they were just kids [draco malfoy]

Year 5 - 122

"No, I don't know the counterspell."

Draco paled and with that did Astrid. Though where one paled out of fright, the other did so out of guilt. Then paled even more for the unfamiliarity of such a feeling. 

The two had walked over to Astrid's dorm. Malfoy had complained and whimpered all the way, one of his jumpers taken off and held tightly over the top of his head, because even if it was early, the lad had a right paranoia of anyone seeing him like that. Astrid had laughed, saying that with the way he had tied the piece of clothing over his head, he looked much like a Russian grandma, shortly after that trying to push it off to ensure the boy it wasn't all that bad. Malfoy hadn't budged, instead declaring that he was embarrassed by even Astrid seeing him like that.

Initially, they had only wanted to wake Tracey up to help, but once the not-so-very-blonde-anymore had noticed himself in the mirror, he had let out a shriek so loud he had woken up the whole dorm. Pansy had nearly rolled out of her bed in shock. Daphne had sat up in her bed so quickly she actually bumped her forehead against the top bunk. And Astrid would've laughed at the sound, if only it wasn't for the expression of both immense hatred and terrible despair, that Malfoy had sent her way afterwards. 

Standing there now, Malfoy was back to nearly hyperventilating, his sounds of distress accompanied by Pansy's shameless snickers. "What do you mean you don't know the counter curse? I demand you to turn it back!"

"Chill out, Downey Jr.," Pansy continued cackling on her bed, and Astrid turned towards the girl in slight surprise. She kept breathlessly clutching onto her stomach. "Or maybe Halle Berry's more like it..."

"You're familiar with muggle celebrities-"

"That's irrelevant!" Malfoy's harsh voice cut Astrid off. "THAT IS IRRELEVANT! THIS is a disaster!"

Astrid turned toward him with a sigh and Pansy merely rolled over in her bed, still mumbling something to herself.

"Tracey," Astrid turned toward her friend with a slight roll of her eyes. "What Malfoy meant is that - could you, please, try and find one? You've got loads better knowledge on it than anyone here."

Tracey frowned. It was clear she didn't want to waste her time on such a matter, but a bit inside her was itching that she couldn't just leave Malfoy the way he was.  Although it did sound quite satisfying in her mind... "I mean-"

"For a bit of money anything can be arranged," Rosier butted in and all eyes turned towards her. The girl shrugged.

Tracey's eyes trailed away from her best friend slowly, contemplating. "Yes..." she smirked, dancing Rosier's way and then overlooking Malfoy with a bit more confidence. "A bit of a reward and I can do it."

Astrid widened her eyes a little when she saw the lad turn towards her. She couldn't tell if he was actually mad or just teasing. "You'll have to repay for that, Ninomae..."

"Ouu..." skipped past the lips of Daphne, her mind instantly diving into different places, before a slipper made contact with the wall behind her back and Astrid gave a playful glare, telling her to shut up.

"Four galleons and I'll have found a spell by dinnertime," Tracey put out her hand, ignoring the ruckus of her friends. 

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Whatever it takes, just be as fast as possible..." he paused and took Tracey's hand in his, then adding almost like an afterthought. "You'll get a two galleon rise if you get it done by lunchtime." They shook hands.

"Oh," Daphne gushed, leaning back against the wall and fingering the slipper she had picked up in her hands. "Don't you just love the sound of rich classmates..."