Chapter 16

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.

… … … … … …

Leila, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Leanne rushed back to Hogwarts. They were immediately escorted by Professor McGonagall to her empty classroom. She quickly glanced over the necklace. She had questions she wanted answers to. Professor McGonagall began by questioning a frantic Leanne.

"Are you sure Katie did not have this in her possession when she entered the Three Broomsticks?" Professor McGonagall began.

"It's like I said Katie left to go to…" Leanne began.

"I saw her in the bathroom." Leila whispered.

"What?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I just went to the bathroom to fix my hair. Katie was going into a stall when I got in there. I left before I saw her come out." Leila said.

"Leanne, continue please." Professor McGonagall said.

"Well when she came back she had the package. She said that it was important that she deliver it." Leanne said.

"Did she say to whom?' Professor McGonagall asked.

"To Professor Dumbledore." Leanne said.

Leanne began to weep uncontrollably.

"Very well, thank you Leanne, you may go to the Hospital Wing, and get Madam Pomfrey to give you something for the shock." Professor McGonagall said.

Leanne quickly scurried away, leaving the four of them standing before Professor McGonagall.

"Why is it that when something happens it is always you four?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Believe me Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years." Ron said.

"It's not always us four, usually those three."' Leila quipped.

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm involved 95% of the time?" Leila asked.

Professor McGonagall stood there silently.

"All right, all right. I'll give you 99% of the time that it's the four of us; but, I was not involved when they…" Leila began.

Harry elbowed her in the ribs to get her to shut up. Ron and Hermione were watching them.

"Ouch, that hurt." Leila said.

"That was the point." Harry hissed.

"Jerk." Leila muttered.

Harry rolled his eyes. Professor McGonagall stood there watching the four of them. Then Professor Snape walked by and Professor McGonagall called him over to inspect the necklace. Professor Snape confirmed that the necklace was indeed cursed, just as Harry had told them.

"It was Malfoy." Harry said.

"What was that?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Draco Malfoy gave Katie the necklace, Professor." Harry said.

Ron and Hermione backed away from Harry.

"That's a very serious accusation, Potter:" Professor McGonagall said.

"Indeed, your evidence?" Professor Snape drawled.

"I just know." Harry said.

"You just know. How grand it must be to be the chosen one. All that knowledge." Professor Snape mocked.

"Fine you really want to know? I'll tell you." Harry said.

"Here we go." Leila rolled her eyes.

Harry began to go into the subject of the necklace, and that he had seen Malfoy at Borgin and Burkes. Hermione and Ron were shying away from siding with Harry, making him more upset. As much as she hated to burst her brother's bubble, it needed to be done because she knew the flaw in his theory.

"It couldn't have Malfoy." Leila said.

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"Because Malfoy wasn't in Hogsmeade." Leila sighed.

"How do you know?" Harry sneered.

"Because Mr. Malfoy was doing detention with me, Potter. He has now failed to do his Transfiguration homework twice in a row now." Professor McGonagall said.

"How did you know?" Harry hissed at Leila, ignoring Professor McGonagall.

"Because I had patrol with him last night. I'm sorry if I actually listen to the guy when he speaks. I can't ignore him all the time." Leila said.

"What did he tell you?" Harry asked.

"He told me he had detention with McGonagall so he wouldn't be in Hogsmeade. I remembered because he wouldn't be stalking me around Hogsmeade and I might actually be able to enjoy myself." Leila said.

Harry looked at her suspiciously and Leila rolled her eyes. She could tell that her brother was pissed off, with all of them, Ron and Hermione included.

"I'd suggest you get back to your dormitories, all of you." Professor McGonagall said.

They all nodded and headed for the exit.

"Miss Potter, I'll escort you back to the Slytherin dormitory." Professor Snape said.

Leila looked between Harry and Snape confusedly. Professor Snape grabbed her by the arm and led her away.

"Why thank you." Leila said sarcastically.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood there and watched as she left with Snape. Professor Snape was acting very odd; he even made sure to take the long way back. Leila ripped her arm away from Professor Snape's grip.

"Were you involved?" Professor Snape hissed.

"Excuse me?" Leila asked.

"Did you give Miss Bell the necklace?" Professor Snape asked.

