Disclaimer:

Serene - We don't own Harry Potter or Hetalia. If we did, you'd still be waiting for the second book to come out. 0:)

Enraged - We don't own Harry Potter or Hetalia.

"Rat face." Draco sneered, cornering the poor brunette into a shady corner, "I've heard from father that your family was a disgrace to the dark lord, hiding and cowering between the light and the dark. I bet if I asked him, he could get your father sacked from his job. He'd been wanting to sack the man anyways." Draco didn't mention that his father had tried but the headmaster stopped him.

The brunette glanced fearfully at the blonde. He knew from experience that if a Slytherin threatened another Slytherin, they usually wanted something. The question was, what did Draco Malfoy want from him? The boy was a Malfoy for Merlin's sake, he could probably get a castle with the snap of his fingers while the rest of them would have to work for eternity to get something of that calibre. Biting his lip nervously, he stuttered, "W-what do you want from me?"

Draco smirked. Bingo. He'd always known that using the Malfoy name would get him results. "I want information on all the other purebloods here. About their weaknesses, strengths, their blood status, and whether they are going to participate in first year magical politics."

The brunette gulped. That was very, very high order. "No way, I can't do that! If someone like Parkinson or Greengrass find out that I'm spying on them, they're going to make my life miserable. Not to mention their parents. They'd definitely fire my dad on the spot!"

Sneering, Draco said haughtily, "You forget, my father is a Malfoy and a powerful factor in the ministry. They wouldn't dare if they knew that you were working for me." The brunette fidgeted. "And I'll even ask father to make a donation to your family store." The brunette's eyes gleamed but he didn't agree.

Annoyed that it was taking so long for the brunette to agree, Draco huffed, "Fine, if I win, I'll order them not to harm you." Inwardly, he laughed, as if the promise meant something. "But if you don't complete your end of the bargain, I'll ask father to sack your father and order Goyle and Crabbe to make your life miserable as hell in Slytherin."

The brunette gave a quick nod. "Contract?" He asked.

Draco raised an eyebrow. The filthy half blood had brains after all. The boy may actually be useful. "I swear that I will complete by deal and if I don't, I cross my heart and hope that nothing will befall me." Draco pompously stated.

"I swear" the brunette said in return and scurried away.

Wyatt looked like a rat running away from his predator. Though Wyatt was only a filthy half blood with no status what so ever, his father had said that Wyatt's father was a great spy back in the day for the Dark Lord before he turned. That was the only reason Draco was using him, he only used the best of the best after all.

No sooner than a minute after the scrawny boy left, Draco heard the soft thump of a book closing. It was faint; but in this now-empty hallway, it was as loud as a single drum beat in a large room. "So, you've gotten to him first."

Draco spun around; scanning the long hall for the culprit. His eyes eyes met emerald as realization hit him like a ton of bricks. "Kirkland." He muttered; trying to compose himself. He was worried he had been caught, but if it was only Kirkland... Things may work in his favor after all.

Arthur stood straight; he had been leaning against the wall for some time, watching silently as Malfoy threatened Wyatt. Making empty promises that he would soon have to keep thanks to the contract. He shook his head as he approached, seeming to size up Malfoy with every step.

There was something different about Arthur, Malfoy noted. At least, compared to their last meeting on the train. The messy-haired boy held a bold air about him. Where he had a more gentlemanly aura about him when he chatted with Malfoy, now his tone had shifted to something a little harder. More business-like. This might be more difficult than he'd originally thought.

Without waiting for a response; Arthur spoke, looking lazily in the direction Wyatt had run. "Seeing as you've taken matters into your own hands, I can safely assume you know about house politics. Then again, what Slytherin doesn't?" he chuckled a little; Wyatt surprised him. He didn't think a half-blood would know about the Slytherin political system, let alone contracts.

"I'm impressed though. You had the right idea; going to the one with a history of acquiring information. But-" Arthur's eyes fell on Malfoy now, "You'll need more than promises and threats if you plan to reach the top."

"What are you talking about Kirkland?" Draco sneered, raising an eyebrow.

