"Hey! Amelia!" Theodore screamed down the train aisle nearly as soon as she set foot onto the train. He scared her with a voice booming down the train carriage for the third year in a row. One would think she would be used to it by now. Wrong.
Amelia waved at him, signalling that she will get there in a minute.
She stuck her head into the compartment that Harry, Ron and Hermione found, "I will see you later, okay? Gotta go," she muttered as she reached her hand for her backpack on the seat.
"Wait, wh- You won't be with us?" Harry glanced at her.
Oh no… Here we go again. This discussion comes annually during the first week of the term. He was early this year.
"Harry, I was with you for what? Three weeks? I have other friends too. I will see you at Hogwarts, okay?" she said, trying to sound amicable. After weeks of him nagging her about Malfoy, she really wanted to avoid another bad Slytherin talk.
"I've barely seen you though," he accused her, "Is Malfoy included?"
"Don't blame me, Harry. You always wanted to talk about Draco, and I am not interested in having the same conversation twice a day for weeks on end. Imagine how tired I must be to voluntarily play Quidditch… And yes, he is most likely to be there. Any more questions, mom?" she rolled her eyes, trying to sound friendly went out of the window. She was tired, he always questioned every single one of her friends, but she never could say a word about Ron.
Scratch that, he questioned everything she did.
"Am, come on. I am just worried about you," Harry backpaddled. She sighed, throwing the backpack over her shoulder.
Her eyes travelled around the compartment.
Hermione pretended not to pay attention – she would rather dive out of a window if it meant she could avoid confrontation with Harry and/or Ron. They were often on the same page, but she rarely ever said anything in front of them.
Ron was staring daggers. Again. That was nothing new. Their dislike was mutual. He was a great friend to Harry, and she was willing to tolerate him for that. The idea she could have been sorted into Gryffindor and would have been stuck with that git in one house kept her awake at night.
"Then stop," she breathed out, "See you in Hogwarts."
Squeezing herself past a couple of people in the aisle, Amelia finally reached the open space carriage that is almost traditionally occupied by Slytherin students. She barely closed the door behind her when Daphne and Theo threw themselves around her neck.
"Bloody hell," she breathed out as she stumbled backwards under their weight. Draco, who sat at their booth, not bothering to greet her, snorted.
Glad we are back to normal arrogant git, Amelia thought. Draco was wearing a similar suit as he did in the summer, he was dressed in all black. In daylight it made him look even paler. Amelia mentally slapped herself, she needs to get Draco out of her head.
"How was summer?" Daphne started the shower of questions as they both sat back down next to Blaise, who just waved at her, too invested in some book to bother. Amelia stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before Draco, not so willingly slid to the window making space for her to sit down. They both avoided looking at one another, Amelia was worried she will go on another of her mental tangents, staring at him. She gave him the satisfaction once and felt no need for round 2.
"Did you go to the World Cup?"
"She did, Nott!" Daphne hissed at Theo, smacking his shoulder, "More important question – what exactly happened?"
"Yes! This arse won't say a word!" Theo said accusingly, pointing at Draco. Amelia's eyes shot towards Draco, who looked very much bothered as he was slouched in the seat. Malfoys don't slouch, she corrected herself, choking back a giggle. That comment has cost them 10 points at one point when he uttered it in Snape's direction.
"We are on this train for maybe 10 minutes and I already want to kill you all. How do you just do that?" Draco groaned from his side of the bench, "Potter left her for dead. It was a charity," he finally shrugged.
Charity, great.
Draco seemed to notice the almost disappointed sigh from her and finally glanced at her.
"No saviour complex then?" Amelia glared at him. He ignored the snickers from their friends sitting across and stared at her, "Anyway can we not talk about that? I was listening to various theories for almost 3 weeks while at the Burrow..." Amelia groaned, rolling her eyes.
"The Burrow? You were at the Weasley's?" Theo asked with a raised brow, just as Draco shifted uncomfortably next to her. Draco leaned back against the window with great annoyance.
"Yes, I was. I really don't understand your issues with them," Amelia said with a pointed tone. She was sick and tired of being constantly trapped in this little war between them.
"I haven't said anything," Theo tried to defend himself, but Amelia just glared at him.
"Your tone suggested it," she said dryly, "And your body language," Amelia glared back at Draco, who just rolled his eyes.
Daphne smacked Theo again, "You dimwits!" She hissed, only side-eyeing Draco, who would probably hex her if she touched him, "How was the Burrow, A?" Amelia shot her grateful smile. Despite being a Greengrass she had all five wheels together and when she tried, she got along with the Weasley's. They did not particularly like her back but had enough tact not to show it.
"Exhausting at times, honestly, Harry could not stop talking about the World Cup," Amelia admitted, shaking her head at the memory of the discussions she was forced to witness, "Literally the only people keeping me sane were the twins."
Daphne chuckled, "The twins, huh?" Amelia widened her eyes at Daphne, fully knowing where she was heading with that comment. So did Theodore who started choking next to her. "I am just saying-" Daphne started but suddenly winced, glaring at Draco as she reached down to rub her shin.
Did he just kick her? Theo seemed to have gotten the same idea as they glanced at each other.
He tried to avoid looking at her. She was on his mind way too much during the rest of the summer. But his resolve finally broke and he took a good look. She looked like a different person. The tension from her neck and shoulders was gone, she looked relaxed. She must have spent a lot of time outside; her skin was tanned, and the sun highlighted the peppering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. As he took a deep breath, fully expecting the perfume he grew used to - he guessed jasmine with hints of vanilla, but nothing too sweet; he was hit by the smell of fresh air and mowed grass. She smelled like summer and he was whipped.
"No saviour complex then?" Amelia's eyes landed on him. He glared back. Not her bringing up the most cringe thing he ever said. Daphne and Theodore snickered as if they got the reference. Which he was sure they did not because he wouldn't hear the end of it if they knew. "Anyway, can we not talk about that? I was listening to various theories for almost 3 weeks while at the Burrow…" she groaned.
The Burrow?
