The Fickle Diary of Tango!Draco

~Chapter Two~

Draco Malfoy woke up in his bed sweaty, and out of breath. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up, glancing out the large window that separated the wall behind his bed and another. The covers slid down his front revealing a bare chest, which alerted him immediately. He never slept shirtless, contrary to popular belief. He thought it was dodgy enough for a group of six guys to sleep in the same room, let alone do it bare-skinned. Just wasn't right.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he threw off the rest of his covers, relieved so see that he was at least, wearing pants. A creature danced mockingly outside the window.

"I was wondering when you were going to wake up," came a voice from a far corner. "We've got work to do."

He rubbed his eyes and blinked. "Hermione? What're you doing in here?"

"Crabbe let me in."

Draco snorted. "Typical."

"You're wearing plaid pajamas."

"The bottom half, anyway."

"You never struck me as a plaid kind of guy, Malfoy."

"Why? Squares not my shape? Maybe I should ask Creevey-"

Hermione waved her hand dismissively, "That's not the issue. We really have work to do. Dumbledore wants them gone. We have to get rid of them before the prefects see. It'd start a panic."

Rubbing his temples, he stood up and squinted. Hermione sat at the edge of his bed now, although he couldn't remember seeing her move. She wasn't wearing her school robes, either- but a strange slinky black dress with red frill, and a rose in her hair. "Not to be rude or anything, but I'm still a little lost as to why the HELL you're in my bedroom."

"This isn't your bedroom, it's our bedroom."

Draco jumped up and turned around, the twin-size four-poster having turned out to be much more than just a four poster.

"Oh honestly, haven't you read Hogwarts, A History yet?"

"What?"

"Hogwarts, A History. It's a book, Malfoy, the kind in which you open and read."

The atmosphere had completely and shifted, They were no longer in the Slytherin Boy's dormitory, but the Library, fully clothed, the sun just beginning to rise.

"Granger," he heard himself say, yawning slightly, "It's much too early for this. Instead of being the 'Head Boy and Girl who got lots done' can't we be the 'Head Boy and Girl who got a decent nights' sleep?'"

Her cheeks were flushed and she was breathing as if she'd just run a flight of stairs. "We're not going to be remembered as the 'Head Boy and Girl' anything if we're dead, Malfoy!"

Sighing, he slumped down in his chair and opened a dusty book entitled: Fantastic Girls and How to Treat them. Flicking open the cover, Hermione's picture stared back at him, but strangely, it wasn't moving.

His vision blurred as he stared at the picture, and he blinked, still in the same library, but at nighttime.

"Do you ever do anything for anyone other than yourself? Could you think for one second where they might be?"

"Yes. But I'm not going there. And I'm not telling you, because if I do, you'll drag me with you. I know it."

"Malfoy! They could be hurt!" Hermione stuck her finger in his face and continued, "if something happened to them- I'll- I'll-"

"Hermione, calm down. Please. They're fine. They're at..." he cringed at the thought, "They're at Creevey's."

But to Draco's surprise, she didn't seem to be interested in that anymore. "You just said my name."

He paled. "What? No I didn't."

Hermione smiled, her eyes lighting up. "Yes you did, yes you did! You said 'Hermione, calm down'. You said my name!"

"Don't flatter yourself, Granger," he began, trying to make up for his earlier comment. "The word that begins with an H and ends with an e did not pass my lips."

Hermione smiled, and walked several steps towards him. "Is that so?" she asked, snaking her arms around his neck. "Well, we'll see about that," and she kissed him.

Draco didn't hesitate to return the kiss, even if it made no sense whatsoever. Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her closer, and murmured against her lips, "Say it..."

"Oh Draco-"

"Mmmm say it Herm-"

"Oh Draco! You sexy beast! You hunk of sweet sweet burning love! Can I borrow your Transfiguration homework, my dearest?"

Draco's eyes snapped open, and he lie there in his bed, the sheets twisted around his body like a straight jacket, a pair of dark eyes staring down at him. "GOYLE! I'LL KILL YOU!"

In his hastened attempt to murder his friend, Draco fell out of his bed, still tightly wrapped in his bedsheets, and Goyle slipped out of the dormitory with Draco's Transfiguration homework, laughing hysterically.

