SCREAM | DRACO MALFOY

chapter eleven

"Dragons?!"

"I said yes four times already, Isobel!"

"I thought you were joking the first time!"

I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots in an attempt to prove to myself that I was actually awake. Leave it to Cedric to throw the news that he would be fighting a dragon in a couple days while I was calmly eating my breakfast.

"Did you tell Penny?" I asked, peering over to where she was helping a second year perform a charm on their goblet.

He shook his head, a shaky hand clenching the toast between his fingers. "Still trying to figure out the best way of going about that."

I nodded, my head pounding as the word dragon tried as hard as it could to seep into my brain. "How did Harry find out?"

"Not sure. He did say though that the others already knew and were keeping it to themselves."

"Oh..." My blood started to boil slightly at the fact that they left Cedric to himself but I also remembered that this was a competition after all. I wouldn't even blame Cedric for doing the same. "That was nice."

He nodded, shaking his head as he let his bread drop back onto his plate.

"Are you okay?" I asked, reaching out to put a hand on his arm.

He smiled just slightly before placing his hand on top of mine. "Don't worry. I won't let a dragon take me out."

His statement was meant to make me laugh although the seriousness of the situation stopped all humor from entering my brain. "I know...I know, you're a great wizard. One of the best I know. Doesn't mean it won't scare me."

He squeezed my hand gently before we both let go. "You're such a mum."He muttered, picking up his goblet.

I faked a gasp. "I am not!"

"What are you not?" Penny asked, taking a seat next to Cedric and stealing a few grapes off of his plate.

"Cedric says I'm a mum."

"You are a mum."

"I am not! Quit saying that!"

"Or what you gonna ground me?"

Penny flinched as I threw a berry at her.

I haven't had a nightmare in two days. Most people would take this as a good sign. Maybe as I was getting older they were becoming less frequent. Maybe my brain was too stressed to conjure fearful dreams at night. I believed more in the latter.

Aside from the fact that my sleep schedule was close to a normal human's, I still found myself waking up with the sun.

The little corner of the common room this morning was already taken by a seventh year and the growling of my stomach must have compelled me to head down to the Great Hall earlier than usual.

Upon my arrival I realized that the doors were still closed as it was still only five am and most students didn't wake up until six or seven. I wandered away as my stomach ached to be filled.

Grateful that I brought my cloak, I found myself wandering out one of the many entrances to the castle.

The crisp morning air bit at my cheeks, making my pull my robes tighter around myself as I continued along the grounds.

The grass was still wet with dew and the morning doves were singing above. I smiled. There was something peaceful about seeing regular animals in the midst of all the magical ones. I wondered if they got along.