When Harry woke up a few hours later, he awoke knowing something that
he shouldn't. He looked over at the bed across from his. Malfoy was
already awake and had left the room. Harry pulled himself up, and went
downstairs where most of the group was talking excitedly and having a
bit of a breakfast that was more like lunch. Ron went to the bottom of
the steps to meet him.
"About time you woke up. We've been wondering when you were going to come down. Seamus suggest we go and get you, but I told him it might not be a wise idea. We just started eating." he said and walked with Harry to the table. He made eye contact with Malfoy, then both looked away. He'd been engaged in a conversation with Luna Lovegood, obviously not of his own will, as she discussed what her father would be printing in the next edition of The Quibbler.
Harry forced himself to eat something, trying to get the dream he'd had out of his head. He wanted to say something to someone, but he didn't know who to talk to. Normally, he'd tell Ron. But for some reason he didn't think Ron would be the best one to tell with this information. He fancied Hermione and if he found out, the chance of bloodshed would be high. He looked again at Malfoy. He should tell him. He had to tell him, but he couldn't. He was still feeling the anger of the arguement they'd had hours before. The last thing he wanted to do was provoke him or be provoked himself.
After they'd eaten the group reformed back upstairs in Luna, Parvati, and Lavender's room because it was the largest. The girls accioed the beds on top of each other leaving a clearing in the room where they could all stand and discuss their plan. Fred and George said that the Order would be at the manor either that day or the next. Krum and his crew would be there shortly after. They had about a day at the most to practice whatever spells they had before what was left of DA headed off to help. After the meeting, the twins left to rejoin the rest of the order. Fred gave Harry directions on how to get there, and a warning.
"Watch out for the King of Slytherin. You and Dumbledore may trust him, but we never will.
"Just watch your back, okay Harry?" George added, as he grabbed Fred by the arm and dragged him out the door. Harry nodded at them then turned back to the group.
"So we have today. We need to work harder than ever. It should be a bit easier now that we don't have to worry about anyone discovering us. But I don't want a repeat of last year, I don't want anyone to be..." his voice trailed off. There was that sting in his heart again, Sirius. Neville nodded, fully aware of what he was speaking of. Luna gave a slight expression of agreeance before slipping back into her dreamy state, staring out of the second floor window.
"I think our best bet is to just teach them how to defend themselves. Let's not worry about capturing or killing anyone. Leave it to the others." Malfoy said, absentmindely while picking off string and soot from his robe.
"Right. You guys will be in charge of distracting the death eaters while Ron and I go find the others. Use the spells we learned last year and Malfoy here will teach you how to block or avoid being hit."
"I will?"
"Yes... you know the spells, I don't."
"Well what've you been doing the past few years to avoid the Dark Lord?"
"It's been luck. Nor more than that." Harry replied, solomnly.
He didn't want to talk anymore. Being reminded that he would soon be seeing everyone who'd been a part of the ordeals of the previous year brought back a wave of emotions that Harry just wasn't ready to deal with. There had be one other thing on his mind besides rescuing Hermione. He wanted to avenge Sirius' death. He knew it was the only way he'd could be at rest. His first mission was going to be to kill Bellatrix Lestrange. It struck him then that maybe he understood Malfoy a little better than he thought. They both had their own motives, their own reasons for taking a part in this. He did love Hermione, he just had to take care of something first. He looked up at his archenemy as he began walking the group through the basic blocking and shield spells. He caught Malfoy's eye and mouthed;
"We need to talk."
"So basically watch your attacker, you can usually tell when their about to strike. You have to watch their body language. My father for instance was trained in the Martial Arts as well, and it's all about psyche. I wouldn't be suprised if he's taught the others as well. So when you see that you're about to be attacked you can use i Invisico Miselfo/i. You have about thirty seconds in which you'll be invisible. It will confuse your attacker and give you time just enough to get out of the way of the casted spell. Understand? Hey Looney, you even listening?"
Luna snapped out of her trance and smiled at Malfoy, who rolled his eyes. She moved closer to the group. Her hand touched Neville's, and he jumped a bit before blushing. She smiled back at him. They took turns in pairs. The room only allowed enough space for that. They'd cast harmless spells at each other and try to make themselves invisible. They were failing. Seamus turned a bit pale and shadowy, but you could still see him in full. Malfoy started getting annoyed.
"You're not consentrating enough. Try again!"
"Why don't you start us off on something easier? It's a complicated spell." Lavender snapped at him.
"Fine. We'll practice the Shield Spell. When you're being attacked, you can protect yourself by saying iMiranium Deflecto/i. It'll protect you from the spell, but it wears off quickly, so don't be nieve and think that it'll continously save you. Now go." he told them irritably, then walked over to Harry.
"What is it?"
"It's about Hermione. I saw her talking with your father again... Draco, she's-"
Harry didn't get time to finish his sentence. The door opened and there stood Viktor Krum with six other blokes the same size of him from Durmstrang. Viktor walked up to Harry and offered his hand. Harry took shook hands.
"The moment I got Hermy-own-ninny's letter, ve had to come. Ve owe it to Dumbledore avter Karkaroff betrayed us and Hogvorts. She says you haff...dreams? How is she?"
