Alohomora

10) School Again

Five days after Christmas, we went to visit the Malfoys and for the first time ever, i wasn't looking forward to it. We walked up the long pathway, the snow had almost melted but there were patches still on the floor and covering the hedges either side of the path. Their mansion was all black and if i didn't know who lived there i would probably be too scared to go near it. My dad knocked loudly on the door, we waited a minute or so until Narcissa opened the creaking door. "Hello, how are you all, did you have a good Christmas? Ruby, Draco's in his room so you can go and find him" she smiled as we stepped inside. My parents went one way and i followed the staircase up to the third floor, along a dark corridor, lined with portraits which were sleeping and one was snoring very loudly.Unlike my house, Malfoy Manor had no Christmas decorations on display which made me sad. I reached Draco's room. The door was slightly open but i knocked, feeling nervous. He appeared at the door and opened it full to let me in. His room still looked the same as it did before, the same four poster bed, the Malfoy family crest painted on the wall, oak furiture, books thrown into a corner, his broomstick lead across his desk. The broom service kit i bought him for Christmas was lying open next to it. Except now, where the walls used to be plain, Slytherin crests and flags were stuck up. He pushed a large pile of presents off his bed so we could sit down. Neither of us spoke for a while. 

"Did you get my letter?"he finally asked.I nodded. "see, its hard for be because everyone in Slytherin would laugh at me if they knew i was friends with you, especially now you go around with Potter, but they don't know you and if they did i know they'd love you too, but i kind of have a reputation because of my father and i want to keep it going and if we start habging around at school it might ruin it"he said timidly. I just looked at him. What had happened? Since when had other peoples opinions meant anything to him? "Draco, do you mean that because im in Gryffindor, im not worthy enough to be your friend?" i asked, hurt. "i... well.. no, you're still my friend, its just we don't make a big deal of it". I stood up, tears forming in my eyes. "well then, i don't want to be your friend anymore if this is what you're going to be like and im glad im not in Slytherin if they're all like you, ive got my new friends and they are all i need!"i shouted, making my way for the door. Draco stood up behind me. "Rubes please, dont be like this?" "be like what?!" "Ruby, i have to do this or they wont like me" "but Draco, surely that shouldn't matter?because now you're loosing me instead". Draco sighed and said no more, so i ran out of his room and down the stairs to find my parents.

I entered the room and all eyes turned on me. Narcissa and my mother looked concered and thats when i noticed a tear has escaped. Quickly, i wiped it away as my mother said "maybe we should go, we will have to meet up when the kids are back at school". Narcissa nodded, said a quick goodbye to me and went upstairs to Draco. Lucius said nothing to me. My parents lead me out.

-

"what happened?" asked my dad as the tears were finally streaming down my face. I told him what Draco said and he looked angry. "i'll have a word with Lucius, he has probably been feeding Draco all that Slytherin pride rubbish, you stick with your new friends for now and im sure Draco will soon realised how much of an idiot he is"smiled my dad and i nodded, hoping he was right.

-

The scarlet Hogwarts express was snaking through the countryside on its way back to Hogwarts. Hermione and I were sat with Seamus and Dean. None of us could wait to finally get back to school. Hermione and I were particulary looking foward to see if Harry and Ron had found out who Nicholas Flamel was. We bought chocolate frogs and pumpkin pastys from the witch who pulled the trolley. Dean was trying to explain football to Seamus again. As me and Hermione had no interest we were stuck in book, trying to find anything about Flamel that maybe the others hadn't managed to. We were unsuccessful. When the train finally pulled up at Hogsmeade station, I couldn't wait to finally get a seat by the cosy common room fire with my friends. 

After all our belongings had been placed back in our rooms, Harry, Ron, Hermione and I sat in a corner at the back of the common room. "So, did you find out who Flamel is?"asked Ron eagerly. Hermione frowned. "no?i thought you might have?"she replied. Ron shook his head, "you're the brainy one, so we thought you'd figure it out or ask you're parents"he said. Hermione went pink. "my parents are dentists! you've had all this time with the library right here! you could easily have found it out!i expect you've been too lazy!" "i have not been lazy!ive just had more important things to do!" "like what?!"Hermione cried. "none of your business, what about Ruby anyway?! she hasn't got any information so why aren't you shouting at her!". Ron and Hermione seized their argument and turned to me. "i've..er... had alot on my mind, im sorry, i promise i'll go to the library tomorrow to keep searching"i replied, quietly. I wasn't going to tell them about Draco. They hated him anyway. "listen, why don't we all just go to bed, we've got Snape tomorrow and i don't want to fall asleep in his lesson and make him hate me more" joined in Harry. So we all agreed, said goodnight and Hermione and I made our way to our room.

"What is Ron's problem?he had one job! and asking if i'd asked my parents, is he stupid?!" asked Hermione as she climbed into bed. I laughed. "well, i'd like to know what was more important than him looking up Flamel"i replied as i lead down. "hmmm...me too, we will have to get that out of him tomorrow"Hermione giggled.