"The Burrow? You were at the Weasley's?" Theo took the question straight out of his mouth. Draco shifted in his seat. It all made sense now. The jacket back at the World Cup. The tan, her smell. She smelled like the Weasleys. Though to her credit – at least she didn't go with Ronald. The older Weasleys seemed more tolerable.
What a way to put someone off…
He didn't understand. A minute ago, the way she smelled was alluring and now realizing what it was – it made his stomach turn. He groaned and leaned back against the window.
"Yes, I was. I really don't understand your issues with them," she muttered with annoyance bubbling in her tone.
"I haven't said anything," Theo raised his hands up in defence. Amelia just shot him a glare.
"Your tone suggested it," she retorted, "And your body language," she turned to him, eyeing him disapprovingly.
"You dimwits!" Daphne hissed at Theo and him. Theo earned another smack across the arm, he didn't protest and just rubbed his upper arm sheepishly, side-eyeing her. Blaise was the smartest one out of all 5 of them, he zoned out the moment his ass touched the seat and continued reading since. Ignorance is truly bliss. "How was the Burrow, A?" Daphne asked her.
Amelia breathed out a sigh of relief next to him and relaxed back in her seat. She was just as hung up on not dropping that group of friends as Theo with Blaise were on not dropping her. It was quite admirable in a way, especially the way they treated her sometimes.
"Exhausting at times, honestly. Harry could not stop talking about the World Cup," she said with a hint of annoyance. "Literally the only people keeping me sane were the twins."
Draco twitched. Adding more salt into a wound he didn't know he had.
"The twins, huh?" Daphne chuckled. Both, Amelia and Theodore, widened their eyes at her in shock. Theo went as far as choking on his spit. "I am just saying–" Draco kicked her shin under the table. Someone had to shut her up before she went on another tangent of hers about how great of a match each twin would be for her. Daphne reached down to rub her chin as she glared at him. "What was he saying?" Draco finally asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Harry?" Amelia turned to him confused, "Well… He somehow- don't ask me what thought process led him to this, I truly do not know… He thought and probably still thinks, to be honest with you- that… uh that you were taking me to the Death Eaters," Amelia shook her head as Daphne with Theodore burst out laughing. Draco's eyes stayed fixed on her to see if she was joking or not.
"Oh no, this won't end well," Theo mumbled knowingly, pretending to be extremely interested in the view out of the window. Even the rest of that side was mentally bracing themselves for something. Then a girl mincingly cleared her throat hovering right over Amelia.
"If you don't mind – that's my seat," said Pansy.
Amelia rolled her eyes at the sound of her voice, "Really? How come?"
"You see, you are sitting next to my boyfriend so move," she sneered, if looks could kill Amelia would be dead already. Amelia glanced at Draco, contemplating hitting him with Got yourself a girlfriend, Malfoy, but decided not to.
Draco stirred, uncomfortable as ever, trying his best to blend in with the seat. The other half of the group, however, were making all sorts of choking and wheezing sounds as they tried to keep themselves together. But Blaise could not hold it in anymore and chuckled.
"What's so funny, Zabini?" Pansy turned to the tallboy hunched over in the corner, opposite Draco. He just wheezed further in response, leaning his forehead against the window.
"Parkinson," Draco groaned, sitting up straighter. Not even his supposed girlfriend deserved to be called by her first name, "If I wanted to waste time with you, I would not be sitting here." He said as he glared at her. Amelia widened her eyes and exchanged a surprised look with Daphne, who was about to burst into a fit of laughter.
Amelia could not help herself but feel bad for Pansy, that was quite brutal. For all she knew, Pansy was obsessed with Draco since the first year. On more than one occasion did she hear her boasting about how they will get married after Hogwarts. It became almost a joke, but that poor girl did not realize it. She was willingly putting up Draco's rude comments and the ruder he got with her the happier she seemed. As if she considered it affection.
She found herself wondering whether it was truly one-sided from Pansy or if Draco had any feelings for her. Maybe he was different in private? Somehow, she doubted that would be the case.
Yet here you are pining after him, you bint, she scolded herself as her thoughts started running in the wrong direction.
"Sod off, Pugface," Daphne finally said as they all were still processing what Draco said and her so-called boyfriend was too done with the situation to interact any further.
"What on earth?" Daphne looked at Draco, genuinely shocked as Pansy walked back to her seat. They all had no idea what had hit them, "You and a boyfriend?" Draco's face relaxed a bit when he realized what they were so shocked about.
"Say it, Wood," he sighed after he quickly scanned everyone's faces. Corners of Amelia's mouth were twitching as she still had the perfect throwback one-liner on her mind.
"Got yourself a girlfriend, Malfoy?" she copied his higher-pitched voice from years ago. Successfully triggering salves of laughter from all three people sitting opposite of them. Draco shook his head and hid his smile by turning to look out of the window.
After the sorting and the feast, Dumbledore took the word for his annual welcome speech.
He started his yearly reminder how every other hallway, door or staircase can kill them, did not forget to mention the Dark Forest - putting the majority of the hall almost to sleep.
But then he got everyone's attention by daringly announcing, "It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year," he said after the list of usual rules.
The Great Hall fell silent. The majority of students looked at each other confusedly or mouthed Dumbledore's words back to themselves, double and triple-checking if they understood correctly. If there was any food left on the tables, Amelia was sure he would catch some chicken wings from Fred and George, they looked enraged.
Dumbledore continued, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-"
Suddenly the ceiling gained a mind of its own and the storm mirroring the weather outside got a dozen times worse. There was deafening rumbling along with large and strong strikes of lighting. The leftover cups on the tables shaking just like anything in the room.
The doors of the Great Hall flew open, the majority of the students noticed only after the newcomer sent bright red light into the ceiling storm, instantly causing it to clear up. All heads snapped in the stranger's direction.
"Is that..." Blaise murmured as they all squinted at the entrance trying to see who it was, "Nah, that can't be..."
The stranger started to wobble down the main aisle towards Dumbledore, who seemed unphased by all of that. Amelia had no idea who it was, but he looked intimidating. Decently long, dark grey messy hair, a metal foot that made an awful amount of noise, his face was covered in scars.
