Nothing I Have Ever Seen

Chapter 1

The torches mounted on the stone wall dimly lit the narrow corridor. An elongated shadow appeared at the far end as a boy turned to corner and strode past towards the door, his black cloak flying out behind him. He reached the black iron door with its silver studs and barged through without breaking his stride. He stopped inside the door as it slammed shut behind him. The students in the Slytherin common room looked up. Draco acknowledged their attentions and smirked, then sauntered over to his usual place in the seventeenth century armchair in front of the fire. He felt the other students' eyes on him as he crossed the room. This is the way it should be, he thought, a wizard with such a pure and powerful family as his had a right to as much respect and awe. He enjoyed watching the younger witches and wizards visibly shrink away from him as he passed. The power he had.

Draco Malfoy sank into his chair- left vacated as always- and saw that the two seats opposite, usually taken by Crabbe and Goyle, were empty. Good. Now was not the time to deal with those two simpletons.

He threw his books and a role of parchment onto the mahogany table separating him from the two chairs opposite, pulled out his quill and prepared to write. A potions essay for Snape. This would be simple. It seemed that whatever Draco wrote earned him top marks and multiple house points. But this evening... there was something else on Draco's mind. But what that thing was, Draco didn't know. He frowned as he turned his gaze to the fire, bewitched green, and giving the common room its distinct eerie feel. He tore his eyes away and observed the others in the room. He saw Marcus Flint, captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team with the rest of the players huddled in a corner, no doubt discussing the coming match against Hufflepuff. Draco smiled to himself. That was one game he needed no help with. He could deal with their seeker blindfolded. Nearby, Pansy Parkinson was whispering excitedly to some other Slytherin girls. Equally as hideous, he thought sneering. Pansy looked up and caught his eye, pouted in a way that only seemed to accentuate her pug nose, and waved daintily at him. Draco, expressionless looked away.

He thought of his father's parting comments to him as Draco boarded the Hogwarts Express that September.

Draco, it's more important than ever that you carry on living up to your name this year. The Yule Ball is approaching and I want you to be seen attending with a suitable guest. You're going with Parkinson's daughter. It is already arranged.

Already arranged. His father had no right to order him around, define his life. Parkinson's daughter! He had no intention in the least to be seen with that simpering... However pure her bloodline was, she was the last person Draco would turn attention to.

His thoughts were interrupted, and a figure had appeared before him. Pansy had left her pathetic friends and come over. She looked up at him from her position perched on the end of the footstool.

"Hello, Draco," she began in a husky voice. He did not reply.

"It's the Yule Ball on next Friday Draco. Are you looking forward to it?"

As if.

"I am. All my friends are so jealous I'm going with you. But some have it and some don't I suppose..." She giggled girlishly- annoyingly- and touched her hair coquettishly.

Yeah. Some have it. You don't.

"Anyway, I'll not disturb you any longer! I'm sure you want to get on with your work." Her gaze lingered on him before practically skipping back to her friends.

That was another trouble on his mind, adding to... whatever it was bothering him at the moment. He couldn't put his finger on it, which annoyed him even more.

Staring back at the empty parchment on the table in front of him, he sighed, dipped his quill in the ink and began to write.

*

Draco's mood had not improved since the previous evening as he sat down for breakfast in the Great Hall. To his immense annoyance, Pansy had placed herself directly opposite his normal place at the table and looked at him expectantly as he ignored her and waited for Goyle to butter his toast.

"Draco, I must tell you something," Pansy paused for somewhat dramatic effect. She carried on, regardless of his lack of response. "Marcus Flint just asked me to the Yule Ball. Of course I told him I was going with you..." She looked at him in anticipation.

Waiting for his response obviously. Well, she wouldn't be getting one. He highly doubted that anyone would be foolish enough to ask for her company. She obviously wanted his attention. For him to say, No Pansy, don't go with him, I want to go with you. On the other hand, if it were true, what did Flint think he was doing, trying to take something that was rightfully his? The thought enraged Draco... but it would rid him of his dilemma...

He raised his eyes to her finally and said coolly, "So be it. Let Flint take you. I don't care."

Pansy's expectant smile faltered. "What?"

Draco shrugged, almost imperceptibly.

"Fine. I'll go and tell him then, shall I?" she said stiffly.

Draco dropped her disappointed eye contact and looked past her left shoulder to the Gryffindor table, then immediately wished he hadn't. He wrinkled his nose and sneered almost instinctively at the chattering crowd. From across the room he could see that Potter and Weasley were deep in conversation, no doubt about plans to break the rules yet again. The teachers seemed oblivious to them, as if they were special exceptions to rules. If anyone deserved special attention and to be exempt from the school policies, it was him, Draco. He and his family had more power than the whole school put together. His heart beat faster as his loathing for Potter rose again in his chest. He looked further along the table. A small girl, chattering animatedly with her friends caught his attention. And no wonder, he thought, with that vivid red hair encircling her face. Another Weasley. Another product of the family who wasted their pure bloodline. It was almost as if they were Muggles, the way they behaved. It was a disgrace to their heritage. Almost as if she felt herself being watched, Ginny's gaze fell across the Slytherin table- right onto Draco. She stopped talking abruptly and opened her mouth slightly, a confused expression crossed her elf-like face. Draco scowled at her and she raised her eyebrows and looked away, back to her friends. The nerve of her. Didn't she know how annoying she was?

*