13 September, 1997

I truly hope that Goyle's memory is about as sharp as Crabbe. Had extremely strange dream last night, and it was interrupted by the prat. Not that in some way I'm not thankful. Granger is haunting me now. Damn Longbottom and his less than graceful tendencies. I think my dream was a reflection of what is to come: lots and lots of work as Head Boy. Either that or I'll be getting lots of action.

Today is Tuesday, which means I have Transfiguration. Can't find my homework anywhere- the last thing I need is to not be prepared on the first day of my last year... eh. I'll just nick Goyle's.

***

"Hogsmeade. Saturday. You didn't forget, did you?" Ron asked his sister as they headed towards the Great Hall.

"No of course not! Colin and I are going shopping for her present tomorrow after Charms," Ginny said excitedly, her bright red hair shifting as Ron opened the large oak doors.

Ron gave her a stern look, grabbing her arm before she could walk to the Gryffindor table. "You fancy him too, don't you?"

"What? Fancy Colin? Don't be stupid, Ron!"

"You do! I saw that little smile on your face when you mentioned it! You fancy him! With his... his defined dancer-man muscles and Lockhart-clone smile! You just can't wait until he takes you for a long walk on the beach and you can discuss the latest romance novel!"

Ginny crossed her arms over her chest. "It sounds more like you fancy him, Ron," she said pointedly.

"Now look who's being stupid," he said, his eyes wide. "That's sick and twisted, that is."

She just arched an eyebrow and shrugged, "Right."

"Hey look, all I'm saying is, don't get your hopes up, alright? I seriously doubt you're his gender. I mean, type."

Ginny just rolled her eyes and turned on her heel to meet the others at the Gryffindor table, and Ron, reluctantly, followed.

"Hullo!" Ginny said brightly, taking a seat beside Colin who was across from Harry and Hermione. Their side of the table was full. Ron was apparently not pleased with this arrangement, and basically told one of the little first years to get lost or-

"Ron!" shouted Hermione, obviously surprised at his language. "That's completely unnecessary! There's a seat right there next to Colin!"

He had been so busy yelling at the first year that he almost didn't hear her. "What? Colin?" Eyes trailing past his sister, Colin sat annoyingly upright and was smiling, lightly patting the seat beside him.

"Right. There's a seat. Sorry mate," he mumbled to the first year, shuffling over and slumping down in the open spot.

"I was just telling Harry how Dumbledore is putting us in charge of organizing the extra activities this year. You know, get dueling club up and running again, garden club, those sorts of things. I've got a meeting on Friday."

Ron was stabbing his fork forcefully into a baked potato. "Oooh I know, let's start a dancing club as well. 'Cause that'd just be bundles of fun, wouldn't it?" he said dully, making a face as his so-called potato oozed yellow.

Eyeing him carefully, Hermione smiled. "Why what a lovely idea, Ron."

***

"Pansy, I already told you-"

"Told me WHAT?" Pansy snapped, pieces of gray-black hair falling out of a loose bun, "That I'm not good enough for you? That you've got too many other things or should I say girls going on in your life to spend just a little bit of time with me like you should?"

It took Draco a lot of control to not just go ahead and say 'well, yeah'. Instead, he tried his hardest to look sympathetic. This really didn't work out well- he probably looked more like he had to get to the boys lavatory or there would be a serious problem on their hands. "Ah well, I'm just- I'm just not the right guy... for you. To be perfectly honest I-"

But Draco didn't get to finish his sentence. Pansy was jumping up and down with her hand to her mouth. "Oh don't even say it Draco, don't say it. I don't need to hear it... I was stupid. It was stupid of me to assume that you- no guy who isn't would wear such tasteful-"

"Pansy I'm not GAY!" he shouted, a bit too loudly.

"You're- you're not?"

"No!"

She looked confused. "Then why won't you kiss me?"

"Because ... it just seems a bit tacky."

"You're calling me tacky, now?"

"No. We're not dating. I've never even bought you dinner."

"Would it make you feel any better if you bought me something, then?" Pansy asked, obviously not following.

"No no... it's just not right, I'm- taking advantage. It's like I'm a sodding..."

"Scarlet Man?" she finished for him, holding back a fit of giggles.

Draco stared. "No, not quite the word I was looking for, Pansy."

She sighed. "We're friends with benefits, Draco, it's not like we're getting married and trafficking drugs." He lifted a brow. "Sorry," she said, "Muggle Studies seminar." His expression didn't change. "We all had to go! It was required!"

