The Vampire Malfoy

Chapter Five

Life, Blood, and Other Mysteries

Spike: It's always got to be blood... Blood is life. Why do you think we eat it? It's what keeps you going. Makes you warm. Makes you hard. Makes you other than dead.

***

Harry reached down and picked up the invisibility cloak which lay puddled on the floor by his feet.

"I should probably go," he said, glancing at the clock. He began to brush off some shards of glass that had landed on the cloak. A large piece nicked his finger and he drew in his breath sharply. Scarlet blood welled to the surface, and he felt, rather than saw, Draco move towards him.

A pale hand took his and Draco slowly raised Harry's finger to his mouth. Harry froze. Suddenly Draco's tongue flicked out and licked the drop of blood. He dropped Harry's hand and closed his eyes, as if savouring the taste. When he opened them, his gaze met Harry's and he gave him an appraising look.

"They're right about you."

Harry looked at him, confused. "Huh?"

"There really is something special about you. It's not all hype, like I thought."

"Oh," Harry said, "and you know this how?"

"Your blood. You can tell a lot about a person by their blood."

"Really?" Harry asked, strangely intrigued.

"Yes. People are like..." Draco searched his mind for a suitable analogy. "Bertie-Bott's Every-Flavour beans," he finished triumphantly.

"Every-Flavour Beans?" Harry repeated sceptically.

Draco nodded emphatically. "Oh, yes. Every one has a different flavour, and there are groups of flavours too. Like...did you know that all Veelas taste like grapefruit? I'm serious, and if you think about it, it matches them perfectly. Refreshing, but bitter."

Harry nodded slowly, beginning to understand.

"So, what about my blood?" he asked curiously. "What does it taste of?"

Draco hesitated. Then, "Power."

Harry frowned. "Power?"

Draco nodded. "It's hard to describe. Like lemon juice- tangy. And intoxicating, like Vodka. And smooth like chocolate. It's like a thousand tastes all at once, but those are the strongest. And when it runs across the tongue... it's like a mild electric shock."

"Wow," Harry said. Then he wrinkled his nose slightly. "Quite possibly gross, but also...wow."

"Wow indeed." Draco smiled charmingly at Harry, batting his eyelashes in what he obviously thought to be an alluring fashion. "I don't suppose you'd care to give me another taste?"

Harry took a step back, shaking his head. Draco pouted.

Harry had a sudden thought. "Does anyone else know?"

"Well, Professor Dumbledore does, of course. Father said he'd probably expel me, being an evil creature of the night, and he wanted me to go to Durmstrang instead. But I remembered how Dumbledore let old werewolf Lupin stay at Hogwarts, and he said as long as I behave myself, there's no reason why I shouldn't stay. And Madame Pomfrey had to know too. "

Harry nodded.

"My housemates don't know," Draco said quietly.

"What?" Harry exclaimed.

"I haven't told them. Do you know how they'd react? They're all pissed off at me already, for quitting Quidditch."

"What about your friends?" Harry asked. "Do they know?"

Draco smiled bitterly. "What friends?"

"Crabbe and Goyle. Pansy Parkinson. And Zabini."

Draco gave a hollow laugh. "They're not friends, Potter. They're minions. They do my dirty work. I don't trust minions with my deep, dark secrets."

"But you trust your worst enemy?" Harry asked, with a smile.

Draco shrugged. "It's weird. I don't know why, but I do trust you with this. You're such a do-gooder that you'd never use it against me."

Harry thought for a second. "True," he admitted. "Bugger!"

Draco gave a soft chuckle. "Besides, you're not my worst enemy."

"Oh?" Harry asked, surprised. "Well, good. You're not mine either. Obviously. I mean, with Voldemort and all." He gave Draco a small smile.

"I'd better go," he continued, "it's getting late."

Draco nodded.

"Do- do you want to play Quidditch tomorrow night?" he asked hesitantly.

Harry smiled. "Yeah, okay. Nine o'clock?"

Draco nodded and Harry walked towards the door. Harry swung the invisibility cloak around his shoulders, and Draco scowled at him.

"I always knew you had some little trick like this, Potter."

Harry laughed.

Draco unlocked the door and Harry stepped out into the corridor.

"Well, 'night, Malfoy."

"'Night, Potter."

There was a moment of silence, then Harry's voice came out of thin air.

"Who is your worst enemy?"

Draco paused, the door half shut. He looked up, as if to look into Harry's eyes, then whispered, "Myself."

Then he shut the door firmly, before Harry could respond.