Chapter 17
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 hit the Vanishing Cabinet in frustration. He tried every damn spell that he could think of, yet nothing seemed to mend the thing. He already had two failed attempts at Dumbledore's life. He had to fix the thing or he was a goner. In the morning, he would head to the Restricted Section of the library; in hopes of finding a book that might have some useful information. The only problem was, his mind was swirling so much, and he had no idea where to begin looking in the Restricted Section. He debated in his head whether or not to ask for Leila's help. He could just say that he needed the information for an extra credit project in Defense. The thought seemed perfectly reasonable, seeing as he was barely scraping by in that class. But Snape rarely allowed extra credit. But would Leila figure that out? It seemed almost too risky to involve her, yet it could make things easier.
Draco yawned and decided against asking for Leila's help. He needed some sleep. His stomach growled. Apparently, he was in need of some food as well. Draco figured that there was no more he could do tonight and should head back to the Slytherin common room. Once he left the Room of Requirements, he immediately caught up with Crabbe and Goyle.
"What exactly are you doing in there, Malfoy?" Goyle asked.
"None of your business, Goyle." Draco hissed.
"If the Dark Lord…" Crabbe began.
"Don't talk about it out here in the open you idiot." Draco hissed.
Draco slapped Crabbe upside the head. Crabbe's hand immediately flew to the place Draco had hit.
"What was that for?" Crabbe groaned.
"For being an idiot. Now, I'll see you same time tomorrow." Draco drawled.
"Erm…Malfoy?" Goyle asked.
"What is it now, Goyle?" Draco asked.
"I can't do this tomorrow. I have extra lessons with Professor Snape." Goyle said.
"What?" Draco hissed.
"Erm…me too." Crabbe said quietly.
"You've got to be kidding me! What did the hell did you do?" Draco asked.
"I'm failing Defense." Goyle said.
"Me too." Crabbe responded.
"This is rubbish. That class is a waste of time I tell you. Who exactly does Snape think he's trying to fool?" Draco drawled.
"Dumbledore?" Crabbe asked.
"He's already got the old man fooled." Draco grumbled.
"Harry Potter?" Goyle asked.
"Maybe, Potter isn't all he's cracked up to be. Besides, Snape hates Potter." Draco responded.
"But his sister is fine." Crabbe smiled.
"What was that?" Draco asked.
"His sister, Leila. You know the one…" Crabbe began.
"I know who she is, Crabbe, you idiot. What does she have to do with anything?" Draco asked.
"I dunno, I'm just saying that I wouldn't mind if she found her way to me." Crabbe smirked.
"Leila Potter would never go anywhere near either of you." Draco scoffed.
The three made it to the common room, but Draco quickly side-stepped them. He could have sworn he saw some movement near one of the portraits.
"Malfoy?' Goyle asked.
"You go on, I'll be right in." Draco said.
Crabbe and Goyle didn't second guess him and entered the common room. Draco walked closer to one of the portraits. He could have sworn that he saw…
"Potter, I know you're here." Draco hissed.
No response came. Draco inched closer to where he thought he saw Potter. He thought he could hear Potter's rough breathing. Draco was too tired to get into anything with Potter.
"Just stay the hell away from me." Draco hissed.
Draco sharply turned on his heel and headed for the common room. Once inside, he saw Leila on the couch being tormented by Crabbe and Goyle. Her face was tear-stained. She must have been crying. Draco took a deep sigh, ready to continue in their charade.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Draco drawled.
"Sod off, Malfoy." Leila hissed.
"What if I don't want to?" Draco said.
"It wasn't a request, Malfoy; so leave!" Leila shouted.
"I don't listen to the likes of you." Draco sneered.
"The likes of me? You're just pissed that I don't worship the very ground you walk on like these two buffoons. Ferret." Leila growled.
"What did you just call me?" Draco hissed.
"Ferret ferret ferret." Leila sang.
"You need to learn your proper place, Potter." Draco yelled.
"You're only a pathetic ferret!" Leila hissed.
"Don't call me that!" Draco screamed.
"I think I hit a nerve." Leila said.
