I strode towards the dining hall and spotted Victetta chatting with... wait, was that Milton Bulstrode? The thick-set boy stood almost half a foot shorter than Victetta and laughed as they chatted.
I hurried my steps, hoping they hadn’t seen me. When I reached the dining hall doors, I glanced back. They were still chatting. I let out a sigh and entered the banquet hall, only for Percy Parkinson to stride over and fling an arm around my shoulders.
He was a slender, Quidditch-loving lout and apparently quite the Seeker. He had short black hair with shaved sides, and freckles dotted his nose. Girls were always chatting about him, and this year alone, he’d accomplished the grand feat of breaking three hearts. Two of them belonged to girls outside Slytherin.
“Heeey! When will we chat?” Percy tugged at his collar and gave me a toothy grin.
Nearby, the other fifth-year Slytherin boys cheered. They fell silent when I narrowed my eyes at them.
“Why are you touching me?” I eyed Percy.
“Did anyone tell you you’re very cute when you frown?” He flashed his eyes at me.
“Eeew.” I gripped his hand between my thumb and forefinger and removed his arm from around me.
Then I spotted him.
Harry Potter stood at the back of the hall, his eyes wide.
“Hmph!” I turned and walked away.
“We’ll chat, sweetheart!” Percy called.
I stopped walking. Slowly, I turned and narrowed my eyes at him. His smile faded.
“I... I’ll just go over here. Ca... catch you later.” He jabbed his thumbs in the direction of his friends and hurried away.
“I told you it was a bad idea,” one boy hissed.
“Idiot!” Percy slapped his friend.
I sat beside Georgia, and she wrapped an arm around me.
“Good stuff’s gone. Nothing saved for the princess.” She patted my arm and chuckled.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Whoa! Totes kidding.” She laughed nervously.
She waved her wand, and a covered plate floated out from beneath the table. It landed in front of me, and the metal dome covering it floated away. Steam rose from the plate, revealing steak and vegetables slathered in gravy.
One by one, I removed my gloves. I brushed any dust from my knife and fork, then carefully cut up my food before eating.
“Victetta and Bulstrode?” I asked before taking a bite.
“It’s been a thing for days.” Georgia nodded.
“Hmmm...” I nodded.
“Should I say something?”
“It’s fine. I’m happy for her.” I smiled.
Georgia did a double take, then lit up.
“Yeah, I’m happy for them,” she said.
Wednesday
I awoke with a jolt. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but a full moon cast a silver glow over my dormitory. I held out my hand, and moonlight glistened off my ring.
I stared at the shadows on the ceiling. Georgia slept in the opposite bed, while the other two beds remained empty. Well, she kept her cat on one, and the beast lay curled up in the centre of the bed. The other had my clothes strewn across it.
Technically, two more girls should have been in here, but as Princess, it had always been just Georgia and me.
I looked at the moon and remembered the Mooncalves. I smiled, thinking about that moment when I’d seen Harry and...
I felt warm inside.
“Stop it!” I snapped.
“Ahhh...” Georgia groaned.
I turned my back on her and closed my eyes.
We climbed the Astronomy Tower, and I glimpsed Harry chatting with Hermione. He patted her shoulder, and...
“You alright?” Georgia asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
Georgia looked at my hands. I did a double take when I realised I’d been clenching my fist.
We entered the classroom, and I brushed past Harry. He held a hand behind his back, and I slipped a note into it.
We exchanged a look, and he gave me a subtle nod.
I poked out my tongue.
Hermione noticed and narrowed her bushy brows at me. I uttered a spell and raised my wand to my lips. It was one of the whispering enchantments Professor Plum had taught us.
I pointed at Hermione, and the spell carried my words straight to her ear.
“Buy a comb. Bushy brows.”
My voice echoed in her ear.
She glanced around, searching for the source, but I stood across the room.
“You alright?” Harry asked.
“Fine.” Hermione puffed.
After class, I met Harry in one of the side passages on the way down from the tower. I pretended to be tying my shoelaces.
“Don’t torment my friends.” He folded his arms and stood with his legs apart.
“If she buys a comb, I might consider it.” I chuckled and straightened up.
