The next morning I was allowed to leave the Hospital Wing, I was happy to sleep in my own bed again. I didn't speak to Malfoy after the events in the Hospital Wing in the weeks that followed. All I got were nasty glares from him which I returned if our eyes connected. I did talk to Albus who had been told an outrageously unbelievable story by Malfoy which included him beating me with a single wave of his wand, me begging him for mercy and Malfoy wrestling a thestral on the way back to the castle.
"Merlin! What has someone put into his pumpkin juice!?" I exclaimed when Albus told me.
"I definitely don't believe the thestral part, how can you wrestle something you can't see?" Albus said.
"You shouldn't believe any of it, Albus. It's all a pack of lies! He's an egotistical maniac!"
"It's okay if you were beaten by Scorp, Rose. I won't think any less of you."
"It was a draw!" I snapped angrily at Albus for thinking Malfoy could've actually beaten me. "I hit him with the slug-vomiting charm. He was in the Hospital Wing with me, I have photographic proof!"
Judging by Albus' facial expression it was obvious he didn't believe me. "Scorpius said that was just a rumour you made up to-"
I glared at him and stormed off. I heard him call after me.
"Rose, are you still coming to my quidditch match?!"
I didn't bother answering him. I kept walking, furious that he would believe the evil, Slytherin, Malfoy over me, his sweet cousin, that he has known his whole life.
I was extremely happy when October the 31st came around. The Halloween feast would take place that night. I've heard endless stories about how good the Halloween feast is from my various older cousins. I was really looking forward to it. Everyone around me was in the Halloween spirit, but some people or should I say a certain poltergeist was taking it too far.
Peeves, an annoying poltergeist, has got into a routine of throwing rotten eggs at anyone who walks through the fourth floor corridor. Sadly Abby, Jane and I were his first victims. Without warning, we were pelted with rotten eggs and forced to sprint up the corridor into a broom cupboard.
We missed charms, because we were too scared to come out. We were afraid that he would be waiting for us with more rotten eggs. But by the time we mustered up the courage to step out (or more like we couldn't stand the stink coming from the rotten eggs on us) we were in desperate need of a shower.
Charms was luckily the last class of the day, so we went to our Ravenclaw dorm and cleaned ourselves up before the feast. We arrived early to the Great Hall in hopes of getting a good look at all the decorations the teachers had put up early that today before the older students arrived and we would be forced to jump to see over them (the curse of being a tiny first year).
I looked at the Great Hall in awe as my friend and I stood at the entrance of the hall. The enchanted ceiling was black and had a full moon and several stars. Live bats were hanging from the ceiling and several were flying around. Pumpkins of enormous sizes were carved out into lanterns positioned in various places around the hall, each with a creepy expression carved into it. Orange streamers were draped the Great Hall.
"I suggest you move out of my way, Weasley." I heard Malfoy voice say snidely behind me. "Unless you want me to defeat you again."
I quickly turned from the enchanting scene to glare at Malfoy who was with his gang of Slytherins. Abby and Jane turned with me and joined in on the glare fest.
"You did not defeat me, Malfoy!" I retorted. "How's your stomach? Still puking up slugs?"
Malfoy cringed slightly. "Just move out of my way, Weasley!"
"I'm not in your way, Malfoy!" I snapped looking at the part of the door I wasn't blocking, a few students were passing through it.
"Move!" What's wrong with this idiot?!
"Make me!" I crossed my arms and stood my ground.
"You want to end up in the Hospital Wing again?!"
"As long as I'm not with you! Bring it on, Malfoy!"
Malfoy leaned forward and glared at me trying to intimidate me. No way was I letting him intimidate me! I leaned towards him glaring into his silvery grey eyes, our noses were almost touching.
"What is going on here?" said the squeaky voice of Professor Flitwick.
We kept glaring at each other not moving.
"Not fighting I hope."
"No, Professor." We both hissed not looking away from each other.
"Good." Professor Flitwick said suspiciously. "So will you please move away from the doorway… Now."
I felt Jane tug my arm trying to lead me away.
"Wait." Professor Flitwick said suddenly. "Weasley, Templeton and Sliver why weren't you in charms today?"
Malfoy mouth curled into that stupid expression, you know the one he always gives me, a cross between a smirk and sneer.
"Miss Weasley, would please stop staring at Mr Malfoy like that."
I grudgingly stood back. I tried to fix an innocent expression on my face when I turned to Professor Flitwick.
Jane spoke up. "Well, you see, sir, it's actually a very funny story-"
"Not really." Abby interrupted.
Jane shot Abby a look and continued. "We were on our way to your class when Peeves attacked us with eggs and we had to hide in one of the broom cupboards."
Malfoy and his Slytherin gang roared with laughter.
"Is that the best you could make up, Templeton?" Malfoy asked through his laughter.
Professor Flitwick frowned and told the Slytherins. "This matter doesn't involve you, please go to the Slytherin table."
Professor Flitwick turned back to Jane. Malfoy looked disappointed. When Malfoy and his Slytherin gang were about to leave I leaned towards Malfoy and said in a low voice. "Slither back into your hole, like a good boy, Malfoy."
Malfoy didn't have to retort as he and the Slytherins were washed away by the incoming wave of seventh years. Abby smirked at me overhearing what I said to Malfoy, muffling a laugh with her sleeve of robes pretending to cough. Next to her, Jane was still trying to explain the story to Professor Flitwick.
By now a lot of the students were seated. Piles and piles of delicious looking Halloween themed food appeared on the house tables. I looked at it longingly wishing Professor Flitwick would let us go.
"Well... I know what a pest Peeves can be." Professor Flickwick considered understandingly. "I will let you off with a warning this time. I trust you will get your homework assignment from your classmates?"
We all nodded thinking hungrily of the food waiting for us at the Ravenclaw table.
"All right then. Enjoy the feast, girls." Professor Flitwick said brightly moving towards the staff table.
"Thanks, Professor." We said to Professor Flitwick hurrying over to the Ravenclaw table.
We found three places together and immediately filled our places with various mouth-watering food and sweets.
"Malfoy's getting really vicious towards you, Rose." Jane said between bites. "I would watch my back if I were you."
My mouth was too full to reply.
"Rose can handle that moron." Abby said trying to shove a massive lollipop in her mouth. "It's Malfoy who should be on the lookout."
"Malfoy's a – Ouch!" I scowled as I bit my tongue.
"What?" asked Jane.
"I bit my tongue." I said irritated.
Jane and Abby laughed.
"The spirit of Malfoy is cursing us from the Slytherin table!" Abby said in a spooky voice.
A ghost floating near us gave Abby a death glare and floated away.
"Okay, let's stop talking about Malfoy." I pleaded. "I have enough of that idiot."
