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Hope arrived at the train station just in time and quickly kissed Ashley on the cheeks, hugged the latter's husband and hurried on the train. The Hogwarts express let out a whistle, probably the last call before it was off for hogwarts. She didn't had to search for an empty compartment as the slytherins had literally one whole cabin for themselves and others didn't interfere, fortunately.
Sliding the door of the cabin, Hope ran her eyes all over the room until it landed on her best friend, Pansy Parkinson sat next to Blaise Zabini.
"Hope!" Pansy was quick to notice the girl's entrance and waved at her to come over. Blaise helped her put her luggage aside and shifted on his spot to give some space to Hope. She heard a sigh leaving Draco's mouth which made her roll her eyes in annoyance and a sudden urge to slap him in his face but she resisted
. "Hello suckers!" Hope looked up from her hands to find Theodore standing in front of her with Leo Malfoy right behind him.
"Theo, did you manage to smuggle up some weed?" Enthralled by the sudden need to smoke, Blaise asked. Theodore smirked and handed one of the cigarettes to Blaise before settling down next to Draco.
"Oh hello, I didn't see you there." Theodore didn't waste a second to take a insulting jab at Hope.
"Well then get your eyes checked." Hope sneered and snatched a lighted cigarette from his hand, bringing it upto her lips.
Fascinated, Leo sat down in front of her and stared at her for a moment, watching the smoke leave her cherry lips. "Bitch." Theodore cursed under his breath and picked out another one for himself.
"Excuse me, I'll like to use the bathroom." Hope said after a while, mainly looking at Pansy who gave her a thumbs up. Hope got up on her feet, grabbed her slytherin robes and gracely made her way out towards the washroom. She splashed her face with water and ate a candy to get rid of the foul smell of the weed. She hated it but it brought her a feeling of frisson which let her escape the real world for a moment. She changed into her slytherin robes, put on her tie and was about to push open the door of the washroom when she heard a familiar voice.
"You're going to get us in trouble draco!" Leo's voice was dangerously low and he sounded worried.
"I can't do this." Draco's voice cracked a bit which Hope found was very strange considering Malfoy never cried,"I can't pretend that everything's fine. I just can't."
"He chose us to do this draco." Leo's voice faltered,"You know the consequences if we fail. We have to do this!"
"I can't kill a fucking professor!" Draco burst out suddenly and having realized he immediately lowered his voice,"I can't kill dumbledore. He's probably the most powerful wizard in the fucking world and one can't except a mere boy of sixteen like me to kill him."
"I know it's not easy but for god's sake get your shit together. I don't wanna loose you or mother. I don't have the heart to." Leo admitted, his sore voice being the victim of the wounds.
"I'm sorry." Was the last thing Hope heard before a dead silence fell all over around her.
She was distressed and found herself in a dilemma. Should she disclose the malfoys' secret or keep quiet as if she heard nothing? She walked out of the washroom and stayed there for a moment before dragging herself back to her friends. She sat down on her previous place and pulled out a book to distract herself from the dumbledore topic for a bit.
Her thoughts didn't allow her to read the book instead she found herself stuck on the same line for probably an hour. Hope stole a glance at draco who looked pissed and constantly kept looking up at the luggage kept on the railings. She tried best to ignore those thoughts for a while and engaged herself in the conversation going on about how much they hated charms and the gryffindors.
When the train finally came to a stop at the hogsemade station, Hope didn't waste a single second in running out of the train. She was desperately in need of the fresh air.
"Hope!" Pansy called out and waved at her to wait for her,"Merlin! Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Eh I'm just hungry." Hope lied and noticed Draco to be missing,"Where's your brother Malfoy?" She looked over at leo who felt quite startled.
"I think he ran into someone." Leo smugly answered, throwing a wink her way before making his way past her.
"What was that?" Theodore asked, looking at the group of people around him. Hope gave a small shrug and grabbed Pansy's arms, dragging her to the carriage.
"Are you okay?" Pansy couldn't help but ask on noticing how Hope was constantly bouncing her knees.
"I'm fine." Hope answered with a bright smile on her face. Pansy didn't bother her further and tried to initiate a conversation about the girls she had crushes om but Hope kept on zoning out and felt really bad for doing so.
On reaching the castle, the two girls jumped off the carriage but found they were being checked by filch and professor binns.
"What's this for?" Pansy whispered to hope while her bag was being checked
. "Security. Because of you-know - who." Hope simply answered and looked around in search for Draco but he still wasn't present around. When they were allowed to go, Hope excused herself, using a lie that she felt sick and wanted some rest which Pansy found very strange but decided not to poke her nose.
"Would you like me to bring dinner for you?" Pansy asked
. "I will manage." Hope placed a kiss on pansy's cheek and hurried behind Leo whom she had seen slipping away. She quietly muttered the password and felt a cold wave of air hit her across her cheek as soon as the door slid open.
She stepped inside and stopped in her tracks after finding Leo on one of the couches, his legs sprawled over and one of his hand behind his head.
"I knew you would come." She heard him laugh before looking over at her.
"What do you mean?" Hope dropped the luggage aside and took a step towards him. Leo smirked at her and shot up on his feet, stuffing his hand in the pocket of his black trousers.
"Tell me what do you know?" The playfulness in his voice was long gone and was replaced by seriousness.
"About what?" Hope tried to act innocent but it didn't work.
"Let me guess." Leo pretended to think and out of a blue pulled her to his chest, flipping her around so that her back was touching his chest,"I won't repeat this again. Tell me what do you know about us?"
"About you and who?" Hope felt irritated with the way he had his arms around her waist and it just made her furious when he pulled out his wand and pressed it to her neck in a threatening way.
"Don't make me ask again." He scoffed. Hope rolled her eyes and hit him in his ribs with her elbow making him stumble behind.
"Ow. It hurts." Leo grunted, holding his stomach.
"That's what you get for being stupid." Hope frowned and grabbed her luggage, ready to hurry up to her dorm.
"Wait." He called out making Hope stop midway on the stairs and turn to face him,"If I hear any shit about me or my brother and find out that it was you who told others, it won't be good for you. And you know what two can keep a secret."
Hope was extremely confused but she was confident that Leo knew she heard everything. The only thing which didn't make sense was the secret he was talking about.