"I'm cutting you off. The Draco Love Shack is officially closed," he said, half grinning.

"Oh you're such a- such a pompous-"

"Witch magnet?"

"You're so incredibly-"

"Sexy?"

"You, Draco Malfoy are-"

"So much better looking than Harry Potter?"

"Well ye- no! YOU'RE INFURIATING!" she shouted, turning on her heel to leave.

Draco stayed put. "So is the broom closet alright with you, then?" he called after her.

"Broom closet is good."

***

Hermione walked briskly down the hall, wishing desperately that she had her watch with her. She knew she was going to be late, and that thought alone was driving her up the wall. Adjusting her satchel on her shoulder, she tried to pick up the pace without actually running.

BAM.

She ran head on into none other than Draco Malfoy.

He was the first to speak. "In a hurry, Granger?"

"I'm sorry I- Malfoy?"

"The one and only," he replied, hands deep in his pockets.

"And we're all very thankful," she said, not bothering to keep her voice down. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to..." Hermione trailed, something else suddenly crossing her mind. "Malfoy, shouldn't you be going to the meeting as well?"

"Who me? Oh. Yeah. Head Boy," he nodded, "I was just headed down there."

Hermione, however, looked skeptical. "In the opposite direction?"

"Well halfway there I changed my mind. I've got another meeting in that closet over there. What? Don't look at me like that, as Head Boy I think it's my job to-"

"Oh shut it, Malfoy. We've got work to do, and you're coming with me," she said, taking hold of his left wrist and yanking it out of his pocket.

"Woah- slow down there Granger- enough me to go around... and don't touch that. It' s brand new."

Looking down she could see he was talking about his watch, it looks like a Rolex, she thought absentmindedly. "Can you at least tell me what time it is, then?"

"Nope."

This was the first thing that made her laugh all day. "Let me get this straight. You can't read clocks?"

"Sure I can read clocks," he said, annoyed. "Just not this one. And I can't believe you would laugh at someone who couldn't read. That's cruel."

"Not just anyone, Malfoy. You're special."

Draco thrust his wrist out in front of her. "See? It's Latin. And there aren't even any arms on it."

Hermione looked closely at it for the second time, seeing the face of it and it's details. It was circular, like any other watch, but simply contained a bunch of jumbled and faded Latin words. All except for one, reminding her of a Muggle eight ball. "Serusaum..." she murmured curiously, reading the word highlighted in the center of the glass. Looking extremely puzzled, she sat down in the middle of the corridor and began looking through her satchel, pulling out a small book about the size of her hand.

"Granger," Draco began, disbelieving.

"What?" she replied, not looking up from the book.

"Do you carry a pocket-size Latin dictionary around with you everywhere?"

That was about the third time she ignored him. "Serusaum...serusaum..." flicking to the correct page she rolled her eyes. "Late. It means 'you're late.' Why did you buy that?" she asked, irritated, standing abruptly and taking hold of his arm again whether he liked it or not.

"It was expensive," he said as if it were obvious, allowing her to pull him down to Dumbledore's office.

***

14 September, 1997

Yesterday had to participate in meaningless meeting as Head Boy. I've got to say, the only good thing that has come out of this is the rather spiffing title. Pansy says it's a turn on- I personally just think it's funny. 'Head Boy'. Kinky, really.

Granger, of course, doesn't take anything lightly. Little miss let's-crack-down-on-books always wants to do something. Why can't she be little miss 'let's-crack-down-on-Draco'? I'm quite open to trying new things.

I must be tired. I believe I just made blatant sexual suggestion having to do with Granger.

***

"Ginny! Wait up!" Harry called, running down an archway with no windows, the sun reflecting slightly off his glasses. Ginny turned, and smiled. "You headed to Arithmancy?" he asked, breathless.

"Yeah- you're taking Arithmancy, too, Harry?"

"Er, no, not my thing. I just wanted to catch you... Ron told me you were shopping with Colin for Hermione today? Um... well, what're you... what're you getting her?"

"Oh well, she is seventeen now... so I was thinking more along the lines of a Birth Control Potion," Ginny replied seriously, inwardly grinning.

Harry looked as if he just ate a flobberworm. "Wha- what?" he asked, nearly toppling over.

