A/N~~ Bow down befor J.K.R., who owns all but Adina and my multi-colored floppy disks.
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Transfiguration was easy. McGonagall had them all take notes on the important points of human transfiguration as it differs from animagi. Study of Ancient Runes was next, and that was quite fun. Professor Davins had them partner up and translate simple rhymes. They had a break next, which was lucky because the next class was potions and they had to tell Adina about the finer points of being a Gryffindor in one of Snapes' classes, even though they or Draco would try cover up for her mistakes. But it turned out to be okay because Snape decided to ignore Adina completely and concentrate on Neville Longbottom, another Gryffindor sixth year. Until Harry and Ron's potion exploded. They were busy instructing Adina on how to cut tuberblossom roots. At least Harry was. Ron was trying to get the pus from the tuberblossoms off his hands. It would stink for weeks and could eventually melt his skin if left on for too long. Crabbe and Goyle, taking advantage of the unattended potion, decided to add crushed beetles and porcupine quills to try to get Draco's attention. He had been ignoring them all day and they hoped that an attack on the group of Gryffindors he hated the most would change that.
With the new ingredients, the simple cleaning potion they were making turned into an odd sort of shrinking formula. Which had very funny results on the two gorilla-sized Slytherins. They were about the size of Harry before Snape had figured out what happened. And for once, he was unable to punish any Gryffindors for the failed potion. Since even his favorite student admitted that he saw Crabbe and Goyle sabotage the potion. And Draco Malfoy would do anything to get Potter in trouble. So he took off ten points for leaving it unattended.
********************************
Hermione was first to get to the library because she skipped dinner to do homework. Draco got there next, but wandered around on his own until the other three got there. Adina had talked about Hagrid's class all through dinner and was still going on about how cool it was that she had been right all along and for once she could prove it. " If you think that was cool, wait till Hagrid has some 'interesting' creatures." Draco said, sitting down with them.
"What do you meant?"
"Three years ago, he had his first class and he brought out Hippogriffs. One of them attacked me and I almost died. My father tried to get it killed and Hagrid sacked, but something went wrong. And I know you three had something to do with it." The last part was directed at Harry.
"Sod off, Malfoy. Buckbeak didn't do anything like that."
"He did so! I still have a scar. And I will not sod off. In case you have forgotten, Weasley, you will be seeing me every day for the rest of the year."
"Both of you stop it now. If I have to look at him every day, then I'm not going to listen to you two fight. I never thought I would say this, but let's hurry up and start on our homework."
"Finally. I'm going to start with Arithmancy, so you all can do whatever."
"What's a Hippogriff?"
"Here. Look it up." Said Ron, handing her a small red book.
So they all sat fairly quietly for the next two hours, and for once both Harry and Ron had all their homework finished as early as Hermione. And for the next few weeks, that was their nightly routine.
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"You let her escape."
"I'm sorry, master. It was an unforeseen interference. I did not think-"
"Exactly."
"-that Dumbledore would have found out yet. They must have known that we had found her. There must be a spy, Master."
"There is no spy. All of the Death Eaters involved have been subjected to Veritaserum. You have failed me Wormtail. One more time and your time will be up. Get the girl or die trying."
"Yes, master. You will not be sorry this time. I will not fail, I promise you. I-"
"Go."
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Adina had tried to not be the center of attention, she really had. But that's exactly where she always seemed to find herself, especially now. Everyone wanted to see the odd new girl who could do very little magic, had purple hair, didn't even get into trouble with Snape, and was forbidden to discuss her past and reasons for being there. So it wasn't all that difficult for Wormtail to figure out exactly who she was.
The Gryffindors were widely known for being as inseparable as the marauders were, even more since a fourth addition to their group. And most knew that no one was welcome to accompany them to visit Hagrid, as they did almost every evening, and every other chance they got. Hagrid was ecstatic to show off his 'interesting' creatures to someone who was as interested as he was.
The only problem was, they usually didn't make it back till after dark. And Wormtail, who had been watching them for almost two weeks, knew this. Thus crafted the perfect plan to capture the girl. Except for one thing. He didn't know Adina was telekinetic.
