Evil Masterminds, or Becoming Draco Malfoy

Chapter Twelve: Sharing is Caring

Day Five, Thursday, 7:19 a.m., Sleepless Night

    Madeline gasped as Ernie and Justin came down the stairs from their dorm.

    "Ernie, what... you two look horrible!" Hannah said, none too delicately.

    "Thanks, honey," Ernie replied dryly, rubbing his palms over his eyes.

    "That would be due to the lack of sleep," muttered Justin, suppressing a yawn. "And the lack of sleep would be due to Malfoy singing 'I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am' throughout the night at the top of his lungs."

    Madeline gasped again and quickly covered her grin with her hand lest she attract censure.

    "He passed out around one in the morning, but then woke up again around four, and continued to torment us," Ernie groaned.

    "That bastard," Madeline murmured, a hand still over her mouth. "Though, actually, this works out perfectly. You look bad enough that people will believe you're sick and not question our story."

    As Justin himself had been missing class for a few days now, the Hufflepuffs needed to silence those who might wonder and question where he was. There had been a surprisingly small number of people asking after him, however, which hurt Justin's feelings. Pansy, with suggestive eyes, as well as with the Hufflepuffs and Draco still in the room at the time, had reassured Justin that she would do her best to make him feel better the next evening in the Astronomy Tower. Justin had gone scarlet; Hannah had covered Justin's ears and scolded Pansy for her "wicked, wicked ways", all the while Ernie in the background muttering that Hannah could probably give Pansy some pointers in "wicked, wicked ways"; Madeline had laughed till tears rolled down her face, and Malfoy had groaned and begged for her to obliviate the last five minutes from his mind.

    They had decided, then, to make sure no one got *too* suspicious, that Justin would make an appearance in his first class of the morning (they would claim that Malfoy had slept in or something like that), saying that he had been sick all the week before, but he had been feeling a little better that morning. Then, of course, halfway through the lesson he would make it clear that he was not at all better and claim to have to return to bed. After which, their plans for FauxDraco's day would continue as before.

    "Malfoy's not a bad bass, though," added Justin judiciously. "Excellent air support and diction. Though I suppose his choice of repertoire is a bit dubious."

    "Wouldn't Caroline be pleased to hear that?" commented Hannah.

    Madeline glanced at her watch. "We need to go soon. I still have to finish that Potions assignment before tomorrow, and I don't know when I'm going to find the time-"

    "Do it while your watching Draco during lunch," suggested Ernie.

    "But it was my shift just last night," Madeline argued.

    "And she wouldn't be able to get anything accomplished if she's too long with him alone," added Hannah pointedly, giving Madeline A Look.

    "That might be true, but Justin and I have come to a decision," said Ernie, pompously. "Having reviewed all of our schedules, it seems easiest for Madeline to take all the remaining shifts of Malfoy-watching. Besides being convenient for the rest of us, it would also provide more security for us. Malfoy is less likely to try something while Madeline is around." He nodded his head with finality.

    "Why didn't I get a say in this decision?!?" demanded Hannah at the same time that Madeline said,

    "It's not like he can 'try anything', anyway, he's wandless and bound to a chair!"

    "Sweetheart," began Ernie, attempting to placate his girlfriend, "this was Justin and my idea to begin with, our plan, and ultimately, we will take responsibility if something should go wrong. We have every right to make these kinds of decisions."

     "In the future, I should at least liked to be asked," Hannah replied through gritted teeth.

    "And what about me? Don't I have any say?" put in Madeline.

    "Madeline, please," begged Justin.

    "And why do you care? You don't even have to watch him anyway!" she continued, though she appeared to be breaking. She huffed, then muttered, "Fine."

    Justin grinned widely. "Excellent. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to appear to be violently ill."

11:57, Underneath a Staircase, Getting the Facts Straight

    "All right, now was that third or fourth year?" FauxDraco asked a smiling Pansy.

    "Third."

    "And it was all over?"

    "*All* over. Huge mess," she replied, nodding.

    "Who was it?"

    "Crabbe."

    "Lovely. Ready to have some fun, m'dear?" asked FauxDraco, proffering his arm to Pansy.

    "Absolutely."

12:02, the Great Hall, Triggering Bad Memories

    FauxDraco sat down at the Slytherin table, eyeing the pudding before him. "Eck."

