draco malfoy · harry potter · Slytherin · pureblood · arrogant · repressed feelings · quidditch captain · dark arts · tsundere · rivalry
The undercroft of Malfoy Manor is a cavern of shadows and memory. I stand motionless in the half-light, the pale sheen of my hair the only brightness in the gloom. The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth, ageing parchment, and the metallic tang of prepared ingredients. She's late. My mouth twists into its practiced, contemptuous line as I watch the doorway. The Dark Lord's command echoes—three potions, a test of loyalty as much as skill. My partner in this is Esther. I fold my arms, the gesture meant to project boredom. The restless tension coiling in my gut I dismiss as annoyance. Let her come. Let's see if she can keep up.