Umbridge's Ire, Part 2: Draco's Decision

Draco Malfoy pulled out a chair for Ally Summerhaze just as he'd always done. Ever the gentleman, she thought sarcastically crossing her arms as she sat down at the mahagony table with scrolled legs. She didn't want to think right now, she didn't want to feel. For if she did either, she would surely pass out from the pricking pain of it all. Draco was about to torture her for information, she knew that. When Voldemort wanted him to do it, he fought against it, risking his life for her. Yet, when Umbridge wanted it from him, all she had to do was ask........" Chills raced down her spine, and they weren't the usual one's Draco's company had often afforded. She didn't want to look at him, didn't want to feel his presence in the least so she studied the stone floor, pretending she was alone. For that was exactly how she felt.

"Well!" Umbridge smiled looking about the sparsely furnished room, now flooded with sunset light from the tall, floor to ceiling paned glass windows. "I think this shall do quite nicely." She then looked at the fine silver tea tray atop the table, complete with a delicate, pink flowered china tea pot and matching tea cups and saucers. Draco looked at it too, and noticed a powdery white substance in the sugar pot. He'd paid enough attention in potions class, to know that it was indeed NOT sugar. Slowly Umbridge drew a rather long, rather threatening pointed syringe from the inside of her pink tweed jacket, and set it delicately on the table. It was filled with a clear thin liquid, and Draco recognized it immediately. Verita Serum. He'd seen his father use it before on some unexpecting members of the ministry....... He knew its effects first hand. "I think this shall come in handy," she said happily, before placing the lid on the tea pot. Her gaze turned down to Ally but neither her voice nor her eyes lost their sweet manner. "This one doesn't take tea......" With that she nodded kindly, approvingly at Draco and he could her the click clacking of her heels as she left the room, closing and locking the door behind her. Draco looked at his supposed prey, bound, silent, her eyes fastened hard to the floor. He was entirely alone with her and he knew what had to be done.

He walked to the other side of the table, facing the door, and sat down calmly, adjusting his collar. Ally's eyes had never seemed so lifeless, so.........empty. At least she wasn't crying anymore. GOD he hated when she cried. Hated the way his heart would wrench painfully in his chest.... He scooted his chair forward. Funny that even at the table they were on opposite sides. Carefully he stretched his foot out and ran it up and down her bare, long soft leg, stopping at her knee. she jolted and glanced up, her eyes growing wide when they came in contact with the sharp glistening needle. "Ally what's this rubbish, about you not taking tea? You LOVE tea......." he said smirking, searching for ANY hint of a smile on his girlfriend's face. He found none. Ally's eyes never left the needle. "Not the way Umbridge likes to serve it." She said cooly, never taking her eyes from the chemical weapon. The weapon he would choose of his own free will to use against her. For the first time, Ally did something she never thought she'd do to Draco. She glared at him, most witheringly, before returning her eyes to the device that would forever end her promise to Harry Potter and her Once-in-a-Lifetime Love with Draco Malfoy. The fear, the hurt, the betrayal swirled uncontrollably within her like a tempestual whirlpool. The tears escaped silently, and she felt horridly sick. In a few short months Malfoy, her Malfoy, had become a........ a monster. But NEVER, not ever, did she think him capable of this. Umbridge had changed him. Power had changed him, and love had left him completely. He had become a kind of cruel that was beyond her recognition.

Draco too looked at the syringe, trying not to think how incredibly sexy Ally looked when she glared at him, her emerald eyes smoldering. Smiling, he stood up, and draped the newest edition of the prophet that had been laying on the table, over the needle, covering it. He wanted her mind and eyes off it. Relieved of the needle's glare, Ally's eyes instantly returned to the floor, her hair, tumbling across her shoulder, shielding her face from Draco. "Let's just talk, Love." He said softly walking around the table so that he now stood behind her. He whipped off the rope binding her delicate wrists, and placed his hands on her shoulders. Ally ignored the fact that his hands felt warm, and soft. How strange to feel comfort now at the hands of her assumed captor. She felt a few more tears escape. He leaned down so as to whisper in her ear as he had so oft done before, "Y'know, I liked it better when you were on MY side, Darling......." Making sure she wasn't looking, Draco reached for the syringe, and then stopped. No, he couldn't do it yet........ his mouth felt dry, and his fingers shook as they fell short. He needed......... more time.

