Control ▸ Ron Weasley [2]

II. FLAIR FOR DRAMATICS

CHAPTER TWO:
FLAIR FOR DRAMATICS
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      Though Nova had thought the idea of Slytherins watching her and Theo to report back to her father was ridiculous, it had her paranoid enough to not sit next to him on the carriage ride over. It was probably her imagination, but she thought Bulstrode and Parkinson's eyes strayed to her a little too often, and with the new knowledge that Malfoy and Parkinson were done, she had no doubt Pansy wanted Nova to suffer. Nova had long since passed the point of caring what happened to her, but she'd never be past the point of caring what happened to Theo. So, instead of sitting with Theo and Blaise, she retreated to a carriage with fifth year Slytherins that scooted as far away from her as they possibly could. She wasn't sure if it was from the knowledge that she had dated a blood-traitor last year or because they'd heard that the Slytherin Ice Queen was back, but Nova was thankful for whatever the reason was.

      When she arrived at Hogwarts, she stepped out of the carriage and found Malfoy easily, a smug grin on his face that suggested he was up to no good. "What's that look for?" she asked, half-nervous and half-exasperated to hear his answer. "Already causing trouble?" she continued.

      "Let's just say I'm excited for this term," Malfoy mentioned vaguely. Nova didn't like the sound of it. It filled her with the same feeling she had in the compartment, like Malfoy was floating further and further away and she couldn't help him. "Let's get inside. You're freezing."

      "I'm fine," Nova replied defiantly, sticking her chin up in a defensive manner. He simply rolled his eyes before grabbing her hand again, dragging her past first years that he easily pushed out of his way. When they made it into the Great Hall, he pulled her into a seat. Nova immediately slapped his arm. "Don't ever grab me like that again, Malfoy," she said icily, rubbing her wrist between the fingers of her other hand. "What's with this sudden change in demeanor?"

      Malfoy shrugged, but a smirk still tugged on the corners of his lips. Nova turned towards the Sorting Hat seated on its normal stool in front of the four tables. She didn't pay any attention to the students that were sorted and didn't bother clapping for any of the first years sorted into Slytherin. Something told her they wouldn't mind. When Dumbledore stepped in front of his podium to speak, Nova found herself dozing off, resting her head on her hand and allowing her eyes to close for a split second. She hadn't gotten any sleep the night before, especially not after that note had touched her fingertips. 

      She opened one eye and trained it on Malfoy, who wasn't listening to a word Dumbledore was saying, either. The sleeve of his left hand was covering any inch of skin she'd need to see to prove Theo's note, but she knew it was there. There was that same heaviness in her heart that had been there the night Theo had gotten the Dark Mark. She wanted scrub it off his skin, to assure him that he didn't need the Dark Lord to make himself significant or important. He was enough on his own.