Chapter 9: Mr Longbottom Flies

By the end of their first week at Hogwarts, the Potter twins still hadn't reconciled. Leila's desire to fix the situation with her brother lessened every time he seemed to avoid her. Her initial guilt of the situation turned depleted as her stubbornness took control of her emotions. Leila couldn't remember a single time when things had been this bad between them and yet things continued to spiral downward.

Friday afternoon, Leila sat with her Slytherin Housemates outside in the courtyard. Daphne and Leila sat on one of the walls watching their friends play. Leila looked up at the clock, dreading when three o'clock rolled around. She was supposed to go to Hagrid's...with Harry. Since Harry wasn't talking to her, she hadn't told him that she didn't want to go any longer nor had she had the heart to tell Hagrid because she didn't want to explain the situation to him. But she had been dreading it all day. Honestly, she had thought that Harry would have gotten over it by now. Yet, here they were.

At five minutes to three, Leila saw Harry walk through the courtyard with Ron Weasley. Leila's eyes widened and a scowl spread across her face as she watched them. "He wouldn't dare," Leila seethed.

"Who wouldn't dare what?" Daphne asked, furrowing her brow.

"Harry wouldn't dare bring that dolt, Ron Weasley, to our tea date with Hagrid."

Daphne looked over her shoulder to see Harry and Ron growing smaller in the distance before she turned to Leila. "Hate to break it to you...but I think he is."

"That. Prat." Leila jumped from the ledge and stumbled onto her feet before standing upright. She turned toward Daphne and held out her hand. "Come with me."

"Where?"

"For a walk."

The Greengrass girl looked at Leila pointedly before she jumped from the ledge, landing gracefully on her feet. "Fine, but I have a feeling that we're doing more than simply going for a walk."

Leila raised an eyebrow at Daphne, but the blonde-haired girl looped her arm through the Potter girl's and together they left the courtyard and wandered out onto the Hogwarts' grounds. Together the girls stomped across the grass and down the hill, following behind the Gryffindor boys. They were careful to keep their distance, however.

When Harry and Ron reached Hagrid's hut, Ron was the first one to turn and spot the two Slytherin girls trailing behind them. The Weasley boy poked Harry's arm. As Harry turned toward him, Ron pointed back at the girls. Harry looked up at Leila and Daphne, who had stopped walking and stood a distance away. Leila's brother shook his head before he grabbed Ron's arm, dragging him closer to the door, and then knocking on Hagrid's door.

Leila froze. It felt like someone had just punched her in the stomach and she had the wind knocked out of her. It was a feeling she recognized, but never because of Harry. It felt like he was choosing Ron over her-all because of something so stupid...so insignificant. She knew Harry could be stubborn and hot-headed about things, but she never thought he would betray her…not like this.

But like her brother, Leila too was stubborn. If she had more bravery, she perhaps would have marched straight over there and demanded that Harry quite acting like an arse. If she were braver, she probably could have fixed things with him-but that wasn't her. No, instead of dealing with what she was feeling, she simply internalized it. With her feelings hurt and the flames of the feud with her brother burning inside her, tears began to sting at Leila's eyes. She had never felt this hurt on the inside before. Never.

Daphne muttered something under her breath before she reached over and pulled Lella close to her. Leila's head rested against Daphne's shoulder as she tried to keep the tears from spilling. "Don't let him get to you," Daphne whispered. "He's not worth it."

"But he's my brother," Leila whined softly.

"So what are we doing here?" a voice drawled from behind.

Both Daphne and Leila quickly turned around to see Draco standing behind them, looking curiously at Hagrid's Hut. Leila simply hung her head in defeat with tears still stinging at her eyes. It was Daphne who responded. "Watching her brother be a complete git."

Leila sniffled and Draco immediately looked to her. He reached his hand under her chin and lifted it up. Quickly noticing the tears falling down Leila's cheeks, he looked back toward Hagrid's and narrowed his eyes. "I can take care of that," he responded.

The Potter girl sniffled again as her emerald eyes met his icy ones. She swallowed hard. She didn't tell him that he could do anything to her brother...but she didn't tell him that he couldn't either.

Five more days had passed and the Potter twins were still in dissension. Although, most of the fighting included pretending the other didn't exist, dirty glances, and sticking close to their Housemates. It probably didn't help matters that Leila wasn't stopping Malfoy from antagonizing her brother, but he was the one who was refusing to come to his senses. When Harry finally did come to his senses, she would rationally try to work things out, but until then, whatever happened was on Harry.

On Wednesday afternoon, Leila walked back to the Slytherin common room with Daphne. They had gone to the library after their last class because Leila had insisted on checking-out a few books. If Leila wanted to beat Hermione Granger at her own game, this was how to do it and she was going to do it one class at a time. Leila figured Potions would be the easiest class to upstage Granger in first...but that was mostly because Snape hated Gryffindors and favoured his Slytherins. So, she had checked-out a couple Potions books and a Transfiguration book to get a head start on that class too.

"You're mental," Daphne chuckled as Leila dragged her heavy book bag on the floor behind her. "Is it even worth it?"

"I answered a question before Granger did today, didn't I?" Leila responded. 'The look on her face was enough to keep me going."

"Don't get me wrong, I don't like her either; but is all of this really necessary?"

"Yes," was all Leila answered. Daphne sighed and nodded her head before she said the password to the Slytherin common room.

When the two girls entered the common room, they found the first year Slytherins abuzz with disdain. They were gathered around the board where Snape posted the notices. Daphne and Leila looked to each other curiously before they pushed through the crowd. Leila was so curious that she left her heavy book bag behind on the ground.

At the board, Leila had to stand on her tippy-toes to read the notice. It said that first years were going to start flying lessons the next day, Thursday...with the Gryffindors. Leila groaned. Yet another class she was going to have to avoid her brother's dirty glances and that know-it-all Hermione Granger. If the class hadn't been with the Gryffindors, Leila probably would have actually been looking forward to learning how to fly.

