The Golden Mare - Cedric Diggory

Diggory and Draco

At dinner time, Harry and Ron sat on opposite sides of Aurora and Hermione, and were both sulkily moving their food around with their fork.

Aurora tried to make conversation. "Harry, when is the first task?"

"In two weeks. Another two weeks to sit and worry about it,"he grumbled.

Aurora gave him a side hug. "Hey, cheer up. It'll be okay. I could help you prepare for your task, if you want."

He turned to her and a smile grew on his face. "Yeah, I would like that."

Aurora grinned back, although she realized that Harry was just another addition on her list of "boys she had to help with something".

"Speaking of preparing. Aurora, do you want to meet in the library tonight, to study for the charms test?" Hermione asked.

Aurora shook her head. "I have to study with Draco tonight."

Harry dropped his fork and gave her a look. "Why would you study with Malfoy? And why do you call him Draco?"

Aurora narrowed her eyes at him. "If you hadn't forgotten, he's my potions partner, so I have to work with him on that project. Trust me, it's the last place I want to be."

Although part of Aurora knew that wasn't true.

Harry looked as if he had forgotten they were partners for the project, but all he did was grumble and turn back to his food.

"Anyway..." Aurora said, turning back to Hermione. "Do you have any ideas for your project?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not really, to be honest. But I have a feeling I'll be doing all the work. I can't imagine Crabbe showing up to a study session."

Aurora flashed her a sympathetic look. "Damn, I'm sorry. Hey, maybe you can come study me and Draco? It'll help you get some ideas."

Hermione tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "Maybe I will."

"Okay. We better get going then," She said, rising from her seat in the dining hall.

"Bye, guys!" Aurora called to Ron and Harry as her and Hermione went to the library. They both grunted in response.

As Aurora entered the library, she saw that Draco was pacing one of the aisles rather anxiously.

"Hi Draco", Aurora said as she walked up to him.

He turned around to look on her, a small smile on his face, that soon melted as he saw that Hermione was standing next to Aurora.

"What's she doing here?" He said in a voice of disgust.

Hermione rolled her eyes, while Aurora responded. "Hermione has to work on the potions project too, so I invited her to study with us."

Draco said nothing, but continued to stare at her with narrowed eyes.

Hermione let out a breath. "You know what? I'll just study over there." She said, and pointed to a table across the library.

"You don't have to", Aurora murmured.

Hermione shook her head. "I know when I'm not wanted!" She joked as she walked to the other side of the library.

Aurora gave Draco an annoyed look. "What'd you do that for?"

He shrugged. "We have to concentrate on our own project, right?"

She sighed and sat down at the table. "I suppose. Anyway, do you have any ideas on what to work on?"