HP Fandom and a Snippet

For the past couple of months or so, I have been having a great deal of fun discovering the world of HP fanfiction. I blame karabair, even though her chosen fandom is Buffy/Angel, and secondarily ajhalluk for writing "Lust over Pendle," the fic that got me hooked, and which I have attempted to pester several people into reading. And, in due course, it inspired me to do a little fanfic writing of my own. So here's an unbetaed snippet that _might_ become part of something longer. Comments welcome.

[Unknown site tag] Draco Malfoy was cruel because it made him feel alive. He knew exactly how to hurt. Not with his fists--so crude--nor even with magic. Words were his weapon, and the wince when a well-placed barb hit its mark assured him that he was present, noticed, that he could move through the world leaving a Draco Malfoy-shaped wake behind him. They might hate him, but they'd never, ever ignore him. He was real. Draco liked being good at things, and he was good at this.

He remembered what his father had always told him: "Watch people, Draco. Look at them, listen to them. Learn their desires and their fears, their loves and their hates. Learn to see people and they will give themselves to you. But never let them see you in return."

Lucius had taken a sip of Firewhisky from his glass and smiled thinly at Draco, sitting across the expanse of his mahogany desk.

"I'll do my best, Father," he'd said. And it had worked. Always. Until now.


I should probably point out that Lucius's remarks are loosely adapted from something Aral Vorkosigan says to Mark in _Mirror Dance_. I hope Lois Bujold will forgive me for adapting the concept to the point of view of someone much less savory.