Draco's Draught

A Thought Away

The next few days passed especially slowly. Though they weren't as bad as they could have been. Snape made sure that Harry and I were no longer partners for anything, and in Care of Magical Creatures, the only other class we shared, I stayed well away from him. Though I did laugh when Pansy stepped in when I neglected to add my usual caustic comments to the class. Unfortunately, this earned me a quick bruising kiss from Pansy, and a burning glare that I could feel across the paddock from Harry.

Once Pansy knew she had her hooks into me, she was more than happy to simply hang off me, with only the very occasional wet and sloppy kiss in front of as many people as she could manage. I buried myself in homework, and if I seemed more snappish than usual to my housemates, no one commented.

By Saturday, I was exhausted. I didn't know how I was going to get through the rest of the school year at this rate. My only hope was to find a way to get Pansy off my back. Permanently. And preferably without getting my hands dirty.

An opportunity came to me while I was in the Library doing my Arithmancy homework. I was alone. Crabbe and Goyle refused to go in there, as they were not allowed to eat there, and to them, that was a sacrilege. And I had long since learned that it was always a safe place to escape from Pansy. She refused to even go near it. Something about a book that had been overdue for two years. I was used to working alone, at any rate. No one in Slytherin could keep up with me academically, though I did often tutor Crabbe and Goyle on their classes.

So, when someone sat down at my table, I was surprised, to say the least. And when I saw who it was, I was completely floored. Granger. Now, what the hell did she want? I hadn't been near Harry since our last "discussion" in detention. And I certainly hadn't bothered her or Weasley in months. I stared at her for several minutes, waiting to hear whatever it was she had to say. We sat in silence for several minutes before she finally decided to speak.

"Malfoy, I don't know all the details about what you and Harry did, and frankly I don't want to. But at this point, I'd be willing to do just about anything to get my friend back. Harry's miserable, and you're to blame. Now, you can either fill me in, or you can go to him and apologize for whatever it was that you did."

I laughed a cynical, harsh laugh at this. "What makes you think he wants anything to do with me, Granger?"

"Because before all this, at least there were days when he was happy. When he could laugh." Her eyes got colder. "But since school started up again, he's been listless. Or angry, depending on the day. And the only time he ever shows any strong emotion is when you're around."

"So? Why should I care? He's certainly doing me no favors."

She hissed at me. "Because, Malfoy. When you were alone and hurting, he's the one who reached out to you! Even though you never gave him the time of day! You owe it to him to at least explain why you've suddenly refused to even talk to him anymore."

"If it escaped your notice, Granger, I'm not exactly a girl anymore, now, am I?" I stood up so she could get a good look at me, then returned to my seat. "And believe it or not, Granger, Slytherin isn't the most forgiving of houses. They don't deal well with non-hetero relationships."

"Really, Malfoy? That's not what I heard. I've heard about plenty Slytherin relationships with members of the same sex. Even your sweet little Pansy," Hermione growled.

That caught my attention. "What?"

She sneered at me, but at that point I couldn't care less. "Oh, did I hurt your feelings, Malfoy? Does it make you upset to know that your dear Pansy has had it on with several of the girls in the school? Including, I might add, a Hufflepuff."

I leaned forward, eager to hear more. "Who?"

This surprised her, but she answered readily enough. "Megan Jones. Why? You want to join them?"

I was puzzled. "Which one is she?"

"The brunette. She's in our year. And she hangs out with Susan Bones a lot."

I had her. There was no way Pansy was going to get out of this one. I grabbed my books from the table, and was getting up to leave when Hermione grabbed my arm.

"Where the hell do you think you're going, Malfoy? I'm not finished yet."

"Look, Granger, if it's any consolation to you, I'm not exactly pleased with the way things are, either. But I'm moving on with my life. And you should tell him to do the same." I pulled my arm out of her grasp. "Oh, and Granger, never touch me again." With that, I swept from the Library.

This was too perfect. I couldn't have hoped for a better revenge. I hurried down to the common room, and looked around for Pansy. She was draped across her favorite couch, reading. I grabbed her arm and pulled her off the couch and toward my dorm.

"What...Draco? You don't have to pull. I'd be more than willing to come happily if you wanted something, love."

