New Girl (Draco X Reader)

Chapter six

   Months later, nearing the end of your first year at the lovely Hogwarts, it was another Friday during your Care Of Magical Creatures class. You had settled in quite nicely, or at least you thought you did. It was lovely here, something you would have never imagined saying about the place. At the beginning of the year you hoped that you could just hate it, hate it and make your mother go back home, but as time went on, you realized that you had made some good friends. Not good in their personalities, per say, but good to you. Draco, Eve, and Blaise falling pretty high on that list. Pansy, was a bit more of a trick, it depended on the time of day, who you were with, and what you were doing.

    Even if the inside of the castle was more of your cup of tea, the outside was also pretty if you did say so yourself and you really didn't mind taking a nice little walk around the grounds. You really only came out here for class, it seemed alright in calm weather.

    Draco and yourself soon joined Hagrid in front of his house type hut, the man himself was standing outside of it, counting the students by pointing a pudgy finger at each in the crowd. You eyed the bearded man carefully, or as much as you could with so many taller people

    "Well, I think that's ev'ry(every) one," He said, clapping his hands together in front of him. "Te'day(today), we will be witnessing the Hypurgriff(Hypogriff), just give me a sec'," Hagrid waddled off behind the hut, a squawk was heard followed by the clip scrapping of hooves. You were now curious but at the same time you didn't really want to look at it, oh well, you had to participate a little bit, so why not just go for it? Leaving Draco's side you weaved your way towards the front where you accidentally ran into someone's back,

    "Oops," You whispered trying not to get in trouble with the burly man just out of your sight, "Sorry,"

    "It's alright. Are you?"

    "What do you mean?" You snapped when your eyes were suddenly met with chocolate-brown irises enlarged by rounded specs.

    "Well I just-" You held your hand up to signal you didn't want to hear his explanation at all, he shut up. 

     You crossed your arms over your chest, only sparing the boy another glance before you saw Professor Hagrid step back around the cabin with a dirty red reign in hand, which was attached to a bird, horse creature. You cringed at the sight, even if it was majestic, it was strange too.

    "They're all the same Harry, I don't know why you even try,"Your flaming haired class mate to Harry's right stated sourly, rolling his optics before the entire class was focused on the lesson. You growled at him- how dare he- well to be fair he was right about you.

    "Now when ye' approtch(approach) a Hypurgriff(hypogriff), ye' need's to show it respect. Tike' (take) a bow to shur (show) ye' respect to eet(it). If eet(it) bows back, it will allrow(allow) you to touch it's beak or even ride eet(it). His name's Buckbeak, by the way. So- Who would like to go first?"

    You shrunk back a bit, no more volunteering first for you. Nu'uh, no way! Instead of a tree ripping you to bits, let it be a hybrid, uh- how about no! Yes, you were still going on about that thing. It came back several times during the year and you hated it more every time. You wondered why you hadn't developed insomnia yet.

    To your surprise it was that Potter boy who stepped out of the crowd and approached the large varmint. Before he got a more than a yard of distance between himself and the bird he stopped and bowed at the waist. Both hands glued to his sides as Harry looked up fearfully to see that the bird had down the same, moving slightly forward as the Gryffindor stood up to his full height. Harry then proceeded to pet the bird's beak and let his fingers brush over the hard exterior. 

    The bird cooed and cawed lovingly nuzzling the boy's hand, before the bird bowed all the way onto the ground like it wanted to be ridden. Some people in the crowd gasped as Potter looked towards Hagrid for help, the professor nodded his head encouragingly towards the bird. He gave a shrug and hopped onto the birds back, who took off immediately after, flapping it's tremendous wings. 

    You oo'd and aw'd with most of the other students as the bird disappeared and reappeared behind the tall build of the old stone that made up the school. Finally with a last figure eight in the air, the bird landed with a thump, letting Harry slide off of it's back and back away into the crowd. The Hypogriff went back to it's original position upon Hagrid's command, 

    "Great job, Harry, who's next?" Hagrid's word were pretty useless as Draco shoved past people to make it to the front, approaching the bird with a scowl on his face. You assumed that he thought that he didn't need to pay his respects to a bird, resulting in him just waltzing up to it. Well, apparently Buckbeak didn't really appreciate that, and so he reared back on it's back legs with it's sharp talon's glinting in the sunlight. Before coming down on said Slytherin who let out a shriek.



    'And that is why I am sitting in a rather drafty hallway,with all my homework -other than that report for potions- speed finished. Because you know how I get when I'm nervous, or I'd hope so. So I decided to write to you guys, I'm beginning to worry you've forgotten me. I mean- a week? I understand if you're busy. . . but I don't want to be forgotten,'

    "What are you doing?!" Pansy snarled at you with a bit of utter disbelief lacing her tone, standing in front of you so you could see her face full view. 

