The Consequence of Ambition

The Last Word

9:30- Draco was not at breakfast

10:30- Draco did not turn up to Slughorn's potions class.

12:00- Draco turned up halfway through DADA, Snape only seemed mildly annoyed. Draco didn't talk to anyone throughout the lesson.

-Didn't see him for the rest of the day.

Lana had spent the next few weeks studying Draco Malfoy from a safe distance, knowing he would be beyond angry if he found out what she was doing. In order to remember all her research she had begun to document his habits throughout the day. Some would say this was obsessive, but she wouldn't call it an obsession, more of a task, a task that she knew would ultimately help Harry because judging by the conversation she had overheard between Snape and Malfoy, Harry's Death Eater theory didn't seem so far fetched anymore. Even though she knew that all of this information could eventually prove extremely useful, she kept it quiet from Harry Ron and Hermione. She wasn't quite sure why she felt the need to keep her little research project a secret, she just had a feeling that more people knowing would eventually result in Malfoy finding out. And he absolutely could not.

"Congratulations Harry, your liquid death was so perfect I daresay one drop would kill us all!" exclaimed Slughorn, shaking Harry's hand as he grinned smugly. The rest of the class stood in a jealous clump and watched as Slughorn handed him the liquid luck, it was a tiny little vial but Lana could say for certain that every single person in that room had wanted it for whatever reason. She glanced across at Hermione who was stood next to her, her hair had grown about three times the size from the humidity in the class and her face was flushed, clearly not being the top of the class for once had thrown her. Glancing to her left, she realised that Draco was next to her, arms folded glaring at Harry. If looks could kill, they needn't worry about the liquid death. He shifted his gaze and Lana quickly looked away so he wouldn't notice her staring, she made a mental note to document his interest in the liquid luck when she got back to the common room.

"Now. For your homework, I want you all to re-read the instructions for brewing liquid death seeing as Mr Potter was the only one who managed it successfully." He patted Harry on the back as the rest of the class nodded bitterly, whilst gathering up their stuff to leave. Draco seemed in more of a hurry than the others.

"Draco! Wait where are you going? I thought we were going to ambush the first year Gryffindors." shouted Pansy as Draco made for the door.

"I don't have time for that nonsense Pansy, I'm sure Theo on the other hand would take great pleasure in such an activity"

"Where are you even going?" but Pansy was met only with silence as Draco had already left the class.

"Look Pansy. I hate to be the one to break your ice cold heart but he really does have zero interest in you."

"Shut your face Theo." She hissed before storming out of the room. Lana was very aware of how perfect the timing was. Draco had suspiciously disappeared, Theo and Pansy would be distracted with whatever they would be doing to the first years, and she had no more lessons for the rest of the day. She knew that now was a better time than ever to follow him, and find out where it is he goes when he hurries out of class without a word to anyone, or when he isn't seen for hours on end. There was just one little thing in her way.

"Lana are you coming to the three broomsticks?" her thoughts were shattered by the question she prayed wouldn't come.

"Actually, you guys go on without me, I don't feel too great I think I'll go back to the common room."

"Are you alright?" Hermione had that concerned look on her face, and she said it in that tone of voice where you just know she was already assuming the worst.