Chapter 28
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.
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Leila snuggled closer to Draco in her sleep, while his arms held her tightly enclosed. Neither was aware that Pansy was pacing the common room plotting their demise. Pansy turned her back to the sleeping couple on the couch and headed for the dormitories; but stole one last glance and smirked before turning her back again. Minutes later Slytherin girls from all years began pouring into the common room in pajamas with gasps and shocked looks on their faces. The girls surrounded the couple gossiping no more above a whisper. Several first year girls confusedly conversed about the scene before them, quite near the still asleep couple.
"Draco Malfoy and Leila Potter?"
"I thought he hated her!"
"I thought she hated him!"
Pansy spotted the three girls on her way to the boys' dormitories, so she went to them and pushed them back further.
"We don't want to wake them quite yet." Pansy smirked.
The three girls nodded in delight. Something big was about to go down and they wanted to be there to witness it. Daphne slowly entered the common room in her bathrobe trying to stifle a yawn. She was immediately woken up at the sight of Leila sleeping on Draco. She stopped walking and stood, with her eyes wide in amazement.
"And to think we thought she was snogging Theo." Pansy drawled on her way back to the boys' dormitories.
"Pansy, what are you doing?" Daphne hissed grabbing Pansy's arm.
"Relax, Greengrass. I'm just giving them what they wanted." Pansy said pushing Daphne's hand from her arm.
"Have you even thought about what you're doing?" Daphne asked.
"Of course, I'm not some bloody Gryffindor." Pansy spat in disgust.
"And what exactly do you get out of this?" Daphne asked.
"Potter will be humiliated, what more could we want?" Pansy said rolling her eyes.
"We?" Daphne hissed.
"Don't go soft on me now, Greengrass." Pansy said walking away.
Daphne took a few steps closer to Draco and Leila. She squeezed the bridge of her nose in contemplation. She really should do something to stop Pansy, but there was no way that this would stay a secret, what with all the Slytherin girls in the common room. The whole school would know by the end of breakfast. Daphne felt bad for Leila and slightly guilty for shutting her out. Leila had been telling the truth. Daphne wanted no part in this so she turned to go back upstairs, until Astoria caught her. Astoria was also dressed in her bathrobe, with her long dark hair pulled back into a braid.
"Can you believe it?" Astoria asked.
"Just go back to bed, Astoria." Daphne said.
"And miss the show? I don't think so." Astoria retorted.
Astoria flipped her braid and walked back to where her friends stood gossiping. The sleepy Slytherin boys were confusedly entering the common room, grumbling about a House meeting. Daphne knew this wasn't going to end well, so she went back to her room. The whole common room was abuzz; but neither Draco nor Leila woke. Theodore Nott attempted to hex Draco, but Pansy placed her hand on his arm, causing his curse to be aimed at an unsuspecting third year.
"Don't you want, Potter to pay for humiliating you like this?" Pansy asked.
"I'd prefer just to kill Malfoy." Theo grunted.
The third year wailed in pain and Pansy went over to shut him up. The chatter came to a quick halt as Professor Snape entered the common room looking rather peeved.
"What is the meaning of all this ruckus?" Snape hissed.
Professor Snape pushed through the crowd of students and when he escaped he was not pleased by the sight before him: Draco Malfoy and Leila Potter asleep on the couch.
"Miss Potter, Mister Malfoy." Professor Snape growled.
"Five more minutes, Uncle Vernon." Leila mumbled.
Draco awoke first, eyes wide with horror. He shoved at Leila to get off him, which caused her to wake. Draco and Leila instantly backed away from each other to opposite sides of the couch, neither saying a word. Both were in shock and no idea what to do. Leila's face was bright red with embarrassment, while a slight pink tinged Draco's pale face. Pansy stood next to Professor Snape with a smirk plastered on her face.
"I think there are rules about this, Professor. I don't think prefects should be exempt from the rules." Pansy said matter-of-factly.
"Silence, Miss Parkinson. I will deal with this. Malfoy, Potter, follow me." Snape said coldly.
Draco and Leila seemed to be frozen in shock.
"Now. And I want the rest of you back in bed!" Snape snapped.
Both quickly jumped from the couch and pushed through the crowd behind Snape. The boys were making cat-calls, while the girls were glaring. Draco and Leila refused to look at each other, so they walked with their heads hung. Professor Snape led them from the common room to his office. The walk there was eerily silent. When they arrived in the office, they both took their usual seats in front of Professor Snape's desk. Snape stood behind his desk with his back to them.