    "Homework," You said quickly, cramming the half written letter in your bag along with the (feather type) quill. What would the nosy popular think if you were writing to your old friends instead of what she was doing, worrying, which was apparently better? Then again, homework wasn't a much different alternative. 
 
    "At a time like this?" She asked, covering her mouth as she continued pacing, she seemed really out of it. Since you were in the class with Draco you had helped another student carry him while Hagrid got his 'bloody chicken' under control. Normally, you would chuckle at such a remark, but you really weren't feeling like it today. 

    To put the events as simply as possible. After checking the Slytherin into the hospice with the help of Blaise, you were just about to leave, hide away in your room and worry about the stupid boy who could have gotten himself mauled, when Pansy came sprinting from down the hallway, furious as ever. You could have sworn for a moment she had changed from a pug, with little stubby legs, to a lean and mean cheetah. She was always mean though, so that really didn't make a difference. She commanded you to sit and explain everything to her, so you did, and ended up just sitting in the hallway with Parkinson. Oh, and what a joy that was. 

    Miss Pomfrey really didn't give you both permission to stay but she wasn't bothering you either. So you supposed you could if you wanted to. Plus, it was just nutrition you were missing out on, no big deal right?

    "It's better than chewing my fingernails to the quick, don't you agree?" Your voice was cool as ice in compared to hers that went up a few octaves and then back down, you lifted up your hand and showed her that your fingernails were just beginning to grow back from the last time you had a nervous break down.

    "Ew, you do that? Well, I guess fine," She grumbled, coming to sit beside of you in your slightly curled up form. "You're not half bad, (L.Name),"

    "You can surely call me (Name)," You politely give her the permission to use your first name, not that you cared what the likes of her called you, but you were rather exhausted right now, so all that was left of your personality was a shred of kindness. It was hard being snappy and rude, ya'know. She nodded slightly,

    "Alright," She rolled her eyes, "I can tell it annoys you a bit,"

     "I'm just-" The words were halted in their explanation when the door opened, revealing the short nurse with her hair pulled back in a bun opened the door. Your hand shot out to grab Pansy's shoulder and keep her from tackling the poor woman, she scowled at you, dark pupils dilating at the action. You put a finger to your lips to signal 'quiet', she snorted, backing off from the nurse for a minute.

    "Coming in then?" The nurse asked, holding the door open, and stepping out of the door way. You let your hand slip from Pansy's shoulder, picking up your bag as you followed her inside. That hospital like smell met your nostrils, it reminded you of the funeral parlor, only a bit more crisp. You shuddered at the thought of a hospital, or a morgue, you really thought you hated them at this point. Where you were standing at this moment wasn't any different either.

    Rounding a curtain, held up by four metal bars you saw the wounded blonde sleeping like a fitful child draped completely in white. Except for his arm, and of course his face. which had slightly tinted red bandages covering it. You let out a shaky breath, standing awkwardly to the side of Pansy.

    "Well at least-"

    "SH!" Pansy squeaked and you were almost surprised that she was telling you the exact same thing you had told her only moments before, but you held up both your palms in surrender. 

    "I'll just go, then, t-" You whispered as quietly as you could to the brown haired girl before slowly backing away,

    "Where?" A raspy voice called as you rounded the corner causing you to peak your head back into the cubical like section for a moment.

    "Hey, Draco," You waved slightly, "I have stuff to do?" You made something up as quickly as possible, looking at his face fall -if that was even possible- almost made you wish you hadn't. You were starting to shake, though, just feeling the cold metal touch your fingers, almost like the rim of the coffin your parent had been buried in. You had to stop thinking about that, you had to get over it eventually. . . eventually wasn't now, though. You could feel tears welling up in your eyes already, turning away might be a good idea, but you didn't, holding his gaze steadily. 

    You had never been here before, not even knowing where it was in the first place, you must've gotten lucky. 

    'When did I become so emotional?' you thought to yourself, mentally berating yourself with the sarcastic tinge in your imagined voice. Your father's death- your home life in general- hadn't bothered you for a while, you could look at your dad's old books and not tear up. You could fiddle with a musical instrument and not think about the long hours where he'd teach you how to read the squiggly lines called notes, or even tell some story about your Waverly second year to your new friends. Well, they weren't exactly new anymore.

    Yet, you never told them his death was the reason you were here, hanging out with them on Friday nights, studying, or screwing up transfiguration. 

    "What 'stuff'?" Draco ask, struggling to sit up, but with Pansy's help did. He leaned forward slightly, supporting his weight on his unwounded arm, like what you would think one of those little stuffed beanie dolls looked like in the same position. You laughed in a nervous fashion, hoping it was convincing enough,

   "I'm really sorry, I just- don't want to talk right now,"  you apologized in the most level voice you could muster, turning and walking as speedily out of the room, with your fingers wrapped around the (color) shoulder strap. You didn't want to be in that room, lots and lots of bad juju. It made you almost to the point where you were sick.

