no-one is catching on or calling my bluff / private

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]Draco leaned back, now, on his haunches, casting Neville an ill-concealed look of momentary disgust. " Good things about the Malfoys ... Alright. We have no dirty mudbloods infecting our lineage, which means we're better than everyone else. We're all Slytherins, which is the best house, which means we're better than everyone else. We hopped on the bandwagon and had the Dark Mark burned into our flesh and became death eaters, shunning the ' piteous muggle-loving habits ' of everybody else and embracing our true, wizarding selves, which means we're better than everyone else. Oh- and we all think we're better than everyone else, which means we're definitely better than everyone else. "

He was ticking off the points as he went along, the claws of his right paw unsheathed, letting his left paw brush each one as he went through the points. Perhaps he was being sarcastic, perhaps he was being serious - who knew, honestly? He'd held many of those beliefs himself, once, without ever bothering to question them. " Still not convinced, Longbottom? "
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt](that's okay! don't feel pressured to respond if you don't want to; besides, i'd rather wait for you to get better than force you into replying and making you rush bc of your muse <3)

Malfoy shrugged apathetically. " Personally, I'm very skilled at many forms of magic. Occulmency, potions, charms ... general hexes ... I've been studying alchemy, too. I'm good with my wand. " and yes, he was aware that was a double entendre, an innuendo tucked away in his speech without him even realising, but now it had left his lips and he came to notice what he'd said, he found he hardly cared. " Is that a good thing about at least one Malfoy? I once got my father to buy the entire Slytherin Quidditch team the newest brooms - at the time, at least. " does generosity count? Admittedly, that generosity was born from spite, but ... Well.
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]" Well what are you expecting me to say, Longbottom? I love picking flowers and dancing under the moonlight? I'm loved by all because I'm kind and friendly and too stupid to consider self preservation because I'm under the impression I'm invincible, meaning I go around performing ridiculous stunts to save people, ultimately looking good and winning the hearts of everybody? I'm not Potter, for fuck's sake. " his lip curled, and he glanced at the ground. " Even someone as dimwitted as you should be able to tell that if you can't see it, it probably isn't there. So if you think I'm just a Malfoy, and all Malfoys are rotten, then take your place to the left with everybody else and leave me the fuck alone, okay? " a nerve, again. Neville had found one, touched one, caused the walls to go up. Fucking Longbottom, thinking he could pressure Draco into a genuine tirade of loveliness and positivity. Was he really that stupid?
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]He didn't have to be what he was? Wasn't what he was an inevitability that couldn't be changed? He could slap on a smile for them, sure, but what good would that do? Draco had been moulded. Forced. He couldn't ... undo years of a certain mindset being hammered into him, metaphorically and literally, mentally and physically, could he? He was who he was - that was a simple fact. And here was Longbottom, telling him to just turn over a new leaf and start again!

It was so ridiculous it made sense. But Malfoy wasn't about to cave in and quite literally start making flower crowns. Or friends. Or do anything that made him look like a Potter wannabe.

... But hadn't he, once? There had been a period in which his father had paid more attention to Potter than he had his own son. And Draco? Had he ever paid more attention to Potter than himself?

...

" Yes, thank you for the heartwarming speech, Longbottom. I'm a changed man. " he uttered a little sarcastically, shaking his head, bemused. It'd take a bit more than that, then.

But it had got Malfoy thinking.
Fuck you, Longbottom.
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]Draco scoffed contemptuously. Neville, of course, was right. " Bloody hell, they all hate me already. You saw the way they looked at me when I joined. Even you referred to me like I was shit in your mouth - I don't fucking care, Longbottom. I have a family. I have friends. " of course, those friends were drunk on his father's promises and had done just as many shit things to him as Lucius, but he'd never say that.
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]Didn't hate him? Malfoy sneered. " 'Ooh, Malfoy, you're a real ass. I shouldn't have even tried to make conversation with you. I'll break your ribs more than they are, Malfoy. You're a real dirtbag, Malfoy. We shouldn't have helped you. We should have left you for dead, because you're scum, Malfoy. You're just that. A dirty, rotten Malfoy, and I hate you.' " his voice rose in pitch, ' mimicking ' Neville in a patronising, saccharine-sweet tone, his expression imperious.

" Shows you up, Longbottom. You're that stupid you can't even remember what you said, and then you think a sorry suddenly takes it all away. Sorry's just a word[i], Longbottom. It doesn't mean [i]anything. I can say sorry - doesn't mean I mean it, does it? " his eyes flashed. " Doesn't matter, anyway. Don't see why I should let you get to me, of all people. "
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]Draco released a sigh; again, if he'd had fingers, he'd likely pinch the bridge of his nose. " It's called reading between the lines, Longbottom. " he stated frankly, shrugging a shoulder.

' Fine. Fine. The one time I actually say something to you, you take it seriously. '

" I always take death threats seriously. " he responded dubiously, searching Neville. He was still there. Still sat there. Still ... taking with Malfoy. Why? Why was this still going on?
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]" ... Says the pacifist. " Draco responded neatly. He'd been losing this little war of words for a while, Neville having gained the advantage by making him think, but now, it seemed, Malfoy had the upper hand again, rendering the other rather incoherent. it was easy, now. Make jabs and jibes until Longbottom left, and he was on his own, again. A simple kill.

(whispers hogwarts au now pls)
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt]Damn indeed, Longbottom. Malfoy had won, and he knew it. Draco straightened his spine and smirked, the corner of his mouth lilting upwards in a cocky expression of triumph. " Look where opening your mouth gets you, Longbottom. You ought to be sorry. " he responded; after all, Neville had hurt his feelings.

Ha.
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy

[fancypost borderwidth=0px; text-align: justify; font-family; font-size: 8pt](mm hmm though i might make an open one later
who makes the private one?)

Draco's eyes lifted thoughtfully to Neville, then he sneered. " Sure. Whatever. I humbly apologise for encroaching on your precious plants' space. " he stated, spying a way out and taking it by rising to his paws and limping away.
[/fancypost][size=2px][color=transparent] #malfoooooy