Chapter 30
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 tightly clutched her pillow as she entered the Gryffindor common room and Hermione levitated her trunk. Leila wasn't sure what she was expecting, but whatever it was, it never came. The Gryffindor common room was empty and the fire was slowly dying. Leila stopped to get a good look at her surroundings. She had been in the Gryffindor common room before, but she had always taken for granted the homey feel that it had.
"This way." Hermione called to her.
Leila quickly followed Hermione, who was heading up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. They went up the stairs until they reached the sixth door and then Hermione opened the door. Leila stood outside the door hesitantly, while Hermione placed Leila's trunk on the floor.
"You can come in, you know." Hermione said.
Leila tip-toed into the room. Hermione shook her head and closed the door behind Leila. Leila looked around the room to find that Hermione's four other roommates were asleep. She also saw that Hermione's bed was the only empty bed. Hermione must have noticed Leila's concerns because she quickly spoke up.
"I'm going to perform an enlargement charm on the bed so we can share, seeing as this is only temporary. And if it's not, which I know was going to be your next question, and then we'll talk to Professor McGonagall." Hermione said.
"She'll tell me to go back to my own house." Leila said.
"Well, tonight this will do." Said Hermione.
"You do know that I—" Leila began.
"Kick in your sleep, yes I do." Hermione finished for her.
"And I—" Leila began.
"Like to steal all the covers." Hermione smiled.
"How do you know that stuff?" Leila asked.
"Just because we only became good friends a few months ago doesn't mean that I didn't know you well. I'll admit there were some bad feelings toward you on my part too, but I still knew stuff about you. We were stuck with each other because of Harry and Ron. When that happens for six years you tend to pick up on things." Hermione rambled.
"Yeah, I guess. How do you think the rest of the Gryffindors are going to feel about this?" Leila asked.
"They probably won't be too pleased at first, but we'll take care of that in the morning." Hermione said.
"Thank you, Hermione." Leila said quietly.
"You're welcome. Like I said before, we may not always have been friends, but we are now and that's what counts." Hermione said.
Leila yawned so Hermione put the enlargement charm on her bed, which made the bed plenty big enough for two people. Leila threw her pillow and plopped onto the bed. She was asleep before she could even put her pajamas on. She awoke once in the middle of the night to find all the girls, including Hermione asleep. Leila crawled out of bed and sat in front of the window. The view of the grounds was spectacular in the moonlight. She didn't have such a stunning view in the Slytherin common room; Leila almost felt jealous. She gazed outside again and saw something flying. It was hard to make out, but it looked somewhat like Draco's eagle owl, but it couldn't be at this time, could it? Leila looked at the watch on Hermione's wrist that was dangling off the bed and decided she should probably try to go back to sleep.
Leila awoke the next morning to Hermione shaking her. Leila tried swatting at Hermione, but Hermione was persistent.
"Get up, Leila." Hermione hissed.
"Don't want to." Leila groaned.
"I obviously can't make you do anything, but I thought you'd like to have breakfast with me, Ron, and Harry." Hermione said.
"Breakfast is overrated." Leila mumbled.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After a good night's rest, your blood sugar, or glucose levels, are very low since you've been asleep without a meal for six to ten hours. Your body is basically running on empty in the morning. Eating a big meal at breakfast time will …" Hermione began.
"All right, all right. I'll go to breakfast, just please no more word for word rambling textbook answers." Leila said sitting up, covering her ears.
Hermione smiled and pulled all the covers off Leila, which caused Leila to fall off the bed. Leila yelped in surprise as she fell flat onto her butt. She groaned and dug for her clothes for the day in her trunk. She then quickly stood up just as the Parvati and Lavender entered back into the sixth year girls' dormitory. They both looked at Leila, Parvati even managed a smile; but neither of them said a word to her. Leila looked to Hermione, who simply shrugged.
"Good morning." Leila said.
"G'morning." Lavender mumbled.
"Did you sleep well, Leila?" Pavarti asked.
"One of the best nights I've had in a while." Leila answered.