    "Wait-" Draco called just as the doors swung closed, he eyed Pansy skeptically,

    "What?" She asked noticing that he was looking at her with a silent question playing on his visage.

    "Did something else happen?" He said simply, attempting to cross his arms before a sting was sent up through his arm, he hissed softly at it. 

    "Not that I know of? Bah! I'm sure she's fine," She waved her hand dismissively before coming to kneel at the blonde's bedside, putting both hands parallel on the crisp white sheets "What about you, how are you feeling, Dracey?" 

    "Like I got trampled," He dead-panned, tapping his uninjured fingers against the side of the cot boredom. "My father is going to here about this,"

    "Is it really that bad?"

    "Yes, it actually is," Draco growled, glaring at the female to make his point.


    Meanwhile, you had already returned to the dormitories and hidden yourself under your covers. Completely abandoning the great idea to start on that report tonight, get it done by the end of the week. Instead you peaked out of your little piece of fabric softener smelling heaven to look at your old friends, and your father. It had been so long since you actually looked at those photo's, you'd been so preoccupied with homework, and life in general. 

    You missed them, but you had to admit that staring at a picture of them was just making the home sickness worse not to mention you still felt guilty about bailing earlier. You were such a wimp sometimes.

    "Hey, (Name), Ya'in here?" 

    "Mhm," You mumbled from beneath your protective fortress, shielding you from the outside world.

    "You missed dinner ya'know," Eve said, hopping onto the edge of your bed. You shifted yourself "You feeling alright,"

    "Don't care, fine," 

    "Is the 'Prince of Slytherin' alright?" Her tone went from concerned to bored and scornful in a matter of seconds, you snorted.

    "Madam Pomfrey didn't seem to concerned, so I assume so,"

    "You didn't talk to him?" Eve sounded genuinely confused, then again, it was certainly an odd thing to say when describing someone that you were so close to, and vice versa. 

    "Not really, if you really care go ask Pansy how he is," You finally ended the one-sided conversation, because you were pretty sure she wasn't listening at this point. Rolling around a bit you peaked out from underneath the edge of the quilt to view Eve deeply concentrating on her homework. You sighed, flinging the covers off and pulling out a book from underneath your bed. Where you kept your stash of school books and other useful resources should you need them. 


    Flipping it open you just started skimming the pages, eventually getting lost in a different world, one without your feelings affecting you. You didn't even realize the time fly by until Eve tapped your shoulder and snapped you out of your daze, you looked at her and then at the dark sky. Sheepishly smiling, you pushed a scrap of paper you tore off something in your bag in between the pages you stopped at before setting the book on the night stand. See, the book was one of your father's old textbook from when he went here and you'd grabbed it when your mother was packing away his stuff. You remember that he used to sit you on his lap and read these to you before you were invited to Waverly, you thought they were the closest you would ever get to magic, boy had you been wrong. Not that you minded being wrong about that. 

    "Good book?" She asked, once again flopping down on your bed hard enough to make the springs creak.

    "Yeah, just something I picked up from- um- home," Your (E/C) flitted away for a split second, but the next thing you knew Eve was hugging you sideways with both arms wrapped around your chest. 

    "This is how I comfort someone right?" The inquiry met your ears before you even had time to ask her what she was doing. Your expression softened a little, this was sweet of her. Eve was not a heartfelt person, she didn't normally comfort anyone when they were down, or act generally lighthearted. The only physical reaction you'd gotten out of her was the several slaps on the back of the head for one reason or another, then again, you always hit back.

    You sighed heavily, returning the gesture with little hesitance.

    "Yes it is," You whispered just letting her hug you like the little scared kid you felt like, you couldn't remember the last time you felt so at home. Sniffling pitifully you pulled away, wiping your eye. "Thanks Eve, I appreciate it,"

    "No problem. I'm sorry about Malfoy, and um' your folks," She said with the least amount of bluntness you'd heard from her in a while, before you both returned to bed. You couldn't help but feel a bit lighter knowing that you had Eve to break your fall if you needed it, but you weren't going to let that happen. You were going to march, not literally, into that wing tomorrow and talk to the stupid prick without- chickening out, you were perfectly capable of doing that.

    

    It was night again, time for sleep, dreams or nightmares. Surprisingly, when you finally couldn't keep your eyes open any longer and they did droop closed, you didn't have a nightmare. All you wanted was a little peace for one night, and apparently you were granted that simple wish. Though you didn't wake up as fast as you normally did, stumbling around like you had gone blind trying to find your clothing, which may have been a good thing. You wouldn't want Eve to get the impression you were a morning person, after all. 

    You ate breakfast with Eve at a less leisurely pace, your bag slung over your shoulder the entire time. She apparently saw right through your thick skull and into the inner workings of your brain, to the plan you had set for the beginning of the day. As you left you turned back just in time to see her wink, not at you, but at one of her table mates, you had no idea who. Weaving down the hallways you hoped that you could remember where the hospice was, the other student had given you directions, after all.