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He was watching them walk across the grounds on their way back from Hagrids, as he always did. He didn't know why, but he always wanted to be where Adina was. That was the reason he asked for what he did in return for not telling the school about her. He wasn't sure what it was that he felt, for the poor boy had never felt love. But when he saw a man jump out from thin air and stun Harry, Ron, and Hermione, he felt panicked and lost and helpless. He couldn't think of anything he could do but get to her. Fortunately, he ran into Professor McGonnagal on his way out.
But by the time they got there, all that was left to do was wake up the three stunned teenagers. And tie up a knocked out Wormtail, whom Ron identified when he woke up. Adina, in her scared and upset state, had managed to make several heavy things fly at Wormtail, including the Whomping Willow, which was very angry at being up-rooted. It had begun, true to its name, whomping the first solid thing it could. Unfortunately for him, it was Wormtail. Adina was so tired out by her efforts (telekinetic activity is very draining.) that she passed out and had to be carried to the hospital wing. Draco volunteered to do this, as McGonagall had to escort the three un-stunned students back and conjure a stretcher for the unconscious attacker.
The next day, Draco skipped the nightly meeting after dinner in favor of seeing Adina alone. All four of them had gone down during lunch, but Madame Pomfrey insisted on keeping her for another day. She was worried there might be side effects from the telekinesis that hadn't show themselves yet. And for the fact that Adina was still tired from it. She had never done that much at once before, or had been able to move things heavy as a full-grown tree. But he had promised her he'd be back when the others couldn't hear. So he came.
The nurse told him that if Adina didn't get any rest she couldn't be let out tomorrow and she wouldn't be able to have any more visitors. This wasn't a train station, it was a hospital and she wished that people would be able to get that through their heads.
Draco nodded in the right places, and was allowed in after promising he wouldn't stay long. When he first walked in, she was asleep. He thought that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and didn't want to wake her. He sat down in a chair by the wall, but seconds later, there was a loud tapping sound at the window. Draco jumped to let the snowy owl in, but it was too late. She had already woken up. He said he was sorry for waking her up as he untied the letter from the owls' leg. It was addressed to Adina, so he scooted his chair up to the bed while she read it. She was quite used to owl post now, but had quite a shock her first morning when hundreds of them came swooping into the Great Hall.
It was from Harry. The three of them wanted to know if Madame Pomfrey would let her out tomorrow and would she please send a reply with Hedwig. She borrowed a quill from Draco and answered below Harry's writing. His sloppy writing looked very neat next to hers, because she wasn't used to writing with a quill yet.
After she sent the owl off, she turned to Draco and said ", It's all true, isn't it. About my family. And Voldemort. That guy was working for him, wasn't he?"
Draco shuddered involuntarily at hearing Voldemort's name spoken aloud. Almost all wizards and witches did. The only ones he knew that didn't were Dumbledore and Harry Potter. "Yeah."
"I didn't want to believe it. I wanted it to be a dream that I could wake from whenever I wanted."
"That's the same thing I want with my life. My situation is much different from yours, but maybe as bad. My mother seems to have no feelings, or any thoughts of her own. She does what my father tells her to do when he tells her to do it. When he isn't giving her an order, she disappears. I don't even think she's ever hugged me." He didn't know why he was telling her all this. Maybe it was to keep her mind off her family.
"My father is a Death Eater and has always wanted me to follow in his footsteps. But his lord was unsatisfied with my magical ability when my father took me to get the dark mark burned into my arm. His lord wouldn't take me. He told me I wasn't worthy of the name Malfoy and hasn't spoken to me since. Not that it's a great loss. Whenever he did talk to me, it was an order or another curse or dark arts spell to learn. I don't have any brothers or sisters, and I never met any other relatives. My fathers' side dies out quickly from service to their lord. My father decided my mother shouldn't have anything to do with her family after she became a Malfoy, and as far as I know, she hasn't."
At this point, he stopped. The horrible childhood memories were too much. Adina saw the sad, lonely look in his eyes. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him in his first-ever hug. He didn't know what to do at first, but he realized she was crying. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. He stroked her hair with one hand and realized it was really several shades of purple, ranging from plum to almost pink.