"That's good." Pavarti responded, not actually caring about Leila's response.
"Well, Pavarti and I ought to get to breakfast." Lavender said, looping her arm through her friend's arm and dragging her from the room.
Leila, still holding her clothes in her hands, sat down on Hermione's bed.
"That didn't go too badly." Leila commented.
"No, it didn't; but you need to hurry up and get dressed. We're meeting Harry and Ron in the common room in ten minutes." Hermione said.
"So do you think there will be a crowd down there to see if I'm actually here?" Leila asked.
"Get dressed!" Hermione commanded.
Leila smirked and turned around to change. She pulled on her skirt, shirt, cardigan, socks, and couldn't decide if she wanted to wear her Slytherin tie. She opted to place her tie in her book bag. She then walked to the mirror hanging next to Hermione's bed and French-braided her hair into one long plait. She had barely finished her hair when Hermione grabbed her arm to drag her out the door. Leila reached to grab her book bag while Hermione was still holding onto her; and then they descended down the stairs to the common room.
Just as Leila had predicted, most Gryffindors had waited in the common room for Leila's arrival, rather than head down to breakfast. It was almost hard to spot Harry and Ron, who were waiting near the exit; but it wasn't hard to pick up on the conversations.
"What's a Slytherin doing in here?" a first year whispered.
"I thought Lavender was lying." Demelza Robbins said.
"She's not allowed in here." Romilda Vane hissed.
"But she's Potter's sister." A second year said.
Before the rumors could continue to spread, Hermione tried to squash them; but no one paid her any attention. Hermione narrowed her eyes in frustration as the Gryffindors continued to talk. Ginny walked over and Hermione whispered something into her ear. Ginny then stood up on the couch.
"Listen up you lot!" Ginny shouted.
The common room instantly quieted and all eyes were on Ginny.
"Go on, Hermione." Ginny said.
All eyes then turned to Hermione. Hermione took a deep breath then proceeded.
"Thank you Ginny. Well, as you can all plainly see, Leila Potter stayed in Gryffindor Tower last night…" Hermione began.
Hermione's slight pause caused the Gryffindor common room to break out into whispers again.
"Shut it!" Hermione screamed.
The Gryffindor common room was again silenced.
"I know some of you may be wondering why. Well I'll tell you: Gryffindors are known for their chivalry and helping someone out in their time of need would certainly qualify. She didn't harm anyone by being here; but if you have a problem you can address it to me." Hermione said.
"Or me." Ginny added.
"Me too." Ron said.
"I'll vouch for her as well." Harry said not making eye contact with Leila.
Hermione nodded and the crowd continued to stare at her. She awkwardly smiled at Ginny who hopped back off the couch to talk to Hermione. Ginny nodded her head in agreement with what Hermione said and then cupped her hands around her mouth.
"Move on with your day, we're done here." Ginny shouted.
Most Gryffindors continued to ignore Leila as usual. But there were a couple who decided that she wasn't so bad. Seamus Finnegan commented to her in Charms that he had expected her to switch sides years ago, and Colin Creevey told her that he had always had a crush on her. But things weren't all good; Leila took notice that Draco was absent from Charms. Actually, Draco was absent from all his classes. Leila hoped that he would patrol with her, but he never showed up; so she patrolled the school by herself. She almost went to the Slytherin common room to see if he was holding up in there; but she was too cowardly to even head down to the dungeons. The week trudged by slowly, without a single sight of Draco.
Friday morning finally came and Leila sprang out of bed to get ready for the last day of classes for the week. She was excited not only because it was Friday, but because she wanted to see if Draco would manage to show up to lessons today. It had been Monday night since she had last spoken to him. That was the night where everything had changed, and Leila wondered if they had changed for the worse. Leila's first class with Draco was Ancient Runes, which he didn't show up for. Leila was determined to find him by the end of the day. She wanted to make sure that he was all right, that they were all right. Leila walked with Hermione to Defense and they met up with Harry and Ron waiting outside the door. Leila leaned against the wall with the Gryffindors and Harry walked up to his sister.
