DRIPS OF FANCY - draco malfoy

↳ 𝑐ℎ𝑝．20

The corridors of Hogwarts were bustling with students hurrying to and from their classes, but Alvena walked alongside Blaise with an air of calm confidence, her head held high. The two of them were a familiar sight, their footsteps echoing as they moved through the hallways.
Blaise was venting as usual, his voice a low murmur. "You know, I can't stand spending time with Draco and Theo anymore. They've got girlfriends now, and it's just... annoying," he said, his face twisted in mild frustration. "Pansy and Daphne, especially, are insufferable. Always prattling about their 'perfect boyfriends' and all the nonsense they talk about."
Alvena snorted in agreement, glancing at Blaise with a smirk. "I know what you mean. Pansy and Daphne think their lives revolve around those two. It's exhausting."
The two shared a brief, knowing glance, both of them grateful for the company of someone who understood how tiresome their friends had become. It wasn't that they didn't like Draco, but the dynamic had shifted, and it wasn't something they had adjusted to comfortably. Theo was an exception of course, him they actually disliked.
As they passed another group of students, Alvena spotted Ron Weasley walking in the opposite direction. A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes, and she couldn't resist. She turned to Blaise and winked. He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk as he watched her every move.
Alvena flicked her wand casually, murmuring a simple charm under her breath. A soft *pop* echoed in the hallway, and Ron's laces unraveled themselves, causing him to trip forward, landing flat on his face with a thud.
Blaise burst out laughing, the sound loud and carefree. Alvena couldn't hold back her laughter either, her shoulders shaking with amusement as she turned to Blaise, a wide grin on her face.
"Did you see that?" she asked, her voice full of playful triumph.
"Classic," Blaise chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief.
They continued laughing as they walked into the common room, their carefree energy filling the space. The moment they entered, Mattheo looked up from his spot at a table, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice laced with both amusement and suspicion.
Alvena walked over to him, tilting her head playfully. Without missing a beat, she planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Oh, nothing," she teased. "Just having some fun."
Blaise watched them with a pout, crossing his arms in mock indignation. "No fair," he grumbled, leaning in to plant a kiss on Alvena's other cheek. "Now I feel left out."
Alvena smirked, stepping back. "That's what you get for being so grumpy."
She didn't stick around long, though. "I need to go to the library," she said, grabbing her bag. "There's a book I need to get for some research."
Blaise and Mattheo offered to come with her, but she waved them off. "No, I'll be fine. You two stay out of trouble," she added with a grin before leaving the common room.
The library was quieter than usual, the smell of old parchment and ink surrounding her as she walked down the aisles between towering shelves of books. It was a comfortable, familiar place where she could escape from the chaos of Hogwarts. She was looking for a specific book, one on magical plants that could be useful for brewing potions, when she spotted Harry sitting with Hermione and Ron.
They were deep in conversation, but Harry's eyes met hers as she approached, and he gave her a small smile.
Before she could join them, however, the door to the library swung open, and a tall, intimidating figure entered. It was Mad-Eye Moody, his magical eye swiveling around the room as he strode toward them. "Weasley! Granger!" he barked. "I need you two to come with me. Blythe, help mr. Potter putting his book back."
Harry watched them go, then turned to Alvena as Moody left with Ron and Hermione. His expression softened a little, though there was still something heavy in his gaze. "Alvena," he said, walking toward her.
She had been expecting him to be upset, maybe distant, but he didn't look like he was in the mood for a confrontation. She smiled, her expression less guarded than it had been earlier in the day.
"Hey, Potter," she said casually.
Moody's departure left the two of them alone, and Harry hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I'm doing some research for the second task," he said, his voice low. "I'm trying to figure out what it might be. But I have no idea what to expect."
Alvena tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What do you know about it so far?"
"All I know is that it's underwater," he said, looking at her with a mixture of frustration and confusion. "But I can't find much information on what I might need for it."
Alvena thought for a moment, tapping her fingers on the spine of the book she was holding. "Well, there are some plants that might help," she said, her eyes scanning the rows of books around them. "I think there's something in Magical Botanicals: Rare and Dangerous Species that might have information on underwater plants."
"There's also a possibility that Neville Longbottom could help you," she added, glancing up at him. "He knows a lot about plants. If anyone can help with a task like this, it's him."
Harry looked at her with a skeptical but appreciative expression. "You really think Neville would know?"
Alvena nodded. "Absolutely."
Harry frowned, then looked up at her again, as if trying to understand her. "Why are you helping me with this?" he asked, his voice a little softer.
Alvena paused for a moment, considering the question. There were a hundred reasons she could give him, but in the end, she knew the truth. "I feel like I have to," she said, her voice steady. "Something about this just feels important. And I don't want to see you fail."
Harry gave her a long look, his lips curving into a faint, grateful smile. "Thanks, Alvena."
She gave a small nod. "Good luck," she added softly, turning to leave. "I'll see you around."