DRIPS OF FANCY - draco malfoy

↳ 𝑐ℎ𝑝．21

The morning of the Second Task arrived, and the Hogwarts grounds were buzzing with nervous energy. Alvena stood at the edge of the lake, her eyes skimming the water, where the students would soon be entering for the challenge. The air was cool, but the excitement in the air was cooler as the competitors prepared for their underwater trial.
She was with Mattheo and Blaise, all three of them standing on a boat that bobbed lightly in the water, heading toward the platforms where the task would take place. Alvena kept her expression neutral, but her mind was focused—she had her own reasons for being here, even if it was only to observe. Still, the day felt heavier than usual.
As the boat crept closer to the other platforms, Alvena's gaze flickered across the water, and she saw two familiar figures at the front of the boat ahead of them. Sage and Stormy. Their hair flowing in the wind as they conversed softly, oblivious to the students around them. Alvena felt an odd pang in her chest at the sight, but she quickly smothered it.
Mattheo, leaning casually on the side of the boat, noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow. "You're still not talking to them, huh?"
Alvena stiffened slightly, her fingers tightening around the edge of the boat as she stared out at the lake. "They're the ones who wronged me, Mattheo," she said, her tone icy. "I want them to come to me, not the other way around."
Blaise, sitting opposite her, smirked and swirled his wand between his fingers. "You're making this sound like some sort of dramatic soap opera, you know? We're here to watch a Task, not play emotional games."
She rolled her eyes, not responding to the subtle jab. Instead, she leaned back, glancing at Blaise with a raised eyebrow. "What do you think? Who's going to win?"
Blaise grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Krum," he said confidently. "He's got the strength and focus. Plus, he's a Quidditch champion, and I've heard rumors he's got a good chance underwater too."
Mattheo shook his head, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm going with Fleur," he said. "She looks like she'd be a good swimmer. Plus, she's got that... well, look to her. You know?"
Alvena snorted, her lips curling into a playful smile. "You both are so predictable," she said, leaning back and crossing her arms. "I'm betting on Harry."
The two boys stared at her, completely baffled. "Potter?" Blaise asked, incredulous. "Why Potter?"

Alvena shrugged casually, her eyes narrowing slightly as the boat moved closer to the task platform. "He's the chosen one, isn't he?" she said, her voice cool, though there was a glimmer of something deeper in her gaze. "He's bound to win. Besides, he always pulls through when it counts."
Blaise and Mattheo exchanged confused looks but didn't press her further.
The boats reached the platform, and Alvena, Mattheo, and Blaise climbed onto a section of the stands, settling in to watch the spectacle unfold. They were positioned well enough to see the competitors jump into the water and begin the task. Alvena's eyes narrowed as she observed each of them carefully, watching how they handled the water and the creatures within it.
As the minutes passed, she felt a surge of satisfaction when she saw Harry rising to the surface, second only to Cedric Diggory as dumbledore cheerfully anouced. The crowd erupted into applause, but Alvena wasn't about to let this moment pass without a little fun.
She turned to Mattheo and Blaise, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Looks like I won the bet," she said, her voice light and teasing. "Krum was good, but Harry was better."
Mattheo groaned, slumping back in his seat. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "I can't believe we lost to Potter."
Alvena let out a laugh that rang through the air, one that was full of both triumph and amusement. She was so caught up in the moment that she nearly lost her balance.
Before she could fall over, a strong hand shot out and steadied her. She looked up to find Draco, his eyes slightly narrowed, his expression more neutral than anything else.
"Careful," he said quietly, not meeting her gaze.
"Thanks," she said quickly, stepping back, her cheeks flushed. She deliberately avoided looking directly at him, though she could feel his presence lingering. There was a strange tension between them now, but Alvena didn't want to acknowledge it. Not yet.
The task concluded shortly after, and they made their way back to the common room.
Blaise was still grumbling under his breath about how Krum should've won. "It's not fair," he said, crossing his arms with a pout. "He was leading the whole time, and then Potter... just waltzes in and takes second place."
Alvena couldn't help but giggle, feeling the lightness of victory still hanging over her. She leaned in to kiss both Blaise and Mattheo goodnight, her lips brushing against their cheeks in quick succession before she gave them a wink.
"Goodnight, boys," she said with a playful grin. "Maybe next time you'll listen to me."
As she made her down to her room, a strange sense of peace settled over her. But as soon as she opened the door, her heart skipped a beat. There, sitting on her bed, were Sage and Stormy.
"Sage? Stormy?" Alvena said, startled but not entirely surprised. "How did you two get in here?"
Sage looked up at her, a small smile on her lips. "Scarlet and Peeves showed us the way," she said. "They thought you might need us after... everything. We didn't want you to feel alone. We didn't mean to hurt you. All we wanted was to see you happy for once, because you deserve it. We know it was wrong to not tell you. We're sorry. "
Alvena felt something tighten in her chest, and before she could stop herself, a relieved smile tugged at her lips. "You found me," she said softly. "You really did care, huh?"
Stormy nodded. "Of course we did. We're your friends, Alvena. Always."
The tension that had weighed on her for weeks seemed to melt away in an instant. Without a second thought, Alvena closed the door behind her and walked over to the bed, sitting down beside her friends.
"I accept your apologies," she said with a grin, "alright, let's forget about everything for tonight."
And just like that, the past was behind them, and they spent the night talking, laughing, and sharing stories. It was the first time in what felt like forever that Alvena allowed herself to be fully present with her friends—her real friends.