    'Left, right, sideways, another left at the four way turn- ahah! I'm not so bad at this directions thing!' You praised yourself in silence, pushing open one of the double doors as quietly as possible, in case some other idiots had gotten themselves sent here for one reason or another. You stepped in quietly, nervously smoothing down the skirt of your uniform as you inched inside a little more.

    'Focus,' you told yourself sternly, picking up the pace just enough to seem normal, it wasn't a long distance anyways, you were standing by Draco's bedside in a mere matter of moments. Unfortunately, he was asleep and you were pretty sure you weren't supposed to wake someone injured or sick. Then again, maybe he'd want to hear your slight apology.

    "Hey, Dragon boy, wake up, I have something to tell you," You whispered, sitting down on the cold metal chair scooted up to the side, Pansy's doing you assumed. You waited a moment before you heard a meek groan before bleary grey blue eyes opened to scope you. It almost made you forget you were sitting in basically a room of death, decay and sickness. Almost. 

    "What? Come to confess your undying love to me, kitten?" He teased, propping himself up to look like he was half awake.

    You gagged in an over dramatic way, 'reflexes' kicking in as your hand shot out to knock him on the side of his ruffled gold locks. 

    "Hey!" He growled, swatting back at you like the species of your confidential pet name.

    "Not a chance, dragon boy," Chuckling softly so you didn't alert the nurse of your presence. It was like a little game between the two of you, an affectionate nickname that you bounced around like a shielded insult, you'd actually grown quite accustomed to it by now and took no mind. Though, your former self wouldn't have responded so positively to being called kitten, you weren't a Cattus anymore or the old 'you'.

    "Pfft, What happened to 'I don't want to talk,' then?" He asked with a slight sneer, glowering in your direction as he rubbed the grit from his eye.

    "I came to apologize," Shrugging nonchalantly you began to explain a little of your plight, "I just- wasn't feeling up to talking,"

    "Hm, why?" the question sounded like it came straight from a seven year old's chubby mouth. Rolling your eyes you stood up,

    "Just wasn't,"  Stubborness kicking in, you crossed your arms over your chest with a huff. "Feeling better,"

    "A bit. I'll be out tonight," He grinned deviously, "What? Miss me?"

    "Nah, Pansy's just been on my back without her Dracy-poo" You taunted a bit, pointing at him "I think I better go," You muttered glancing at the clock. You heard him rumble out something that sounded like, 'I swear if you start calling me that, I'll-'

    "Goodbye, kitten,"

    "Same to you, dragon boy," Your eyes did a barrel roll inside your skull out of habit before you moved away and out of the vast treatment room. You smiled a bit rather glad that was settled, and that he'd be back tomorrow, things would settle, down and life would return to normal.

    

    Classes went fairly well, easy and smooth, no uproars or magical creatures acting out. You found yourself sitting next to Eve, with a smile on your face as you chatted with some of the other Slytherins in your year you had yet to meet. 

    The peace, or as much as you could get in the hall, shattered to the ground when there was a high pitched screech. Then Pansy's deafening squealing was added into the mix to confused murmurs. You looked up to see a gray-brown streak zig zagging through the air like a out of control broomstick. Another chirp, of sorts, was heard, at that moment your mind put two and two together, and realized the attacking creature was a bat! Wait- a bat with what held in it's tiny claws? Was that a letter? 

    "Oh my Merlin!" Your voice cracked a bit, could that be Vladimir? You could have been getting your hopes up to high but you didn't care right now.  

    Your voice must've caught the little vampire bat's attention because just as soon as it heard you, it forgot about Pansy and glided gracefully towards you, until finally landing on top of your head. You giggled a bit when he waddled across your (H/C) nest and carefully peered over your forehead to gaze at you with wide, ruby eyes. You immediately knew it was your half-breed friend, sticking your hands out in a bowl shape for him to land in. He gave a purr type sound and flopped down into your hand in true Vlad fashion, wobbling on your unstable hands. You situated him on one palm and started to rub him between the ears,

    "That's your idea of an owl?" Pansy squawked in a horrified tone, the both of you looked up to see the pale expression on her face. You didn't bother snickering at it, but Vlad found it amusing, letting a bat-like cackle escape his tiny muzzle. 

    "Yep! Cute isn't he?" You cheerfully stated, feeling the happiness bubbling up in side of you too fast, you had to talk to him properly. "I think I'll just be going, Bye guys, have a good night!" You gave your farewells, fleeing as quickly as you could from the dinner hall with the bat creature encased safely in your digits. Yes, you got many odd looks from Pansy's friends, and some Ravenclaw's who still wanted to know what was going on but otherwise nobody cared!

    In your haste your brain followed the path towards the patient's quadrants, stopping at the corner right before the tall, metal twin doors. The hallway was mostly dim, except for a window that shown silvery light through and the torches lined up at each corner adding their tangerine tint to the flooring.

