Playing with Fire

~*~Playing with Fire~*~

*~*A letter from Lucius*~*


“I was just wondering if you are free this Saturday, Draco?” Pansy asked sitting beside Draco in the empty common room, pouting slightly.

Draco shrugged, “I dunno. As far as I know I am free Pansy. But you can never know what tasks I might be assigned in the coming days.” he said with a smug grin. He had been named the Head Boy much to his pleasure as he could exercise his power among the students. He now considered himself superior to others much to the annoyance of his fellow students.

Pansy blinked several times before she finally spoke, “What does that mean?”

“Well you know … You’ll never know what the future has in store for us. Besides I’m the Head-Boy and had certain … what do you call them … duties,” he said in a matter of fact tone.

Pansy sighed loudly as if she were put out completely, “Ah Pansy, don’t act like you lost everything in your life now.” Draco said shrewdly.

From the previous summer Draco had a strange feeling that he didn’t really want Pansy for his girl friend. He felt that she wanted him only for his ‘Malfoy’ name and wealth. He had been brooding into this for quite sometime now. But somehow whenever Pansy was around, those thoughts were slightly washed away. He felt comfortable when she always listened to him. It felt good to be the dictator. He thought that he could go on and play her game until he found his true love or someone better than Pansy which he doubted…

Pansy sighed and buried herself in Draco’s arms with a mischievous smile, “You know, you’re warm,” she said.

Draco’s eyebrow rose slightly, “What do you mean by that?”

Pansy chuckled cuddling, “Well, people think that you are cold. But you aren’t that bad” she said smirking when he blinked in confusion.

“And who may I ask are those people?” he asked his eyebrows never coming down even slightly.

“Never mind them now,” she said basking in his warmth.

Draco nodded still confused. He knew that people never actually liked him, especially the Gryffindor’s. At this thought the corner of his lips twitched into a half smirk. He being a Head Boy now and previously a prefect gave him power to take points from the Gryffindor for small reasons like bumping into him accidentally. He remembered how he had once scared a Gryffindor 1st year for laughing in the corridor for a joke his friend had just said. He had threatened the poor boy of detention if he saw him laughing in the corridor in the near future.

He was shaken out of his reverie when Pansy withdrew from his arms. He shook his head and looked up to see the Slytherin Head, Severus Snape standing there with an amused look on his face. The corners of his lips were twitching as if he wanted to smirk but the shrewd expression hid it.

Draco quickly recovered and scrambled to his feet, “Yes Professor?” he asked. Pansy he observed looking through the corner of his eyes was sitting to a side with a book turned upside down, her face pink with embarrassment of being seen by the Potions master.

Severus stood with his hands crossed across this chest looking smugly at him, “Mr. Malfoy, I must remind you of the fact that you are the Head Boy, and are required to be assembled along with Ms. Parkinson in the Prefect meeting? Since you weren’t present, I came to check if you were-” Snape stopped shooting a glance at Pansy.

“Er…” Draco interrupted looking at where he was seeing and back at him.

“I found that you were a bit pre-occupied Mr. Malfoy, nonetheless it was my duty to tell you to remember about your responsibility,” his voice, though barely audible was threatening. In contrast to this the corner of his lips twitched yet again, Draco observed quietly.

“So-sorry Professor,” Draco blurted blushing slightly.

Snape nodded and turned to Pansy, “I believe you are a Prefect Ms. Parkinson and I would appreciate it if you could attend the prefect meetings,” he said in a mock-obedience tone.

Pansy turned red and quickly got to her feet when she realized the reason behind Snape’s coming here, “It won\'t repeat Professor,” she said hastily tucking the cord of hair which had fallen on her eyes when she had jumped her feet.

“I hope not.” Snape said in a murderous tone as if to say ‘if you do you’ll face the consequences’. He turned around with his long cloak sweeping the ground behind him. When the dark figure finally disappeared Draco let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew that was close,” Draco said and dropped himself on the couch where he was previously seated.

Pansy sat down as well a bit far from him feeling that Snape might return.

Draco who sensed this chuckled a bit, “Scared are we?” he asked bemused by her.

“You bet. I dunno, I haven’t really been afraid when he was around. But then I was with you … my eyes closed and then when I look up, I see this dark figure standing there with a smirk peering at us. I was frozen for a while.” She said her eyes wide as if Snape was standing there.