She burst into a fit of giggles, "Relax, Harry! I was only joking! Goodness, you've known her since you were eleven, and you're asking me for gift advice?"

"Well ah... like you said, she's seventeen, so... this gift should be..."

"Special?" Ginny finished for him, smiling much wider.

Embarrassed, Harry stuck his hands idly in his pocket, and kicked a stone on the ground. "Well, yeah..."

She rolled her eyes. "Harry, you can do special! Just make sure you don't pull any repeat gifts," Ginny said, looking at him pointedly, "Like last year when you got her a book for her birthday and Christmas?"

"She likes books!" he cried defensively, eyes wide.

"It was her sweet sixteen! You don't get her books! You get her... flowers and a kiss- or lingerie or something!"

Harry grinned, "Lingerie, Gin?"

"Well- not- not lingerie- but you know what I mean!"

"Yeah, I do. And I think I've got the perfect gift in mind too. Thanks, you're the best," Harry said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before he turned and ran off in the other direction.

Ginny turned instantly red and yelled after him, "What did I do?"

That was very cruel. Now, first things first- Ginny used to have a crush on Harry. It wasn't exactly a secret, anyway. By her third year, she went to the ball with Neville. (Still, Neville- not exactly Gilderoy Lockhart, right?) By her fourth year she'd made tons of new friends, and sort of took a stand against boys, ending up taking the Hermione route. She put forth all of her efforts towards her schoolwork. This had been going pretty well... until... Draco Malfoy.

Ginny began to think long and hard (and not for the first time) about Draco. He was a complete mystery to her, and perhaps that was what made him so incredibly attractive. He was forbidden. Dangerous. Like that dark haired stranger in the novel she'd been reading- A Wizard Forgotten. A chill ran up and down her spine every time she pictured him in her mind- and what Ron would do if he found out.

Ah well, not gonna happen.

BAM.

"Do people not watch where they're going now?" a man grumbled as Ginny walked right into him.

"What? Oh- gosh I'm sorry," she said, thoroughly embarrassed that she'd been daydreaming. Dropping to her knees she began to pick up her belongings.

He bent down to help her, picking up her tattered Advanced Arithmancy book. "You really ought to get that replaced, Weasley, I could've sworn I saw one of your brothers carrying around the same nasty thing a few years back," the man said, standing back up.

"Oh, yeah... that's Percy's, actually," she said, still crawling on the ground looking frantically for her lucky quill. Ginny saw it, right in-between the man's feet. "Aha!" she cried triumphantly. "Found you."

"OWWW!" he cried, falling back several feet as Ginny started to sit up, still directly in-between his legs.

She'd flung her head up... right up... there. "OH MERLIN!" she shrieked, standing abruptly and stepping towards the blonde man. "OH MERLIN!" she cried a second time, but not for the same reasons. "DRACO?"

"WHAT'D I EVER DO TO YOU???"

Ginny paused to think about it, looking thoughtful, "Well, there was that time when you almost got Hagrid fired, called Hermione a Mudblood, almost got my father-"

"IT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION, WEASLEY!"

"That must really, really hurt, huh?" she said, crossing her arms over her chest. Draco was suddenly much less attractive when he was writhing in pain. "Need help?"

"I'm sure you'd like that, wouldn't you Weasley?"

"You're not really in a position to insult me, Malfoy."

Draco, who was still hunched over, glared. "You're as charming as your brother. Which really isn't that charming."

"Can I have my book now, please?"

"OH NO. You could have ridded me of my ability to reproduce. We need to make sure everything in working order."

Ginny was began tapping her foot impatiently, "And how to d'you propose we do that?" He grinned. "Very funny, but you're not getting in my robes."

"Oh don't flatter yourself Weasley, I have no desire whatsoever to spawn a Measley. One, that's a very cruel last name to give a child, and two, it might inherit your looks. Can't have that."

"We could always call it Walfoy. And what's wrong with my looks?"

"Your red hair and my gray eyes? You wouldn't be able to tell if it was a child or a very hideous house plant. I'd never put a child through that sort of torment."

"Didn't your father get arrested last year for being head of Muggle torture?"

"He was never convicted," Draco said hotly. "And not everything runs in the family."

"Of course not."

"I'm serious."

"Alright then."

"We're clear."

"We're clear."

***