Redamancy (d.m)

Chapter ninety-down by the docks

Worst Christmas break ever. I was spending it away from Harry, Hermione, and Ron, left alone inside a castle that grew barren with its students heading home for the holidays.

"Jesus, Lestrange, that your third bowl?" a snarky voice remarked as he slid into the bench across from me at the dinner table
"Watch closely, Montague, you might learn a thing or two about finishing" I commented nonchalantly, continuing to spoon my corn chowder into my mouth
"I was just trying to be honest" he sneered
"Mh, that's the first thing you're doing wrong" I murmured, utterly bored of his presence, "have you developed amnesia and forgotten where the Slytherin table is?"
"Well aren't you funny?" he jeered sarcastically
"I am just knee-slappingly hilarious" I countered mirthlessly, "now say something interesting or get out of my face"
"That's a tough one, let me think about it" he derided, scrunching his eyes shut in mock deep contemplation before gasping comedically, "oh, I know! How about...let's see...Malfoy's secret task?"

I momentarily stilled, drops of soup tumbling down my spoon and plopping back into its bowl before I set it down on a napkin and turned to face Montague

"I said say something interesting, dimwit" I said with a nonchalant look, filling up my water glass and taking a long sip from it, "does amnesia come with hearing loss too?"
"Drop the act, Lestrange, I know you're dying to hear what I've got to say about Malfoy" Montague accused with a widespread smirk
"You sure do seem to know a lot about him" I remarked, forcing my expression into a state of calm amusement, "people might start thinking you bat for his team, Montague"
"I don't fancy him" he scoffed, looking affronted
"Shame, now that, I'd find worth listening to" I said pointedly, a smile inching onto my lips as I noticed him getting increasingly frustrated at m
"If I'm lucky, that means I'll die before I have to suffer through another word" I scorned
"Come on, don't you want to know what he's been doing all year?" he taunted, leaning forward across the table to avoid curious ears, despite the Great Hall being mostly devoid of students, "like whats got him sneaking out of bed late every night, why, the little times he is seen around school, he's inflicted with some sort of wound, I could even tell you where he is right now"
"Why would he tell you anything?" I questioned sceptically, "you played on the same Qudditch team, sure, but it's not like you two are buddy-buddy or anything"
"Let's just say he was in need of something, and I was happy to provide-for a price, of course" he answered cryptically
"Don't you have enough money, Montague?" I criticised with a vindictive look
"One can never have too much money" he declared as though my statement was criminal, "besides, it's not like Malfoy's really struggling to make ends meet, is he? I mean, he didn't even blink an eye handing over all those galleons"
"Or you're just a whore for attention and you're making this up as you go along" I pressed, though I had a sneaking suspicion he was being truthful
"Look, I'm not forcing you to do anything, Lestrange" he said, standing up and swinging his legs out from under the table, "if you want to be kept in the dark, suit yourself"

With that parting message, he strode away from me, taking his place with the rest of the Slytherins. Right next to Draco's vacant seat.

"Montague!" I called out resolutely, tailing him out the Great Hall and down a deserted corridor
"Change your mind?" He answered with a smug grin as he turned around to face me
"Just one question" I said, and he cocked his head to the side to signal for me to go ahead, "why're you so keen on telling me?"
"Well, I have faith, of course"
"Faith?"
"That I'll be properly...compensated...for my generosity" he chose his words carefully, and I scoffed at his shallowness
"Greedy pig" I muttered under my breath, reaching for my coin pouch until he placed a hand on my arm
"No need for that" he said shortly, making me squint my eyes at him
"But you said-"
"Not that kind of compensation" he hewed me off, sliding the tips of his fingers down my forearm before dropping it at his side
"What the fuck, you disgusting-" I exclaimed with wide eyes, and he quickly shook his head
"I'm not asking you to sleep with me, Lestrange" he said with a humoured chuckle, though I couldn't quite spot what was so funny
"Amazing" I muttered dryly, "what a relief"
"I just need you to pretend like you did"
"WHAT"
"Just hear me out, Lestrange" he said hurriedly, holding out both his arms to keep me from running away, "there's someone I need to make jealous, and...you know, if she happened to come to my dorm just as you were over..."
"So I'm the pretend rebound?" I summarised, nose crinkling in distaste
"You said it, not me" he remarked with a sheepish fringe