Barely Acquaintances

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"We're only children, but I don't think it will be long at all"
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"Yes well maybe if the stupid bird hadn't of almost killed me, Father wouldn't want it dead so badly" I was sitting in the common room, trying to get some overdue transfiguration homework complete, it was due two days ago but as usual I'd managed to use my charm with McGonagall to get her to give me an extension on it, if I promised to do a few extra pages. However, it was difficult to concentrate when all I could hear was Draco bragging about his fathers great influence on the school's governors, meaning Buckbeak, the "stupid bird" now had a sentence to death (happening tomorrow), and Hagrid, could risk being fired.

Draco and I were still on strange terms. I didn't really know I stood with him, and I had a feeling he felt the same. But we were back to throwing sarcastic insults at one another so that was progress. I was yet to figure out what was going on between him and Pansy, whatever it was, I didn't like it. I wasn't jealous, that's for sure. What in Merlins beard would I be jealous of?

But if it wasn't jealousy, then what else could be making my stomach flip whenever I saw them sharing an exchange?

A question I refused to think about for now.

It was late now, and the majority of students had gone home for Christmas. Malfoy and I had both been owled by our parents in a joint letter only a day earlier, it was times like this that it I was reminded just how close our families were. The letter had completely thrown our holiday plans upside down. We were meant to be going home, back to Kings Cross on the Hogwarts Express, but instead our parents had a last minute emergency trip to Merlin-knows-where. Meaning we were both stuck here.

This would make avoiding Malfoy a whole lot more difficult.

In the letter, Narcissa mentioned that they would leave together, the Malfoys and the Merlotts, in 4 days from now, and that Lucius would still be arriving at Hogwarts tomorrow to see to Buckbeaks execution. It was a morbid thought, but had to be done, nonetheless.

Of course, only so what that beast did to Draco couldn't be repeated, not at all because I cared for him.

The emerald common room had emptied out by this point in the evening, I was usually the last student to be sitting around the fire at night, I enjoyed it down here, I could mostly be found in front of the blazing flames, reading or studying. But tonight was different.

I was sat on a pillow on the floor, leaning over the dark wooden coffee table with various textbooks and parchment sheets spread over it, my quill resting in its ink pot, ready to be used.

The only other person accompanying me, was Draco. He was lounged in a laying position on his back on the leather sofa opposite me with a book magically hovering above his head, occasionally using his wand to turn the pages so he didn't have to use his arms, which were outstretched and folded under his head.

Lazy. But smart, even I would admit.

We hadn't spoken a word to one another all night, clearly aware of the other's presence but soaking up the somewhat comfortable silence between us.

Placing down one of my books, that I'd snuck into the restricted section of the library for, I picked up my quill and neatly finished off my essay. I hadn't even noticed the boy in front of me grab his book from mid air and sit up, his head tilted to one side as he watched me intently. Finally looking up, I jumped ever so slightly, not expecting to be met with his wondering curious eyes.