Chapter Six: The Confrontation and Quidditch
Two hours later as the happy group went down to the Great Hall for lunch discussing what happened in class, they got an unexpected and quite unwelcome surprise. Lucius Malfoy was walking with his son and…Dinah? Everyone stopped and there was a very tense and uncomfortable moment where they all just stared. Then Dinah stepped forward. She looked upset.
"Ava, I'm disgusted with you! How dare you ever lay a hand on Draco!" Ava looked flabbergasted. She didn't know why Dinah was ripping into her. Especially in the defense of this jackass.
"Why would you care Dinah? He was running his mouth." Dinah blanched.
"What? Draco would never talk about me!"
"How would you know that? You just met him yesterday!"
"Because he's my BOYFRIEND!" Ava's jaw dropped. She looked stunned at this disgusting display. Malfoy looked absolutely smug. His father looked quite amused.
"With this piece of trash?" Ava's comment wiped the looks on both the senior and younger Malfoy's faces. Draco's face was flushed.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but the only piece of trash I see around here is you." Harry didn't know why but he felt the sudden urge to punch Malfoy and he stepped forward, fists clenched.
"Dinah, are you going to let him talk about her like that. Your sister?" Hermione asked logically. Harry was looking at Dinah with a look of anger on his face.
"Maybe Draco is right even though I don't know if it's any of your business." This drew a gasp from both Ava and Hermione. "She sure has been acting like trash with her disgusting behavior." This made the elder Malfoy smirk. Ava saw a mysterious glint in Dinah's eye that was never there before. But it seemed to last only for a split second. Maybe she imagined it. Maybe she didn't. "Ava, our father would be ashamed of your behavior. I'm sure he would be delighted if he heard about my relationship with Draco. The Malfoy's are a very distinguished and prominent wizarding family."
"Why are you talking about Dad like he's dead? And I'm sure he won't be pleased when he hears that you're mixing with a Death Eater's son! Voldemort is after us and you're with the son of his right hand man. What's gotten into you?" Lucius' face contorted with fury.
"Now you listen hear you little…" Dinah looked at him quickly.
"Mr. Malfoy, pay her no mind. We all know you were cleared of those charges years ago. Ava just likes to believe the rumor mill." Dinah glared at her sister. "Ava, I don't want to be associated with you if you are going to behave like this. That's all I have to say to you," she said coldly. Dinah then changed instantly as she simpered over Malfoy. "Aww, Draco. Let's take you to the hospital Wing and get you taken care of. Mr. Malfoy, I do extend my deepest regret at my sister's behavior. I hope this will not interfere with my relationship with your son?" Harry, Ron and Hermione watched this scene as the Malfoy's and Dinah walked away. They looked at Ava. Her cheeks were flushed with anger and she was watching Dinah's retreating back. Nobody knew what to do or say. Harry cleared his throat.
"Er.. Ava?" She looked up at him, that strange look in her eyes. Harry hesitated. "Um, it's time to go to lunch," he finished lamely. Ava nodded her head. "Will you be alright?" Harry asked, awkwardly putting his arm around her upon Hermione's silent urging.
"I wish," Ava said leaning her head on Harry's shoulder, which pleasantly shocked him. "She seemed so… different. Something's up with her and I don't know what."
"Well, maybe it's a phase," Ron said, making a weak attempt at a joke. Hermione hit him. "Hey! It's what my mom says," he hissed at her.
"I'm sure she's just feeling a little isolated with being away from your father so she's acting out," Hermione suggested.
"I guess so. But it's just so strange how she does a complete turnaround as soon as we set foot in Diagon Alley. She was extremely curious about Knockturn Alley. A little too curious if you ask me. It doesn't look like a good place." Harry, Hermione, and Ron all exchanged dark looks. They all knew how dodgy Knockturn Alley was, none better than Harry. He remembered all the shops devoted to the Dark Arts. He knew it wasn't good if Dinah was really interested in that place. But he couldn't tell Ava that.
"That's because it's dodgy," Ron said. "You don't ever want to go there. But don't worry; my brothers Fred and George were always interested in Knockturn Alley. But then again, they're nutters." Ava said nothing as they walked in the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall was handing out sign-up sheets to everyone at the table. As Ava sat down at the table, she was handed something that drove Dinah temporarily out of her mind.
"Quidditch! Oh my God, I love Quidditch! I would love to play for Gryffindor!" This made Harry choke on his beef stew. Ron hit him on the back and bits of carrot and beef flew out of Harry's mouth.
"You love Quidditch?" As Ava nodded her head vigorously, Harry looked like there wasn't anything quite like her. "I'm Quidditch captain and we're looking for a new Keeper. Would you like to try out?"
"Sure! I'd love to! When can I try out?" Her sadness seemed to melt away as she bubbled with excitement. Her face shone and Harry was smitten.
"Saturday the Quidditch Pitch is free so if that's good…"
"That's great! Thanks Harry!" She smiled at him and he grinned back. Ron and Hermione both smiled too. Hermione tugged Ron close to her and said,
"Can you see how absolutely smitten they are? It's adorable!"
"Yeah, but Harry's scared fartless at the thought of asking her out. He'll never do it."
"That's where we come in," Hermione said, smiling devilishly. Ron grinned. Her enthusiasm was contagious.
"Well, I'm in." She looked at him strangely for a moment.
"Did you just say 'scared fartless'?" Ron just shrugged and Hermione shook her head.
End Chapter Six