"Me too. Too bad Umbridge has made you her little MUTANT!" Ally yelled angrily, and Draco couldn't help but wish she would glare at him again, it was very attractive, very adorable. He stifled at her words nonetheless, however, it all feeling so utterly peculiar. "Ooooh Ouch." He said with a pained smirk. He paced back and forth in front of her chair, feeling a sudden onslaught of riled anger. He didn't start this. This was in no way HIS fault! "Too bad Potter's finally gotten you to LIE to me, and keep secrets behind my BACK!!!" he hissed back harshly in her ear, feeling as if he'd fallen into a truly STRANGE nightmare. He NEVER talked to her like that. If anybody else had talked to her in such a manner, he'd of DESTROYED them. Stop it. It's not her you're mad at, he reminded himself.

Ally looked up slowly, blinking rapidly, not sure whether she would burst into tears at seeing this unfamiliar, unfeeling, and impossibly unkind side of Draco, or if she was ready to run at him, attack him, fight him if need be. That thought felt horribly unnatural, and made her altogether ill as it darted, unwillingly, into her whirling mind. This was DRACO!!! Draco Malfoy!!! Her beloved, her boyfriend, her SOULMATE!!! But...... somehow........ as the cruel tone in his voice replayed itself back again, she wondered if this was still the Draco she'd fallen in love with.

Draco coughed, clearing his throat, and then effortlessly swiveled the chair around, tipping it back hard so he could look at her. "Ally, don't you SEE what Potter's doing!?!?" He said exasperated, reaching down to ease her chin up with his fingers. "He's doing what he's ALWAYS done. Trying to keep us apart! Whatever he's bloody got you involved in, you can tell me," he whispered coaxingly, letting his hand, slip back into her hair. "Umbridge wants Potter, Darling, not you....... you're just a pawn in her game, a way to get to him, along with the Ginger.......Don't make me pick sides. Just tell me everything, and it'll all be over." He lowered his lips to her forehead and kissed ever so softly. Ally had never been able to resist him. She would give in soon. He knew it. She wanted things back the way they were supoosed to be just as much as he did. Her loyalty was to HIM not her scarhead freak of a friend.

Ally couldn't take it anymore. The feel of his hands, his lips, his expensive cologne, they were all too much. The quickening of her heart, the touching, the familiar scent of her Prince. But this wasn't one of their dates, their getaways, or anything of that nature. He was here to get to Harry, to GIVE Harry over to Umbridge. He was using her. Her heart felt cold, icy and dead now. He'd picked his side, and she'd picked hers. She'd have to fight, if that was what he wanted. Furious she pushed him off her, leaped to her feet, and tossed the chair aside. Startled, Draco nearly fell backward. "You've already PICKED YOUR side, haven't you......." She swallowed hard, knowing he was going to HATE what she was about to call him.

"MALFOY!?"

Draco stepped back even farther, feeling surprisingly hurt and therefore angered. In all their time together she'd NEVER called him THAT...... My Malfoy, Prince Malfoy, Mr. Malfoy, yes but never just......... MALFOY. She said it spitefully too. Just the way........ the way......... the way Potter said it! "That's right, MALFOY!" she said again, her voice cracking with tears. "You've chosen to side with that wretchedly MENTAL woman, you picked HER over me!" Draco breathed heavily, feeling his anger rise. He didn't like it. This anger that he felt now was usually reserved for Potter, not his Ally. But she'd hurt him, and he did the only thing he knew how when he'd been hurt. Hurt back. "Knock it OFF, Ally!" He growled. "Stop calling me that! Stop acting like HIM! Angrily he threw the chair against the wall, and it hit with a splintering thud. "I may have picked her, but you picked HIM! He's got you mixed up in something, he's pitting us against eachother, and you're bloody letting him!

