Defend

Chapter Thirty-Three I Need To Stop Offering To Kill My Friends Ex's

 "Make a move," Ginny's words play over in my head.

It's been a week since the party and for the most part I've ignored Ginny's advice.

I take a deep breath and walk towards Draco who just entered the common room.

He's been spending long hours away, and no one knows where he's been going. Harry thinks he's been leaving the castle because he doesn't show up on the Marauder's Map, (long story), but I think that's ridiculous with how high the security is. I turn away from Daphne and my other Slytherin mates, and they smirk at me as I approach Draco.

"Do you want to, um—"

YOU ARE THE STUPIDEST PERSON ALIVE ELIZA. I mentally ridicule myself.

"Uh, go on a walk or something? I'm really bored."

"I'd love to, but the apparition lessons begin in a few minutes."

Attempt two failed.

"Oh, alright. Maybe another time."

"Yeah. I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

~~~~

"Hogsmeade is cancelled."

I turn to Ginny. "You can not be serious!"

She looks grim. "Dumbledore says it's too dangerous after the whole thing with Katie Bell. C'mon, you would know better than anyone, you were there!"

"I know, but AGH! Now I can't buy Ron a birthday present. I was going to get him a Honeydukes gift bag, but I'll just ask my mum to send one I guess."

"Yeah."

~~~~

I'm walking towards the Slytherin common room when Ginny runs into me.

"Woah, girl! What happened?"

"Ron's in the hospital!"

She grabs my hand and starts running.

"Why?"

"Love potion, and then poisoning."

"Woah! I didn't know Hermione was that angry!"

"It wasn't Hermione. The love potion was meant for Harry, and the poison was an accident. We don't know who the poison was meant for."

"Oh yes, because at Hogwarts people accidentally get poisoned all the time!" I roll my eyes in annoyance and run after Ginny.

We get to the hospital wing and see Ron asleep in a bed.

"How's he doing?" Ginny and I ask at the same time.

"He'll be fine, I assure you." a flustered Madame Pomfrey replies.

The twins and Hermione rush into the infirmary and sit with Harry, Ginny, and I. I'm excited to see the twins, but after a quick hug to them each, the six of us discuss who the poison might have been originally intended for. We conjure up Harry, Slughorn, and then Dumbledore since the mead that poisoned him was originally supposed to be a gift from Slughorn to Dumbledore. Hermione agrees with the Dumbledore theory, and Ron stirs and mutters her name.

Hagrid storms in, the picture of concern. He wonders who would want to do this, and Hermione thinks the attacks on Ron and Katie are linked because neither object reached the person they were meant for.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley come back to the room and tearfully thank Harry for saving yet another member of their family. After a while, Hermione, Harry and I leave to leave the family alone.

"Eliza, have you gotten any closer to figure out if Malfoy is a Death Eater?" Harry asks.

Hermione shoots him a look that clearly reads that she thinks he's being insensitive.

He ignores her and looks at me for an answer.

"Uhm. Well, our relationship is really confusing right now, especially since I sort of detoured, but I promise if— when we get closer I'll do everything to find out. And it's not as easy as pulling up his left sleeve," I add, dispelling his hopeful look. "I did notice the other day that when I grabbed his arm and he yanked it back, rather terrified."

Harry nods, and after bidding him and Hermione good night, I return to my dorm and fall asleep quickly, quite overwhelmed.

~~~~

The next day there's a quidditch match and Luna does commentary, which is utterly hilarious.

"And Eliza scored a goal for Slytherin! Good for her, she's the only girl on the Slytherin quidditch team by the way." Luna announces.

I laugh so hard I almost fall off my broom.

In fact, I do.

The crowd gasps as I clutch the tail of my broom tightly, and I swing my legs as hard as I can in a desperate attempt to remount my broom. I see one of the Gryffindor beaters getting ready to smack a bludger my way and I jump on my broom just in time to avoid it. I've done this a million times in practice, but never in a game.

~~~~

"Dean and I broke up."

I recoil in shock. "Whoa, what? Ginny, you don't even act sad about it."

"Eh. I broke up with him. I just kind of lost my feelings for him. Plus, he was being a bit annoying."

"Oh. Well then, that's great I guess!"

She cracks up.

"You sure you don't need me to murder/ poison/ torture/ threaten him? Because I will!" I say seriously, flexing my wand and hands.

She laughs again. "I promise."

"Okay..."

~~~~

I catch Harry on the way to potions.

"Harry!"

"Yeah?"

"I know you've been trying to figure out what Draco is doing, but I'm really worried about him. He's been spending so much time away and looks so sick and sad and pale all the time. Well, paler than normal," I add.

"Oh, about that, I found out where he's been going."

"Really? Where?"

"Room of Requirement."

"Where we used to have our DA meetings?"

"Yep. But I don't know what he's doing."

"Oh. Still, thanks for the help!" I wave and bound down the hallway.