Common room

We had made it back to the common room in no time. We did not say anything on our way. The common room was empty when we arrived. Now I felt as though I had to say something to Ginny. "Hey," I say.

Ginny chuckles. "Hey you."

It really was quite late, we should probably both head to bed. "We should celebrate," I blurt out, for some reason I do not want this night to end just now.

"It's kinda late," Ginny says. She yawns and stretches lazily.

I have to yawn too. "Still," I say, "We beat our boggarts. It felt like a big thing somehow, like I.. Well, I did not want to face it in class. I stood at the back. And now I did face it. And you did too." I breathe in deeply. I felt nervous. "We should celebrate."

Ginny stares at me for a few seconds. "Well, it's better than standing here in the common room. What do you propose?"

I smile relieved. I did not like rejection. "Let's find the kitchens."

Ginny groans. "You'll get us caught!"

I just shrug. Somehow I felt nearly invincible. I walk out the common room, Ginny follows me. "Do you even know where to find the kitchens?" I confidently stride forward. Yes Ginny, as a matter of fact, I did and I felt very daring at the moment. "You haven't drank an insanity potion, have you?"

I chuckle. "A little trust, Ginny," I chide. My father had told me where the kitchens were after he'd blurted out a story of how he had sneaked in with my mother after midnight. The last years I had not done a lot sneaking around, barring that time in first-year when I had tried to get Potter and his friend caught when they sneaked out this dragon Hagrid somehow got. Maybe I should ask him sometimes what that was all about. Honestly, even Hagrid could not possibly think it was a good idea to raise a dragon in a wooden house? It was illegal. I shudder remembering the detention we'd gotten afterwards. How I wished I had not sneaked out. First years were not even allowed in the forbidden forest. And to think an unicorn was attacked! Who would be so desperate to do something like that?

"Draco," Ginny then tiredly says. "Seriously, are we headed for the kitchens?"

I was a bit distracted. Perfect timing though to ask me now. I smirk at her. "You could not have been patient for a second longer, couldn't you?" I walk towards the painting, I hope father was serious when he told me to tickle the pear. The pear giggles, sort of and the portrait swings open.

There are only a few house elf in the kitchen bustling around. On one of them my eyes fall. "Dobby," I blurt out, "What are you doing here?" I had not suspected to see my old house elf here.

Dobby looks at me with his big tennis ball-like eyes. He looks utterly shocked. A bit reluctantly he comes towards us. "Young Masters Draco and his friend should not be sneaking around Hogwarts at night. Yous should be in bed sleeping." The other house elf looked excited to be able to help us and Dobby looked a bit abashed for a second and then smiles hesitantly. "What can I get the young masters?"

Ginny answers for us. "Dobby, could you get us some butterbeers please. If it's not too much trouble." She smiles kindly at the house elf. "And some treacle tart, we've got something to celebrate.." She gives me a slightly curious look.

Dobby looks for a moment at a loss of words, then he smiles broadly.

I feel somehow Ginny would mind me being rude to the house elfs, just like my parents would mind me grovelling to some house elf and saying something like please to it. I sigh.

Dobby then says "Dobby will get anything missus wants if she asks."

With a snap of bobby's fingers two butter beers and two pieces of treacle tart appear on the small table. Ginny smiles thankfully, but before she can say something I quickly cut her off. "Thanks Dobby, Ginny and I appreciate it."

Dobby again looks shocked. "Young master Draco told Dobby thank you." Dobby sounds amazed. "Young master Draco is growing up to become a better man than his father. Dobby will happily serve you."

I feel a bit lost for words. I only thanked it, didn't I? Ginny smiles at me and sits down, takes a sip of the butterbeer and sighs appreciatingly. "How come we never have butter beer at Hogwarts?"

I shrug. No idea.

"You were right, celebrations are in order," Ginny says happily. "Well done on beating your boggart, Draco."

I smile. "You as well, Ginny. Next time that Tom dares to interrupt your dreams, just think of a puffskein."

Ginny snorts. "Well, next time you think you're worthless, just remember the awesome compliments I have given you."

"I don't believe you are crap is your idea of an awesome compliment?" I say incredulously.

Ginny takes a bite of her treacle tart. "Hey, I don't dish out compliments to just anyone. To me that was like a romantic love letter."

"A love letter, hmm.." I tease her. "Well, maybe your love letters are improving. It is better than your eyes are as green as a fresh-pickled toad."

"Oh shut up." Ginny blushes. "That was a long time ago."