She cried on his shoulder for almost fifteen minutes before her almost silent sobs turned into shakes. Still not really knowing what to do, he pushed her back onto the bed and sat next to her. She moved closer to him, and he pulled the blanket around her. She started to say something, but apparently changed her mind because she shut her mouth again. He was sorry he told her about his father now; she probably thought he was one of the ones who were trying to kill her. But that was impossible. The Ministry of Magic was after his father and had been for two months when Lucius Malfoy put the Cruciatus curse on his only son in the middle of Knockturn Alley. Draco had told him he didn't want to learn another dark arts spell. Lucius was due to serve seventeen life sentences in Azkaban. But that's not what had made her cry. She had realized how much she had taken her family for granted and now that she knew how important they really were, they were gone.
Draco blinked several times to calm the tears that had been threatening to spill over. He succeeded and looked down at Adina as she turned to look at him. As they stared into each other's eyes, they both forgot about all the sad things they had been thinking. Both suddenly became very nervous and their hearts started beating faster. Draco pulled the blanket tighter around her with one hand and let the other slide around to the back of her neck. She put both hands on his chest and tilted her head sideways. Draco tilted his head the other way and both closed their eyes. Their lips were almost touching when Madame Pomfrey said very loudly from outside Adina's private room ", Mr. Malfoy, are you still in there?"
They barley had enough time to jump apart before the nurse busted in. "Out, boy! Out!"
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Adina was let out of the hospital wing during the second class on Monday, which was Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. She had put them to work fixing the hole where the Whomping Willow was supposed to be. The tunnel to the Shrieking Shack was all caved in and had to be repaired so the weight of the Willow wouldn't collapse it.
Harry was first to see her, and told the other two, who had been inside the hole. She waved to them, and then went to see Professor Sprout. Professor Sprout told her it was no use getting dirty now, there was only ten minutes left, so Adina spent the rest of the time practicing Wingardium Leviosa and Accio charms for next class.
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Adina and Draco both skipped dinner, both trying to get to the library before the others. But Hermione had also skipped dinner and wanted to sit in the library and do a potions essay. A particularly nasty three foot one that was due day after tomorrow. So they sat down with her and started working.
They each had almost two feet done when Harry and Ron showed up. They groaned when they saw everyone was already working. They copied Adina's and then they all started on a transfiguration essay, which was only half as long. Then they each only had one essay left. Ron and Harry had muggle studies and Draco, Adina, and Hermione had Ancient Runes.
After they had split into two groups, a couple ravenclaws came over to Harry and Ron. They all wanted to know exactly why the Gryffindors were hanging out with Malfoy. The two boys looked at each other and realized that they couldn't find any sort of believable answer. Harry finally said ", He agreed to help Adina with Potions."
The Ravenclaws looked slightly suspicious, but they went back to their own table anyway. Ron said that they would have to get together and come up with a believable story before they left the library that day. So after the two groups got their homework done, and decided that they had to base the 'real' story on the weak one that Harry gave to the Ravenclaws. They decided that they would sat Draco was helping with their Potion homework, and in return, they were helping him with Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures. That done, Ron wanted to get away from homework and Malfoy, so he went to the Owlery to write to Fred and George, two of his older brothers. Harry went with him, so he could order stuff from the joke shop that they owned and operated. Hermione wanted to stay longer and get some books for a little light reading.
Draco showed Adina where Hogwarts: A History was at- she had been wanting to read it and everyone had left their copies at home since Hermione knew it all by heart- and she checked it out. They then left the library together and headed towards the Gryffindor dorms. Halfway there, Adina asked Draco if she could still get something to eat, since she missed dinner. He told he'd gladly take her to the kitchens, if she promised not to tell the others. They didn't know that he'd been spying on them in their third year when they had gone there to see Dobby, his former house-elf. They turned and went down the steps to the dungeons. He led her to a painting of a bowl of fruit and showed her how to open it by tickling the pear.
She was amazed by how the house elves just wanted to give away the food to them. She could ask for anything and poof, there it was. She asked them to put some into a bag so she could take it outside, and before could even think about what she wanted; they had made up the perfect picnic lunch. She asked Draco if he wanted to join her, and they left the kitchens carrying the basket.
