Half-Blood (Draco Malfoy)

Midnight memories...

I was an hour deep into sitting on the stairs and staring at the wall before I finally got some company for Prefect duties tonight.

After the meeting with Umbridge, I headed back to my normal perch in front of Gryffindor house. I had been deep in thought about my future schemes to keep the Inquisitorial Squad away from the DA until I was rudely interrupted.

"Why were you talking to Nott?" I hear the bane of my existence say as he approaches me.

"Since when are you friends with Pansy?" I reply, dryly, nonverbally letting him know that I don't have the energy for this.

"Touché."

I look up at him standing over me. I pat the spot on the stairs next to me, urging him to sit down.

"See your boyfriend over break?" He says, taking his seat next to me.

"Not my boyfriend." I say, still not playing the game. "But yes, we saw eachother."

"Hm." He sighs, our legs brushing with our new close proximity.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened over the past few days that made you rude again?" I asked, shamelessly, turning to look at him.

"Again?" He asked, "when did I ever stop?"

I laughed sarcastically and confessed, "I just thought we were starting to be friends."

"We are friends." He shrugged.

"You usually act like that to your friends?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm surprised you have any."

"Me too."

"Okay."

We sit in silence for a short while, before I decide to rest on the stone behind me again. It's incredibly uncomfortable, but better than sitting for three hours. As I lay there I begin to think that lying to Draco about my true intentions with the Inquisitorial Squad was going to be more difficult than lying to everyone else.

I've been trying to find a midpoint, so that I don't need to lie to everyone- a way that I can successfully be on both sides. I haven't found one.

I think Umbridge- in her own twisted way- is trying to protect us. But, that's what Harry is doing too. If a war really is going to happen though, we are going to need the skills that Harry is teaching. We can't just be brainwashed by the ministry.

"Draco?" I ask, after a while.

He nods.

"Do you really believe Umbridge?" I ask him.

He doesn't speak for a moment. Before saying, "My father thinks that it is important to stay on her good side." He turns and looks down at me. "And you?"

I smile weakly, knowing that if I tell the truth then I'm doing this for nothing, "Yes." I lie.

He nods, laying beside me. He groans at the discomfort of the stone.

"Time?" I ask.

"Ten thirty." He says, checking his watch.

We lay there, staring at the ceiling. If this is what friendship is with Draco, maybe it isn't so bad.

"So," I say, "what's going on between you and Parkinson, then?"

I don't know what compelled me to ask, but part of me just had to know.

"Nothing. Our parents have become close. Her mum likes me." He says, nonchalantly.

"Ah. You should see the way she looks at you." I say. Seriously I don't know where this stuff is coming from.