Birdie

Chapter 3

Violet's PoV:

"I've already tried this," Ron announced with a huff whilst staring down at the potions textbook. A hopeless look dulled his eyes. Ron flickered his attention between the pages and the beetle that was currently scattering over his parchment."Oi, Harry! What does yours say about step three?"

Hearing Ron, Harry pulled back a chair to the old library table we were all squeezed at. The tattered book Harry had possession of landed on the table with a thud. A shush from the librarian was quickly followed by an awkward apology from Harry. Without looking up from my parchment, the chair beside me squeaked as Harry slid into it.

The beetle leaped onto Ron's leg which he shrieked at but managed to catch to place back on his parchment. "Bloody devil." If that thing goes anywhere near me I'll hex Ron into next January.

"Don't they say the same thing?" I inquired looking up to see that their textbooks were the same. An awkward look that I didn't understand was shared between both  Harry and Ron. The ginger boy opened his mouth to speak but before words could escape him, Hermione bumbled around a bookshelf to place another six books on the desk.

"Honestly, Harry. It's bad enough you using that book but letting the most irresponsible person in the school use it?"

"I am in the room, you know!" Ron protested causing my lips to turn up at the corners. My eyes moved to Hermione who was glaring daggers at Harry.

"Cut the beetle's.. exoskeleton off?" Harry stated questionably as he looked up at Hermione scrunching the bridge between his eyebrows. "What the hell is that?"

With a sigh Hermione swiftly responded with, "It's the sort of shell... but if you're going to remove it you need to do it slowly so the beetle won't jum-"

Suddenly, all of our attention went to a jarring scream which had originated from a first-year who the beetle had landed on. The screech from the boy caused Harry and Ron to cover their ears.

"Could have been quicker with that explanation Hermione." Izzy managed to choke out through a bubble of laughter. Her head flew back in amusement as Hermione stood to aid the boy. However, unfortunately for the boy, one of his flailing arms swung back and hit Draco straight across the face. I hadn't even known he had been there. Oh, if only I had a camera.

The beetle flung onto the oak floor to shuffle out of sight under a bookshelf. The first year turned slowly and oh my god. The look on Draco's face was priceless. His sand hair flopped itself onto his forehead and his eyes conveyed a look so full of discontentment that I wanted to laugh until my ribs burned. The ringed fingers of Draco's curled into fists. It seemed as if he had to hold himself back from throwing a punch.

The boy's head was facing our table so we couldn't see what I imagined was the articulation of true terror. He knew who Draco was. Everyone does.

"Who wants to call the funeral directors? I'm sure they can bring a small coffin to Hogwarts." Ron joked as his laugh rang in my ears. "Yeah, we'll bury him by Hagrid's hut."

Hermione batted Ron's copper hair with a hefty book she had in her hands. The dust sneezed out of the pages sending Ron into a coughing fit and Izzy, Harry and I into a laughing one.

Izzy snorted in my ear as she clutched onto my robe. I avoided looking her way, knowing the second I saw her face I would be in even more stitches.

The library had fallen silent with the exception of our laughter which we were trying to stifle. That somehow seemed to evert Draco's attention from the boy and made it land on our table.

Harry's hands were full of his hair as he buried his head in his hands to cover his laughter.

"This your idea of comedy?" Draco quipped, his mouth pinching together and his expression turning even more sour. The eyes most feared landed on mine specifically. "Or are you that desperate for my attention, Birdie?" Oh, please. Of course, he blames it on me! Not like I've just been sitting here trying to study or anything.