Chapter 15
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, it all belongs to JK Rowling…I'm merely an obsessed fan with ideas stuck in my head.
… … … … … …
Draco and Leila were patrolling the night before the first Hogsmeade trip. Leila thought Draco seemed a bit distracted, but didn't say anything about it. She decided to bring up Hogsmeade instead.
"So will you be with Crabbe and Goyle in Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Leila asked.
"What?" Draco asked.
"Were you even listening to what I said?" Leila asked.
"No." Draco said.
"I asked if you're going to Hogsmeade with Crabbe and Goyle tomorrow." Leila restated.
"No, I won't be." Draco said.
"Well, you can't go with me." Leila said.
"I can't go at all, actually." Draco said.
"What? Why?" Leila asked.
"It's nothing." Draco said.
"You can't go to Hogsmeade and you won't tell your own girlfriend why?" Leila questioned.
"I have detention with McGonagall tomorrow." Draco drawled.
"What did you do to piss her off?" Leila asked.
"I haven't been doing my homework." Draco said.
"Why not?" Leila asked.
"I'm just too busy." Draco said.
"I'd be more than willing to help you with your homework." Leila said.
"I don't need your help." Draco said.
"Fine then." Leila retorted.
Leila stomped ahead of him. Draco rolled his eyes and picked up his pace to catch up to her.
"Leila." Draco called.
"Why don't you come find me when you're done being an ass." Leila said.
"Leila, I'm sorry." Draco said.
"No you're not." Leila said.
"How do you know?" Draco asked.
"Because sorry isn't something you just say to appease the other person. You have to mean it and I've never actually known you to be sorry about anything." Leila said.
"I was sorry about the whole Pansy thing." Draco said.
"You're an idiot for reminding me, you know that?" Leila said.
"What did I do now?" Draco asked.
Leila shook her head and stormed off back to the common room. Draco kicked at the air and took off for the Room of Requirements. What the hell had he gotten himself into? She frustrated him so much, yet that was part of her charm. She could see through his crap, and actually see him; for the most part. He assumed she still had no idea that he was a Death Eater. He often wondered how she would react to this news, but things never ended well in his head.
Draco entered the room and immediately went to the Vanishing Cabinet. He still hadn't fixed it. He needed the damn thing to work, otherwise he was dead. The Dark Lord would surely kill him as well as his parents. He was out of ideas for fixing it. Draco hit the stupid thing. He racked his brains trying to think of anything to get it to work, but he came up with nothing. He stormed out of the Room of Requirements frustrated.
Draco never liked feeling weak, but this was one of those times. Leila's words of help rang through his head. He felt like the weight of the world was upon him. He felt tears beginning to sting his eyes. He thought he saw someone walking toward him so he quickly ducked into the closest room, the girls' bathroom. More specifically, Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Draco leaned up against the closest sink and let the tears fall. Why did everything have to come crashing down? He was furious with himself for being a failure. He couldn't do anything right. He almost killed his own girlfriend. That apple she had grabbed from Dumbledore's office, he had left on purpose to poison Dumbledore. But, Leila had grabbed it.
"What's wrong?" Myrtle asked.
"Leave me alone." Draco hissed.
"It's not often I get boys in my bathroom." Myrtle giggled.
"Can't imagine why." Draco muttered.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Myrtle asked.
"Talk with you?" Draco sneered.
Myrtle began to sniffle. If she started wailing he would surely be found out.
"I can't." Draco whispered.
"Who would I tell?" Myrtle whined.
"I can't do it." Draco faltered.
Myrtle swooped down until she was level with Draco.
"Why can't you do it?" Myrtle asked.
"I can't fix the bloody thing." Draco said.
"Well, then why don't you try something else?" Myrtle suggested.
"Like what?" Draco asked.
"I don't know." Myrtle smiled.
Draco rolled his eyes. What else could he possibly do? He didn't want Dumbledore suspicious of him. The old man was already crazy. He needed something that wouldn't point to him. He could possibly attempt to try to poison the old coot again, but he'd have to be much more careful this time. He couldn't let Leila intercept this time. He quickly dried his tears and headed to his common room. He would have Rosmerta give the necklace given her to some unsuspecting person. There was no way it could possibly point back to him, and Dumbledore would be rid of. The plan seemed perfect in his head, and much easier then mending some stupid Vanishing Cabinet.