With the first years still gathered around the notice board, it was Malfoy who voiced his opinion first. "I've been flying since before I could even walk," he boasted. "I don't see why I should have to take this ridiculous class."

"Especially with them," Pansy Parkinson added with an eye roll. The Slytherins around her agreed.

"I mean, we're not even allowed our own brooms," Draco continued with a scoff. "This class is a joke. Father even says so."

"Not to mention that it's a bloody shame that they don't allow first years on the House teams," Theo added.

Leila's brow furrowed at the mention of House teams.

"It's like Hogwarts thinks we're numpties when it comes to Quidditch," Draco responded angrily shaking his head.

But Leila's brow furrowed again at the word Quidditch.

"Please, no more talk of Quidditch," Daphne begged as she covered her ears with her hands. "That's all you boys ever talk about is Quidditch this and Quidditch that. I swear you lot can bore a person to death with all your talk of it."

Leila looked around in confusion as her Housemates simply laughed at Daphne's complaint. Their enthusiasm about this so-called Quidditch wasn't marred but Daphne disgruntledness. In fact, it only seemed to grow. As the conversation grew louder and shrills of excitement increased, Leila leaned over to Daphne and whispered, "What's Quidditch?"

She thought that she had been very discreet about it...but Pansy Parkinson had been watching her. The girl squealed with laughter before shouting, "Potter doesn't know what Quidditch is, you lot! Where have you been living? Under a rock?"

Leila's face grew red with embarrassment as everyone but Daphne seemed to be laughing at her expense. Apparently, everyone else knew what Quidditch was...and whatever it was, it was funny that Leila didn't know about it. With a sigh, Daphne reached for Leila's arm and dragged her away from the notice board. "Move it," the blonde-haired girl called as she pushed their way out of the crowd.

After grabbing Leila's discarded book bag, the two girls walked back to their dormitory to study and relax before dinner. Almost immediately upon entering her dormitory, Leila hit the books. She practically bolted across the room to her pile of textbooks. She scoured through every book in her possession looking for anything on Quidditch. None of the indexes seemed to mention a thing about Quidditch. The only one that came close was her History of Magic textbook, but all it said was: The Quidditch World Cup is an event that brings witches and wizards together from all over the world for a somewhat united cause.

The Potter girl groaned as she slammed the book shut before she pushed over the pile of textbooks that had been neatly stacked on the floor beside her. The books spilled into the alcove and scared Roman, who had been sleeping. The poor cat jumped nearly a foot in the air before landing in Leila's lap. With her bottom lip sticking out, Leila picked Roman up and shook her head. "You wouldn't happen to know anything, would you?" she asked him. But Roman simply hung there, staring back at her.

It was then that Daphne glided over from her bed to Leila's alcove. She sighed as she leaned against the wall. "I suggest that next time you go to the library, you borrow Quidditch Through the Ages. That should be of some help. But honestly, Draco would be able to tell you more. I'm positive he's read the book cover to cover. He's been playing the game for years...and not to mention that his father takes him to matches all the time. Draco's your best bet."

"No. Absolutely not. I'm not asking him," Leila said stubbornly as she set Roman down and folded her arms across her chest. "Why can't you just tell me about Quidditch?"

"Because I'm probably the last person you want to ask." Daphne gave a coy smile before continuing. "I hate the sport. Always have. Always will."

"But please. You have to know something. Just tell me whatever you know. Something is better than nothing. Please?"

"Oh fine." Daphne gave a slight roll of her eyes. "Now, I might be completely off on some of this. I tend to tune the boys out when it comes to Quidditch. Anyway, I think it's just people flying around on brooms trying to throw something through some hoops. It's pretty boring if you ask me...especially when matches can go on for days if the bloody Snitch isn't caught."

"Snitch?"

"All you asked for was something...and I just told you something. No more." Daphne smirked at Leila, who shook her head. "Like I said, ask Draco. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to talk to you about Quidditch."

"Oh, I'm sure he'd be ecstatic," Leila said rolling her eyes as she reached to stack her books again. "Which is exactly why I'm not going to do it."

"I still don't understand what you have against Draco. He's been nothing but sweet toward you. He's not like that with everyone, you know."

"I do know. In fact, I know that he's an annoying little git, that's what."

"And yet you let him bully your brother around."

There was a moment of silence. Leila bit her bottom lip, pondering Daphne's claim, before responding with, "It's for Harry's own good. He's being a git too."

The next morning at breakfast, the Slytherins were still talking about their upcoming flying lessons. Leila was attempting to ignore Malfoy, who had chosen to sit right beside her, by playing with the bowl of porridge in front of her. She scooped a spoonful before she watched it slide off her spoon and back into the bowl while Malfoy attempted to impress her with previous flying experience. He couldn't take the hint that she was trying to ignore him. Instead, he started talking rather excitedly about almost hitting some flying Muggle objects...that had no right to be there...or something to that effect. While Leila tried her best to ignore him, it was obvious that Pansy was hanging on his every word.

Leila then shifted on the bench so that she was pressed up against Daphne, trying to turn her back to Malfoy. At first he didn't seem to notice while he continued to talk. The Potter girl glanced over at the Gryffindor table for a moment and spotted her brother glaring her direction. It was obvious that he wasn't happy with her seemingly becoming friendly with Malfoy...if only he really knew how she felt about him. But Harry quickly looked away from his sister and pretended to look engrossed in a conversation with Ron Weasley, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom. Leila sighed and shook her head.

She was about to say something to Daphne when a finger poked her in the arm. Leila didn't even have to look to know it was Malfoy. He poked her again. "Leila, you aren't listening to a word I'm saying," he groaned.

"I know," Leila muttered to herself, but Daphne must have heard her because the blonde-girl shook her head.

