Darkness And You

Chapter 5

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Livia's POV

Tonks left Harry and I at the gate with Professor Snape and we passed the walk up to the castle in silence — well Harry and I did. Snape spent the whole walk snipping at Harry, accusing him of attention seeking and taking twenty-five points off Gryffindor simply out of spite.

"But it wasn't Harry's fault sir. He was... hexed." I couldn't snitch on Malfoy, despite my great urge to, and I had to gain Harry's trust.

"And who are you?" Snape spat, raising his eyebrows. "A Gryffindor?"

"No. I haven't been sorted yet."

"Well that's ten points from whichever unlucky house you get sorted into." I could never imagine Snape smiling, but the facial expression he pulled after delivering this statement was what I imagined his expression of joy would look like.

We reached the castle, and Snape entered, telling Harry and I to wait outside. Once alone, Harry turned to me: "Thanks. For the thing with Snape and finding me."

"No problem." We stood there in awkward silence until Snape came back.

"The sorting has already finished but McGonagall insisted on letting you have your turn. Come on Mr Potter, time to make the entrance you so desperately wanted."

I followed Snape into the hall. The ceiling reflected the sky, which was a deep shade of night with a vast galaxy, whilst thousands of glowing candles floated just beneath, emitting a warm light into the great hall, somehow making the vast room feel homey. Four long tables were set up with plates and plates of food as far as the eye could see, each holding students wearing yellow, red, blue and green who's heads turned unanimously as we entered. At the front of the hall, near the head table was the famed sorting hat. Harry skulked towards the Gryffindor table and sat down between a boy and girl who I recognised as being Ron and Hermione. The attention now fell to me as I made my way up to the front of the hall; I kept my eyes steadily trained on the sorting hat, ignoring the whispers and whistles that followed me as I went. Professor McGonagall gestured for me to sit and placed the hat upon my head.

"My my I have never been placed on a students head twice. You used to be in Ravenclaw? Interesting interesting... but so much has changed — you're very different now," I focused on keeping my mind blank so it couldn't detect the ink that tarnished my body, but it's invisible fingers probed deep — "you're very cunning, still just as smart, brave and compassionate but there's something there, something I can't quite fathom... I think you'll do well in... SLYTHERIN!"

Deafening roars and applause came from the Slytherin table whilst the others clapped politely, but their efforts were not entirely enthusiastic. I made my way over to the green themed table and sat down between a blonde haired girl and a brunette. Opposite me was another brunette and Draco Malfoy.

"I'm Celeste Vulchanov," The blond said stoutly. "What's your name?"

"Livia Greenwood." I tried to sound as authoritative as possible, but I'm afraid I sounded more like a nervous first year. Draco was watching me, but when he noticed I was staring back he turned away to talk to a boy who I remember as being named Goyle.

"Welcome to Slytherin... Livia. This is Tracey, that's Pansy and next to her is Draco."

"Oh she already knows." Draco said, his voice full of malice as his stormy eyes burned into mine. So he did remember me after all; so much for a fresh start. Pansy's neutral expression morphed into a hostile glare almost immediately and I scowled back at her whilst the others looked on, bewildered. Tracey was the first to break the silence.

"So, is it true that you used to go here?" Before I could reply, Draco cut in.

"Oh yes, she did. Until she left randomly in the middle of second year. She left m—" he stopped himself from saying what he was going to say, and instead continued "she just left."

"Thank you for that information Draco. Did you miss out the part where my sister died or should I cover that for you."

"You might have lost a sister, but remember I understood! I lost my best friend that night." He said softly, ducking his head, "but that was no reason for you to leave."

"And whose fault is that, Draco."

Tracey cleared her throat and Draco turned away, his face a mask of stone. The rest of the dinner went by awkwardly, with little to no conversation, but the food compensated for the lack of discussion.

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Draco's POV

After that disaster of a dinner, we (all the Slytherins) made our way up to the dorms. Livi was laughing with Celeste and Tracey as they disappeared around the corner to the girls' quarters and, despite our previous spat, I couldn't help marvel at her ability to make friends.

Due to being a prefect, I had the privilege of being allowed my own room. The girls had a similar one in their area and it was being used by Pansy Parkinson at that time. I trudged up to the prefect's room alone.

After a while, I accepted that I wasn't going to fall asleep. For the past hour, I had been staring at a dainty cobweb and the small dew drops that had been captured on its fine strands. Anything to avoid thinking about her. Admitting defeat, I crept down to the common room.

On one of the sofas near the fire place sat a slim silhouette, huddled in an oversized jumper. I sighed, believing I could attempt to scare them off, but when I came closer, I saw it was none other than Livia Greenwood. Deciding not to be a coward, I adopted my usual swagger and plonked myself on the chair opposite her, resting my long legs on the coffee table.

She didn't move an inch. Her long golden-brown hair cascaded down her ears, covering the book she was reading from my sight, whilst her usually green eyes looked like droplets of molten liquid in the firelight — her skin was emitting a soft shine, as if she was coated in the dew from the cobweb.

"Do you need something?" She snapped, shattering the peaceful silence.

"Well yes actually, now that you ask," I grinned lazily at her, and she slammed the book down and stared at me expectantly, "I want to know what you were doing earlier with Potter."

"Helping him."

"Ooh helping him! I bet you were just admiring my handiwork." I winked, enjoying her annoyance immensely.

"It's nothing to be proud of. It was a coward's move, kicking a man when he's already down."

"Potter's not a man he's a big-headed boy. And you would know all about being a coward, wouldn't you?" I regretted those words as soon as I said them.

"Is this about me leaving again Malfoy? Because I don't even understand why you'd care!" She was practically shouting at this point; I'd hit a nerve.

"Because you left me Livi. I needed you, It sounds so selfish but I needed you after what happened but you weren't there." She recoiled at my words and her old nickname, but began to speak in a much softer tone.

"My sister was only part of the reason why I left. There was a bigger picture, Draco, but you just couldn't see it."

"Then make me see it!" I was angry, really angry. She had left at the worst time and expected me to understand.

"Goodnight Draco."

She left the common room, leaving me on my knees — completely in the dark.

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