But his eyes were the most unsettling.
He wore an eye patch with a fake eye that seemed to be moving independently of his actual eye. Rolling from side to side, up and down and even to the back of his head.
When he finally reached Dumbledore, they shook hands and muttered a few words to each other.
"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore turning back to the Hall full of confused students, "Professor Moody."
Dumbledore along with Hagrid started clapping as it was the usual welcome for new staff members, but it was only met by blank stares from the students.
"Moody?" Amelia leaned to her friends, "Like Mad-Eye Moody?" They all were equally as hypnotised by him, Blaise just nodded absent-mindedly, staring at the man taking his seat at the main table. Amelia heard of him before. He was by far the most successful Auror the Ministry ever had. At least half of Azkaban was there thanks to him. He was a living legend.
"As I was saying," Dumbledore continued, "I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts we will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament! A very exciting event that has not been held for over a century. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities — until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued. The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang along with their short-listed contenders will arrive in October and the champions will be chosen on Halloween. The champions will then compete for the Triwizard Cup, glory and a thousand of Galleons."
Amelia's jaw dropped slightly as she listened to the Headmaster. Excited chit chat spread through the Hall. Especially at the Gryffindor table, Amelia could not help herself but laugh at how predictable that was. On the other hand, the majority of Slytherins were left unphased. Risking life for a thousand of Galleons did not seem attractive enough.
Amelia jumped when Daphne threw herself on her bed, closing the curtains and casting silencing charm. Amelia stared at her blankly over the upper edge of her book, waiting for an explanation.
"Now tell me everything," Daphne ordered and made herself comfortable. Amelia gaped at her, "I need to hear everything about the Quidditch fiasco. I saw how you two looked at each other. Something happened. Spill it." Amelia sighed, closing the book.
Daphne for once managed to sit through the whole story without major disturbances, only the odd gasps or snickers here and there.
"… and before he left, he said Especially if it lands me on top of you. Soul left my body then and there." Amelia pushed her hair out of her face.
"Especially if it lands me on top of you? Per verbatim?" she asked with wide eyes. Amelia nodded as her cheeks grew hotter, "What did you say?"
"Nothing! I just stared at him as he walked away," Amelia admitted. Daphne whined in disappointment. She felt for her. She usually was able to come with some comeback on spot, but Draco regularly left her lost for words.
"Poor Pansy," Daphne chuckled suddenly, "She can split herself in half and Draco still won't pay attention to her and now we know why… YOU!" she laughed when Amelia glanced at her confused.
But Amelia shook her head, "Don't be ridiculous, Daph. He wouldn't touch me with ten-foot pole…"
That sigh sparked Daphne's attention even more. Her eyes widened, "Do you want him to touch you? Amelia! Are you trying to tell me you are crushing on Malfoy?"
"Apparently…" she shrugged, waiting for the ground to swallow her whole.
"Apparently? Did someone tell you to crush on him? Stop talking in riddles," she complained.
Amelia sighed as she realized she would need to explain the one afternoon with Fred and George. She kept digging a bigger and bigger hole for herself, "This will sound weird, but hear me out. Back at the Burrow, I was spending most of the time with the twins… Also, don't ask me why we did this, I cannot tell – anyway one day I drank Veritaserum "
"YOU DID WHAT?" Daphne screamed at her.
"You heard me. Anyway, I drank it and… well one of their questions was who I fancy… Mind you, I was already planning my funeral, I expected to say Fred, but Draco's name came out. I was more shocked than them, to be fair," Amelia rubbed her eyes as a wave of cringe and embarrassment hit her. Daphne sat in silence, looking at her for a while.
Finally, she cleared her throat, "Fred? Do I even know you?"
"Hey, Malfoy?"
"What?" he groaned not lifting his eyes from the book. They better make the distraction worthwhile.
"Come on, we are no mountain trolls… We can tell something happened between you and Amelia this summer," Blaise said straight up as it is his habit. Draco sighed, closing his book, genuinely worried to look at them.
"Have you considered becoming one?" he glanced at the duo. "It would be a good look on both of you," he snickered. Deep down he knew he did not fool them. They are not the kind to pack it up when he is just about too mean to them. They grew a thicker shin by this point.
"Draco?" Theodore narrowed his eyes on him, "Cut the crap. Dad mentioned the Ministry caught you with her."
Blaise just nodded adamantly, he would confirm anything Theo had to say at that point.
"I told you, I've run into her after Potter and the rest left her for dead. That's all, end of story," he rolled his eyes again.
Theo was about to protest and bring out some argument, but Blaise grabbed his shoulder and shook his head as he turned to him, "Leave it, Daphne will tell you tomorrow."
Draco paled at the realization that Amelia is most likely to tell Daphne everything and Daphne just as Theo can't hold her own piss. He swallowed back a loud pained moaned.
"You are right," Theodore snickered as he looked at Draco, "Judging by that long face, it will be something juicy."
Draco chucked the book at their heads, they both ducked out of the way and laughed.
Amelia walked into the classroom for their first class with Mad-Eye. She was running late and hated herself for it as soon as she set foot into the room. Glancing over the classroom, cataloguing every empty chair there, she found only one.
The one next to Draco.
Draco was almost laying on the desk, resting his chin on top of a pile of books as he played with the ring on his index finger. Amelia groaned quietly.
This is a bad joke.
As she passed Daphne, Amelia looked at her. Her friend seemed way too happy about it. This was not an accident.
She threw her stuff on the desk in frustration, making Draco jump and stare at her offendedly, "This is not your seat," he groaned, not even bothering to raise his head.
"I am afraid it is. Look around," she muttered as she sat down. Draco listened and craned his neck, scanning the classroom. His eyes eventually landed on overly happy Daphne and Theodore.
"I will break their necks, I swear to Merlin," he whispered, clutching the edges of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection with all the force.
Amelia nodded, "That makes two of us, trust me," she muttered as she glared back at the two gits she called her friends. They were holding back laughter, tears almost brimming in their eyes. Daphne was teasing her about Draco ever since she told her the full story of the night at the Quidditch World Cup. Especially their short interaction after.