"I was just about to tell you about the time…"

Leila turned slightly toward him and glared. "Why don't you go annoy my brother or something," she groaned sarcastically.

A smirk played over Malfoy's face. "Well...since I do have your blessing…"

Leila's eyes widened in horror at Malfoy's response to her sarcasm. She hadn't actually meant for to bother Harry. It had just kind of slipped out. The way things do when you're around people whom you just want to leave you alone. But that wasn't the worst thing about the situation. No, if Harry found out that she had purposely set Malfoy on him...well, let's just say that things probably wouldn't be getting better anytime soon. As much as Malfoy annoyed her...Harry hated the boy with a fierce loathing. Harry probably hated Malfoy more than he hated Dudley...and that was saying something.

Malfoy smacked Crabbe's arm and snapped across the table at Goyle. Leila watched in horror was he ordered them to follow him over to the Gryffindor table. She tried to think quickly as the three boys started walking away from the Slytherin table. She had to do something. Harry obviously wouldn't take too kindly to her. Her only hope was that she might be able to use Malfoy's fondness for her against him. That seemed to be her only option and she was hesitant to play that card. But she had to.

Leila practically jumped off the bench and chased after her Housemates. Her only hope was that Harry wasn't watching them because that could potentially complicate matters even further. She caught up to them at the end of the Slytherin table, yanking Draco by the arm. He turned toward her with a look of shock on his face, but he quickly masked it with a rather amused smirk. "Want to come along, do you?" Draco asked her.

"Absolutely not. I-I just didn't mean for you to actually go over there," Leila said.

Draco took a step closer to Leila, closing the distance between them. Leila moved to take a step backward away from him, but she tripped and ended up falling into a sitting position on a bench. He then rested his hands on the table and leaned closer toward her. "You know, I think you actually do want me to go over there."

"No. I don't."

He pondered her words for a moment before responding. "Say I don't go over there...what do I get in return?"

"In return? From me? Absolutely nothing."

He smirked his stupid smirk again. "Then I don't really have a reason to not go over there, do I?"

Leila opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. Malfoy chuckled before he turned swiftly on his heel and walked away from her with Crabbe and Goyle flanking either side of him. Leila watched through her fingers over her face as Malfoy swaggered toward the Gryffindor table. Her breathing began to quicken as they got closer. She felt like she was going to be sick. She hadn't meant for any of this to happen and she couldn't watch what was about to enfold.

So, Leila sprinted from the Great Hall nearly running into the Hufflepuff boy she met in the library on her first day. But she missed him and made it into the corridor. She leaned against the stone wall for a few moments before she began to pace across the width of the corridor. "He's going to kill me. He's going to kill me," Leila muttered over and over again.

She was so focused on her pacing that she screamed when a hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Please don't kill me!" Leila immediately pleaded. "I didn't mean for it to happen, honest. I really didn't. He just…"

"Whoa, easy now," a familiar voice came from behind her. "We were just going to say 'hi-ya Leila,' but now I must admit, you've got me curious. Who's killing you?"

Leila whipped around to find Fred and George Weasley standing behind her. She eyed them cautiously before taking several steps away from them. She hadn't spoken to neither Fred nor George since the train ride on the Hogwarts Express...but she had heard quite a bit about them and their reputation since arriving. They were notorious at Hogwarts. The difficult part was figuring out which of the Hogwarts rumors were true and which weren't. But after what she had heard-she didn't want to be on Fred and George's bad side. Leila bit her lip nervously, unsure of what to say to them.

"Cat got your tongue?" George chuckled.

"Probably a snake, Georgie" Fred quipped. Leila slowly blinked at them. Fred took a step forward and motioned his hand in front of her face. "Yoo-hoo, earth to Leila. You there?"

Leila nodded her head. "S-sorry," she stammered. "I-I just wasn't sure that you two would still be talking to me. After...you know."

Fred and George looked at each other before they surrounded Leila on either side, each wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Something happened, you say? Georgie, you know what she's talking about?"

"Haven't a clue, Freddie," George responded. "Although, my memory is a bit hazy. There might have been something…"

"Yeah...yeah...I know what you mean. Can't place a finger on the hippogriff in the room, though." Fred then took a step and hunched down a bit so that his eye level was at Leila's. "Tell me, are you still Leila Potter?"

"Yes," Leila responded quite confused by his question.

George then copied his brother's motion and hunched down in front of Leila. "And have you suddenly become evil now that you're a snake?" George asked.

"No-at least I don't think so. I-I…"

"Then whatever happened must not be that important," Fred stated. "Isn't that right, George?"

"That's right, Fred."

"Now, we're dying to know. What's going on? Who's trying to kill you this time?"

The twins chuckled at the pun while Leila gulped a breath of air before she motioned with her hand for the Weasley twins to follow her. Slowly, she tip-toed closer toward the doors to the Great Hall. She peeked from the behind the door and pointed at the Gryffindor table. Fred and George also peeked from behind the door over the top of Leila's head.

Leila groaned when she saw Malfoy talking animatedly to the Gryffindors. Clearly, the conversation was quite one-sided and the Gryffindors looked angry. She wasn't sure what was happening, but whatever it was...it wasn't good. Draco was twirling some spherical glass object in his hand with a smug expression on his face. Harry and Ron were both on their feet arguing with Draco. No. Definitely not good.

The Potter girl tilted her head up at the Weasley twins, who were watching the scene in the Great Hall unfold. "That's what," Leila whispered.

"You did that?" George asked unsure of whether to be impressed or slightly terrified.

"Maybe you are evil after all," Fred commented but when he looked down and noticed the sad expression on Leila's face he ruffled her hair and said, "I'm only joking, Leila."

Leila sighed. "But you see, I didn't mean for it to happen. Malfoy was just being annoying, as usual...and I wanted him to leave me alone...and I had just been looking at Harry...and it sort of just popped out."