    "Vlad?" You panted waiting for the bat to hop out of your hand and flew a little ways into the dark. For a moment you were afraid it was just a normal bat that your friend thought would be funny to send, but when you heard the sound of shined shoes hitting the stone, you bolted forward into the unknown.

    "Vlad!" You yelled, hearing a familiar vocalizations as you crashed into lukewarm arms that started to spin you around in the middle of the dully illuminated hallway, you could really only make out his eyes,and the outline of his body, and cape. He always wore capes, even with his uniform which you always found so funny.

    "(Name)!" He mimicked moments after, picking you up bridal style and swinging you around. You shrieked with laughter, trying to keep it as quiet as possible so you didn't alert anyone stalking the hallways of you reuniting with your friend. Soon enough Vladimir was too dizzy, already stumbling a bit to keep from toppling over, and had to stop spinning. You were breathless from cackling, your eyes bright as you laid a hand over your heart, feeling it's beat sky rocket.

    "What are you doing here! Is this even allowed?" You wheezed at him, encasing his midsection in another hug quickly. "Oh, Vladdy," You whispered into his uniform, still gasping for air. He smelled a little like- blood, of course, chocolate and home, which you really couldn't describe to well, it was just itself.

    "Course' not, but who's going to notice a-you know what-that's not around at night?" He grinned cockily, showing off the pointy canines, not that you could see them at the moment. The overly achieving expression died down as he glanced down at you with a fond glow in his ruby orbs. Encircling his arms around you, he emitted a heavy breath that rumbled through his chest and made it's way straight to your ears.

    "Hah, point taken. . . I've missed you guys," Pausing you looked up from his chest, "You've gotten taller," You state simply, realizing he had a bit of a growth spurt between the last time you had seen him, which was way before now. You saw him before you and Robyn left for England and then that was it. 
  
    "N' you've gotten prettier, dragă prințesă," He purred in true Vlad fashion, always a flirt. You closed your eyes and committed this happy moment to memory, before popping them open again and growling lowly. 

    "Doubt it! You're the pretty boy," You groaned lightheartedly, reaching up and ruffling his strawberry blonde hair with one hand. Vlad bellowed raucously,

    "You keep it up with this cuteness, I just might have to bite ya," To make his point he stooped down a bit and brushed his fangs against your throat, causing you to jerk away with a choked chortle. 

    "Hey- I said that I-"

    "Who the bloody hell are you?" a harsh snarl erupted from the other end of the hallway, causing you to shove Vlad's face away from your neck and general face area, unhooking your arms from around his waist. Just as you moved away he batted at your hair, crossing his arms with a pout on his lip. 

    You knew exactly who that voice belonged to, and you weren't sure how he would react to your half-human friend. Oh well, he'd just have to deal with it.

    "Vlad, stop being a baby," Commanding Vlad was a bad idea, even if you were teasing, but the words had slipped before you could think better of them.

    "I'm older than you, So um- wouldn't you be the baby?" You nearly lost it just because he sounded so factual and important. He was a smart guy, sure, but he never sounded like he was. Then again, Vladimir always had a way of surprising people. Either with his magic, personality, or just some of the stupid stuff he does.

    "If we-" You went to point out in a practical manner, completely forgetting about Draco in favor

    "Excuse me, I'm still here!?" Draco's voice had gone from frantic to just plain annoyed, you could hear his footsteps move closer and before you knew it his face was peaking out from the shadowy corner. 

    "Hey, Draco, You-"

    "Fine! Only because it's you, dragă," He groaned, shoving you softly to the side, minding his new height advantage so he didn't knock you in the head. You just brushed it off with another mien of pure merriness, Vladimir loved introducing himself. Why? Maybe it was because he was always loved the confused face a person gave him when he spoke in his native tongue. 

    "Sunt Vladimir , al treilea an student la Waverly și prieten apropiat de cel și singurul (Name)-"

    "Seriously?" You broke his sentence with a slightly disgusted face. Watching Draco's own go completely blank,he not being sure what to even respond with as the foreign words shot rapidly out of the strange visitor's mouse. "Vlad, you broke him," You grumbled, to which your friend could only grunt at.

    "You've gotten boring, I blame your friend over there," He stated bluntly, "Hi, I'm Vladimir- the eighth or fifth- honestly I don't keep track. I'm a third year at Waverly and I just flew in to visit my good buddy here," Vladimir chirped happily, putting one hand on his hip and the other wrapping around your shoulder. Your set in stone happy face mirrored his at the moment, two pea's in a pod.
 
    "How do you-" Your sentence was promptly cut off by the look he was giving you, clearly stating not to ask.

    "Oh, so you're not just some creeper," Draco muttered lowly, glaring menacingly at the slightly taller, red-eyed stranger.  

