It's Halloween night, and the evening celebration feast was coming to a close. An array of pumpkin pie, cinnamon biscuits, apple cider, assorted candies, and other treats line the Slytherin table.
I sit alone, as I have for the last couple of weeks.
Malfoy and I haven't said a single word to each other since quidditch practice two weeks ago. I still feel absolutely terrible in the manner that he found out about my romp.. or two.. with Hermione. But in my defense, I wasn't informed of the depth of his feelings at that time. Plus, the members of the Malfoy family are well-renowned, proud representatives of the Slytherin house. Draco's controversial love interest with a woman in Gryffindor was simply unorthodox.
The fact that he was boldly willing to defy such a sentiment spoke volumes.
And based off the fact that Hermione has been avoiding me in class and around the halls, I presume the delivery of his symbolic edible ring was a success. As a slightly possessive man myself, I predict that he simply didn't want her around me if they were now, in fact, dating.
Reaching for a sugar cookie to my right, I accidentally make eye contact with him from down the row. He glares at me from the side of his eyes.
I promptly redirect my line of vision to my left. Unfortunately, I begrudgingly pair eyes with his sister instead. I've dodged any interaction with my team captain unless it was mandatory on the field. Although what ultimately happened was a genuine mistake, I had little interest in excusing any of the bullshit Demi pulled that day.
The Malfoy siblings instantly kill my desire for dessert. After retracting my hand from the silver platter, I place my elbows on the table interlacing my fingers. I exhale slowly, admiring the enchanted jack-o-lanterns levitating beneath the night sky above us.
I fantasize about exchanging my robes for the scarlet and gold attire worn across the hall. At least then, I'd have the ability to sit next to my best friend and someone to talk to. I've stuck by Ron's side outside of segregated household events. I was grateful to have such a loyal friend even though I was in Slytherin. He was an easy going, fun loving class clown who stabilized my troubled, 'brooding' (as coined by Hermione) self.
As I continue to daydream, marveling at the beautiful festive surroundings, I notice Ron approach my table. He appears uncharacteristically distressed.
"Is everything alright?"
"Have you seen Hermione?" he asks, raising his voice so he can be heard from across the table. I notice out of my peripheral that her name perks Malfoy's ears. He leans forward in his seat peering down at us.
"No." I shake my head awkwardly adjusting in my seat. "We haven't talked in weeks.. you know this."
"Well it was bloody worth asking. She didn't show up to any of our classes today. No one has heard from her."
"Wait- she didn't go to class?!"
I'm growing increasingly concerned. I wouldn't bat an eyelash if it were practically any other student. But the onlytime the devoted witch missed a portion of class was the day she had a 101 degree fever. And even then, Snape had to literally force her out of his classroom.
"Oh, Granger?" Pansy, a female Slytherin, speaks up. "I heard she's been in the girls bathroom, crying all day." Her lips twist into a menacing smirk. "Something about a boy.." She slowly tilts her head toward me giving a quick wink.
My eyebrows furrow as I look up to Ron who's holding an equally perplexed expression.
The main hall door suddenly slams open, immediately startling the students still. Professor Quirrel maniacally sprints through the entrance and down the aisle in distress.
"LINDWORM IN THE DUNGEONS! LINDWORM! IN THE DUNGEON! Thought you ought to know.."
His face turns ghost white before collapsing to the floor, dead weight.
This commences complete chaos. Everyone surrounding me screams and shouts, frantically moving about the room. I'm the only one in the entire hall who's maintaining a stable composure simply because I have no idea what the fuck a lindworm is.
The students persistently run around in sheer panic as Dumbledore commands everyone perfectly still using one word.
"SILENCE!"
The headmaster calmly instructs the house Prefects to direct each household to their corridors. Once everyone begins hurriedly filing out of the main hall, I jump to the other side of the table joining Ron.
"What's a lindworm?" I inquire reading his terrified expression. I'm hot on his trail, making sure to steer clear of Agnes, my house Prefect.
"It's a bloody hybrid; half dragon, half snake!" Ron squeamishly informs, keeping up pace with the unhinged mob. Percy, the Gryffindor Prefect and eldest Weasley, promptly leads his house out of the main hall unaware that one Slytherin was in attendance.
"What about Hermione?!" I hiss tightly gripping Ron's arm. "She's still in the girls bathroom! We haveto warn her."
His eyes widen at the realization as we promptly turn on our heels. I almost run face first into Malfoy. His fiery blue eyes connect with mine as he ever so slowly raises an index finger pushing it against his lips.
The three of us gradually fall back in the crowd of Gryffindors, silently planning our escape. Once Percy turns the corner, I yank Ron and Malfoy by their robes behind a large pillar. The two lightly grimace at one another until we're confidently out of earshot.
"Just what do you think you're doing, following us?" Ron jeers.
"Accompanying you blokes," Draco informs with narrowed eyes. "I'm seeking Hermione."
Ron and I quickly glance at each other in hushed agreement. If there was anyone else in the school willing to help us protect Hermione under any circumstance; it was Malfoy.
"Well.. Carry on then," Ron reluctantly responds folding his arms.
They intensely stare each other down exchanging a wordless (most likely temporary) truce.
Malfoy peeks from behind the pillar and motions us to follow. He promptly dashes off in the direction of the bathrooms. Ron and I swap one last look of uncertainty before nodding our heads and sprinting after him.
The three of us certainly had our respective differences, but we all shared one common interest:
Keeping Hermione Granger safe.