Snivellus

44

It had been a couple days since Darah and Draco first kissed. She accepted his invitation to Hogsmeade after helping him up off the floor, of course.

She continued to hang around with the golden trio seeing as Pansy was still in a fight with her, Draco didn't mind as long as he and her hung out at breaks and in the evenings. They kept everything on the down low, not wanting to draw attention to themselves yet.

As well as this, Darah had a nagging thought in the back of her mind. She thought she recalled Snape mentioning the name 'Black' and Lupin mentioned 'Sirius'. She knew this might not have meant anything significant but what if Lupin knew where he was hiding out?

***

Darah sat with Harry, Ron and Hermione most mornings for breakfast because of everything with Pansy, plus Draco never woke up early like Darah did.

'You're looking happy today.' Hermione grinned at her as Darah came to sit down.

'I'm excited for Hogsmeade.' She smiled cheekily.

'Who are you going with?' Harry asked.

'Um, Draco but like as friends.' She lied.

'Duh, what else would you be going as?' Ron pointed out and Hermione leant across the table to smack him.

'Ron! You never know, Malfoy might have asked her out.'

Ron rolled his eyes. 'Oh please, as if.'

Darah felt her face flush from embarrassment. What if Ron was right? She shook the thoughts from her head quickly.

'Don't listen to Ron, Darah. You can go out with whoever you like.' Hermione told her kindly.

'Yeah, you know me.' Ron scratched his neck. 'Just don't go out with Filch whatever you do.'

Darah laughed. 'Never in a million years.'

Just then Draco appeared behind Harry and Ron. 'Alright Gryffindorks?' He said knuckle punching Harry and Ron's heads a little bit too hard, messing up their hair, making them both scowl.

'Ready, D?' He asked Darah.

'D?' All four of them said in surprise.

Draco ignored them. 'Hurry up and come to the courtyard, otherwise all the good carriages will be taken.' And he left.

'Cute nickname. Sure you're just friends?' Hermione winked at her.

'Yes.' Darah managed to say. 'Um, I guess I'll be seeing you next at Hogsmeade then?'

'Probably not me.' Harry said. He held up his permission slip and shrugged. 'Not signed.'

'Damn. What about the cloak?' She suggested, standing up ready to leave.

'Maybe. I'm gonna try ask McGonagall to sign it. I doubt she will but worth a try.'

'Yeah.' Everyone agreed.

'Alright, if there's time at lunch, meet me in the pub and we'll all get butterbeers.' She said to Ron and Hermione.

'Not if you're on a date with Malfoy, love.' Ron scoffed.

'It's not a date.' She said in a sing song voice and left them, heading out to the courtyard.

'It's definitely a date.' Ron said once she was out of earshot.

'So what? She said she knows a different side to Malfoy that we don't. Maybe he makes a good date? You don't know.' Hermione retorted back to him.

Harry and Ron looked at each other disappointedly. 'She's better than Malfoy though.' Ron said.

'And who do you suppose she'd suit instead then?' Crabbe? Goyle?'

'I dunno... me maybe?' Ron said.

But Hermione and Harry laughed. 'Good one.'

Ron covered it up by laughing too. Deep down he genuinely did like her and he wasn't the only one.

***

The courtyard was pretty empty when Darah arrived. Draco was stood waiting for her, with Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle.

She took a deep breath and went over to the group.

'Ew.' Pansy snarled.

Draco elbowed her. 'Shut your mouth, Parkinson.'

'No it's fine.' Darah told him. 'I'm bored of this bickering. It's not even got a good reason behind it. Can we just be friends or if you don't wanna be my friend can we just at least pretend like each of us doesn't exist or something?'

Pansy rolled her eyes at her. 'I won't be friends with you as long as you're hanging out with the enemy.' She scoffed.

'Fine. Come on Draco, let's go.' And she took his hand and pulled him away. Behind her Theodore Nott whistled as they walked hand in hand to the carriage.

'Sorry.' She said quickly and let go of his hand.

They hopped into the carriage and Draco closed the blind. He took Darah's hand in his and looked at her in the eyes. 'You sure you wanna do this? Like go out with me I mean?'

Darah looked at him puzzled. 'Yeah, of course, Draco. Why wouldn't I?'

He shrugged. 'I have a lot of bad connotations. Enemies, parents with high expectations.'

'And you don't think I'll meet those expectations?' Darah said, offended. She knew full well if they knew who she truly was then they'd be worshiping her.

'No, no. That's not what I meant. I meant they have... ambitions for me. They already planned out a path they want me to go down and I don't want that to harm you. Us.'

She leant forwards. 'Does this answer your question?' And she kissed him.

'Hm hard to tell... you might have to continue if want a concrete answer.' He mused and they continued to kiss.

Just after they broke away, the carriage door swung open. It was Snape. 'Blinds open, Mr Malfoy, Miss Lucie.'

'Sorry, Professor.' Draco lifted the blind and Snape left, glaring at Darah with one eye on the way.

Draco pulled the door shut again and the two of them broke into laughter, probably nervous laughter.

'You're not the only one with family issues, Draco. My dad has... high expectations of me too.'

'Not like mine...' He trailed off. Darah could see it in his eyes, something was wrong.

She grabbed his hands again and squeezed them tight.

'Trust me. You're not alone.'