And being the blabbermouth she was, she told Theodore. At least him, but Amelia wouldn't be surprised if everyone who she talked to during the day knew.
Draco laid back down on the book pile and stared ahead. Amelia shifted in her seat next to him, folding one leg under her, pulling her hair all to one side. As she did, familiar perfume hit Draco's nose.
"Stop," Draco groaned out of the blue.
Amelia glanced at him confused, "I- what? I haven't done anything. What got your panties in a twist today, Malfoy?" she retorted. One day back and she is already tired of him, it might be a new record.
"You, surprisingly," he said glaring at her. Her eyes widened involuntarily.
That's new.
Resting her cheek in the palm of her hand as she leaned against the table, Amelia looked at him and thought about her answer for a moment. His eyes were still on her and she stared back.
She was done being scared of him, trying to stay out of his way to make sure he is not a dick to her. She spent the better part of the past 3 years hiding from him, staying quiet when he was around. She saw a different side of him briefly in the summer and there is no way that this is his default.
Also, what she said when on Veritaserum was still eating at her. Is she really crushing on him? She must be, she was compelled the tell the truth. But how?
"Why are you so determined to convince people you don't care?" Amelia muttered before she could stop herself. Draco cocked his brow at her as a sign to shut up, but she continued, "Whenever someone gets closer to you, you shut them off. When you do something nice for someone, you wash it down by being an absolute moron. Why?"
"You don't know me, Wood," he glared at her.
"Clearly, but does anyone?" Amelia scanned his expression. He ducked his chin briefly as if he was surprised by her question.
Draco clenched his jaw, "There's not much to know."
Amelia shook her head, "Let others be the judge of that-"
The door behind their backs shut close, stopping their conversation to Draco's relief, and Moody waddled down the corridor accompanied by the distinct clunking of his prosthetic.
"Put those away," he snarled as he reached his desk, "The books - gone. You won't need them." The class returned the books to their bags, exchanging confused looks. Amelia's eyes met Harry's across the room, who looked extra confused spotting her next to Malfoy. She shrugged, shaking her head.
"Right then," he said as he finished taking their attendance, "I got a letter from Professor Lupin about this class. Seems you've got a pretty solid handle on Dark creatures… You've covered boggarts, Red Caps, grindylows, hinkypunks and werewolves, is that right?"
The class nodded.
"But you are behind, very behind, on dealing with curses," he continued walking towards the first row of seats, "I am here to bring you up to speed on how wizards can hurt, maim and kill each other. Got one year to teach you how to survive. So let's not waste time!"
Amelia's heart was beating out of her chest, this man made her incredibly nervous for no reason. Everyone else seemed fascinated. Amelia talked to Fred and George earlier at breakfast, who had their class with him the previous day, and they were over the moon. Moody matched their kind of crazy.
"So, curses… They come in many shapes and forms. According to the ministry, I am supposed to only teach you countercurses. You are not supposed to know what illegal Dark curses look like. Not until the sixth year. But I say the sooner you know, the better. So does any of you know which curses are the most punished?"
Amelia swallowed as she felt her throat tighten, was he really about to teach them unforgivable curses? No one seemed one bit concerned, Draco even finally raised his head from the pile of books and started paying attention.
Several hands shot up into the air, Moody pointed at Ron, "Ehm," Ron cleared his throat, "My dad told me about one… the Imperious Curse?"
"Ah right, right," Moody nodded, "Your father would know that one, it gave the Ministry quite the trouble at one time." He turned around wobbling towards several glasses with various insects in them. Ron gulped, staring at Moody taking out a spider. Amelia cringed as they all watched Moody enlarge it.
He held it in his hand so everyone could see it, pointed his wand at it, "Imperio!"
The spider leapt from Moody's hand and began swinging through the air on a fine thread of silk, breaking the thread landing on the desk right in front of Ron and Harry. Ron quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, holding back a squeal. Draco next to her was having the time of his life.
"Think it's funny, do you?" Moody growled raising his brow, "You wouldn't like it if I did it to you." The spider cartwheeled over the length of the desk and leapt across the corridor to Amelia and Draco. Amelia recoiled back in her seat, trying to put as much of a distance between herself and that creature. It was making her skin crawl. Her long face made Draco laugh again and so with a flick of Moody's wand the spider landed right on Malfoy's face. Amelia chuckled as Draco flailed around trying to get it off of his face.
"Absolute control," Moody said as the spider lifted off of Draco's face floating through the room, "Should it jump out of the window? Should we drown it?" He asked as the spider jumped from one spot to another around the room.
"Years back, there were a lot of people who claimed to be under the Imperius Curse," said Moody, hovering the spider over a magnifying glass, "They claimed to be doing the Dark Lord's bidding only because of that. Quite the task for the Ministry, trying to sort out who was indeed cursed and who was acting on their own free will."
Moody's eyes both rested on Draco. Draco's face stiffened as he glared back at Moody resistantly.
Moody continued, "The Imperius Curse can be fought. And I'll teach you how, but it takes real strength of character. And not everyone has got it. Better to avoid being hit altogether. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he suddenly screamed, making everyone jump.
Amelia finally decided - he scared her.
Moody picked up the spider and held it in his open palm, "Any other curse? Another illegal curse?"
Neville's hand was up, besides other students, Moody's eyes fixated on him, "Yes?"
Neville swallowed, surprised by his courage, he usually never spoke in classes outside of herbology, "There's the… The Cruciatus Curse," he croaked.
Moody hummed in agreement, "Longbottom, is it?" Neville nodded nervously. Moody set the spider on top of a pile of books at the edge of Neville's desk. The poor boy swallowed hard, regretting ever raising his hand.
Moody raised his wand again aiming it at the spider, "Crucio!"
The spider rolled over on its back, its legs bending in unnatural ways as it twitched uncontrollably. It did not make a sound, thankfully, but if it could… It would be screaming. Amelia shut her eyes as she turned her head the other way.
"Stop it!" Hermione eventually shrieked, "You are hurting him!"