He assumed that everyone would be asleep by the time he got back to the common room, so he took his time in getting back. But when he entered the common room, he found Leila almost asleep on the couch. He wondered if she had stayed up waiting for him. He looked around to make sure the common room was empty, besides her, and sat next to her on the couch.
"Draco?" Leila mumbled.
"It's me." Draco said.
Leila rubbed her eyes and looked at Draco.
"I was waiting for you." Leila said.
"I was wondering about that." Draco said.
"I just wanted to apologize." Leila said.
"What for?" Draco asked confusedly.
"For pushing you. I didn't mean it. I just want you to know you can trust me." Leila yawned.
Draco didn't say anything, instead he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him.
"Mmm…you always do that." Leila mumbled.
"Do what?" Draco asked.
"You always kiss me instead of responding to what I say." Leila said.
"Don't you like kissing me?" Draco asked.
"I do. I do." Leila said yawning again.
"Someone's tired." Draco said.
"Maybe, but I just want to be here with you. I ruined our evening and I won't get to see you tomorrow." Leila said.
"So who are you going to Hogsmeade with?" Draco asked.
"My brother." Leila giggled.
"Better him than Nott." Draco said.
"You're kinda cute jealous." Leila said running one hand through his hair.
"I'm not jealous." Draco said.
"Right, and I'm best friends with Parkinson." Leila commented.
Draco shook his head and Leila pulled his face onto hers. She smiled as she kissed him. Draco slid his tongue into her mouth. He held her closer, when they heard footsteps.
"No." Draco groaned.
"Get on the floor." Leila hissed.
"What?" Draco asked.
"Just do it." Leila whispered.
Draco reluctantly slid off the couch and onto the floor. Leila pushed him down farther with her feet causing him to grunt. Leila tried to keep her composure, but found it extremely hard to do so. She turned her head around to find Pansy in her pajamas.
"Parkinson." Leila said.
"Who's down here with you?" Pansy asked.
"No one." Leila said.
"I heard voices." Pansy said.
"Honestly, Daphne's in the room, so who else would I talk to in this House?" Leila asked.
"Point taken. Have you seen Draco come in?" Pansy asked
"I have not seen the ferret since patrol, thank Merlin for that." Leila said.
Pansy rolled her eyes and headed back to the dorm room. Leila watched until the coast was clear.
"You can get off the floor now." Leila said.
"Ferret?" Draco hissed.
"It's cute." Leila said.
"It's abysmal." Draco said.
"It was entertaining to watch Moody, well he wasn't really Moody, but anyways, you do make a cute ferret." Leila smirked.
Draco rolled his eyes, causing Leila to laugh. She snuggled next to him. Draco went rigid at first.
"Don't like snuggling?" Leila asked.
"I just wasn't expecting this, that's all." Draco said.
"Well, you'd better get used to it." Leila said.
Draco relaxed slightly as Leila snuggled in closer. He finally let himself relax and played with Leila's long hair.
"What are you doing?" Leila asked.
"Nothing." Draco chuckled.
"I wish we could do this more often." Leila sighed.
"Do what?" Draco asked.
"This." Leila yawned.
Draco kissed her forehead and she smiled.
"You're so sweet to me." Leila said.
"Just don't tell anyone." Draco whispered.
Leila laughed. She and Draco sat on the couch together until she fell asleep on him. Draco then woke her back up.
"You should go to bed." Draco said.
"I don't want to." Leila whined.
"Well, I'm going to my room. So your option is to sleep here or in your bed. That's up to you." Draco said.
"Jerk. I take back everything nice I ever said about you." Leila muttered.
Draco shook his head and stood up. Leila reached her hands out for him to help her up. He grabbed her hands and helped her up. Leila turned to walk away, but Draco grabbed her arm.
"You can't get away from me that easily." Draco said.
Draco smirked and Leila rolled her eyes. She quickly pecked his lips.
"Have fun in detention without me." Leila said.
She kissed him again and headed for her room. Leila walked past the sleeping girls and plopped into her bed. She wondered if she could ever tell Harry that she was dating Draco. She knew he would freak out, but would he ever accept them. Leila sighed because she knew she was getting ahead of herself. She didn't even know how long she and Draco would be together. Leila didn't want to dwell on it anymore so, she let sleep overtake her.
