked him.

It was the night before the final task. Draco sat in the Astronomy tower, alone. He had an idea what was going on tommorrow. Potter would doubtless win the final task and be a hero again. He still wondered how the hell Potter had gotten into the goblet in the first place, but he had the feeling it had something to do with one of the teachers. Maybe McGonnagall.

"You really are pathetic."

Draco turned to see Pansy entering the tower.

"Where's your counter part?" He asked snidely, referring to Neville, to whom she had been all but inseperable since the ball.

Pansy smiled, "I'm letting him help Potter."

"Well, the git certainly needs it."

"Be nice," Pansy said, sitting down beside him, dangling her feet out the window. "You are a complete idiot."

Draco winced, knowing exactly what she was talking about.

"Why the hell aren't you down there proving you like her? Do you know she's been talking to Potter? Sure he's obsessed with Chang but nothing lasts forever."

"What if I want forever, Pans?"

"Then get your ass in gear!"

"It's not that easy!"

Pansy sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder as she stared out into the night. "I know. You weren't blessed with wonderfully inattentive parents like me."

"How are your parents?"

"I think Dad might have killed Mum. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking."

Draco nodded sympathetically. Pansy's mother was a nagging bitch who wanted Pansy to marry young so she could control her daughter's life. Her father saw the writing on the wall and had decided to do everything he could to make sure his wife was distracted so his daughter could have a normal school life. His most recent project was devising ways to make his wife think he was trying to kill her. Draco, who had met his wife a time or two, had sent the man some ideas which were greeted with success.

"It's my dad that bothers me. With just Mum, I could go home and be fine," Draco said. "But with my father, that gets a bit more difficult. You have no idea how tempting it is to just squeal to the Ministry about him, but I have this crazy feeling he'd get out of it."

Pansy shook her head. "I just don't want to see you lose this. I know you, Draco. You like her. A lot. Promise me you won't blow this?"

Draco smiled at her and promised. They sat for a few more minutes in silence before Pansy made an excuse to get to bed. Draco knew she just needed to get away from him. They had history and not all of it was good. Still, they got along well enough for periods of time.

Draco continued to sit on the window sill til long past midnight. From here he could see the lights in the Gryffindor tower and he fancied he could see Ginny's sillouhette a time or two. As he sat there the lights flickered out, leaving the castle in darkness again.

He was just about to go to bed when an owl, one he recognized as a Malfoy owl flew over. He moved so the bird could land. It waited as he took off the letter then flew away, obviously not expecting a reply. Draco winced to see his father's spindly writing. He sighed, flicking light into his wand and uncurling the letter.

His eyes roved over the letter, at first resentful. But the words marched on bringing a sudden feeling of horror and revulsion as Draco pieced together his father's words, making connections in his brain.

Son-

I am aware that tommorrow is the final task in this silly exercise. I have no doubt you will attend. In fact, I request this of you. Be present. However, I ask that you not stray too close to the playing field. Certain events will transpire and I would hate for you to be implimented in them just yet. All shall go well and then you needn't worry about Potter any more. If anything goes awry, see either Professor Snape or 'Moody'. Either will help you.

Your Father.

PS I have heard a very disturbing rumor concerning the Yule Ball and a Miss Weasley. We will speak more of this over the summer.

Draco stared in horror at the page. He looked out over the grounds, his mind racing to conclusions and demanding action.

His eyes fell on the maze, all prepared for tommorrow. From here he could see the center of it. In a single instant he knew exactly what he would do.

His father could go to hell. He was going to be a hero.

(A/N: Happy yet? It keeps getting better from here! There are about three more chapters from here but I will be writing a sequel!