Amelia opened her eyes and turned to her, Hermione wasn't looking at the spider, which was jerking violently at this point but at Neville.
Neville was clutching the edge of the desk for dear life, his knuckles white. He was paler than death and his eyes were wide. He looked scared out of his mind.
That's a lifelong trauma in the making. As if Snape didn't already traumatize him enough.
Draco chuckled and Amelia did not hesitate to smack his arm closest to her. Moody removed his wand, and the spider could finally relax, but it still twitched.
"Right… and the last one?" Moody said looking around the room. No one dared to make sound or move a muscle, "Miss Granger?" He asked as the spider floated through the air and landed right in front of her. It was still lying on its back. It seemed exhausted.
Hermione shook her head defiantly, not daring to look at Moody.
"The last and worst one. Avada Kedavra- the killing curse," Moody looked around the class. Everyone was looking anywhere but at him. He raised his wand for the last time and muttered, "Avada Kedavra."
There was a bright flash of green light and a rushing sound and the spider dropped dead. Several students held back a cry. Amelia once again turned her head away from the now murder scene, tears stinging in her eyes. Moody swept the dead spider off the desk onto the floor and Ron nearly fell off his seat as the spider flew in his direction.
"Not pleasant," he said as if nothing happened, "And there's no countercurse. There's no blocking it. Once it hits you - you are done. Caput. Only one person has ever survived it and he is sitting right here." Moody's eyes landed on Harry. Harry gulped as his face got redder.
No one spoke for the rest of the class, they spent it taking notes on each of the curses in shocked silence. As soon as Moody left the classroom, a wild discussion started. People were talking about it as if they just witnessed some spectacular show.
Amelia could not help herself, but she did not find it one bit entertaining. She leaned back in her seat, staring blankly at the blackboard. She still could see the spider twitching and jerking right in front of her, she still saw the green light when she closed her eyes.
"Wood?" Draco nudged her, "Are you okay?"
Amelia shook her head to snap out of the horrible daydream, "Not sure." She shrugged. Draco ran his fingers through his hair, with slight frustration, he had no clue how to cope with other people's emotions. He barely knew what to do with his own.
He nudged her again, "Let's go to dinner, huh?"
"I am not hungry," she whispered, looking at her shaking hands as she balled them up into a fist and then relaxed them again. Hands still shaking.
Draco stared at her hands for a moment, trying to come up with some kind of appropriate response. Being sterile and cold came naturally to him, this was pushing the borders of his comfort zone.
"I was not giving you options. Go on," he sighed eventually as he came up with nothing better and forced her to get up.
Amelia grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder. Once again, she was glad for Draco. His no-bs attitude came in clutch again.
She watched him stuff his things into his bag. He looked not bothered by anything that happened in the class. Amelia wondered whether he is just good at hiding it or if he truly does not care. Draco shuffled himself towards the same corridor that Amelia was stood in.
"Come on," he mumbled, gently pushing on her lower back to make her move. He kept his hand there as he guided her out of the classroom.
Daphne and Theo exchanged accomplished looks. This was not really their plan but it was working better than they imagined. Harry noticed their obvious gleam after he saw Amelia leave with Draco. He narrowed his eyes at them.
Daphne grinned at him, "Just helping the inevitable."
Harry glared at the duo, "Maybe don't meddle with things you know nothing about." He hated seeing Amelia anywhere near Draco and as he just found he hated, even more, when people tried to make things happen. He felt a similar sting by his heart as he did back that night at the Quidditch World Cup.
"Tough game, Potter," Theodore smirked at him knowingly. Daphne widened her eyes as she stared at Theo with Harry.
"Zip it, Nott," Harry groaned as he walked past them and out of the classroom, leaving Ron with Hermione behind.
The upcoming weeks were only as exciting as Snape's threats about poisoning someone to test their knowledge of antidotes. Amelia forced herself to believe he was joking in his odd way, because if he meant it and it would be someone who's not close to Hermione or Draco - they were dead. But even then it didn't guarantee their help. Hermione would consider it cheating and Draco… Draco would likely hand you another poison.
Hermione and Draco were the only people with decent marks from Snape. Though only Draco would get extra house points for his successes.
They were getting so much work to do in every class, they spent all their afternoons and evenings with their noses buried in books with regular threats of pitching someone off of Astronomy Tower or burning the school down. Hearing Blaise complain would be nothing new, but the validation everyone felt when Draco scowled This is bullshit over Astronomy homework was the highlight of that week.
At the end of another exhausting week, as they made their way back to the castle from Hagrid's class, they found themselves stuck due to a large crowd of students gathered at the entrance hall. There was a large sign erected at the bottom of the staircase. It took them seemingly forever to battle their way towards it.
Triwizard tournament
THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY THE 29TH OF OCTOBER. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY. STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST.
"Brilliant!" Amelia heard Harry from somewhere in the crowd, "It's Potions last thing on Friday! Snape won't have time to poison us all."
Amelia chuckled, he had a point.
The news of their arrival sent the castle into an odd combination of chaos and anticipation. The suits of armour in the entrance hall were shining as new, portraits in the halls were scrubbed clean to their displeasure as they kept complaining. Every staff member was on the edge too.
When Amelia entered the Great Hall on the morning of the thirtieth of October, she was forced to make a double-take that she walked into the right room. The Great Hall got decorated overnight in the colours of individual houses. Enormous banners were hanging from the ceiling; red with a gold lion for Gryffindor, blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw, yellow with a black badge for Hufflepuff and finally green with a silver snake for Slytherin. One last one hung behind the teacher's table with the Hogwarts coat of arms. Lion, eagle, badger and a snake around large letter H.
Walking through the hall she spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione in a heated discussion with Fred and George. Well, Hermione was heated, Harry and Ron tried their best to disappear into the thin air, while Fred and George were muttering things back at her. She was willing to bet, Hermione was hammering into them something about S.P.E.W. She hurried past them, she so far successfully avoided having that conversation with Hermione. And had no desire to get dragged into that discussion.
Amelia sat down with a sigh of relief when she made it to their usual spot at the Slytherin table without being spotted.
