The Next Generation (Malfoy's Daughter) Book 1

Chapter 9

After the winter holiday the rest of the school year seemed to take no time at all. Between studying for the upcoming exams and the classes themselves there was hardly any free time to get into trouble. During their free time they tended to study. Sometimes TJ Ty and Chris would join them but more frequently they were accompanied by Domonique and Oliver. On occasion Oliver's sister Marcella or another member of Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw house would come along, but those times didn't come frequently.

For valentines day their group enjoyed laughing at the older kids who got so embarrassed about valentines - Lynx had written to her brother asking him to send a variety of funny impersonal cards and she enjoyed deciding which one to give each friend.  Of course she also included a small bag of chocolates with each card.  As the grounds were still covered in snow they spent their free time that day in a spare classroom eating sweets and playing gobstones.

To Lynx's surprise neither Sami or herself had had any confrontation with Potter or Weasley since before Christmas, but she wasn't complaining. It was nice. Relaxing. As the weather became warmer Lynx and her friends began borrowing brooms from madam hooch as often as possible - they loved flying and sometimes they even took over one of the goal posts, throwing a ball that Oliver called a football through the hoops. As none of them had a quaffle, it would have to work.

As the end of the year approached, exams weren't the only focus in the slytherin common room - the quidditch final was fast approaching. Lynx had attended the games earlier in the year, but none had been as anticipated as this one - Slytherin was in the running for the quidditch cup, apparently for the first time in four years, and they were up against Gryffindor.

That afternoon the entirety of the school poured into the stadium, all the students wearing either maroon or green. Lynx excitedly joined Sami, Tj, Ty and Chris in their seats, packed between a group of loud fourth years. Not too far away was a group of gryffindor supporters, Teddy sitting with Potter and Weasley. They were laughing, just as excited as everyone else. Domonique and her sister joined them, but instead of sporting crimson Domonique was dressed in green and silver. Both Lynx and Sami tried to hide their laughter as the gryffindors began chastising her, but Domonique simply waved a hand and went to sit by her friends, pulling out some chocolate frogs from her robes. Throughout the game they were on the edge of their seats, stress eating chocolate, and when Terrell Smith caught the snitch for Slytherin they jumped up and down on their seats, cheering themselves hoarse with the other green and silver supporters. That night the slytherin common room blasted with music, some of the older students had brought drinks and lots of food from the kitchen, and nobody minded that a ravenclaw first year had joined in the celebrations.

Two weeks later they were immersed in exams. Lynx felt surprisingly alright. Having been tutored most of her life helped - she was used to the stress. Sami was in a similar situation. The same couldn't be said for their group of guy friends or for Domonique and Oliver, so a study group had been formed. Every night they met for three hours to go over the upcoming day's exam. They'd just finished preparing for charms and were leaving the Library. Lynx was feeling confident and laughing at Sami's joke about the vampire when she spotted Teddy on the stairs a few flights above her. Telling her friends that she'd see them later she hurried up the stairs, finally wanting to tell him how grateful she was for his help in the beginning in the year - He'd been so kind, and she had a nagging suspicion that he'd also told Potter to leave her alone. As he was a 7th year she wanted to make sure and tell him before she lost her chance - it seemed as if he was always surrounded by friends - who knew when he'd be alone again.

Slightly out of breath from sprinting up the stairs to the third level she saw his cloak disappear behind a door on the right hand side. Without thinking she followed him, yanking open the door and promptly running straight into his back. He looked down at her, an expression of pleasant surprise on his face as he took in who had barged into him.