Chapter 6

Professor Binns' tedious voice echoed in the large room used for the 5th year's History of Magic class.

The issue with having a ghost, as a professor is that he always knows what one's up to. This meant that sneaking an enchanted piece of parchment to your friends in order to maintain a written conversation on current rumors, pretty boys, our holidays and how boring Professor Binns is, is most certainly out of the question. As was hexing each other when the professor turned around (not that this venture was ever successful). Thus, History of Magic will continue to be the most boring lesson in the whole of the history of lessons; at least until Professor Binns retires, but somehow I get a feeling that this wont happen anytime soon.

Slowly, the plan I had, about showing enhanced attentiveness in every lesson, not only in my favorite eight lessons flew out of the window, alongside my concentration.

My mind drifted back to yesterday's occurrences on the train. I felt my cheeks grow hot, as I recalled the sight of Malfoy's lips, and remembered the impact his snarky comment.

Absentmindedly I glanced behind of me where the blonde boy sat, scribbling nonsense on a loose piece of parchment. His hair was falling in loose strands in front of his eyes, I watched as he brushed his hair out of the way. After about two seconds, he lifted his gaze to mine. And for a brief millisecond, which it took me to quickly look away and pretend to scrutinize the wall directly above him, our eyes met, and the room seemed to fade away, professor Binns' voice becoming subdued.

"Elisha, can you explain the causes of the Goblin wars?" I quickly snapped my head back at the sound of Binns' question, and effortlessly began to answer his question, wondering whether Malfoy was still looking at me.

I, of course, didn't allow myself another look at Malfoy, for the entirety of the lesson.

At the end of the lesson, Professor Binns announced that tomorrow we'd be having a test to recap last year's work, in order to ensure last years crucial work hadn't been forgotten. An apprehensible chorus of complaints and grumbles commenced, out of which I could distinctively hear something resembling:

"We've only just started school and he's already set us a test, Wonderful. He's definitely succeeding at making us miserable and bringing down this school" in the sound of Malfoy's familiar voice.

Merlin, Malfoy hasn't changed at all; despite my worrying growth of emotional range of which he's the subject of, he's still the same whiny prat he always was.

The palaver due to all the students trying to leave at the same time caused a blockage at the door, which meant that those of us with a brain and some patience were stuck in the same spot for about five minutes. I scanned the room for the familiar blonde hair, but there was no sign of him. Of course, as I said before, those with no brain or patience caused the blockage. That's where he was.

The rest of the day past tediously slowly, and the first day of lessons was actually boring, an emotion that I hardly ever experience in a class. Does it have anything to do with the fact that the rest of today's lessons were with the Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs not the Slytherins? I certainly hope not.

When the enchanted bell rang to signal the end of my last lesson of the day, Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, I was hugely relieved. I gathered my books, spare pieces of parchment, my quills and my spare ink bottles, and arranged them neatly in my bag; by the time I finished all the students had already left. I hurriedly walked towards the Castle from the Herbology green houses.

The castle was deserted; all the students had rushed to their common rooms to catch up with their friends and get a start on homework. I wouldn't say to go to bed early, for early bed times never happen here at Hogwarts- Not that the teachers know that all students stay up dreadfully late- But it's hardly our fault. The teachers are so inconsiderate, they give us piles and piles of homework, on top of that we're expected to revise, and we can't not to socialize! It's so much fun when everybody in your house shares the same common room.

I hear from my friends in Gryffindor that it's practically impossible to do homework undisturbed over there, especially with all the noise, therefore there is a lot of procrastination, and it takes them an awful amount of time to get their work done before they even have a chance for fun and games- although this is hardly the case in the Ravenclaw common room.

Don't get the wrong impression, mind you. The Ravenclaw common room is quite fun. However, Ravenclaw has two types of people. There are those who love studying and learning, and have no life outside of their studies. Those are the few who nobody at Hogwarts really knows the name of. They get all their homework and revision done, and hurry off into their dorms, presumably to sleep, before anybody really notices they were there in the first place. They're nice, but talking to them is not my idea of fun. They're good if you need help with some question- not that anybody of Ravenclaw ever asks for help. It's the ultimate humiliation. The whole house will mock you for days on end if you ask for help; apparently according to them it's a sign of weakness and stupidity.

