Chapter 10: The Midnight Duel


Still feeling quite mopey from the events earlier in the day, Leila reluctantly walked to the Great Hall for dinner with her fellow first year Slytherins. However, she wasn't listening to a word they were saying. No, she was stuck in thought. Leila agonized over entering the Great Hall. By now rumours were bound to be swirling through Hogwarts about flying lessons. Even more likely, that dolt, Ronald Weasley, might have already managed to convince most of the Gryffindors that everything was her fault. Most of the Gryffindors already hated her as it was, but now she would have to live with their intensified hatred if she was the reason "The Boy Who Lived" was expelled.

Too often these first weeks of school, Leila Potter had heard the whispers and hushed tones echoing through the corridors. She knew that beyond her House she wasn't as well-liked as her brother. For a brief second, part of her hoped that maybe if Harry was gone, the rumours would stop and she would no longer be considered the black sheep of the bunch. But guilt panged at her heart, realizing how terrible it was to think such a thing. She knew she loved her brother, even when he was an idiot.

The first year Slytherins rounded the corner as they entered the corridor that led to the Great Hall. Leila stopped just short of the door, remaining hidden from the sight of those inside. She clutched at her collar and closed her eyes, her breathing beginning to quicken. Pansy pushed by her and walked inside. Daphne stopped and pulled Leila aside, beside the stone wall. "Leila, you alright?" the blonde girl asked.

With her eyes still closed, Leila nodded her head.

"Are you sure?"

"Go on without me," the Potter girl barely choked out. "I-I'll just be a minute."

Daphne seemed to hesitate for a moment before walking inside. Leila was glad that Daphne had gone. Now she would feel far less guilty about bailing on her dinner plans. She had decided that it was far better to starve that evening than face the entire student body. While she would have to eat at some point, she hoped she would be able to convince her fellow Slytherins to sneak food out for her. This way she wouldn't have to show her face in front of the entire student body again.

Leila swiftly turned on her heel with her gaze on the floor, fully intending on escaping to the Slytherin dungeon, when she found her path blocked. She looked up timidly to find two somewhat lanky looking ginger-haired Gryffindor boys. It was Fred and George Weasley who had blocked her from her escape. When she realized it was them her eyes diverted back to the floor, not wanting to see how angry they were with her. "Excuse me," Leila muttered, trying to make a run for it.

"Where do you think you're going?" George Weasley asked.

"Not in there. Not after what happened earlier." Leila then turned to Fred. "You were right. I might just be evil after all. I-I...Harry...I…I can't go in there after it. I just...I just need to go. Now, if you'll excuse me..." Leila tried to push her way between the Weasley twins, but alas, to no avail.

The Weasley twins wouldn't allow her to leave. Instead, they quickly turned her around so that she was facing the direction of the Great Hall once again. They wrapped their arms around her shoulders, one from each side. "Why don't we go and have us a looksy who Gryffindor's newest Seeker is," Fred commented.

"No, I can't. I can't," Leila protested, but Fred and George's grip on her tightened.

"Just trust us on this, Leila," George added as Leila still tried to squirm away.

"Why?"

"Have we given you a reason not to trust us yet?" Fred asked looking down at her pointedly.

Several Hufflepuffs walked by with strange expressions on their faces at the sight of the Weasley twins holding tightly onto Leila Potter. There were pointed fingers and hushed whispers. Fred shouted, "Move along! Nothing to see here!" He then looked at Leila again. "Well, have we?"

Leila stopped fighting against them as she stood there, biting her bottom lip. Why was it that everyone wanted her to trust them? Trusting people wasn't the easiest thing for her to do. Although that was mostly because people quickly broke any sort of trust she gave them. Her life in the Muggle World proved that. But so far, in the Wizarding world, she hadn't exactly met many people who were untrustworthy...at least not yet. Give it time and she was bound to meet some. Leila then sighed and shook her head.

"As we were saying, Gryffindor's newest Seeker, may come as a bit of a shock," George said.

"Now, Wood said that we weren't supposed to tell anyone about him," Fred continued.

"But you can hardly keep the youngest House player in a century a secret."

"The entire school knows already."

"Not me," Leila sighed.

"Well, that's because you've been in the snake pit all afternoon feeling sorry for yourself. But I think you'll want to see this."

Slowly, Fred and George led Leila to the entrance of the Great Hall. As they stood there, Leila quickly closed her eyes, not wanting to see all the dirty looks she was receiving. "I did just say she'll want to see this, didn't I George?"

"Yes you did, Fred. She'll definitely want to see this," George reiterated.

Knowing what they were getting at, Leila slowly took a deep breath before she opened her eyes. Her eyes quickly scanned the Great Hall. She was shocked to see that one a few first year Hufflepuffs were they only ones watching her. But what shocked her more was that fact that the Gryffindors weren't trying to kill her. No, the Gryffindors were focused on talking amongst each other. Leila had to admit, she was baffled.