Draco roughly grabbed Leila's arm, forcing her to stand up. If Leila didn't know Draco better, she probably would have been a little frightened by the disgusted look on his face.
"Crabbe, Goyle, leave us." Draco sneered.
Crabbe and Goyle instantly looked at each other confusedly. But they quickly left the common room, leaving Draco and Leila. Draco watched them until they were out of sight and more than likely out of ear shot. Draco released the tight grip on Leila's arm, but she flung her arms around him and buried her face in his shirt.
"What's this for?" Draco asked.
"Nothing." Leila mumbled.
"I know you better than that." Draco whispered.
"I just missed you." Leila said.
"You saw me not too long ago, so it can't be that." Draco said.
"Well I did miss you." Leila said.
"Were you waiting for me? Because you really shouldn't…I mean if we get caught…" Draco began.
"I wasn't waiting for you." Leila said.
"Then were you out here?" Draco asked.
"Long story short, now everyone in Slytherin hates me." Leila said.
"I don't." Draco said.
"Well, you don't really count. You have to pretend to hate me." Leila said.
"Greengrass?" Draco asked.
"She now hates me. Apparently, I've been snogging been Nott again." Leila rolled her eyes.
"Is that so?" Draco smirked.
"This isn't funny." Leila argued.
"No, of course not." Draco continued to smirk.
"You're not helping. She wouldn't believe me when I told her that I wasn't snogging Nott, probably because I couldn't tell her who I've been snogging." Leila said.
"It's not like she would have believed you anyways." Draco shrugged.
"No, I suppose not. I don't think anyone would believe that I'd snog you." Leila said.
"I would." Draco smirked.
Leila rolled her eyes and Draco quickly kissed her. He broke the kiss, but she quickly pulled him back into another kiss. She pulled herself closer to him so that there was practically no space between them.
"We should probably stop, shouldn't we?" Leila mumbled.
"Probably, we are in the common room. We might get caught." Draco mumbled back.
"Wanna go somewhere else?" Leila asked.
"Probably shouldn't, I'm pretty sure Scarhead was stalking me under his cloak." Draco said.
"My brother does have an actual name." Leila said.
"Yeah, the Chosen One." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Funny." Leila said sarcastically.
"It's like he always seems to know where I am. It's like he has a map or something." Draco said.
"The map." Leila's eyes widened.
"Am I missing something?" Draco asked.
"Crap. Crap. Crap." Leila said pushing away from Draco.
"Translation?" Draco asked.
"I'm an idiot." Leila mumbled.
"You're not making any sense." Draco said.
"No, I suppose I'm not." Leila sighed.
Draco rolled his eyes and sat on the couch slowly. Leila followed him and plopped onto the couch.
"Must you do that?" Draco asked.
"Do what?" Leila asked.
"That…what you just did. Throw yourself onto the couch. It's not very civilized." Draco said.
"Are you saying that you think I'm uncivilized?" Leila asked.
"Of course not. You couldn't help how you were raised." Draco said.
Leila couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Leila asked.
"Well you know…" Draco began.
"Know what?" Leila furthered.
"Leila, I don't want to get into this." Draco said.
"Well, maybe I do. So out with it." Leila said.
"Leila…" Draco groaned.
"C'mon, its tear down Leila day. Why don't you join in?" Leila hissed.
"How about you go to your room and I'll see you in the morning." Draco said.
"I can't." Leila muttered.
"What was that?" Draco asked.
"I said that I can't!" Leila shouted.
"Sh!" Draco shushed.
"Why don't you shush?" Leila complained.
"Leila, settle down." Draco demanded.
"Whatever." Leila said.
Leila folded her arms across her chest and breathed heavily. Draco sat there watching her.
"Leila, I don't want to fight with you." Draco said.
"Because I obviously do." Leila muttered.
"Just go to bed…" Draco began.
"Seeing as you so rudely interrupted me, I can't do that. I'm locked out of my room for the night; maybe even forever." Leila said.
"Why?" Draco asked.