"What popped out?" Fred looked down at her curiously and she groaned.

"I-I sorta told Malfoy to go bother Harry, but I didn't actually mean for him to do it. And then I tried to stop him…"

"But obviously that didn't work," George added from observing the fact the Malfoy was at the Gryffindor table terrorizing the Gryffindors.

"Obviously...and well, now Harry's going to kill me for setting Malfoy on him. I'm doomed."

Fred chuckled as he rested his hand on Leila's shoulder. He looked to his twin. Both of them seemed to be communicating without words-just head nods and shoulder shrugs. Fred then gently patted Leila's shoulder again. "Don't you worry about him, Leila" he said. "Georgie and I will be sure to keep him occupied until you two are ready to kiss and make nice."

"Wait, which one is she kissing, Freddie?" George asked in a teasing voice.

"Neither of them!" Leila retorted as she folded her arms across her chest. Obviously, she wasn't going to kiss her brother. Nor would she ever be kissing Draco Malfoy...that she was certain of.

"He's only joking, Leila," Fred sighed and shook his head before he turned Leila around and gently pushed her further into the corridor. "But good to know. Now, you run along and do whatever it is you Slytherins do. George and I have a situation to handle."

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that…"

"Well, I'd go if I were you," George said looking at Leila pointedly. "He's coming this way."

"Which one?"

"Does it really matter?"

Leila shook her head before she took off in a sprint for the grand staircase, headed for Defence Against the Dark Arts. She easily navigated the corridors that once overwhelmed her, but it wasn't until she reached the classroom door that she realized she had forgotten her book bag in the Great Hall. Normally, a forgotten book bag shouldn't have been so detrimental, but inside her book bag was the essay that was due today.

Poking her head through the classroom door, she only saw Professor Quirrell sitting at his desk doing what appeared to be grading. Even know-it-all Granger wasn't in the classroom yet which surprised Leila. The girl was always the first one in every class. Just then, the Granger girl rounded the corner and was walking straight toward the classroom with her nose in a book. Frustration easily overcame Leila. Should she go back to the Great Hall and get her bag or best Hermione Granger at something as silly as being first to class?

She weighed her options. If she went back to the Great Hall, she would then be late for class. She would likely lose Slytherin points not to mention that she would make a scene entering class late. She hated when all eyes were on her. It was already bad enough as it was walking through the corridors with people still whispering and staring at her almost two weeks into the school year. The other option was to get to class before Granger. It seemed rather petty and stupid, but Leila thoroughly enjoyed the look on Granger's face when she beat her at something...although, she might lose Slytherin points for not having her essay. Leila sighed. It looked like either way, she was going to lose Slytherin points. The only option that had a small consolation was beating Granger to class-so that's what she did. Leila stepped into the classroom, fully prepared to accept whatever consequence Quirrell handed to her.

Oddly enough, Professor Quirrell didn't even notice her presence. He simply continued to grade the essays in front of him. Leila looked at the tables in the classroom and smirked. If she was going to get at Granger-she might as well make it enjoyable. So, Leila purposely sat down in Hermione Granger's usual seat and waited for the know-it-all to walk in.

When Granger walked into the classroom, Leila smirked in her direction. Granger flummoxed for a moment when she saw Leila sitting in her seat. The know-it-all's book even fell to the floor. The Potter girl couldn't help but chuckle as Granger bent down to pick up her book and then walked over to the desk Leila was sitting in. The bushy-haired girl cleared her throat. "You're sitting in my seat."

Leila pretended to look around before looking up at Granger with a fake smile. "I don't see your name anywhere," Leila retorted.

"You know that I sit here."

"Professor Quirrell doesn't assign seats. Besides, I don't see your things here laying your claim."

"I don't see yours either." Granger narrowed her eyes at Leila, but this was one fight Leila wasn't going to back down from.

So, she narrowed her eyes right back. "Well, I'm here now and that's what matters."

"We'll see about that," was all Granger responded before huffing and puffing toward Professor Quirrell's desk.

Leila watched as the girl pulled her assignment out of her book bag. The parchment was rolled into a scroll and neatly tied with twine, which Granger held out for Professor Quirrell to grab. The man was distracted until the know-it-all cleared her throat to get his attention. "Where would you like our essays?" Granger asked him. "You did say that you wanted them as soon as we entered the room, didn't you?"

"Y-yes, M-Miss Gr-Granger," Quirrell stammered as he clutched his hand around Granger's essay and then set it down on his desk. "Th-thanks."

"Don't forget about Leila's essay, sir." Granger then faked a sweet smile in Leila's direction and Quirrell nodded his head.

Leila shook her head. "Damn you," she muttered under her breath before looking up at Professor Quirrell. She tried to smile sweetly, but it was hard considering how pissed she was with Granger at the moment.

"M-Miss P-Potter y-your es-essay," Professor Quirrell said holding out one hand for her to place it in while he adjusted his turban with his other hand.

With a sigh, she looked over to Granger who appeared quite satisfied with herself. "Well, you see, sir," Leila began. "It's kind of a funny story…"

"I-I've been t-teaching l-long enough to know a f-funny story con-concerning school work when I h-hear one. And I-I've y-yet to hear a f-funny one."

"But this one…"

"C-come t-to my desk, M-Miss P-Potter."

Leila groaned. WIthout even looking at her, she knew that Granger was enjoying this and was thoroughly gloating. Rather reluctantly, Leila stood up and walked to Professor Quirrell's desk. As she got closer to him, he seemed to squirm a bit as he readjusted his turban. Leila wondered why he wore the stupid thing if it wouldn't stay on his head right, but she didn't say so. Instead, she slowly exhaled. One would think that for as terrified of everything as Professor Quirrell was, he'd be a little less demanding when it came to essays. "Y-Your es-essay?"

"Well, you see, sir…"

"Y-you d-didn't wr-write the bloody th-thing-ng did-d you?"

