Potions Partners (Name Pending)

Dinner

"In First Year, I made friends with the elves that work in the kitchens. It's amazing, they give you food whenever you ask," you tell Draco as you lead him down the stairs in the direction of the castle's extensive kitchens. His only response was a small chuckle. "What? Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing. Really...I just- that's something only you would do." He responds.

"Oh really? And how exactly would you, Mr. Only Cares About Himself, know?" You shoot back.

"I pay attention." He answers. Something about the way he said it was odd, but before you could say anything, you guys had reached the door to the kitchen.

"I'll be right back. They might not give me any food if they see you're with me. You don't have the best reputation around here." Draco shoots you a glare as you walk through the door, letting it slam shut behind you. As it shuts, the head elf, Brine, begins to scold you, but her face softens into a small smile when she sees it's you. "Have any food for me, Brine? Two plates if possible."

"Sure, sweetie," She says as she turns to go get the food. When she does, you hear the door to the kitchen creak open. You turn around to see Draco, shooting daggers with your eyes, hoping he knows those daggers mean to get back outside, before turning back around just as Brine gets back.

"Here you go, sweetheart. A nice meal; steak, potatoes, veggies." She tells you. You take the plates from her, setting them down on the counter to give Brine a hug.

"How have you been, Brine?" You ask her. While elves weren't treated horribly at Hogwarts, they still weren't treated as equals. You had caught Sixth Years calling Brine names and dumping her food out multiple times in your Second Year. You made sure to put a stop to that as soon as you saw it, even if it got you a week's worth of detention.

"I'm okay, love." She answers.

"Really," she adds when she sees the look you give her.

"I'm glad. Thank you- for the food, I mean." You respond as you pick up the plates of food and start backing out the door, praying Draco has shut the door and backed away. She only nods.

Once you get through the door, you turn around quickly, almost spilling one of the plates of food. "Well, here is dinner. We can go eat on the staircase if you want." You tell him. He only looks at you, a small, but confused, smile on his face. "What now?"

"Nothing, you were just so...nice, with that elf. You seem like you really care about her."

"I do. A lot. And her name is Brine. She was pretty much my only friend in First Year. And she was there for me when no one else was."

His small smile shifted into a frown, then quickly back into his emotionless mask. He did that a lot. Like he wasn't supposed to care about anything and forgot.