Fred then bent down so that his face was near her ear. "Now, if you'll direct your attention in that direction…" he began as he pointed a finger toward a spot about halfway down the Gryffindor table.

George then mirrored Fred's action before continuing, "You will see Gryffindor's Seeker."

Leila looked. For a moment, she was puzzled by what she was supposed to be seeing, but then it came to her. She gasped in surprised, throwing her hands over her mouth. It was her brother. He was sitting beside Ron Weasley and shovelling steak and kidney pie into his mouth. "Harry? I-I thought he was going to be expelled. McGonagall looked so…"

"She's the one that gave him the position," George said with a grin.

"Let's go say hi, shall we?" Fred suggested.

The Weasley twins still held onto Leila as they dragged her further into the Great Hall. They walked in aisle between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables until they came to a stop beside Harry and Ron. Ron looked over his shoulder at Leila and scowled at her before he returned his attention to his meal.

George tapped Harry on the shoulder and Harry turned around to see them. "Hiya, Harry," he grinned. "And might we say...well done. Wood's just told us."

"Well, he didn't just tell us...because we just told Leila…" Fred interrupted.

Fred's twin thought about it a moment before he nodded his head. "True. Wood just told us before we told your sister the news. Anyway, we're on the team too-Beaters."

"And I tell you, we're going to win that Quidditch Cup for sure this year. Slytherin doesn't stand a chance," Fred turned to Leila. "No offence...well, yes offence, but not at you. Got it?" Leila simply stared up at him blankly, blinking slowly. "What I mean to say is that this year's Gryffindor team is going to be brilliant. You must be good, Harry. Wood was almost skipping for joy when he told us the news."

"Now, on that note: the Potter twins are now reunited and we've got to go. Lee Jordan reckons he's found a new secret passageway out of the school."

"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our first week. But you two have fun. No fighting. Be good. Don't do anything we wouldn't do. See you both later."

The Weasley twins quickly disappeared and Leila was left there, standing awkwardly beside her brother. She hadn't been prepared for this. The Potter twins stood there staring at each other for a moment. They were both waiting for the other to be the first to bend, but after a few moments, Harry knew his sister wasn't the kind of person to make the first move. So he shifted on the bench and said, "Hi."

"Hi," Leila responded back timidly as she tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear.

There was another awkward silence. Leila knew this was stupid. They had always been able to talk to each other, but somehow this seemed different. Ron nudged Harry with his elbow and Harry turned to talk to Ron. Leila's stomach just about dropped. Was this her cue to leave?

Without needing to be told, Leila turned on her heel to walk away from her brother. She was no more than a couple yards away when she found herself face to face with Malfoy. "Well, well, look who we have here," Draco said with a grin on his face.

"You've got to be kidding me," Leila groaned. "Not you."

He ignored Leila's comment. "I see you've come to see your brother off before his departure back to the Muggle world. Why don't we do this together?"

"No. Leave me out of this." Leila moved to leave, but Crabbe and Goyle were blocking her path. She turned to walk the other way, but Malfoy had managed to maneuver himself there. She was trapped. "Let me go."

But Malfoy just smirked as he grabbed Leila's arm. "Come along, Potter. Crabbe, Goyle, make sure she doesn't get away." Malfoy pulled Leila back toward her brother. Crabbe and Goyle stayed close behind to make sure that Leila couldn't possibly run away from this. But running away was exactly what Leila wanted to be doing right now.

Malfoy stopped directly behind Harry and snarled, "Oi, Potter, we just wanted to see what your last meal was going to be."

If looks could kill, Malfoy definitely would have keeled over from the scowl Harry was directing his way. "Leave my sister alone, Malfoy," Harry growled lowly.

"Someone's going to have to look after her now," Draco quickly retorted as he pulled Leila a bit closer toward him. Leila recoiled and tried to push away, but his grip on her was too tight.

Harry stood up and tugged at his sister's other arm, like she was the rope in a tug-o-war. "Well, it certainly isn't going to be you." Leila was jerked a little closer toward Harry.

"No? Say, Potter, what time does your train leave?"

"Directly after yours," Harry retorted cheekily.

Leila could have sworn she heard a snigger come from behind her...either Crabbe or Goyle. Malfoy quickly turned around and sneered at them before he turned to face the Potter boy once again. Draco's eyes narrowed at Harry and scowled. "Think you're being funny do you?"

Harry scoffed and shook his head. "You know, Malfoy, you're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and have got your little friends with you."

Malfoy's first response was to narrow his eyes at Harry, but then a smirk quickly played over his face. He released his grip on Leila's arm, but her relief was short lived when he then draped his arm around her so that his hand rested on her other arm. Leila looked to him in horror, but he was too busy smirking at Harry to notice her. "And your sister," Malfoy grinned.