"Never in all my years of teaching have I had two students who cause as much trouble as you two do." Snape said through gritted teeth. "I demand to know the meaning of this!"
Draco stared at his feet, while Leila buried her head in her hands. Snape quickly spun on his heel to face Draco and Leila.
"Answer me." Snape bellowed.
"And say what exactly?" Leila groaned.
"For starters, Mister Malfoy is supposed to be in the hospital wing. Why are you not there?" Snape drawled.
Draco remained silent, with his gaze still on his feet. Leila looked at him and rolled her eyes.
"It's quite obvious, isn't it? He came to see me and we fell asleep." Leila said.
"You expect me to believe something so innocent?" Snape said coldly.
"It's the truth, isn't it, Draco?" Leila asked.
Draco still didn't respond. Was he going to remain silent the whole time? She understood the shock of the situation, she was in the middle of it too, after all, but right now it was as if he had completely shut himself off from her. This was the one thing she had often been worried would happen. But Leila couldn't help but wondering why he decided now of all times.
"And why is it that Mister Malfoy would come to see you?" Snape continued.
Leila again looked to Draco to answer, but he didn't.
"Again, I believe it to be obvious." Leila said slowly.
"Explain." Snape drawled.
"Why should I explain something which you already know?" Leila retorted.
"One point from Slytherin for your cheek, Potter." Snape hissed.
"I don't give a damn about points." Leila said rolling her eyes.
"No, I suppose you don't, but if you want to survive the rest of the school year, you had better start." Snape furthered. "Now, why was Mister Malfoy seeing you Miss Potter?" Snape asked.
"Because Draco and I are together, which you already knew." Leila answered.
"You want me to believe you care for Mister Malfoy?" Snape asked.
"You also know the answer to that." Leila said.
"Then Mister Malfoy, do you have the same feelings for Miss Potter?" Snape asked slowly.
Leila hoped Draco would respond, but he didn't. She always hated how he could only show her how he felt. If that truly was he felt. They put on so many acts, Leila wondered if everything he told her, every moment with him was a lie.
"I take it that he doesn't." Snape drawled.
Leila snapped. She hopped out of her chair and turned to Draco.
"You're a bloody coward." Leila yelled.
Draco didn't flinch and didn't look at Leila.
"What's so damn interesting about that floor?" Leila hissed.
"Detention, Miss Potter!" Snape said menacingly.
Leila looked ready to argue more, but she bit her tongue and sat back down in her chair. Why was Draco doing this? Perhaps she was wrong about him. Professor Snape finally sat down rigidly on his chair.
"As for the matter in common room, you will both receive detention." Snape began.
"Two more detentions!" Leila cried.
"Make that three." Snape drawled.
"But sir!" Leila gasped.
"Four." Snape continued.
Leila put her hands up and hung her head in defeat. Snape took a deep breath and continued.
"I don't know what you two are trying to get at; but know that I will tolerate no more of your foolishness. Now, Miss Potter go to bed, and I expect you in your own." Snape said.
"But what about Draco?" Leila asked.
"I need a word with Mister Malfoy and if I find you waiting for him in the hall, eavesdropping, or any other funny business I will find a way to have you expelled." Snape said icily.
Leila stood up to go, but looked at Draco before she did. He wouldn't make eye contact with her. He was still watching that damn floor. Leila shook her head and stormed back to the common room. She didn't want to give Snape any excuse to try and expel her. She knew that he didn't hate her as he did Harry; but she didn't want to cross him this time. Leila returned to an almost empty common room. The only person in there was Daphne. Daphne quickly stood up to meet Leila and handed Leila her wand.
"I found this on the floor. I knew it was yours." Daphne said.
"Thanks." Leila muttered.
"Long night?" Daphne asked.
"What do you want?" Leila hissed.
"What do you mean?" Daphne asked.
"I mean, why do you want to talk? We haven't talked in months." Leila said coldly.
"I just figured you could use a friend." Daphne said.
"Use a friend? We're not friends anymore, remember?" Leila said.
"Well, I thought…" Daphne began.
"You find out that I wasn't with Nott and suddenly want to be friends again? It doesn't work like that, Greengrass." Leila hissed.
"If that's how you want it." Daphne said, slightly offended.
"I didn't say that's how I wanted it, but at least Hermione doesn't stab me in the back over a guy." Leila shot back.
"So you actually befriended her? It's not all an act?" Daphne asked.
