A/N: Thanks soo much to those who reviewed! Much appreciated I do assure you! I noticed this story got a lot more hits than I expected (I expected approximately zero) so thanks to everyone who "hit" even if you ended up vomiting at the end due to how terrible the experience might have been...at least the summary caught your eye. Champagne for everyone!
Disclaimer: I own some things...
Prefect duties that night were, to say the least, dreadful. I trailed behind Draco who swaggered down the hallways with that air of superiority which I sometimes find attractive. Sometimes.
"Would you slow down?!" I yelled as I stumbled on a loose cobble stone. I saw him smirk at me over his shoulder.
"You should have taken my advice about skipping dinner."
Silence. I imagined him swaggering straight into a ditch.
"How was study?" I heard him ask monotonously.
"Fine before it was rudely interrupted." I replied with the same bored tone.
"Is that so..." His voice was distant and lazy.
"Yes that's so!" I snapped back as I checked a broom closet. We had made our way to the kitchens and both stopped outside the painting of the fruit bowl. I stared up at him defiantly and waited for him to tickle the pear since he was standing infront of it.
"Well?" I gestured at the painting.
"I never said I was hungry." He replied smugly. I huffed indignantly and pushed him out the way to get a prime position for the pear.
"Jerk.." I muttered as he subtly kept trying to get in my way. Eventually the painting swung open and the warmth of the kitchen flooded my senses. I made my way towards the entrance and bumped into Draco as he too did the same thing. My body was pressed against his in the narrow corridor and I glared at him.
"I'm not in the mood for any mind games tonight." I spoke through gritted teeth. His nonchalant attitude was really getting on my nerves.
He smirked and put his hands in the air, "No games, I assure you." He stepped back and I gave an inward sigh of relief.
"Good." I mumbled as I made my way into the kitchen.
"Master Malfoy!" A small house elf ran up and swept us a low bow,"And Miss Parkinson!"
"Dobby." We both replied in unison.
"A jug of pumpkin juice and..." Draco looked over at me quickly.
"Anymore chocolate cake?" I asked generally. Dobby nodded eagerly and ran to a bench in the corner, gesturing for other elves to help him.
I took a seat at a small table in the far right corner which was by the fire. Draco and I had made it tradition to take a trip to the kitchen during our rounds. I was extra thankful for it now since it meant less awkward silences. And there were plenty of those tonight...
He took a seat opposite me, folded his arms and cocked his head to one side.
"What?" I asked stubbornly.
"Nothing." He replied shortly. I rolled my eyes and focused on anywhere but his face.
"Here we are Miss," A huge slice of cake was put infront of me,"We always have cake for Miss Parkinson." A big toothy grin spread across Dobby's face and Draco lowered his head. I could tell he was laughing.
I glared at Draco viciously,"Thanks Dobby." I pushed the plate away. I had suddenly lost my appetite.
Dobby kept smiling and acted completely ignorant of my refusal, "Dobby has been so busy lately because of Christmas Ball..."
"Ball?" Draco piped up suddenly. I looked at both of them in confusion.
"The Christmas Ball, Master Malfoy. Information went around the common rooms today..." The elf's voice trailed away as he walked back to his station in the corner.
"As if the Yule Ball wasn't enough." Draco mumbled under his breath. A shot of anger surged through me as I remembered that he attended the Yule Ball with me.
"I think a Christmas Ball would be fun." I said with forced politeness.
"Depends on your partner." What an original insult. I can assure you I didn't expect this!... Even my thoughts were dripping in sarcasm...
"Yes, one wouldn't want to make the same mistake twice." I replied swiftly keeping my eyes focused on Dobby preparing some apple treacle.
"I couldn't agree more Pansy." He smirked at me and leaned back on his chair.
"I mean, wouldn't it be the worst thing to be stuck at a Ball with someone who drags their feet and whines about Harry Potter the whole time? Personally I couldn't imagine anything worse." I smiled at him and brought a spoonful of chocolate cake up to my lips.
"Actually, I find the constant sound of clothing stitches snapping and coming undone equally, if not more, unappealing."
I put the spoon down immediately.
"Will Master Malfoy and Miss Parkinson be attending the Ball together?" Dobby hobbled over, his eyes wide with excitement. Did he just miss our whole conversation?! Stupid elf!
"No." I said defensively. Dobby continued smiling and Draco raised an eyebrow at me.
"Nott must have done a number on you." He said arrogantly as an elf came and dragged Dobby away.
"Ah, so the reason for all your hostility towards me is finally revealed!" I said with fake delight. I received a glare and I actually revelled in it. At least it was a different emotion from his lazy haughtiness which I had been on the receiving end of all night.
"Well, hostility towards Nott so ultimately towards you, I suppose."
"Oh yes, that's completely fair!" I yelled sarcastically.
"Oh, so you won't be going to the Ball with Theodore?" Draco spat the name viciously. He looked at me in pretend surprise. I was starting to get sick of all these fake conversations.