Anger was easily read on Harry's face. "I said, stay away from her," he growled as he tried to pry Malfoy's hand from his sister's arm.

But Draco willingly removed his grip from Leila and took a small step behind her, so that Leila was now standing directly between Harry and Draco. "Tell you what, Potter. Why don't we have ourselves a Wizard's duel. You and me. Wands only-no contact. You win-and I will leave your sister alone."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "And if you win?"

Malfoy smirked again before he looked to Leila and then back to Harry. "Well...I should think it pretty obvious."

Harry looked over his shoulder at Ron with a solemn expression on his face. Leila knew her brother wasn't one to back down from a challenge, but in this case, she knew her brother hadn't a clue what a Wizard's duel was-and his facial expression gave him away. Harry was waiting for Ron to explain to him exactly what a Wizard's duel was-but Malfoy quickly caught onto Harry's inexperience. "What's the matter, Potter? Never heard of a Wizard's duel before, I suppose?"

It was then that Ron Weasley jumped to his feet, completely shocking Leila. "He has too," Ron hissed. "Harry and I were just talking about it before you so rudely interrupted us. Weren't we Harry?"

"Y-Yeah," Harry responded, trying to sound better in front of Malfoy; but Leila knew that her brother was lying. However, she wisely chose not to comment on his lie. Instead, she tried to slowly back away from the situation, but Crabbe was directly behind her, making sure that she couldn't get away.

Ron then narrowed his eyes at Malfoy. "I'm his second, who's yours? Or haven't you got one?"

"Of course I have a second, you imbecile," Malfoy hissed at Ron while gesturing backward. He then looked back at them, sizing them up, before responding, "Crabbe." Ron snickered at his choice. It seemed that even the Gryffindors already knew just about how useless Crabbe and Goyle were. But Malfoy didn't find it funny. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and then turned toward Harry. "I suppose I could always pick Leila."

"No, no you couldn't," Leila responded for her brother. "She wouldn't do it...believe me, I would know."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Fine, Crabbe it is then. We'll meet at midnight in trophy room, that's always unlocked. See you then." Malfoy turned to go when he looked over his shoulder at Leila. "Potter, you coming?"

"No," Harry and Leila responded simultaneously, shocking them both. As they looked at each other, Malfoy walked away with Crabbe and Goyle muttering under his breath. Leila sighed and folded her arms across her chest as Harry leaned toward Ron. "What exactly is a Wizard's duel and what do you mean you're my second?"

"I knew it," Leila whispered to herself as Harry revealed his bluff.

"Well," Ron started as he narrowed his eyes at Leila. "A second's there to take over if you die. But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. Neither you nor Malfoy know enough magic to do any real damage."

"I disagree," Leila said. "I think Malfoy knows plenty more than Harry does as far as magic is concerned."

"Way to take your brother's side there, Potter," Ron scoffed.

Something surged through Leila's veins at Ron's comment. Normally, she would keep her mouth shut and bottle it all in, but she surprised herself when that wasn't what she did. "I'm being realistic, here. Draco's lived his entire life in the Wizarding world and in case you've forgotten, Weasley, Harry and I haven't. Draco has something up his sleeve, I just know it."

"So, it's Draco, is it?"

"Oh, shut it, will you? He's in my House. Besides, what do you call her?" Leila pointed down the table to Hermione Granger. Ron's mouth opened to argue, but instead he just spluttered because Leila had just made a point he couldn't exactly argue with. "Exactly my point," Leila responded rather stiffly. "Now, Harry, about this duel. You can't do it."

Harry looked affronted at what his sister had just suggested. "You don't think I can do it, do you?"

Leila groaned. "I didn't say that. I just mean that it's not a good idea. Malfoy's only looking to get you into more trouble. I suggest that you not show up, this way only he will get in trouble...not you. You already had a fairly close call today, why make it two?"

"Because it's a battle worth fighting. If I can keep him away from you…"

"Is that why you're doing this? Because of me?" Leila rolled her eyes. "You really think a stupid duel is going to keep him away from me? Because it's not...and what if you lose?"

"It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"Well, it's a stupid one."

"I couldn't help overhearing and surprisingly, I think your sister has a point," a new voice entered the conversation. Ron, Harry, and Leila all turned to find Hermione Granger now tuned into their conversation. "You mustn't go wandering around the school at night. Think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught...and you're bound to be. It's really very selfish of you."

"That's not the point I was trying to make. So shut it," Leila hissed with her eyes narrowed before she turned toward her brother. "I just think it's a stupid idea...one that is going to get you into trouble."

"Well, I think differently."

"Fine, be that way. Don't say I didn't warn you." Leila flipped her hair and stomped away from her brother. She headed for the Slytherin table. Just when she and Harry were about to figure things out, he had to go and be a prat. Typical Harry. Why couldn't he just leave well enough alone?