Ally looked absolutely incredulous. "Me!?!? ME!?!? MALFOY you're the one pitting us against eachother! I HAD to side with Harry, to get rid of HER, so she'd stop poisoning YOU! Draco was positively seething now, and he struggled to control his anger. "Ally, I bloody mean it, DON'T call me that again! LOOK what he's done to you! I'm NOT the one who's changed!" he snarled, his back stiffening. YOU did! What happened to telling eachother everything? When did you start LYING to me, keeping SECRETS, going behind MY back, IGNORING me, blowing me off!?!? Irate, Draco dug into his pocket, and Ally instantly recognized the fake galleon. "It was when POTTER gave you this bloody STUPID thing!!!" He hurled it at the wall, and it bounced off with a cling. "All I want is for you to TELL ME WHAT THE DEVIL IT MEANS!!!! Ally too was swathed in a dangerous mix of injured anger that boiled over as she advanced on him. "I made a promise! I COULDN'T tell you! It all started when you fancied you'd just give him up to her!! You're to become a murderer at her bidding, MALFOY! This is entirely YOUR doing! Draco's shoulder's rose and fell, and he couldn't control his anger anymore. "DANG IT ALLY!!! I TOLD YOU NOT TO BLOODY CALL ME THAT!!!! Without thinking, he flew at her,seizing her shoulders with both hands, and shoved her HARD, forcing her violently to the ground.


Ally gasped in shock as she stumbled backward, and the minute her back hit the hard, stone floor, Draco jumped back, recoiling, looking at his hands in horror. What had he just done? Ally burst into deep shuddering sobs, and Draco was certain he'd soon be hyperventilating as well. With each strained breath his anger cooled, and tears pricked his eyes like pins. Why did he just bloody do THAT!?!?

"I'm, I'm...... I'm sorry Ally! GOD, I didn't mean to do that, but I HATE hearing YOU, my girl, of all people, call me that. In that way. Y-You don't understand ANY of this d-do you?" He said shakily to her quivering form, startled by his own anger. "Don't you see!? With Umbridge........ I'm someone important Ally! I bloody matter for once, and POTTER is no longer everyone's favorite! She hates him as much as I do, and I revel in that! I have....... power now! Respected, feared, and also chosen, I'm FINALLY getting the appreciation I've always deserved! I deserve this Love! Things are finally going MY way!"

Ally looked up at him from the floor,now turned on her side, her legs tucked up to her stomach, tears staining her stricken, angry eyes. "Oh really!?! THIS is what you consider YOUR way!?!? Her voice shook with sobs, and Draco shifted uneasily before studying the stone floor. Not exactly......... In the ideal situation, you were on my side. "Ally looked up at him seriously, and he could see her anger cracking and breaking, her voice now more desperate than furious. "Draco, but you're letting that wicked witch hurt Harry, and you KICKED Bekah! How can I side with my boyfriend, when he's choosing to hurt my friends, and me!?" Draco tugged on his Slytherin tie uncomfortably. "I'm sincerely sorry for shoving you, Ally, and I was just drunk with power when I kicked the Ginger. She probably deserved it though for all the things she's said to me. Ally glared again, and again Draco found it quite becoming, smiling just a little. "Come here." his voice was soft and begging forgiveness as he leaned down and lovingly brought her to her feet, rubbing her back softly, wanting more than anything for this to just be an infuriating dream.

"What about Harry?" She asked cooly, pulling away from his grasp. Draco's face snapped and then soured. "What ABOUT Potter!?" Ally felt her bad temper returning all too quickly. "Draco! You HANDED him OVER to Umbridge! God KNOWS what she's doing to him right now! How are we going to save him!?!? Draco's whole face darkened and Ally felt a chill fill the room, as he stepped towards her. "I regret nothing when it comes to Potter," he snarled. He deserves, everything she's about to do to him and more. It's like she always says he said with a vicious smirk. "He deserves to be punished....... and all who follow after him........" Draco now smiled maniacly, envisioning all the glorious ways Umbridge must be carrying out that due punishment right now..... Shame he was missing it, really.

