Slytherin's angel

Chapter 14- The threat

Draco sat among different seventh years when they all filed into the hall. He could see Pansy looking down the table for him, expecting him to have forgiven her by now. Draco had no intention of doing so, as he sat glaring at anyone who would make eye contact with him.

His tense body relaxed as soon as he saw Ashley walk into the room, Ron trailing behind her, with Hermione talking next to her. Draco scowled at Harry, who was hanging on her every word.

Food appeared on his plate, but he was in no mood to eat. He stared after her longingly as she buttered a piece of bread, her pink lips encompassing the bread as her white teeth ripped it off. He wished those pink lips were on his...

"Drakey." She heard a quiet whine.

Draco turned to his right to see Pansy sitting next to him, kicking a timid second year out of his seat. She leaned her head on his shoulder, looking up at him with big eyes.

"You're not still mad about Delacour, are you?" She moaned, rolling her eyes, "That's so forty minutes ago."

"Are you trying to apologize Pansy?" He spat.

Pansy looked up at him, "There's no reason to be so fussy."

Draco glared, happening to catch Ashley's eye when he looked up. She was looking rather confused, thinking the glare was for her. Draco shook his head in defense, trying to shrug Pansy off, but she had a firm grip.

"What is wrong?" She growled, "Oh, I see... Delacour."

"Get off!" He boomed, causing the Slytherins around him to look at him.

"What is your problem?" She yelled at him, getting up. Balling her fists, she glared down at him. Draco rose too, knowing that Pansy was a whore for drama, in attempt to avoid being caught in the center of it.

"I'm going to bed." He told her.

He started to walk away, but-

"Draco Malfoy!" She gasped.

Draco turned around to see her face pulled back in a malicious smile, as if she had realized some ground-breaking truth.

"You're shagging her, aren't you?" Pansy shrieked loudly.

Heat creeped into his neck and ears. Not only was the majority of the Slytherin table looking at him, but he noticed girls from other tables craning their heads to see who was worthy of the Slytherin Prince's touch.

He thought about withdrawing his wand, but looked up to see Snape looking at him. Even though he was Snape's favorite student, there was no way he could've gotten away with hexing her.

A thought flickered through Draco's mind, as his lip curved back into a snarl.

"Of course I am." He sneered, "And she's loads better than you could ever be."

It was Pansy's turn to go pink. Her brown hair stood out against her cherry red face.

"Hell, if I knew she was coming, I wouldn't have wasted my talents on you." Draco spat, "Now that I've discarded you, no one will touch you, will they Parkinson?"

If Draco was good at anything, it was knowing a person's weak spots. Pansy had been at the height of her popularity when they were together. She was untouchable. For Draco, it was pure release. He had no desire to be with her, there was no physical or emotional attraction. She was easy, the school knew it and that was his reason for being with her.

Pansy gritted her teeth, hastily wiping away a single tear.

He gave her one more look and turned on his heel out of the Great Hall.


***

He hastily took off his clothes, his anger overheating his whole body. He took off his sweater, shirt and undershirt, throwing them all over the floor. Sitting on his bed, he threw off his shoes and socks, throwing them against a bookcase next to his bed. The chain dangling with Ashley's ring hit his broad chest as he moved, sliding off of his skin as he lay down. Shifting the ring to catch the moonlight, he saw that the fluid had turned orange, knowing that Ashley was confused. She was probably one of many who had just seen the unusual outburst between him and Pansy. Her face burned in his mind.

He clutched his ring in his hand, holding onto it as if it were the Veela herself. He had gotten so used to her sleeping beside him during Christmas break, half expecting her to walk in at any moment and lay beside him. When she didn't and the clock on the mantle had struck midnight, he allowed himself to finally close his eyes and go to sleep.


***

Draco tried to catch her eye all morning, but her face was buried in her in Transfiguration book, furiously taking notes. He worried that she might be avoiding his eye, not wanting to talk about his and Pansy's confrontation the night before. Resisting the temptation to pull out his ring, not wanting McGonagall to find it and announce that he had something like this to the class, he focused on the weight of it inside his shirt. The humiliation would be beyond mortifying. Instead, he frequently looked over his shoulder at Ashley, who was sitting in the middle row in the center of the classroom.

"Mr. Malfoy, is there something more interesting than my lecture?"

McGonagall's stern voice broke the silence.

"No, Professor." He gritted, color rising in his face. Crabbe sniggered beside him.

Ashley looked up at the mention of his name; he finally caught her eye, looking at her for a reaction. She gave him a weak sort of smile and then went back to her notes, her peacock quill scribbling furiously.

Draco was in a foul mood the rest of the lesson.

When the bell finally rang, he pulled Ashley back.

"I need to talk to you." He lowered his voice.

"Alright." She nodded, "We can talk on the way to Potions."

He waited for the rest of the class to funnel out, glares from Gryffindors and hisses from Slytherins hitting them from either side.

"Look, about Pansy last night..." He faltered, "We were together once, but we've been over since...I met you."

Ashley bit her lip, narrowing her eyes at him in thought. The ring on her left middle finger clouded a dark gray as she huddled her books close to her chest. He was beginning to get annoyed with how accurate they were.