Once at the Slytherin table, Leila slumped onto the bench beside Daphne. The blonde-haired girl was delicately nibbling on a biscuit when she asked, "What was that about?"

"Let's just say that Harry wasn't expelled...yet. And Malfoy's an arrogant, obnoxious toerag."

Daphne simply nodded her head. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, I'm starving." Leila reached toward the center of the table to help herself to a serving of steak and kidney pie. As Leila slowly ate her meal, she didn't miss the glaring looks Daphne was sending Draco's way. Leila was glad that Daphne was seeming to take her side in this issue, but in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder if a day would come when Daphne would take Draco's side over hers.

When dinner was over, the Slytherins headed back to their common room for the evening. Thankfully, Malfoy kept his distance from Leila as they walked back. Once they were inside the common room, Flora Carrow convinced her to finally learn how to play Exploding Snap. Knowing that she probably should be reading the Potions books she had checked out, Leila reluctantly gave into the request. She promised herself it would only be for a little while.

Theodore Nott, Duncan Pike, Callum Pritchard, Daphne Greengrass, and Flora and Hestia Carrow gathered in a corner on the floor to teach Leila how to play the game. The only thing she knew about the game, from having seen it played before, was that it involved cards and a wand.

"Now, we're going to play a little slower at first," Theo began. "Because Pike's bloody terrible at this game."

"Shut your trap, Nott," Duncan Pike scoffed, trying to throw an elbow at Theo. Theo chuckled and blocked Pike's hit.

"No, no, we've got to teach Leila how to play, you lot. But I'm sure she will catch on fast. Now, there are three variants of Exploding Snap. Tonight, we're going to play the classical version. It's quite simple, but it requires some quick reflexes. Rules are fairly simple: when you see two identical pictures just tap the cards with your wand and a point is yours. The tricky part is that the cards shuffle faster and faster...not to mention the exploding part. Got it, Leila?"

"You're sure this is the easiest one?" Leila asked somewhat hesitantly, fiddling her wand in her hands.

"Don't worry, you'll get it," Flora Carrow said with a soft smile.

"And if not, then more for me," Callum Pritchard said with a grin. The group groaned his last name, almost in unison. "What? It's true. I'm going to beat all your sorry arses."

Leila hung back at first, choosing to do a little more observing of the game. She wanted to be sure that she knew what she was doing. In the corner of her eye, she spotted Malfoy carrying a Wizard's chess box to a table where Zabini sat opposite of him. But Leila's attention quickly returned to the game at hand.

True to his word, Pritchard won the first game. When it was over he stood up and took a bow before they started their second match. It was during the second match that Leila was finally starting to get the hang of things. She came in third place at the conclusion of that game. Much to everyone's surprise, she won the third game...and the fourth...and the fifth. After the fifth game, Pritchard was somewhat annoyed that he wasn't winning any longer so he dragged Pike away to go watch Zabini and Malfoy's chess game.

Despite the fact that Leila was enjoying playing Exploding Snap with her Housemates, her eyes couldn't help but frequently gaze at the clock. The closer the hour hand inched toward the twelve, the more and more nervous Leila began to feel. At about ten o'clock, the Carrow twins excused themselves for bed. Leila yawned and Daphne suggested that they head to bed as well, but Leila shook her head. Malfoy was still in the common room and Leila wanted to stay up to find out what the outcome of the duel was going to be.

So, Theo and Daphne stayed with her and played several more half-hearted, exhausted games of Exploding Snap. Leila wasn't sure why they were sticking with her, but they were and deep down, she appreciated that. It was nice to feel like one had friends.

At quarter after eleven, Malfoy stood up and stretched before he announced that he was going to bed. Leila quickly turned her head and looked at him curiously. Bed? Wasn't he supposed to duel Harry? Then Leila did something she knew she was going to regret later: she talked to Draco Malfoy of her own accord. "What about your duel with Harry?"

"What about it?" he smirked. "You don't really think I'm that thick, do you? Of course I'm not going. Especially considering that the trophy room is on the…"

"Third floor." Leila mentally kicked herself. Malfoy was pulling the move, she had told her brother to pull on him. He was purposely not going to ensure that Harry was the one who got in trouble. What made it even worse was that Harry was headed to the third floor-the floor where Filch was surely bound to be since a section of it was strictly forbidden. Of course, it all made sense now. It was a trap.

Malfoy then continued. "Already told Filch to expect them. Potty and Weaselbee are going to surely be expelled this time. Well, that...or they're going to die that painful death Dumbledore was prattling on about when we got here. G'night."

