entanglements | d.m.

06.dervish'n'banges

September '98 | H E R

"You are the most daring witch, Devy."

Devyn cocks a brow at Mandy, in need of clarification.

Her housemate looks over to the Slytherin group in the common room Saturday morning. The three usual guys are missing, going after important matters.

"Yesterday in Potions, Malfoy asked me if I could hand him an Ashwinder egg at the ingredient table, and I'm still shaking. I'm a confident person but he's just so bloody intimidating."

Devyn blinks, not understanding.

Completely misreading the pause, in an afterthought, Mandy adds, "Of course I don't mean because he was a... you know. That doesn't... I mean I do care, but..." her face twists, like the usual times when her thoughts get the better of her, not wanting to upset anyone. "I'll just leave it there."

But Michael and Anthony already perked from their round of exploding snap, expressions quickly turning dark. The death of Terry, a former housemate and their third link, becomes more palpable.

Devyn, knowing it's time to redirect the conversation, questions, "Is it his diluted appearance or the 'all talk no show' act that gets you?"

Nothing about Malfoy ever intimidated her, not in his most powerful or darkest hours and not in his weakest. And when he tries to act intimidating, because he has to put in so much more effort with her, it is laughable.

Mandy frowns. "It's just... I would never be able to hold a normal conversation with Malfoy and you talk to him every day—hell, you share quarters with him."

"Oh, please," Isobel chimes in from the side. "Draco is not intimidating. He has an air of confidence, and many can handle it." Her shoulder lifts in what some would assume an innocent shrug. "I could handle him very well."

"Issy," Anthony warns. "Keep to yourself."

"I'm just saying," her voice picks up just a little bit, lashes fluttering demurely.

"Nobody wants to hear it, Dougal," Tarquin yawns behind Devyn, sprawled out over the sofa.

Isobel shoots him a dirty look but he is too busy trying to keep himself awake.

Whatever response she has on her tongue dies out when through the entrance to their common room, boastful laughs seep in, gaining everyones attention. Zabini, Malfoy and Nott enter, a huge grin plastered on latters face as he announces, "It worked!"

Apparently, him and the others spent the better part of Friday trying to convince the headmistress about the change in Quidditch. Last night, they worked out a game plan she demanded, which eventually congregated some handfulls of invested heads giving in their two cents.

"The official announcement of the new team will be hung in each common room before dinner," Malfoy tells the room.

A joyous mumble goes around, some clapping or high-fives shared. Zacharias stands out with his loud cheers and has Tarquin sitting up, grumbling as he massages his temples.

"What about Smith, Brocky?" he asks. "He's not quite the tea party to endure either."

"He's been ignoring me ever since the lesson with Sparks." Mandy's shoulders lift in a helpless shrug. "She told him to be nice or not say anything and well, now I don't exist to him anymore. It's quite... awful, actually."

"I would have called myself lucky to have gotten you, Brocky," Tarq tells her sympathically.

"You would have?" she wonders, pleasantly surprised.