She was sat directly opposite me at our house table gazing around the Great Hall. The look in her eyes and the repetitive way she was rubbing her hands made it clear to me that she was uncomfortable. Not surprising. The school was considerably more crowded this year as there was essentially eight years instead of the usual seven. Well, more like seven and a half. Like I said, I'd returned with the war survivors.
 
 
 

'Mr Potter, Miss Malfoy, how far have we got? Well I must say I would have thought you two would have gotten further by now, you definitely need to pull your socks up a little.' Pull your socks up, huh. Figure of speech - made a big mistake there Slughorn.
 

We sat in silence for a further hour, just watching the darkened world outside the west tower. I smoked my remaining cigarettes, while he stroked his scratches, both lost in our own thoughts.

 

Sat at the top of the west tower, fag in hand as usual I could only think of two things. Number one - House Unity was complete and utter bull shit! I mean come on; I was expected to attend a dance with Granger. How crap is that? I think the giant squid that lives in the lake would be a better partner. Definitely better looking. Number two - I had the hangover from hell and really wished my sister would stop screaming like a banshee.
 
 

Those stormy grey eyes were unmasking an excitement so vivid she may as well have been bouncing up and down like a child who had just seen Santa, complete with a sack full of presents and a herd of flying reindeer.