"Funny how is everyone terrified of Granger now, isn't it?" Draco hissed when he arrived a few minutes later. He just dismissed Hermione with another slur and shoved past her. Amelia glared at him. S.P.E.W might be annoying, but she won't stand for him being a douche.
"Was that necessary?" she asked annoyed.
Draco looked at her with a cocked brow, trying to come up with some response. Amelia's habit of calling him out for things was driving him up a wall. He rarely ever had any satisfactory answer to her prodding questions. He eventually shook his head and applied himself to the scrambled eggs on his plate.
The whole day seemed like a daydream, the evening arrival was the main topic of the day. Barely anyone talked about anything else. As the bell rang early during the last lesson, everyone hurried to their dorms, dropping off their books before rushing back to the courtyard.
Once there the Heads of Houses were ordering their students into lines or at least trying to. They filed down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was rather cold to be standing out there willy nilly.
Amelia exchanged eye-rolls with Daphne as they both shivered as the wind picked up. Pucey, who was standing on her other side, got suddenly yanked back a line and was replaced by Draco. Daphne spat out, shooting an apologetic look to the girl in front of her as she spat down her neck, stifling a giggle as she looked away from Draco's angry face.
"What's wrong with you?" she questioned, looking up at him with wide eyes.
Draco's jaw clenched as he stared blankly into the distance. After a moment he peered down at Amelia, "He's not getting anywhere near you." He said through gritted teeth. Her jaw dropped for a second, being at loss for words.
What went into him?
"And since when do you get to decide that?" Amelia raised her brow at him defiantly. There's the controlling side of him that she's never seen; him being bossy was nothing new. But she was used to that from Hermione. But policing who gets to stand next to her was fresh.
Draco side-eyed Pucey, who was silently fuming just behind them, before he looked back at the shorter irritated witch by his side, "Do you want to hear the details of how he imagines bending you over the sofa's armrest in the common room?" He hissed in her direction. "Or other places. Really, it's your choice..."
"Snape is positively insane, right? Right?!" Theodore jogged behind him and Blaise as they return from their class into the common room.
"Nott, if I were you… I would carry all the antidotes with you everywhere you go," Blaise shrugged, barely concerned, "Because if Snape won't poison you, he will."
Theo glared at Draco, who just shook his head, chuckling.
"Hey! Malfoy!" someone called from the opposite corner of the room, "Nott… Zabini," he nodded to the boys in his tow, still bickering over Snape.
Draco rolled his eyes as Pucey approached them. He really wondered where he got all the confidence. Irrelevant name, mediocre looks, face full of pimples, hair of colour of pissed on hay… intelligence of a rocking horse. Truly, psychological wonder.
"Pucey," he scanned him up and down. If he wasn't on the Quidditch team, Draco wouldn't have bothered. But team spirit.
"Do you have a moment for me? I have few questions about that pretty friend of yours," he smirked at Draco.
"If you mean me, I am not interested. I don't swing for the same team," Blaise jumped in. Draco could almost taste the overflowing sarcasm, but he was more than sure that it got lost on Pucey. He just jerked his chin back in confusion, shaking his head. They scattered, probably thinking he wanted to talk about Pansy. Draco had a feeling that's not gonna be it.
"The half-blood…" Pucey trailed off. Draco exhaled sharply. He was right, it's not about Pansy… "Is she seeing someone?"
Draco furrowed his brow at him, contemplating his response. Just the expression on his face was pushing his buttons more than he liked. It felt almost predatory. But he ended up shaking his head, "Not that I know, half-bloods are not the centre of my attention."
Pucey flashed his teeth at him, "Less competition then. Your friends are not interested, are they? Salazar swallow anyone else… Mate, that skirt of hers? It drives me nuts…" he spewed as he dragged him to the sofas. Draco groaned. Did he really just destined himself to a pinning session with Pucey?
He zoned out, staring just over his shoulder so he thought Draco was listening. He occasionally hummed or nodded.
"To be fair, I don't care at all about her," Pucey admitted, forcing Draco back into the reality and his eyes focused on him, " Just to get her to bend over that sofa… any surface… willingly or not, really…"
His brow quirked at the words. He heard of his ways. Ways he did not approve of, one bit. To hell with whether he had his eye on a pureblood or a muggle-born.
Her skirt definitely drove him mad too, he could sympathize with him to that degree. It was truly criminally short sometimes. He was not ashamed to admit that he has spent a considerable amount of time thinking about why that was the case with her but not other girls. She was not necessarily taller than others. Her legs seemed to go on for miles, however. So the skirt that hit others somewhere above their knees, barely extended to the middle of her thighs.
The knowledge that his attention was no zeroed in on Amelia, made him sick. He doubted she would listen to him to such a degree to never be near him, never talk to him, never even look at him. Bloody stubborn… He will need to find a way to always insert himself between her and Pucey. Draco groaned, mentally prepping himself for the awkward moments.
"Right, Malfoy?"
He was so desperate for outside validation, he must have known that what he was doing wasn't exactly by the book.
Draco shook his head, "Not really. I'd never operate outside of the range of their consent." Just the fact he had to say it, make his stomach twist into an unnatural position.
Mental note: don't let this pig near her.
Pucey laughed as if he heard a joke of the century, "And that, Malfoy, is why you are here talking to me."
"Actually no. That's why the girls are actually interested in me," he shrugged, standing up, "Oh and- Pucey? Touch her – to hell with that… Look at her the wrong way and we will have a problem."
His eyes were cold and harder than steel. Amelia's jaw dropped for the second time as she glanced at Adrian who was ruddy with rage, visibly seething. She barely knew him; all she knew about him is that he's two or so years higher and Chaser of their Quidditch team. Amelia could not even remember if they've ever talked or interacted in any way. He was quite forgettable as she thought more about it.
"So, you are welcome," Draco said after a moment of shocked silence from Amelia, who was still staring up at him blankly. She was trying to decide if she was impressed or disturbed by how concerned he was with her. "Thank you will be enough," he added dryly.
"Thanks," she muttered without thinking, looking away.