    "What's wrong, Draco?" Pansy prompted innocently, sliding into a seat across from him.

    FauxDraco quickly repressed the smirk that threatened to develop at her acting. "I can't believe they're serving this rubbish again. Like I needed to be reminded of that time in third year when I vomited it all over the table. Wasn't that an unsightly mess?" he replied, making a face and shaking his head, pretending to not notice that everyone around him had just dropped their forks and were looking away from their plates.

    "And I mean *all over* the table too," FauxDraco continued. "You remember that, Crabbe? I think some got on your plate, too, and you nearly puked as well. Absolutely disgusting. And Millie, didn't some get in your lap?" Neither would look him in the face and were suppressing disgusted looks. FauxDraco shook his head again. "Merlin, that was embarrassing. And the smell-" Goyle quickly stood and left the table, nearly knocking his chair over in his haste. All confusion and surprise, FauxDraco asked, "What's wrong with *him*?"

1:27, Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Sharing

    "People always have this misconception that I am completely ignorant of muggles and muggle culture," whined FauxDraco to his audience of a couple fellow Slytherins, and a few stray Gryffindors who were pretending *not* to listen. "In truth, I know a good deal about muggles, mostly their forms of entertainment. Take for example just last year. While on holiday with some distant cousins, they forced me to watch a muggle moo-vee with them. It was an American carr-toon called, "Bambi", and let me tell you, it was fantastic. I laughed, I was moved, and yes, I cried too."

    Here, the Gryffindors who 'weren't listening' snorted, but did their best to cover their amusement. And it was obvious more of them were listening now too.

    "When Bambi's mother died... oh, Merlin, I cried like a baby. I was just too emotionally involved. That poor little innocent, motherless deer... I didn't even realize the tears were falling until my little cousin began pointing and laughing at me. I mean, can you imagine? A sixteen-year-old wizard crying over a silly muggle moo-vee?" He sighed heavily. "It was so *humiliating*."

3:43, Charms classroom, Sharing Too Much

    "It's a bit drafty in here," FauxDraco murmured aloud, shivering a bit.

    Zabini eyed him curiously.

    "Oh, sorry," said FauxDraco. "I'm not wearing any underwear, so when there's a breeze, I feel it, you know what I mean?"

    Zabini was now staring at him in horror.

    "It's quite liberating, actually. You should try it sometime."

    "You're not coming on to me again, are you?" asked Zabini cautiously.

    "Oh, please, Zabini, I was just teasing you the other day," replied FauxDraco, slapping him lightly on the arm. "I'm straight as an arrow. Not that I haven't had a rogue wet dream now and again, but everyone gets those, right?"

    "..."

    "Right?"

5:42, the Hufflepuff Boys' Dorm, Learning Something New

    "So Madeline, what's your sign?"

    Madeline's brow wrinkled in confusion. "'Yield to pedestrians in crosswalk'?" she offered.

    Hannah and Ernie, who had taken Muggle Studies with her, snorted. Pansy now looked confused.

    "What does that mean? I meant what's your zodiac sign."

    They were once again in the boys' dorm. Justin was currently in one of Malfoy's class, telling Merlin knew what personal information about Draco; Ernie and Hannah had joined Madeline for the hour before dinner; and oddly enough, Pansy had decided to skive class and hang out with the Hufflepuffs. They had all found it very strange for a few minutes, but had gotten used to the idea. After all, she was a fellow conspirator and Malfoy-disliker at present. She had assured Draco that once this week was over she wouldn't hold anything against him and they could resume normal friendly relations. Everyone, excluding Malfoy, thought this was very big of her.

    Madeline and Pansy were sitting on Justin's bed, revising for their next Defense Against the Dark Arts test, while Hannah and Ernie were on his bed, getting awfully snuggly, 'studying' as well. They were two minutes away from Madeline shouting, "Eww! Get a room!" Malfoy was snoring peacefully in his recliner, still recovering from his late night concert. The Hufflepuffs and Pansy had made no attempts to quiet themselves, but he appeared to be a heavy sleeper and had as yet to stir.

    "Zodiac sign... oh, yeah! Virgo," replied Madeline.

    "Really," said Pansy, smiling smugly. "Well, that explains a lot."

    Madeline flipped a page in her notes, and Ernie and Hannah cuddled closer.

    Pansy's smile faltered. "Don't you want to know *why* that explains a lot?"

    "Um..." began Madeline, looking none too sure.