"We've been together for the past two and a half years. Now we're not. She can't get it into her head that I want to be...with you."

A faint smile broke out onto Ashley's face, her blue eyes twinkling up at him.

"So... so yesterday night was nothing..." He finished quickly, "I just wanted you to know, because I didn't know what you've heard...I'm not doing anything behind your back."

Ashley looked slightly relieved, but she was one to conceal her emotions well. It was the one thing he hated about her.

She sighed heavily, but remained silent.

"Are you mad?" He cocked his head to look at her face.

"No." She answered truthfully, "I have more faith in you than that."

For a moment, he listened to her heels click as they descended into the dungeons.

"I just wanted you to know," he was growing uncomfortable at how deep the conversation was going. He wanted her to know he cared, but wasn't good at expressing it. "I didn't want you to feel...threatened, or something."

Ashley's laughter echoed off the stone walls, "Threatened? My dear, that pig is as threatening as a flobberworm."

As they rounded the corner, they saw the four Slytherins standing in a corner. Blaise and Pansy glared, while Crabbe and Goyle didn't dare look in Draco's eyes, as if signaling they were on his side, but were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Draco closed in on Ashley until he could feel her side press against him.

Surprisingly, they didn't say anything to the couple as they passed into Potions. Ashley peeled off and sat in the table in front of him, as he took a seat directly behind her. On a normal day, he hated seeing the stupid Golden Trio walk in the door, but today, he couldn't have been more grateful for their arrival as they sat down on either side of her.

A light wave of anger rose within him as Harry sat down next to her, touching her arm lightly as he smiled at something she had said. The anger died away as soon as Blaise and Crabbe took seats on either side of him.

Draco shook in anger at Blaise's close choice of seat to her, who usually sat further back in the classroom.

"Leave her alone." Draco hissed through gritted teeth, "Your problem is with me, not her."

"I dunno, Malfoy." Blaise drawled quietly, looking at her long hair. "Would you mind sharing?"

He started to withdraw his wand, but Snape interrupted them.

"Settle, down!" Snape barked at them, "We are going to start immediately..."

Blaise kept muttering things under his breath when Snape's back was turned, snarky remarks about her figure and kissable lips stung his ears. Draco's toes curled with anger as he shook furiously. It was evident his anger was reaching uncontrollable levels as he poured excess powdered Boomslang skin into his cauldron, making it hiss and turn an acid green.

"Is there something wrong, Mr. Malfoy? Usually your skills are up to par." Snape scowled at him.

"No, professor." He answered, "Just a little tired."

"Very well." His excused, "Take care to be well rested when you return tomorrow, we can't have you falling asleep."

"Thank you, Professor." Draco forced himself to nod and look up at him, "I will."

Satisfied, Snape continued to bark at Neville, whose potion had turned a bright orange and thick as pudding, bubbles popping from the surface.

After class, Draco waited for everyone to file out, glaring at Ashley to go on when she tried to wait for him.

He grabbed the scruff of Blaise's sleeve, dragging him down deeper into the depths of the dungeons, where only Slytherins dared to go.

He dropped his books and threw him against the wall. Slytherin girls sniggered in the corner.

Blaise let out a grunt as Draco pushed his arm under his throat.

"It seems, Blaise." He growled, "You have forgotten your place in the span of a few weeks. Don't make me put you back there."

"You can't do anything." Blaise choked.

"Can't I?" Draco snarled. "I don't think even you would want me to get my father in this."

Blaise narrowed his eyes.

"And certainly, Blaise." Draco hissed, "You wouldn't want me to notify the Dark Lord that a prat of a boy is compromising a mission that was specifically given to one of his most devoted follower's son."

If Blaise was ever scared, that was the closest he would come to it.

"See, unlike your family," Draco spat, "We get personal missions from the Dark One himself. I'm sure you wouldn't want your name to be given if I fail to complete my task, would you Zabini?"

Blaise had narrowed his eyes into slits, his nostrils flaring in anger.

"I didn't think so." Draco loosened his grip and Blaise returned to breathing normally. He straightened his collar and sweater.

"She's your mission?" Blaise spat.

"It doesn't concern you." Draco growled at him, "Stay silent beside me or move out of my way."

"Fine." He spat. Draco didn't retaliate; he knew his glare was enough. Blaise shoved past him, leaving Draco ruffling his hair back into place as the girls giggled after him.

His thoughts remained cloudy for the remainder of the day. He was itching to talk to Ashley. His attention span was already quartered and he was squirming in his seat to get out. Deciding that he had had enough, he skipped his last class and headed to his quarters. He needed the quiet to sort out his thoughts.

He didn't know whether or not feigning a mission, although not entirely made up, was such a good idea. He knew it wouldn't most likely reach Ashley and even if it did, he would just tell her it was fabricated to make Blaise leave her alone. Blaise would scoff to Pansy, he was sure, but that's as far as it would go.

At least, he hoped.

No, he was going to take care of it. He was going to take care of Ashley. Nothing had happened yet. At least, nothing serious.


