"So how was it then?" Ron asked as he sat down across from Harry, Hermione and I in the great hall.
"How was what?" Hermione sighed turning away from me, ending our conversation.
"Your dinner party." Ron replied mockingly
"Pretty boring, actually. Though I think Harry enjoyed dessert." Hermione glanced at Harry while she said this as if he was expected to know what she was talking about.
I fidgeted in my seat, trying to stay focused on the conversation. To my dismay my eyes settled on Draco who was sitting completely alone across the room. His meal lie untouched on his plate as he stared off in the distance.
Lavender Brown skipped over to our table, saying something to Ron, I was so focused on Draco I hardly noticed when she walked away waving at me.
Harry and Ron sat up a few minutes later
"Come on Harry! We got a game to win!" Ron cheered, unlike before he looked excited and not like he was going to puke all over the floor.
Hermione turned to me and began to pack up her things.
"Are you going to the game?"
I looked back towards Draco who was now getting up himself. I figured he would be heading to the game considering it was Gryffindor versus Slytherin.
"Uh yeah, i'll be there soon. Got some things I need to take care of first.
I rushed out of the dining hall as discreetly as I could, following Draco down the hallway.
During the quidditch game had been a terrible time to be a gryffindor searching for a slytherin. I stuck out like a sore thumb. My red and gold scarf whipped it's way past the green and grey slytherin kids crowded on the bleachers.
"Sod off gryffindor!" A boy yelled at me, drawing even more attention. When I realized Draco was nowhere on the bleachers I walked down the rickety wooden stairway to go check the castle again, pushing my way past two barmy slytherin girls that wouldn't let me pass.
When I got down the steps I heard a familiar voice.
"Well I thought we were going to meet up for our date yesterday! Where were you?" Aubrey was sitting onto of one of the wooden post with her arms crossed. Draco was right across from her leaning on one of the post.
"I told you I had detention." Draco snarled. His head quickly shot up when he heard a creak on the stairway.
"Hunter!" Aubrey chirped, hopping down off the post to give me a hug.
"What are you doing here?" Draco asked looking back towards the floor. He was wearing a long sleeved white button down shirt and his green and grey tie was hugh loosely around his neck.
"I have to talk to you." I stared dartes at Draco until he looked back up at me.
Everyone was quiet for a moment. Aubrey walked over to the steps grabbing her pink coat and a black jacket off of the railing. She tossed the jack over to Draco and quickly put on her own.
"Well i'll see you later, then." Aubrey sighed, giving Draco a kiss before she left. I knew she only did it to spite me. I knew how much she hated it when I disturbed her "Draco time."
As soon as she was gone I stomped up to Draco and slapped him across the face. He grabbed the side of his face with his hand, shouting a few swears.
"What the hell Vain?" He yelled at me. His hand hovering his pocket that carried his wand. I stepped back before he could get any ideas and took a deep breath.
"You did it didn't you? I shouted accusingly.
"What are you talking about?"
"The other day! You cursed Katie Bell, didn't you?" Although I had thought about it a thousand times, just saying outloud took the breath out of me.
"You don't know anything." Draco began to turn away.
I quickly grabbed his arm and spun him back around.
"Didn't you Draco!"
As he spun towards me he pulled out his wand, pointing it directly at my face.
"Leave it!"
Draco and I held each other's glare for a minute before he spoke again.
"Leave it," he said again less forcefully. "Okay?" He stuffed the wand back into his pocket and turned around walking away.
I stumbled back, allowing him to leave this time. I was right, I thought to myself. Even though I knew I had to be right, it still hurt. All I could think about is how Draco could ever do Voldemort's bidding, or how his parents, his mother more than anyone would let it get this far. The cabinet was one thing. But this?
I stomped back to my room, running into an all too happy Lavender and Ron. I attempted to say hi but the two were far too busy sticking their tongues down the other's through to know.
I gaged to myself just thinking about it.
While Seamus was out for the night and my other friends were at the Slug Club Christmas party I decided to do some extra snooping.
Horcruxes. I had overheard Harry talk about them yesterday in the Gryffindor common room when he thought no one was listening. I alway wondered why Harry, Ron, and Hermione had talked so openly about everything that was going on. Did they think people couldn't hear?
Anyways it's not like this is the first time i've ever heard the word. My mother, God it still feels uncomfortable calling her that, has a terrible habit of talking (usually loudly) about things with Mrs. Malfoy. The first time I had heard Bellatrix talking about horcruxes I went into the Malfoy's library, when Draco wasn't looking, and found out some extra information on them. It is not difficult to find information about any sort of dark or banned magic at Malfoy's Manor.
If Voldemort had really split himself up into different horcruxes then it was going to take more than snooping around the school to find out where the horcruxes were; although, I knew snooping around hadley had a point I liked feeling like I was doing something.
I had thought about asking Draco if he wanted to come with me, but considering how he acted last time I saw him I decided it was better not to talk to him for awhile, that is until he cooled off at least. I knew I couldn't ask anyone if the Gryffindor house no matter how much they knew about what was going on with Harry and the others. So I asked the next best person.
"Ready?" Aubrey's voice chirped with excitement. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and she was wearing an "I heart London" pink hoodie with black yoga pants and sneakers. Normally no one at Hogwarts would be allowed to dress in such "muggle" clothing, but half the students had already left for christmas break and the only people left were those who were actually invited to slughorn's party, or just liked to be at school for some reason.
I knew I was here to snoop and I knew why Aubrey was here too. Draco. She was coming home with him for Christmas break, which I guess is good because I can just talk with her and avoid Draco. I didn't asked her why Draco and her were still at the school, but honestly I just didn't have the energy to keep tabs on Draco at the moment.
"Yeah. It's now or never I guess."
Walking around the school the school when it's almost empty is strange. Every step you make down the hallway gives off a faint echo and the only light in the school is the Christmas lights that had been magically strung up around the entire school.
Aubrey are forced to take the long way around the school because (thanks to Mr. Filch) we're not to go anywhere near Slughorn's Christmas Party. We make our way, as quietly as possible, to Dumbledore's office. I highly doubt he will have any stuff lying around his office about Voldemort and his horcruxes, but he must have something. It's not that I don't trust Dumbledore, I think he is a great wizard. It's just that he has been acting strange all year, and last year as a matter of fact, and I think that leaves ground for investigation. I'm still not entirely sure that he's stayed at school for more than a week this entire year. Even Harry is getting worried. Yet another thing that I've heard him talking about with Ron and Hermione.
When Aubrey and I get to Dumbledore's office we wait outside for a few moments to make sure no one is inside. We turn to head in when we suddenly hear voices.
"I have to leave tonight Severus." It's Dumbledore's voice. I remember as a first year I thought his voice was so gruff and scary, but now as time has gone by he sounds more like a frail old man each day.
"I understand Sir," I hear Snape's voice through the door. Aubrey and I quickly exchange glances. "But what shall we tell the Potter boy?"
"You will tell him that I have to go away for awhile." Aubrey and I hear footsteps coming towards the door and as fast and quiet as we can, we hide behind a pillar near the door. "And tell him not to worry." Dumbledore adds after a few moments.
After a second or so the door finally opens. I catch my breath as Snap enters my view. He pauses for a moment, as if he will turn around at any second and give me his usual disappointing scowl, but he doesn't. Instead he continues walking down the stairs as the Headmaster's door closes.
Aubrey and I wait for another five or ten minuet in silence, until finally Dumbledore walks out of his office and down the stairs. I see him smile on the way down, I know he's seen me, but he says nothing.