After that whole episode, I didn't see Malfoy until third year. As in 'see' I mean we didn't have one of our 'encounters' until then. For the rest of second year, Malfoy ignored my existent which was strange at first adjusting to life at Hogwarts without any incidents with Malfoy. I hate to say it but I think I missed him… no, no I did not miss Malfoy it was probably just some new feeling of boredom and peacefulness. I seriously doubt it is possible to miss glares of hatred, petty insults and downright dickheadedness (if that's even a word).

Over the summer, I had briefly seen Malfoy at the Potter manor along with his goons heading to Albus' bedroom. I was sitting in the living room on the window sill reading a book when suddenly my instincts made me move my eyes from the pages of my book. What my eyes met were familiar silver grey eyes. A fraction of second later he quickly pulled his eyes to the ground and followed the gang of Slytherins up the Potter manor staircase, leaving me in some sort of strange trance (?). I snapped out this trance when Hugo called from the sofa in front of the fire to close my mouth and stop drooling (for the record I was not drooling, salvia just… accidently left my mouth)

So far Draco Malfoy was safe from the Dementors of Azkaban, for now, he kept a low profile. But luckily for the Malfoy family, the Ministry was concentrating their sights on the few remaining members of the Avery family.


In the first week of third year what Abby and Jane would forever refer to as the 'Mandrake Incident' and laugh about it would happen. It all started in third period in Herbology. Traditionally we were supposed to do mandrakes in second year but Neville thought we were too immature and inexperienced for that so he gave it a year.

Jane, Abby and I arrived at greenhouse three with only a minute to spare. We took our usual places and Neville began a long lecture about mandrakes. I answered his questions landing Ravenclaw with 20 points ('In your face Slytherins!' a quote from Abby).

"Today we are going to be repotting mandrakes!" Neville smiled at the class like he was excepting them to cheer and jump for joy at the thought of repotting mandrakes.

Everyone in the class remained silent except a few giggling girls.

"But don't worry." He continued his voice still bright. "These mandrakes are only young so their cries wouldn't kill you yet, but you will need to protect your ears with earmuffs-"

Neville was interrupted abruptly by half the class, mostly boys, running to the supply closet to get a pair of earmuffs that weren't fluffy and pink. I bit back a laugh as Malfoy ended up with pink fluffy earmuffs along with a couple of his goons. As soon as the crowd of boys fighting for the brown earmuffs had dispersed Abby, Jane and I plus several other girls happily took the pink fluffy earmuffs that were left.

"Place your earmuff tight down…" and the rest of what Neville said didn't reach my ears when I shoved the earmuff flaps over my ears.

Jane gave me a nudge and I took them off again while Neville was trying to get everyone who had put them on to take them off again.

"The hat will sort you into groups of two." Neville said pulling a pointed black hat out of one of the pockets in his robe.

He then began his usual way of sorting us into groups. He took off his dirt covered glove and reached his hand into the hat and pulled out the first names,

"Potter with Longford."

Abby and Jane got put together and I got put with Malfoy. I hate that hat.

From the look on Malfoy's face, I could tell he hated that hat as much as I did.

I groaned internally as I followed Malfoy to four free pots at the back of the classroom. Two with mandrakes buried in them and two pots with nothing all in them. A big bag of dragon dung sat in between the pots. Abby and Jane directed looks of pity to where I was standing with Malfoy.

Neville continued with his speech on health and safety when handling mandrakes when Malfoy leant to close to me and hissed.

"Of all the people in this class I have to pair up with you, Weasley."

I narrowed my eyes at him Neville wouldn't be able to hear our hissing from his place at the top of the greenhouse so I hissed back

"Believe me, Malfoy, I would rather be with anyone else in the world."

Malfoy smirked at me. "I-"

Whatever he was about to say got lost in him hurtling towards me. And he, of course, had to grab my waist and bringing me down with him. And let's just say we end up in an extremely inappropriate position in front of everyone. I will not use unnecessary detail in describing it because it was that position.

I didn't realise this until seconds later. But before those seconds of realisation all I could do was lie still and stare into his silver grey eyes (ew + strange) they looked back at me, different than usual. One of his hands was on my waist the other was one leaning on the floor next to hair to stop him from completely falling on top of me. I gripped the upper part of his arm which had developed nicely over the summer… Merlin that sounded creepy!

Malfoy snapped out of whatever the hell that was when the whole class began to scream. From my spot on the floor, I could see hurried footsteps making their way to the exit.

"Calm down!" Neville yelled over the commotion.

Then I saw why, a huge brown almost black centipede thingy (shiver, shiver, shiver!) was running towards Malfoy and me from under the table and it had brought friends.

I really, really, really don't like bugs. This thingy with all its curvy tiny creepy little leg scuttling along was what my nightmares were made of. What I wanted to do more than anything was to scream and run.

I screamed but I didn't run instead I latched onto Malfoy's neck with all the might I possessed forgetting that this was Malfoy l was latching onto (why Rose?) who would probably throw me to the bugs.

Malfoy gathered his wits and quickly stood up bringing me with him holding my waist so my arms wrapped around his neck wouldn't weigh him down or break his neck. I was close to him, waaaaayyyy too close, but I didn't mind, it was nice behind the fear and panic that gripped me… yeah… oh Merlin!

"Ros-, I mean Weasley, let go." He muttered into my ear.

I only gripped tighter not caring. He sighed in annoyance and lifted me by the waist a few inches off the ground and walked to the exit calmly (how is that possible when there are unnaturally large centipedes roaming around!?). When we finally make it outside the greenhouse we were greeted by wolf whistles, laughter and let's not forget gossip plus its good friend rumours. The entire class stood outside the greenhouse and Neville. I jumped back from Malfoy as soon as I realised what I was still doing only to see a small smile playing on his lips, but it left as soon as I had spotted it.

I looked around feeling my face burning red. Malfoy moved away from me to his gang of Slytherin friends, colour appearing on his usually pale face.

"All right then, early lunch for everyone." Neville announced awkwardly.