The Songbird and The Viper

Two Stand Strong

"This is ridiculous. So stupid, isn't it? Could be doing anything else this early in the morning and we're forced into a lesson?" Draco was pacing the room, muttering his complaints as Johanna watched him. She was gingerly picking at a small bag of nuts and dried fruit, her head rested on her hand as she absentmindedly nodded in response.

After the party the night before, both Draco and Johanna had received a summons from Snape saying they had to be up and in the Defense Against the Dark Arts room at 6am. It was currently 5:45 and Johanna could barely keep her eyes open. Draco was working his way to full consciousness by complaining.

She whistled at him, holding out her hand to give him some nuts and bits of dried banana. He didn't look at her, taking the handful and shoving it in his mouth.

"Who does he think he is? I mean honestly, we should have just stayed in our rooms. What could he have done?" He chewed angrily, wiping his mouth.

Johanna stared at a spot across the room, "Yeah, who does he think he is," Her voice was flat and distant.

He rolled his eyes, "At least let you get sleep. No point in punishing the both of us for something I said." Johanna shrugged, closing her eyes. He frowned, walking over and brushing his fingers through her hair, "How did you sleep?"

"Not enough," She yawned, "Hermione kept going on about Ron and Lavender then Harry and his stupid potions book. I didn't get to my dorm until after midnight."

Draco scoffed, trying his best not to think about Hermione. He fondly patted her head, sitting in the seat in front of her. He picked at a few pieces of banana while looking over at her. How was he going to bring up last night? He shook his head, frowning as he crossed his arms and placed his chin to rest on them.

"You just couldn't help yourself," Johanna murmured, eyes still closed.

"Huh?" He questioned.

"Why else would he have us here? Not like he actually cares about how educated I am. I'm sure he'd love to see me fail."

His lips curled downward, "I might have told him to bugger off. In a few unkind terms."

She laughed, blindly grabbing a piece of strawberry, "Sounds like you alright..."

Draco rapped his knuckles on the desk, "I'm just tired of all this. This school. These professors. Hardly matters with how the world is turning out."

She mulled over this, nibbling on the edges of her fruit. Her eyes downcast as he huffed. Perhaps he was right, the world was going to the dogs and here they were learning spells and acting like children. But that's what they were. Didn't they deserve to have fun and be young until the time came that they grew up? She didn't want to answer, a bitter taste pooling in her mouth.

Draco noticed her glum demeanor, a light sigh escaping his lips, "Probably just me overthinking again. Shouldn't have said anything."

"Do you think we're all going to die?" She whispered, a horrified look across her face.

"What? Johanna, don't say that."

"Everybody's talking about it. Voldemort rising to power, Harry's tasked with killing him but what if he can't? What's going to happen to us all? Is he going to blow this castle to smithereens or murder us all in front of his followers?" Her voice was a wood mouse, scurrying for cover. He could barely catch it.

"Johanna, I would never let that happen. Not to you..."

"What about everybody else?" Her eyes glossed over, searching his for answers he couldn't give.

Draco looked away, a well of guilt coating his insides. He extended his hand towards her, the tips of his fingers brushing against her open palm. Her lashes fluttered, her lips pressing together. She pulled her hand close to her body, causing Draco to stare down at his feet. He pushed up from the table, starting back his pace across the room.