"AHA!" Dumbledore finally called out from the top of the stairs, "The delegation from Beauxbatons approaches if I am not mistaken!"
Students were looking in all directions, trying to spot whatever Dumbledore was seeing, "Where?" several of them asked.
"There!" someone finally screamed pointing towards the sky over the forest. Amelia squinted to focus her eyes, it was larger, and it definitely wasn't a broomstick. As it approached the castle and the lights from inside hit it, it became obvious it is a large horse-drawn carriage. It rushed towards the courtyard, not showing any signs of slowing down. The whole student body cautiously took several steps back, getting out of the way. Hagrid tried to navigate it by waving his arms, pointing to a flatter area, only to nearly get hit as it landed with a loud crash.
The courtyard stared in silence as the carriage finally halted to a stop. The door opened and golden steps unfolded automatically. A few people gasped when a woman emerged from the carriage. A woman that made Hagrid look like a small child. Dumbledore started to clap, and the student followed his lead as she walked towards Dumbledore.
"My dear Madame Maxine," he said kissing her hand, "Welcome to Hogwarts." Amelia turned her attention back to the carriage. A group of boys and girls emerged from it and stood shivering in the courtyard as they had no cloaks and their uniforms seemed to be made of silk.
"French…" Draco groaned through his teeth rolling his eyes. Madame Maxine talked to Dumbledore shortly before together with her students went inside to warm up. The students looked anything but excited about setting foot into the castle, earning another scoff from Draco.
"Do we know anything about Durmstrang?" Amelia leaned towards Daphne.
Her friend shook her head, "Not really, I think they are from north of Europe… I just hope they won't be as prissy as… them," she scrunched up her nose. Amelia nodded. Beauxbatons will not have a good time here, she could totally see that.
Draco leaned into her, making her jump as his breath brushed against her ear. Amelia froze on the spot, "They do not admit muggle-borns or people like you," he said, giving the last words extra emphasis, "And unlike this pathetic excuse for school - they teach the Dark Arts. Father actually wanted to send me there." Amelia glanced at him as he remained close to her. He smirked just as she turned her head towards him and stood up straight again.
"And yet, you are still bothering us here," Amelia cocked her brow at him, "Imagine how peaceful it would be here with just half-bloods and muggle-borns, without your hateful ass," Amelia muttered as she looked into the distance, pretending to daydream.
He flustered her way too easily. She knew it but had no idea how to prevent her mind from blanking whenever he gets even remotely close to her. Amelia side-eyed him. He was smirking ever so slightly, his eyes fixated on the valley with the lake in front of them.
She couldn't understand herself. Four and a half months ago, she would be fine, not a single damn given.
She is going mad, Amelia decided, as that seems to the only logical explanation for the mess that is her mind.
"The lake! Look at the lake!" Lee Jordan screamed. From their position, they had a clear view of the lake. The normally calm lake was not calm at all. Bubbles were forming on the surface of the lake and then, as waves were crashing against the banks, a long black pole started to rise out of the water. Followed by a mast, sails and shortly after a whole ship appeared on the lake.
People started disembarking and slowly headed up the stairs to the courtyard led by a man with dark hair and a goatee with strands of grey hair through it. They arrived dressed more appropriately, they were wearing all kinds of different furs and long cloaks.
"Dumbledore!" the leading man exclaimed as they made it to the top, "My dear fellow, how are you?"
"Excellent, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Dumbledore replied.
Karkaroff looked around the courtyard and up at the castle towering over them, "Good old Hogwarts," he mumbled, "Good to be back, Dumbledore, how good. Viktor come into the warmth," he beckoned one of his students.
Another wave of silence washed over the shivering students outside as the boy stepped into the light.
"IT'S KRUM!" several people exclaimed half-whispering half-screaming.
The students slowly poured back into the castle and made their way towards the Great Hall. Everyone was rather glad to be back in the warmth. Krum made quite the entrance while doing nothing at all. Boys were talking about his Quidditch skills while the girls just swooned over him, engaging in heated debate if anyone of them has a quill on them to get something signed.
Amelia rolled her eyes. She saw him at the World Cup and honestly could not tell if he was any better Seeker than Harry or Draco for that matter. Minus the obnoxious tricks on the broom. If anything that made her dislike him a bit more.
Beauxbatons students have found their seats at the Ravenclaw table, looking around with glum expressions, almost scared to touch anything. People passing by eyed them up suspiciously. The Durmstrang students were standing by the doorway, looking around. Probably waiting to see which table will have the most free space. As they passed them, Draco disconnected from them and walked over to Krum.
"Oh no," Daphne mouthed as she raised her eyes from the table, Amelia peaked at her before turning to see where she was staring, "No, no, no, don't," she reached and yanked her arm, but it was too late. Draco was leading the group of Durmstrang students towards their table with smug expression plastered all over his face. She noticed how Ron paled when they passed them on their way to Slytherin. Hermione, on the other hand, looked completely unimpressed.
They automatically scooted closer together to make space for the newcomers.
But Draco grabbed Amelia's shoulder and stopped her, "This is my seat," he growled.
She looked at him and then noticed Adrian, who was side-eyeing Draco probably figuring out the most painful curse he could send his way.
Amelia rolled her eyes and ignored Daphne's amused stare burning into the side of her face.
Everyone was finally seated and that included the teachers and staff as well, together with Dumbledore, Madame Maxine and Karkaroff.
"Good evening," Dumbledore spoke as he remained the last one standing up, beaming at the full hall, "It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Hogwarts! I trust that your stay will be both enjoyable and comfortable," handful of Beauxbatons scoffed slightly and muttered something under their breaths, "The tournament will be officially opened after the feast," Dumbledore continued, "Now I invite you to eat, drink and make yourselves at home!"
The plates in front of them filled with food, as usual, there seemed to be more variety than on a normal night.
"I am Dimo," the Durmstrang boy next to her extended his arm towards her.
"Amelia," she muttered as she put down her cup and shook his hand. He smiled at her as he kissed the top of her hand. Amelia's cheeks flushed red and Dimo started randomly introducing the rest of the Durmstrang group casually throughout the conversation.