"Like me?" Ally asked, her voice steady, devoid of emotion. Draco looked at her, his gaze intense and sobering, but he didn't respond. "That's what we're here for aren't we? To loosen my tongue, to get me to talk by....... by any means necessary?" Ally struggled to say the words, tears now flowing afresh. Draco raised both his eyebrows before turning away from her walking back toward the table. He didn't want to look at her right now. "You AGREED to this, Draco. Because of her. Because she told you to." Draco walked methodically around the table, very tempted to overturn it, and let the china shatter into as many pieces as his heart now felt. "Why did you want to be alone with me? Why didn't you just do it in front of everyone? That would have made her all the more proud of you." Draco shoved the table hard and the china chattered nervously, the syringe rolling from it's newspaper tent and right into his hand.He looked at it, surprised, for the longest time, before carefully slipping it in his back pocket. "You wanted to do this...... for her....... didn't you?? Ally cried harder, and again Draco didn't respond, just walked back briskly toward her.

As he neared her, Ally couldn't look at him and she shrunk back towards the opposite wall. Draco then clasped both of her shoulders and whispered. "Stop talking." Ally nodded. "Oh I see. Is it to begin now, Darling? Are you going to rough me up and pummel me the way you did to Dennis and Collin, yesterday? When they wouldn't tell you about the fake galleon? Draco averted his eyes, his cheeks reddening with shame. She wasn't supposed to know about that. "Ally, I HAD to! It was my job!" Ally shook her head. "You're her puppet, Draco Malfoy." Draco sneered. "Am NOT! And a lot of good it did! Beat those Creevey boys senseless, and they wouldn't tell me a blasted thing! Ally returned her eyes to the floor. "Maybe you'll have better luck with me....... I'm strong..... but I've never been very good with pain at the hands of those I love. If anyone can break me, it's you Draco Malfoy. Umbridge must know that." Draco shook his head reaching for her. Ally let him take her into his arms, but hung there, limp like a rag doll. Why couldn't he see what he's become? What Umbridge was turning him into?

"Draco smirked, running his hands all over her back, arms, and through her hair, pulling her closing to himself, all the while easing her back towards the wall. "No...... I have a very different method planned for you." He whispered slyly, grabbing her hips. "A uhhhh whole new way of loosening your tongue, as it were." He winked and kissed her softly, tenderly, one hand tightening on her hip, the other wrapping around her waist, before disappearing up the back of her sweater, feeling her bare back, the skin silky soft beneath his fingers. Ally held fast against his kisses. They hadn't kissed like this since that day in the corridor outside of potions. Luna. He should have known something was up when Ally'd said she was spending time with LUNA........ He should have followed her. Ally didn't kiss him back, but he didn't care. It had been months of squabbles, lies, secrets, disagreements, and the like and her lips were sweeter than he could ever remember. He sucked ever so gently on her tongue, feeling better than he'd had in weeks.

Kiss me back, Ally! He pleaded in his mind. He needed her to kiss him back. Ally did not, and so Draco continued to steal kisses, wrapping one leg around hers. "We've just had a fight, Ally." He said softly. "You're supposed to kiss me, and make up, it's what couples do......" he murmered into her lips. Ally ignored him, her lips still, and unmoving against his. This had to work......... she MUST have missed his kisses, as much as he missed hers. He wrapped his arms as tight as he could get them around her, and kissed harder, firece and fast, pushing her up against the wall. Ally couldn't help it........ She broke. Draco wanted to sing when he felt the slight movement against his lips. YES! That's it my Lovely, don't stop! It was as if Ally's lips, had danced this beautiful waltz with his for so long that it was almost impossible not to dance when he was. She felt herself slipping. "Oh Draco!" She gasped his name brethlessly, and kissed him back just as hard, grabbing each side of his pale face, losing all control. It had been far too long. She needed this, she needed HIM. Draco could feel the hunger as her lips took his, not thinking anymore, just doing. This was it. Here was the opportune moment.

Her lips moved over and over his, her tongue taking his, so utterly enthralled, so beautiful, so perfectly........ distracted. He grabbed her back and her thigh, caressing it as he kissed her so hard, the back of her curly head gently hit the wall. She was pinned and couldn't move anything, but her lips. Just what he wanted...... Draco took a deep breath, reluctantly releasing her thigh, and reached into his back pocket, his fingers closing over the syringe. I'm sorry Love........ The tears pricked his eyes again before falling down to their dancing lips. Ally tasted the salty sweet wetness on his lips, but she didn't pull away.