"Because apparently if you don't tell your best friend whom your snogging that means that you're snogging the guy she likes, hence she'll get really pissed at you; thus, getting you kicked out of your room. But you would know that if you ever paid attention to anything that I tell you!" Leila screamed.
"I was paying attention!" Draco hissed.
"Apparently you weren't!" Leila yelled.
"Shut up! I don't want to draw any attention to us." Draco said.
"It's always about you, isn't it?" Leila shook her head.
"Don't turn this on me because you're having a row with Greengrass." Draco hissed.
"Well it is your fault, seeing as you're the one I'm actually snogging." Leila hissed back.
"Don't you blame this on me! You knew what you were getting into when we started this." Draco said.
"Did I?" Leila asked.
"Leila…" Draco groaned.
"Maybe this just wasn't meant to be." Leila said.
"You were snogging me no more than ten minutes ago." Draco argued.
"Just because you're a good kisser does not mean that whatever this is, is meant to be." Leila said.
"You said I'm a good kisser." Draco smirked.
"I'm being serious, Draco." Leila said.
"As am I." Draco said.
"Maybe we should just end this now." Leila said.
"No." Draco said sternly.
"Draco, I feel like you're hiding something from me." Leila said.
"And you think I don't feel the same way about you?" Draco asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Leila asked.
"You and those damn Gryffindors. I don't understand what you see in them. I know that you talk to them about things that you don't tell me." Draco said.
"Those damn Gryffindors happen to be my friends." Leila hissed.
"I'm just being honest with you, isn't that what you wanted?" Draco asked.
"Merlin, you're an ass!" Leila shouted.
Leila turned to walk away, but Draco quickly grabbed her arm.
"Let go of me!" Leila screamed.
Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle came into the common room, wondering what was going on. Draco still had a firm grip on Leila's arm.
"Oh, it's just you two." Blaise said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked.
"Like you don't know." Blaise said.
"Enlighten me." Leila said.
"Nothing, but Snape won't be happy when he finds out his prefects have been at each other again." Blaise said.
"Snape is never going to hear of this!" Draco hissed.
"He already has, Mr. Malfoy." Snape said.
Draco instantly released Leila's arm. Both of them turned around to find Professor Snape entering the common room.
"It was simply a misunderstanding, Professor." Draco drawled.
"Be that as it may, you both will be receiving detention." Snape said.
"That's just great. Now look what you've gone and done, Malfoy." Leila snapped.
"As if I can fight with myself, Potter." Draco said sarcastically.
"I'm sure it's possible." Leila hissed.
"Potter…Malfoy." Snape growled.
Draco and Leila stopped fighting. Snape nodded and left the common room. Leila looked about ready to explode.
"Potter's rather feisty this evening." Blaise smirked.
"Shut it, Zabini! And you…Malfoy, you're a disgusting…" Leila hissed.
"Are you going to let her talk to you like that?" Blaise asked.
"I think it's about time Potter learned her place in all this." Draco said.
"Ooh, sounds like fun." Leila said sarcastically.
Draco grabbed Leila's arm and dragged her out of the common room.
"Good luck, Potter. You're going to need it." Blaise sniggered.
Draco held tightly onto Leila's arm and escorted her to an abandoned classroom.
"What about Harry?" Leila hissed.
"Forget about him for right now, will you?" Draco said.
Once in the classroom, Draco locked the door and muttered some incantation unfamiliar to Leila.
"What's that for?" Leila asked.
"It's so that no one can hear us." Draco said.
"Where's you learn that?" Leila asked.
"Doesn't matter." Draco said.
Leila walked away from Draco and slid into an empty desk.
"This isn't about me, is it?" Draco asked.
"Maybe, maybe not." Leila said.
"Perhaps I could go talk to Greengrass?" Draco said.
"And tell her what exactly? That you're snogging me? Psh…I'm sure that'll work." Leila rolled her eyes.
"Good point." Draco said.
"Draco, I'm tired of this." Leila said.
"Tired of what?" Draco asked.
"I'm tired of keeping us a secret." Leila said.
"You haven't had a problem before." Draco said.
"Of course I have. I'm an emotional girl." Leila said.
"Then what do you suggest?" Draco asked.