"Why would I do that?" Leila asked.

"Answer the question." Snape snarled.

"Of course not. Where would I get something like that?" Leila asked.

"You weren't doing someone's bidding?" Professor Snape asked.

"You're making no sense. I didn't do anything wrong." Leila said.

"Maybe unknowingly…" Professor Snape began.

Professor Snape drew his wand and tried to read Leila's thoughts, but she instantly blocked him from doing so.

"Number one, I'm pretty sure that's illegal on a student. Number two, you taught me Occlumency, and unlike my brother I actually mastered the skill. And number three, leave me alone." Leila said.

Leila glared at him with her emerald green eyes. Unbeknownst to her, at that moment, she looked exactly like her mother. Professor Snape immediately backed away. He curtly nodded and quickly turned on his heel to leave. Leila rolled her eyes and headed back to the Slytherin common room. The common room was practically empty, except for the first and second years. Surprisingly, Leila was one of the first Slytherins back.

She went back to her room to drop off her coat and things, and went back out to the common room. Perfect timing too, because Draco was heading into the common room from his room, carrying a book bag. The moment Leila spotted him; she smiled, and then tried to cover it up. Draco on the other hand, was much better at masking his emotions. But she could tell from his eyes, that he was pleasantly surprised to see her. He motioned toward the door with his head. She looked around to make sure none of the first or second years were watching, and then she followed him out of the common room. She quietly followed him down the hallway, until he turned around.

"You can walk with me, you know." Draco said.

"But stalking you is so much more fun." Leila said.

Draco shook his head.

"Besides, I like the view from back here." Leila smirked.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her.

"That was a little bit awkward, wasn't it?" Leila asked.

"Just a little." Draco smirked.

"Whatever, so where are we going?" Leila asked changing the subject.

"Looks like you're just going to have to follow me to find out." Draco said.

Leila smiled and continued to follow him, until Harry rounded a corner and ran into her. They were both on the floor.

"Leila." Harry hissed.

"Harry." Leila said.

"What do you think you're doing?" Harry asked.

"Following Malfoy." Leila said.

"You're not doing a very good job of it." Harry said.

"Why not?" Leila asked.

"He knows that you're following him." Harry said.

"I know, I told him." Leila said.

"What?" Harry hissed.

"You see I told him I was following him, so that he would think that I was lying and not actually following him, but I really am following him." Leila said.

"Wait. Huh?" Harry said confusedly.

"Exactly." Leila said.

Harry scowled at her and then stood up.

"Can't a big brother give his little sister a hand?" Leila asked.

Harry reached out his hand for Leila to grab. She took it and stood on her feet.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Leila teased.

"Just be careful. Why don't you take a break from following him?" Harry said.

"Because annoying Malfoy is fun." Leila smirked.

Harry was about to persuade again, to stop, but she took off in the direction Malfoy went. Harry sighed and walked away. Little did he know that Malfoy was waiting for his sister just around the next corner. Leila walked right passed him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the dark corridor.

"Took you long enough." Draco said.

"Brother stuff." Leila said.

"What did he want?" Draco asked.

"He saw that I was following you." Leila said.

"And?" Draco asked.

"He told me to stop following you." Leila smiled.

"You listen so well." Draco smirked.

"Fine, I'll just go back to the common room." Leila said.

"No, you're coming with me. We're just going to have to be more careful that we don't get caught." Draco said.

"I suppose I could do that." Leila said.

Draco led her to the library, and it was empty.

"The library, how romantic of you." Leila muttered.

"I need to do my homework otherwise I'll keep getting detentions." Draco said.

"I'm pretty sure that Snape is going to give us detentions for the next century." Leila joked.

"He's just trying to mess with us." Draco said.

"Probably." Leila said.

Draco led Leila to the table farthest from the entrance and set his books down.

"What am I supposed to do?" Leila asked.

"I dunno." Draco said.

"You asked me to come to the library with you, and you're actually going to do homework?" Leila asked.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Draco asked.

"Nope, no problem. I'll just go find a book or something." Leila said.

Leila turned to scope out the library, but Draco caught her hand. Draco moved his mouth to her ear.

