Eyes on the Prize

This is Draco Malfoy.

And he is not amused!

Something happened when he returned to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry his fourth year; something horrible, wretched, reprehensible. Cedric Diggory had gotten ... cute. Nay, Cedric Diggory was beyond 'cute'. He was absolutely beautiful. How dare he come back all cute and adorable, Draco sulked to himself, letting out a slightly audible huff in the process. That's just plain rude.

He first noticed Cedric's sudden rise in "cute-dom" during the sorting in the Great Hall. His eyes had wondered as the hat sang some horrid wizarding rendition of "We Are the World". His lip curled at the site of the Gryffindors all huddled together at the table in their little groups, patting one another on the back with their false interests in what their housemates had done over the summer.

He had never paid much attention to the Hufflepuff table, before. They were, after all, little more than squibs and certainly undeserving of the attention of a pureblood such as Draco. Then, he saw him: Cedric.

Cedric's jaw line was sharp, yet smooth, like fine-chiseled marble. His skin was milky, just short of pasty. His hair was that typical cut that clean boys like to have; heaven forbid they show a little bit of daring, Draco thought to himself. And what of Cedric's smile? Oooh, that smile! Draco watched as Cedric laughed at some poor Huffle-noob's undoubtedly sorry attempt at humour. Awww, and he's gracious, too!

Then, it happened.

Cedric glanced his way. His eyes darted past Draco's, at first. As if realizing, a second later, that Draco was indeed staring at him, Cedric blinked, and locked eyes with Draco, who hadn't realized that he was biting his lower lip. Cedric's fixed look didn't waiver as he lightly licked the side of his mouth. He bowed his head slightly and smiled. Oh, that smile!

Draco, for the first time in a long while, was at a loss for words.

"Who you lookin' at?"

Crabbe had broken Draco out of his reverie, turning around to look in the direction of Draco's stare.

"Lookin' at Potter, I bet," Goyle answered, as he shoveled more potatoes in his mouth.

Some food hit Draco's sleeve. With a look of contemptuous disgust, Draco slowly removed the projectile from his person, and flipped it back on the table. Why must I be bothered? he thought to himself. He shook his head and looked up, hoping to catch another glimpse of Cedric. But he had already moved on to other conversations. Now, Draco was left annoyed. Not at the fact that he was drooling over a Hufflepuff; nor the fact that said Hufflepuff was no longer looking at him. No, Draco was upset because he was still thinking about Cedric. Worse yet: wanting Cedric.

"Look at 'im," Goyle said, turning back to face Draco. Leaning in, he continued, "Shaggy-haired shirt-lifter. Gimme five minutes with scar-head..."

"...And what? You'd drown him to death?" Draco drawled, picking more potatoes from his sleeves and flicking them back onto Goyle's plate. "Chew with your mouth closed," he threatened, "or you won't be able to chew for a week."

Pansy Parkingson let out a cackle, leaning in closer to Draco. Draco found himself inching away from her, rolling his eyes before letting them wander again. And, where is 'the boy who annoys me'...? Draco wondered. He found Harry in short order, surrounded by his sycophantic posse of Gryffindor degenerates. Draco leered; lip curled as usual. But there was something about Harry, this year, which made him soften his unpleasant gaze. Harry was... cuter than he remembered. His shaggy hair tussled astray as it was often want to do.

Were his eyes always so green? Was his smile always that... innocent? Corruptible, Draco thought. A wicked smile stretched across his thin lips. Have him... then destroy him. So lost in his lascivious thoughts was Draco that it took a second to register that Harry Potter was looking back at him, righteous indignation colouring every inch of his face. If looks could kill... in the Shakespearean sense of the word, mind you.

You will be mine, Harry Potter. And I'll gladly bide my time until that day...