"Kill me now," Draco muttered under his nose as he shifted uncomfortably, kicking Daphne's shin as she just barely was holding in laughter.
Over at the Gryffindor, Ron could not peel his eyes off of the Slytherin table, "Can you believe that?" he muttered. Harry with Hermione glanced at him uninterested in whatever complaints he was about to raise, "Why is it always Slytherin? Well… Malfoy," he moaned as he helped himself to another serving of pudding.
Harry looked over his shoulder, only to see the whole group around Malfoy in lively conversation with the Durmstrang students. Harry knew Ron was most bothered by Krum seemingly getting along with them, but his attention was focused on Amelia who was sitting between Malfoy and some Durmstrang boy. He noticed Malfoy perched on the bench, looking rather uncomfortable, watching Amelia and whoever was talking to her at that moment.
Once the plates disappeared from the tables, Dumbledore stood up again.
"The moment has come," he spoke out, "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation beforehand, just to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year. Firstly, allow me to introduce Mr Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Cooperation," Dumbledore extended his arm towards a short wizard in a bowler hat with a toothbrush moustache. Amelia sighed as she recognized the Ministry official from the World Cup.
Draco leaned to her ear, even closer than he did outside, as he whispered into her ear something about Crouch and his father, but she could barely concentrate on his words. His warm breath this close to her neck was quite distracting, even more so as his hand gripped the bench right behind her back.
Get it together!
She just nodded, pretending to be listening to Dumbledore as she tried to appear okay despite her heart beating out of her chest.
"Breathe, Wood," she could feel him smirk as he leaned away again. Amelia glared at him; he fully knew what he was doing. He was toying with her and enjoying it.
"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore went on calmly, "One from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire. Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop it into the goblet," said Dumbledore.
Fred and George were on the edge of their seat, ever since it was announced they could barely talk about anything else. The idea of the tournament had them forget about no Quidditch in no time.
"Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. On Halloween night, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete. To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation," said Dumbledore, "I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. After extensive discussion we agreed that the age limit should be higher, therefore, only last year students will be able to cross this line."
Fred and George's face became elongated in shock and shortly after with anger. Ginny and Lee covered both of their mouths before they could scream something at Dumbledore.
"Finally, I wish to warn any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet. Now, I think it is time for bed. Good night to you all."
Harry threw one of his legs over the bench as he waited for the corridor to empty a little. He took the opportunity to watch the Slytherin table for a bit. They were all standing in the corridor talking. Krum was just introducing himself to Amelia. Harry recalled he was sitting way too far from her during the feast. Draco hovered around Amelia like a guard dog.
"Do you think she would get me his autograph?" Ron chimed in as he noticed where Harry was looking.
Draco leaned to Amelia saying something. Even across the hall, Harry noticed her dramatic eye roll. She left without a word to Draco or anyone else. Harry shook his head, "Doubt it."
"Morning," Fred drawl as he sat next to Amelia during breakfast, earning few glares from other Slytherins.
"Good morning," Amelia glanced at him, she found his tone suspicious. It never meant anything good. Fred just leaned back against the table, almost purposely annoying every Slytherin nearby and enjoying it, "Can I help you or is this some sort of pain kink?" she asked Fred as Blaise almost growled.
"What are your plans for today?" he asked casually, ignoring Blaise's animalistic noises coming from behind his back.
He has a death wish, Amelia decided. Tearing her eyes from Fred she quickly glared at Blaise.
Amelia cocked her brow at Fred, "Deep down I hope that my potential answer of nothing, just reading for fun would deter you from whatever you have in mind."
Fred flashed a smile and Amelia slowly said bye to calm Saturday with a book by the common room fireplace.
"Spill it," Amelia chuckled but got interrupted by a scoff from Draco, who just arrived and slid on the bench on her other side. Amelia's breath got stuck somewhere halfway in her throat as Draco's hand ran down her back as he sat down. Fred, thankfully, barely reacted to the seemingly intimate touch that came out of nowhere.
"There's no space for blood traitors here, Weasley," he said through gritted teeth not even looking at Fred. Amelia elbowed him rather harshly, making him wince. Draco glared at her as he sucked in air, rubbing his ribs sheepishly.
"Be under the Clock Tower, usual time," Fred said eventually, "I always told Harry you can take care of yourself, not sure why he does not believe me. Malfoy, you are messing with the wrong one." Fred got up and smirked at Draco, who just rolled his eyes at the ginger boy still massaging his ribs.
"What was that for?" he complained to Amelia in a hushed voice.
"For being a git," she shrugged, "Quite tired of your classist bullshit." Draco scoffed, muttering something under his breath. Amelia smirked; she was quite pleased with herself. At the beginning of the term, she promised herself to stand up to Draco when it came to her friends or herself and despite her never-ending coyness, she was keeping her word.
Dimo who witnessed the whole thing leaned slightly over the table, "What is a blood traitor?"
Draco widened his eyes at him, his image of Durmstrang slowly crumbling. He hoped that Durmstrang students would hold the same values as him or at least having hate towards muggle-borns, half-bloods and blood traitors as a personality trait.
Amelia sneered at his honest shock, "It is a pureblood wizard who is friendly towards those from muggle or half-muggle families." She explained, but Dimo's confusion stayed.
"Are you a blood traitor?" he asked, desperately trying to make a sense of it all.
"No, I'm something worse," she smiled at him. Dimo's eyes were travelling from Amelia to Draco, back to Amelia and again to Draco, "I'm half-blood, my dad is a muggle." Amelia shrugged.
Dimo nodded, "I see… Honestly, I do not understand the point. You still have magic, why make any differences?"
Draco's ideals have shattered. Amelia could not help herself but laugh at the dumbfounded expression that found its home on Draco's face.
"Still think your father would send you there?" Amelia prodded Draco as she tried to compose herself.
Draco dropped the toast and got up angrily, "I'm not hungry anymore."
Amelia watched him leave with tears in her eyes from laughter, "Did I say something wrong?" Dimo asked carefully as Draco turned the corner.
"No, not at all. He's just a git," Amelia shook her head, "Thanks for saying all of that, though."