He narrowed his eyes.
My face fell.
“It’s a joke, totally.” I waved my hands.
What are you doing, girl? Don’t concede! Not to a freaking Pot-head.
His posture softened.
I let out a sigh of relief.
Why did I feel so much better? Heck, why was my heart racing? I was getting excited. If I was being honest with myself, I’d been looking forward to this all class.
“So?” He narrowed his eyes.
Whoa, he’s annoyed. Oh no, I screwed up.
Girl! Shut it! I don’t want to hear any of your nonsense. He’s a Pot-head, not worthy of your time and affection... no, not affection. Attention. Yeah! I meant attention, totally. Ah, ha ha ha...
“Well?” he asked.
“We needed to discuss the mission. I checked the map, and I realised the legend is different in two sections.” I tugged the map out of my bag.
“See this legend? It shows a small scale between Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. Then, on this second map, there’s a double line separating them here, right?” I traced a finger across the lines.
“Yeah.” He nodded.
“So, this scale says an inch is a mile,” I said.
“That’s a ten-mile trek.”
“Yeah, we’re going to need some hiking boots. Do you have any?” I asked.
“Ah... no, but sneakers will do.”
“NO! I’m not having you break your ankle trekking across the grounds.”
“I...”
“Just come with me to Hogsmeade this weekend.”
“What?”
“There’s a shop on the corner of town. Discreet and high-end. Boots and Broomsticks. Meet me there early in the morning before we head out.”
“Yeah.” He nodded.
My heart raced.
We’d be going out, together, for the whole and...
I sniffed.
I’m being a fool.
This cannot happen.
You’re a Malfoid! Draconia Malfoid, composed, dignified and, above all else, noble. The world can never see. He can never see.
“You alright?” He regarded me.
“Yeah! Fine, dandy even. I’ll meet you there early. We’ll have to skip breakfast. I’ll buy snacks.” I rolled up the scroll and stuffed it into my bag.
“Meeting adjourned.” I waved him off, raised my chin and walked away.
Thursday
At breakfast, I caught his eye.
My friends chatted about inane subjects, while his friends talked with others from their house. Just for a moment, it was the two of us.
Our eyes met, and I smiled.
I nodded towards a door at the back.
He nodded.
He stood first and made for the room. Moments later, I excused myself and got up. I entered the room to find him leaning against a wall.
He looked away. He fidgeted with his hands, and I suddenly realised something.
Is he nervous? Does he think I’m going to tell him off or something?
Set him at ease. Smile, girl. Like that, and lean against the wall. Yeah. Now... I... say... what?
We just stared at each other. My heart hammered, and my cheeks burned.
“So, ah... class?” he asked.
“You want to meet after class?” I asked.
“Well, we can discuss it now.”
“Shoot.”
“Brooms. Just fly.”
“Ah...” I stared blankly.
It seemed so obvious.
Wait.
“We’ll get in trouble if we’re seen.” I held up a finger.
“Fly close to the ground. We’ll move faster, and if anyone notices us, we’ll look like we’re running... or something.”
“Or... something.”
“Look, it’s a good idea.”
“We’ll do it.”
“No, I’ve been thinking about this...”
“I said yes.”
“Listen, it’s the fastest way to...”
“I said YES, moron!” I clamped my hand on his shoulder.
“Oh...” He blinked.
“What’s going on here!” Georgia stood in the doorway, hands on hips.
Harry and I recoiled from each other. We hid our hands behind our backs.
“Oh... ah...” he said.
“What do you mean by ‘you said yes’?” She closed the door with a click and pointed at him, then at me.
“N... nothing.” He waved his hands and shook his head.
I looked away and bit my lip.
“Well!” she said.
“It’s nothing. I agreed to help the stupid Pot-head. I’ve been known to be charitable, hah!” I fluffed my hair.
I strode past him, my elbow bumping him into the wall, and marched out.
Friday
Harry and the Pot-heads had all been absent since lunch.
We sat in Potions class, glancing around. One student missing? Strange. Three? Yeah, something was up.
When the Pot-heads vanished, well, that was when everyone started to worry.
“Miss Malfoid, is there a reason you’re looking so despondent?” Professor Snape put particular emphasis on the last word.