Leila wrung her hands nervously as she continued to plead her case. "No, I did. I swear it. It's just that I…"

"Forgot her bag in the Great Hall, she did," drawled an annoying voice from the door.

The Potter girl cringed. "Please don't be who I think that is?" She turned. Sure enough, she spotted a flash of platinum blonde hair. She groaned. Leila could swear that she even heard Granger groan, who had once again regained her seat. The only consolation about this situation was that Granger's revenge wouldn't be fully extracted.

Malfoy was soon standing beside her. "Thankfully, I noticed her bag on the floor and I thought to grab it for her."

"H-her s-saviour, M-Mr M-Mal-Malfoy," Quirrell said nodding toward Draco, which made the annoying git smirk at Leila.

Slowly, Draco removed her book bag from his shoulder and held it out for her. Leila snatched her bag from his grasp and dug her hand into her bag. She produced the parchment with her assignment on it before she carefully set it beside Granger's essay. She turned to walk away when Quirrell cleared his throat. With a sigh, Leila turned to look at him.

"W-well, ar-aren't you going to th-thank the p-poor b-boy?" Quirrell asked her and Malfoy smirked again.

Unsure of how the situation could be made any worse, Leila responded cheekily, "Not unless you're going to make me." Thankfully, Professor Quirrell got spooked by something and was quickly distracted from making her thank Draco. So she flipped her long, dark hair in Malfoy's direction before she walked away from him.

But her reprieve from Malfoy didn't last long as she heard his footsteps drawing closer to hers. Attempting to stop his obvious plan of trying to sit beside her, Leila stopped at the back of the classroom and stood there, waiting for him to sit down first. But he didn't. Instead, he came and stood beside her. He adjusted his book bag before he said confidently, "How many times is it that I've saved your arse now?"

"I wouldn't know, but you probably do seeing as you seem to be keeping score," Leila retorted.

"You sure seem to need me an awful lot, Potter."

"I don't need you." Leila turned toward him and narrowed her eyes. "You just seem to like putting your nose where it doesn't belong."

"But you ask yourself: where would you be if I didn't?" He smirked again. What was with him and that stupid smirk of his?

Annoyed, Leila marched to find a desk to be rid of him. She slumped into the first one she could find but sat rigidly at the end of the bench so that he couldn't sit beside her. But that prat practically sat on top of her and scooted her down the bench so that he could sit beside her. She was trapped. She had chosen a desk that went flush with the wall. She was stuck with him until he finally left her...which wouldn't be until class was over.

Leila banged her head against the table several times in frustration before she rested her elbows on the desk and her head in her hands with an annoyed expression on her face. But even that didn't deter Draco from trying to talk to her. "So, Daphne tells me that you want to know about Quidditch," he said.

"What makes you think that I would actually ask you?" Leila groaned.

"Because I'm the best one to ask. Father and I have…"

"I think you're sadly mistaken. You're the last person I would ever ask."

"Oh really?" Draco cocked an eyebrow at her. Clearly, he had something on her. "What about that brother of yours? I know you're not talking to him. Not to mention that he's even more clueless about Quidditch than you are."

"I'm not clueless, your git."

"You're twisting my words."

"Well, you know what? I would much rather ask my brother because then I would know that your wouldn't be anywhere near me." Leila glared at him, but he didn't get it. No, the look on Draco's face was easily read: challenge accepted.

Leila didn't understand it. She was trying almost everything to keep him away, but he just kept coming back. What was with the boy's desire to be her constant companion and annoy her at the same bloody time? Sure, he had his moments when he proved he could be decent, but deep down, he was still an annoying prat whom she couldn't wait to be rid of. She debated making a calendar counting down the days until she'd be rid of him, but her idea was soon lost when her other classmates began to file into the room for Quirrell's stutter-filled lecture.

Three-thirty eventually rolled around and the Slytherins walked to the grounds specified for their flying lessons together. Once again, Draco was trying his best to impress Leila. She tried to tune-out his boasting over his flying skills, his complaining about the state of the school's brooms, and the monstrosity that first years weren't allowed their own brooms; but Leila found his grating voice hard to ignore.

Once they were settled on the grass, Leila had to admit that she slightly terrified for flying lessons to begin. Despite her many fears, heights were not one of them. However, making a complete fool of herself in front of everyone was one of her fears...and it was the fear that seemed to have enveloped her. She especially didn't want to look like an idiot in front of that Granger girl-that would be the worst.

Leila wrung her hands nervously as she stood beside Daphne waiting for their instructor to show. Unintentionally, she looked in her brother's direction to find him talking with Ron. Suddenly, as if out of appearing from nowhere, their instructor, Madam Hooch, appeared. She had short grey hair and eyes that looked like a hawk's. "Welcome to your first flying lesson, First Years," she greeted them. "Now, what are you all waiting for? Stand by a broomstick. Come on! Hurry up!"

The first year Slytherins and Gryffindors scrambled to find their places. Leila ended up between Daphne and Theodore Nott with Harry directly across from her. She watched as her brother looked down at his broom and she couldn't help but softly smile. Malfoy had been right about one thing: these brooms were terrible. They looked exactly like the stereotypical witches brooms from Muggle cartoons and Leila didn't know a thing about brooms, but she could tell that they were old and worn.

Madam Hooch walked down the aisle between the Slytherins and Gryffindors, making sure each of them had followed her first direction before she gave the second. "Now, stick your right hand over the broom and say up."

Shouts of the word up echoed through the air. Much to everyone's surprise, Harry's broom flew into his hand after the first command. His was the only one that actually worked on the first try. Malfoy's broom managed to get halfway off the ground before falling back to earth. Everyone else's broom managed to roll around a bit. Well, everyone but Neville Longbottom's. His broom stayed firmly planted on the ground, which was probably for the best.

