American Beauty

Chapter 32: Potter Strikes Again

I spent majority of my waking hours thinking about how to save Sirius. He was certainly innocent and I had heard about how they were going to convict him to the Dementor's kiss if they found him. I hoped they didn't ever find him.

I spent several days with parchment and a quill outlining plans to save him. I was about to put them into place when I heard the news.

"Laila, did you hear?" said Draco.

"What?" I snapped. He visibly flinched. I was feeling a bit touchy. I didn't mean to take it out on him.

"Black is free. He escaped. It is said that Potter had something to do with it," he said.

"Dang it!" I said. I slammed my hand down onto the pile of notes I had made and groaned in frustration. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I didn't mean to take out my frustration on you."

"It's alright," he said. "I didn't take it personally."

"But that Potter. Ugh. He is the worst. Always beats me to everything. Always plays the good guy." Draco just listened to my rant with open ears. "What did I do to have a friend like you?" I asked.

"I don't know," he answered. "It just kind of happened."

._________.

At least it was some consolation to me that Dumbledore did not mention the heroic acts of the trio at the final feast and award them extra points.

Hermione found me on the train and insisted on dragging me to their compartment. "You know I hate them," I complained.

"I know," she said. "But all of you need to make up."

"They don't like that I'm friends with Draco. That loses majority of common ground already." She shushed me as we reached the compartment and dragged me inside.

"Why is she here?" asked Harry.

"Don't talk to me like that," I said. "I am here to offer a truce." He turned around.

"A truce?" he asked.

"Well do you accept or what? I kind of have somewhere to be."

"We accept."

"Good," I said. "This means you include me in all of your little schemes."

"Deal," he said and shook my hand.