Leila watched him dumbfounded as he winked at her and then walked toward the dormitories. Her stomach lurched. Despite however tense things were between Leila and her brother, she still didn't wish upon him the fate Malfoy was setting up for him. She stood from her game with Theo and Daphne and began to pace right in front of them, muttering to herself as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Not good...not good…Malfoy's a prat..not good...not good...if only Harry would listen to me…"

Daphne stood up and walked over to Leila. She stopped the Potter girl from walking as Leila looked at her worriedly. "Perhaps, we should just go to bed and forget any of this ever happened," Daphne suggested. "There's really nothing we can do about it."

"But he's my brother. I-I can't just leave him like this. Harry needs me. Besides, this is all my fault."

"How is this your fault?" Theo asked, curious how Leila could possibly be internalizing this.

"Harry was going to duel Malfoy over me."

"Well, you're not responsible for either of their idiotic decisions," Daphne concluded. "From what I've gathered, you told your brother it was a stupid decision. You can't help it that he chose not to listen to you."

"But he doesn't know that Malfoy's setting him up to get caught."

"Well, he should. It actually makes sense," Theo added.

"Of course, we get that, but Harry isn't thinking clearly. I need to do something...but what?" All three Slytherins looked to each other. They knew the only thing that could be done, but none of them voiced it. The only thing to do was to go after Harry on her own. Leila then began to weigh the pros and cons in her head.

"Don't tell me that you're actually thinking about it," Daphne groaned.

Leila bit her bottom lip. "I-I honestly don't know. I-I...What if it was your sister in this position?"

"Astoria would never fall for something so stupid." Leila's face fell. Was it really worth it to risk her own neck for her brother's? Granted he had been a prat to her, but suddenly all the years of him standing by her, defending her, and taking care of her rushed through her head. Was it really that easy just to chalk it up to Harry's stupidity? Something didn't sit right about that. Daphne sighed, "But if she were. I would go after her."

"Even if she was being the world's biggest prat?"

Daphne sighed again, knowing exactly what Leila was asking.. "Even then."

Leila began to pace once more. "So, I should go after him. But I-I just don't know that I can. I mean, trying to find him on my own. I'll probably run into Filch, or freeze...or something terrible. This is something I need to do-but I don't know if I can."

Theo and Daphne looked at each other while Leila began to pace faster in front of them. "She's going to leave marks in the carpet," Theo whispered to Daphne.

Daphne nodded her head knowingly. She hated to see Leila like this...and there was only one way to solve this problem...even if she didn't particularly like it. Daphne grabbed hold of Leila by the shoulders, so that they stood facing each other. "You won't be going alone. Somebody's got to be there to tell FIlch that you were sleepwalking around the castle in the dead of night. And of course I would be able to verify such a thing because we share a dormitory. He shouldn't even think about getting me started on the night you walked-off toward Snape's office."

"But I didn't…" Leila started.

"He. Doesn't. Know. That," Daphne said through gritted teeth.

"You really think Filch will buy that?"

"He'd better if he knows what's good for him. I mean, I am a Greengrass after all." Daphne stood a little taller. "But let me be very clear, I'm doing this for you. Not for your brother, whom I still think is an idiot for letting Draco rattle him."

Leila nodded her head when Daphne grabbed her hand and the two girls headed for the exit. "Hey! Wait up!" Theo called before he jogged to catch up with them. "I can't say that I really care if Potter or Weasley get caught. But I know better than to let you two girls go off on your own, so I guess, count me in too."

"Just because we're girls doesn't mean…" Daphne started.

Theo stiffened a little. "My mother taught me better than to let…" His expression saddened as he couldn't manage to choke out the rest of his sentence. It just hung there as the looked at the girls with his blue eyes shining in the light. Daphne must have understood whatever it was that Theo was telling them because she simply nodded her head and reached out to pat his shoulder.

The clock in the Slytherin common room began to chime that it was quarter to midnight. Daphne looked between Theo and Leila as she stiffened her stance. "Well, I suppose if we're going to go save the Boy Who Lived, we should probably get going...although, after we save his arse, he needs to credit us for his bloody nickname."

The Slytherin trio carefully snuck out of the Slytherin common room and into the deserted corridor. They looked both directions to make sure no one was watching. "Which way will get us there quickest?" Leila asked.

"Just follow me," Theo said motioning for the girls to follow him and to keep close to the wall. "This isn't the first time I've snuck out."

"When did you sneak out?" Daphne whispered.

"Third night, fourth night, fifth night...and a couple more I think. But the third night was because Malfoy dared me to get all the way to seventh floor without being seen."

"Of course you did. Why? Why would you do such an idiotic thing?"

"Because he promised me the boxes of sweets his mother sent him a week. And for the record, it was worth it. I still have quite a stash of sweets and Malfoy's been quite sore about it because he didn't think I could do it.."

"For sweets? Are you mental, Theo?"

"There was more to it than just that." But neither Daphne nor Leila were quite sure what he meant by that.

"How did he know you actually managed to do it?" Leila asked.

