Interstellar || Draco Malfoy

27 || Clues and Confessions

The holidays had come and gone from Hogwarts, leaving melted patches of snow on the grass and the students longing for the Yule Ball once again. Classes started up again, which brought a sense of normalcy back to my life. Well, as normal as my life could be while still actively competing in the Triwizard tournament.

"So," Crabbe sounded, pulling me from my thoughts as he poked my side. "The second task is in two days... care to share what the clue in the egg was?"

"Actually," I rolled my eyes, swatting his hands away from me. "I haven't quite worked it out yet."

Truthfully, I hadn't thought too much about the egg, nor the tournament. My time lately had been spent on avoiding Alexander and Pansy- who had teamed up in their most recent schemes- and brushing up on my potions skills.

"You've been neglecting it, haven't you?" Goyle huffed, crossing his arms.

"I have." I confirmed. "I'm not too worried about it."

"And why not?" Draco perked up, glancing up from his textbook.

"Because I have a feeling I'll be getting a push in the right direction." I smirked, nodding over to the fast approaching Hufflepuff champion.

"Desdemona!" None other than Cedric Diggory called, sliding to a stop before he could crash into Crabbe and Goyle. His eyes widened as he made eye contact with Crabbe,Goyle, and then Draco before they landed on me. "May I speak with you?"

"Why should she?" Draco asked, glaring at the bronze haired boy. I rolled my eyes and stood up, gently nudging Draco aside.

"Ignore him." I shook my head. "Of course we can speak. I'll be back, boys."

"Do you always travel with bodyguards?" Cedric asked, leading me down the hall a bit.

"I suppose so." I nodded, gesturing over to the three boys we'd walked away from. They were watching us intently, glaring at Cedric as a grin spread across his face. "They never let me out of their sight.

"Right, well." Cedric cleared his throat. "I wanted to speak with you about the egg."

"What about it?" I asked, tilting my head up at him.

"Why don't you have a bath in the prefect's bathroom?" Cedric suggested, his eyes glittering with mischief. "I'm sure the hot water would... open up your mind and help you figure out the clue."

"Of course." I nodded, catching his subtle hints. "Will you let me in?"

"Tonight, after curfew." Cedric nodded.

"I'll see you tonight." I smirked, watching as he darted down the hall.

"What did he have to say to you?" Draco asked, materializing by my side.

"He invited me to utilize the prefect bathroom." I offered him a mischievous smile. "I'm to meet him after curfew."

====

"Please, don't take too long." Cedric pleaded, unlocking the prefect bathroom. "And, if you get caught, I di-"

"You weren't involved." Draco cut him off, rolling his eyes at the nervous Hufflepuff. "After all, who would believe a Hufflepuff prefect to help a pair of Slytherins break into a bathroom?"

"Don't antagonize him." I chastised gently, nodding appreciatively at Cedric. "Thank you, Cedric. Don't fret, I won't be long."

As Cedric darted off back to the Hufflepuff common room, I pushed open the bathroom door. Draco leaned against the wall beside the door, insistent on keeping watch for me. When he caught wind of Cedric's offer, he wanted to make sure I was alone during my time in the prefect's bath, apparently not trusting the golden-haired boy.

I grabbed hold of the egg as the door latched shut, and tossed it gently in between my hands. I eyed the steamy bath, deciding against bubbles as I stripped down and climbed into the hot water. I submerged the egg and opened it, hearing a muffled song coming from the egg. I sucked in a breath of air and dove under the water, widening my eyes as I heard what the egg was meant to be saying all along.

"Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground. An hour long you'll have to look, to recover what we took."

I swam back to the surface, sucking in another breath of air. I wiped the water from my eyes and closed the egg back up. I placed the egg outside of the bath, and climbed out of the warm water, toweling off and getting redressed as quickly as I could. Pushing open the bathroom door, I tossed Draco the egg with one hand, using the other to towel dry my unruly hair.

"Finished already?" Draco asked, matching my pace as we headed for our common room. "What was the clue?"

"'Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground.'" I recited. "That's the first half, most likely referring to the Black Lake and its mermaids."

"And the second half?" Draco questioned, glancing down at the egg in his hands.

"'An hour long you'll have to look, to recover what we took.'" I said, tilting my head as we made our way down to the dungeons. "Meaning, the mermaids will likely be guarding something that belongs to each Champion. Seems easy enough... I know plenty of spells and charms for underwater breathing. Though, I can't help but wonder what they've taken..."

"Perhaps they've taken your owl." Draco suggested with a shrug.

"Not Lucina!" I gasped. "I truly hope not, because Lucina doesn't care much for the water."

"I can't think of what else they would have taken." Draco muttered, opening up the door to our common room.

"Honestly, me either." I agreed, stepping into the common room behind him.

========

The day before the second task had come, and, as usual, I was spending my remaining free time with Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle on the comfortable couches in the common room.

"Only a few hours until the second task." Crabbe asked, stifling a yawn. "Are you prepared?"

"Of course I am." I scoffed confidently.

"Well, we'll all be there to cheer you on." Goyle yawned, standing up from his own couch. "But, I'm heading up to bed."

"Me, too." Crabbe nodded, following Goyle up to their shared dormitory.

"What about you?" I asked Draco, turning to look at him.

"I want to speak with you." Draco said suddenly, causing me to worry slightly.

"What is it?" I questioned, scanning his face for an answer.

"Well, it's jus- I don't know." Draco sighed, stuttering over his words slightly. "For a while, I've bee- I've had this feeling."

"What feeling?" I asked, reaching out and grabbing his hand. "About what?"

"About you, Mona." Draco blurted, looking down at our hands. "I- I don't- Merlin! Is this what Weasley feels like around Granger?"

"What are you on about?" I questioned, furrowing my brow at his behavior.

"I thi- I think I like you." Draco stated, slowly looking up at me. "No, I know that I like you."

I opened my mouth to respond to him, but I was interrupted by the door to the common room swinging open. Professor Snape stepped into the common room, setting his sights on Draco immediately.

"Mr. Malfoy, come with me." Snape commanded. Draco looked at me, searching my eyes for... something, but I couldn't think of a response with Snape standing impatiently behind Draco. "Off to bed, Miss Littlesea."

"Yes, Professor." I managed to squeak, gently pulling my hand from Draco's and retreating up the stairs to my dormitory.