“The Pot-heads are tardy.” I nodded towards the empty desks.
“I am cognisant of that, and rest assured, their tardiness has been duly noted.” He nodded.
“Yes, sir.” I nodded.
“Now, with regards to Hacandos root, it has many properties...” Snape continued.
My foot tapped.
I gasped as I remembered that morning. I’d handed him a note. I’d only needed to discuss snacks for our outing, but instead of agreeing, he’d shaken his head.
Was this planned? Why wasn’t he...
A thud caught my attention.
Moments later, I heard shouts followed by screams.
I exchanged a look with my friends, and then we jumped to our feet. Snape shouted, but I couldn’t hear him. We had our wands in hand as we sprinted towards the noise.
A series of booms and bangs echoed through the corridors. Students ran past us. Prefects yelled for everyone to evacuate.
A Gryffindor prefect moved to block our path.
“Not that way!” He shook his head.
“Sorry, what?” Victetta jabbed her wand against his neck.
He froze and slowly backed away. A Slytherin prefect eyed us, then glanced at the Gryffindor.
“We pass,” I said.
The Slytherin prefect nodded. We started to pass, but he gripped my arm.
“Next floor down. Pot-heads.” He spoke in a low voice.
I nodded my thanks, and we ran.
We emerged from the stairs to find the corridor transformed into a battlefield.
Professors Flitwick and McGonagall fired spells at strange, spherical creatures with six stubby legs and bodies covered in spiky growths. There were a dozen of the things, and they seemed to be multiplying.
Students ran while teachers provided cover fire. As the cat-sized monsters approached people, they glowed and then exploded.
A blast of hot wind washed over us.
“Get out!” Flitwick waved for us to leave.
Pretending I hadn’t heard him, I burst into the corridor and unleashed a barrage of spells. I took down one creature, and it exploded.
The blast knocked me off my feet, and I tumbled across the ground.
“Stupid girl, move!” McGonagall pulled me to my feet.
She shoved me backwards with one hand while firing spells with the other. Within moments, I was swept along with the crowd.
To my shame, I left the teachers to handle it.
Students jostled around me. Elbows struck heads. Feet got stomped. Everyone had wide eyes, panic written across their faces.
Ahead, a door exploded outwards. Shards of wood littered the corridor. Ron and Hermione tumbled across the ground.
Flames erupted from the doorway.
“Harry!” I gasped.
I broke into a run.
I rounded the corner just in time to find a creature made of shadow and ghost-fire looming over Harry.
The boy floated in the air, his arms, limbs and head thrust backwards. Harry fought as an invisible force forced his mouth open. Tendrils of ghost-fire wrapped around him, and there I saw a female form.
Wait, I’d seen her before...
White energy spilled from Harry’s lips, and his eyes rolled back.
“HARRY!” Hermione screamed.
“Expulso!” I roared.
A sonic boom struck the creature and hurled it backwards.
“ACT!” I glanced at the others.
Useless Weasley staggered to his feet and raised his wand.
“Expulso! Incendio! Expulso!” I whipped my wand through the air.
I unleashed an explosion, followed by flames, followed by another blast.
The creature slammed into the window. Glass shattered.
Beside me, Ron and Hermione pointed their wands.
“Confringo!” they roared.
“Reductor!” I cast.
A triple explosion struck the creature.
It smashed through the window.
Harry gasped and fell.
“Levioso!” I whipped my wand through the air.
He slowed to a halt before dropping the last inch to the ground.
I ran towards him, but Hermione brushed past me and grabbed him.
“Harry! HARRY!” she screamed.
Harry lay there, unmoving.
Ron shoved me back and ran to him.
I stood there.
Pathetic. Useless. Trash.
All I could do was watch as Harry lay unmoving.
“He’s stopped breathing!” Hermione shouted.
A ringing filled my ears. The sounds around me faded until they no longer held meaning.
I stood there as others rushed into the room. Shouts rang out. Professors crowded around him. Everyone looked so scared.
Yet I barely registered any of them.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“But... we were supposed to go out this... Saturday,” I whispered.
I felt numb.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not him.
Not my Harry.