Face of Evil

Chapter 2: The New World (Cont)


Ginny-


I look up as the door opens again. It has been hours since they took my friends and I hope they are all okay. Hope is a funny thing now it doesn’t really glow as hot or bright as it once did.


Lucius Malfoy enters the room first, followed by two masked Death Eaters. I stand from my spot on the floor because they already have enough of a height advantage to me, and I still have my pride. Once the two Death Eaters station themselves on either side of the opened door a younger face steps into the room.


I look down at my feet as I see the boy I love so dearly step into the room wearing the robes of a Death Eater and holding a strange wand in his hand delicately. His mannerisms are all wrong, he moves with smooth gliding gestures of a snake.


“Little Ginevra Weasley.” It is Harry’s voice that addresses me, but is sounds so different, so cold. “It has been such a long time. Why, you have grown into a woman while I was away.”


I can’t help but swallow at his words. In the back of my mind I knew what they meant. I knew they confirmed every fear that had been growing inside of me since I watched the smog enter Harry’s body, since I saw those red eyes on the man that I love.


“Tom?” I ask in a very low voice. I don’t want to think about the time I had spent in my first year at Hogwarts writing in an old journal that wrote back to me.


“Voldemort.” he corrects me as I can feel him move further into the room. “Now, what are we going to do with you Miss Weasley?” he asks as he starts to walk around me like a predator eyeing his prey.


I don’t know what the other men in the room are doing but they stay silent as their Dark Lord speaks.


“I’m not afraid of dying.” I respond so he knows I will face my execution like a Gryffindor.


He chuckles as my words and takes a step closer to me. I can smell him now, and he doesn't smell like Harry any more. His new smell is more clean and deep, more grown up. I inwardly kick myself as I think about how I kind of like the smell.


“Oh, why would we kill you little girl?” he asked as his hands tips my chin up and forces me to look into his eyes. “You are worth so much. You are practically the Princess of the Order of the Phoenix. You are a pureblood female in the prime of her life, and we are very old friends.” he said with a playful smirk on his lips.


“What are you going to do?” I ask before I can stop myself. I locked eyes with him, determined not to back down from the challenge he he had just issued.


“I think... I will keep you.” He said as he took a step back. “Find her a secure room to stay in until we have the Chamber finished the way I want.” He told his guards and just like that he left with Malfoy trailing behind him like a lap dog.


More confused now I slump back to the floor.


Luna-


I watched out the window as the train takes me back to London. With my father’s death there was more to worry about then finishing out the year at Hogwarts. Does school even really matter in this new world?


I think back to my conversation with the new Headmaster and frown. They know who my friends are, and where my allegiance lies. They know of the actions I took during the final battle, but they are willing to make a deal. I could keep a small amount of my freedom if I would legally allow them to publish The Quibbler with their own ideas. They say they could take it from me, and just publish what they wanted anyway, but it wouldn’t mean as much.


I think they were surprised by my counter offer. I refused to let some Death Eater write for my father’s magazine. I would write it myself, but I would share their ideas and write what they wanted me to. Of course they think I am trying to trick them, but they agreed to the deal with their own conditions.


They told me my family home was destroyed, and they would set me up in a flat off of Diagon Alley. I would have an assistant that was to watch over my daily life, and one of their Death Eaters would visit me weekly to check that I was keeping in line.


The door to the cabin opens and I look up to see who it is. I had thought I was the only one on the train. The older boy that steps into the cabin with me is dark skinned and almost so beautiful he looks like a girl. He is wearing a black button up shirt and slacks and has his hands stuffed into his pockets as his almond shaped eyes run over me. I recognize the dark skinned Slytherin at once, Blaise Zabini.


“I am going to be your baby sitter, so I thought we should get to know one another.” he says as he takes the seat across from mine. His tone is passive as if he really feels the assignment is below him.


“Why would we want to do that?” I ask as I look back out the window.


“Because I have nothing better to do, and you don’t want to get into trouble.” He said his tone cold.


“What do you want to know?” I ask as my gaze moves back to him.


He thinks for a moment before answering. “Why are you doing this? I mean, I know you don’t want to end up like some of your friends...” he smirks as he let his words hang in the air like he knows something I do not. “But why give yourself up so totally to our control?”


