Secrets (D.M)

cubby

"Hi."

Adeline sat next to Neville, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Luna.

"Uh, hi." Harry muttered.

"Are you all okay..?" Adeline asked, hoping for some conversation.

Everyone except Adeline and Luna exchanged glances.

Luna smiled. "Yes, I'm fine thank you, Addy."

Adeline nodded.

"Fine." Ron managed to say.

"You can say if you don't want me here, you know."

Hermione looked down.

"Ever since the ministry situation, you have been ignoring me." Adeline complained. "Except from Neville and Luna."

"Well, you told Snape that we went to the ministry." Harry said.

Adeline's jaw dropped. "No, I didn't? I told him you had a detention with Hagrid. Who told you that?"

"Hannah Abbot." Hermione told her.

"Well, that's obviously a lie. You can ask everyone else in the class!"

"I don't think Addy would've told on us." Luna smiled.

"Yea well, she could've.. Because we didn't let her come." Ron said.

"Well I'm actually a loyal friend to you all, aren't I?" Adeline got up. "Bye."

Adeline left the compartment and sat with Blaise, Pansy and Draco.

"Hi!" Adeline sat down next to Draco.

"Oh, hi." Draco looked at her.

"Hi, Adeline. What's wrong?" Blaise asked.

"Oh nothing.. Harry, Hermione and Ron just being rude. Probably not intentionally." Adeline cleared her throat. "But still."

"Ignore them." Pansy said. "How come you're in your robes already?"

"Oh." Adeline looked down at her robes. "I changed before I sat.. Thought I'd be staying in their compartment for a little longer than what I did. Oh well."

"Are you okay, Draco? You look ill." Adeline frowns.

"Yes, I'm fine." Draco forces a smile. "I've missed you, over summer."

"I've missed you too.. But are you sure you're alright?"

"If I wasn't, I'd say, Cubby."

Adeline smiled. She felt a small reassurance from the nickname.. It was so weird but now she'd gotten used to it, she felt comforted, even by hearing the name.

"Hate to spoil the love ceremony, but the trolley witch is only a compartment away." Blaise joked.

"Ooh! I'd like some fizzing whizzbees." Adeline grabs her purse. "Anyone want anything?"

"I'll get something by myself." Blaise said.

"Yeah, same." Pansy smiled.

After they'd bought their snacks, they sat back down.

"So." Adeline said, with a mouth full of sweets. "Have you seen the new professor yet?"

"No. But people have been talking about him." Pansy grabbed a sweet.

"Professor Slughorn." Blaise told them. "My mum said he taught her."

Adeline nodded.

"He runs this thing called the Slug Club."

Adeline snorted. "That's a weird name."

"Yup.." Blaise got up and straightened his shirt. "I've been invited to lunch with him."

"Oh, okay." Adeline smiled.

Draco looked up. "Have fun, then. Who's going?"

"Well, Longbottom, Potter, McLaggen, Belby, and the Weasley girl." Blaise told him. "Speaking of which.. I can have a go at Potter and Weasley while I'm there, for leaving you out.. Adeline."

"No, it's fine, really." Adeline told him firmly. "Enjoy.. Hopefully it'll be good!"

Blaise walked out of the carriage.

There was a long silence, which Adeline decided to break. "Well, what class is Slughorn teaching?"

"Defence Against the Dark Arts probably.. My mother said he taught potions when she went to Hogwarts. But Snape teaches potions." Draco tells her.

"Okay, have you been up to anything over the holidays?"

Draco scratched his cheek. "Urm, no."

"Oh, okay. We'll be at Hogwarts soon."

Pansy frowned. "Am I missing something?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you seem awkward around each other." Pansy told them. "Where's the tension coming from.

Adeline didn't know what she meant, there wasn't awkwardness coming from them, was there?

"I don't think so.." Adeline picked at her nails.

"No, sorry I just was distracted." Draco took a deep breath, pulling his left sleeve down, his arms alarmed.

"What's wrong? You look like you've just seen someone been killed!" Adeline asked him.

"Nothing, just.. stubbed my toe."

Pansy burst out laughing. "You're a wimp."

"I'm not, it hurt.. Shut up." Draco glared at her.

"Draco, she was only joking.." Adeline grabbed his hand. "I can tell there's something wrong. You may be good at hiding emotions.. But I can see straight through them. I can help if anything's wrong"

"I'm fine." Draco said sharply. "I don't need any help. Not from you."

Draco left the compartment.

Adeline bit her lip and took a deep breath.

"Don't let him speak to you like that!" Pansy spat.

"It's fine.. He's just in a bad mood."

"Bad mood or not, he shouldn't be speaking to you like that."

Adeline looked up. "It's fine, I shouldn't overthink situations as much as I do."

Pansy rolled her eyes and looked out of the window.

***

"So, Snape's teaching DADA!" Adeline told Luna.

"Yes, Slughorn seems like a nice teacher." Luna smiled. "It's a shame you didn't come to the ministry. You're a good witch."

Adeline bit her lip. "Thanks.. I wanted to go but Harry was right. There were too many people. Plus! You're a better witch."

Luna tied her shoelace. "Harry's godfather died."

Adeline covered her mouth. "Really? Is he okay?"

"He's fine now, I'd imagine.. just a bit overwhelming for him."

Adeline nodded. "I suppose it is. Gosh, that's terrible."

"Right infront of his eyes aswell."

"That's sad, I hope he's actually alright now."

Luna nodded. "Is Draco okay? He looks awfully ill, recently."

That was true. His skin was even more pale than usual, and his eyes didn't have the life that they used to, before.

"I know.. He's saying he's fine. I don't know whether he's ill, or just stressed."

Luna nodded. "I'm beginning my OWLs this year."

"That's cool, I'm not sure whether I'm doing my NEWTs or not, but you'll do great."

***