    Pansy sighed exasperatedly. "Draco's a Scorpio, that's why!"

    "Oh. Oh, of course."

    "Do you have any idea what that means?"

    "Not really, no."

    "You don't actually believe in that kind of thing, do you Pansy?" asked Hannah, glancing over, obviously managing to listen to someone else's conversation, study, and cuddle at the same time.

    "Yes, I do. It's been proven world over... honestly, I don't do a thing until I consult my astrologer. That's why I thought Draco and I were perfect- I'm a Cancer after all."

    "I'll agree with that," Ernie contributed. "I always thought all Slytherins were cancers."

    "Not that kind of cancer, you-" Pansy restrained herself from speaking harshly at the last second. She breathed deeply, then said instead, "I was born July 3rd, and am therefore a Cancer. That's the Crab on the astrological wheel."

    "I think I am a Cancer too," said Hannah thoughtfully. "June 28th?" she questioned.

    Pansy nodded.

    "What about May 10th?" asked Ernie.

    "You're a Taurus, then. The Bull, and an Earth sign. Madeline, a Virgo, is an Earth sign too, and Abbot and me are Water signs."

    "So what's Madeline's mascot?" Ernie continued curiously.

    "They're not mascots, they're constellations. And she's the Virgin."

    Ernie snorted, Hannah covered a grin with her hand, and Madeline blushed.

    "Ha, ha, very funny. What's Malfoy again?" she asked, redirecting the conversation quickly.

    "Draco's a Scorpio, the Scorpion, and a Water sign, too."

    "And why is that special for us?"

    "Because Scorpio-Virgo is the two's best possible love match."

    "Ah. And how's that?"

    "The personalities compliment each other: it's instant attraction between you two because you go so well together. Virgos are very honest and loyal, thus the Hufflepuff-ness," she added, "and Scorpios are looking for very stable, long-lasting relationships. Also, you're willing to give him as much attention as he needs. Scorpios are known to be moody and possessive, but you have enough patience to handle him. Virgos like men who cause trouble and shake up their organized little worlds a bit, and Malfoy's quite capable of that, I assure you. Scorpios are also supposed to be the best at shagging and the most sexually confident; lucky for Draco, Virgos are just as intense in the sack as they are. Overall, it's a lovely match."

    "I see," said Madeline slowly, studiously ignoring the color in her cheeks. Hannah and Ernie were, once again, snickering.

    "All right, all-knowing astrologer, what about Taurus and Cancer?" Ernie questioned.

    "Another Earth-Water match. Taurus, as an Earth, is also all about stability. You demand honesty, and are extremely loyal to your loved ones. Cancers are kindhearted," Madeline snorted here, and received glares from both Hannah and Pansy, who continued, "and are very affectionate to those they care most about. Neither sign is exceptionally outgoing, and would both prefer to stay at home, hanging out and cuddling. Your relationship is filled with trust, and it is another very good match." Pansy nodded her head with finality. Her word settled the matter, after all.

    "What's Justin?" asked Madeline, carefully avoiding the sappy looks that had appeared on Ernie and Hannah's faces; it would have just been too much.

    "Justin is a Pisces, though very nearly on the cusp of Aquarius-Pisces. His birthday is February 19th."

    "Wait a minute- his mum sent him birthday cookies a couple of days ago. Rather early, wasn't she?"

    "Oh, that's their family's tradition," responded Ernie, managing to tear his eyes off his girlfriend for a matter of seconds. "His mum sends him his favorite cookies the week before his birthday, and then a cake for the week of his birthday."

    "Those were some delicious cookies," Pansy offered.

    Madeline scowled. "We wouldn't know."

    "Anyway, Cancer-Pisces is another wonderful match," simpered Pansy, ignoring Madeline. "We're both Water signs and therefore have a deep understanding. Pisces are very versatile, which comes in handy; Cancers can be just as, if not more, moody than Scorpios. Pisces also adore tenderness and cuddling, and love pampering their significant others," finished Pansy, a sappy look coming into her own eyes.

    "Just what you need, more pampering," Madeline muttered under her breath.

    Pansy narrowed her eyes. "Virgos are also known to be critical and harsh."

    "Would that be the Cancer moodiness I hear coming through?" shot back Madeline.

    "Stop it, you two," intervened Hannah. "I can't concentrate with all that arguing," she said, indicating the textbook before herself and Ernie.

