Trapped

Chapter 10

Monday came without worry. From me, at least. I had never seen Potter so stressed out at breakfast that I almost felt bad. It distracted me too much as my friends had to constantly bring me back to the conversation that I forgot I was in. 

When I met him in the library I had gathered a few books I wanted him to read about dragons. I thought that the more he knew about what he was up against, the better chance he had at getting past it.

I had several books laid out on the table when he arrived. I watched as he quickly glanced at the covers of each, silently reading the titles of each.

"I'm reading about dragons?" he questioned. I nodded as he gave a nervous laugh. "The task is tomorrow and you're having me learn about dragons?" he pressed, impatience running through his tone.

"Yes, you are. You have to know what you're up against in order to successfully fight it," I explained. "If anything I'm surprised you didn't research it the moment you found out, or, Granger at least."

"She told me to but I figured I'd better focus on spells and defeating it, not learning the History of Dragons," he said, reading the cover of one of the books I had on the table.

"And how did that work out for you?" I pressed. He gave no answer. "Exactly. Read them, and then come talk to me," I said. "I'll be in my common room, get me when you've read these books and actually know anything about dragons."

I walked out of the library and left him with the books. I know he was slightly annoyed that I was making him read, but he's too daft to understand the importance of knowing your opponent – especially when you aren't skilled with spells – and too daft to pick up a whole line of defensive spells overnight. So, I waited the rest of the day for him to read and let him come get me when he was ready.

It was about 7 o'clock when a first year came up to me on the couch with urgency. I was sitting with my friends and the poor first year quivered as he walked up to me. 

"Uhm, Katerina," he spoke quietly. I internally laughed at his innocence, and a part of me was jealous of that.

"Yes?" I asked softly. Draco raised and eyebrow at me and I shot him a look. I wasn't trying to scare a little kid.

"Harry Potter is outside, he said to come get you. He's waiting," he explained.

I sighed and began to get up from the couch where I was inbetween Theo and Pansy. "Alright, thank you for letting me know," I said to him. He nodded and ran off quickly. "I guess it's time for my lost cause to learn some magic," I joked. They all laughed and Theo pulled at my waist.

"Do you really have to go?" he pleaded. "You'll have so much more fun with us than that–"

"I'm going to stop you there, I'll be back by nine. You won't even notice I'm gone," I said as I left the common room. I turned around and smirked as I left the room and last I saw them they had quickly resumed their conversations.

I quickly came face to face with Potter in the halls. He was leaning against the wall waiting for me to come out; arms crossed, head down. He was wearing his uniform without his robes or his sweater and he was holding an extra Gryffindor tie in his left hand. I noticed it immediately.

"What's the tie for? Are we going to play dress up?" I teased. I started walking past him and he got to his feet and walked beside me.

"No, it's for later," he explained. That was weird to me, but I didn't ask questions. If you didn't already know, you didn't need to ask.

"So you finished reading, I assume?" I asked. He nodded confidently. "Which is more dangerous: female or male dragons?" I quizzed.

He looked at me confused for a second, and then registered the answer to which he replied, "Females, I think."