"I was desperate, but I suppose you've been saying the same thing about me and Draco." Leila said.
"I had nothing to do with that." Daphne hissed.
"Right, and Voldemort doesn't want to kill my brother. I don't believe you and I don't care what you have to say. Right now all I want to do is get some sleep before all hell breaks loose in the morning." Leila spun on her heel toward her room.
"Leila!" Daphne called.
Leila ignored Daphne's calling and headed for her dormitory. She knew that Parkinson and the rest of the girls would be awake, but Leila held her head high and walked inside. The girls watched her intently as she entered the room.
"Look girls, Potter's making the walk of shame." Pansy said.
The girls in the room giggled at Pansy's comment and Leila quickly drew her wand. Daphne walked into the room and saw the scene.
"You don't want to mess with me right now, Parkinson." Leila hissed.
"But I already did." Pansy smirked.
"Leila, think about what you're doing." Daphne pleaded.
Leila held her wand aimed at Pansy, but remembered Snape's warning and lowered her wand. Leila turned her back to the girls and took a few steps.
"Pathetic and weak is what you are, but I shouldn't have expected any differently seeing as you're a Mudblood's child." Pansy taunted.
"Try saying that to my face, Parkinson." Leila said spinning back to face Pansy.
"You know what I said, half-blood, and I hope you go just like your filthy Mudblood Mother." Pansy taunted again.
Leila again turned her back to Pansy, but not to walk away this time. This time she turned her back and then swung her fist at Pansy's face, nailing her square in the nose. Leila felt her knuckles crack at the blow to Pansy's face. Pansy's face began spewing blood everywhere as her screams filled the air. The other girls, too, began screaming, besides Daphne who stood there with her mouth wide open.
"You'll be expelled for sure, Potter." Pansy shouted in between screams.
"I'd rather be expelled for defending my mother's honor than hear you disgrace her name." Leila shouted back.
"Don't worry; I'm sure you'll be seeing her soon." Pansy quipped.
Leila moved again to punch Pansy, but Daphne quickly intervened.
"Don't think I won't do the same to you." Leila hissed.
"She's not worth it." Daphne whispered.
Leila slowly relaxed as Daphne released her.
"I'll take care of them so that can get the sleep you wanted." Daphne whispered.
Daphne then turned to Pansy and her bleeding nose, her bathrobe already covered in scarlet blood.
"Maybe we should take Pansy to Madam Pomfrey." Daphne suggested.
Pansy moaned loudly as if she were going to die at any moment if she didn't seek medical attention. Leila rolled her eyes as the girls left the room. Peace and quiet. She probably wouldn't have this opportunity until the school settled down, which probably wouldn't happen for some time, knowing how they reacted to everything else. Leila changed into her pajamas and quickly plopped onto her bed, with her thoughts back to Draco. But she didn't think about him long, because sleep overtook her.
Leila woke up the next morning to find the girls fawning over Parkinson. Leila tried not to pay them any attention as she dressed for the day, but it was hard to miss the raccoon eyes Pansy had.
"I can't go to class looking like this." Pansy whined.
"It's not that bad." Tracey said.
"The woman is supposed to be a healer! How can she not have bruise removal paste?" Pansy shrieked.
The girls fawned a little more, glared at Leila, and left as Leila was still packing her book bag. She examined her swollen right hand. She had probably broken a knuckle or two, but it was worth it to see Parkinson's face like that. Her stomach growled; she didn't want to go to breakfast knowing that the whole school would know about last night's events, but her stomach refused to skip breakfast. Leila slowly walked to breakfast hoping that most of the school would already be gone. She was in for no such luck. When she walked through the doors of the Great Hall, all eyes were on her. It appeared that today everyone had decided to come to breakfast. Leila even spotted Draco sitting with Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini. Leila could hear the whispers about her; but it was nothing she wasn't used to. It seemed every year there was always something to talk about that involved her. Leila looked for Hermione who was sitting with Ron. They chose today of all days to sit at the opposite end of the Great Hall. Leila began her walk through the hall.
"Oi, Potter, if I tell you that I hate you, will you go snog me in the broom cupboard?" A seventh year Hufflepuff boy winked.
Leila stopped and narrowed her eyes.
"Boys, I think that's a yes!" the boy laughed.
Leila took a deep breath and kept walking as the boys laughed. A fifth year Gryffindor girl tried to trip her and multiple people shoved into her and laughed. Then if things couldn't get any worse, Pansy began goading her again.
