FANTASY

(Shortaki Week 2017 - Day 2)

Crash!

"Watch where you're going, Football Head," the pretty, scowling blonde yelled fiercely into Arnold's face.

"I'm sorry. Let me help you up," Arnold replied, reaching his hand out to the girl. That's when he noticed the bright pink bow in her hair. "I like your bow."

She froze as she got to her feet, her hand still in his. "Thanks," she finally stuttered, letting go of his hand and reaching up to touch her bow gently. She looked back down at him with a feisty smirk. "So you always rush around corners bumping into people?"

"Not usually." When the girl smirked even more, he felt his cheeks grow red. "I mean, it's not like I make it a habit or something," he threw out, to try to sound less like a idiotic twit.

"Name's Helga G. Pataki; Slytherin," the girl said, shaking hands firmly with Arnold. "You're a Gryffindore I see." She gestured to the gold and maroon symbol sewn onto his robe.

"Yah. My name's Arnold Shortman," he replied with a smile.

She looked him up and down for a second. "You know, rumor has it we're supposes to be your enemies."

"Aren't we all on the same side?" he asked, his voice a strange mix of sincerity and hopefulness.

She shrugged and leaned up against the ancient stone wall. "You'd think that, Football Head, but you'd be wrong." She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed in deep.

Seemingly out of nowhere, an icy draft flowed down the hall, curling around their ankles, chilling their bones. They both shivered, and laughed nervously.

"Don't you feel it?" she asked, her piercingly blue eyes direct on him once more. "Something in the air. Something not quite right. A sort of foreboding…like everything's about to change."

Arnold shivered slightly and heaved a sigh. "I thought I'd imagined that," he admitted finally.

"Oh, it's there. And at some point sides will be drawn," she stated matter-of-factly, and so casually it was almost alarming. Yet, at the same time Arnold sensed something deeper inside the girl. "It's only a matter of time," she continued, adjusting her Slytherin robe. "The question is…where will we fall you and I? History has endless examples of our destiny—of our opposing sides." She stared at him, something deep and pleading in her eyes, almost hidden beneath her stoic, almost harsh exterior.

Arnold gave her a beaming smile and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I believe anybody can do something different. Be the person that changes a long line of repetition." He moved his had away and shrugged. "Who says we have to be on opposite sides?"

Helga chuckled in amusement. "Aw, you are a Griffyndor, Mr. Bright-side."

"Miss Pataki!"

Helga spun around to see who had called her. She stood up straighter when she spotted the cold, coal-black eyes of the Slytherin headmaster. "Yes, Professor Snape?"

"Stop gossiping with Potter's sniveling companion and get back to class," the professor replied, smoothly turning on his heel and heading down the hall, his long robes flowing behind him.

Helga elbowed Arnold in the arm drawing his attention back to her. "Guess I'll see you around, Arnoldo," she said with a small smirk.

"Yah, I'll see you around," he replied. "We will be on the same side after all," he added smoothly, his eyes half-lidded as he noticed the way something deep flashed across her eyes for just a moment.

Then she raised an eyebrow at him, seeming to be amused by some joke only she understood, before heading down the hall away from him. She glanced over her shoulder once to see him still standing there watching her, and she shot him a smirk once more. Something warm glowed inside him suddenly and he shook his head, still smiling.

A/N: This is also a little sneak peak of something I've got in the works. Won't be posting until I've got more figured out and written, but you can look forward to it until then! remember to review-drabbles need love too!