~The Slytherin Princess~ Draco Malfoy

F O U R T Y N I N E

Days go by, potion lesson after potion lesson and Adeline becomes infuriated as Potter soars to the top of the class, never failing to mess up a single potion.

"He's getting on my last nerve," Adeline grumbled as Slughorn praised the boy again, "I'm going to end up hitting him again."

"How do you recon he's doing it?" Blaise asked the group, "surely he's not actually that good."

"I don't know," Adeline told the group, glaring at the back of Potters head as the owl hooted, dismissing the class, "but I'm going to find out, meet me at the quidditch pitch in half an hour, it's Gryffindor try outs and a little birdy told me a certain red-head is going to be trying for keeper," the group erupted into laughter at the news, "and I thought we could all go along to.... show our support."

"You're brilliant," Draco smirked, "Do you still remember the song?"

"Wouldn't forget it for the world." And with a final smirk, the brunette detached herself from the group, stealthily following behind the Gryffindor male who has also seemed to retreat from his friends.

Adeline waited until the corridors were empty and it was just her and Potter because how could she possibly intimidate the boy to confessing with half the student body in a corridor with them?

"Oi!" The teen spoke up, causing the taller Gryffindor boy to quickly whip around, fear in his eyes as he drew his wand, causing the girl to laugh, and roll her eyes, "they'll be no need for that Potter, I just want to have a little chat per say."

"What do you want?" The boy spoke up bravely, however Adeline could tell from a mile off he was nervous.

"How are you doing it?" Adeline demanded, furiously, "I know you're bad at potions Potter, where's the sudden talent come from? What have you taken? Everyone knows I'm best at potions in the year and I'm not going to be overtaken by a filthy half-blood like you."

"Are you jealous?" Potter furrowed his brows, staring at the raging girl before him, "Are you jealous that someone's finally better than you?"

"I'm not stupid Potter," she glared at the ebony haired boy, "So I suggest you tell me before I force the answer out."

"Are you threatening me?" He reached for his wand, however with a simple flick of Adeline's dainty hand the wand was on the other side of the corridor.

"I wouldn't recommend trying to duel me Potter," she snorted, "like I said, I'm the best in the year. It seems you're not going to cooperate with me so we're going to have to do it the hard way, pity, pertrificus totalus!"

Adeline shot the spell at the boy, watching his body fall to the floor, stuck. Walking over to Potter, the girl grabbed his bag, fumbling about with the content, pulling out his copy of the sixth year's potions book.

"What the fuck?" Adeline questioned, opening the first page, "property of the Half-blood Prince? Is that what you're referring to yourself as now Potter?" She scoffed, looking down at the boys pleading green eyes, "unless this book isn't actually yours? Did you steal it? Whose book is it Potter?" She flicked through the pages, her own blue eyes widening at the writing scribbled next to instructions, "this isn't yours Potter, and as a good student I'm afraid I'm going to have to turn this in to my head of house to find it's true owner." She reversed her spell, eager to hear what the Gryffindor had to say for himself.

"Give it back." Potter coughed, "please, I need it."

"Doesn't this sound familiar?" Adeline scoffed, not having an ounce of pity for the boy, "remember when I begged you to keep my father safe Potter? You killed him. You're a murderer Potter, you're just as bad as them, you're just as bad as Voldemort himself!"

"I didn't mean to! Okay?" Potter yelled as the girl started retreating, "I didn't mean to kill him, he was just there! I'm sorry!"

""You can't just say sorry and it'll all magically go away!" Adeline yelled back, "You can't just murder people and apologise after! They're gone! They don't get to come back! My father is dead because of you. Because of you, a family is ruined, someone lost a son, a grandchild, a husband, a father! Life's problems don't just magically fix with a simple sorry, Potter!"

"Marcus Charm was a death eater!" Potter told the girl with a yell, "he didn't deserve to live anyways! He was working for the Dark Lord and I know you are too!"

"My father didn't have a choice!" Tears were quickly pooling in the teens eyes, "Do you think he actually wanted to be a death eater? I'm not working for him! And even if I was, I wouldn't have a choice. There's going to be a war Potter and I know which side I'm going to have to pick."

"The Order will protect you." Potter blurted out suddenly, "if you're not already I know you're going to have to become a death eater. I can see you're different," Potters words softened as he looked at the Slytherin girl before him, "come with me, we'll arrange something, the order will keep you safe, Adeline."

"I can't." The girl was reduced to whispers as she smiled painfully at the boy, "it's not that easy Potter. I can't leave him." The girl didn't even have to say a name and the pair already knew who she was talking about, "If I leave, Voldemort will kill him, and I need him, I'll never forgive myself."

"You're one of the good guys." Potter told her, trying to convince her, "you don't belong with Slytherin, you don't belong with death eaters. Come with me, come with me and you can have a second chance."

"I'm not a good person." Adeline looked at the floor, flashbacks to the man in the village replaying in her head, "I've done horrible things, I don't deserve a second chance."

"Have a think about it, okay?" Potter asked the girl, "meet me at the astronomy tower, 11pm tomorrow night, if you're not there I know you're answer."

"What if I show up?" Adeline questioned, millions of thoughts raced through her mind.

"Then I know you're willing to consider it." Harry smiled at the girl.

Sighing, Adeline squeezed her eyes closed, before opening them, looking at the hopeful boy before her, "here," she chucked the battered copy of the potions book back at him, "keep your stupid book." She turned around, attempting to leave the conversation.

"Adeline!" Harry called to her, causing her to look over her shoulder, "I trust you to make the right decision. Also, take care of yourself, you don't look well."

"Thanks Potter." Adeline sent the boy a small smile, the bags under her eyes prominent as she retreated away from the scene, left empty handed but full of questions and a huge decision to make.