Title: Astoria Greengrass and the Insufferable Ferret

For: SpiritedWind

House: Ravenclaw

Name: lunalestrange4, aka Jess

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I'm just playing around with the characters.

A/N: For the Secret Santa fic exchange on Hogwarts Online II.


Astoria Greengrass, fifth year Slytherin, carefully placed the book she had been reading in her bag, planning to head back to the common room and study a little more. She turned around, jumping as she realized Draco Malfoy was standing right there, one arm casually resting on the shelf. "What the hell? You scared me!"

He rolled his eyes. "Girls."

"I'm pretty sure you would have been startled if someone was right behind you and you didn't know." She rolled her eyes back. "If you don't mind, I am going back to the common room."

"I'll come too."

She started walking at a fast pace, hoping that he would give up, but his longer strides easily matched hers. Not for the first time, she wished she had grown taller than five-three; she seemed so short, even though Draco - no, Malfoy - wasn't particularly tall himself. She muttered the password, vaguely wishing that the entrance would seal shut and not allow him to enter. He had been following her around lately; it was rather creepy, even for a Slytherin. What, did he have some sort of crush on her? She was two years younger, not to mention that her older sister Daphne, who was actually in Malfoy's year, was much prettier. Why did he keep stalking her? She threw herself down on one of the large chairs, promptly opening her book. She was determined not to say anything to Malfoy, who also had sat down.

The silence continued for a little while until finally, he said, "Why are you even bothering to read the Muggle Studies book? You know that Alecto Carrow will be satisfied if you just write 'Muggles are stupid filthy animals' a couple dozen times, rather than writing a real essay."

"Because I, unlike some people, am not a lazy git," she replied calmly, not even looking up. "I do turn in real essays, although I am aware that she can barely read."

"What are you, a Ravenclaw?"

"Almost," she replied, hoping that her one-word answer would make him go away. The Sorting Hat had indeed almost placed her in Ravenclaw, and it had taken much cajoling on Astoria's part to make it put her in Slytherin, where her sister was, and where the rest of her family had also been.

"I was sorted into Slytherin instantly."

"Good for you." Astoria set the book on the arm of the chair, realizing that no matter what she said, Malfoy would neither shut up nor leave her alone. "What do you want? Because I am trying to study, if you have not noticed this, and you are bothering me. Greatly."

"It's fun." He smirked. "There's nothing interesting around here, if you have noticed. Quidditch is canceled, and the buffoons Crabbe and Goyle are with the Carrows supervising detentions, so I can't boss them around."

"That's nice. Now, will you please stop staring at me? It makes me uneasy, not to mention that I am trying to study, and I would appreciate it if I could do so in peace." She put the book back on her lap but didn't start reading it; the probability was that Malfoy would insist on making even more conversation. He was determined, apparently, to spend time with her. Which mightn't have been so bad, if it had been when she was free, but every time he started talking, she was busy. Not to mention that there had been that curious incident three years prior with the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher turning Malfoy into a ferret. Now every time she looked at him she couldn't help but think of that. It was funny, even if he was a member of her own house and she should have been on his side.

"Only Ravenclaws study unnecessarily," he replied arrogantly. "You are a Slytherin, and studying is a foolish way to spend time." He lifted his wand from his pocket, flicking it, and causing her book to fly over in his direction. "There are much better things to be doing."

"Give me that!" She stood up at the same time he did, taking out her wand as well and attempting to Summon it back. He blocked it, though, looking smug. She went to stomp on his foot. "You insufferable, annoying, jerk, you give me that back right now!"

He held it above her reach, which in itself was embarrassing. She refused to jump for it - what a fool she would have looked like doing so - but stretched up, attempting to get it first manually, and then yet again with another Summoning Charm, which was also blocked. Sighing, she threw herself back down on the chair she had been sitting on. "Giving up so easily?" Malfoy asked.

"You are so obnoxious."

"I'm just saying..." He put the book down on his chair, but she didn't dare move for it. He would probably just grab it and hold it above her head again. "There's much better things to do than studying."

"All right, Malfoy. You win. You can have the common room to yourself. I'm going up to the dormitory - you can't follow me there. Thankfully." She slung her bag over her shoulder, managing to Summon the book out from under his nose, and putting that into her bag as well.

"Wait," he said.

It was an instinctual reflex to stop and turn around, just to see what he wanted. Maybe he would finally explain what was causing him to be so annoying. She wasn't expecting him, though, to quickly press his lips to hers, bending down to do so, and then look immensely satisfied. "Excuse me? Did you just kiss me?" she asked, although she knew he had. It was just such a surprise. Not that it had been a bad kiss...just took her by surprise.

"I wanted to. And I'm a Malfoy...we get what we want."

"You're a git, that's what you are," she muttered, but not with as much ferocity as usual.

"I am not a -" His words were cut short by Astoria kissing him.

"Thought that you should be surprised too," she said neutrally, starting to head up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

"Wait!"

"Are you going to kiss me again?" She was surprised at the fact she actually wouldn't mind if he did. The fact that Draco Malfoy had kissed her - and she had liked it - and she had kissed him...oh, bugger, the whole thing was confusing and exciting. She hung her bag on the railing, jumping down the two steps she had went up. "Because, you know...I might not mind."

"Good," he said. "Because that's exactly what I was thinking. Shall we snog?"

"Yes, Malfoy."