Draco took her to one of his favorite spots on the Hogwarts grounds. It was by the lake, on the side furthest from the castle. There was a little section of rocks that jutted out into the water. If you faced west, you could see a perfect sunset. He had come out here once to see the sunrise, but it was partly blocked by the forest. When they got there, the sun was just beginning to set, so they had a picnic dinner while they watched it. Draco was also hungry, and fortunately, the house elves had fixed enough for both of them.
When they had enough, they had fun trying to levitate the plates back into the basket. All of Draco's made it, but only one of Adina's was just right. It was kind of cold out there by the water after dark, so they had moved closer to one another. He had his arm around her and she had her head on his shoulder. The sun was sunk half way down and there was a flock of birds, no, bats actually, flying in front of it. She sighed and he looked down at her. She felt him looking at her and turned to him. She smiled at his cute shyness at showing affection and he blushed. She turned slightly and wrapped her arms around him. Slowly, he did the same and even more slowly, they closed their eyes and once again found themselves with their lips almost touching. Each of them thought that it would really happen this time, and they felt the warmth of each others lips begin to touch their own.
And then they both found them selves sopping wet, and dodging bats and tentacles. Unnoticed, the flock of bats had flown closer on their way to the forest. The giant Squid, however, was watching and when they were close enough, he swatted at them with his tentacles, sending a rush of water over Draco's favorite spot.
They scrambled onto solid ground, and collapsed, laughing. The mood, however, was broken and they walked back towards the castle. Adina said ", If that happens every time we go to that rock, then I'm never going there again!"
"Well, maybe we'll try a less wet favorite spot."
"How about tomorrow?"
"OK."
"Well, we should put on dry clothes, so I'll see you tomorrow, OK?"
"Sounds good to me. Just don't tell everyone else."
"Why not?"
"They won't like us getting together. They hate me, don't trust me, hate me, would do anything to get me expelled, hate me, despise my father, and did I mention that they hate me?"
"Yeah, I think I heard that one once before. Why, pray tell, do they hate you so much?"
"Because up until my father was on the run, I did everything that I could to get them into trouble and otherwise make their lives miserable."
"Why?"
"Well, mostly because my father had been telling me my whole life who to be friends with and who to hate. Their families were obviously on the hate list, as they were against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Who?"
"I'm only going to say this once and please don't say it yourself, OK? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is Lord Voldemort. Most witches and wizards don't say it, even his followers. The only ones I know who do are Professor Dumbledore and Potter."
"Why else did you make their lives miserable?"
"What?"
"You said mostly because of what your father said. Why else?"
"Never mind. I'm going to change now. See you later."
"Draco Malfoy you answer me right now or else I'm never talking to you again!"
"I don't want to."
"Just remember that next time you want to meet us in the library for homework help,"
"I don't want to tell you because it's a stupid reason."
"Fine. Be that way. I'm leaving." Adina almost yelled, unable to figure out why she was angry with him. She turned and walked away.
But before she was out of earshot, she thought she heard Draco say quietly ", I envied their lives." She looked back, but he had already gone into the dungeons.
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The next morning at breakfast, something odd happened. Dumbledore received an owl, not very odd in itself, but after reading it, handed his letter to McGonagall, Snape, and Professor Lupin, who had returned to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. They all four rushed out, and before they had time to wonder why, two more owls flew in. One went to Draco and the other flew to Hermione. She read the letter, and then handed it to Harry. He said ", Come on. Dungeons."
Adina caught Draco's eye as they ran out, and saw that he too was getting up to leave the Great Hall. All eyes were on the five sixth years as they followed the four teachers out.
When they reached the entrance to the dungeons, Lupin and 'Snuffles' were waiting for them. Sirius hadn't let his true identity be known to Adina, so he could go with her when they went outside. They two men led the five teenagers to a small, locked and guarded room in the farthest corner from the stairs they used. Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Lupin, and Madame Pomfrey were waiting for them. Inside the cell, an odd combination of squeaks, moans, and ravings about 'masters' and 'failure'. Wormtail had woken.