"You don't think that simple threats and brute force are going to get you to the top Malfoy?" Arthur asked, sounding incredulous. He shook his head, "You've got to be smarter than that. Sure, reaching the top can require some physical work, a wand hand twisted behind the back, but it also requires planning. Subtlety. Manipulation. Things that I, put bluntly, am highly versed in."

Malfoy raised a brow, frowning at the boy in front of him. What was he getting at? "If you think you can get under my skin Kirkland, I'll make you sorry you've ever crossed paths with me." he growled.

Arthur regarded Malfoy's threat with a gesture of surrender, stretching his arms out as though he was giving up. "I don't doubt you can 'force' my hand Malfoy, but listen to what I'm saying. You have the 'force' and as of now, the information you need to take a higher position." Arthur paused, waitiing for Malfoy to put it together. He was smart, they both knew it, but like him, Malfoy needed a hint sometimes.

Malfoy paused; eyes shining in realization as he placed the facts together."You're saying you have the 'Manipulation' as you put it? The brains."

Arthur nodded; "As well as the family name. I'm proposing that we work together to reach the top."

Draco considered Kirkland's proposal carefully. Kirkland did bring up a good point, as the saying went, two hydra heads did work better than one and he, although undoubtedly the best in Slytherin, would need someone (not Crabbe and Goyle) to run his ideas by. It wouldn't hurt to join forces either, he could always ditch Kirkland later.

Slowly, Draco smirked, "I like your idea Kirkland, we'll win for sure."

Then, Draco frowned inwardly. His smirk on his face didn't falter but his eyes raked Arthur up and down. He couldn't help but feel that something was wrong about this picture. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kirkland's hands twitch. Once, twice, thrice... His eyes narrowed. Once, maybe nothing, but thrice, something was up alright. Kirkland was nervous but for what? He had to be hiding something. Retracting the hand he was about to offer, he hissed, "But why would you want to join me?"

Arthur's eyes seemed to harden at the question. He quickly covered the slip in composure with a casual shrug, eyes shifting to the side. "Well, you beat me to the main resource; Wyatt, for one. Plus, there's strength in numbers. Everyone knows how influential you are in the wizarding world, Malfoy." He stated; gaze having returned to Malfoy now that his slip was covered with clear facts.

"-And my reasons are my own. It's safe to say I have a family name to uphold, being the youngest in my family and last to leave Hogwarts. I'm sure you understand that." Arthur added before Malfoy could inquire again.

Draco snorted softly, Kirkland could probably go after Wyatt if he wanted to and really, his family was almost at par with the Malfoys, almost. Mentally rolling his eyes at the boy's 'secrecy', he said, "Kirkland, as long as you don't betray me while working together, I don't care for your reason." Then at last assured, Draco extended his hand. "Call me Draco, it'd be weird having my partner call me by my last name."

"Then by all means Draco, call me Arthur." Arthur replied, placing his hand in Draco's and giving the boy a firm shake. It wasn't quite according to plan, but sometimes even the best plans can go astray. "I look forward to working with you."

-For the better, that is.

Authors' notes

( /o7o/ ) We're still alive! Woo! But we're also inactive and lazy so... Maybe I should put away the angel food cake. *Puts away*

Sorry about this tiny chapter but at least something was established. It's gonna play an important part; so I promise it wasn't a waste of your time to read! Classes are keeping this fanfic at a standstill while we work our wings off. I am hoping the next chapter will be longer to make it up to you readers! I promise to try to work on it soon as classes loosen up towards summer! Until then, we'll be doing some lighter writing to keep in shape during Spring Break and hopefully we'll be ready to pump out more serious chapters come summer!

Thanks for the reviews though, and all these new favourites and follows~ It makes me want to work harder, finish faster and write more. We can do this! *Gives you all a slice of cake to eat regardless of celebration time or not*

- Serene 0:)

HUHUE *steals a slice of cake from Serene*

Sorry guys, I thought we'd be more active in our writing but it was really hard work motivating ourselves when a pile of homework each week threatened to smother us. But we'll try harder so you guys get some updates. Please don't forget us! XD

- Enraged