"Leila, about the other night…" Harry began.
"Just forget about it, Harry." Leila sighed.
"No, please, just let me apologize. I'm sorry; I still don't like this thing you have with Malfoy and…" Harry said.
"Like I said, forget about it. Besides, not that it's any of your business, but I haven't even been near Draco all week." Leila said.
Before Harry could even respond, Snape opened the classroom and the students began to pour into the classroom. As Leila entered the room she saw that familiar blonde-haired boy already seated at a table in the front row with a scowl on his face. Leila noticed that the chair next to Draco was empty; but opted for the table next to his, sitting with Hermione. Leila looked at her boyfriend, who had yet to make eye contact. He looked peaky and paler than the last time she saw him. The rings around his eyes had darkened and an unpleasant look seemed plastered to his face.
"Draco." Leila whispered.
Draco appeared to be mulling over whether or not he actually was going to answer. He eventually gave in and turned to his right, where Leila was sitting. He looked her in the eyes, and then turned to see if anyone was watching. Hermione had her head buried in a book, Ron was digging in his bag, and everyone but Harry was too busy to notice. Harry on the other hand pretended to busy himself, but Leila knew that he was listening.
"What?" Draco hissed.
"Where've you been?" Leila asked.
"I've been busy." Draco retorted.
"Are you feeling well?" Leila asked.
"Don't worry about me." Draco replied.
Professor Snape called the class to pay attention and Leila sighed. Snape lectured for the entire period, while Leila half-heartedly took notes. She would glance over at Draco every so often, but his gaze remained to the front of the classroom. Snape was particularly surly toward Leila. It seemed like every time she would look at Draco, Snape would demand an answer from her. Luckily, Leila had somewhat of an idea what the lecture was about, so she wasn't yelled at too much. When class was over, Leila grabbed Draco's arm so that he couldn't escape the classroom before she did. Harry eyed her suspiciously, but she simply rolled her eyes. Draco tried to remove his arm from her grasp, but Leila held on tighter.
"What do you think you're doing?" Draco hissed.
"Taking five minutes of your time." Leila said calmly.
Draco sighed and followed Leila out of the classroom where second year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were pointing and whispering at them. They walked down a few empty corridors until they were sure that they were alone. Draco yawned as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded against his chest.
"What do you want?" Draco asked.
"I have to want something to spend time with my boyfriend who has mysteriously disappeared from me all week." Leila commented.
"I'm not avoiding you, if that's what you're trying to get at. I've been busy; as you knew from the last time we spoke." Draco said.
"Lose the attitude, Draco. I'm not someone you need to put up a front for." Leila said.
"I'm not putting up a front." Draco muttered.
"I'll try my best not to prod you for information you can't give me; but will you try and answer me?" Leila asked.
"I suppose I don't have much of a choice." Draco said.
"That's a start. Why haven't you been in class all week?" Leila asked.
"Busy." Draco mumbled.
"All right, why'd you come to Defence then?" Leila asked.
"Snape found me and forced me to come." Draco shrugged.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" Leila asked.
"You know that I can't." Draco sneered.
"Well, that's all I wanted to know; so I'll just be leaving then." Leila whispered.
Leila turned to go. She had gotten about five steps away from Draco when he called out to her. She quickly turned around to see him walking toward her. He placed one of his hands on her cheek and gazed into her eyes.
"Meet me tonight in the courtyard at nine." Draco whispered.
"Aren't you busy?" Leila asked.
"I can make time for you." Draco whispered.
"But we're not allowed outside because it's not safe." Leila said.
"You'll be safe with me." Draco replied.
He then bent his head down and kissed her. Leila drew to her tippy-toes to better reach him; but he broke the kiss off, leaving her wanting more.
"I'll see you tonight." Draco said.