Leila woke up the next morning to find frost on the window. It must be cold out if the window, which looked into the lake, was frosty. Leila dressed warmly in jeans, sweater, and boots. She grabbed her coat, scarf, hat, and mittens and headed for the Great Hall. When she was almost to the Great Hall, Daphne stopped her.
"Leila!" Daphne screamed.
"Daphne?" Leila asked hesitantly.
"You'll never believe what just happened." Daphne gushed.
"I suppose I'm supposed to ask what happened?" Leila guessed.
"Theo just asked me to accompany him to Hogsmeade." Daphne said.
"When?" Leila asked.
"Just now!" Daphne exclaimed.
"Oh." Leila said.
"Aren't you excited for me?" Daphne asked.
"Oh yeah, of course I am." Leila said.
Leila hugged Daphne and walked with her to the Great Hall, as Daphne chatted animatedly about Theo. Leila couldn't help but wonder what took him so long to ask Daphne. He had plenty of time to ask, but he waited until the last minute. She couldn't help but think that Theo had been waiting for her finally accept his offer. And since she didn't, he asked Daphne as a last resort. Leila watched for Draco to show up to breakfast, but he never did.
After she was done eating, Leila wandered to the oak front doors to meet Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Leila was about five people behind them in the long line to get out of the castle. Ron held up the line with his comments about Filch triple-checking them with the Secrecy Sensor.
"Hurry it up, Weasley." Leila shouted.
Ron turned back and rolled his eyes once he realized that it was Leila who made the comment. When Leila was finally allowed through the doors, she was immediately bombarded by the wind and sleet. She quickly caught up to the trio.
"So what are we doing this fine day?" Leila asked.
"Fine day? You're crazy." Ron muttered.
"Thanks, I feel the same about you." Leila said.
Leila playfully shoved Ron, causing him to stumble a bit. Leila snorted and practically lost her breath in the wind. She wrapped her scarf around her mouth and nose to keep them warm. Leila didn't say much because Hermione began ranting about Harry's Potion's book again.
"For weeks you carry around this book. Practically, sleep with it. And yet you have no desire to find out who the Half-Blood Prince is?" Hermione said.
"I didn't say I wasn't curious and I don't sleep with it." Harry responded.
"It's true! Whenever I check before I go to bed, you're always reading that bloody book!" Ron exclaimed.
"Creeper!" Leila said.
"Harry, you're as bad as Hermione." Ron continued, ignoring Leila.
"Well, I was curious. So I went to…" Hermione began.
"The library." Ron and Harry said in unison.
"Never would have guessed that." Leila said sarcastically.
"And?" Harry asked.
"And nothing. I couldn't find a reference anywhere to a Half-Blood Prince." Hermione complained.
"There we go, that settles it then." Harry said.
"So you actually sleep with the book?" Leila asked.
Harry groaned, but Leila never listened for an answer because she was distracted by Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick. Leila heard Professor Flitwick say something about emergency choir practice. She looked at him confusedly. Leila was in the Hogwarts choir, and she was never told about this practice.
"Do we really have choir practice?" Leila asked as Professor Flitwick passed.
"No, of course not." Professor Flitwick said.
"But you just said…" Leila began.
"Sh!" Professor Flitwick shushed.
"Oh I get it now. So I guess I won't be at choir practice." Leila winked.
Professor Flitwick through his hands in the air and muttered walking away. Leila chuckled.
"Are you really that thick?" Ron asked.
"Naa…It's just fun to mess with his mind." Leila smirked.
"You're evil, you know that?" Ron said.
"So I've been told." Leila said.
When they finally made it into Hogsmeade, Leila thought her nose was frozen. Harry pointed out that Zonko's Joke Shop had been boarded up. Ron suggested that they go to a crowded Honeydukes. Leila didn't really care where they went, as long as it was warm and snow free. She followed Ron into Honeydukes. It seemed like almost everyone was there. She saw Daphne hanging on Theo's arm. Leila waved to them. Theo was the only one to take notice and he waved back.
Leila quickly inspected some candy so she could ignore Theo's pleading looks. She figured she should get something for Draco since he couldn't come. She chuckled to herself at how pathetic she was being. She decided upon Chocolate Frogs, seeing as she didn't know what he liked. Chocolate Frogs seemed like a safe bet because of the trading cards.
"Why does Theodore Nott keep looking over here?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. Why don't you go ask him, Granger?" Leila hissed.