Leila inhaled slowly before she firmly repeated her command. But once again nothing happened for her. She made sure to look at Granger and her broom, but thankfully nothing happened for the know-it-all either. At this point, Granger was the only person Leila was competing against and so far, she hadn't lost yet. Just then, Malfoy's broom flew right into his hand. He was the second one to get his broom off the ground. But Leila was still only concerned about beating Granger.

So, she concentrated on picturing the broom flying into her hand before she gave the command for a third time and the broom raced into her hand. Third time must be the charm. Leila grinned to her brother, who civilly nodded his head in her direction. Maybe there was some hope for them...but Leila's attention was quickly diverted to Ron Weasley. His broom flew up and smacked him in the face before he and his broom fell to the ground. Leila was laughing so hard at Ron that she dropped her broom nearly doubled over with laughter.

Almost everyone managed to finally get their broom to fly into their hand. Well, everyone except for two people: Neville Longbottom, which really wasn't a surprise, and Hermione Granger. Leila couldn't help but gloat that there was actually something the Granger girl failed miserably at-that there was something Leila was naturally gifted at more than her. Leila smirked in the Granger girl's direction, which made the girl scowl.

Longbottom and Granger both had to pick their brooms off the ground so that Madam Hooch could continue with her lesson for the day. The next step was learning to mount the broom. Leila was fascinated to find that there was a wrong way to mount a broom. Then again, she had never mounted a flying broom before. Only the one in Aunt Petunia's broom cupboard, which she had pretended to fly as a young child while doing chores. Uncle Vernon had smacked her bottom and grounded her for it and it wasn't until just then that she understood why he had done it.

Malfoy, who was on the other side of Theo, had to be corrected by Madam Hooch for having the wrong grip. He tried to argue with her that it was how his father had taught him, but Madam Hooch only told him that he had been doing it wrong for years. Leila chuckled at Malfoy's expense before making eye contact with her brother. He was laughing took...and for the first time since their fight over a week ago, Harry genuinely smiled at her. The moment only lasted a second because Ron leaned over and whispered to Harry that, "He deserves it for being a right foul git." But it was a start.

Madam Hooch then gave the first years very specific instructions for their next task. "Now, when I blow my whistle, kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, hover for a few seconds, and then come straight down by leaning forward slightly. Understood?"

"Yes, Madam Hooch," the first years responded before the Slytherins and Gryffindors mounted their brooms. She then started her countdown.

"On my whistle-three-two-" The instructor was almost to three when Longbottom got all nervous. He pushed off hard before she had given the command. It was obvious that Longbottom hadn't a clue what he was doing because when Madam Hooch told him to come back safely to the ground, he only seemed to rise higher and higher until he was over twenty feet in the air. "Mr Longbottom! Mr Longbottom!"

Leila looked over to see the Slytherin boys laughing hysterically at Longbottom's terrified expression. They were mocking him and Leila couldn't help but feel a little bad for him. But suddenly, the poor boy's room took off like a rocket. It zoomed higher and higher in the air. Longbottom shrieked like a little girl, which made the Slytherins laugh harder. The boy then closed his eyes as his broom continued to rise. Madam Hooch still continued for Longbottom to get a proper hold of his broom, but to no avail. Longbottom's broom started to swerve and then he barrel-rolled through the air, headed straight for the stone wall of the castle.

The Slytherins continued to hoot and holler at Longbottom's expense while the Gryffindors waited in fear. Leila swore she heard Granger mutter something about losing House points because of this, which seemed rather insensitive given the situation. But then again, Hermione Granger only ever seemed concerned about herself. While Leila had no personal draw to Longbottom, she just hoped that he didn't get seriously hurt and flattened like a crepe. She might not be very good at expressing emotions, but she wasn't heartless.

Leila closed her eyes and cringed after she watched Longbottom's broom crash in the stone wall. Not wanting to watch the show any longer, Leila kept her eyes away from the scene. But that didn't stop her from hearing the thuds of his broom scraping the wall or the gasps that rippled through the first years. There was a moment of silence and Leila wondered if it was all over, but Longbottom's screams filled the air once more as Madam Hooch continued to shout for him to gain control of his broom.

Suddenly, Leila heard Daphne scream her name. The Potter girl opened her eyes. They widened in shock as she saw Longbottom zooming through the air straight at her. Something inside her froze. She couldn't bring her body to move as rogue broom, with the boy astride, inched closer toward her. Then she felt a body crash against her back, forcing her to the ground. Leila screamed in surprise as Theodore Nott rolled off her and onto his back on the grass beside her. Leila looked to Theo with her mouth gaping open, unsure of what to say or do. "You're welcome," Theo groaned as he lay there with his arm over his stomach. "Next time, move."

"Y-yeah, thanks," Leila whispered to him. Then, there was a tug at Leila's arm. She looked to find Draco Malfoy trying to pull her to her feet. "Stop," she hissed.

"C'mon, you don't want to miss this," Malfoy said when he finally had Leila on her feet. She tried to look to make sure that Theo was getting up alright, but Malfoy was already quickly dragging her away from him. Malfoy held tightly onto Leila's arm until they were almost to the castle wall. They stopped to see Longbottom hanging high in the air with his cloak wrapped around the sword of a statue.

Malfoy pointed up and laughed as Leila tried to push his hand off her. "Let. Go." she hissed at him. But he didn't even look at her as he just continued to hold onto her arm. Leila groaned in frustration, hoping that Harry wouldn't notice that Malfoy wouldn't let go of her.

A shrill sound filled the air and caught Leila's attention. Longbottom was no longer hanging but was tumbling through the air headed straight for the ground. She couldn't watch. She briefly turned toward Malfoy until she heard the thud of Longbottom's body crash into the ground. Madam Hooch ran and pushed Draco and Leila apart as she darted over to Longbottom. Thankful to have her possession of her arm again, Leila quickly crossed both arms across her chest so that Malfoy couldn't grab them again before she walked over to where Daphne stood with the other first year Slytherin girls.

