It Rains

Happy Birthday Ron!

Finally, the ceiling of the Great Hall revealed a calm sky. It was a drier morning. The clouds were just long wisps in the heights, streaked with patches of blue, like torn rags.

It was Saturday and Laurel was alone, sitting at the staff table. Although her hands were busy preparing a breakfast sandwich, her eyes remained static on the Slytherin table.

Draco Malfoy kept his head down, avoiding at all costs that his gaze strayed from the piece of toast he was bringing to his mouth, fully aware that he was being carefully watched. Now it wasn't just Potter he had to deal with on a daily basis. Ever since meeting her in Snape's office, the Akardos was determined to follow his every move, breathing down his neck like a bloodhound.

Even though Severus had assured her that Dumbledore had already been warned and that steps had been taken to prevent Draco from getting close enough to administer the poison, Laurel was convinced that Draco would find a way to carry out his task no matter who he might hurt along the way. She couldn't allow it.

Only a slight tremor in the leg showed the impatience that began to fill the young man's body. He swallowed the dry piece of toast as he took the wand out of his pocket. Slowly, hiding his movements under the table, he pointed it at the high table. His grey eyes narrowed in utter concentration; his breathing stopped. He didn't want to hurt her, he just had to distract her.

Some of the teachers gasped in surprise as pumpkin juice suddenly shot out of one of the pewter jars and completely drenched Professor Snape's assistant. Laurel forgot about the young Slytherin for a brief moment and looked incredulously at the jug that stood still next to her.

"What has happened?"

"No one has touched that jug."

"I'm sure it's a prank from a student."

Laurel knew immediately who the culprit was as soon as she caught a glimpse of a blond figure slinking away between the tables and out of the Great Hall. She did not hesitate to follow him even though her hair and clothes were soaked with the sticky orange liquid.

She went up the stairs fast, she knew where Malfoy was going. It was in the seventh-floor hallway that she always lost track of him. If she didn't know better, she'd say it was at that point that the young man managed to disapparate out of Hogwarts.

The woman stopped short, in the middle of that empty corridor, and stamped her foot in the ground with irritation. Once again, Draco had managed to be more agile than her.

She looked at the huge tapestry that adorned one of the corridor walls. In it, Barnabas the Barmy was still hell-bent on his mad attempt to teach some mountain trolls to dance ballet.

"Come on, Barnabas." — The woman said impatiently. — "I know you've seen the blond boy. Where has he gone?"

But Barnabas the Barmy just gave her a dismissive wave as one of the trolls swung its heavy club at him.

Laurel didn't stop to see if the troll had managed to hit the mad wizard on the head. With a snort she gave up and decided to go back to her bedroom, but when she turned, she was shocked to see Harry there, looking suspiciously at her.

"Good morning." — She greeted him pretending normality. - "It's a little early, have you had breakfast yet?"

Harry kept his watchful eyes on her as he clutched the Marauder's Map in his hand. He was in his bedroom when he noticed two ink dots with the names Draco and Laurel speeding one after the other towards the seventh floor hallway where the Room of Requirement was. It wasn't the first time he had seen those two names suspiciously together. This time he would not miss the opportunity to confront them.