Serpent's Veil || Draco Malfoy.

The things we do for power (flashback)

Narrator's POV

Third year

It was becoming impossible to ignore.

Pansy had been practically glued to Draco's side lately, following him around like an overeager shadow, her laugh a little too loud, her gaze lingering a little too long.

It was obvious to anyone paying attention—she wanted him, badly.

But the way she was acting wasn't even the part that got under Emily's skin.

No, what really gnawed at her was the way Pansy had been talking about her.

Emily tried to brush it off, but it hit harder than she expected.

Pansy acting interested in Draco was annoying, sure, but this?

Talking like Emily was some shallow flirt?

It got to her in a way she couldn't quite explain.

Maybe it shouldn't have mattered.

Maybe she should've let it roll off her back.

But there was something about it that just wouldn't let her rest.

She knew herself better than that, but there was something else—like maybe, just maybe, it wasn't only her reputation she cared about.

The idea that Pansy thought she was the one to decide what Emily "deserved" infuriated her.

As if she had some right to Draco, or even some say in whether he was interested.

Draco wasn't hers—or anyone's, for that matter.

She wasn't even sure why she cared, but somehow, she did.

And the way Pansy was acting now, the smug little comments, her not-so-subtle glances whenever Draco was around, like she was sizing Emily up... it was all just too much. Pansy was acting as if Emily was a rival she could brush aside or one-up, like Draco was some prize she'd already half-won.

The thought of it was ridiculous.

Emily knew Draco well enough—he wasn't about to fall for someone as obvious as Pansy.

Still, watching her swoon over him, trailing him through the corridors with her eyes wide and hopeful, was wearing her thin.

Maybe, Emily thought, a small smirk tugging at her lips, she could teach her a lesson about assuming too much.

It didn't have to be anything extreme... just something to remind her that Draco wasn't hers to claim, and that people noticed the petty games she was playing.

One evening, when the common room was empty but for the two of them, Emily strolled over to where Pansy was perched, nose deep in some magazine about love potions and "winning the wizard of your dreams."

Typical.

Emily smirked as she dropped into the armchair across from her, settling in like she owned the place.

"Got a minute?" her voice was casual, like she was just making small talk.

But her eyes held a glint that pinned Pansy in place.

Pansy looked up, clearly caught off guard.

"Uh... yeah. What's up?" Her voice was tentative, unsure.

Emily leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand with a knowing look.

"So, I've seen you around Draco a lot lately," she said, drawing out each word, voice lilting in that way she knew could make people feel just slightly on edge. "Pretty obvious you've got a thing for him, yeah?"