"Maybe we just end this." Leila said.
"You can't be serious." Draco said.
"Maybe this isn't worth the risk and all the pressure we're putting on ourselves. We'll just quit before we get in over our heads." Leila said.
"I think it's too late for that." Draco muttered.
"What was that?" Leila asked.
"What if it's worth the risk?" Draco asked.
"We'll probably never know." Leila said.
"So that's it then? You're just going to give up?" Draco asked.
"What else am I supposed to do Draco? I can't tell anyone that I have a boyfriend. I have absolutely no friends in Slytherin. What's the point?" Leila asked.
"The point is that I'm not giving up." Draco said.
"And why's that?" Leila asked.
"Because Draco Malfoy doesn't give up…and maybe, just maybe Leila Potter isn't worth giving up" Draco said.
"That's sweet, but those are just words." Leila said.
"I can't promise you that things will be different. I can't promise you that this is even going to work out. But I can't live with the regret of knowing that we never gave this a fair chance." Draco said.
"Draco, we've been seeing each other for…" Leila began.
"That doesn't matter. I don't want to regret us. I want us." Draco said.
"What if we don't work out?" Leila asked.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I've told you that before." Draco said.
"Draco, I don't know…" Leila sighed.
Draco tipped Leila's chin up and gently kissed her lips. She left her eyes closed when the kiss ended. Tears began to well in Leila's eyes. One slipped down her cheek, and Draco's hand immediately wiped it away.
"Why are you so nice to me?" Leila sniffed.
"I thought that was in the job description." Draco joked.
"You know what I mean. I mean you hate my brother, but with me you're different." Leila said.
"I dunno." Draco shrugged.
"Sure you do." Leila said.
"I might, but it's not something we need to discuss now. Right now I'd prefer to get some sleep. I was actually planning on going to bed before I ran into you." Draco said.
"You go on, I'll be in shortly." Leila said.
"Are you sure?' Draco asked.
"Yeah, of course." Leila said.
Draco gently kissed her again and then kissed her forehead. He then left the classroom, leaving Leila alone with her thoughts. Leila finally sighed and left the abandoned classroom.
"I thought that stalking Malfoy was my job." Leila said casually.
No one answered her.
"C'mon, I know you're here Harry." Leila said.
Harry took his cloak off. Leila smiled at him.
"What was that about?' Harry asked.
"He thinks that I need to learn my place." Leila shrugged.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked.
"It's a Slytherin thing. Just so you know, he knew that you were following him earlier." Leila said.
"How does he know that?" Harry asked.
"How about you leave the stalking to me, big brother. You're a tad obvious, even with an Invisibility Cloak." Leila said.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say that you enjoy following him." Harry said.
Leila shrugged and walked away from her brother. She headed back to the Slytherin dormitory. When she got back inside, she found a pillow and blanket on the couch. A note was lying on top of them.
Thought these might be of use.
Leila slightly smiled and made herself comfortable on the couch. She felt bad about arguing with Draco earlier, but she was so confused over everything. She wanted things to work out, but things always seemed so complicated. She wondered why she freaked out so much. Normally, she wasn't one to freak out so much. Leila then had an epiphany: she was in love with Draco Malfoy. She had always told herself that she would never love someone like him, and here she was now. How would Draco feel about this? Leila didn't want to think about it, so she closed her eyes to sleep. She quickly fell asleep, hoping that tomorrow would be a better day. When she awoke early the next morning, she found it to be just as bad.
"Well, well; what do we have here?" Pansy said.
"Bloody hell, what time is it?" Leila groaned.
Leila looked at the Grandfather clock that was in the corner. The clock read 5:45 a.m. Leila groaned and pulled her pillow over her head to block Pansy out. It didn't seem to work though. Pansy began snooping though her belongings.
"Thought these might be of use? Who could have possibly left something for you?" Pansy sneered.
"That's none of your damn business, Parkinson." Leila hissed.
"It may not be hers, but it is mine." Daphne said coldly.
"What are you trying to say?" Leila asked.
"Let me guess, Theo, left these for you?' Daphne asked.