Leila nodded as Draco walked away from her. The rest of the day went by smoothly, except she skipped History of Magic because she didn't want to be the only one in the class. After a grueling Potion's lesson, in which Harry's cauldron spilled over and seeped into her cauldron. Finally, it was the weekend. Leila was wandering the corridors when she ran into Ginny who was carrying her broom.
"Hey Leila!" Ginny called.
"Yes?" Leila asked.
"Madam Hooch is having an open-fly session down at the Quidditch pitch. Do you want to come?" Ginny asked.
"I would, but my broom is still in the Slytherin dormitory." Leila said.
"You left your Firebolt down there?" Ginny questioned.
"Seeing as the Quidditch season is over, my broom wasn't one of my biggest concerns when I left." Leila said.
"Well do you still want to come? We can take turns on mine or we can just sit in the stands. Either way it gets us out of the castle." Ginny said.
"Sounds fine to me." Leila said.
Leila walked with Ginny down to the Quidditch pitch. Both girls immediately headed for the stands; where many people from other Houses sat, apparently having the same idea that Ginny had. Ginny tucked her broom under the bench and turned to talk to Leila.
"How've you been?" Ginny asked.
"Same old, same old. What about you?" Leila said.
"Same." Ginny said.
"And nothing's changed now that you're dating Harry?" Leila questioned.
"You tell me, seeing as you're dating Draco." Ginny said.
"Touché." Leila smiled.
"How's that going, anyways?" Ginny asked.
"Is that why you asked me down here? So you can get all the dirt on Draco and then tell Harry?" Leila questioned.
"Someone's a bit paranoid. I'm just asking because he's a big part of your life, and seeing we're friends I just thought you'd like finally being able to talk about it. That's all, Leila. I swear that I'm not nor was I ever going to tell Harry." Ginny said.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bite your head off; it's just that lately…" Leila trailed off.
"I get it. You've had a lot to deal with." Ginny smiled.
"Things are complicated with Draco and I." Leila sighed.
"I'd suppose that things would be, I don't mind listening if you need to talk, Leila." Ginny said.
"It's just kind of weird to be talking to you about this; Hermione's been my go-to person recently. Which is completely odd considering we didn't like each other for so long." Leila rambled.
"You don't have to if you don't want to. My feelings won't be hurt if you don't." Ginny responded.
"No, I don't mind. Besides, I can already hear what Hermione would say in my head anyways." Leila said.
"When your friends with Hermione, her voice is like that annoying conscience that won't go away." Ginny chuckled.
"That's for sure. I…I…I'm not exactly sure where to begin." Leila said.
Leila really did want to tell Ginny. She and Ginny had instantly become friends ever since Leila's first visit to the Burrow, where Fred, George, and Ron and stolen the Ford Anglia and had flown her and Harry to the Burrow. But she knew there were things she couldn't tell Ginny about Draco.
"You can start wherever you like. I've never been one for chronology." Ginny smiled.
"It's just that Draco has his secrets and I have mine…and I don't know where we're supposed to go from here." Leila said.
"Do you love him?" Ginny asked.
"Of course I do. Things are just too complicated." Leila said.
"I'd never thought I'd take his side, but you do realize things are probably just as complicated for him." Ginny said.
"What do you mean?" Leila asked.
"Look at his family and all the pressure he's probably getting from them." Ginny said.
"Yeah, I guess I hadn't really thought of that." Leila said.
"I don't know how to phrase this best, but Malfoy doesn't look himself. He looks kind of scary: worn-out and withdrawn. Even I who try to ignore the prat have noticed." Ginny said.
"What am I supposed to do about it?" Leila asked.
"You probably know him best and know exactly what he needs." Ginny replied.
Leila thought for a moment about the truth to Ginny's words. What Draco needed was to get done whatever Voldemort needed done. What Draco needed was love and support, but no distractions. There had to be something Leila could do for Draco. Leila sighed and stared out onto the Quidditch pitch, where several Hufflepuffs were racing. Ginny stated that she was going down to join in the fun; but Leila stayed in the stands thinking about Draco. She did love him, she did want what was best for him, and she most certainly did not wish him dead. Her thoughts then turned to her parents, both dead, but they died out of their love for her and Harry. They sacrificed themselves to ensure that she and Harry would be safe. Leila's thoughts were interrupted by Ginny telling her that it was time to go to dinner. Leila followed Ginny to the Great Hall, with her previous thoughts weighing on her mind. The group consisting of Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Leila headed back to Gryffindor tower, where Leila slowly waited her time until she was supposed to meet Draco.
