Be English

When I went to the Great Hall for lunch, Harry was already sitting at the Gryffindor table. I flashed him a smile, then took my seat next to Draco.

He gazed at me out of the corner of his eye. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing's wrong. Why would anything be wrong?"

Draco studied me for a minute. "Something's different." His eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, Sweetie, it's all right."

He smiled to himself for a minute, then froze; his eyes narrowed further. "Sweetie? Ame, tell me what's going on--or I'll find Potter and ask him myself."

"What makes you think my being extra-perky has anything to do with Harry?"

He gave me one of those looks that clearly stated, "Do you think I'm bloody stupid?" and I shrugged.

"Draco, nothing's going on. I'm just in a good mood." At least on the outside.

"Are you sure? Because you know I'll find out eventually."

"Seriously. I have all my homework done. And . . . Daddy's being not so bad and . . . And I've made several good new friends. Like you," I added with a grin.

His eyes were just like slits in his face. "Friends. Who else-- . . . Who are your other--" He cleared his throat. "Friends?"

"Hermione . . . And Ron . . . And Harry . . ." Draco blanched. "And . . . I've met some other people too."

"Like . . .?"

"Well . . . I dunno . . ." I picked at my food guiltily.

In the tone of voice that told me not to think he was stupid, Draco said, "Are you sure there's nothing else?"

"Mhm," I said, keeping my eyes on my plate.

"Nothing more . . . with Harry?"

I shook my head, but I must have blushed, because he said, "I knew it. What's going on?"

"Nothing."

He returned to eating his lunch, but didn't speak. He had one of those really determined facial expressions. I must admit, I kept sneaking glances at the Gryffindor table.

After a bit, Draco asked exasperatedly, "Why does he keep staring at you?"

I looked over at him. "Who?"

"Potter," he spat.

"He does not; shut up."

"Look, there. He is again."

I looked up toward Harry to find that he was, indeed, looking at me. We both looked down to our plates and I could feel heat rushing to my face.

"Were you looking at him earlier?" Draco asked accusingly.

"No . . ." He raised an eyebrow at me. "I've . . . just . . . been scanning the room . . ." He looked more skeptical than ever. "Okay, so I was looking at him--big deal."

He sighed. Then he stood to leave. I looked up to him. "Draco--"

His head whipped around toward me. "*What?*"

My eyes widened and I felt them fill with those dreaded tears. "Nothing . . ."

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous, that's all. Are you sure there wasn't something you wanted to tell me?"

"No. It's fine," I said quietly.

Eyes sad, he asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," I said, standing up. I walked out into the entry. Later I found out that I'd left the door wide open--which led to some sort of interesting things, but I'll get to those.

"Ame?"

I turned around, very aware of my tears (and everything else), and said, "Hi Harry."

"Hey. What's wrong?"

I sighed. "Everything's just so weird."

Frowning, he said, "Everything? What do you mean?"

"I don't know. It's just the whole . . . never been to a real school before thing . . . and I'm not used to so many people at once--at all . . . and . . ."

"And?"

"Well . . . I guess . . . I was kind of . . . Looking at--someone . . . and Draco got a little . . . snippy."

His frown became angry. "I saw that. He had no right to snap at you like that."

"I know, but . . . He's got a lot on his mind. It's okay. I just . . . have never really been snapped at--except by Daddy of course."

Harry laughed. "I'm sure even Sna--your father couldn't snap at you that often."

"He doesn't." Aw, he made me smile. Yay. Unfortunately, I heard that Virginia girl (who I now knew was Ginny Weasley) calling for him. "I think you're being paged."

He groaned (aw). "Yeah, I guess so. I'll . . . see you later though, all right?"

I nodded. Of course he'd see me later. I *knew* I'd see him later. Hehe. Just kidding (sort of). Anyways, after about five minutes of sitting on the floor against the wall, head buried in my arms, I heard more footsteps. I didn't look up until they stopped directly in front of me and I heard my father asking, "Are you okay?"

I looked up and he gasped, realizing who he was talking to. He was by my side in a second, giving me a hug. "What's wrong, Princess?"

"Nothing. I'm all right."

He composed himself a little more. "Amethyst, I'm your father. I know you better than that."

I couldn't help but sigh. "I'm just confused. And . . . overwhelmed a little, I guess." He still just watched me. "Really. I'll be all right later."

"Ame, if there's something I should know, please tell me, now."

"Really. It's just all . . . crazy. It'll be fine."

"Ame."

"It's just Draco snapped at me, and--"

"He what?"

"Daddy, you know he's got a lot on his mind. And he was getting more upset, and he snapped at me. He didn't mean to. But . . . it's just . . . I've never really *been* snapped at before--not really--and that with all the other things . . . it's just--"

"Other things? What other things?"

He looked like he was mentally making a list: Kill Draco, torture anyone (really, *anyone*), and never let Amethyst come to school *ever* again.

"Well . . . girl stuff with . . . you know . . . boy . . . things . . ."

He then looked as if he didn't want to know--which is what I was going for. "Is there anything else?"

"No. Just . . . the whole new at school thing."

"Well I don't want you to worry about anything. I'll take care of it, I promise."

My eyes narrowed in suspicion and I stood as he did. "Daddy, what are you gonna do?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it yet."

"Daddy, please tell me before you do anything."

"Of course I will." Yeah right, and I'm the Queen.

I glared at him. "Daddy. Seriously."

He sighed. "I'll talk with you before I make any big decisions."

I sighed then; it wasn't much, but it was all I'd get, and I knew it. "Fine. Please, *please* do."

There was a long pause as I contemplated whether or not to ask him my next question. I ended up risking it.

"Daddy . . . you aren't . . . gonna say anything to Harry, right?"

Dad's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think I would say something to him?"

"Uh . . . I . . . was just wondering . . ."

"Princess."

"I was just wondering. You really . . . don't seem to like him much, that's all."

"For obvious reasons," he said grimly. I wondered if I was supposed to hear that--after I figured out what he was talking about, that is.

However, at the time, I *didn't* know what he was talking about, so I said, "What?"

"Nothing."

"No, what?"

"Let's just say I liked him much more before this year began."

"Why?"

"Nothing," he said with a sigh. "I'd better be getting to class, Princess. I'll see you later."

He kissed my forehead and left. Now I was more confused than ever. Great. I sighed. Then I heard faint laughter, and someone asking incredulously, "Princess?"

That was when I realized that the doors to the Great Hall were wide open. Apparently, Hogwarts had been having some entertainment.

I fought down a blush with a scowl. "What are you all looking at?"

The hum of the Hall silenced. Again.

"Well it is lunchtime. Eat. Drink. Be merry. Be English! Have some tea and scones, or whatever it is you people eat! It isn't dinner and a movie!"

Everyone looked at me like I was trying to tell them magic didn't exist or something, and I rolled my eyes and buried my head back in my arms. Crazy people.