Longbottom lay on the ground whimpering, holding his arm at an awkward angle tightly against his chest. Madam Hooch approached him and took his wrist in her hands before she declared that it was definitely broken. The instructor helped Longbottom to his feet and ushered him a few steps with her arm wrapped around him for support. Then, she turned toward the class and said, "Leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can even say Quidditch." With tears streaming down his face, Longbottom hobbled away with Madam Hooch back toward the castle.

Pansy Parkinson snickered as she watched Longbottom walk away. Leila saw Malfoy bend down and pick something up before he squeezed whatever it was and looked at her with a glint in his eye. It was then Leila noticed what was in Malfoy's hand: the glass orb from this morning's parade in front of the Gryffindors. The annoying prat tossed the orb in the air and then easily caught it. The tension from the Gryffindors was rising. Malfoy then tossed the object once more directly in front of Harry this time, as if he were taunting him. Looking at Harry, it was obvious that he was trying to hold his emotions, despite the clear distaste for Malfoy written over his face.

"Maybe if the fat lub had given this a squeeze, he'd remembered to fall on his fat arse," Malfoy taunted with a chuckle before tossing it into the air and catching it again.

Harry broke. He took a step forward and held his hand out. "Give it here, Malfoy!" Harry hissed.

Malfoy looked appalled at the fact that Harry was challenging him. He sneered before tossing the orb again. "To you? No," Malfoy scoffed. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find. How 'bout on the roof?"

The annoying gif tossed the orb once more. Harry attempted to snatch it from him, but Malfoy was quicker. He smirked and caught it before Harry even had a chance. Harry lunged to grab the object from Malfoy, but the blonde-haired boy had already grabbed a broom, mounted it, and was beginning to rise steadily into the air. Despite the fact that Madam Hooch had criticised his mounting technique, the boy hadn't been lying when he said he could fly. From what Leila could tell, he was good at flying and looked almost as comfortable in the air as he did on the ground.

As Malfoy hovered many feet in the air above them, he continued to taunt Harry. "You want it? Come up and get it, Potter."

And of course, Harry being Harry, he easily gave into the boy's taunts. Harry quickly mounted the closest broom, when Hermione Granger latched onto his arm and began to shriek, "No! Madam Hooch told us not to move! You'll get us all in trouble!"

But Leila pushed her way into the situation. If there was anyone that could rationalize with Harry...it was her. Leila yanked Granger's arm from her brother. "Bugger off, Granger," Leila hissed.

"You're going to let him do this?" Granger said incredulously. "He's going to lose us points."

"You mind your own business. Why don't you go find a book to read or something," Leila hissed at Granger while Harry mounted his broom and began to hover a few feet from the ground. Leila's hand snaked around his arm as she looked at him venomously. "Harry, don't be an idiot."

"Like that's any better," Granger scoffed under her breath.

But Leila ignored the comment as she continued to hold onto her brother's arm. "Let go, Leils," Harry groaned.

"No. Malfoy's only trying to get you into trouble and you know it."

"Well, somebody's gotta stop him. He's a prat."

"And who says that it has to be you?"

"Me." With that, Harry managed to push his sister's hand off his arm and then he flew high into the sky. Leila had to admit that for his first time on a broom, Harry seemed pretty natural in the air; but she was still furious he hadn't listened to reason.

"What an idiot," Hermione Granger muttered.

Leila quickly narrowed her eyes at Granger and sneered, "Only, I get to call him that. Understand?" Not wanting to do something equally as stupid, like pushing, slapping, or kicking Granger; Leila turned on her heel and walked back to Daphne.

The Potter girl clung tightly to Daphne's arm as she looked upward at Harry and Malfoy having a battle of words in the sky. The boys were too high in the air for her to understand what they were saying. She could only tell that they were both yelling. Leila hoped it wouldn't go any further than yelling, but her hopes were crushed when Malfoy raised his arm behind his head and tossed the orb.

Harry then darted after it on his broom. Leila looked up at Malfoy and scowled. How was it that he could be sweet toward her but an absolute prat to her brother. But Leila didn't have time to dwell on it as she watched her brother chase after the orb, headed straight for the same wall Longbottom had crashed into earlier. Again, Leila had to turn away, unable to watch her brother risk his life and potentially be flattened into a crepe. With her eyes closed and her head hidden behind Daphne's back, Leila waited for the gasps and screams to ripple through the crowd, but they never came.

Instead, cheers erupted from the Gryffindors. Leila quickly turned to see Harry descending toward them with the glass ball raised high in his hands. Slowly, her breathing began to steady itself. Harry was alive...he was okay. She watched him until his feet were firmly planted on the ground and the Gryffindors began to swarm around him.

The Slytherins formed their own circle around Draco, who was scowling. For a few moments, Leila didn't join either circle but then Daphne pulled her into the Slytherin circle. Malfoy was childishly kicking the ground. "He wasn't supposed to know how to fly," he hissed.

"It was just beginners luck, Drakie," Pansy consoled. "You're a better flier anyways."

Malfoy nodded his head in agreement before he looked up at Leila. His icy blue eyes flashed at Leila before he looked over his shoulder and a smirk began to set on his face. "Well, well, what do we have here? Maybe it was worth it after all."

Leila looked over her shoulder to see a stern-looking Professor McGonagall striding toward the cheering Gryffindors. Pansy cackled, "He's going to be expelled for sure."

The Potter girl's face blanched. Harry couldn't be expelled. He'd be sent back to the Dursleys and who knew if they would even take him back in. Then Leila's stomach dropped as the guilt began to set it. In a way, it was sort of her fault because she was the one who had told Malfoy to bother Harry. Granted, Harry should have had better control over himself, but still, Leila couldn't help but feel the weight of some of the blame.