I look out the window again before I answer. "I don't want my families' work to be touched by your kind."


"You will be printing what the Dark Lord wishes, so why does it matter who writes it?"


"You will get it wrong." I tell him simply.


He sighs like to doesn't understand, and he probably doesn't. He sits back in his seat and is quiet for a while. I listen to the sound of the train wheels running over the tracks.


"Why do you act so weird all the time? You would be pretty if you weren't so much of a freak." He tells me.


"I don't know what you mean." I ask him and look back to him to see if I can gain more information.


“Why don’t you act like other people?”


I study him a long while before I answer. He shifts under my gaze and I think I am making him uncomfortable. “I don’t understand other people. It was sweet of you to say, by the way.” I tell him with a shrug and look back out the window.


“Say what?” he asks and I can hear the frown in his voice.


“That I am pretty.”


“I said you would be pretty.” He corrected.


“Same thing.”


We sit in sit in silence for the rest of our journey back to London.


Daphne-


I sit at breakfast and listen to Pansy rattle on about the plans she would make now that Draco was truly important. She told everyone about the places he would take her and the things he would buy her. I smile and nod, thinking that I was pretty sure Draco was bored with her and she would have to find someone else soon.


“He told me he would only be in the castle for the day. He had some assignment in London tonight that he had to take care of, but that he would be back in a few days.” Pansy says with a sigh. “I do hope he shows up to breakfast soon...” She continues before looking around in hopes he would walk in.


When he does enter the room he passes by the Slytherin table without a second look and goes up to sit with the teachers. I glance at Pansy to see her reaction and smirk as she turns purple. I spend the rest of my breakfast ignoring the other Slytherin girls and send shy glances up to the table just in case he is watching me.


Once I am done I get up and pull my bag over my shoulder. I send one last look up at him, and smile when our eyes meet.


I head to Potions class early and take my usual seat as I place my quill and papers out so that I am ready for when the others get here.


When the door opens I think it is Slughorn so I don’t look up from the book I am reading to kill time. I don’t like to read in front of anyone besides the teachers if I can help it. I would rather the other students think of me as non academic.


“History of the Magical Politics, what class are you reading that for?” Draco’s deep voice asks.


I frown at first, I had not expected him to follow me here. After a moment to recover I smile and look up at him.


“Would you believe me if I said History of Magic class?” I ask as I set the book aside.


“No.” he answers and he is looking at him with something new in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place. “You know I always assumed you were dumb.” he added with a smirk.


“That isn’t a very nice thing to say to a lady.”


“Well you do follow my ex around an awful lot, you can’t me that smart.” he says as his smirk grows more wide.


“Does she know she is your ex? She was telling everyone this morning your first child’s name is going to be Fable.” I tell him playfully and wet my bottom lip.


“You ran away from me last night.” He says to change the subject.


“You have a girlfriend.” I explain and force another blush to my cheeks. “I am not that kind of girl.”


“You don’t want to be my girlfriend.” he says so firmly that is seems more like an observation he has made. “You want my attention for another reason.” He says and looks down at him as if he is studying me.


I am saved from having to respond as others start to collect in the classroom. He winks at me before he heads to the door. When he passes Pansy on the way out he leans down and whispers something in her ear that makes her turn purple again and then slap him hard across the face. He laughs it off as he leaves the room.


Pansy stomps over to me and sits in her usual seat for the class.


‘What did he say to you?!” She snaps, her eyes narrowing in on me as her most probable enemy.


“He told me he broke up with you.” I tell her with a shocked frown on my face. “Why do you think he wanted me to know?” I ask as I fake ignorance.


“He has done this before Daphne.” She tells me, her eyes stilled narrowed. “He always comes back to me after he has his little fun.”


I keep myself from laughing and just nod in agreement. “I am sure he will come back, but if he has done it before, why do you keep taking him back?” I ask with concern in my voice. “Do you really think he deserves you?”


She smiles as she thinks about that idea. “You are right, I should find someone new.” She said with a smirk on her lips.


Ginny-


It has been a week since the battle and they have me locked up in what must have been a teacher’s room. I never really thought about where the teachers slept before. It was cleaned out of any personal possessions and most of its furniture. I smile as I think they must be afraid I will find something to free myself with.