"You don't have to be so snappy about it." Hermione said.
"I'm forced to spend my Hogsmeade trip with you, what could be worse?" Leila asked.
"Forget I even said anything." Hermione said.
"Don't tell me you two are fighting again." Harry groaned walking over.
"Don't worry big brother, we're not." Leila said.
"Does anyone fancy a Butterbeer?" Harry asked.
"We just got here." Leila whined.
"Well, I have a feeling Slughorn's at the Three Broomsticks." Harry said.
"So?" Leila asked.
"Do you listen to anything Dumbledore tells you?" Harry asked.
"Fine, we can go. Just let me pay for these." Leila said.
Harry raised an eyebrow at her in suspicion, but she just rolled her eyes and stood in line to pay. In line, she was behind Ron who had his arms full of sweets.
"Stocking up for the end of the world are we?" Leila asked.
"You're not that funny." Ron said.
"Didn't ask you for your opinion on that now did I?" Leila said.
Ron examined her purchase.
"I thought you didn't like Chocolate Frogs?" Ron asked.
"Why would you think that?" Leila asked.
"Because you let me eat yours first year." Ron said.
"That was because they were from Malfoy." Leila laughed.
"You let me eat something from that git? I could have died!" Ron hissed.
"Well, you're obviously fine." Leila said.
"For now." Ron commented.
"Because Draco knew that complicated of a spell first year." Leila said sarcastically.
"Why'd you call him Draco?" Ron asked.
Leila panicked inside. How was she going to cover that up?
"Because that's his name. Besides, if I hear Pansy whine Drakie one more time I might have to take extreme measures." Leila said smoothly.
Ron laughed and waited as she paid for her Chocolate Frogs. Leila wrapped her scarf back around her face and headed for the Three Broomsticks with Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Once inside, she found Professor Slughorn chatting up Madam Rosmerta. Rosmerta gave Leila an odd look and then returned to her conversation with Slughorn.
"Do you think Rosmerta's a bit mad?" Leila asked.
"I dunno, why?" Harry asked.
"She's looking at me funny." Leila said.
"I'm not seeing anything." Harry said.
"Forget it." Leila said.
Harry merely shrugged and led them to a table with a view of Professor Slughorn. Leila went to sit down with her back to Slughorn and Rosmerta, but Harry didn't like that idea.
"Leila, move your chair." Harry said.
"Why?" Leila asked.
Harry motioned toward Professor Slughorn with his head. Leila simply rolled her eyes and moved her chair to the other edge of the table besides Harry. She didn't like what Harry was up to, but there wasn't much else she could do about it.
"You do realize that if you'd actually come to his supper parties you wouldn't have to resort to something pathetic as this." Leila said.
"I'm sorry, but I've had detention and Quidditch." Harry said.
"As have had I, along with my prefect duties, yet I still somehow manage to squeeze them in." Leila said.
"Honestly Harry, they're not that bad." Hermione added.
"And she's obviously lying." Leila said.
"I am not. They're quite fun sometimes…" Hermione began.
Leila could tell that Hermione was digging herself in a hole with Ron.
"Granger, let's go get the Butterbeers." Leila said.
Hermione looked at her confusedly.
"C'mon." Leila said.
Hermione reluctantly stood up and followed Leila to order drinks.
"What was that all about?" Hermione asked.
"Honestly, Granger, for being smart you can be quite stupid sometimes." Leila said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked.
"You like Ron…" Leila began.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione said.
"It's quite obvious, but you're not going to win him over by pissing him off. Which happens to be what you were doing mentioning Slughorn's dinner parties. So I figured I'd do you a favor and shut you up." Leila said.
Hermione didn't say anything. Instead she ordered four Butterbeers.
"You know I'm right." Leila said.
"Just drop it, all right?" Hermione said.
"Whatever." Leila rolled her eyes.
Hermione grabbed two of the Butterbeers, while Leila grabbed the other two. Professor Slughorn noticed them and waved. Leila couldn't have, seeing as her hands were full, so she nodded her head in response. She then walked back to the table and set the Butterbeers down. She then excused herself to use the bathroom. Great timing too, because Ron was complaining about Ginny snogging Dean. In the bathroom, she quickly brushed her fingers through her messy hair. She decided to throw it up into a ponytail and went back to the table.