Draco laughed heartily at her, “Yeah right. Snape BOO-HOO,” he teased her.

“Oh shut up.” Pansy said sending a cushion flying towards him.

The pillow hit him right on his head. He wasn’t expecting her to throw something at him and he was taken by surprise, “What the-” Draco growled in disagreement of her action.

Pansy snickered triumphantly, “That’s what happens if you are over smart sweetie.”

Draco rolled his eyes as if he were annoyed by her, “Oh you think so?”

Pansy didn’t reply instead she flashed him a sexy smile and got up from the couch, “Good night Draco,” Pansy said and turned walked out of the common room. She disappeared behind the stairs leading to the girls’ dorm.

Draco smirked looking behind her, “Good night.” He replied and watched her walk away. He shook his head lightly in amusement and turned to stare at the fireplace with the serpent décor around it, where the fire was burning silently. It looked warm and beautiful with the occasional fall of cinders outside. He watched it for a few minutes fascinated by its beauty.

He finally tore his sight away from the fireplace and looked around at the empty Slytherin Common Room. Everything about his house was special for him and he only smiled remembering the first time he had entered this beautiful Serpent house 6 years ago. This being his last year at Hogwarts made him nostalgic. He wasn’t sure if he was glad or sad that his years of Hogwarts were finally ending.

He would become a Death Eater without any doubt, just like his own father Lucius Malfoy, who is a very loyal servant of the Dark Lord. He imagined himself in front of Dark Lord being praised for his loyalty and service. A pleasant sense of chillness ran through his body. He feared the Dark Lord like many others but would do his best to be one of the best men in the Dark Lord’s region. He would help the Dark Lord slay Harry Potter. He would … someday … he was sure about it.

He was shaken out of his reverie by the tapping sound somewhere. He stirred looking around to see the factor which caused the sound. He looked around for several minutes before he realized that the sound was from the window. He went towards the window and opened it. No sooner did he do this than his owl came in hooting.

“Whoa! You seem to be in terribly jolly mood Jacinthe.” Draco commented as his owl finally landed on his shoulders. He tapped her affectionately.

“Let me see what message you’ve got,” he said and slowly untied the letter from his owl’s leg. He opened the parchment carefully.

Dear Draco,

I would like you to send with the owl the date of next Hogsmeade trip.

~*~Lucius Malfoy~*~

Draco read and re-read it.

“Hogsmeade trip…? For what bloody reason does he need the date of Hogsmeade trip?” he looked at the letter again and then shrugged unconcernedly, “Who cares? As far as he doesn’t slay me,” he muttered dryly. He went over to the notice board to look for the date and was surprised to find it on Saturday.

“No wonder Pansy asked if I was free,” Draco muttered.

Draco knew his father wouldn\'t disclose anything to him, but fired the question in the letter anyway. He then went to his dorm still holding the letter in his hands to get a quill so that he could reply. He was greeted by the loud snoring of Crabbe and Goyle. He shook his head in annoyance and was glad he wasn’t going to bed yet as he didn’t really feel sleepy and wanted to go out to get some fresh air. He got his quill from his bag which lay on his bed without a care.

Dear Father,

The next Hogsmeade trip is on coming Saturday. Is there something important?

~*~Draco Malfoy~*~

He read to see if he could add anything else but didn’t find any information suitable enough to fit the letter. He then walked back to the common room. His owl was making itself comfortable near the fireplace. He grinned looking at her.

“Come here Jacinthe,” he called her. She obediently flew to him and perched herself on his shoulder. “Deliver this letter to dad for me will you?” he asked stroking her. She nodded enthusiastically. He chuckled softly and carefully tied the letter to her leg.

He walked over to the window watched her as she flew away. The gentle breeze hit his face which made him shiver slightly. He watched until his owl was no longer seen and then shut the window.

He walked out of the common room with his hands inside his cloak-pockets. His watchful eyes were searching for a prey. He sighed when the corridors were empty. He shook his head muttering and walked on.

He was just about the cross the library when he bumped into a girl causing her books to fall down.

“Well, well, well if it isn\'t for the big bushy headed mudblood,” he commented scornfully while she bent down to retrieve her books.


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