Professor McGonagall called, "Harry Potter."

Leila shirked back behind Daphne to watch because she knew there was absolutely nothing she could do or say at this point. From the animated expressions on the Gryffindors faces, it was clear that they were trying to explain the situation to her...but McGonagall didn't appear to be having any of it. Instead, she motioned for Harry to follow her back to the castle. Leila could see the look on Harry's face drop. His confidence in triumph was replaced with a look of impending doom as he followed Professor McGonagall.

Struggling to hold back the tears, Leila watched her brother take what might be his last walk on the Hogwarts grounds. Daphne must have noticed a tear slip down Leila's cheek because she hugged the Potter girl. "I'm sure she won't actually expel him," Daphne whispered.

Malfoy scoffed. "It's McGonagall, Greengrass. She doesn't tolerate nonsense. Of course, he's going to be expelled."

"You're not helping," Daphne hissed through gritted teeth, purposely nodding her head slightly toward Leila.

Draco rolled his eyes before he reached to grab Leila. "Sure I am. C'mon, Potter, let's go…"

But Leila snapped. With tears stinging at her eyes, Leila untangled herself from Daphne's arms. Rage seemed to be controlling her emotions because with all the force she could muster she pushed Draco Malfoy into his two thugs for friends, Crabbe and Goyle. "You're nothing but a prat! An annoying, obnoxious, arrogant prat! And I hate you!" With Malfoy struggling to regain his footing, she swiftly kicked him in the shin causing him to howl before she walked away and marched toward the castle, crying.

Pansy Parkinson reached to pull Leila's hair or slap her, but Malfoy hissed for her to stop. She stopped midair as he had asked her, but it took everything in her to listen to him. Pansy wasn't sure whether to be angry that the Potter girl had laid a hand on her Draco...or be filled with glee that maybe now, Draco would want nothing to do with her.

Rubbing at his shin, Malfoy stood there watching Leila walk away from him with a hook of shock on his face. After a few moments, he stood upright once more and Blaise slapped Draco on the back. "Sorry, mate. Your charms must not be working on her."

"Don't be sorry, Blaise," Pansy scoffed. "She wasn't even good enough for him anyway."

"And what would you know about that?" Draco hissed as he narrowed his eyes at Pansy.

"Well, she's a…" Pansy began but Draco interrupted her before she could get the words half blood out.

"She'll come around. You'll see." Although, Draco said these words out loud more for his own comfort than those around him. "She can't say angry with me forever. She just can't."

It was then Daphne who interjected. "But I think you should stay away from her for a while, Draco. I mean it. Just give her some space. Now, I'm going to go check on her...and Draco if you ever want to think about talking with her again, I suggest you don't talk with her."

With that, Daphne flipped her blonde curls and ran after the Potter girl whose tears were now flowing freely. Daphne was nearly caught up to Leila when they reached the castle. The Greengrass girl called after her, but Leila simply kept walking further into the castle without even looking back. "Leila, wait up!"

Standing on the stairs, Leila turned around. "Why should I? Don't you just want to gloat about Harry too?"

"No. I came to check on you. While I couldn't care less about Harry, you're the one I'm worried about right now."

Leila choked back a sob. "Malfoy's a…"

"I think you made your feelings about him pretty clear outside." Daphne chuckled and Leila gave one of those awkward laughs one makes while crying.

The Potter girl then leaned against the stone wall as the tears continued to stream down her face. Leila ashamedly tried to cover her tear-stained face from Daphne, who stood there looking at her sympathetically. Leila hated making people feel sorry for her. She hated it...and she had already burdened Daphne enough with her Harry drama. Besides, it was Leila's own damn fault she was in this mess.

Daphne reached her hand out and touched Leila's shoulder, which made the dark-haired girl shudder. But Daphne still held onto her friend. "Leila," Daphne breathed.

"Harry can't be expelled. He just can't."

"Don't get your wand in a knot over this. You did try to stop him after all, but he made his choice."

"But Malfoy…"

"Malfoy's just used to getting his way," Daphne said cutting Leila off. "And that's exactly what happened out there. You even told your brother that exact thing. But he's the one who made the mental decision...not you."

"I guess, but…"

Leila never finished her sentence because the voices of the other students began echoing through the castle. The Slytherins walked by first. Leila could swear she saw Malfoy glance over at her, but he slowly looked away with a somewhat pained expression on his face.

"You think his own sister would have done more," a voice complained loudly as they walked into the castle. "I mean, I saw her talking to Malfoy just before the whole thing happened. She probably planned it all with him. Leila Potter's an evil git like the rest of her Slytherin kind."

The voice belonged to Ron Weasley, who narrowed his eyes at her as he walked by. He shook his head before muttering, "Slytherins. Always said they were evil."

But before Leila could think of anything to respond with, Daphne came to her rescue and verbally sparred with him on her behalf. "Because clearly the like of Gryffindors like you are any better! You have no right to blame her when you did absolutely nothing to stop him. At least Leila tried-can't say the same for you!"

"Well, I-" Ron's face turned bright pink before he walked away muttering to himself. The Gryffindors walked with him and most of them each took their turn to glare and Leila, which made her uncomfortable.

"Don't let them get to you, Leila," Daphne whispered to her. "That's exactly what they want...is to get to you. Don't let them."

Leila nodded her head and slowly walked back to the Slytherin dungeon with Daphne, unsure of what the future lay ahead for her and Harry.

Author's Note: Sorry it's been a little longer than normal. School has really been stressing me out, but that should hopefully be settling down. *hopefully* Anyway, thanks to everyone who has responded to this story so far. I never actually expected this story hit these numbers. The original story draft of this story wasn't even close to these numbers, so thank you! :)

Phew! That was a lot of reviews! Thanks for each and every one of them. I truly appreciate it! You can always see edits and such on Leila's tumblr. (leilapotter)