Snake in the Sunflowers {Draco Malfoy}{Cedric Diggory}

☄ Three; a Lesson.

After your delightful secret encounter, you no longer have any time to go to breakfast. You don't mind though, as all thoughts of food were replaced with a different kind of hunger. Your body still feels like it's on fire, and you keep touching your fingers to your lips absentmindedly as you make your way to Potions class.

You slide into a desk beside Harry and Hermione, and to your surprise Ron Weasley slips into the seat beside you. You have to fight the urge not to look over at Draco, who is currently trying to do the same as he sees Ron's fiery red hair out of the corner of his eye.

"Oh, hey Ron." You greet him with a polite smile.

"I have something to ask you." He says, rushing past pleasantries and getting straight to the point.

"What is it?" You ask, puzzled, shifting in your seat to face him more directly.

"What's going on with you and Malfoy?" He asks with a serious expression on his face, leaning in close so no one can overhear.

You are suddenly grateful you hadn't been at breakfast because if you were, you surely would have spit out your food in shock. "W-What?!" You stammer, turning away from him and frantically starting to set up your cauldron for class as Snape stands up to begin his lesson. "I don't even know what you're talking about, I barely know the kid. Anyway, Wiggenweld Potion, that sounds interesting." Your flustered attempt at deflection is not effective on the redhead.

"There's no point denying it, (y/n), so don't get your knickers in a twist." Ron snorts at the sight of you scrambling to change the subject. "Last year when you got petrified, the bloke came running to the bloody Gryffindor tower in the dead of night. He forced us to let him come with us when we were trying to help Hermione and find the chamber. All because he said he wanted to save you."

You stare at the boy, wide-eyed with your mouth hung open as though you'd just been told the world had turned upside down.

"Draco Malfoy joined up with you and Potter, of all people, just for me?" You relent to your urge to look over at the boy who's currently whispering something to Goyle and nudging him, eliciting a low chuckle from his gruff companion. "You must be mental."

"Well, it was about you at first but in the end it was about saving Hogwarts, I think." He shrugged, looking like he was about to open his mouth to say something else, but he was suddenly smacked on the back of the head with a leather book. There are scattered giggles coming from the surrounding desks as you look up to see Professor Snape standing behind you.

"Is there something the two of you would like to share with the class?" The potions master drawls in his usual lazy tone.

"No, sir." You shake your head a little too enthusiastically, but he relents after giving you a once over.

"5 points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff." He snaps before gliding over to check on the Slytherins who are snickering in delight.

You are distracted for the rest of the class, wondering what Ron had been about to say before Snape interrupted. What exactly had Draco done? You tried to picture him working together with the Gryffindors, but found it impossible to conjure the image. The mere mention of Harry was enough to get Draco seething with resentment, let alone being around him and talking to him - working with him - for any amount of time. You decide you'll bring it up the next time you have a moment alone with him.

☼☼☼

Your next class is your first elective you had chosen for third year, Divination. You, Hannah, Ernie, and Justin share this class together. The four of you scramble up the last staircase of many, panting as you finally arrive at the landing of the North Tower. Some students had already arrived and were climbing up a silvery ladder that leads through a trapdoor in the ceiling. As you clamber to the top, you emerge into a classroom that looks more like an attic. Instead of desks, there are small circular tables surrounded by armchairs and beanbags. Looking around you see only other Hufflepuffs, probably due to the diminutive size of the space.