"I haven't seen Theo since yesterday morning." Leila said.
"Sure you haven't. You were probably still sneaking around behind my back. Does your brother know?" Daphne asked.
"Daphne, don't even go there." Leila said.
"He doesn't, does he?" Daphne asked.
"Mind your own business, Daphne." Leila said.
"He probably should know what his sister is up to." Daphne said.
"Daphne, please don't. I'm not dating Theo, end of story." Leila said.
"Why would you be so defensive if it wasn't the truth?" Daphne asked.
"Will you shut it!" Draco hissed.
Draco walked into the common room with a sneer on his face. Leila was inwardly terrified of how this situation was going to be handled. The girls instantly quieted.
"Now, what is so bloody important that you ladies must scream at the top of your lungs this early on a damn Sunday morning?" Draco hissed.
"Ask her." Daphne pointed to Leila.
"How mature." Leila groaned.
"More mature than a stealing your former best friend's boy." Daphne sneered.
"I didn't steal your boy. I have a different boy." Leila said.
"Really, whom?" Daphne asked.
"If I could tell you, I already would have." Leila said.
"Malfoy, do you have any idea who Potter is dating?" Daphne asked.
"Haven't a clue. My money would be on Weasel though." Draco winked at Leila.
"What?" Leila screamed.
"You're joking." Daphne scoffed.
"Makes sense." Pansy added.
"Now that this is settled, shut up! I'm going back to sleep and if I hear so much as one whisper out of any of you, there will be hell to pay!" Draco hissed.
Draco sharply turned on his heel and headed back for his room. Leila quickly threw the blanket off herself and ran for her room. Pansy and Daphne chased after her, but she was faster. Leila got into her room, only to find that her stuff was thrown all over the place.
"Seriously?" Leila screamed.
"What did you expect?" Pansy asked.
"I don't know, that maybe you were somewhat mature? Apparently, not!' Leila hissed.
Leila found her finished Defense Against the Dark Arts essay shredded into many pieces over her bed. She burned with anger. She had spent many hours going over that essay and now it was ruined! It was due tomorrow as well! Snape wouldn't possibly believe what happened; and on the odd chance that he did, he would probably say that she deserved it. Leila quickly grabbed some new clothes and shoved her homework in a book bag and left the room.
Leila headed for the prefect's bathroom. At least that should be safe from Daphne and Pansy. Once inside, she quickly bathed and changed. She then looked for the time: 6:51 a.m. Damn! The library didn't open for almost another hour. Leila decided to stay put in the prefect's bathroom, until then.
When 8 o'clock came around, she headed for the library. She headed for the table she was at the day before with Draco and began working on her homework. She groaned over having to write her essay again.
"Oh, it looks like this table is taken." Hermione said.
"They really overestimate you intelligence, Granger." Leila sneered.
"Is that your Defense essay you're working on?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing gets passed you." Leila commented.
"Yesterday, you said that you had it done." Hermione said.
"Things change." Leila said.
"Like what?" Hermione asked.
"Granger, I'm not in the really not in the mood right now. Go find a different table or sit down, either way, I don't want to chat." Leila said.
Hermione hesitantly sat down at the table with Leila. Both girls sat there working on homework, until it was time for breakfast.
"Care to go to breakfast?" Hermione asked.
"Not hungry." Leila muttered.
"Then do you mind if I leave my things here, and come back later?" Hermione asked.
"Whatever." Leila said.
Leila never looked up from her book. Hermione left the library. Leila stopped reading and put her head in her hands. She was so frustrated. She was tempted to knock Granger's stuff off the table, but decided against it, when she saw Draco sneaking through the library. He must not have even seen her.
"That's odd." Leila whispered.
Leila stood up and peered around the corner to see where he was going, the Restricted Section. She furrowed her eyebrows and set off to follow him. She watched him quietly slip into the Restricted Section, so she quickly turned into a row of books so that she wouldn't be seen. She again peered around the corner to find that she could now sneak in. She carefully walked in, Draco left it unlocked. She quietly closed the door and began to search for him. She could hear his footsteps. What if he got mad at her? She then realized that she was being paranoid, so she decided to put an end to it.
