𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 | l. lovegood

xxvi

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 a meeting spot for Neville, Luna, and Dorothea to talk in private away from overhearing ears. Dobby and the other house elves were always excited to see them and eager to bring them snacks. As Dorothea cut into a slice of treacle tart topped with vanilla ice cream, Neville filled her and Luna in on the 6th year's first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Snape.

"...And then Harry goes, 'There's no need to call me sir, Professor'," Neville finished. Dorothea nearly choked swallowing as she burst out laughing along with Luna. "You should've seen the look on his face! He was livid. Gryffindor lost points, of course, but it was worth it."

"You'll earn them back later," Luna said as she tossed slices of banana to Porcus, who caught them in his mouth. "I wish our classes were that exciting. They can be a bit boring."

"How's Slughorn's class?" Neville asked. He wasn't taking Potions this year due to not reaching the required grade on his O.W.L exam, which he was fine with. "I'm hoping he's better than Snape, right?"

"He is." Dorothea nodded, speaking for the first time all evening. Neville and Luna perked up, the blonde was interested in hearing about what Slughorn said to her after class. Dorothea took a bite of tart and swallowed it before continuing. "He's very cheerful, down to earth. He even invited me to join the Slug Club, which is pretty much a group of a few select students that have stuck out to him."

And totally his way of playing favourites, she almost added, but caught herself before the words left her mouth. She didn't want Luna to feel left out that she wasn't invited to be a part of it. She already felt bad enough that she got to be included when she wasn't even considered.

"Thea, that's amazing!" Luna grinned. "You'll have to tell me all about it. When's the first meeting?"

"In a couple weeks, I think. I'm sure Slughorn wants everyone to get back into the routine of things before hosting anything."

Neville and Luna continued to chat while they ate their evening snacks, Dorothea listening quietly and occasionally saying a few things. When they were done, she returned to the Hufflepuff Common Room to get some studying done before bed.

Her plan was to read at least 3 chapters from one of her textbooks during the school week and then 3 from each on the weekends. She'd underline important information and add annotations in the margins. This way, when it came time to review everything for O.W.Ls, she wouldn't have to reread everything word-for-word.

When she finished the last chapter for the night, she closed her astronomy book. She didn't feel very tired. It wasn't as late as her friend's had thought she would stay up due to how fast of a reader she was. Deciding to be a little rebellious, she snuck out of the Common Room to walk around the empty corridors. She'd been practicing Disillusionment Charms, so she wasn't worried about getting caught if anyone was patrolling the halls.

She walked upstairs to the seventh floor; aside from the Astronomy tower, it had the best view of the Hogwarts grounds. As she was heading towards one of the large windows, she heard footsteps behind her. She whirled around, her lit wand outstretched, and came face-to-face with Draco.

The two stared at each other for a moment. Draco had this look on his face like he had just been caught doing something he shouldn't have.

"What are you doing up here?" he asked, nervously looking around the corridor. Dorothea glanced over his shoulder at the room he had just come out of. She pointed to the vanishing entrance to the Room of Requirement and raised a brow. "That's none of your business," Draco said irritably.

"Why?" Dorothea asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Draco crossed his arms. "What are you gonna do? Report me? You can't do that without tattling on yourself in the process. The same thing happened to me 1st year when I tried to get stupid Pottah and his friends in trouble...Okay, are you just gonna stare at me? Really? You've chosen now of all times to stop talking again?"

There was a sound at the end of the corridor. Dorothea put out the light in her wand, and they quietly hurried towards the stairs. A cat meowed, and they both froze. They turned around and saw Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat, staring at them with her menacing red eyes.

"Run," Draco whispered.

They broke into a run down the many flights of stairs. Dorothea tripped, but instead of falling face-first to the floor, she shifted into her animagus form – a small brown rabbit, and hopped the rest of the way down. When they reached the first floor and the coast was clear, she shifted back. Draco was staring at her with his jaw dropped.

"You're an animagus?" He gasped. "You...How? When did you do that?"

"What were you doing in the Room of Requirement?" Dorothea retorted, crossing her arms.

"I can't tell you that!" Draco exasperated. "I've told you already. And I'm not keeping secrets to be mean, I genuinely cannot tell you for your own safety."

He cursed himself silently for the emotion he was showing. He'd never admit it out loud, but he had grown to care for his younger cousin. He'd shared more with her in those letters over the summer than with his own housemates.

"Just...don't worry about it, okay? Go back to your Common Room. I'll see you later."

Dorothea frowned softly as he walked away. As she walked back to the Hufflepuff dorms, she couldn't help but worry that her suspicions at the start of term feast were correct.

Draco Malfoy was wrapped up in a task for the Death Eaters; something that he didn't want to be a part of anymore.