No one has visited me in the week and I spend most of my days just curled up on the bed looking at the wall. Bread and water appear each day next to me and I eat to keep my strength up. Who knows what tortures that have in store for me, I need to be able to defend myself even I do not have my wand.


I look up at the door as I hear it open. A feeling of dread and excitement run through me as something in finally happening.


Lucius smiles as our eyes meet. “You permanent rooms have been finished.” He says with what I can only describe as mirth in his voice. “You’ve been to the Chamber of Secrets before if I remember correctly.” All the blood drains from my face at his question. It only makes him smile more.


As he moves into the room I jump off the bed and try to get as far away from him as I can. I will not go back to the Chamber without a fight.


“Really?” he asks with a laugh as he watches me run. “I thought Gryffindors are supposed to be brave?” He torments me as he moves closer.


Knowing that I will not be able to keep myself away from him, I decide to change tactics and charge. He was not expecting the 120 pound girl to full out charge him and I get the better of him. I knock him over and try to grab for the wand in his hand.


He twists his wand so it is facing my chest and grunts “Crucio!”


Every fiber of my being feels like it has been lit on fire. The pain is all consuming and I barely register it as I am picked up and carried over someone’s shoulder before I black out.


I do not think I have been out for long when I awake as my body is still sore from the spell he put on me. The first thing I notice is that I am on a very soft bed. I open my eyes slowly and look around the room.


The walls are stone, but not castle stone, more like they were carved right from the bedrock. Everything within the room seems to be black, from the furniture to the rugs on the floor. The only bit of color is the flames of the candles, as the candles themselves are also black. There are two doors leading from the room, but one of the doors is open. I get to my feet as soon as I notice this and move to the door to see if it is a way out.


I am disappointed in the fact it is a washroom. This room is also completely black, and I start to feel as if I am in some sort of tomb. That is when I remember they said they were taking me to the Chamber. I don’t remember this room from when I was here before, but it seemed like it would be fitting down in the place of my nightmares.


The other door opens and I look over to see who has come to check on me now. My insides go a bit cold as I see who it is. He looks more put together then the last time I had seen him. His hair is tamed in a way that Harry had never been able to manage. His robes are clean and pressed, making him look as if he was adorned in shadow. His posture is straight and his movements are liquid, giving him a rather regal look. All in and all it makes him look very little like the boy I knew only weeks ago.


“The princess is awake.” He says as he enters the room and closes the door behind him. “I heard you had not behaved when Lucius went to to get you.” he commented conversationally.


I have no idea why he is talking to me like this. Why he is even here at all. I am not sure what to say, but I am saved from answering as he continues.


“Of course he was punished for casting that spell upon you.” he says with disdain in his voice. “I do not like when people harm my things.” he adds with a wave of his hand.


His words finally break through my shock of seeing him. “Your things?” I ask unable to stop myself. I narrow my eyes at him. “You could not be talking about me.” I say and I am surprised at how steady my voice sounds.


A smirk comes to his lips as he looks at me. “That is exactly what I am talking about. You have belonged to me for quite some time little girl.” He tells me as he seems delighted at my reaction. “You have belonged to me ever since you were eleven, you can’t possibly have forgotten our time together?” he asks in a mockingly hurt tone.


“That wasn’t you. It was a stupid journal!” I snap as he brought up some of the most frightening and confusing memories of my life.


“Ah, well when the journal was destroyed those memories rejoined their true owner. So from my point of view, it was very much me.” he says as if he was explaining something to a small child.


I couldn’t help but swallow at the idea of him knowing me the way that Tom from the journal knew me. That memory of him had been my only friend when I was at my most vulnerable. How could I defend myself against someone who would know me so well?


As I am lost in the memories he invoked with his words he takes the moment to move up in front of me. “Now the only question is, what do I want to do with you now that I have you?” he asks with an darkening smirk.


Coming to my senses I step back from him which only makes my back hit one of the cold stone walls. He laughs as the panic in my face. “I do enjoy when you are frightened of me.” he says as he takes another step towards me. “Do not worry little girl...” He starts as he places his hands on my hips. “Whatever I decide, I am sure you will enjoy it.” he says in a mocking tone. “Or at least, I am sure I will.” he laughs again as I turn my head away from him.