"Draco?" Leila whispered.
Silence overtook them.
"Draco, I know you're in here." Leila said.
Still no sound came from Draco.
"I was working on my homework and I saw you." Leila said.
Suddenly, arms enveloped her around her waist. Leila screamed.
"Calm down, woman." Draco hissed.
"You frightened me." Leila breathed heavily.
"Figured that out on my own." Draco said.
Leila turned around to face him; his hands remained around her waist.
"So, are you going to tell me why you're sneaking around the Restricted Section?" Leila asked.
"I was not sneaking." Draco said.
"Yes, you were." Leila said.
"No, I was not." Draco said.
"Let me rephrase. What are you doing in the library?" Leila asked.
"I thought that would be rather obvious." Draco smirked.
"Looking for me?" Leila asked.
"No, looking for a book." Draco smirked.
"What do you need a book from the Restricted Section for?" Leila asked.
"Defense." Draco said casually.
"But our essay's on 'The Importance of Nonverbal Spells.' He even said we didn't need a book, he wanted original ideas. How are you supposed to have original ideas about that?" Leila mocked.
"Erm…it's a different essay." Draco lied.
"Why do you have a different essay?" Leila asked.
"It's more of an extra assignment, so to speak." Draco said.
"What's it on?" Leila asked.
"Erm…" Draco began.
"If you don't tell me what you're topic is how can I help you find books?" Leila asked.
"Vanishing Cabinets." Draco rushed.
"What?" Leila asked.
"Vanishing Cabinets." Draco whispered.
"What's that?" Leila asked.
"Dunno." Draco lied.
"Something totally off the wall sounds like a Snape assignment." Leila smiled.
Draco inwardly sighed. Leila believed him.
"Well, seeing as it is a Defense Against the Dark Arts assignment, I'm going to assume that you were correct in coming to the Restricted Section." Leila began.
Draco gulped. It was rather hard for him to swallow. He had this feeling that he had only felt once before in the pit of his stomach. Some might call it guilt, but Draco refused to acknowledge it this time. Leila took several books out and began flipping through them. She shoved the ones she had taken out back onto the shelf and pulled out several more.
"You could help, you know." Leila smiled.
Draco nodded and pulled out a random book.
"Ah-ha! Here we go." Leila said.
She handed Draco a book. Draco flipped through it, this book could prove useful. He looked at the spine to find out the title and author and put the book back.
"Why'd you do that?" Leila asked.
"Because I'm going to come back later to check it out. Pince is eating in the Great Hall, not the most opportune time to check out a book." Draco said.
"Good point." Leila said.
Leila grabbed Draco's hand. She sometimes wished that she could peer into his head to know what he was thinking about her. His icy eyes looked into her emerald ones.
"Draco, I wanted to apologize for last night. I freaked out a bit, but I think that's because I…" Leila stopped midsentence.
She couldn't finish what she wanted to say. Her heart wanted her to tell him that she loved him, but her head wouldn't let her. She was reminded of a conversation she had once had with Fred. They had been walking to a D.A. meeting and were conversing about when an "I love you" should be said. After much debate, they finally concluded that it should be the guy to say it first, unless you wanted to scare him away. That conversation reminded her that if she told Draco, she could scare him away. Leila swallowed hard.
"You what?" Draco asked.
"Erm…I was just mad about the whole Daphne situation." Leila said.
Draco nodded. Leila was slightly disappointed that he just believed her. She wanted so badly for him to feel the same. She had fallen for the one person she had never expected to fall for. If he didn't feel the same, she didn't know what she would do.
"Leila." Draco said.
"Hmm?" Leila asked.
"I'm gonna get going." Draco said.
Leila simply nodded. Draco quickly kissed her and walked out of the Restricted Section. Leila followed shortly after him and slumped back into her chair. Granger had already returned.
"Was that Malfoy I saw you with?" Hermione asked.
"Erm…just reminding him about our next patrol." Leila said.
Hermione must have believed her because she didn't bring the subject up again. Instead the two girls sat there for hours in silence working on their homework.