Letti met Dessi outside of her final class, potions. It was early November and the school year was in full swing. Letti had gotten out of History of Magic early and wanted Dessi to go up to the owlry with her to send a letter to Percy. Even though the two were not in an exclusive relationship, their letters were filled with what Dessi called "geek flirting." As Dessi exited her classroom Letti called over to her.
"Hey Letti," Dessi said coming over to her sister, "I thought I was meeting you and Elia in the common room."
"Yeah, but Elia caught me after Transfiguration to tell me she had practice this afternoon and I got out of History of Magic early and thought I would just meet you down here," Letti replied excitedly.
At this point, the hallway next to the dungeons had cleared out. As the two sisters made their way to the stairway, Draco Malfoy started down the stairs. He ran into the girls, literally, in the middle of the staircase.
"Malfoy!" Dessi screamed in anger as her books scattered across the stairs.
"Watch where you are going, Desdemona," Draco said smugly at the blonde haired beauty.
"Oh shut up Malfoy and help or I will take 5 points from Slytherin," Letti said angrily to the blonde haired boy.
He gave the sisters an evil look as he picked up a notebook that had flown out of Dessi's bag. After Dessi and Letti picked up the rest of her books and quills, Letti put them in Dessi's bag while Dessi went over to Draco and took what he had picked up for her.
"Thank you," Dessi said automatically.
"Your welcome," Draco replied in a snide way before lowering his voice so only she could hear it, "I am sorry Dessi."
With that, he marched down the hall to his common room. Only then did Dessi look down and see a note on top of her notebook.
Dessi was curling up in her bed with her curtains drawn. She took the note off the table where she had laid it. After Draco had given it to her, she had quickly stuck it in her pocket so Letti couldn't see it. She knew her sister hated Draco even more than Fred and George, but, for some reason, Dessi was becoming more and more curious about the flaxen haired Slytherin. He was mean and rude to her one moment and then sweet as treacle on toast the next. It confused her so much. She knew he liked her; she wasn't tied for the top of her year for nothing, but she wasn't sure why. She had been told by many people that she was beautiful, especially her eyes, and that she was funny, but she preferred school to be about school. She would wear her hair in a bun and little to no make up on weekdays. On the weekends, she might put on cuter clothing and do her hair and make up and flirt, especially with George, but that was only two days a week.
Dessi finally gave into temptation and opened the note.
Dessi,
I have your potions book. If you want it back, come with me after Transfigurations tomorrow.
Draco
Dessi was very upset when she read this. It appalled her to no end. He took her book and was trying to use it to blackmail her into a date. She grabbed the candle off her night stand and left her room to go to her sisters. She got Letti first and then snuck into the third year dorm to get Elia. They retreated to the now empty common room where they discussed the matter.
"Dessi, just go with him, get your book back, and go to dinner," Elia said, stifling a yawn. Practice had been hard that day and she was enjoying her sleep.
"Elia, you know Malfoy. I suspect he has something sinister up his sleeve," Letti responded, "I have an idea. I think you should write mum and she will have a new book to you within the week. In the mean time, ask Hermione if you can borrow hers since you have it on opposite days. She hates Malfoy as much as the rest of us. Even if she hesitates, I am sure Harry and Ron will back you up if for no other reason than to get at Malfoy."
"I hate to ask mum, but Malfoy creeps me out," Dessi said with a sigh. "I will go to the owlry tomorrow after lunch and talk to Hermione at breakfast. Thanks Letti. Elia, get up." Dessi poked her younger sister who had fallen asleep.
Transfiguration was over. Dessi packed up her quills and books and made sure her bag was securely shut before getting out of her seat. Draco was waiting for her right outside the door.
"Ready Desdemona?" He asked smirking.
"No, I don't think so Malfoy," Dessi said as she walked towards Ravenclaw tower.
"What?" He exclaimed, "Are you insane. I have your book. You know how Snape is about unprepared students. He will have your skin, not to mention your grade."
"I am quite confident that my grade and I will survive," Dessi said as she continued down the hall. All of a sudden, she was yanked back by her arm and pushed her roughly against a wall. Panic flooded Dessi's senses. She wasn't sure what to do. Malfoy had covered her mouth with one hand and was using his superior height and weight to trap her against the wall, she struggled, but it did little good.
"Dessi," Draco began in a low, serious tone, "I am offering you more than your beat up book. I am offering you a chance to be part of the upper class. I am giving you a chance to be part of one of the most respected, powerful wizarding families in Britain, if not the world. You have money, I know that. You are pure blood, I wouldn't love you if you weren't. Yet, you are dirty. Your family had to work for its money. I am offering you a chanceā¦"
Draco didn't get a chance to finish his speech. George Weasley who was coming out of Defense Against the Dark Arts, which was just down the hall from Transfiguration, had come upon the two. He saw Dessi's petrified face and acted. He grabbed Malfoy and pulled him away from Dessi, who he had pinned against a wall.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? Is that anyway to treat a lady? Run off before I forget that I am a gentleman," George barked at Malfoy.
"Gentleman my ass. My house elves know more about sophistication than you," Malfoy replied standing his grown in front of the red head who, while equal in height, was more muscled.
"Money doesn't make you better Malfoy," George said, red with anger, "It just makes you a pain in my ass."
Malfoy lunged at George. George, who was an experienced fighter growing up with five brothers and a feisty sister, stooped down and allowed Malfoy to hit him in the shoulder, George then stood up and allowed Malfoy to drop down on his back and seemed to be out.
Dessi stood there in shock. George had just beaten up Malfoy. On top of that, he had done it for her. She looked, mouth ajar, at George, whose hair matched the color of his face. Without really thinking, a rare occasion for her, she ran across the small space that separated them and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Thank you," Dessi said into his shirt.
"Are you alright?" George asked after holding her against him for a moment, pushing a few stray strands of hair away from her face.
Dessi nodded. "Thank you so much," she repeated looking up into his eyes.
George smiled, "No problem. Come on, let's get going before he wakes up and this starts all over again." George then walked the blonde towards Gryffindor Tower, his arm around her waist.
