My routine changed dramatically in the space of four weeks, it started when I came downstairs one morning to find Malfoy waiting by the exit and giving me no choice but to take a seat next to him. Where Malfoy introduced his 'friends' he skipped over Parkinson and introduced a dark-skinned lad as Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott.
Nott tried to engage me in conversation straight away and soon enough I found myself joining in with the casual chatter, it surprised me how quickly I slid into Malfoy's circle. I openly expressed my annoyance at our first Defense Against The Dark Arts lesson, Professor Lupin was showing us the spell to repel a Boggart, and of course, none of us had the chance to try because once again Potter had drawn attention to himself when Lupin called the class to an end when the Boggart had transformed into a Dementor in front of Potter.
Malfoy reminded more than once that Potter feared a Dementor more than anything, I did take some comfort in that. He knew what my mother was facing daily because of what his father did. Malfoy pulled me to the side one day at the start of October with a question.
"I'm asking you because I'm stumped, I can't be bothered with Quidditch this year, help me figure out a way to ditch?" I stared at Malfoy for a minute and my eyes fell to his arm and it was still wrapped up in bandages but not as many.
"Your arm, you genius!" I said with a roll of my eyes, Malfoy's cheeks flushed slightly and I grinned.
"Oh yeah" He muttered, "I could have figured that out, but hey it got you away from a crowd, my father Owled me back"
"What did he say?" I asked and Malfoy smirked.
"He's going to take to a trail," Malfoy said and looked around quickly before he started walking towards the dungeons. "Don't say anything, I want to see the look on Scarheads face"
"My lips are sealed" I promised, we fell into a comfortable silence as we walked, his arm brushed mine lightly, every so often sending my heart pounding. I felt at ease walking with him if I thought about it even more I felt comfortable every time I was around him. When we reached the common room I headed straight for the stairs but Malfoy stopped me.
"Morrigan?" I turned around and Malfoy shoved his hands in his pocket's quickly and he shifted in spot slightly.
"I know it's a while away but I'm just going to go straight for it, there's a Hogsmead visit at the end of the month, come with me?" He asked and my eyes widened slightly and my stomach flipped.
"Maybe" I replied but turning quickly and rushing up the stairs into my room, I shut the door quickly and sunk down onto my bed.
Maybe I could have a friend, I mean Malfoy seems to understand where I come from, I'm not stupid, I knew Severus was a follower too. I haven't failed to notice the sudden disappearances when he went off to The Malfoy/'s leaving me with the house-elves. Something's coming and we both knew it.
In the weeks leading up to Halloween Malfoy and I had moved away from the usual group, talking between ourselves to fill the time. Where I was Malfoy was with me and where Malfoy was I was with him. We had become quite inseparable. This didn't go unnoticed by anyone, especially when Severus pulled me aside as I was heading out to the entrance to meet with Malfoy to go into Hogsmeade. I was stood in his Potions classroom while he sat across from me.
"You're a smart witch, Adria, I think you know something is changing" Severus drawled out and I nodded in reply. I barely verbally spoke with Severus but when we did it was at our home, during the summer sitting together in the library sipping a cup of tea. "I'm afraid you won't be coming home with me this summer"
"Where will I go?" I asked and Severus leaned back in his chair slightly.
"I've noticed you've been spending a lot of time with Draco Malfoy" Severus commented but I didn't react, I already knew where this was going. "It works out well because I had already spoken with Narcissa and Lucius last summer and it was their idea that you stay with them until such a time you can return home"
"I understand, Severus, I'm actually on my way to see Malfoy, I'll let him know myself" Severus nodded in response and I took that as my cue to exit, I walked quickly through the halls hoping I hadn't kept Malfoy waiting too long.
Staying with The Malfoys over the summer. Like I didn't see this coming when Severus had his 'chats' with the family, I wasn't too fond of being around Lucius for an extended period of time I knew it was pointless to argue with Severus. There's not a person I know that can make that man change his mind when it's made up.
I rushed up to the Great Hall and I was relieved to see Malfoy casually leaning against a wall and he quickly straightened up when he saw me approaching, "I'm sorry, Snape pulled me aside to talk, I didn't mean to make you wait" I quickly said and Malfoy smiled lightly.
"I wasn't waiting long" Malfoy replied and we started the walk into Hogsmeade, "What did Snape want?"
