All the Wrong Things (The Rights and Wrongs series) #2

8

Monday, October 11, 1999

I have to work with her on Monday morning for the dragon egg project. I'd had a moment of brilliancy on Friday afternoon, and Robards asked me to prepare for a staff meeting early in the week.

I get in a few hours early to start, and he's at my cubicle, asking about that meeting. It's ambitious of me, but I tell him I'll be ready for a 9:30AM start. I scramble together the maps and the research I started on Friday, and begin spinning them into something resembling a report.

I'm in the conference room on Level 2 – my second office, I've named it – when several other staff members begin filing in, and suddenly she's there, looking directly into my eyes.

My visions of her face from last night swim in my mind, looking into me while I thrust into her, her lips pulling into a tight circle as her neck stretches, reaching for something, and I'm pulling her hair to get to look back at me –

She looks away and takes a seat as far from me as possible. I see O'Connor pull her chair for her. Oh. He's here too.

I refocus my energies on this staff meeting that I'm completely unprepared for.

And just as I had feared, she's asking questions. She's raising her hand like the good little Gryffindor she is, and I wonder if she knows what she's doing, sitting there with her back straight, like this is potions class and she's trying to get a rise out of her teacher.

By the end of the meeting I'm able to get in a "Ten points to Gryffindor."

She scowls and I think today will be a good day.

~*~

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

I have a meeting with Rita Skeeter to discuss the beginnings of Malfoy Consulting Group. She comes over for dinner, and I get the impression that every time Rita enters Malfoy Manor, she is living her best life.

Slimy, ladder-climbing roach.

Mother sits at the head of the table, quiet and letting me take the floor. I appreciate her so much.

"I'd like to announce on November 1st," I say, as the first course appears on the table, and after I've detailed my five-year-plan. "And I'd very much like to give you an exclusive interview, for the November 1st Prophet."

Skeeter's greedy eyes wander my face as she tears into her bread roll.

"I'd be honored, Mr. Malfoy." She winks at me.

I smirk back at her.

It's always strange, remembering that women find me attractive. I didn't have a mirror for fifteen months, and things start to become less important in Azkaban... I've been focusing for so long on different ways to get what I want, that I have forgotten the most basic of techniques.

I use my thumb to brush away imaginary mushroom soup from the corner of my mouth, and watch as her eyes follow the movement, dipping my thumb between my lips and sucking the nothing off it. Her eyes sparkle behind her glasses.

"What about your love life, dear?" She dips her spoon in her soup bowl. "Who is on your social calendar this weekend?"

I blink. I should have remembered that Skeeter prioritizes her job higher than any personal wants. Admirable.

As I have no social commitments this weekend, I choose the easiest response.

"I believe I'll be seeing Jeannette DuPont again on Friday evening." I flip my napkin on my lap, and make a mental note to contact Jeannette. "Location pending, but you'll be the first to know."