Appearances Can Be Deceiving
Chapter 1: Draco's Orders
A/N: This was actually the first fic I wrote so be gentle! I'v (hopefully) improveda bit since then, but I like it. It starts off slow but picks up after a couple of chapters, honest!
"How the hell do you expect me to do that!" Exploded Draco Malfoy – his platinum hair falling into his flashing grey eyes. "It's impossible! She'd see right through it!"
"Draco, do not forget who you are talking to." The face in the fire warned him coldly, "I will send you the required potion tonight, along with a copy of the prophecy so you can better understand the reasons behind my decision. You should receive them at breakfast tomorrow. Needless to say you should not open the package at the table."
"I'm sorry, father, but I just don't think she'd fall for it. She's smart for a Mublood. And how am I supposed to get her to do it? She won't do it willingly, not even for him" the last word was sneered and filled with hatred.
"You are a Malfoy, are you not?" was the reply, "think of something. I don't care how you do it, just get the girl to brew that potion!"
And with that, Lucius's face disappeared and Draco raised from the cold hearth of the fire, his knees stiff and aching from kneeling on the stone for an hour. Moving to settle into one of the stiff backed chairs surrounding the empty common room's fire his head swirled with unanswered questions and half formed plots. It seemed that this time the Dark Lord's defeat did not mean evil was once more hidden underground. On the contrary – more and more evil witches and wizards were crawling from their crevices to try to claim some semblance of power now that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was truly destroyed. And now there was the prophecy. He wondered what the exact wording was. And why the prophecy spoke of him. There must be hundreds – thousands of others ready and willing to take up Lord Voldermort's mantle and continue his noble work. Why him? An 18 year old student wizard?
Feeling drained and too tired to attempt to think of any way his fathers plan could work Draco stood and moved slowly down the corridor that led to his dorm room.
Sliding wearily between the rich green silk sheets of his king sized four poster bed, the soft sounds of his fellow students deep breathing surrounding him, Draco had one final thought before slipping into a deep sleep himself: Wonder what it's like to be Harry Potter.
As the Great Hall slowly filled up at breakfast the following morning Draco sat silently at the Slytherin table, staring at the great Harry Potter seated across the hall, who looked as though he was having a great time.
That was one of the things he hated most about Potter. Everyone liked him, and he seemed to like everyone back! He always seemed to be surrounded by people who were with him because they actually wanted to, and not because he bought them something or because they were afraid of him. Didn't he know that to rule people had to fear you? He thought back to what Toni, the blonde sixth year had said in the common room only that morning: "It's like Machiavelli said – the only way to get people to serve you is to make them respect you; and the only way to make them respect you is to make them fear you! Or something like that – I can't really remember" and she should know – it was well known that Toni had aspirations of world domination.
Draco was startled out of his reverie by the arrival of the post. A large tawny owl dropped a huge box right into his lap, but before he could gather up his things in order to get back to the common room and open his package in peace, a sudden hush fell over the hall.
Looking up to find the cause of this silence, Draco noticed Professor Dumbledore at the teachers table, standing as if to make an announcement.
That was odd; there were never announcements at breakfast time, especially not breakfast time two days before the end of term.
"As you all know," began Dumbledore in that infuriating voice of his, "Lord Voldermort was defeated earlier this term by Harry Potter – aided, of course, by a group of Aurors. In a celebration of that fact, and in order to allow our students more of a chance to spend this joyous occasion with their loved ones, these coming Christmas holidays are to be extended to three weeks…"
The whole hall exploded into clapping and cheers. Dumbledore waited patiently until the hall had once more settled down, a small smile gracing the corners of his mouth, "…as I was saying – those who wish to remain at Hogwarts over the Christmas break will, of course, be more than welcome to do so. Now, I do believe it is almost time for your classes to start, and we don't want you to be late."
An audible groan went through the assembled pupils as the teachers left the table. Loud chattering resumed once more as the students discussed this happy news.
"What have you got there, Draco?" Pansy Parkinson stood behind Draco, peering at the package he was hastily stuffing into his bag.
"Buying more people presents, Ferret? Is that the only way you can get a girl?" Ron Weasley commented snidely as a group of laughing Gryffindors passed Draco on their way out of the Great Hall.
"I don't have to buy girls anything to get laid Weasel, I get plenty of T&A anyway – how much do you get? And the Mudblood doesn't count; especially since you have to share it with Potter."
"Ron! Don't, he's not worth it!" Hermione grabbed Ron, holding him back, while Harry seized Ron's wand to stop him doing something he'd regret.
"Can't you keep a lead on that, Granger? Stop the rest of us catching fleas." Draco strode past them to the sound of cackling from his group of hangers on; which included Crabbe, Goyle, Toni and Pansy, amongst others.
How was he going to pull this off?
A/N: Hope you liked it, please review!