"He sent Zabini to tail me. Now, will you two hush up? The Bloody Baron should be cropping up soon and I'd really love for him not to catch us." Theo turned around and looked at them both. Daphne and Leila nodded their heads in agreement before looking to each other with raised expressions.

The group continued to walk down the corridor until Theo came to an abrupt halt. The girls crashed into him and Leila nearly fell to the floor, but Theo managed to snag her arm before she hit the ground. He put a finger over his mouth with his other hand. "The Bloody Baron should be just around the corner. We need to distract him."

"How do we do that?" Leila asked curiously.

Theo pulled something out of his pocket. It looked almost like a marble. "Nicked this from the Gobstone Club. They're actually good for something."

"You mean, other than playing Gobstones?" Daphne asked.

"You know that no one plays Gobstones anymore."

"Then how did you manage to steal it?" Leila asked.

Theo shook his head. "Touche, Potter. Now, we need to go right. So I'm going to throw this gobstone to the left. The Bloody Baron should hear it and chase after it." Theo then pointed behind them. "We're going to hide in that alcove until he passes by and we'll make a run for it. Got it?" Leila and Daphne both nodded their heads. "Go to the alcove. I'll be there in a moment."

The Slytherin girls walked back to the alcove. They watched Theo nod in their direction before he tossed the gobstone down the corridor to the left. He then sprinted toward the girls in the alcove and together they waited for the Bloody Baron to pass by. "Who's there?" the ghost asked menacingly as he floated down the wrong corridor.

After waiting a couple of seconds, Theo grabbed the girls by an arm and they quietly ran down the corridor to the right until they came to a long set of stairs to the ground floor. They were sure to avoid any human or ghostly presence. As they climbed the stairs, Theo whispered "Oh, Potter, be sure to tell your brother he owes me a Gobstone...just be sure to tell him that it's not because I play with them though."

Leila nodded her head and together, they then ran through the castle until they came to the moving staircases. They began their ascent up the stairs when the school's bells began to chime midnight. Leila looked to Daphne worriedly and nearly stepped on the trick stair. Thankfully, Theo had been watching and yanked her by the arm so that she skipped over it. The Slytherins continued to climb the stairs until suddenly, a yelling noise resounded through the castle. All three Slytherins instinctively ducked down, hoping that they wouldn't be caught when they were so close to their destination.

The staircase to the third floor swung, but the three Slytherins were still ducked down as it moved. Theo shook his head and muttered, "I swear to Merlin that if we get in trouble for this, I am going to kill Malfoy."

"But I thought you were friends with him?" Leila asked.

"I am. But it doesn't mean that I can't kill him for being a royal git though, does it?"

Leila didn't respond. No, every ounce of bravery that had been in her had suddenly vanished. It was as if she were frozen in place. She started to shake, feeling that she shouldn't be there. "Leila?" Daphne whispered.

"May-maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Leila mumbled.

Daphne's eyes widened. "Are you serious? You have this bright idea now? We're almost there." The Greengrass girl pointed toward the corridor that the staircase was about to dock with.

"Perhaps we should just turn around…"

"What about saving your brother?" Theo questioned.

"I-I, well maybe he's…"

Footsteps echoed through castle from down below. Theo looked down before whispering, "We don't have time for this. Someone's coming from downstairs."

This time all three Slytherins looked down just as a shadowy figure stepped onto the first staircase. Thankfully, the staircase they were on, connected to the third floor. Theo and Daphne both had to push a still frozen Leila up the stairs. Once they were off the stairs, Leila's sense of self-preservation took over as she dashed down the corridor with Theo and Daphne.

Theo led the group as they hurtled down the dimly lit corridor. To be honest, Leila wasn't sure whether they were running to find Harry or to get away, but she assumed it was the latter. Leila felt out of breath as they rounded a corner when she quite literally had the wind knocked out of her as she crashed into a warm body and fell to the floor. Daphne and Theo each crashed into someone as well.

Six figures lay in heaps under their black cloaks on the stone floor. Theo was the first one to his feet when he spotted the crimson color of the badge on three of the other cloaks. "Gryffindors," Theo spat as he reached down to help Leila and Daphne to their feet. The Gryffindors scrambled to stand upright once again.

Harry's mouth hung open when he noticed his sister standing with two Slytherins. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Trying to warn you that Malfoy set you up to get you in trouble," Leila said breathing heavily.

"Well, I already told him that," Hermione Granger said in an exacerbated tone.

Leila rolled her eyes before retorting, "Fine, but did you tell him that Malfoy tattled to FIlch?"

"Figured that one out on our own," Ron commented as he stood doubled-over, trying to catch his breath. "I mean, why else would be running our bloody arses off in the corridor in the middle of the night?"

"Because you're a nutter?" Theo commented softly.

But Ron had overheard the comment and he scowled, "Slytherins."