I just smiled as I pulled her along. I opened the door to my room and saw Goyle sitting there, apparently staring into space. "Out, Greg." Goyle took one look at my face, and scrambled off his bed and out of the room, no questions asked.

The second he left the room, I tossed Pansy on his bed. She sat up and rubbed at her wrist where I had held it. "Jez-us, Draco! If you wanted sex, you could have just asked." She broke into a grin. "So, how do you want me?" She lay back on the bed, propped up on her elbows.

"Out of my life, Pansy. I do believe we've already covered this."

Her grin turned to a smirk. "I think we did. And I think it ended with you giving in to my every demand, as I recall."

I grinned back at her, and her smile faltered a bit. "Oh, Pansy. Pansy, Pansy, Pansy. You see, that was before."

She sat up, cautious now, no trace of a smile left. "Before what?"

"Before I found out that you have a secret that you need to hide at least as much as I need to hide mine."

She snorted. "Oh, Draco? And what would that be? I don't have a thing for the Golden Boy of Hogwarts."

I stepped closer to her and leaned down, so that my face was right in hers. "No, but apparently you do have a thing for a certain Hufflepuff."

I could see the fear flicker in her eyes momentarily. "Hardly a crime. My father might not like me dating a Hufflepuff, but it's still not..."

"Well, maybe, Pansy. If it were a guy. But how do you think your father will react when I tell him it's a girl you're interested in?"

Pansy paled, but remained calm. "I'd just tell him you were spreading rumors, Draco. Besides, I'm not the one who's been seen with the wrong person lately."

I snickered at this. "Well, yes, Pansy, I have been seen with you far too often..."

She pushed me away. "You know that's not what I meant, Draco Malfoy!"

"Then what did you mean, Pansy? I'm getting kind of sick of having to deal with your nonsense all the time."

"You need me a hell of a lot more than I need you, Draco. Admit it!" Her face was taking on a rosy hue.

"Honestly, Pansy. You know that's not true. The only reason I'm still here talking to you is because you've blackmailed me. And I've decided that it's time to return the favor. All the 'together time' will stop. You will avoid me at every opportunity. And I will go back to life the way it was before you so rudely interrupted me. Got it?"

"Or what, Draco? You'll tell my father that I'm snogging some unnamed Hufflepuff?"

I don't think my grin could have gotten any wider. "No, Pansy. I'll tell him you're shagging Megan Jones, a very specific Hufflepuff."

Trembling, Pansy stood up. "I see. I suppose it'll do me no good to ask where you heard this, will it?"

"Now, Pansy. Why would I tell you my sources? That would just defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?"

"Fine. I don't tell on you, you don't tell on me?"

"No, you don't tell on me, or touch me, or even speak to me--and I consider not telling on you."

She pursed her lips. "Fine." She turned and hurried from the room.

Once the door had closed behind her, I sank onto my bed, shaking. I couldn't believe it had actually worked! Too bad it wouldn't bring him back.

I spent the rest of the day in my room, dwelling on things that could not be. Crabbe and Goyle came to collect me for dinner, and I went willingly, hoping that it would distract me from my funk. Unfortunately, I forgot that he would be there, and I spent most of the meal staring at him. When I wasn't trying to avoid Granger's death-stares, that is.

I managed to choke down a bit before escaping to the Slytherin dorms once more, but when the rest of my roommates returned to sit and chat (horrifically stupid conversation, mostly involving the meal from that night), I had to escape. I grabbed my cloak and headed out into the school once more.

As I wandered, my thoughts dwelled on one thing. A skinny boy with leaf-green eyes and messy, flying-everywhere black hair. What I wouldn't give for just one more day with him.

I soon found myself in a very familiar part of the castle. I was in the hallway leading to my old room. I couldn't stop myself. I pushed open the door, then quietly closed it behind myself.

The room was quiet and still. Almost as though it had been waiting for me to return. I approached the bed, and ran my fingers across the bedspread, remembering sleeping there with Harry. Curled together as if we had no worries in the world... I crawled up onto the bed and curled up. The tears began to flow before I could stop them. Things would never be right again. If only...

Then I heard it. A shuffling sound, coming from near room's small window. I sat up and quickly wiped my eyes. But there was no one there. Maybe it had just been a rat or something? I swallowed, but didn't stop myself from hoping. "H...Harry?"

The corner of the room shimmered for a moment, and then Harry stood there, his cloak in his hand.