    Why was he out in the hallway at this particular hour,anyways? Well, Draco heard someone quite familiar squealing with delight from were he was laying, half asleep, in the medical bed. He got himself up to investigate, slipped on some suitable clothes, and wandered out in the hallway. What he saw when he got to the intersection? His friend being spun around by some guy he'd never seen in all his life, and that was before he lifted you off the ground like a child. He chose against ruining the moment to just watched silently from the darkness, your shapes easily seen in the firelight. He just wanted to know who this mysterious figure was, all he gathered was 'Vlad this', 'Vlad that'. 

    Draco could have easily slunk away instead of confronting you, and just asked about it tomorrow. He didn't though, he just stood there letting hot coals burn his insides as he watched the bright eyed male flirt with you. It made him. . . mad and he didn't know exactly why. All Draco knew that he didn't like this shady character, at all, Vlad and you together gave him a less than favorable ball of complicated feelings all knotted together.

    "Or are you?" He added, cradling his wounded arm close to his chest. 

    'How did he know I knew her? He just flew in on a broomstick? Isn't that a tiny bit suspicious?' Draco's mind was throbbing against his skull as he tried to work out the kinks in that explanation, to find something wrong with the kid's story so he could fault it.

    "You flew in? How is that even possible without being seen?"

    "Well. . ." You started to twiddle your fingers nervously, you didn't want to tell him outright, break it to him slowly, as it were.

    "I can turn into a bat, I literally flew," Vlad proudly puffed out his chest, these were the moments you wanted to slap him upside the head.

    "Animagus?" Draco questioned,

    "Sort-"
 
    "Yeah, That's it, exactly!" You interjected, elbowing your friend's side, who yelped slightly at the jab to his ribcage. A look of hurt crossed his face for a split second before it returned to the jolliness he always had.

    Draco nodded slowly, still feeling like something was off about Vladimir, he just couldn't pinpoint it. Before it popped into his head, how did your odd friend know him? 

    "How'd you know me though?"

    "How could I forget the 'dragon boy'?" Vladimir scoffed, "Anyways, I really should be going, but here," The pale student shoved something into your hand from his cloak pocket, it was the letter you had seen him carrying earlier. You gave a faint thank you, embracing Vlad again for a period of time. Vlad leaned down close to your ear, just enough to feel the tip of his fang brush it, and whispered to you,

    "(Name)?"

    "Hm?" Your muffled reply came, lips pressed against his shirt,

    "What was that? Embarrassed by me now?" He hissed, you felt your face grow hot,

    "I'm sorry," Pausing you didn't want Draco to hear, "I'll write to you, explain,"

    "You better," He pulled away from the hug and slinking off into the emptiness.

    Draco couldn't help but notice that the air had lost it's thick, and threatening tinge.Especially after you were released and the soft, assuming private, conversation between the you and your old friend had died away. He was glad that this 'Vladimir' didn't migrate to his school with you.

    "Feeling better?" Your voice broke his train of thought, causing him to grunt indistinctly in response. You just shrugged it off fingering the skinny package balanced on the inner surface of your knuckles. You weakly sniggered, tucking it away quickly, but not quickly enough to see the upside down scrawl that was Robyn's handwriting. moving closer to the boy, you touched his shoulder gingerly,"Are you mad at me?"

    "Why would I be?" He shrugged it off, causing you to cross your arms over you chest to keep them from fidgeting.

    "About the 'dragon boy' thing," 

    "Maybe a bit," He grumbled, still seemingly distant. You sighed, 

    "Come on then," You directed, tapping the back of his neck as you started to tread towards the clinic. You were surprised he followed you and slipped back into the bunk without any protests. 

    "Night'," You waved a bit, peaking around the corner to make sure Pomfrey hadn't seen you,

    "Goodnight," Draco let out a frustrated sound, pulling his ruffled hair out of his face as he watched your form retreat into the darkness.


    Back in your room, you spewed out about Vladimir to Eve, who nodded along with your swift words. The corner's of her pale face perked up at your enthusiasm, if you were happy, she had to be happy. Your smile was contagious, she had to give you that. 

    "Sounds like a cool kid, one you'd like to keep as a friend," Her features contorted into a scowl,"Half breeds may be the freaks of nature, but they are amazing. Be-"

    "I know, I know," You groaned dramatically, flinging your tie around in the air as you spun on one of the post's of Eve's bed. Your bed had posts too, the canopy was just missing.

    "I'm going to tell ya' anyways!" She snapped, "Don't let your groupies find out, You know-"  She pointed a finger at you, waggling it in front of you with a look on your face that could have been your rotten mother's. You rolled your eyes, flopping on your bed in your night clothes, wiggling into a suitable position for sleeping.

    "Calm yourself, I'll be careful," You confidently assured her before your face fall, "I probably won't have to, he won't get to visit to often. It's a long flight all the way from point W to point H,"

    "Initials for the schools, clever," Eve whistled, blowing out her candle in the process, leaving only the one on your side to illuminate the room. Snubbed yours as well while you laid there silently, thinking about your previous housemates.