When Leila got back to the table, Harry was chatting up Professor Slughorn. Leila snickered as Slughorn's drink spilled onto Hermione. Served her right. Leila took her place at the table while Slughorn continued to talk. He invited Harry, Hermione, and Leila to a dinner party in the near future. Harry promised to attend this one. Slughorn pleasantly walked away.
"What are you playing at?" Ron asked.
"Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him." Harry said.
"Then why are you always skipping his delightful events?" Leila asked.
"I've really been busy." Harry said.
"But get to know him?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, but it must be important. If it wasn't Dumbledore wouldn't have asked." Harry said.
The conversation was dropped. Leila sipped on her Butterbeer, but suddenly, Harry stood up. He snatched the goblet of a man walking near them and rushed out of the Three Broomsticks.
"What the hell?" Leila whispered.
"Harry, where're you going?" Ron called.
"I'll go check on him." Leila said.
She quickly apologized to the man and followed after her brother, leaving Ron and Hermione alone at the table. Once she got outside, Harry had Mundungus pinned against the wall of the pub. He held the goblet in his other hand.
"Harry!" Leila yelled.
She tried to grab her brother's arm, but he pushed her backwards and she landed in a snow pile. She struggled to find her balance.
"You took this from Sirius' house; it has the Black family crest on it." Harry roared.
"I – no – what?" Mundungus spluttered.
"What did you do, go back the night he died and strip the place?" Harry snarled.
"I – no –" Mundungus struggled.
"What else did you take?" Harry shouted.
"Harry, stop! He's not worth it." Leila shrieked.
There was a loud crack and Mundungus was gone, along with the items that he had stolen. Harry swore and began shouting.
"COME BACK, YOU THEIVING …" Harry shouted.
"Harry, there's no point in yelling. He's gone, who knows where, by this point." Leila said.
"He nicked Sirius' stuff. Nicked it!" Harry hissed.
"I know." Leila said.
"Do you even care?" Harry questioned.
"Of course I do, but standing out here in the freezing cold shouting isn't going to get the stuff back, now is it? Let's go back inside." Leila said.
Harry angrily made his way back inside the Three Broomsticks, but the second he got back to the table he began ranting to Ron and Hermione.
"He was nicking Sirius stuff!" Harry ranted.
"Harry, please don't shout, people are staring." Hermione whispered.
"Just sit down, I'll go get you another drink." Leila said.
Harry continued to rant while Leila went to get him another drink, but at least this time the whole pub couldn't hear him. When she returned to the table, Harry was mostly calmed down. They stayed at the Three Broomsticks until Harry finished his second Butterbeer.
"Shall we call it a day and go back to school then?" Hermione asked.
They all agreed and headed back for Hogwarts, after bundling to prepare themselves for the bitter cold. They followed Katie Bell and Leanne Moon back to Hogwarts. Leila didn't pay much attention to the conversation. Instead her thoughts focused on Draco. As much as she hated to admit it, she thought she might have been falling for him. Leila became distracted from her thoughts because she could see Katie rising into the air.
"Bloody hell." Ron whispered.
They all stopped in their tracks. The wind whipped around Katie. Leila had no idea what was going on. Katie then let out a loud scream and came crashing to the ground. Leanne was standing near Katie muttering.
"I warned her. I warned her not to touch it."
Harry made to rush toward Katie, but Hagrid warned him not to go any closer. Hagrid walked passed them.
"Get back, all of you." Hagrid said.
He made his way to Katie's side. He picked her up easily, as if she weighed nothing more than a feather. He quickly made his way back to the castle with Katie in his arms. Ron bent down to pick up the necklace.
"Don't touch it!" Harry said grabbing Ron's arm. "I've seen that before. It was on display in Borgin and Burkes ages ago. The label said it was cursed. Katie must have touched it."
"How did Katie get hold of it?" Leila asked.
"That's what Katie and I were arguing about." Leanne cried.
"She didn't say who'd given it to her?" Hermione asked.
"No…she wouldn't tell me." Leanne cried.
"We'd better get up to school." Hermione said.
The five of them walked back to school as fast as their legs would carry them. Partly because it was so cold and partly because they wanted to make sure that Katie was going to be all right.
Hey LeilaPotterFan! I didn't know how else to respond to your reviews! I have moved to a different account: January Lily. I am rewriting Leila's stories there. Leila also has a tumblr blog- leilapotter. If you ever wanna talk, that's where I'll be! :)