I don't know why, but my other story just isn't writing very well at the moment. Hopefully I will update both stories tomorrow, but until then, I lave you with this chapter.
The person known as Draco Malfoy woke the morning after the Yule Ball to a sense of uneasiness. Groaning slightly, Malfoy pulled himself out of bed to discover the rest of his dormitory was asleep. Frowning, he heard a sort of rattling sound at the end of his bed.
With a moan, Malfoy wiped the sleep from his eyes and opened up his trunk. Inside, his sneakoscope spun, bouncing of the sides of his trunk. His sense of unease heightened, Malfoy grabbed his robes and shoes. Dressing quickly (and feeling ridiculous while doing so) he exited the dormitory, wand held in front of him.
It was not often he felt fear. Actual, real fear. Usually, he just went running to his "father" when there was a problem he couldn't solve by flaunting his pureblood status. Now was one of the few times in his life when he felt this primal emotion flow through him.
Malfoy couldn't really understand why he was feeling this way. He stood in the shadows of the Slytherin Common Room, but he could not find any reason why his sneakoscope and instincts had been acting up. Malfoy quickly exited the common room - it didn't feel safe to stay put. Hurrying on his way out of the dungeons, Malfoy searched for a position where he wouldn't be so exposed if there was a confrontation.
After wondering the corridors for a couple of hours, the first signs of life started to show inside the castle, with students laughing with each other on their way to breakfast in the Great Hall. Still, Malfoy was unable to relax. It was the sensation of a calm before a storm and Malfoy had no idea what form the danger would take.
Fatigued, Malfoy leant against one of the castle walls for a moment and closed his eyes. Usually it was like looking through a warped piece of seaglass, viewing the memories of the original Draco Malfoy, for all of the moments that were vaguely interesting happened a long time in the past. Malfoy had no intention of reminiscing about St. Mungo's hospital beds, so he would ignore all the recent memories. Today, however he lingered.
Whatever intuition made him do so, Malfoy was grateful. The fact that his double was no longer locked up was a major cause for concern, as was the arrest of his father - not that he would be contained for long. Reopening his eyes, Malfoy blinked in surprise to find himself looking into the face of Pansy Parkinson, his date from the ball last night.
"Draco!" For a second, Malfoy feared that Pansy would hug or kiss him or do something equally inappropriate for people of their position. Instead, she simply beamed at him, which Malfoy found quite disconcerting. "Professor Snape said he wanted to talk to you after breakfast."
"Professor Snape?" Malfoy's thoughts went into overdrive. If anyone had found out the truth about him, would Snape stand by his father? Or would he go running to Dumbledore? Malfoy knew it would be a close call and decided that he would rather not wait and see.
Pansy nodded enthusiastically, pleased to have been of use. "He came and asked after you as straight after his morning conversation with Dumbledore." She seemed delighted to prove useful information, but her mouth twisted with distaste when she uttered the Headmaster's name.
"Thank you, Pansy." Malfoy told the girl solemnly (you had to pity her really). "That was most informative."
He swept away with as much dignity as he could muster, not heading in the direction of the Great Hall, but the Hogwarts grounds. A meeting with Dumbledore would not be worth the risk. As he reached the school gates, Malfoy took one last look at the castle and realising that he might just miss the damned place. He shook the stupid thought from his mind, it would be a fatal move for someone like him to get attached to anything.