    "You know what I think though?" Her voice floated out of the darkness, disembodied from it's figure, your eyes were already focused on the now grey blue ceiling, barely paying attention to your roommate. You gave a 'hm' sound to show you wanted her answer, even if you really didn't care.

    "I think you've got a crush," The brash sentence caught you off guard, and everything that came to mind to say resulted in either to rude or something that would confirm her belief. So, you let out a sharp exhale, loud enough to be heard by your roommate, before flipping away from her side of the room, as if you were going to ignore her. 

    'How could I have a crush on him?! Eve's got my feelings mixed up or her head screwed on wrong. He's my best friend, NO. Just no. I'm sorry if he feels that way, but that's all we'll ever be, really good friends. That's all I want from him!' You confirmed, not even needing a second thought on the subject. You knew how crushes worked, it was that fluttery feeling in your chest whenever they were near, the stutters when you talked to them, the uncontrollable blushing if they even looked at you. It was a nuisance to be in love, or so said you mother, which was odd. 




    The next morning at breakfast you held the vanilla colored envelope in your hand, re-reading the little note on the front.

    'From your friends, Robyn & Vladimir. (I'm a person too!) Stop it! this is from /me/. Go write your own or visit her, freak,'
    
    It made you grin that Robyn hadn't changed a bit, especially the randomly placed across the top of the envelope.

    "Oh, just open it already, you've been starin' at it forever!" Pansy growled, leaning on your shoulder so that she could read it too.

    "Not with your nose stuck in between the folds, Geez," You snarled in the least offensive way possible, she jumped a bit, going back to her gabbing with her other friends. 

    You pulled it open and skimmed it, your heart thumping in your chest.

    'We miss you too, it's boring without you. I forgot to show you the pictures, he couldn't tell I was using a camera. It was great, you'll love it. 

    Oh, and Vlad turned the crazy potion's teacher,  you know Bonnfrey, the one always going on about true love, into a dove. He got detention, but I once again, happened to have my camera with me. Duh, I bring that thing everywhere don't I? I do. Ugh. Nothing else interesting, other than- ya'know, studying, work. Remember those little librarian gnomes? They got so annoying this year, you ask them for something they'll waddle in the other direction. I think they're like- broken.'

    "Is that you're doing?" Pansy said out of the blue and when you looked up you saw the pictures, the yellowish color of the silhouetted man as he stumbled around the room, tripping over a chair in the process. As well as one with Vlad being pecked by a creamy white blur, that one caused you to loose yourself and let a laugh out. You griped, snatching the pictures out of her hand. With an angry utter of vulgar words, you bounced up and walked away in a slight tiff.

    To brighten up your day, you ran into the first person coming in through the door. Perfect way to start off the day.

    "Ow!" You yelped, rubbing your head as you looked up from the ground to see none other than Harry Potter.

    "You keep running into me, I'm starting to think it's on purpose," His voice was full of pep, outstretching his hand to take. With reluctance you took it,letting him hoist you up from the ground.

    "Don't flatter yourself," Your tone lost all color, flattening itself out just for the brown haired boy.

    "Come on, just introduce yourself, properly, please," He urged, blinking his eyes rapidly from behind his rounded specs. 

    "(Name) (L.Name), lovely meeting you for the first time," The sarcasm was thick in your voice as you scurried away, waving your hand dismissively at the rival housemate, heading towards the library. You didn't even notice Draco round the corner at that exact moment, just in time to see your exchange with Harry, but not close enough to hear it. He growled a bit, following your path.


    Into the next week again you were happy to say that you had gotten that Potion's report done, all thanks to Draco. You couldn't praise nor thank him enough, Potions was by far your worst class and without getting a passing grade on this assignment you were doomed to fail it altogether. Even though he brushed you off every time you would try to show your appreciation, he secretly basked in every moment of it, all your attention on him, not some vampire wannabe or four-eye'd hero. Him.  



    You leaned against the large, grey stone,protruding out of the ground. Your (color) jacket hung loosely from your figure and past the waist line of your (color) jeans, your (color) sneaker clad foot tapped on the emerald covered ground at random time intervals. Sometimes you tried to replicate piano notes imbedded in your mind from hours of lessons with where the tip of your shoe landed, and the other half of the time it was completely random. 

    You, Blaise, and Draco were just hanging out after classes ended, while Draco explained the whole story about how Buckbeak was sentenced to death and Hagrid may be fired,to you, and some other boy. Draco still You didn't really hate the teacher as much as you let on, he was nice, you could barely understand his metaphors and odd accent sometimes. The bird- thing- wasn't a real concern for you, it did hurt your friend though, and you would have rather not had another arrogant kid get shredded. Draco, even if his head wasn't in the right place, was actually doing a good thing. Possibly.

