Disclaimer: This story is based on the characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
The Serpent's Pet
By: Crystal Megan
A/N: [Draco/Cho] One meeting in the cabin of the Hogwarts Express leads to a day in Hogsmeade to a night at the Astronomy Tower to more; all through the way, the two use each other to get what they want. . .But what if they start wanting each other in the end?
Ch. 2: More Morning Madness
A few moments later that had felt like an eternity to me, since after all, Ravenclaws do need mental exercises (that's where homework comes in handy), I could hear the screech, and the slow movement of the Hogwart's Express coming to an end, and I sighed happily. I was back at school.
It wasn't that I hated my home, it was really nice, and a great place, but my family could be so overbearing at times. My mum, and dad stressed how important it was for me to marry a nice young oriental boy, settle down, and be a good, and loving wife. Oh, and a good, loving mother, too. But I wanted to put my intelligence to good use. I was a Ravenclaw with wit, and brains, why should my talent go to waste? So Hogwarts was a sanctuary to me. No, it was more than that. It was my real home.
I walked out of the cabin, and walked with the steady stream of students, noting that the most were Gryffindors, and were shooting me nasty looks. I blushed, and felt a surge of anger. What had Harry said? Or was it Draco? What was the rumor? Who started it? I sighed feeling hopeless from the lack of real friends that I had. I guess…that was why I wanted Harry so badly. I knew he wanted to be more than friends, even though I just wanted him as a friend, but I wanted him, no needed him, that I would do whatever to get him: no matter the cost.
I finally got off the crowded train, and felt being pulled by one of my Ravenclaw friends that was hugging me, asking me why I didn't owl her, and how happy she was to see me. I felt myself being led reluctantly by her to the carriages. I heard a scratchy scream fill the air, and heard the clear ring in my ears, then realized that it was I screeching hysterically.
I saw monster like horses that were black as the midnight sky, ribs poking out like they were starving, but I doubted it since they looked dead, as if they had come back from the grave, and had bloody red eyes that were looking evilly at me, since I was the only one staring at them with hysterical screams coming from my wide, and stretched mouth. One of them snorted, and swished their dirty stringy mane that covered part of their stretched out skin.
"What is it Cho?" Elizabeth, the one Ravenclaw friend that had been pulling me along asked frantically. I knew she was there; I could see her brunette hair catching the light, her black ink eyes filled with concern, and her small mouth working it self to death with questions directed to me, but my mind couldn't register her. All I was concerned about was the death like horses that were in front of the carriages.
"It's a thestral…" I heard the words slip from my open mouth once I had stopped screaming.
"But Cho," Elizabeth said, her arms around my shoulders, while looking me in the face when I was looking speechless now at the creatures. "You've never seen anyone die, or have someone close to you die like Harry or Luna."
"Have I?" I asked bitterly, and looked up at my pale friend.
"Ms. Chang, isn' it?" I heard the deep voice of a man, and looked at the direction where it came from, but only saw an enormous large moleskin coat, and a black old sweater underneath. I looked up, and saw Hagrid, the school Game Keeper, and stood frozen. "Anythin' a matter?" he said.
"I just…I saw the thestrals you were talking about, Sir," I mumbled, and felt Elizabeth's hands around my forearms, pulling me away from the half giant, as politely as she could.
"If there is anything I have most defiantly agree with the Slytherins, is that idiot," Elizabeth pointed her chin back the disappearing figure of Hagrid near the lake with the first years. "Is that he's the most terrible teacher next to Umbridge. At least that woman taught us lessons that were useful. Not some rubbish like screwerts!"
"Yes," I murmured. "He is an idiot."
"Well, let us hurry! You want a carriage to ourselves don't you?" Elizabeth said hurriedly, and started to sprint with me jogging clumsily with her tight grip on my arm.
We couldn't find an empty carriage after many looks, and finally got to an almost empty one, but with only one problem: Draco Malfoy.
"Elizabeth, no," I mumbled, but it was more to myself, because Elizabeth asked Malfoy if we could sit there.
"Ravenclaws? I thought your house hated us, Slytherins," Malfoy drawled. I guessed he either had brushed off our earlier encounter or was ignoring it, along with me. I ignored his cold demeanor, and followed Elizabeth's act, and acted polite.
We had all ready taken a seat, considering the fact that Ravenclaws were able to talk to Slytherins, or at least be by them without blowing a cork like the Gryffindors. Or Harry…
Elizabeth shrugged, her being the quiet intellect always. I was the debating one so of course I was the one to answer the arrogant Slytherin…or another arrogant Slytherin would be better to say.
"We agree on plenty of things such as your house, but there are given things such as," I didn't know what to say. I wanted to say Voldemort like Harry always did, brave hearted Harry, but I knew I was not like him…I wasn't as brave or noble as him. So I backed out, and went the coward path. "You-know-who, and his followers, that we strongly do not support. We stand neutral. That is all."
Malfoy raised a perfect pale blonde eyebrow at me, and sneered. "I'm hoping along with my many other peers from my house, that your house of Ravenclaw see who is the right side, and who should be joined."
I glared at him. I managed my most stubborn, yet cool reply I could muster. "And us Ravenclaws, pray that day never come."
Malfoy glared back at me, and I could sense Elizabeth's uptight manner now. "When there's two sides, you'll be surprised at how many of your housemates will run to our cause."
"This one housemate wont," I said sharply.
I heard Elizabeth's voice next, and was surprised, then angry at her reluctant voice. "And me."
I was angry with Elizabeth, and I would talk with her, all right, demand or debate, later on. "I didn't sit here to-,"
Next thing I knew, Morag's fashionable, or at least what he thought fashionable, and trendy, gel spiked Muggle hair styled head popped into the carriage after a quickly opened door. "'ello Love!" Morag said to Elizabeth, who in turn flushed a pretty pink. "I found an empty carriage for us, hurry though!"
Elizabeth turned to me with her large ink eyes looking pleadingly at me. "Go ahead, Elizabeth, after all, Ravenclaws aren't know for their loyalty with-,"
But Elizabeth had scrambled out of the carriage with Morag, and had jumped out, Morag catching her. I slammed the carriage door shut, and resumed to my seat. I crossed my legs, and glared out the window, while hearing my traitor's friend's giggles, and flirting with her boyfriend. How could she leave me with him?
"So, Ms. Chang," I heard Malfoy's voice drawl slyly. "Fate just puts us together, wouldn't you agree? First this morning I called on you, and now later on, here you are."
I didn't say anything since there had been, after all an empty carriage that Elizabeth, and I didn't see. It was our fault for not checking every single carriage, but the ones in the back were usually empty, but not anymore.
"I didn't choose to be here because I wanted to, Mr. Malfoy," I concluded coldly.
"Whatever the lady says," Malfoy drawled. "But would you like to hear what I had to say before we were interrupted by-,"
Then suddenly, someone opened the door. Hermione. I saw her looking flushed, and tired. Her hair was even messier, and her breathing was ragged. I wondered what was wrong, and I was on full alert for her news. "Cho," she gasped, and breathed frantically, like she had asthma, and began again. "There's Death Eaters!"
A/N: I'm sorry about any misspellings like screwarts, but amazingly, I couldn't find them in the Magical Creatures in the Lexicon. I didn't have enough time to find the word in the HP books, since my mom's been getting really mad at me lately. Don't forget! 10 reviews or more!