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Transfiguration was easy. McGonagall had them all take notes on the important points of human transfiguration as it differs from animagi. Study of Ancient Runes was next, and that was quite fun. Professor Davins had them partner up and translate simple rhymes. They had a break next, which was lucky because the next class was potions and they had to tell Adina about the finer points of being a Gryffindor in one of Snapes' classes, even though they or Draco would try cover up for her mistakes. But it turned out to be okay because Snape decided to ignore Adina completely and concentrate on Neville Longbottom, another Gryffindor sixth year. Until Harry and Ron's potion exploded. They were busy instructing Adina on how to cut tuberblossom roots. At least Harry was. Ron was trying to get the pus from the tuberblossoms off his hands. It would stink for weeks and could eventually melt his skin if left on for too long. Crabbe and Goyle, taking advantage of the unattended potion, decided to add crushed beetles and porcupine quills to try to get Draco's attention. He had been ignoring them all day and they hoped that an attack on the group of Gryffindors he hated the most would change that.
With the new ingredients, the simple cleaning potion they were making turned into an odd sort of shrinking formula. Which had very funny results on the two gorilla-sized Slytherins. They were about the size of Harry before Snape had figured out what happened. And for once, he was unable to punish any Gryffindors for the failed potion. Since even his favorite student admitted that he saw Crabbe and Goyle sabotage the potion. And Draco Malfoy would do anything to get Potter in trouble. So he took off ten points for leaving it unattended.
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Hermione was first to get to the library because she skipped dinner to do homework. Draco got there next, but wandered around on his own until the other three got there. Adina had talked about Hagrid's class all through dinner and was still going on about how cool it was that she had been right all along and for once she could prove it. " If you think that was cool, wait till Hagrid has some 'interesting' creatures." Draco said, sitting down with them.
"What do you meant?"
"Three years ago, he had his first class and he brought out Hippogriffs. One of them attacked me and I almost died. My father tried to get it killed and Hagrid sacked, but something went wrong. And I know you three had something to do with it." The last part was directed at Harry.
"Sod off, Malfoy. Buckbeak didn't do anything like that."
"He did so! I still have a scar. And I will not sod off. In case you have forgotten, Weasley, you will be seeing me every day for the rest of the year."
"Both of you stop it now. If I have to look at him every day, then I'm not going to listen to you two fight. I never thought I would say this, but let's hurry up and start on our homework."
"Finally. I'm going to start with Arithmancy, so you all can do whatever."
"What's a Hippogriff?"
"Here. Look it up." Said Ron, handing her a small red book.
So they all sat fairly quietly for the next two hours, and for once both Harry and Ron had all their homework finished as early as Hermione. And for the next few weeks, that was their nightly routine.
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"You let her escape."
"I'm sorry, master. It was an unforeseen interference. I did not think-"
"Exactly."
"-that Dumbledore would have found out yet. They must have known that we had found her. There must be a spy, Master."
"There is no spy. All of the Death Eaters involved have been subjected to Veritaserum. You have failed me Wormtail. One more time and your time will be up. Get the girl or die trying."
"Yes, master. You will not be sorry this time. I will not fail, I promise you. I-"
"Go."
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Adina had tried to not be the center of attention, she really had. But that's exactly where she always seemed to find herself, especially now. Everyone wanted to see the odd new girl who could do very little magic, had purple hair, didn't even get into trouble with Snape, and was forbidden to discuss her past and reasons for being there. So it wasn't all that difficult for Wormtail to figure out exactly who she was.
The Gryffindors were widely known for being as inseparable as the marauders were, even more since a fourth addition to their group. And most knew that no one was welcome to accompany them to visit Hagrid, as they did almost every evening, and every other chance they got. Hagrid was ecstatic to show off his 'interesting' creatures to someone who was as interested as he was.
The only problem was, they usually didn't make it back till after dark. And Wormtail, who had been watching them for almost two weeks, knew this. Thus crafted the perfect plan to capture the girl. Except for one thing. He didn't know Adina was telekinetic.
