The Thought Of It All

The hex was finally lifted off a half an hour later. He felt stiff from staying in the same position for so long. The stupid chit outdid him again, had beaten him at his own game. This wasn’t the first time he had to threaten someone off his back or out of his face.

But he would show her it was wrong to mess with a Malfoy.

He grinned wickedly and strutted out of the bathroom, but not before straightening out his appearance and fixing his hair just right.

Granger thought she had him all figured out, if only she knew. It’s nothing compared to what most people faced in their lifetimes. And he was only 16 years old. He shuddered just thinking about it, now wasn’t the time to wallow in self-pity.

Draco turned left, heading towards the staircase that led to the Gryffindor Common Room, that was where she surely was. And he had to stop her before anything came out, and caused more him trouble that he couldn’t afford to get out of this time.

There was too much at stake, he needed to finish the cabinet and still have time to complete his assignments, otherwise the teachers would start getting suspicious.

His assignment from the Dark Lord was to work on the closet in the Room of Requirement, so that the Death Eaters could finally enter the school and take it over. The only Wizard that the Dark Lord was somewhat intimidated by was Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts.

But Potter was just an inconvenience that the Dark Lord would soon get rid of, in his own time.

Draco smiled, he couldn’t wait until he was finally free from his father’s mistake. This whole thing wouldn’t have happened if only his father listened.
He was the one who gave the diary to the Weaslette, he was the one who got caught at the Ministry of Magic- after being sent by the Dark Lord to try and retrieve the lost prophecy- clad in only a Death Eater costume.

The Dark Lord hadn't liked that very much.

But what really stung was that when the rumors of the Dark Lord that was circulated a few years back hinting the reappearance of the Dark Lord and his father didn’t immediately sought him out. And he says he was loyal.

Draco climbed up seven never- ending staircases till he reached the portrait of a fat lady, knowing immediately this was the one, he politely (although it took all his patience, seeing how he despised the Gryffindors) asked to speak to Hermione Granger.

The fat lady ‘humphed,’ even after he was polite and moved further into the painting. She came back a few moments later with a smile on her face, and said in a very loud rambunctious voice, ‘Hermione is here, but she is not at all fit to have visitors, she said to come back when you have dropped dead.’

Draco scowled and muttered,’tell her it’s urgent.’

Turning back again, this time positively annoyed. She appeared once more,and said happily ‘No way am I coming out with a ferret on the loose.’

He opened his mouth then snapped it shut. So the Mudblood wanted to play a game, oh, he’d play alright. Sighing heavily, he turned sad eyes on the fat lady and murmured ‘But I have to talk to her about something really serious. She helped me last time and I wanted to thank her properly.’

‘You think I’m going to believe a Slytherin, your house only represents the cunning and vindictive. It has no place associating with us noble and courageous Gryffindor.’ the fat lady said, outraged.

Draco practically glared the fat lady into hiding behind the wall in the painting, and with a high pitched squeak she turned and ran. ‘So much for being courageous,’ he said,smiling.

He sat himself down on the steps to the side of the portrait so he could finally catch Granger. For some odd reason he wasn’t at all worried that she would tell anyone about what happened. And if she did, he’d make sure to deny it and to ask his mother to pay someone off or another.

Smirking, he waited.

A short while later, he finally saw Granger trying to sneak her way out. She quickly turned and raced down the stairs. Draco looked down at his watch and saw she was late for her rounds, they started 10 minutes ago. He reluctantly got up and followed her, making sure to stay in the shadows.

Granger was waiting outside the trophy room, for Merlin knows what, when she finally sighed and started with the first floor. Sneaking a glance around the corner, he was unprepared to see Granger looking in his direction, he quickly flattened himself against the wall and cursed the soles of his shoes.

What felt like an eternity he chanced a quick look and saw Granger at the end of the wall, humming a tune of a weird sister’s song. He scowled, he liked that band and she ruined it for him with her smart-y mouth.

Stepping out, he said, ‘Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Mudblood.’

Granger spun around and drew out her wand. 'Why are you following me, Malfoy?' she snapped out.

'Who said anything, about following you. I was just having a stroll through the hallways when I noticed your bushy- hair from down the hall.' he said in a no nonsense tone. He walked forward a little, and saw Granger stand still.

He continued, 'You know I really fell for that line back in the bathroom. You are pretty sly, you know that Granger?'

'Ugh, I'll take that as an insult, since it was coming from you.' she spat.

'Take it either way you want. I was wondering where you had the guts to trick me like that. And I got to tell you after the whole hex thing you flew my way, I didn't exactly land on anything soft.' he said without humor, massaging his chest.

'I was only giving you what you deserved, unless it was too much for the big bad Death Eater. Was it too much, Malfoy?' she mocked, grinning.

Draco scowled in return and said. 'Please. You have no idea what I have learned having a father like mine. The Dark Arts runs through the family, and I happen to know a lot about it.'

She just stared at him and cocked an eyebrow, and in a voice of disbelief. 'Right, and I love to fly.'