"What are they doing here?" Harry asked his sister as he looked at Theo and Daphne with disdain. Theo and Daphne didn't appear any happier to see Harry, but there really wasn't much they could do to change the situation now.

Leila rolled her eyes. "Would you have prefered I drag Malfoy along?"

"How do we know that you lot aren't on some errand for him?" Ron questioned.

Daphne scoffed. "He can't be serious. We just told him it was all a set-up."

"Maybe you're doing it to distract us." Ron said standing a little straighter with his eyes narrowed at the Slytherins. "I've seen each of you talking with him. I know you're friends with him."

"Is that really going to be your argument, Weasley?" Leila retorted, folding her arms across her chest and narrowing her eyes at Ron. "I see you've brought Granger with you. Finally befriended her now, have you?"

"Bloody hell, no!"

"Then clearly, appearances can be deceiving," Theo spoke up as the voice of reason. No one said anything. Just a few head nods agreeing with him. "Now, then, we've done our due diligence...we've warned you that Malfoy was setting you up. Now, I think that you lot should return the bloody favor and…"

But Theo never finished his sentence because a doorknob began to rattle and something came shooting out of the classroom closest to them. There were four mutters of bloody hell as the small smattering of students realized who had just joined their little gathering. It was Peeves. When he caught sight of the six first years, he squealed in delight. All six first years tried something to get him to stop.

"Shut up, Peeves," Harry hissed. "Please-you'll get us thrown out."

Peeves cackled.

"You idiot, Potter, we need to give him something he wants" Theo grunted. "Peeves, we'll do anything. You name it."

Peeves drummed his fingers together, contemplating Theo's offer, but it wasn't quite solid enough.

"You are looking rather dastardly this evening," Daphne added trying to earn them point, but it only earned her a round of groans from the Gryffindors. The blonde-haired Slytherin put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at the Gryffindors. "What? I'd like to see you try any better."

"Anything is better than that," Ron scoffed.

Peeves narrowed his eyes and moved every so slightly. "Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty."

"Not if you don't give us away, Peeves, please," Hermione Granger tried to rationalize with the poltergeist. "We could be of some use to you. Giving us up would only harm you in the long run…"

"Should tell Filch, I should," Peeves said in a saintly voice, looking heavenward when his eyes glittered wickedly. "It's for your own good, you know."

"Wait!" Leila blurted out. Peeves turned toward Leila and she began to panic, but she had to make it through this. So, she took a something that had worked for everyone else and put it together, hoping that it would finally work. "Oh, you great, diabolical, despicable, and heinous Peeves, we-we'll let you prank us...whenever you like..for the next month. Imagine, six children to prank whenever, wherever...and we won't do a thing about it...all the chaos you want, as long as you let us go. You tell on us and the offer is void."

Leila's offer was the one Peeves contemplated the most and it probably would have worked too, if it weren't for that dolt, Ron Weasley. "Get out of the way," the ginger-haired boy snapped before he took a swipe at Peeves, which was probably the absolute worst thing to do.

"Dammit Weasley! You idiot!" Theo hissed before his voice was overpowered by the sound of Peeve's bellow.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS IN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"

The six students looked to each other in shock for a moment. Harry was the first one to regain his senses as he took off in a sprint down the corridor in the direction from which the Slytherins had come. They were careful to avoid the rotten fruit and vegetables Peeves had stuffed in his clothes, which he was now tossing at them. "Deal's off," Leila muttered to herself as a piece of cabbage hit her in the face.

Remembering the person coming up the stairs, Theo yanked Harry by his cloak and dragged him down another corridor. They continued to run as Peeves laughter grew louder. But the corridor suddenly came to a stop. It was a dead end corridor with only a locked door at the end. Leila attempted to jiggle the doorknob as Harry pushed Theo off him.

"Now look what you've done," Harry hissed before he pushed Theo into the wall.

"I was saving your arse, Potter," Theo argued back before he pushed Harry. "We came from that direction and a teacher was headed our way...which is why we were running when we ran into you in the first place."

"Do this our way and we'll all make it out of this alive," Daphne added.

"Because clearly a locked door is going help us make it out of this!" Ron shouted as he reached for the doorknob and pulled on it several times. "We're done for! Filch! Peeves! This unknown teacher you claim is after us! This is the end!"

"Shut it!" the three Slytherins hissed simultaneously. Ron's face reddened at being told what to do by Slytherins. He was about to argue with them when the sounds of FIlch's footsteps and Peeves' shouts grew louder and louder.

The Slytherins strategically placed themselves behind the Gryffindors with their backs pressed up against the locked door Each of them was slightly cowering, waiting inevitably for Peeves to poke his head around the corner and spot them.

"Oh, move over," the Granger girl snarled before she pushed Daphne away from the doorknob. The crazy girl then plucked Harry's wand from him before she tapped the lock and whispered, "Alohomora!"