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He was watching them walk across the grounds on their way back from Hagrids, as he always did. He didn't know why, but he always wanted to be where Adina was. That was the reason he asked for what he did in return for not telling the school about her. He wasn't sure what it was that he felt, for the poor boy had never felt love. But when he saw a man jump out from thin air and stun Harry, Ron, and Hermione, he felt panicked and lost and helpless. He couldn't think of anything he could do but get to her. Fortunately, he ran into Professor McGonnagal on his way out.
But by the time they got there, all that was left to do was wake up the three stunned teenagers. And tie up a knocked out Wormtail, whom Ron identified when he woke up. Adina, in her scared and upset state, had managed to make several heavy things fly at Wormtail, including the Whomping Willow, which was very angry at being up-rooted. It had begun, true to its name, whomping the first solid thing it could. Unfortunately for him, it was Wormtail. Adina was so tired out by her efforts (telekinetic activity is very draining.) that she passed out and had to be carried to the hospital wing. Draco volunteered to do this, as McGonagall had to escort the three un-stunned students back and conjure a stretcher for the unconscious attacker.
The next day, Draco skipped the nightly meeting after dinner in favor of seeing Adina alone. All four of them had gone down during lunch, but Madame Pomfrey insisted on keeping her for another day. She was worried there might be side effects from the telekinesis that hadn't show themselves yet. And for the fact that Adina was still tired from it. She had never done that much at once before, or had been able to move things heavy as a full-grown tree. But he had promised her he'd be back when the others couldn't hear. So he came.
The nurse told him that if Adina didn't get any rest she couldn't be let out tomorrow and she wouldn't be able to have any more visitors. This wasn't a train station, it was a hospital and she wished that people would be able to get that through their heads.
Draco nodded in the right places, and was allowed in after promising he wouldn't stay long. When he first walked in, she was asleep. He thought that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and didn't want to wake her. He sat down in a chair by the wall, but seconds later, there was a loud tapping sound at the window. Draco jumped to let the snowy owl in, but it was too late. She had already woken up. He said he was sorry for waking her up as he untied the letter from the owls' leg. It was addressed to Adina, so he scooted his chair up to the bed while she read it. She was quite used to owl post now, but had quite a shock her first morning when hundreds of them came swooping into the Great Hall.
It was from Harry. The three of them wanted to know if Madame Pomfrey would let her out tomorrow and would she please send a reply with Hedwig. She borrowed a quill from Draco and answered below Harry's writing. His sloppy writing looked very neat next to hers, because she wasn't used to writing with a quill yet.
After she sent the owl off, she turned to Draco and said ", It's all true, isn't it. About my family. And Voldemort. That guy was working for him, wasn't he?"
Draco shuddered involuntarily at hearing Voldemort's name spoken aloud. Almost all wizards and witches did. The only ones he knew that didn't were Dumbledore and Harry Potter. "Yeah."
"I didn't want to believe it. I wanted it to be a dream that I could wake from whenever I wanted."
"That's the same thing I want with my life. My situation is much different from yours, but maybe as bad. My mother seems to have no feelings, or any thoughts of her own. She does what my father tells her to do when he tells her to do it. When he isn't giving her an order, she disappears. I don't even think she's ever hugged me." He didn't know why he was telling her all this. Maybe it was to keep her mind off her family.
"My father is a Death Eater and has always wanted me to follow in his footsteps. But his lord was unsatisfied with my magical ability when my father took me to get the dark mark burned into my arm. His lord wouldn't take me. He told me I wasn't worthy of the name Malfoy and hasn't spoken to me since. Not that it's a great loss. Whenever he did talk to me, it was an order or another curse or dark arts spell to learn. I don't have any brothers or sisters, and I never met any other relatives. My fathers' side dies out quickly from service to their lord. My father decided my mother shouldn't have anything to do with her family after she became a Malfoy, and as far as I know, she hasn't."
At this point, he stopped. The horrible childhood memories were too much. Adina saw the sad, lonely look in his eyes. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him in his first-ever hug. He didn't know what to do at first, but he realized she was crying. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. He stroked her hair with one hand and realized it was really several shades of purple, ranging from plum to almost pink.
