Malfoy and his Roses

<<𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓭>>

Groups huddled around against the whistling wind as we waited for the carriages to arrive

"We came this way last time, it's so weird cause there are no horses, but it's pulled by invisible horses... I think..." Ron explains, trying to remember. 

"Thestrals Ron, don't you know anything," Hermione mumbles under her breath, and Ron rolls his eyes.  I let out a small snort.

"God it's freezing," I complain, shrugging my cloak tighter over my shoulders.  Hermoine nods in agreement.

But soon people are cheering in applause as a roaring fire has been started. I look up to see Malfoy leaning up against a tree, eyes trained on the ground. I don't know why I say what I say and I have no idea why I even had the thought, but the words slipped from my mouth too late.

"I'm going to go check on Draco," I say to the group.  Harry scrunches his nose.

"Really?" he questions.  I make a face right back to him.

"Why the hell not?" I reply.  I try to wiggle the feeling of Harry's eyes on my back as I approached the tree.

"Roses," Malfoy sneers. I match a sneer back, hoping to get a laugh out of him only to be met with silence.

"Hey, it's freezing over here you're gonna get frostbite.  We wanted to see if you want to join us," I offer.  Draco just scowls back.

"We?  Or you?  Cause I know no one likes me that's over there," he snaps back.  I roll my eyes in reply

"Fine, I was wondering if you'd want to come over.  It's quite cold," I repeat. Draco doesn't meet my eyes, his still trained on the ground.

"No thanks, Roses.  I don't associate with Mudbloods.  Now get out of my face," he murmurs, not looking at me still.  I feel my anger build up inside of me but before I explode, I spin on my heel and march off.

"Told you.  Malfoy doesn't care about anyone but himself," Harry spits.

"Yeah... maybe you're right," I reply, not wanting to start an argument.  We all went back to the fire.  Ron had magic color-changing marshmallows on him so everyone grabbed sticks and roasted them over the fire.

Finally, the carriages pull up.

"Thank god, it was getting bloody cold out here!" Ron whines.  I follow them to a silver carriage, the fire light bouncing off of it.

Giant horse chickens with wings materialized right in the air.  Malfoy was unfortunately standing right where one appeared.  It rears up on its hind legs and neighs.  Malfoy's face goes ten shades paler than usual, and he screams.

"NO!  Not again!! You bloody chicken!!! NO! My father will hear about this!" Malfoy shouts and runs after two other boorish-looking students.  I turn to get a closer look and realize this giant horse chicken was a hippogriff.

"Oh wow, he's pretty," I comment, reaching my hand out to stroke his beak.

"Ay! Yer might get hur' if yer do," a voice bellows.  I jump back, turning to see a man towering over me.

"Lila, This is Hagrid, Hagrid this is a new sixth year, Lila," Harry introduces.  I give a small wave.

"Nice to meet yer.  Go on, you can give er a pet," he offers, with a gesture of his hand.  I carefully approach and the hippogriff bobs his head.  I give a small bow of my head back and wait for his reaction. He inclines his head down and I smile.

"Well hello there," I whisper, stroking his beak. He huffs in reply, earning what feels like a real smile.

"Okay, time fer yer to go!" Hagrid announced to everyone.  I follow behind Harry, Hermoine, Ron, and a very scared-looking boy with a long face and brown hair.