"Just so you know, I would prefer to be doing something else besides homework." Draco whispered into her ear.

"No snogging for you, get going on that homework mister." Leila teased.

Leila reached in as to kiss him, but she purposely missed his lips and kissed his cheek instead.

"You're a bloody tease." Draco drawled.

"Keep that attitude up and I'll never snog you again." Leila said.

She patted his cheek and went in search of a book. She decided to browse the fiction section. She came across the Pride and Prejudice and grabbed it off the shelf. She sank into the nearest armchair and began to read. After a few chapters, Draco poked his head around the corner.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked.

"Reading." Leila drawled.

"Why didn't you come back to the table?" Draco asked.

"Does it matter?" Leila asked.

"I didn't ask you to come to the library so you could ditch me." Draco said.

"I don't understand what the problem is." Leila said.

"Of course you don't." Draco walked away.

Leila set the book down and took off after him. He was back pretending to ignore her and do his homework.

"What's with you?" Leila asked.

Draco turned the page of his Transfiguration text and continued to ignore her.

"You're so damn possessive." Leila hissed.

"So what if I am?" Draco hissed back.

"So now you talk?" Leila quipped.

"Just leave me alone, I'm trying to do my homework." Draco sneered.

"And if you would have let me help you in the first place…" Leila began.

Draco glared at her and shoved his books back into his bag to leave.

"I defended you, you prat!" Leila sneered.

"How noble of you." Draco sneered back.

"I defended you instead of siding with my brother. Do you have any idea how hard that was?" Leila asked.

"And why did you do that?" Draco asked.

"Because he thought that you hexed Katie Bell." Leila said.

"What about Bell?" Draco asked.

"She was cursed this afternoon. She was bringing a cursed necklace back from Hogsmeade. Harry told McGonagall and Snape that it was you, but you were here. I told them it couldn't possibly be you." Leila said.

"Is…is she dead?" Draco whispered.

"No, not yet anyways. She's in the Hospital Wing as far as I know." Leila said.

Draco gulped and leaned against the bookshelf, trying to breathe. He closed his eyes. Leila moved closer to him.

"Draco, what's wrong?" Leila asked.

"It's nothing. I just don't want to fight with you." Draco lied.

"I don't want to fight either." Leila whispered.

Draco pulled Leila into his arms, his thoughts swimming. Katie Bell had intercepted the necklace meant for Dumbledore. That wasn't supposed to happen. He couldn't possibly tell Leila what he had done. She would never trust him again. He gripped her tighter.

"I was just kidding, you know, about never snogging you again." Leila said.

"I know." Draco whispered.

"Can you let go of me for a second? I have something for you." Leila said.

"You do?" Draco asked.

"Yup." Leila smiled.

Draco slowly released her and Leila dug into her pocket. She pulled out two Chocolate Frogs and placed them in Draco's hand.

"I figured since you couldn't go to Hogsmeade, I'd bring Hogsmeade to you." Leila said.

Draco examined the Chocolate Frogs in his hand.

"I know it's not much and probably not something expensive that you usually buy, but it's something." Leila said.

"They're fine." Draco whispered.

"Really?" Leila asked.

"Yeah." Draco said.

"Then a thank-you would be nice." Leila said.

Draco didn't say anything at first, instead he looked at Leila in the eyes. She looked at him with a look that read "now would be a good time." He sighed.

"Erm…thank you." Draco said slowly.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Leila teased.

Draco tried to chuckle, but it was stuck in his throat. He felt like he was going to be sick, so he quickly took a seat.

"I'm not an idiot, Draco. Something's wrong." Leila said.

"Just not feeling well." Draco said.

"Try the chocolate, it might help." Leila said.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her.

"Just do it." Leila said.

He opened a Chocolate Frog and caught it in its midair jump. He then bit off its head.

"Talk about Seeker-like reflexes." Leila chuckled.

Draco nodded and continued to nibble on the frog so that Leila would get off his back about it. The chocolate did seem to help settle his stomach.

"Feeling better?" Leila asked.

"A bit." Draco said.

"That's good. It's been so long since I've had one of these." Leila said holding up the empty package.

"You don't like them?" Draco asked.

"No, I just stayed away from them on principle." Leila said.

