ethereal {draco malfoy romance}

6.

"Does it hurt terribly, Draco?"

The sharp whine of Pansy Parkinson was clearly heard by everyone in the Great Hall. Breakfast had been dominated by adoring Slytherins, covering the seats and floor around a slightly injured Draco Malfoy.

"It comes and goes." The blond was laying his injury on thick, much to the annoyance of the Gryffindors at the next table. "Still... I consider myself lucky. According to Madam Pomfrey, another minute or two, and I could've lost the arm."

Ron snorted into his large plate of food. "The little git. He's really laying it on thick, isn't he?"

Faye drove her attention away from the weeping Slytherin behind her, sending Ron a grimace. She wasn't entirely sure where she stood with Draco, and it was far too early in the morning to figure it out right then.

"At least Hagrid didn't get sacked." Harry said, also grimacing at the display.

Hermione poked at her food. "Yes, but I hear Draco's father is furious. I don't think we've heard the end of this..."

She was cut off by owls swooping through the high windows in the hall, covering the students and dropping parcels and letters onto their tables. Faye's owl, a grey Tawny Owl, dropped a couple of envelopes toward her, landing them right on her plate and causing toast to fly into her lap. The other three looked at her oddly.

"I'm starting to think you've not introduced us to your owl on purpose..." Hermione said carefully. "That's the third time he's done that."

Faye sighed, removing the toast from her robes. "Yeah... he gets a bit weird around other people. Always seems to be mad at me for making him fly in here. His name's Ocho."

At Ron and Harry's confused faces, she elaborated, "I let my brother name him. For some reason he thought naming him after his current age would be a great idea? Ocho is Spanish for eight."

Hermione quickly spelled the mess off Faye's robes. "Well, it could be worse. If I had let my father name Crookshanks, he probably would've been called incisor."

Faye giggled at her comment and the befuddled look on Ron's face, before turning her attention to a very miserable looking Harry. "How's the fan club treating you?"

"I hate mail time." Harry slumped into his large pile of letters.

"Aw, I know mate, you get sent too many love letters. Life sucks."

"I hate you too Ron."

Turning to look at her mail, Faye saw the first letter was from home. The second however, was a note from Professor Snape. Reading it quickly, her blue eyes widened and she jumped up from the table.

"Sorry, Snape's called me to his office. Something to do with my essay on uncommon poisons. I'll see you in defense, okay?" Faye hurriedly spoke, shoving her things in her bag.

"Wait, do you want me to come? I have to return something to the library anyway -"

Faye cut Hermione off. "No no, it's fine, shouldn't take long!" She turned to flee, leaving her friends exchanging confused looks at her erratic behaviour.

Just as she neared the door, Seamus balled through it and ran back down past her.

"He's been sighted!"

Faye paused, looking after him as he slammed his paper down by the other Gryffindors.

"Who?" Ron asked, then gasped when he looked at the paper.

Running back down to the group, Faye peered over Seamus' shoulder to see the answer she was afraid of - Sirius Black had been sighted.

Hermione read the article faster than the others. "Achintee? That's not far from here!"