Death Eater's Daughter

Forty One

  "Great he's dead I just know it!" Ron yelled

I was sitting at the Great Hall for breakfast with Fred George Lee and Hermione who was nose deep in homework
Ron walked over with Harry

  "Who's dead?" I asked pausing my porridge

  "Scabbers! It's her damn cats fault!" He pointed to Hermione who glared at him

  "Don't blame my cat for your rat dying, he looked dead anyways" she said annoyed

  "Ron maybe he died naturally? He looked sick when I saw him last" I suggested
Fred looked at me and shook his head

  "Don't get involved" he whispered

Hermione and Ron bickered all morning until we had our first class
Care of Magical Creatures

I walked up to Draco to hangout with him during this class, I could not take Hermione and Ron bickering
Harry looked tempted to join me but he stayed to play referee

  "Hey Cora" Draco side pulling me in for a hug

Hagrid came to our class and he was wiping tears from his broken face
  "Ello class...I'm sorry I received bad news today...class is dismissed use this time to do homework if you have any"
He walked back to his hut

I looked at Harry and he was already walking to Hagrid's hut

  "I wonder what happened?" I asked Draco

  "My father said yesterday was Buckbeaks hearing" Draco said disappointed "I don't think it went well"

  "Even though you said it wasn't a big deal?" Poor hagrid...

  "My father didn't care, he's been distant from me recently..." Draco sat down near a stump and pulled out what looked like charms homework

I sat beside him
  "What's wrong?"
He's always been there for me it's time for me to repay the favor

  "I'm not sure really, he's been ignoring my letters home. Mum writes to me, but he doesn't. Things feel different with him this year"

  "I'm sorry" I put my hand on top of Draco's that was laying on his parchment "I'm here if you need me"

  "Thank you" he said softly "did you see we are facing each other in the cup this year?" He changed the subject

I smiled
  "I did, I hope you're ok with losing"

He chuckled
  "I'm better at winning, be careful during the game ok?"

I raised my eyebrows
  "Well it's a tough sport I'll try my best"

He took my hand this time and held it
  "You know who you're facing right..."

  "Yeah you and..." I let my face drop "fuck"

  "Yeah...Montague and Pucey" Draco said agitated

  "I'll be careful" I said confidently

  "Slytherins are rough when we play, you will be their target. I might need to have a talk with Fred" he said closing his textbook

  "I'm sure Fred's already preparing for it" I said opening my bag and grabbing my charms homework "let's do this together"

He nodded his head and opened his book again

Later in the common room I walked in with Hermione
She wanted company in the library and I needed to study so I joined her

Fred was sitting in my seat with my blanket near the fireplace, warming both up for me like he's been doing for a few weeks now
Things haven't excelled with us since our last almost kiss again, but he's been more attentive to me

He turned his head around and smiled when he saw me walking in
His smile is so warm

  "Corey" he said getting up from my seat

I sat down and he wrapped my blanket around me
I sank into the warmth that was radiating from it

  "Hey Freddie" I said smiling at him

He laughed softly and then sat down in front of me, I played in his soft hair

  "I heard about Buckbeak" George said sitting across from us "fucking Malfoy"

  "It wasn't Draco's fault he didn't want this either" I said defending him

  "I know I meant his father, his father is a piece of shit. I've met him before at the ministry, he looks down on everyone who isn't pure blood and also blood traitors like us" George said

  "What makes you guys blood traitors?" I asked watching Fred's hair flow through my fingers

  "We socialize with all wizards and muggles. Our family doesn't care about blood status, to them that is traitorous" Fred said

  "I can't imagine living any other way"
Poor Draco I wonder if his father is ignoring him now because of me

  "Cora" Fred said "we're playing Slytherin this weekend" I saw his body tense up

  "Draco talked to me about that today too"

  "So we're on the same page" Fred said "Montague and Pucey aren't getting anywhere near you" he said determined

  "Fred you can't just watch me during the game, we wanna win the cup for Oliver"

Fred turned his head to me
  "I care about keeping you safe, the cup is second to that. Everything comes second to you"

  "What the hell" George said "what about me mate"

I laughed
  "George we can share first"

  "I'm serious, I won't let them hurt you" Fred's eyes were burning with rage

I put my hand under his chin and he laid his head into my palm
He closed his eyes with my touch

  "Fred let's win the game, what's the worst they'll do?"

George laughed
  "Make you fall off your broom 100 feet in the air, send bludgers at your skull, take a beater's bat to your ribs—"

  "Enough" Fred said opening his eyes again

  "I'll be fine" I said to Fred "I'm strong I can handle them"

  "You've grown so much this year" he said looking deeply into my eyes
My soul it felt more like

  "I want to be like my mum, brave and confident"

  "She would be proud" he said closing his eyes in my hand again

I let emotions enter my mind, I let myself feel pride for being stronger.
I let those same emotions be released through my eyes
Fred opened his and noticed

He took his hands and wiped my cheeks softly
He kissed both of my eyes
  "I'm proud of you"