He steps back away from me and looks about the room. “How are you enjoying your new home?” he asks back to the conversational tone he had come in with.


“I... I hate it.” I tell him as I try and regain my voice and my nerve.


He nods as if it was the answer he expected. “It is rather dark, but its decorations were meant to please not you.” he told me with a shrug.


“Well then why don’t you live here.” I ask as I move away from the wall and sit down on the bed so I can watch him.


“Would you like if I stayed here with you?” he asked with a smirk which makes me flush and shake my head. “I plan on hiring you a maid to keep you company, do you have any requests in that matter?” he asked as he moves back to the door.


I frown unsure of exactly what he was playing at, what he was expecting from me. “She would have to be pureblood of course.” he added as an afterthought.


“Anyone that I would want to spend time with could not be hired by the likes of you.” I snap as my irritation grows with my confusion.


“Ah yes, well I am sure I will come up with someone.” he said with another wave of his hand. “I must take my leave now, I am a very busy man these days. I do hope you find a better mood before I come back.” he says and opens the door. From the angle I am sitting now I can see out of my room and my fears are confirmed as I catch sight of the place of my nightmares.


Luna-


It has been a week since the train ride to my new life and I do not recognize myself. They set me up with a space in Diagon Alley. It is a small building with a couple of offices on the street level and a tiny flat above. Mr. Zabini showed me around when we first arrived even though I am pretty sure he had never been here either.


I am not sure where he lives, but thankfully it is not with me. I hardly go into the flat, most nights I have just been sleeping at my desk. I think he may have figured that out by my constantly crumpled appearance, but he hasn’t mentioned it yet.


For now we are just setting things up so they can run smoothly in the future. I must admit to myself that he makes a good assistant even if he is here mostly to spy on me. He keeps me organized and focused, which is something I have never really been able to do for myself before now.


I sit on the floor of my office and organize old Quibblers so I can reference them later if I need to. I know I will not be referencing any of these issues in the future, but it makes me feel better and keeps me busy.


I know I have a meeting today with the Death Eater that is going to be the liaison between the New Ministry and myself. I think maybe I should have taken a shower this morning and changed robes, maybe even done my hair so I look professional. For some reason I can’t bring myself to do any of those things for this meeting. Maybe it is my small need to rebel in some way. So I sit here with my wrinkled robes, and my hair pulled up into a messy bun with several quills sticking out of it.


When the Death Eater enters the room I do not look up from my place on the floor. They wait to see if I will acknowledge them, and after five minutes they clear their throat.


With a sigh I look up at the man standing in my doorway. The first thing that strikes me is the fact that is is only a little older than myself. The second is the fact that I know his face quite well. Draco Malfoy stands over me with his usual arrogant smirk on his lips.


“Lovegood, what have you done to yourself?” He asks as he holds his hand out to help me up off the floor.


I look at the hand for a dazed moment and take it. He pulls me up into a standing position and makes no attempt to hide the fact he is looking me up and down. “You need new robes Lovegood.” he tells me as he lets my hand go.


“I like these robes just fine.” I say as I move away from him and behind my desk. “Did you just come to talk about my appearance?” I ask with a tilt of my head watching the older boy closely.


He sits down across from me and puts his feet up on my desk. His manor is relaxed and almost social. He pulls a black envelope from his breast pocket and tosses it so it hands in front of me. “Those are the stories the Dark Lord requires in your first issue. Anything else you wish to add should be approved by Blaise before you even waste your time on it.”


I pick up the envelope but he raises his hand to stop me. “Look at it once I leave, I am not answering any questions you have.” he says, though he makes no move to get up. “Now back to your dress code.”


“Dress code?” I ask as I raise one of my eyebrows and set the envelope back on the desk.


He smiles. “I feel disrespected by your appearance.” he says as he waves a hand to motion to me. “I do not care what you look like on a regular basis.” he speaks in a cold and firm voice. “But when you are meeting with someone important you should be wearing clean robes that fit. Your hair should be tidy and it wouldn’t hurt if you put on a little makeup. Do I make myself understood?” he asks as he narrows his eyes at him.