The other type is the more diverse group of people. All of which enjoy learning, studying and challenges, however we aren't all nerds, as Hogwarts just loves to label us as. This group of people are those who spend their free time carrying out strange and complex experiments in the common room, or drawing or playing an instrument, or simply sitting in the comfy sofas and having a good and witty chat about intellectual matters (but we don't say no to some radical gossip, mind you.)

I climbed the familiar flight of stairs, shifting the weight of my bag, from shoulder to shoulder as I reached the wooden door and knocked once using the bronze eagle-shaped knocker.

"A man approaches the police, and tells them frantically about a dead man he saw inside a window of a house when as he passed the house, he wiped the condensation off the window to glance inside. The police arrested him immediately. Why is that?" Resounded the chirpy magical voice, emerging from the bronze eagle.

I needn't think much about it, as this was an easy riddle. As a matter of fact, I've always been good at riddles. Many Ravenclaws have been locked out of the common room when they can't answer the door's riddle but that's just never happened to me.

"Because you can't wipe condensation from the outside."

"Correct, as always. Welcome back Elisha." The eagle-shaped knocker replied, whilst it opened and allowed me to step inside my favourite room of the castle.

"How was your first day then?" asked Padma Patil as she braided her own hair, sitting cross-legged on the sofa.

"It was alright, I suppose. And yours?"

"A bit boring, if I must admit. Did you see the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at dinner?"

"Oh, dear. I'm not one to judge a person by first appearances, but there's really nothing more to see about Professor… Umbridge is it? Without doubt she seems malicious and it looks as if she's scheming something alongside the Ministry of Magic. I'm dreading our first Defence Against the Dark Arts class tomorrow." I answered.

She nodded her head vigorously, keeping her eyes wide open as she mumbled the words "Yeah I know right."

At that moment, Cho walked down from the stairway leading to her dormitory. She quickly scanned the room, and as her eyes fell on me, she gave a shy smile and walked in my direction.

"Eli." She acknowledged me in a bashful way as she sat on the sky blue sofa opposite me.

I threw an expectant look in Padma's direction, and she gave me a quick understanding smile as she stood up and left.

"Cho, It's been a long time. How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," she answered too rapidly for it to be believable.

I looked away. Perhaps it's better not to pressure her to talk about how she's feeling.

"Your first day was good?" I asked her.

"Not ideal, but it was fine. And yours?"

I answered her question in a similar way to which I've answered every from of that question today.

For a while we just small talked, it was a boring conversation, mostly about classes, teachers and the weather; but it was really nice to talk to her after so long.

"Umm… Cho? Can I ask you something?" I decided to break through the small talk and ask her about the thing I needed to get off my chest.

After a moment's hesitation, Cho replied. "Yes, of course."

"What do you think of Draco Malfoy?" As soon as the words left my lips, I became a deep shade of red. Okay, I've pretty much admitted out loud that I'm starting to like that irritating Slytherin!

"Why?" A knowing smile started to appear on her face. It almost feels as if last year hadn't have happened. Almost, but not quite.

I just blushed harder and avoided her gaze.

"No. I don't believe it. It can't be. You out of all people, to fall for such an imbecile?"

"Don't call him that! He actually happens to be quite bright, you know?"

"Alright. But he's a Slytherin!" She laughed

"Will you just answer the question, please?"

"Fine, fine. Well, he's good-looking, there's no denying that. He acts like a jerk, and is a bully. But I suppose he does look like he has the potential to be charming, if he wiped that horrendous sneer off his face once in a while-" She stopped half way through her prospective rant, and looked me I the eyes.

"You really do like him don't you?"

"No- Yes... No. I don't know. Why?"

"I've just never seen that look in your eyes before. Love."

A/N: Bare with me guys, I know it's going a bit slowly now, but I'm trying my best to make it realistic, and something that actually could've happened. Draco/Elisha action is coming up soon. The wait is now short. I hope you are enjoying it so far. Please don't forget to leave reviews to comment on it, give constructive criticism or even give me ideas! It would mean a lot!