Chapter 24
Draco was not even halfway to the Slytherin dungeon when he realized how ridiculous it had been of him to leave so abruptly. He wasn't sure why it had suddenly seemed so urgent. He hadn't even apologized properly for Pansy's behaviour. There had been no reason to start defending her – he should have made it clear that he wanted to cooperate. It was stupid of him not to have asked Pansy to try to get along with the Gryffindors, but he had thought it would be obvious. But of course it wasn't, since she didn't know how important it was, because he hadn't told her that either. It was his own fault, and still he couldn't help being annoyed with her. She didn't have to stand on her pride like that, it would make everything so much easier for her, and for him, if she didn't.
Draco found Tracey and Millicent in the common room.
"Have you seen Pansy?" he asked them.
"Yeah, she went upstairs."
"Aren't you two still fighting?" asked Tracey.
He ignored her.
"Thanks," he said and headed for the stairs.
He knocked on the door to her dormitory.
"Pansy? May I come in?"
The door was pulled open from the other side and he took a surprised step back.
"Hi Draco," said Daphne. "She's in there."
"Thank you," he said as she slipped past him down the stairs.
He went in and closed the door behind him. Pansy was sitting on the bed. She had probably been talking to Daphne before he came.
"Sorry about the Gryffindors," he said.
She looked at him as if she couldn't care less about it.
"Sorry for breaking up you and Potter."
"They still want to do it. We'll have another meeting later."
"Weasley didn't sound like she was too fond of that idea. It's only a matter of time before the Gryffindor flock mentality kicks in and Potter goes back to hating you."
"Granger went after Weasley after you left. She said she'd try to persuade her to come back."
"Honestly, Draco, don't count on it."
"I didn't know Weasley was coming," he said.
"So you were hoping to get some alone time with Loony and Longbottom?"
"We need their help. You heard what I said back there-"
"Yeah, I heard you. Azkaban. I don't even know what to do with that. I feel like an idiot for getting mad at you about New Years, but you should have told me. I can't believe you told fucking Potter and not me."
"Sorry. I didn't know what to say to you. And I messed up badly when I tried talking to him."
"Doesn't look like you messed up until today."
"I humbly apologized when I realized that I needed his help."
She dropped the sarcasm, became serious for at moment.
"You really mean it, then – about blowing up Azkaban?"
"Yes."
"You'll get caught."
"I know it's dangerous, but-"
"No, seriously. You'll get caught and you'll be put in a cell next to your father and your mother will completely loose it."
"I'm trying really hard not to think about that."
"Why? You should."
"Someone has to do it, and if I don't then no one will."
"Stop that," she said. "Really. Being heroic doesn't suit you. Besides, we're not the heroes, remember?"
"I thought you were mad about that."
"I am, I'm mad about everything, that doesn't mean I want to be a hero. I don't want to die and I don't want to go to prison, I just…"
She waved dismissively. He waited. He wasn't going to change the subject just because she was annoyed. She groaned and let herself fall back on the bed.
"You're a terrible friend," she said to the ceiling. "Totally useless."
She raised herself up on one elbow to look at him.
"And I take back what I said earlier, this is so much worse than sixth year. At least murdering Albus Dumbledore was almost within the range of something that might have been possible under drastically different circumstances. This is just dumb."
"I'm not going to force you to help."
"You're sure I can't convince you to drop it?"
"I have to-"
"Yes, I heard you the first seven times, Draco. But what's happening next? I mean, today didn't exactly go well-"
"And whose fault is that?"
"Yours."
"You could have just ignored her."
"And you could have stunned me if you wanted me to shut up, but there are certain things we just don't do. It's called integrity."
"We'll have another meeting."
"Yes, the Gryffindors seemed really keen on that."
"Potter will talk to them."
"Right. Potter – I can't believe you've actually ensnared him with your tragic tales."
"So you won't come."
"Of course I'll come. I have to protect you from yourself. But if we get charged with treason I was under the imperius the whole time, understand?"
"You're impossible."
"I'm impossible? Here I am, graciously supporting your death wish, and then you don't even thank me?"
"Thanks," he said, not succeeding in holding back a smile. "You know you don't have to come when we actually go to Azkaban."
"Yes," she said. "Let's not talk about that part until it becomes relevant, shall we?"