    "Do you even *take* Ancient Runes?" demanded Madeline, glancing at the textbook.

    Hannah opened her mouth to reply when she was interrupted by music filling up the dorm room. After a few notes on a piano and the spin of percussion, Madeline grinned to herself, recognizing Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright".

    "Good choice, Caroline," she murmured to herself.

    "What's going on?" asked Pansy, looking around for the source of the music.

    "Caroline Hayes, a sixth-year, found a spell that enables her to play music from her muggle stereo (which is protected from all the magic by another spell) and amplify it throughout the dorm," replied Hannah, getting up off the bed and pulling Ernie with her. "She usually plays a couple songs a week, 'exposing us wizard folk to the supremacy of muggle music', as she puts it. She told me she hadn't earlier this week because she had heard Justin was sick and didn't want to disturb him. She must have seen him this morning and decided it was safe."

    Ernie put one hand on Hannah's hip and convinced her to start moving with him, dancing to the music. "Provides a nice little break from reality, you know," he commented to the room in general.

    Pansy listened to a few more bars of the music before declaring, "This *is* good music." She then stood up and began dancing as well.

    Biting her lip, Madeline was torn. She had never deprived herself a good dance session before now, but Draco was still in the room. She wasn't quite sure she wanted to be caught dancing in front of him. But, as far as she could tell, he was asleep and didn't look to be waking up anytime soon. Sighing, she got up and joined the others, enjoying the Latin-like feel to the song.

    And, in accordance with her luck, as the music began to fade out, she caught Malfoy's eyes on her. She sat down on the bed abruptly, folding her limbs together and glaring fiercely at Draco, who was grinning in complete amusement.

    Noticing her movement, Hannah's eyes shot to Malfoy. "When did you wake up?" she demanded with rancor.

    "Oh, I think I came in around, 'Scorpio-Virgo is the best possible match'," he responded, his grin spreading wider.

    "You bastard," said Pansy without much malice. "You were faking sleep that whole time?"

    "Quite."

    Hannah shook her head, but said, "Since your awake, Madeline is in need of your assistance with her Potions homework."

    "Because that worked out so well last time," Madeline added sarcastically.

    "I rather enjoyed the conclusion, though it perhaps ended too soon-"

    Madeline glared again, then picked her textbook off the floor, stalked over to Malfoy and pointed at a passage. "What does that mean?"

    "Bring the assignment over, too," instructed Malfoy, taking the book from her hands and reading where she had indicated. Once she had obeyed and returned, he pulled her down into his lap, not even taking his eyes off the textbook, which he had placed on an armrest. Madeline sighed, but presented no other sign of protest. When she was settled he put the textbook in her own lap, the pointed at the text in question.

    "All right, now while the moonstone is an excellent source of power, it doesn't quite fulfill the requirements of this potion. In order for it to brew properly, one must..." Malfoy continued his explanation quietly in her ear, occasionally flipping the pages in the book for reference or indicating that she should write something down for her assignment. Madeline, her brow furrowed a bit, did as she was told, asking questions every so often just as quietly.

    "They really are very cute," Pansy remarked judiciously. "Don't you think so?" she asked when she got no response.

    Madeline, glancing up from her work spotted Hannah and Ernie. "Eww!" she cried. "Get a room!"

6:41, the Great Hall, Random Declarations

    "I still nightmares about being a ferret," FauxDraco announced to the table at large. "About being small and furry and bouncing up and down, up and down, up and-"

    "I think we got it, Draco," interrupted Blaise, looking away from him.

    FauxDraco was silent for a few moments.

    "I wet the bed until I was eight years old."

    The occupants of the table who weren't Malfoy groaned.

    "Squirrels terrify me."

    "Squirrels?!?" repeated Goyle. "But they're just-"

    "Don't encourage him," Blaise ground out.

    "I once mistook canned dog food for a fancy French dish."

    "Which fancy French dish?" asked Crabbe.

    "Any fancy French dish! As if I could tell them apart!"

    Another pause.

    "I have seen Harry Potter naked."

    Zabini began banging his head on the table. Pansy would not look up from her plate, fighting her desire to burst out laughing.

    "It was an accident!" FauxDraco insisted, throwing his hands up at the looks he was receiving. "I just happened to walk into the Quidditch changing rooms, and there he was in all his glory. I turned around immediately, and got nothing but a glimpse, but I promise I am scarred for life."

