Chapter 4
The welcome feast was in full swing; everyone was talking excitedly with their friends. Lainey was sitting between Sophie and Jeremy, not talking much to either. Sophie was sitting next to James, hanging on to his every word. Jeremy would try to bring her into conversations with his friends, but she wasn't in the mood to talk. She has searched the Slytherin table for Malfoy, but was yet to see him. She really wasn't sure why seeing him would be a comfort. Anxious to get to the Prefect meeting just before the end of the feast, Lainey hadn't touched her food.
Jeremy checked his watch and turned to Lainey. "Hey, you ready to go?"
"Sure. Let me tell Sophie I'm leaving." Lainey turned and tapped Sophie on the shoulder. "I'm going to the meeting. "I'll see you in the common room?"
"Yeah, I'll see you there or in our dorm," Sophie said.
Lainey and Jeremy walked down the aisle between the tables. They trailed behind the head girl, Elizabeth Abronte, who was a Ravenclaw. They all walked to the Deputy Headmistress's office to meet with her to get the new passwords and patrol times.
Almost everyone was there when they arrived, except one of the seventh-year Slytherins and one fifth year Hufflepuff. Jeremy went to the front of the room with Elizabeth, so Lainey took a seat next to Malfoy, who was sulking. He barely glanced at her when she sat down. After a few moments, she decided to say something. Maybe ease the tension.
"Umm…hey," she said nervously, not really knowing what else to say. She had to formulate each word carefully to make any sense. "I-I didn't see you at the feast."
He looked into her eyes for a brief second. "That's because I didn't go."
"Oh," she hesitated. "Did you have a good break?" Lainey was still clueless as to why she was still trying to make conversation with him.
"No, and why do you want to talk to me now?" Malfoy snapped.
"What?" Lainey said, shocked by his bluntness.
"I tried to talk to you earlier. On the train? But you went off with your boyfriend."
"Who?"
"Mr. Head Boy over there." He pointed towards the front of the room where Jeremy was standing.
"He's not my boyfriend, Malfoy," she spat. All of her former nerves dissolved, anger taking its place.
Malfoy paused, looking a bit remorseful. "Oh…well, sorry."
"It's fine," Lainey said, feeling a little flustered. "And for your information-"
"Meeting in order!" the Deputy Headmistress, Professor Freeherr called, putting an end to any conversation.
Lainey and Malfoy both turned their attention to the front of the room. They were updated on new rules, given new passwords for those common rooms that required them, and set patrolling schedule times. Sixth year Prefects patrolled in a rotating schedule five nights a week from nine to ten o' clock. After nine o' clock, all third year students and younger should be in their common rooms. At the end of the meeting, Lainey hurried out, trying to avoid Jeremy.
Later that evening, Lainey was walking the halls with the other sixth-year Gryffindor Prefect, Bradyn Long. He was one of her better friends. They had just turned a corner when someone called her name.
"Lainey!"
It was Malfoy. He easily caught up to them and asked to speak with Lainey. Alone.
Bradyn continued down the hall with an apprehensive glance over his shoulder. "See you later, Lainey."
Lainey and Malfoy walked back in the other direction. They were both silent until Lainey built up the courage to speak.
"Malfoy…Is there something you wanted to say to me?"
Malfoy looked over at her and stopped walking. "Yeah, there was. Um, sorry I snapped. Earlier, at the Prefect meeting…and something else. When we were talking about Longbottom and you said 'for your information,' what were you going to say?"
Lainey sighed. She was not expecting this, although she knew exactly what he was talking about. "I was-I was going to say that I was going to walk with you on the train."
"Really?"
Lainey couldn't figure out his tone. It was flat but disbelieving at the same time. In a good way.
"Well, yeah. It probably wouldn't have been the best idea, but no offense, why do you care? I mean," she looked down, flushing, "you always tease me. Well, your friends do, at least. And I've barely spoken to you, besides classes, since I've known you."
Lainey waited for him to speak. He started to wring his hands, not looking as arrogant as usual.
"I just wanted to talk," he said slowly.
"Talk? About?"
"Well, nothing. It's almost ten o'clock. We should probably get back," he said, his usual heir returning.
"Oh, uh, yeah," Lainey said, surprised at the sudden change in topic. "I'll see you in Potions tomorrow, I guess. " She turned to go find Bradyn.
"Wait," he said. He reached out and touched her arm. She jumped and he let go. "Will you meet me tomorrow? We could do our patrols together."
He grinned, looking unsure, his eyes sparkling. Lainey couldn't resist.
"Okay," she said unsteadily.
"Okay." His grin widened. "Meet me around the corner from the Library at five till nine."
"Okay." This was the only word she could get out. Lainey turned to walk down the hallway in a daze. Malfoy watched her.
She turned the corner and stopped, leaning against the wall. Listening to his retreating footsteps, she could finally think straight.
'What was that? He's never even spoken to me outside of class for real before. Why does he want to meet me? This is so weird. I need to find Sophie.'
After tracking down Bradyn and making their reports to Professor Freeherr, Lainey said goodbye and headed up to the sixth-year girls dormitory. Lainey ran up the stairs and jumped onto Sophie's bed, very confused but also very excited.