I nod my head slowly surprised that he took so much offence to my small rebellion.


“And just so we are clear, anyone with this...” he pulls back the sleeve of his left arm to show me the black skull and snake that reside there. “...is important.” he finishes with his eyes locked on mine as he pushes his sleeve back down.


I am not sure what to say so I just nod my head and look away.


“Is there anything you need before I take my leave?” he asks as he settles back into his relaxed posture.


I look off into space as I think of the question. “What happened to Ginny, Colin and Dennis?” I ask before looking back at him and tilting my head.


He looks at me for a long moment before smirking. “What do I get if I tell you?” he asks with an odd expression in his eyes.


“I don’t really have anything to give.” I point out and frown. His eyes glance down from my face for a moment and I look down to see what he is looking at. I don’t see anything odd so I look back to him.


He chuckles and then shakes his head at something that I don’t understand. “If you promise to let me write an article of my choosing for your first issue I will tell you.” he says lightly.


“What kind of article would it be?”


“Not sure yet.” he says and taps his fingers against his lips as he thinks. “But whatever it is it will make you blush. It will be light and have nothing to do with politics.” he adds after a moment like he is getting an idea.


I think his offer over for a moment before I nod my head in agreement.


“The two mudbloods are being held in a camp while the ministry decides what to do with them. The blood traitor is locked in a dark room at Hogwarts while our Dark Lord decides what he wants to do with her.” I whimper at the information which makes Draco smile and lean forward. “And you are free and working directly for those who are holding them. I am sure they will love to know.”


As he lets his words settle in the air he gets to his feet. “See you in a week or so.” he says lightly and leaves me in a darker mood then I had when he entered.


Daphne-


I frown and drum my fingers on the table in the great hall as I look at the owl Draco has sent me. Pansy had noticed his family owl and thought the letter would have been for her. When it was dropped on my plate she gave me a look that could curdle milk. I open the letter and scan the contents with mild interest


Miss. Greengrass,


It has come to my attention that you are one who likes to play games as much as I do. I found myself rather pleased when I realized that you were not what you seem. So let us have a game, shall we? Unfortunately I will not be at Hogwarts again until next week. Until then I thought I would start you off with something simple. If you complete the three tasks I have laid out for you by the time I get back, I will get you an interview for a small but important job while you are attending school. This job may be unpleasant for you, but it will put you in direct line to be noticed by the Dark Lord. If you accept this challenge and do not complete the tasks then I will expect a reward of my choosing.


Tasks:
1: Let a male Slytherin see you complete nude without letting him know that you know he is there.
2: Make friends with a Gryffindor.
3: Get Pansy to write me a perverted owl.


~Draco Lucius Malfoy


I read the letter several times and frown. Pansy has told me how possessive Draco can be over what he feels is rightfully his. So the first task tells me he isn’t trying for some conquest. All of them will be quite tricky to pull off, and that more than anything else has be considering playing his little game. They seem like such random tasks, but I know enough about our King Slytherin to know he always has a reason for things.


I decide to start on the last task right away and frown up at Pansy in bewilderment. I tuck the owl aside and sigh.


“He mentions you a lot...” I tell her as I try to sound timid. “...he obviously still has a thing for you..” I add in a defeated tone.


She smiles at this new information. Her eyes light up the the idea of Draco being stuck on her. I almost burst into laughter, but I keep my face meek. “I think he just gave me attention because...” I look down guiltily. “I swear I didn’t mean to actually send it Pansy. It was just a little fun and this it got mixed in with the mail to my parents.”


She is looking at me in a very confused way as I ramble on in a frustrating way.


“What did you send him?” She snaps to cut me off.


I force myself to blush again and then look up at her. “It was a dirty letter. I just told him about all the things I wished he would do to me. I never meant to actually sent is Pansy, you have to believe me. I know Draco is yours.”


“This letter...” he starts carefully looking at me. “It got him going?” She asks as she keeps eye contact with me like she could tell if I was lying.


I nod a few times slowly as if I were afraid to speak.


I see the gears turning in her head as she gets a devious smirk on her face. I force myself not to get my own and and swallow hard. “Are you still mad at me?” I ask softly.