"Principle?" Draco asked.

"Erm…I used to eat them but I stopped." Leila said.

"Because?" Draco asked.

"It's a really lame reason." Leila said.

"Which is?" Draco asked.

"Fine, I stopped eating them after I got one from you first year." Leila said.

"Seriously?" Draco asked.

"I told you it was a lame reason." Leila laughed.

"You really hated me didn't you?" Draco asked.

"Hate is a very strong word, more like a serious dislike. But I'm rather fond of you now." Leila smiled.

Draco half-smiled and Leila leaned over to kiss him. She pressed her lips against his and placed her hand on his cheek. When the kiss ended, she opened her eyes and gazed into his. She felt like she could get lost in his eyes, which sent shivers up her spine. She then smirked.

"There's more where that came from if you get your homework done." Leila winked.

"Is that so?" Draco asked.

"You can bet on it." Leila said.

"But what if I was thinking of finishing my homework tomorrow?" Draco asked.

"Then none for you." Leila smirked.

Draco leaned over and kissed her. Leila sighed once he ended the kiss.

"You're supposed to be doing your homework, not snogging me." Leila said.

Draco simply shrugged causing Leila to roll her eyes.

"Well, I'm going to go see how Katie Bell is doing." Leila said.

Draco's eyes widened as he remembered what Leila told him. He quickly stood up as Leila did.

"Are you coming with me?" Leila asked.

"No, I have something I need to do." Draco said.

Leila checked to make sure no one was around and kissed him. She then grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She held his hand as she walked away, until he released hers. Leila walked to the Hospital Wing as Draco went to find Crabbe and Goyle. He needed them to guard the Room of Requirements for him, because since Katie Bell intercepted the necklace, he had a lot of work to do.

Leila found out that Katie was being transferred to St. Mungo's, because there was nothing they could do for her condition at Hogwarts. She sighed. Harry's theory of Draco rang in her head, but she didn't want to believe it. Draco didn't seem capable of something like that the more she actually got know him. But the more she thought about it, he only acted that way toward her. The Draco everyone else saw was cold, calloused, cruel, and shut off from the world. Was it possible that the Draco she knew was a Death Eater? She found herself wishing that someone else knew of their secret relationship, this way she could talk through her thoughts. But telling someone made the relationship not so secret. Leila sighed in frustration. Why did things have to be so complicated? Why did she let her brother get inside her head? Why couldn't she just fully trust Draco? Leila made her way back to the common room with her head hung in defeat. There was no way to figure this all out tonight.

Leila made her way back to the Slytherin common room. The moment she walked in Pansy began smirking at her. Pansy was reclining on the couch with Millicent Bullstrode.

"What's with you, Parkinson?" Leila hissed.

"Nothing." Pansy smirked.

Leila rolled her eyes and walked back to her room. Pansy and Millicent followed her.

"Are you following me?" Leila asked.

"Just don't want to miss the show." Millicent quipped.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Leila said.

"No, but you will." Pansy said.

Leila tried to lose Pansy, but Pansy kept up with her. Millicent could barely keep up with the two of them. Leila glared at Pansy and entered her room. Daphne, Flora, Hestia, and Tracey were dancing to the Weird Sisters "Do the Hippogriff." When Daphne noticed Leila she instantly shut the music off and walked over to where Leila stood.

"Have fun in Hogsmeade?" Leila asked.

Instead of answering her question, Daphne slapped her across the face. Leila's hand instantly went to her stinging face.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Leila hissed.

"Me? I could ask you the same question." Daphne sneered.

"What are you so upset about?" Leila asked.

"As if you don't know." Daphne shouted.

By this point the other girls had surrounded them, watching the scene unfold before them.

"I honestly have no idea why you just slapped me." Leila said.

"You were supposed to be my best friend." Daphne shouted.

"I still am." Leila said confusedly.

"No. Not anymore. A friend doesn't do what you did." Daphne said.

"And what exactly did I do?" Leila asked.

"I knew better than to trust you. I went against my better judgment and you screwed me over." Daphne said.

"Maybe if you would tell me what I did, I can fix it." Leila said.

"You can't fix this, Potter." Daphne said coldly.