"How long until they expel you, Potter?" Pansy drawled.
Daphne looked at her sympathetically and Draco even managed to catch a glance of her. Leila tried ignoring her; but Pansy kept on going.
"This is what you wanted Potter, isn't it? How do you think your Mudblood Mother would feel about this?" Pansy smirked.
Leila balled her hands into fists and moved to attack; but someone's arms held her back.
"Leave her alone, Parkinson." Harry hissed.
"Ooh, Potter needs her big brother to defend her. I'm so scared." Pansy mocked.
"You should be, because next time you see Madam Pomfrey you'll be unrecognizable once I'm through with you. Nice face by the way." Harry said.
Pansy's face turned into a scowl as she went back to conversing with the other sixth year Slytherin girls. Hermione and Ron ran up to meet them.
"I'm so sorry Leila. We didn't even notice you come in." Hermione gasped.
Leila wondered how they could have missed her entrance, unless they were busy flirting with each other.
"It's fine, I just want to eat breakfast." Leila sighed.
The four walked to the end of the table, while Harry still had his arm wrapped around his sister, threatening anybody who so much as looked at Leila wrong.
"I thought you were mad at me." Leila asked.
"I am, but I have a right to be." Harry said.
"Then why not let me pummel Parkinson?" Leila asked.
"And see you actually get expelled? I said I was mad at you, not that I hated you and don't care about you. Besides every time the whole school hated me, you were there, right by my side. So I'm repaying the favor." Harry said.
The group sat down and Leila instantly reached for a scone. Leila took a bite of it and then conversation began.
"So is it true?" Ron asked.
"Ron." Hermione groaned.
"Is what true?" Leila asked.
"I heard that you attacked Pansy in her sleep. Broke a few of her ribs, her nose…" Ron began.
"That's not what I heard." Ginny said sliding down next to Harry.
"Ron, that's not what happened. And what did you hear Ginny?" Leila groaned.
"I heard that Pansy wanted to have a friendly chat with you about you snogging Malfoy in the common room, and that things instantly got ugly. An epic duel happened and you were going to lose so you physically attacked her." Ginny grinned.
"That's so not even close to what happened." Leila said shaking her head.
"Except for the snogging, Malfoy part." Ron added.
"Ron!" Leila hissed.
"It's all right, I already know." Ginny said.
"Of course you do, the entire school does." Leila said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, but Harry told me the other day." Ginny said.
Harry smacked his head and Leila turned to face him.
"Of course he did." Leila said.
"Sorry." Harry muttered.
"And I forgive you; which would be nice if you did the same for me." Leila said.
Harry didn't say anything, instead shoving a rather large spoonful of cereal in his mouth.
"So what actually happened?" Ron asked.
"Don't pry, Ron." Hermione reprimanded.
"It's fine, Hermione. Parkinson kept insulting me and my mother, so I punched her once, as hard as I could, in the face. I smashed her face pretty well, as well as my knuckles." Leila said holding her sore hand.
"You should get that looked at." Hermione said.
"That's all? No, no…" Ron began.
"No what?" Leila asked.
"Nothing else happened? You punched her once? It seems so boring." Ron said.
"But have you seen Parkinson's face? Looks like one damn good punch." Ginny added.
"Thanks." Leila muttered.
"What did she say about Mum?" Harry asked.
Leila didn't answer him, however, because she was distracted by Draco. Draco was almost directly across from her at the Slytherin table. He wasn't focused on anyone or anything in particular, he just kept his eyes on the bowl of fruit before him. Boys from all Houses kept coming up to him and slapping his back, asking how he really managed to get to Leila Potter. Draco simply ignored them. He would mutter something almost inaudible to Crabbe, Goyle, or Zabini every once in a while; but more often than not he looked lost in his thoughts.
"Leila, I asked you what she said about Mum." Harry said.
"Oh, sorry. Well…" Leila began.
Leila was interrupted by Professor Snape tapping her on the shoulder.
"A word, Potter." Snape drawled.
"Yes, sir." Leila said hanging her head.
She was going to be expelled. Snape did say if anything else happened she would surely be expelled. 'Ooh's' could be heard across the Great Hall as Leila followed Professor Snape for the second time in less than twelve hours. He led Leila into an abandoned classroom.
"A fight with Parkinson, Potter? I thought I warned you…" Snape began.
"She was insulting my mother!" Leila argued.
Snape quickly looked away from Leila as if he were lost in his memories. Leila knew that her mother had gone to school with Snape and that he had called her a Mudblood.