I scoffed loudly,"I don't know!" I stood up and pushed my chair roughly under the table,"maybe I'll go with Longbottom, he's quite an attractive man!!" I glared down at him and he raised an eyebrow once again. I could see that stupid smirk playing on his lips.
"Maybe you should," He got up slowly and towered over me,"I'm sure he would be the only one who would take you since no one better will. Better resign yourself to that fact now Pansy so you don't get hurt later." His tone was so harsh I was almost left speechless. The kitchen elves were starting to gather around the scene.
"Well whoever I go with will be a far better partner than you that's for sure!"
"I'm sure he will be. Or she. I'm not sure which way you swing these days." After this comment I threw my hands up in the air and stormed out of the kitchen. I needed some space and time to take in a deep breath to realise I had been wasting my time conversing with a complete asshole.
When I reached the common room, Millicent came striding upto me looking reasonably furious. I say reasonably because she isn't able to muster up much facial expression due to her severe lack of emotion.
"Pansy!" She yelled even though I was only five meters away from her. I flopped down on the couch and closed my eyes. Maybe she would think I was asleep...
"Parkinson!" I felt my body tense up as I heard her take a seat opposite me.
"What?" I snapped suddenly. I sat up and stared at her waiting for an explanation.
"Did you take my perfume?" She looked so serious I had to refrain from laughing at her.
"What?" I replied nonchalantly but I could hear my voice wavering. I let out a quick giggle and tried my hardest to disguise it with a cough but all I heard was some strange snort.
"What's so funny?!" I could actually make out a tinge of emotion in her tone.
"Nothing," I said with forced sincerity,"I didn't take your perfume." Like I would anyway. Does Millicent even own perfume? If she does it must be Manure No.5. I didn't even try to hide my laughter after that. My argument with Draco had made me dillusional.
"Pansy, this is serious! I need it for tomorrow."
"Why, what's going on tomorrow?" I said in between laughs.
"I have a date." She stared at me without blinking and I could make out the faintest blush creeping onto her cheeks. I sobered up immediately.
"With who?" I was so amazingly curious I even sat forward so I didn't miss one word.
"You'll laugh." she spoke quietly as she searched the common room to see if anyone was eavesdropping.
I stared at her impatiently, "Okay. Who is it? Not someone from Hufflepuff I hope!"
"God no! I'm not that low," She grimaced slightly at the thought and I nodded in agreement,"With Goyle."
I stopped nodding.
"Really? That's weird...and awkward." I was just being honest. An honest Slytherin.
"I know and that's why I don't want anyone to know about it." She searched my face to find any trace of amusmant. There was none. I was completely bewildered!
"Well, it's obvious that Draco and Crabbe will find out eventually." I replied, utterly perplexed.
Millicent drew in a quick breath and said quickly,"No. We've promised not to tell anyone. Well, I've told you but you have to promise not to say a word."
It took a few seconds to sink in. I didn't know what to say. If I laughed that would be cruel but that's all I could think of doing. I looked at Millicent who looked extremely nervous and decided to laugh about it another time.
"Oh." I said bluntly. She looked at me hesistantly waiting for a more positive reaction. When nothing came she kept on speaking.
"He asked me out a few days ago and I thought, with the Ball coming up, that I would need a partner so I...just...yeah." My curiousity peeked immediately. I quickly looked over at the notice board and saw an orange poster advertising the Ball.
I turned back to Millicent, "The Ball isn't for a month! Surely you can find someone else to go with?" Why did I sound like I was pleading? How pathetic.
"Yeah? Who do you think would want to go with me?!" She spat back viciously.
"I must have been missing something all this time..." I looked pensively at her waiting for a sound reasoning.
"Well you've always been so self-absorbed!" I spluttered loudly at this reply.
"I'm sticking up for you here!" I yelled thinking I had been unjustly insulted. Her gaze dropped to the floor and suddenly, large, self-righteous Millicent Bullstrode looked vulnerable. That rare feeling of pity hit me like a tonne of bricks. And then it left. That feeling never stayed around for long. Thank God.
I walked over to the couch and sat next to her, "You can borrow my perfume for the time being." I actually reasoned with myself that this was a good way for Millicent's "odour" to improve. There's always an ulterior motive and there's always something that can work to ones advantage. Being a Slytherin helps me justify so many of my selfish actions!
Millicent gave me a twisted smile and retired to the dorms. I sat back and stared into the fire, imagining how fast news of the Christmas Ball was going to spread tomorrow. I heard the portrait swing open and someone walk hurriedly over to the stairs but I failed to catch a glimpse of who it was. I had too much on my mind right now and my muscles seemed to be aching from the stress.
Before falling asleep in the armchair, I managed to pull myself up and turned to go to my room. A glint of silver caught my eye and I saw a load of tinfoil on the table with a note stuck to it.
"For your midnight snack"
I unwrapped the tinfoil and was unpleasantly unsurprised to find the slice of chocolate cake staring back at me.
Again, the most charming person I've ever come across...
A/N: I really, really...strongly dislike this chapter. To me, it's more of a "link" chapter. I think it sucks and no, I'm not being modest. REVIEW:-)