    "I wonder if they'll let me keep it,"

    "What?" Blaise snapped out of the little daydream he had been in,

    "The 'chicken's' head," Draco answered Blaise simply, laughing at the perplexed look on your face as you realized what he meant.

    "Why?" You asked, taxidermy not occuring to you until the last moment, "Nevermind, Draco-"

     You went to speak your mind when Harry, Ron and Hermione's heads appeared to be climbing the mountain, Hermione in the lead. Draco decided to speak louder, 

    "To get it stuffed, maybe even hang it in the dungeon for all to see?"

    "What now?!" The curly haired female screeched slightly, her voice cracking slightly as you saw the flicker of flames behind her irises.
    
     'Oh, Draco, when will you ever learn not to piss off a girl?'

    "Look who it is, little miss Mud blood and her weasel," 

    "What did you say?" She hissed, her wand was whipped out in a moment's noticed and was pressed beneath the pale boy's chin. He gave a little wry snort, 

    "I said; I would like to keep the Hypogriff's head, stuff it, and then hang it on the Slytherin Dungeon wall," He repeated it very slowly, as if she couldn't understand him otherwise. When Hermione backed away sliding her wand into her pocket, turning her back to the three of you and walking away, Draco started to chuckle, soon joined in by 

    "See, what'd I say? Mud blood's are so weak," he scoffed, and that's when Hermione snapped, tired of his insults and insensitivity for one day, she was already stressed enough as it was. She reared around and threw her fist out, her tightly back bones colliding with Draco's nose, causing him to stumble back. 



    Off in the distance, the two time travelers watched the scene unfold. 

    "That felt good," Hermione whispered to Harry as she saw herself punching the stupid, lazy, arrogant, cruel Slytherin square in the nose.



    What was even more unexpected by everyone, including yourself, was how you reacted, which was giving Hermione a good knock in the head. It was a rapid movement, just as Draco shouted in pain, you lunged forward and your fist made contact in between her eyes. You really wondered what had gotten into you as you recoiled a bit, almost repulsed with yourself for a moment. 



    Time traveler Hermione cringed, "That did not,"

    "She certainly can think on her feet," Future Harry added, peering over the girl's shoulder.



    "What was that?!" Ron shouted, catching Hermione as she stumbled back, clearly disoriented.
   
    "She hit first," Blunt as an old, sharpened pencil, was your retort.

    "Yeah, but that wasn't necessary! She had a right to!" Harry growled back as if it were obviously not your fight, You stalked forward so that you were right in front of him. Poking him in the chest you narrowed your eyes, hearing Hermione groan behind you made you a bit more confident with your next sentence,

    "It wasn't necessary? Well, excuse me, Potter boy! I'm not from around here, but from where I come from, if you," Jab, " Pick a fight with one of us, you," jab, "Pick a fight with all of us," You weren't even sure what you were saying anymore, but then again, you loved your friends and that was just how you were. Loyal. 

    You remember getting your ass handed to you in a fist fight, middle of your second year, all because Vlad was being harassed by some boys calling him a freak, saying he was not meant for wizardry, and that he should go back to blood sucking for survival, all sorts of nasty things. You just lost it on them, like you did now, except this time your opponents wouldn't lay a finger on you, they weren't like that, and you knew it.

    Besides, you knew presentation was everything in a verbal fight. If you had confidence, wit, and a certain tone, you were bound to frighten anyone away from you.

    "F-fair e-enough," He swallowed thickly,  backing up slightly away from you. Yep. Never piss off a girl, especially you. A satisfactory smirk spread across your face, backing up you stood in front of the three. Now, you could see Hermione hold a protective hand to her face, but you could still see the flames dancing across her eyes. 

    "Now scram before you all have worse than a bruise," You directed them with a narrow finger which was back the way they came, brows still dipped down in a scowl. They started to back away slowly, before finally starting to walk briskly away,

    "I never thought she could be so scary," You heard Ron's quivering words as the Gryffindor's departed, leaving you

    "Wow," Draco breathed, eyes the size of large frying skillets, he was nearly shocked into silence. Something nobody could do to him. In that moment, Draco realized you were something special alright, something special to him.

    "Remind me to never cross your girl," Blaise blubbered, blinking in surprise. He'd never thought that you'd have it in you to hurt anyone, you kept within your zone and were fairly a calm person. You were the definition of Slytherin, silent but deadly, this just took both of them by surprise.

    "What was that?" Draco asked as you returned to your spot in between the boys. Rolling your shoulders slightly in a shrugging motion, before your arms hung over themselves

    "What?" You inquired innocently, before your face split in a evil grin, you just couldn't help it. It was a strange feeling when you felt proud of yourself, for doing this "Like I'm going to let a mud blood sock you and get away with it,"

    Draco smirked back, leaning against the towering stone, just a little bit closer to you than before.