The lock clicked and the door swung open. The six first years piled through it and quickly shut the door behind them. They leaned against the door and attempted to steady their breathing, now that they had finally escaped Filch and Peeves. "Alohomora?" Ron gasped toward Granger. "Alohomora?"

"Standard Book of Spells, Chapter Seven," Granger retorted as if the answer were obvious.

The Slytherins and Gryffindors listened through the door to the conversation Peeves and Filch were having. Luckily for them, Peeves didn't listen any better to Filch than he did to them. "Guys…" Daphne whimpered.

Theo turned toward what Daphne was looking at and his eyes widened. He gulped before whispering, "Forget killing Draco. I'm killing Granger if we make it out of this."

"I'm pretty sure there's already a line out for her," Leila commented with her ear still pressed against the door as she looked to her brother, who was also listening to the conversation between Peeves and Filch.

"Guys, you really should..." Daphne repeated.

"Well, if it wasn't for Hermione we'd be done for since Nott led us to a dead-end corridor where we would have been caught," Ron said interrupting Daphne.

"That may very well be, Weasley, but Granger's the one who opened the door to our impending death," Daphne hissed, but the Gryffindors seemed to ignore her.

But Leila knew a hint when she was given one. She quickly whipped her head around and her eyes widened in horror. She could feel her breathing start to quicken and her chest beginning to constrict. If ever there was a time to panic: it was now. Leila, who was tightly pressed against her brother pulled at the sleeve of his robe. "Harry," she barely choked out.

"Not, now, Leils," Harry hissed as he pulled his sleeve away from her..

"But Harry, you really ought to see this."

"I'm trying to listen to see if…"

"Well, I'm trying not to panic and it isn't working!" she shouted.

With a roll of his eyes, Harry looked at his sister and saw how blanched her face was. He then saw she was pointing straight ahead of her. Granger turned on her own before looking to Harry in horror. But Ron was still oblivious. Daphne kicked him in the shin. "What's got your wand in a knot?" Ron scoffed. Greengrass physically took hold of Ron's chin and turned his face that he could see what they were seeing. "Oh-yes, panicking would be very appropriate now."

The six children looked to each before they all released blood-curdling screams because there were six eyes staring right back at them. The three-headed dog began to bark nastily and lunge toward them. Leila quickly reached for the doorknob before she flung the door open. The six children moved to get through the door at once, causing a bit of a jam in the doorway. Theo shoved Harry, which sent him sprawling to the floor, but it also made room for everyone to get out of the doorway.

It took all six of them to manage to close the door so that the three-headed beast wouldn't escape into the castle. When the door latch finally clicked, the six stopped for a moment to catch their breaths. The Gryffindors stared-down the Slytherin and the Slytherins stared-down the Gryffindors. But neither side spoke to the other. Both sides blamed the other for the predicament they had just been in, because clearly, eleven year olds couldn't share the blame.

The Gryffindors and Slytherins parted without a single word uttered between them. As the Slytherins walked away, Leila couldn't help but look over her shoulder at her brother. She found that he was looking over his shoulder back at her. He gave her a slight smile and nod of his head as he waved to her. Leila returned the gesture before she turned away and ran with Theo and Daphne back to the Slytherin dungeon.

Once they were safely back in the Slytherin dungeon, the Slytherin trio collapsed onto the sofas in the empty common room. "I can't believe we just did that," Daphne groaned.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm all for sneaking out, but that…" Theo started, but didn't finish his sentence.

Leila sat up rather uncomfortably. "I-I'm sorry that I dragged you both into this," she apologized. "I'm sure that Harry…"

"Leila, we told you that we weren't going for him."

"Then why?"

"Because Slytherins protect their own," Daphne answered lightly. "You're one of us, Leila. Honestly, we couldn't care less about your brother. I mean other than the fact that he's your brother."

Theo then sat up and leaned his elbows on his knees before looking at Leila, "Just please don't make us do something like that ever again," he groaned.

"Never, ever again."

Leila nodded her head before she leaned back against the armrest of the chair. Despite all the drama the beginning of the school year had brought, Leila felt like things might be beginning to look up again. She had friends, real friends, who were willing to stand by her. It was such a foreign concept to have someone actually want to be friends with her and then not be intimidated by Dudley. But maybe, just maybe, things were never quite as bad as they seemed.


Author's Note: Phew! And here's another chapter! Things are beginning to turn. Leila is really bonding with her Slytherins. Malfoy's an annoying jerk. And things aren't resolved, but they haven't really worsened with the Potter twins. Oh boy! Thanks again to everyone who has read and reviewed, favorited and followed...it literally means the world to me! :)


Thanks again for all the reviews! They mean a lot to me. :) Follow Leila's tumblr (leilapotter) for questions or edits.

Also-I know she won't read this, but thanks nixdragon for beta-ing. :)