Draco strolled inside Madam Puddifoot's. He asked for half a dozen biscuits and Hannah Abbott. Draco sat at a table and waited. He had specific things she needed to understand. He did not think Blaise would appreciate the conversation. He was far too protective of Hannah Abbott to have a clear understanding of the things. But little Hannah the Huffle needed to know. She needed the inside track, so she would succeed here. Draco didn't hex her and piss Blaise off for the girl to go mucking up the relationship just because she didn't know how Slytherins worked.

Hannah hurried out of the back, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She slowed when she saw Draco Malfoy sitting at a table waiting. She made her way over and sat across from him.

"Draco? What are you doing here? Is everything all right? Is Blaise all right?"

"He's just fine. These are fantastic, by the way," he said nibbling on a biscuit.

"Thank you," Hannah said shifting nervously. "Not to be terribly rude, Draco, but to what do I owe this visit?"

"I know you like him. How you look at him tells me everything I need to know about you, but if you hurt him, I'll have to hex you."

Hannah swallowed nervously. Oh my goodness. "I would n-never hurt him."

"Let's hope you're right. That aside, well-played with my mother. I do think she approves of you."

Hannah blinked. Draco was so odd. She didn't understand him. Then again, most of the time she didn't understand Blaise either. Didn't change the fact that she adored him a great deal and was beginning to like his best mate as well.

"That said, you'll probably end up meeting with Tracey and Pansy at the very least, and perhaps Greg. Maybe Daphne and possibly Snape. They'll want to make sure you're... right for Blaise. They'll test you."

Greg? Goyle? Gregory Goyle? Tracey and Pansy? Davis and Parkinson? Tracey Davis? Pansy Parkinson? Daphne? Who on earth was Daphne? Did he mean Greengrass? And Snape? Well, Snape wasn't so very terrible. He'd gotten her this job, hadn't he? She fit here near perfectly. Tests though? Now why did that make Hannah start to sweat?

"You'll be fine. He won't allow them to do anything dreadful to you. Greg wouldn't anyhow. The one you'd need to worry about would be Pansy, but a few glares from Blaise and a few pinched looks from me and anything she was thinking she would not say to your face... unless you hurt Blaise."

"But I would never-"

"I know. I get that. I believe you too. I don't believe you'd ever hurt anyone, not if you could help it. You aren't that sort."

"So... that's it then? Threats and warnings?" Her tone was far more together than she felt currently. Hannah was proud of herself on that count. She was also a bit touched that Draco felt the need to even have this talk with her.

"We're all very possessive. I know you belong to you now, so don't take it personal if he calls you his. It's how we think."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"Because you're a Hufflepuff, and you might not know what you're getting into."

Hannah was confused. "But-"

"And I think my mother honestly liked you. She doesn't just go around liking anyone, you realize."

Hannah made a face at him. This had to be one of the oddest conversations she had ever had.

"Look, I know you're working, and I don't want to keep you," Draco said, then looked down and picked at the lace tablecloth a bit. "He's my best friend. I've known him my whole life."

Hannah smiled then.

When he saw her smiling sweetly at him, Draco got up abruptly and left, snatching his remaining sack of biscuits from the table. She was so annoying adorable. It very nearly chaffed his skin.

Hannah was smiling still. She got up from the table and headed towards the back. The cashier Kirsten held her up before she could get there though.

"Was that Draco Malfoy?"

"It was."

"What did he want?"

Hannah considered telling the girl it was none of her business, but Hannah just smiled instead. "To threaten me."

The girl gasped and Hannah giggled to herself as she headed for the ovens, feeling very good indeed.


{SUMMARY} Draco seeks Hannah out for a bit of 'dating a Slytherin 101'.