"You may not care about my mother…" Leila began.
"Silence." Snape snapped.
"I'll go pack my bags." Leila muttered.
"What?" Snape asked.
"You're going to expel me for fighting with Parkinson, aren't you?" Leila asked.
"Miss Parkinson provoked you so if I expelled you I would have to expel her, too. Seeing as her father is on the school board, that would not bode well for Hogwarts, but you must understand the seriousness of the situation. You will receive an extra two detentions from the ones you received last night." Snape said.
"How many is that again?" Leila cringed.
"Three." Snape said.
"But that's one less than…" Leila began.
"Do you enjoy spending time in detention? Your blasted father…" Snape began.
"Three it is then, Professor." Leila smiled.
Leila turned to go.
"Miss Potter, I'm going to warn you not to meddle in things where your meddling is not required." Snape added.
"Yes, sir." Leila said.
Snape nodded curtly and billowed out of the room before Leila could reach the door. His longer strides overtook hers. Leila left the classroom and headed to her first class, Ancient Runes. She passed several girls in the hall who shoved into her, causing her to drop her books to the floor. This day was definitely going to be a long one. Leila reached the classroom at the same time as Draco. They awkwardly tried to figure out who should go through the door first, both of them stopped and looked at each other.
"Hi." Leila said.
Draco simply nodded at her, looking away from her.
"Draco." Leila sighed.
Draco didn't respond because the couple began being taunted from several seventh years passing by.
"You going to snog her, Malfoy?" a boy shouted.
A few girls made kissy noises. Draco sneered and quickly entered the classroom accidentally stepping on Leila's foot. Leila sneered at the seventh years as well and followed Draco.
"You stepped on my foot." Leila hissed.
Draco sat down and attempted to make it look like he was busy reading his Ancient Runes text book.
"You're avoiding me." Leila said.
"No, I'm not." Draco muttered.
"Your book is upside down." Leila said.
Draco flipped the book right-side up and continued to busy himself with the book. Leila shook her head and moved to sit by the only other person in the classroom at that moment, Hermione. Leila set her book bag down and slid into the desk beside Hermione. She took a glance at Draco, who quickly averted eye contact by looking back at his book.
"Are you two fighting again?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know; he won't talk to me." Leila said.
"Just give him some time." Hermione said.
"I don't exactly have much time." Leila muttered.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Never mind." Leila mumbled.
Hermione looked at her curiously, but dropped the subject as the other students began to enter the classroom. The day went by almost normally. Well, if normal included constant name-calling, wolf-whistling, cat-calling, people running into you, people glaring, and people generally avoiding you. Then yes, her day went quite normally, and she was glad for it to be over. But by the end of the day, Leila's hand was throbbing. After dinner she finally gave into Hermione's suggestion and went to see Madam Pomfrey about her hand.
"I was wondering when I'd see you, Miss Potter." Madam Pomfrey said.
"You were expecting me?" Leila asked.
"Miss Greengrass told me you were the one to do the lovely number to Miss Parkinson's face." Madam Pomfrey replied.
"She did, did she?" Leila said, slightly angered.
"Yes, but she also told me why you did it. I knew your mother, Miss Potter, and don't believe a word Miss Parkinson says. Your mother was a beautiful woman and a spectacular witch." Madam Pomfrey smiled.
"Thanks." Leila whispered.
"I also managed to find the bruise-removal paste, shortly after Miss Parkinson left, but she has yet to return." Madam Pomfrey winked.
"Erm…my hand, I think I broke a few knuckles." Leila said changing the subject back to her hand.
Madam Pomfrey quickly fixed her broken knuckles, leaving her hand as good as new. Leila thanked Madam Pomfrey and left the hospital wing. The common room was the last place she wanted to be, so Leila wandered the corridors. Leila made her way to the seventh floor corridor and saw Draco coming from the Room of Requirement.
"Draco." Leila called.
"Leila? Have you been following me?" Draco hissed.
"Talking to me now, are you? And no, I haven't been following you." Leila snipped.
"Then what are you doing up here?" Draco demanded.
"I'm avoiding the common room, since it happens to be such a pleasant place, at the moment." Leila said.
"You weren't looking for me?" Draco asked.
"No, but I'm glad I did find you though." Leila said.
"And why is that?" Draco asked.
"Because we need to talk, you should know what I know." Leila said.
Draco looked at Leila confusedly, but followed her back into the Room of Requirement.