She cried on his shoulder for almost fifteen minutes before her almost silent sobs turned into shakes. Still not really knowing what to do, he pushed her back onto the bed and sat next to her. She moved closer to him, and he pulled the blanket around her. She started to say something, but apparently changed her mind because she shut her mouth again. He was sorry he told her about his father now; she probably thought he was one of the ones who were trying to kill her. But that was impossible. The Ministry of Magic was after his father and had been for two months when Lucius Malfoy put the Cruciatus curse on his only son in the middle of Knockturn Alley. Draco had told him he didn't want to learn another dark arts spell. Lucius was due to serve seventeen life sentences in Azkaban. But that's not what had made her cry. She had realized how much she had taken her family for granted and now that she knew how important they really were, they were gone.
Draco blinked several times to calm the tears that had been threatening to spill over. He succeeded and looked down at Adina as she turned to look at him. As they stared into each other's eyes, they both forgot about all the sad things they had been thinking. Both suddenly became very nervous and their hearts started beating faster. Draco pulled the blanket tighter around her with one hand and let the other slide around to the back of her neck. She put both hands on his chest and tilted her head sideways. Draco tilted his head the other way and both closed their eyes. Their lips were almost touching when Madame Pomfrey said very loudly from outside Adina's private room ", Mr. Malfoy, are you still in there?"
They barley had enough time to jump apart before the nurse busted in. "Out, boy! Out!"
************************************
Adina was let out of the hospital wing during the second class on Monday, which was Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. She had put them to work fixing the hole where the Whomping Willow was supposed to be. The tunnel to the Shrieking Shack was all caved in and had to be repaired so the weight of the Willow wouldn't collapse it.
Harry was first to see her, and told the other two, who had been inside the hole. She waved to them, and then went to see Professor Sprout. Professor Sprout told her it was no use getting dirty now, there was only ten minutes left, so Adina spent the rest of the time practicing Wingardium Leviosa and Accio charms for next class.
*****************************
Adina and Draco both skipped dinner, both trying to get to the library before the others. But Hermione had also skipped dinner and wanted to sit in the library and do a potions essay. A particularly nasty three foot one that was due day after tomorrow. So they sat down with her and started working.
They each had almost two feet done when Harry and Ron showed up. They groaned when they saw everyone was already working. They copied Adina's and then they all started on a transfiguration essay, which was only half as long. Then they each only had one essay left. Ron and Harry had muggle studies and Draco, Adina, and Hermione had Ancient Runes.
After they had split into two groups, a couple ravenclaws came over to Harry and Ron. They all wanted to know exactly why the Gryffindors were hanging out with Malfoy. The two boys looked at each other and realized that they couldn't find any sort of believable answer. Harry finally said ", He agreed to help Adina with Potions."
The Ravenclaws looked slightly suspicious, but they went back to their own table anyway. Ron said that they would have to get together and come up with a believable story before they left the library that day. So after the two groups got their homework done, and decided that they had to base the 'real' story on the weak one that Harry gave to the Ravenclaws. They decided that they would sat Draco was helping with their Potion homework, and in return, they were helping him with Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures. That done, Ron wanted to get away from homework and Malfoy, so he went to the Owlery to write to Fred and George, two of his older brothers. Harry went with him, so he could order stuff from the joke shop that they owned and operated. Hermione wanted to stay longer and get some books for a little light reading.
Draco showed Adina where Hogwarts: A History was at- she had been wanting to read it and everyone had left their copies at home since Hermione knew it all by heart- and she checked it out. They then left the library together and headed towards the Gryffindor dorms. Halfway there, Adina asked Draco if she could still get something to eat, since she missed dinner. He told he'd gladly take her to the kitchens, if she promised not to tell the others. They didn't know that he'd been spying on them in their third year when they had gone there to see Dobby, his former house-elf. They turned and went down the steps to the dungeons. He led her to a painting of a bowl of fruit and showed her how to open it by tickling the pear.
She was amazed by how the house elves just wanted to give away the food to them. She could ask for anything and poof, there it was. She asked them to put some into a bag so she could take it outside, and before could even think about what she wanted; they had made up the perfect picnic lunch. She asked Draco if he wanted to join her, and they left the kitchens carrying the basket.