He marched right up to her, and she stood still, gracing him with a look of contempt. She didn't falter or try and scurry away. So very the bloody Gryffindor.

'Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, what are you doing out?' the voice of Ms. McGonagall sounded.

'Well, professor, I was out patrolling when I ran into Malfoy. And we were discussing the next Prefect meeting,' Granger said, ignoring Draco's shocked expression.

She looked between Granger and Draco, seeing if she should buy her excuse, it was unbelievable, that two known students would be talking civilized, especially at night with no one to bother them. 'Where is Ron? He is also supposed to be patrolling with you, correct?' she asked, ignoring their excuse.

Granger's face turned red and she murmured. 'Ron is patrolling the towers, I told him to meet me back in our common room.'

'Very well, go to bed soon.' she quickly walked away, leaving Draco and Granger alone once more.

Granger started, opening all the classrooms and checking inside. Draco trailed behind her, unsure why.

'Why did you lie?' he asked, nonchalant.

'I didn't lie for you, I just don't want to get stuck in detention with a ferret because we weren't doing our responsibilities,' she hissed out, viciously.

'That's explainable, but what about the Weasel? You went to meet him but he didn't show up,' he grimaced. Was the Mudblood and him having a civilized conversation. Ugh!

She spun on her heel and pressed her wand into his stomach. 'You were following me! Why?'

They were still in the same hallway, not having progressed much. It was a mistake talking to her, well, it's always a mistake being in her presence. He just wanted to know if she told anyone. That was all.

'Have you told anyone yet?' he asked, ignoring her question.

'No, I have another idea actually. One that will benefit both of us. You interested?' she regarded him with a look of interest.

'I might be, what is it?' he said cooly.

'I'll tell you eventually, Malfoy.' she lowered her wand and walked away.

'Granger, come back here!' he yelled outraged.

He wasn't going to walk after her. But he needed to know, sighing, he decided to follow her. Turning a corner, he was consumed in darkness. And her foot steps could no longer be heard.

Sighing, he went back to the dungeons, and tried to sleep.

Draco should have oblivated the little bitch. Merlin knew she deserved it. After he lost her last night, he took upon himself to snap at everyone when he returned back to the dungeons. Pissed off because she got away again.

And it wasn't better in the morning, after tossing and turning the night, he woke up with bags under his eyes and sweat covering his body. He rolled at of bed and got dressed, leaving his hair disheveled and his robes askew. Not bothering waking up his friends, he headed down up to breakfast.

Upon reaching the entrance to the Great Hall, he was pushed against a wall, smacking his head on the hard cement. Out of view from all other students, he questioned Granger with a curious glance. She smiled and he frowned.

'What do you want, beaver?' he asked in a cool voice.

'Don't call me beaver, ferret!' she said just as cool.

'You haven't answered my question yet,' he said. Her face darkened, and he took satisfaction.

Granger poked him harder, and he winced. Bloody Hell, she just gave him a splinter. Stupid witch.

'I told you, you would pay.' she hissed out.

Chuckling, he said. 'And how do you suppose I do that?'

He looked at her face and noted the devious smile that spread the length of her lips.

'Sign your name on this and I won't hex you into the next century. Where you belong. Far away from me.'

She held up the quill and parchment. But poked the wand in his face. He slowly reached into his robes and noted his wand was missing.

Draco looked up and saw Granger holding it up. She looked around then whispered. ' It's called wordless magic.'

A flush appeared on his face. His father was still teaching him before he was sentenced to Azkaban. He learned some of it but he always lost concentration.

One thing he was taught, by Professor Snape was Oclumency. He was a professional when closing his mind. It helped when he was in front of the Dark Lord.
'Why should I sign it? It'll probably jinx me every time I open my mouth.' he asked incredulously.

'And you think that's a bad thing.'
He chuckled sarcastically. 'You are aware there are my house members behind you. One word and you're gone.'

Granger's eyes narrowed. 'One word to them, and I'll go right to Headmaster and tell him what you have been up to. Using an Unforgivable isn't all that you have done. Right?'

Draco's jaw tightened. She couldn't know about him being a Death Eater or about the closet. He made sure of it. She was bluffing, just trying to scare him off.

'You don't know anything. Don't pretend you do.' he spat out.

'Oh, but I do. I've been keeping tabs on you since your father was caught. Very stupid of him, by the way. I followed you, I know where you go. Who you see, pretty much everything.' she said in a deceptively mild voice.

He grabbed her wrist and spun them around. Pushing her back into the wall, the wand was still pointed at his belly, but Draco didn't seem to mind. He spoke in a low, controlled voice. 'You have seen nothing. You will tell no one of the things that you haven't seen. You've got that?'

'I've got it, once you sign it,' Granger said, smiling.

Snatching up both the quill and parchment, he signed it on the wall beside her head. And stuffed it in her hand. 'I signed the bloody thing. Now get out of my face, and never talk to me again.'

She silently gave him back his wand, and he took it. Turning away and making his way to the Great Hall, he left with a throbbing headache, and the knowledge that he did something really stupid signing that parchment.