He had gotten caught up in this, it wasn't his fault! Umbridge was the enemy! Not her beloved Draco Malfoy. With this kiss she'd revive him, bring him back, her Love, her fair haired Romeo, her sweet Slytherin. She murmered happily into his lips. True Love's kiss would break the spell. With this she'd turn a mean, slimy, little frog back into what he really was, a shining prince.....

Draco slipped the syringe from his pocket, poising it just over her beautiful pale neck that glistened with sweat now. His fingers shook. She'd never see it coming. She wouldn't even have time to pull away. The serum would work quickly, and soon Potter's doings would be revealed, along with the meaning of the confiscated fake galleons, and every secret Allyssa Summerhaze had kept from him. All would be known, Umbridge would never stop praising him, she'd certainly owe him! He could get anything he desired. He raised the syringe higher. Potter done for, this whole Inquisition ended. All with one prick of snow white skin. It would all be over.

She kissed him more, greatfully, lovingly, rubbing his back which was also sweating now, but not from the snogging. Do it now. He urged himself. Draco, you clever fox, this was bloody genius! Just one stab, she'll tell you everything. Ally kissed him all the more sweetly, grinning against his lips. His fingers shook, it was his moment, he couldn't fail, he HAD to do this..... for.......for....... Who? Umbridge? Who matters more to you, you STUPID GIT? This beautiful, angelic, creature who loves you, who's made you more wildy happy than you could have ever dreamed? Who's so forgiving that she's KISSING you right now, after you just rounded up all her friends, tortured, threatened, and beat them all up? Or the teacher that's purposefully making you hurt you own bloody girlfriend!?!? Do you think UMBRIDGE would ever forgive you if you boggled this up? When did I, a MALFOY, start taking orders from...... from...... TEACHERS!?!? Draco's fingers shook more profusely, the needle harder to hold in his sweaty hand, his snogging getting shamefully sloppy. What am I doing!?!? It all seemed so rediculous to him now. It was as if a spell was lifting, his mind was clearing. Why the DEVIL would I stab Ally's neck with this horrid thing!?!? I. Am. NOT. A. Puppet!

Just then Draco grabbed the back of Ally's curly head with one hand, and slammed down the syringe with the other, kissing her feverishly, with newfound revelation as the glass shattered on the stone floor, the clear serum escaping into the cracks of the cobbles. Terrified, Ally jumped with the sound of the breaking glass, hugging Draco tightly, as she burried her head into his shoulder. "What was that!?!?" Draco grinned and hugged her tighter. "That, My Sweet One, was the sound of a terrible spell breaking, because you had the courage to give a villain, True Love's Kiss..... even when he didn't bloody deserve it."

Ally looked up into Draco's face, and she wanted to cry of happiness. She had broken the spell. His eyes had lightened, were nearly glowing with their brilliant sapphire hue, his face was light and jovial again, sly of course, but jovial. It was then she realized, he'd smashed that horrible looking syringe on the ground. "I'm so sorry Ally! I love you! I love you so bloody much! God I've been such a fool, a real posh git!" He pelted her face all over with kisses. Ally grinned hugging his neck as he kissed her. "It's okay Baby! I love you too! With all of my heart! You left me for awhile, but now you're back Darling!" Draco grinned, feeling wonderful. "For good, Ally. I'm back for good! I'm sorry for everything, for hurting you, for kicking the Ginger, turning into a terror for your friends. I don't need power, authority, or any such nonsense. Potter can be the favorite, if he must, as long as I'm YOUR favorite, Girl! He winked again and she giggled leaning forward to whisper in his ear, "Always." He grinned deliriously happy and moved to kiss her again, when he heard the agonized echoing screams. Ally shuddered and let out a little scream of her own, remembering Harry was trapped, left to the wayward whims of Dolores Umbridge. "Sounds like Potter could use our assistance." Draco said nervously, the screams sending creeping chills down his spine. "That is....... if he doesn't try to kill me, before I can save him......."