Draco took her to one of his favorite spots on the Hogwarts grounds. It was by the lake, on the side furthest from the castle. There was a little section of rocks that jutted out into the water. If you faced west, you could see a perfect sunset. He had come out here once to see the sunrise, but it was partly blocked by the forest. When they got there, the sun was just beginning to set, so they had a picnic dinner while they watched it. Draco was also hungry, and fortunately, the house elves had fixed enough for both of them.
When they had enough, they had fun trying to levitate the plates back into the basket. All of Draco's made it, but only one of Adina's was just right. It was kind of cold out there by the water after dark, so they had moved closer to one another. He had his arm around her and she had her head on his shoulder. The sun was sunk half way down and there was a flock of birds, no, bats actually, flying in front of it. She sighed and he looked down at her. She felt him looking at her and turned to him. She smiled at his cute shyness at showing affection and he blushed. She turned slightly and wrapped her arms around him. Slowly, he did the same and even more slowly, they closed their eyes and once again found themselves with their lips almost touching. Each of them thought that it would really happen this time, and they felt the warmth of each others lips begin to touch their own.
And then they both found them selves sopping wet, and dodging bats and tentacles. Unnoticed, the flock of bats had flown closer on their way to the forest. The giant Squid, however, was watching and when they were close enough, he swatted at them with his tentacles, sending a rush of water over Draco's favorite spot.
They scrambled onto solid ground, and collapsed, laughing. The mood, however, was broken and they walked back towards the castle. Adina said ", If that happens every time we go to that rock, then I'm never going there again!"
"Well, maybe we'll try a less wet favorite spot."
"How about tomorrow?"
"OK."
"Well, we should put on dry clothes, so I'll see you tomorrow, OK?"
"Sounds good to me. Just don't tell everyone else."
"Why not?"
"They won't like us getting together. They hate me, don't trust me, hate me, would do anything to get me expelled, hate me, despise my father, and did I mention that they hate me?"
"Yeah, I think I heard that one once before. Why, pray tell, do they hate you so much?"
"Because up until my father was on the run, I did everything that I could to get them into trouble and otherwise make their lives miserable."
"Why?"
"Well, mostly because my father had been telling me my whole life who to be friends with and who to hate. Their families were obviously on the hate list, as they were against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Who?"
"I'm only going to say this once and please don't say it yourself, OK? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is Lord Voldemort. Most witches and wizards don't say it, even his followers. The only ones I know who do are Professor Dumbledore and Potter."
"Why else did you make their lives miserable?"
"What?"
"You said mostly because of what your father said. Why else?"
"Never mind. I'm going to change now. See you later."
"Draco Malfoy you answer me right now or else I'm never talking to you again!"
"I don't want to."
"Just remember that next time you want to meet us in the library for homework help,"
"I don't want to tell you because it's a stupid reason."
"Fine. Be that way. I'm leaving." Adina almost yelled, unable to figure out why she was angry with him. She turned and walked away.
But before she was out of earshot, she thought she heard Draco say quietly ", I envied their lives." She looked back, but he had already gone into the dungeons.
*****************************
The next morning at breakfast, something odd happened. Dumbledore received an owl, not very odd in itself, but after reading it, handed his letter to McGonagall, Snape, and Professor Lupin, who had returned to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. They all four rushed out, and before they had time to wonder why, two more owls flew in. One went to Draco and the other flew to Hermione. She read the letter, and then handed it to Harry. He said ", Come on. Dungeons."
Adina caught Draco's eye as they ran out, and saw that he too was getting up to leave the Great Hall. All eyes were on the five sixth years as they followed the four teachers out.
When they reached the entrance to the dungeons, Lupin and 'Snuffles' were waiting for them. Sirius hadn't let his true identity be known to Adina, so he could go with her when they went outside. They two men led the five teenagers to a small, locked and guarded room in the farthest corner from the stairs they used. Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Lupin, and Madame Pomfrey were waiting for them. Inside the cell, an odd combination of squeaks, moans, and ravings about 'masters' and 'failure'. Wormtail had woken.