At ten minutes to nine, Leila stood up to leave the common room, where only Hermione remained. Ron had gone to his room to challenge Seamus in Wizard's chess; while Ginny and Harry had snuck off, probably to some broom closet to song.
"Where do you think you're going?" Hermione asked.
"I'm meeting someone." Leila said.
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked.
"Who else would I be meeting?" Leila asked.
"You're not supposed to leave…" Hermione began.
"I know Hermione, but this is important." Leila commented.
"If you're not back in an hour, I'm telling Harry." Hermione said sternly.
"One hour." Leila whispered back.
Leila carefully walked down to the courtyard, trying to avoid running into Filch. When she reached the courtyard she found Draco standing near the fountain, staring up at a cloudy sky; but the moon was peeking out, shining down on Draco. His pale features were intensified in the moonlight. Leila stopped to catch her breath and continued toward him. Draco turned around and smiled when he saw her. He walked toward her, picked her up, and swung her around. He then set her on the ground and kissed her.
"I've missed you, you know." Draco whispered in her ear.
"I've missed you too." Leila whispered back.
Raindrops soon began to fall from the sky. They were light at first; but quickly became heavier.
"For a while there I didn't think you'd show." Draco said.
"I told you I was coming, I was just briefly held up." Leila said.
Draco smirked and leaned in to kiss her again. Leila could feel the raindrops falling on her cheek. She didn't want her time with Draco to end and she could feel tears beginning to spring from her eyes. It was hard to tell the tears from the rain. Leila suddenly, backed away from Draco and gazed into his eyes.
"I love you so much, Draco." Leila whispered.
"I love you too." Draco said, pushing a strand of her hair from her face.
"And that's what makes this even harder." Leila mumbled.
"What was that?" Draco asked.
"Do you know what the most beautiful form of love is?" Leila asked.
Draco shrugged, apparently confused by the question asked of him.
"Sacrifice." Leila said.
"I don't understand." Draco said.
"My father died to protect his family. My mother sacrificed herself to protect me and Harry." Leila continued.
"I'm afraid I'm not following." Draco said.
"And that's what I'm going to do for you. Don't say anything just yet. The whole point of love is to put someone else's needs above your own. I'm not going to die or anything, at least not yet anyways; but I want you to focus on you. I'm not supporting Voldemort; but I'm supporting you. Just please don't let me be wrong about you. I know that you won't do anything to hurt me intentionally, so that should mean Harry's safe from whatever you're doing, for now. And I know that somewhere you're a good person Draco; you're just too scared to let it show. And I really don't want you to die." Leila finished bursting into tears.
Leila grabbed Draco's hand and kissed it; clinging to it tightly. Draco slowly backed away from Leila, letting her words finally sink in. The rain began falling harder as did Leila's tears.
"I need you to be safe, and being with me isn't keeping you safe. So I'm going to let you go and hopefully you can let me go too." Leila sobbed.
"You're breaking things off with me because you're scared?" Draco hissed.
"Draco." Leila sighed.
"So it's over, just like that?" Draco asked.
"Draco, I think this is what's best for right now." Leila sniffled.
"What's best?" Draco scoffed.
"Draco I know this hurts, but please don't…" Leila said.
Leila reached for his arm.
"Stay away from me, Potter." Draco sneered.
Leila stood there in the pouring rain watching Draco leave her. As much as this hurt her and had hurt him, it was what they needed. Or at least she hoped it was what they needed. They couldn't possibly remain together on opposite sides of the war, could they? Doubts began to plague Leila, but all she wanted to do was sleep and end this horrible day.