Daphne walked away. Pansy and Millicent tried to block Leila from chasing after her, but she pushed through them knocking them onto the floor. Leila followed Daphne until they were in the common room where there was an even larger audience, but Leila didn't care.

"Daphne, just talk to me, please." Leila said.

"I have nothing to say to you." Daphne hissed.

"Just tell me what I did wrong, because I have absolutely no idea what I did." Leila said.

"Just because you're the damn Girl-Who-Lived doesn't mean you can get whatever you want." Daphne yelled.

"And I still have no idea what you're talking about." Leila shouted.

"Theo." Daphne said.

"What about him?" Leila asked.

"You knew I liked him, but you had to go and ruin that. Didn't you?" Daphne screamed.

"Daphne…" Leila began.

"Didn't you?" Daphne screamed.

"I only did what you told me to do. I kept trying to get him to go for you. Hell, I even told him to ask you to Hogsmeade." Leila said.

"Then why didn't you tell me that he asked you to Hogsmeade first?" Daphne asked.

"Because I told him to ask you instead. I told him that I don't have feelings for him. I never have. You know that." Leila said.

"He likes you, not me. He asked me out of pity, because I didn't have anyone and neither did he." Daphne said.

"I can't help that. You know that I don't like him in that way." Leila said.

"Do I?" Daphne hissed.

"Yes, you do." Leila said.

"Then why is it that you're constantly flirting with him? You led him on!" Daphne shouted.

"I didn't mean to." Leila cried.

"You didn't mean to? You had to have known what you were doing!" Daphne yelled.

"I didn't until it was too late. Besides, I'm seeing someone else." Leila said.

"Really, who?" Daphne asked.

"I can't say." Leila said.

"You can't say? How convenient. For all I know you could be sneaking around behind my back and snogging Theo again." Daphne hissed.

"But I'm not. The only reason I snogged him in the first place last year was to get Malfoy off my back. I haven't snogged Theo since then." Leila said.

"Then who have you been snogging? I know you have. If it was anyone besides him you would tell me." Daphne said.

"Maybe I'm not snogging anyone." Leila said.

"You hypocrite! You just told me you're seeing someone!" Daphne screamed.

"You know what? There's no use trying to get you to see the truth why you're acting irrational. You can't talk rationally to an irrational person. Why don't you go back to the room and I'll see you later?" Leila said.

"When you do see me, don't talk to me, ever." Daphne hissed.

Daphne quickly turned on her heel and headed back for their room. Pansy smirked at Leila and followed Daphne back into the room. Pansy was no doubt making things worse, probably setting ideas in Daphne's head that weren't true. But Leila was too stubborn and too worn out to follow them. Instead she saw that the common room was staring at her.

"Shows over, go back to whatever the hell you were doing." Leila hissed.

Leila tried to hold back her tears until she was out of the common room. Once she was out and around the corner, she broke down. She slid down to the floor and curled up in a ball and bawled. She really needed Draco right now, but she had no idea where he was. She had no one in her House anymore. Daphne had always been there for her. She had had always defended her, and now she hated her. Leila couldn't think of a way to fix the problem.

Leila stayed in the hallway until she had finished crying. She watched the storm continue to rage on outside and shivered. She took a deep breath and headed back for the common room, she figured she could at least work on some homework. She walked to the door to her room and tried to open it. The door was locked. Leila knocked on the door. No response came.

"Let me in." Leila shouted.

Pansy came to the door and peeked her head out the door.

"You're crazy if you think you're coming back in here, Potter." Pansy said.

"It's my room too." Leila said.

"Well, you're not welcome here." Pansy said.

"You can't lock me out of my own room!" Leila hissed.

"Watch me." Pansy said.

Pansy slammed the door in Leila's face. Leila narrowed her eyes and drew her wand.

"Alohamora!" Leila whispered.

The door didn't unlock. Leila swore under her breath. She wasn't getting in any time soon.

"Can you at least let me get my things?" Leila asked.

No answer came. Leila sighed and walked back into the common room. At least by this point, it was practically empty and a couch was free. Leila sat down on the couch and curled up in a ball, about to cry again. She had no one in Slytherin, so she didn't care if they saw her cry. So she let the tears fall freely.