Darkness Falls

Twenty Seven

1994 – Third Year

"We still won though, so the jokes on them!" Harry boasted to his fellow Gryffindors in their common room. Despite an attempt from Slytherin to sabotage the Gryffindor team by scaring their seeker, Harry had still successfully caught the Golden Snitch before Cho Chang, Ravenclaw's Seeker, winning the game for Gryffindor.

"And those smarmy bastards got detention!" Fred sang, the room erupted with cheers all around at the news of the Slytherins who attempted to distract Harry having to suffer through detention.

Harry laughed at the at the happiness it brought his housemates knowing their rival house were being punished. These were always his favourite kind of moments, just after a quidditch match they had won, the common room was filled with extasy, students were celebrating together, even those who didn't enjoy Quidditch, everyone laughing and getting along, nothing worried them and nothing could dampen their mood, everyone was happy.

'Almost everyone.' He thought to himself as he looked towards Hermione who sat glumly beside Ginny. Harry made his way over to the sofa where the girls sat and plonked himself beside Hermione, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

She noticeably winced at the action as she felt his arm draped around her shoulder, he had after all, played a full match of Quidditch earlier that day and was yet to change out of his kit.

"What's the matter Mione?" he asked whilst squeezing his hand against her shoulder.

"Well Harry... you smell." The shock on Harry's face caused both girls to laugh hysterically, only deepening the crimson glow that was forming across his cheeks.

"Rude. But, that's not what I meant, and you know it."

Hermione's laughter died down a little as her eyes flickered towards Ron, who was in the middle of having an eating contest with Shamus.

"Don't let Ron's disgusting food habits get you down." Harry joked, causing Ginny to chuckle whilst Hermione scowled at him. With a more serious tone, he sat up and continued.

"He will get there in the end. He just needs to realise all by himself what an idiot he's being, he won't see it if others are pointing it out." Harry comforted his friend once more, she smiled back, ever so slightly, not entirely convinced Harry was right.

~X~

"Don't pout Draco, it doesn't suit you." Hermione teased, earning herself a scowl, if looks could kill, he'd have hit her with a killing curse from halfway across the room.

"I hate detention."

"You didn't seem to hate it so much in first year."

"That's because I was with you, this is different, there's no way it will be fun."

"If you hate detention so much, start playing by the rules."

"Pot Kettle Black, Granger."

"Hey, I play by the rules, Malfoy." Draco's face relaxed from a scowl as he smirked at playful mood Hermione was in.

"Either way, you brought it on yourself and it is what it is, so stop whining like a baby and deal with it." Hermione teased him some more as she fiddled with the strand of grass she held between her fingers.

With that, Draco rose from the rock he had perched himself on beside the Black Lake and made his way towards Hermione.

Her face fell as she saw him gaining on her with intent, the light of the half-moon hit the sharp features on his face causing shadows beneath his eye and cheeks, making visible to her the mischievous look in his eyes, there wasn't even a small part of her that wanted to know what he was planning to do. She quickly stood up off the patch of grass she was sprawled out along and started to turn away from him when she felt his hand clasp firmly around her arm.