Blood I've Spilt

Pride

I beg your pardon

I never promised you a rose garden

Along with the sunshine

There's gotta be a little rain some time

When you take you gotta give

So live and let live

Or let go oh-whoa-whoa-whoa

As anyone would do, Malfoy was celebrating with his team. He reminded me of Liam in that moment when winning a game. Yet, my brother would be a lot more boastful and obnoxious. Although, they all seemed a bit sweaty from the game and it was guaranteed they would smell.

I cleared my throat whilst stepping closer on the slightly damp ground. I said I wasn't nervous before but for some reason my throat was getting dry. It wasn't too bad, though. Just a few jitters that I'm sure everyone gets when talking to someone new. In my defense, Draco was really condescending.

"Good game out there," I raised a proposing brow at him, my British mixed with a Scottish accent peeking through. I watched the blonde as the whole team slowly piped down. They all drilled glares into my head with a look that reminded me of my younger brother Keith. I've noticed all Slytherins do it; brows curled downward, lips thin, and forehead wrinkled. I didn't think anything of it though, the small things don't get to me anymore.

"You're almost as good as me," I gloated in a tone that I sensed Liam always used. My arms crossed and I gave a cunning smile. I thought my conversation starter was quite good, it seemed Draco didn't think the same. On the other hand, what would I know; I've never been good at reading social cues. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me anxious for how long it was taking Malfoy to actually say something.

"Yeah right," he finally scoffed, his arms folding across his chest with more sass than I'd ever seen in myself. I want to say that I was shocked by this response, but I really wasn't. Malfoy may have been cocky, but nothing a girl who lives with Liam and Keith Smedley couldn't handle! It seemed what I had said about me being better finally registered in his brain.

"Oh, so you're the person that replaced Deadric?" Draco snickered with a cunning scoff. I raised one of my eyebrows and crossed my arms when he tucked his hands into his pockets. Deadric. Did Malfoy think his death was some type of joke? I do have to admit, that painfully pulled at my heartstrings and the 'joke' was unfunny and gut-wrenching to hear. I honestly tried my best to ignore it. My posture stiffened for a moment before I nodded and grinned.

"Yep! - And I'm pretty talented, I do have to say," I boasted with a devious smile. By the looks on Draco's face, I think I caught his attention. It's not that he looked shocked, he just looked curious; yet his glare still laid upon his face.

"Is that your scarf? Or are you actually a Hufflepuff?" He mumbled, watching the other Slytherin players strode away in dignity. I'm sure they were bored; I've noticed Slytherins don't have very long attention spans.

Malfoy's questions made me want to laugh. After the first comment he'd made and the crude expressions, I was sure this wasn't going anywhere, and I'd have to walk away awkwardly. But it seemed Draco had a peculiar take on me. I was wearing baggy jeans to keep away the cold, Liam's jacket that was quite big on me due to the difference in size, and a Hufflepuff scarf that was loosely hung over my shoulders. I wasn't sure why he asked if the scarf was mine. Why wouldn't it be? Was he hinting at something or was I not as reserved and pleasant as he probably stereotyped?

Like I said, I don't understand certain tones or social interactions so I couldn't be too sure on my probably inaccurate evaluation.

"What-? Oh yeah, this is mine. Why?" I eyed him carefully while still keeping on a confident yet 'sweet' face. I mean, I did only want to be nice to him because he stood out to me. I am a Hufflepuff after all.

"You-" the boy paused and scoffed. "-you don't act like a Hufflepuff," Draco shrugged casually like he hadn't just grouped me with the rest of my house. Actually, that's a lie, too. Most Hufflepuffs aren't what others think. Take Liam for example: Probably the rudest person I ever met, yet he's still patient and will stick by your side till the very end.

"Am I? Or are you just stereotyping me?"

His nostrils flared ever so slightly, and he rolled his icy, silvery eyes. I tried to suppress my laugh because he looked really stupid. A small snort had quietly made it out of me, and I quickly covered my mouth with my hand. Was he serious right now?

"What's so funny?" The blonde boy seethed, his muscles obviously stiffening. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I shouldn't have said such a thing to him. I suspect he's a sensitive chap. If I wanted this conversation to go well, I might have to dial it down.

"Oh nothing," I shrugged with a bright smile. "I'm Quinn by the way," I informed him. Alright, I had to be nice to this boy. Why did I want to be friends with him so badly? I don't know, maybe he needs it?

It may not look like Liam's experienced the loss of someone important to him on the outside. But that'd be a lie if he said he didn't go through such a thing. About 2 years ago before his 4th year he lost the only person he had at the time. Back then, the Smedley children were not ones to bond at all. We still have our struggles but our grandfather on our Pa's side was all Liam had, sadly. Liam has some issues no one seems to notice or talk about.

Our grandfather was killed in front of Liam. But you'd never guess it, right? You'd think he's just some narcissist on the outside, huh? But most people don't know or understand my older brother like I do.

"Well, Quinn I-" Before Draco could finish, we both looked over my shoulder to the sudden loud voices shouting at Draco to go with them. He sighed in annoyance before looking back at me. "I'm Draco Malfoy," he said proudly as if I didn't not know his name until 15 minutes ago. Like I was supposed to know who he was just by his peculiar name.

"Oh, I know, my brother, Liam, told me," I smiled, unphased by his very cocky way of saying his short title.

He raised an eyebrow at me before glancing around.

"The Hufflepuff beater is your brother?"

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(Song at the beginning: 'Rose Garden' by Lynn Anderson)