Pansy comes out of whatever she was thinking about in shakes her head. I sigh and smile to her in relief. I pull out a small piece of parchment and scribble a note to send later.


Mr. Malfoy,


I accept.


~Daphne Greengrass


P.S.
Please let me know if you do not receive the letter you were expecting within the next few days.


Once that is done I go back to eating breakfast as I start to think of ways to accomplish the other two tasks.


I decide I should work on the hardest task first so I look over at the Gryffindor table and see who is left. There are only three left from my year. Many of them had actually fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, and others were no longer around because Hogwarts no longer admitted mudbloods.


I notice that Slytherin House was the only that had not been touched by the battle or the change in school rules. I smile to myself. This little change in power weeded out the weak and unworthy, what is not to like about that?


I sigh and shake my head as I try to focus on my goal. I had a choice of Lavender Brown, Dean Thomas, or Seamus Finnigan if I wanted to stick to my own year. I wonder if they fought in the battle or if they were lucky enough to stay in bed that night.


I look between the two boys, boys were always much easier to manipulate than girls. They are so easily distracted by a nice body. I had never given Dean or Seamus much attention before, they were both half-bloods and usually below my notice. I knew they were friends but beyond that I had little information. We had Potions together today, I would do a bit more research then.


I watched them from my place next to Pansy as Potions class began. They both seemed angry and tired. Obviously the new way of things was getting to them. They had lost a lot of friends not too long ago and I am sure they blaming all of Slytherin House for it. How was I going to get one of them to trust me enough to call me friend? Maybe it would be best if I was friendly to both of them. That way I had double the chance to complete my task.

A few days pass before I get the chance to act on any of my tasks. It was Saturday and I was walking out towards the gate to visit Hogsmead. The school has decided to allow select students visit the village on any weekend, instead of having special weekends for the privilege. At the moment only purebloods have the privilege at all so I figure I should take advantage and get some shopping done.


As I walk down the path to the gate I see Seamus and Dean sitting in the grass watching the gate longingly. I smile to myself and veer off in their direction.


They frown at me as I approach and I put a worried expression on my face. “Aren’t you guys going to Hogsmead?” I ask faking ignorance about the rules, or their blood status.


“Only purebloods.” Dean informs me with an annoyed tone.


“Oh...” I say and blush a bit before I kneel down near them. “That’s...” I look around as if I were uncomfortable. “I’m sorry...” I say before I look back at them. “I could...” I bite my lip and look around to make sure no one is watching us. I lean forward and rest my weight on my hands so I can speak in a softer voice, and give both of them a nice view down my shirt without being too obvious. “I could pick up something for you, if you guys needed anything.” I say and look around nervously again.


The boys look at me and then look at each other. Seamus is the one who speaks this time “Why would you want to do that?” he asks a bit suspiciously.


I bite my lip and pretend to think about his question. “Because it is an unfair rule, but I don’t know what else I could do to help.”


They look at each other again and smile back at me shyly. “That is pretty nice of you to offer. We don’t want you to get into trouble.” Dean says as he reaches out and touches his hand. I am going to have to scrub that later, but for now I just flush a little.


“There is no rule about picking things up for your friends.” I say with a smile on my lips. I get to my feet and dust off my knees. “What do you guys need?” I ask in a much more confident tone.


They hesitate a moment and then give me a short shopping list of things to pick up before handing me the money I will need.


“Meet you by the lake in...” I think about what I how much time I want to spend out today and chew on my lower lip. “...Three hours?” I offer and both of them smile and nod.


They mostly want things from the joke shop so I pick those things up first. The list makes me feel that they are planning to make trouble for the new Headmaster but it doesn’t really help my current goal to stop them, so I don’t really care.


Once I have collected everything they wanted, and added a few purchases of my own I head back to the castle to meet them.


When I get to the lake they are already there looking very uneasy. They probably had second thoughts about trusting a Slytherin after I left. I walk up to think and smile brightly as if I don’t notice their unease.


“I found everything you wanted, and I also got you guys a couple of bottles of butterbeer.” I tell them as I hold the bag out to them.


They look at the bag for a long moment without taking it. I frown and give them a worried expression. “Is something wrong? I thought you guys wanted this stuff?” I ask as I let my hand drop to the side.