    Millicent looked at him curiously.

    "What about his-"

    "Millie!" exclaimed her boyfriend, horror in his eyes.

    "I was just wondering!" she defended, throwing her hands up as well.

    "Sorry, Bulstrode, I only caught the back side of him." He paused. "And you can interpret that both ways."

    "Make him stop, make him stop," Blaise moaned, his banging ceased, but his head still on the table.

    "I have only slept with one woman, and I was too pissed at the time to remember anything. At least, I *think* I slept with her. And... I *think* she was a woman..."

    "Malfoy, I really don't think this is any of our business," commented Millicent hesitantly.

    "Oh, sure, right," agreed FauxDraco, nodding his head.

    Two minutes later, however, he spoke up again.

    "This one time, at wizard camp-"

    "NO!!!" shouted Zabini.

7:00, the Hufflepuff Boys' Dorm, Alone Together

    "Won't people notice you're missing?" asked Draco, pulling some hair out of Madeline's face and behind her ear.

    She shrugged. "I skip meals fairly often. And besides which, I think I'm noticed even less than Justin is."

    Madeline was putting the finishing touches on her Potions assignment. She and Malfoy had been talking on and off about other subjects while she was completing it, and grasping the concept had taken her a while.

    "You don't say much outside of your House, do you?"

    "Well, sure I do, to those I'm comfortable around."

    "I never made it onto that list?"

    "You never even knew my name before this experience," argued Madeline, seeing that Draco was beginning to get pouty.

    "I certainly know your name now." His eyes narrowed. "And it's about time I knew you better. It's my turn to ask questions."

    "Oh. Fantastic," replied Madeline, quite unenthusiastic, as he twisted her a bit so he could look more fully into her face. She was still in his lap, after all.

    "What's your full name?"

    She sighed. "Madeline Tara Higgins."

    "When's your birthday?"

    "You already know it's in September!"

    "Yes, but I shall need the date as well."

    "Need it for what?"

    "Answer the question."

    She found herself sighing again. "September 4th."

    "What's your favorite subject?"

    "Hmm... Muggles Studies. Or maybe Charms."

    "Favorite color?"

    "Brown."

    "Brown?!? What a perfectly garish-"

    "It is not, brown is a *beautiful* color!"

    "If you say so... what do plan on doing after Hogwarts?" he asked then.

    "I've been accepted at one of the top interior design schools in London that caters to wizards and muggles, so I plan on pursuing that in the future."

    "Oh, that's good. The manor could use some updating."

    "What about Lucius?" she asked uncertainly.

    "Lucius is in Azkaban," he replied with a grim, but firm look. He continued, obviously not wanting to dwell on the previous thought. "What's your secret obsession?"

    "Historic romance fiction," she responded immediately. "Remember when I was first brought in here and I was raving-"

    "Oh, that's what that was! I thought you were just insane."

    "I bet you did," Madeline muttered.

    Malfoy suddenly grinned evilly. "What is your favorite aspect of my personality?"

    "I-I... uhh," Madeline stuttered, eyes wide.

    "Which body part is your favorite? Speaking of *my* body, of course."

    "You bastard, that's too many questions!"

    "You got to ask yours, didn't you? What is your dirtiest fantasy involving me?"

    "Malfoy, you prat!"

    "Call me Draco," he said, all seriousness. "Don't call me by my surname."

    "O-okay," Madeline found herself stuttering again. He eyes had become so intense, so imperative when he made his demand; it caught her quite off guard.

    "Now," Draco said, some of the mischief returning to his gray eyes, "answer the questions."

7:03, the Great Hall, Still Curious

    "So, uh..., Draco," began Goyle, glancing around at his housemates. "What *did* happen at wizard camp?"

7:13, the Hufflepuff Boys' Dorm, Interruption

    Hannah's hands were balled on her hips, her manner was severe. "Madeline!"

    Madeline and Draco's faces were merely an inch apart, staring into each other's eyes, and neither glanced at the recently-arrived Hufflepuffs. "Oh, go away," Madeline muttered, while Malfoy smirked.

    Ernie chuckled, but stopped immediately when Hannah rounded on him. "Help me stop this!"

    They forcibly dragged their friend away, much to the displeasure of both parties. Justin, standing in the doorway, watched the scene unfold, a slight smug smile on his face.