1

"Harry, you haven't touched your plate. What's the matter with you?" Hermoine asked, her face contorted in worry. She was sitting across Harry forking the sliced pancake on her plate. Ron sat next to her with his mouth full, he was now staring at Harry.

"Yeah, well, I haven't been feeling so well lately." Harry muttered, "I'm losing my appetite."

"You're probably just worried about Quidditch this year." Ron suggested after swallowing. "I feel fine though." He said and shoved a spoonful in his mouth then began chewing rowdily.

"That's because you're eating out all your nerves, Ron." Hermoine commented with a disgusted look. "Anyway, Harry, you should be eating though. I'm sure practices will get tougher every week."

"You guys have a point, but I don't think that's it." Harry said, scratching his head. He stared down at his plate, it looked delicious, but he just couldn't bring it to his stomach. Hermoine shook her head watching Ron gobble down every piece on his plate. "Well then, you better hurry it up. We've got ten minutes to class." She grabbed the sandwich from Harry's plate and summoned a quick spell, wrapping it up in a napkin neatly. "Here, in case you change your mind." She handed it out to him.

"Thanks, Mione." Harry said and took the sandwich.

They were in the hallway a moment later when Harry suddenly felt his stomach growl. Hermione and Ron looked back at him, amused. "Geez mate, you better put something in there before it comes out to finish us." Ron chuckled. Hermione tried not to laugh and instead hit Ron on the shoulder. "Ron!"

"What? You heard it too." Ron said, half laughing. "Sorry, Harry."

Harry frowned at them and pulled out the sandwich just as they turned to the next corridor. He unwrapped the snack and suddenly he felt like shoving it down his throat. But before he could take a bite, in a split second, a sudden force pushed his side. He stumbled forward and let go of the snack, its delightful contents scattered all over the floor. "Hey!" Harry nearly shouted. Hermoine and Ron whirled around in shock.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry, Harry!"

Harry looked up from the mess and found Elle Matthews gaping up at him with a stunned look on her face. She had books in her arms; quickly she set them down and began cleaning up the mess. Ron and Hermoine watched in confusion, and seeing how annoyed Harry looked, chose to remain silent at the matter. Students looked as they passed, and Harry felt awkward watching Elle on her knees.

"No-no, it's alright." Harry said and quickly knelt down to pick her books up. "Don't clean it up, I'll do it. Here, you should be off, you look like you're in a hurry."

"I'm really sorry. I'm such a klutz. I didn't see you there." Elle explained while putting the trash in a pile. She pulled out her wand and cast it away with a wave. "There, good as gone. I'm sorry though, I owe you a new one." She said while taking the books from him.

"It's fine, really, you don't have to." Harry said under his breath.

"Harry." Hermione said with an infuriated frown. "We're late."

Both Harry and Elle looked at Hermione and stood. "I'm sorry again." Elle said last then hurried off. Harry glared at Hermoine for a second before turning back, but Elle was now lost in the crowd. Ignoring it, he followed his friends as they continued along.

"Boy, that was awkward." Ron said now walking close to Harry. "You didn't even let her pay you back? I would've had her summon a fresh one right away."

"I was too frustrated to think about a good payback. Besides, it won't be just her I'll be facing if anything happens. You do remember her possessive boyfriend, don't you?" Harry sighed and looked down at his growing hunger. "You'll be hearing more from my stomach in class today."

Hermoine scoffed and spun around to shove another sandwich in Harry's hand. "Here, I saved another one. Just the sight of her annoys me."

"Do you really have to be so mean to her or is it her lover you hate so much?" Ron asked teasingly. Harry looked at him and took a large bite of the sandwich.

"Fine. The latter." Hermoine exhaled, "I mean, who can stand anyone with the likes of him? He's just—the epitome of everything horrid."

"Malfoy?" Harry asked after swallowing, exchanging amused looks with Ron.

"Quit it you two." Hermoine snapped. The boys laughed just as they entered the classroom. They just loved pulling Hermoine's leg when it came to Draco Malfoy.

Later, they were seated quietly while waiting for the professor. Harry had finally finished the lasts of his meal and slipped the napkin in his robe when Ron nudged him hard in his rib. "Oh look who's in this class too." Ron nodded to the direction of the door where students kept coming in.

"Ouch, Ron." Harry whispered and looked the same way. Elle Matthews walked in with Draco Malfoy trailing close behind, raising his brow as he scanned the room for empty seats. Harry and Ron continued watching. Elle greeted her Slytherin girlfriends sitting in one crowd, but before she could take a seat next to them Draco held her wrist and gave her stern gaze. Yielding, Elle turned to her friends and apologized as she excused herself from the table to follow Draco. They sat next to Crabbe and Goyle, as usual. Elle sat without looking around while Draco began talking to the guys.

"Look at that," Ron jeered, "that's got to be one of the most dysfunctional relationships I've ever seen."

Harry ignored as Ron continued babbling and kept his eyes on the couple, more particularly at Elle. She sat silent, hands clasped together on the table with a blank expression on her face. Somehow Harry felt he understood how she was feeling and instead of finding her pathetic, he felt sorry for her. Some unearthly, intangible pull kept him from pulling his gaze away. Then she looked back at him. Harry didn't register this right away and for five seconds their eyes met. He couldn't make it out, but a sudden serene, unexplainable warmness filled him.

"Harry, she's looking! Look away before Malfoy—" Ron was cut off by Harry's sudden jolt backward, hitting him on the nose. "Ow!" Ron yelped.

"Oh, sorry, Ron." Harry whispered and straightened himself on his seat. Hermoine, from reading a book, gave them a perplexed look. "What's the matter with you two? Will you please get a hold of yourselves?" Ron frowned in pain while rubbing his nose, "it's Harry that's acting been all peculiar today. Don't look at me."

Harry glanced at Ron and grinned at him about his nose before turning to glance at Elle again. She was silently giggling in her seat, apparently seeing what had happened. Harry chuckled along with her. She shook her head teasingly and then Draco looked at her. At this, Harry quickly turned to look away.

"What are you smiling about?" Draco asked, brows creased in suspicion. Elle's eyes quickly focused from Harry's direction to Draco's glowering face. Her smile faded in an instant. "Nothing, Draco. Nothing."

And in that odd event, it was as though a friendship had quietly blossomed.

Hey guys! my first fanfic, please R&R and then I'll be able to post up the second chapter :) thanks!

-Leemah