Chapter 15 My Lovely Foe
Wednesday morning, Draco saw Hermione on her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts. She looked much better just a little tired and walking with a very slight limp. "Feeling better?"
"Yes, thanks to you, Draco," she replied in a very defeated voice. "You seem to be in an extremely chipper mood this morning, much better than last night."
"Sorry, you had to see me like that and endure my drunken ramblings."
"It's ok. You've seen me tipsy." Hermione still couldn't believe that she allowed herself to drink too much with Draco or actually anyone.
"You were quite amusing. That was a fun evening."
"Yes, it was," she agreed.
"In a couple of weeks, I won't be hording all your time anymore." That thought saddened Draco.
No because you have to spend all your time with her. There goes all my fun. "Don't think of it that way. We're friends."
Draco looked at her thoughtfully. "Yes, we are." He kissed her forehead. "We'll get biggle berries tomorrow? I don't want you going by yourself again."
From behind him, Mickey said, "Don't tell her what to do. Just because you're a pure-blood royal, doesn't make you the boss of her."
Draco clenched his fists. "Just because I'm not a pussy whipped oaf, letting her endanger herself, despite the fact that you know better, in order to keep getting ..." He stopped himself before he became rude to Hermione who backed away at this point. "For her sake, I am walking away before I do something you'll regret." Briskly, he walked away until he sensed danger. He spun and dodged a fire bolt. Aiming his wand, he yelled, "Seis Volando Espadachín!" Six swords with his family crest, fueled by hatred and ancient Malfoy magic flew from his wand towards Mickey, pinning him against the stone wall, at his throat, wrists, stomach and knees, becoming corporeal as they did. They hovered, awaiting his command while he marched towards Mickey.
"See how the pure-bloods treat one of their own when they sympathize with the Muggle borns," Mickey said loudly, "especially the dark wizards."
"This has absolutely nothing to do with that." He snatched Mickey's wand. "This is pure enjoyment since I am a dark wizard." He grinned wickedly as he threw Mickey's wand as far as he could. Then he walked away, leaving the swords. After class, he commanded the swords back. They flew back to his wand intangible, scaring several students as they flew incorporeally through them.
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The next day, just within the Dark Forest, amongst some grey mossy plants, he gathered the yellow and white polka dotted biggle berries with Hermione, who completely ignored him, except for the occasional glare. My life just keeps getting better and better. "I'm sorry about Mickey."
"You haven't changed at all! You hate him because he's a Blood Traitor." She muttered, "Same old Malfoy."
"I have changed! I don't hate him because of that," he countered. "I have other reasons."
"Then you need to control your jealousy. He doesn't pose a threat to your precious encouraged marriage," she yelled storming away, ignoring him. "You'll have your leggy fiancée."
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Friday evening Professor McGonagall saw him on the grounds as he made his way to the interns' quarters and asked him to come to her office immediately. When he arrived, Hermione and two Gryffindor seniors stood there looking very worried. "Mr. Malfoy, what are you doing on the grounds so late?"
"Just ……..walking," he answered. "Why?" Suddenly, Hermione gave him a cheesed off look.
"Three first year Gryffindor students are missing," Professor McGonagall explained. "Do you know anything about it?"
"No," he replied.
"Drew Maltese and Ted Sherwood are believed to have taken them. Do you know these boys," Professor McGonagall asked.
"I know they were in my house and two years behind me but I never associated with them," he answered.
"Very well," she turned to Mr. Filch. "We'll just have to keep questioning them."
Filch countered, "There are ways to get them to talk."
McGonagall explained, "We can't torture them nor can we use Veritaserum."
When a din of arguing ensued, Draco quietly withdrew to the next room, thinking of how low the seniors had become by kidnapping children. Two Slytherin seniors stood up smiling with glee. "We're glad you're here. We took care of three Mudblood first years." They laughed evilly. "Aren't you proud?"
Draco commanded, "Decem Volando Espadachín!" Five Malfoy swords pressed against each boy. Ten swords pushed his limits but Draco's anger fueled them. "Where are they?" Both boys paled and trembled in fear so he pressed the swords against their abdomens. "I won't ask again." Laughing maniacally, he drew a few drops of blood. "I'll eviscerate you both, leisurely."
"Shrieking Shack," the boys stuttered.
For Draco, the ends which were laudable had been discovered using methods considered iniquitous. While someone like Hermione or Potter would feel guilt over his methods, Draco didn't. Actually, he enjoyed how he got the results but he also enjoyed the knowledge that he saved some children. I'm not a good wizard but am I a dark wizard, still? Then he rejoined the party who argued in the next room. "You may want to check the Shrieking Shack," he announced, startling them.
"Why do you say that," asked Hermione.
"Call it a hunch." Draco headed out. "I need to go now. I've got things to do."
"We will take care of this matter. Thank you for the information, Mr. Malfoy." Professor McGonagall grabbed her broom.
One of the Gryffindors muttered, "He knew because he master minded the entire thing."
Outside McGonagall's office, Bianca stood in her night robe angrily tapping her foot as all the students and interns left. "Forgive me dear but I had perform an inquisition. I'm sorry I'm late for…wizard chess." Quickly, he fell into step beside. "I promise the longest game ever."
Thoughthe laughed, Bianca gave him a dirty look.
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That Monday the school was abuzz with gossip. Draco Malfoy tried to kill the wizard who ogled his fiancée. Then he masterminded the kidnapping of three first year Gryffindors as revenge. Pretty soon, his reputation for malevolence would rival that of Voldemort himself. All the students gave him a wide berth no matter where he went. Secretly, he loved that reputation.
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On the Ministry front, he fully obtained the position as Head of Archival Records. Using the Floo Network, he easily travelled between his study and his office when he didn't feel like flying. A loyal ghost, Mrs. McCaffrey, served as his secretary for his Archives position only. In order to keep his identity secret, he only communicated through her. Then he sent memos to various departments from Adam soliciting ideas for improvements from not just department heads but their underlings as well. The personnel records of the Ministry revealed an overwhelming number of bureaucrats with no more to do than push papers and an under-staffed underpaid department of Aurors. Dark wizards could easily break in and cause havoc. He sent a series memos to hire more Aurors and get them more combat training, while freezing the hiring of paper pushers. In order to watch each other's backs, he wanted the Aurors to work in teams. Also, he developed a way to deploy their existing staff to get more work done. All in all, he preferred exhaustion from work to emptiness from home.