“You’re a Slytherin.” Dean starts and frowns at me. “Why are you being nice to us?’ he snaps like I had threatened them in some way.


I look down and fidget like they had hurt my feelings. “You know you...” I start as I pretend to stumble over my words. “You all claim to treat everyone equally and... be the nice guys. But just because I see the world in a bit different of a way then you... you think I am automatically evil or something!” I snap at them. I let tears run down my cheeks and turn my back to them.


“I agree that many people in my House can be mean to other people. It is hard for those of us who don’t care about... certain things... to be seen being nice.” I say as I sniffle. “There is a lot of backlash from such things, but.. I saw you guys sitting there looking so sad.. and no one was around to see me... I thought I could do a small thing to.. nevermind.” I snap and wipe away my tears as I look back at them and toss the bag at their feet before stomping off.


As I get further away from them a smile more and more broadly. If that little speech didn’t get them thinking about me, I don’t know what would. I will give them time, and they will come to me.


That night I start work on my last task. I plug up almost all the showers in the girls dorm. I step under and soap up my hair before plugging up the last shower and head out to with a towel wrapped around me. The only boy in the boys dorm is Theodore. I peek my head into their room with distress on my face.


“Would you mind if I used your shower? The girl’s seems to be all plugged up.” I tell him with a whimper.


He is startled for a moment and shoves something under his bed before shifting his position. “Yeah sure” he says and waves me towards the door, but his eyes are taking in my mostly nude body.


I smile brightly at him and rush into the bathroom like I didn’t want him to see any more then he should. I turn on the water and unwrap my towel to hang it up just outside of the shower. I purposefully did not close the door all the way so that it would be even more of a temptation for him, and I smile to myself as I see the door move to open more before turning my back so he thinks he is safe.


I rinse my hair out and give him a good show as I lather up my body with the soap. I want him to enjoy the show so he his story has a chance of getting back to Draco. Once I am sure he had gotten a chance to see every inch of me I turn off the water and grab my towel slowly to give him a chance to get away from the door.


I re-enter the dorm room and I have that he is sitting back on his bed looking at the ceiling. “You are a lifesaver, thanks.” I tell him with a shy smile as I head back to my own dorm. The easiests of my tasks have been completed.


When I get back to my room there is an owl sitting on my bed with my name typed instead of written. I frown and look around to see who could have put it there. Tracy is sitting on her bed. She looks up at me and shrugs.


“Owl came while you were gone.” She says and then looks at me and looks at out bathroom, she realized I had not come from it.


“Showers are plugged, I used the boys.” I tell her with a sigh. She frowns and nods before looking back to her magazine.


I sit on my bed and open the letter.


Mr. Greengrass


I figured after the letter I received from Pansy that you do not wish for her to know that I am still writing you. So I used a different owl and typed the outside of the envelope. Her letter was as unimaginative as I have come to expect from her, but that is not your fault. So I would have to say you have completely task three faster than I had expected. I hope you are doing well on your other two tasks.


Look forward to seeing you Wednesday,
Draco Lucius Malfoy


I smile at the letter and pull out my wand to turn it into ash with a quick wave of my wand. One learns very quickly to burn letters they don’t want anyone else to read in Slytherin. Once that is complete I slip into my pajamas and climb into bed so I can work on my homework for next week.


I don’t see Seamus or Dean until after lunch the next day. I head out of the Great Hall alone and decide to head out onto the grounds so that I can get some reading done without anyone seeing me. What I gave away with Draco that day before Potion's class has me a bit paranoid.


As I leave the castle I become aware of someone following me, so I moved around the side of the castle where no one can see me and turn to wait with my wand raised. I don’t like to be followed.


When Dean turns the corner his eyes become wide as he looks at my wand. He puts his hands up to show me he means no hard. I blush a bit and lower the wand. “I thought you might be Pansy, she is kind of upset I am at the moment.” I tell him shyly


Dean nods and looks around. “Look, I am sorry the way we treated you yesterday.” He says getting right to the point. “You were right. We were judging you without really knowing you. You did a really nice thing for us and we spit in your face.” he said looking into my eyes and holding out his hand. “Friends?” he asked unsurely.


I smile brightly and take his hand to shake it. “Friends.” I answer and really smile this time.