***

On the night that Lucius had come home, after he had made sure Ashley was fast asleep, he closed the door to her bedroom, turning to nearly stumble into his father. Shadows cast over half his face, but he knew the smirk occupied both sides of it.

"Come with me, Draco." His voice was thick with menacing thoughts.

Draco turned back to make sure her door was closed and followed his father down the stairs. He watched as the snake on his cane glared back at him, clicking against the marble of the grand staircase.

The door of his office magically closed behind him. It wasn't until Lucius sat behind his desk that he gave out a chilly laugh.

"Bringing the girl here, Draco? My, my, you are braver than I thought." Lucius smirked at him, removing his traveling gloves and setting them on his desk.

Draco remained silent.

"I say, you have made much more progress than expected." Lucius congratulated him, "You are much smarter than I gave you credit for."

Draco stared into his cold, grey eyes.

"So quiet, my boy." Lucius cocked his head at him, "What say you?"

"Nothing, father." He mumbled.

"Being proud of your work is not narcissistic, Draco. One must always take pride in his accomplishments." Lucius told him, "Don't you?"

There was nothing in the world that could bring him to say yes. He wasn't with Ashley because it was his task. He was with her because he cared more deeply for her than he did for himself.

Draco felt himself nodding. He didn't feel like he was betraying himself or her if he merely nodded.

Lucius gasped.

Draco looked up at him, furrowing his brow in confusion. Draco stepped back as Lucius rose. A murderous look molded itself in his father's face as he rounded on him.

"You've fallen for her, haven't you?" Lucius spat, "You've fallen for that stupid Mudblood girl!"

"She isn't a Mudblood!" Draco spat, "She doesn't have an ounce of Muggle blood in her!"

"All the same!" He yelled, "She is not pure witch! Dirty, monstrous blood clouds her veins. She has dirty blood! Animals and wizards should never cross!"

"I'm doing what you told me to!" He hissed in low tones, trying to ignore how deeply his last blow struck him. An animal? He couldn't have thought of a more degrading word for her.

"No, you've abandoned completely what I have told you to do!" He shook his head. "I told her to fall for you, not that other way around! You're disgustingly smitten with her aren't you, boy?"

Lucius was too angry to physically act out his disappointment, but it didn't prevent Draco from mentally preparing himself nonetheless.

"I will cover your serious offense for now." Lucius got close to his face, filling his nose with the stench of Firewhiskey, "But you have until the end of the year to hand her over."

"What if- what if she leaves me?" Draco asked him.

Lucius let go of him as if he was on fire, "Leaves you?"

He stood there, glaring down at his son.

"The Dark Lord does like a good game of cat and mouse..."He rethought, stepping back as he succumbed to his reeling thoughts.

Draco looked into his eyes, wondering what he was going to do next.

"The look on her face when he has her. How she'll cry out for her beloved Draco, who she believed to be her protector. Oh, how priceless!" He purred with sickening passion.

He smirked at his son, "You are far more brilliant than I could ever think, Draco. I will be sure to pass on your change of course."

Draco was horrified; a tight clenching began to work in his chest.

He was in deep trouble.

"You are dismissed." Lucius said, turning from him.

It took everything Draco had to let him write that letter, watching as the eagle owl flew out of the window, knowing that he was asking permission to speak to Voldemort.

With a heavy heart, Draco walked out of the office.


***

He was in no mood to join the fairies in his portrait in jeering and joking that night. They were giggly, like they were hiding something.

"Please," He whined, "Let me in."

They swung open, giggling endlessly, not able to say any words.

His heart hammered as he saw Ashley sitting on the couch.

She threw him a concerned look, twisting the jewelry on her finger, "I saw the ring-''

"Blasted rings!" He exclaimed, slamming himself on the bed. In a way, he hated the rings, but in another, she wouldn't have come to see him otherwise. She was just what he needed.

"It was really bright red." She said carefully, "I mean, you get mad a lot, but it was really red."

Draco couldn't help but smile into his pillow at her observation of his mood swings, it was all so ludicrous.

"What happened?" Her question pierced the silence.

"I want to get out of this blasted school, that's what." He told her, "I hate it here."

Ashley walked over and lay beside him, joining him as he shifted on his back to stare at the ceiling.

"What happened?" She tried again.

"I hate Blaise." He told her.

"Oh." She said shortly, "That explains everything."

No it doesn't, he thought to himself, you don't even know the half of it.

Draco was silent. The warm fire in the room was making him drowsy. He kicked off his shoes, looking over to Ashley, the moonlight casting an eerie glow on her light complexion.

"Just...stay here." He told her.

"I wasn't going to leave you angry." She assured him, covering herself with the sheets. She reached out to stroke his hair, her soft hands running over his hot forehead. They were cool, like the rest of her body always seemed to be. He longed to hold her close to him, but just looking at her brought Blaise's angry face to mind.

Ashley fingered his cheeks, following the curve of his cheekbones, tracing them over his sharp jaw line, basking in the haunted beauty of the young man beside her.

She pushed a loose strand of hair from his eyes, running her soft hands through his scalp. The look he was giving her melted her. It was as though he depended on her completely. And although he would never express how much she was starting to mean to him, somehow, not saying anything at all was more than words could ever express.