"As I expected, he's sending me to spend the summer with you and your parents" I replied, "It's been planned since last summer"
"I thought so," Malfoy said with a sigh "Apparently, my mother has been rushing around non-stop"
"Looks like you're stuck with me," I said with a slight smile and Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Do you see me complaining?" Malfoy remarked and I laughed quietly but I saw the smile Malfoy had on his face out the corner of my eye. "I think it's going be a very interesting summer"
"It's just weird how the minute I make a friend, Severus ships me off"
"We're friends now?" Malfoy asked and I said nothing as we walked into the Three Broomsticks where Malfoy ordered drinks and even paid for it no matter how much I insisted on paying for it myself. It was only when we were sat down in a corner that I replied.
"I thought we established that when I started seeing you every day and you gave me no choice but to sit with you" I replied and wrapped a hand around my cup of Butterbeer and Malfoy smiled slightly. `
"I told you, I like a challenge"
"I'm still not telling you why I hate Potter so much" I added and Malfoy smirked.
"You already told me about your mother" Malfoy pointed out and I nodded.
"I did, but it goes deeper than that, trust me" I replied and sipped my drink, "And, no, I'm not telling you. At least not yet"
"Keyword being 'yet' I'll take it," Malfoy said with a smile and I rolled my eyes.
"Why is it so important to you that we're friends? You've ignored my existence since the first year. Your father didn't tell you to be friends with me did he?" I asked after a few minutes of silence and Malfoy thought about my question for a minute while he sipped his drink.
"No, he only told me to make friends with Potter" Malfoy replied and I grimaced, "Thankfully I dodged a bullet, I want to be friends with you because out of everyone at this school you seem to be the only one who knows and understands where I come from"
"I can't argue with that" I replied and finished the rest of my drink, I rolled my eyes when Granger and Weasley walked in, "Thing 1 and Thing 2 just walked in" I muttered to Malfoy and he turned around and a smirk appeared on his face.
"Looks like Potter doesn't get everything he wants," Malfoy remarked as he watched the pair get their drinks and disappear around a corner, Malfoy quickly finished his drink and stood. I laughed and rose from my chair and together we left the Broomsticks and started the long walk back to school.
It was at the Evening Feast when Parkinson decided to say something about how much time Malfoy and I spent together, we were enjoying the food and chatting idly when Parkinson sunk into a spot next to Malfoy, I put my fork down quickly and pushed my plate away.
"There goes my appetite" I muttered and Malfoy laughed lightly and Parkinson's eyes narrowed.
"Why don't you come to sit with us, Draco," Parkinson said while wrapping both arms around one of his, I saw the grimace on Malfoy's face and I bit my lip to hide the smile that was forming. "At least you can get a decent conversation with us"
"Pansy, I'm quite happy where I am," Malfoy said and slid his arm free of her grip and he even shuffled away from her a little bit. Malfoy's grey eyes landed on me and he gave me a half-smile, "Plus, I get a conversation from Morrigan that I want to engage in"
I snorted slightly as I picked up my cup of pumpkin juice and Parkinson's eyes shot to me, "Okay, Morrigan, we all know you're into the Dark Arts, what have you done to him?" Parkinson spat my name like it was poison and I fixed my gaze on her and stared her down until she started fidgeting.
"Keep slamming my family name and you'll be sorry" I leaned across the table slightly and smirked at her, "As for Malfoy, I haven't done a goddamn thing except be myself, maybe you should try it sometime"
Parkinson's mouth opened and closed like a fish. I had rendered Pansy Parkinson speechless, I never thought I'd see the day that she would have nothing to say, "Ready to go, Morrigan?" Malfoy asked and with a smirk thrown at Parkinson I stood from my seat and I followed Malfoy out of the Great Hall and toward the Slytherin Common Room.
We weren't even sat down for ten minutes before Severus came striding into the room and told us all to go to the Great Hall, I caught up with Malfoy and he was muttering to himself. When we got to the Great Hall, Dumbledore informed us all that we would be spending the night in the Hall while the castle was searched. I picked up a Purple sleeping bag and settled in a corner listening to the chatter of people around me, I've learnt the best way to learn secrets and gossip is to just sit quietly and observe.
Malfoy found me and settled down next to me with a sigh, "Of course it had something to do with Sirius Black and Potter" Malfoy muttered to me watching as the Professors left the room leaving the Prefects and Head students to handle the mass of excited students.
"Black tried to gain access to the Gryffindor common room and we have to suffer? I don't get it. Black is clearly after Potter so why have the whole school sleep in the Hall?" I wondered out loud and Malfoy sighed again.
"Because Potter is the golden child. It all revolves around him because he survived a killing curse" Malfoy replied with a roll of his eyes and lay down in his sleeping bag, "My father will hear about this" he muttered as he rolled over, I rolled my eyes and lay down in my sleeping bag.
I wish I could tell my mother about this, but I couldn't thanks to Potter and his whole family.