Harry had never felt more relieved to see them. Now at least, the DA stood a chance. Ron however, seemed to have regained his dislike for the Bulgarian Seeker and accidentally set of an Incarcerous spell, binding Neville up.
"Oh sorry!" he muttered, and helped him out of the ropes, still glaring at Krum.
"Ah ves, Ron Veasley. Good it is to see you again. And you, Draco Malvoy" Krum smiled, if you could call it that.
"Yeah, hey Viktor." Ron stumbled back up to his feet and shook his hand. Harry hid his amusement at Ron's sudden change back to worshipping. Malfoy just nodded and directed his attention to six new people in the room.
"I'd like to introduce my friends, Gavril, Ivan, Borka, Mikhail, Pavel, and Poliakoff. He vas also there at Hogvorts vor the tournament." the tall lankey man that was Poliakoff bowed and moved back into line. There weren't many of them, but Harry was sure they'd make an impression.
"I'm glad you could join us. Maybe you can help? We're trying to train in defense. There was a problem at the school last year, we missed out on a whole years worth of Defense Against the Dark Arts, so we're a bit behind."
"No problem. Vhat is it you vant to learn?"
"I've been trying to teach them the Invisibility Charm but none of them are skilled enough for it. They're even struggling with the Shield Spell." Malfoy butted in, pushing Ron and Neville aside.
"Very vell, ve'll continue vourking on that then." Krum nodded and took Malfoy's place as instructor. Much to Malfoy's annoyance, the group learned quicker with the new teacher. They'd all mastered the Shield Spell by the time the sun was setting, and they got to work on the Invisibility Charm. Harry had tried to talk to Malfoy again, but there was too much commotion. They kept getting distracted. At one point Harry had to dodge a Furnuclus hex that Neville had accidentally sent his way.
"Sorry, Harry." he flushed.
"I'd be more focused on your aim, Longbottom. You'll get one of us killed quicker than you'll ever be able to protect yourself." Malfoy spat, as he too had to jump out of the way of the misguided hex.
"Hey, at least he's trying. He's a better wizard then you make him out to be, you know."
"Oh yeah? How many O.W.L.s did you get last year, Longbottom?"
"Five."
Neville turned redder, everyone was now evesdropping and the spells ceased. Malfoy smirked. Harry glared at him and went over to help Neville. They continued for another hour, before Lavender and Parvati started complaining about being hungry. Harry told them all they'd continue after dinner, and they went downstairs. Harry went back to his room, after borrowing a quill from the Inn keeper and a piece of parchment. He sat down to write a letter to Dumbledore.
Professor Dumbledore,
They have arrived. They've helped us learn protective spells, and everyone's improved greatly. I'm sorry I didn't tell you.
Sincerely,
Harry
He looked at the parchment, unsatisfied. He wanted to tell Dumbledore how sorry he was that he was probably going to let him down. He wanted to explain to him everything that was going on inside his head, but he wouldn't be able to do it in an owl. It was too risky. He, at the least, though wanted to tell Dumbledore that everything was okay. He rolled up the letter and went downstairs to borrow an owl. He was halfway down the stairs when he heard the yelling.
"Vot is your problem?" he heard Viktor ask.
"Oh, he just doesn't like to hear anyone else talk about her like that." Parvati told him, with a certain air in her voice.
"Shut up, Patil." snapped Malfoy.
Harry decended a few more steps. Malfoy had Krum on the ground as Borka and Poliakoff grabbed him and pulled him off. Harry rushed down the rest of the stair case. Everyone turned, noticing his presence.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. I vas just talking vith Ron about how I vanted Hermy-own-ninny to vist this summer. Ve got close during the time since I left Hogvorts, and ve ver discussing spending summer together. I asked Ron vot kind of places she likes to see vehn he attacked me." Krum explained, looking at Malfoy with bewilderment.
"Oh don't try and act like you just want to take her site seeing." Malfoy sneered, still struggling. Borka and Poliakoff were near the same height and build, but were obviously stronger.
"Vot do you care? You don't consider her... eqval is the word, I think."
"It's not about how I consider her. You just can't come in here and start talking like you two have some sort of relationship. When...when..."
Harry watched Malfoy, attentively. He got a bit of satisfaction watching Malfoy try and cover up his reckless action. There wasn't anything he could say, everyone knew the truth, and no lie could cover it up. Harry looked at Ron, who returned the glance with matched contentment.
"You and Hermy-own-ninny, you two viff each other then? She did not mention. I am sorry, I did not know." Krum said, blatantly. He motioned for the two other Bulgarians to release him.
"Sit, ve vill talk." Krum sat down at the table, then looked at Malfoy. Harry went over and whispered to the others that they should get back upstairs to practice, since they were leaving first thing in the morning. Lavender and Parvati protested, eager to hear what Malfoy and Krum were going to talk about, but Ron pushed them towards the stairs. Once everyone was on their way up, Harry turned to Ron.
"Go on, I'll be up in a minute. I've got to get this sent out to Dumbledore."
"The others are going to mad that you get to listen and they don't."
"Just tell them I'll fill them in later. That should please them for now." Harry replied and went back down the stairs. Malfoy glared at him, wanting him to leave the room.
"I'm just going to owl this out. I'll only be a minute." he remarked, walking to the Inn keeper and paying him for the use of the owl. Harry tied the letter on slowly, listening the best he could.
"The last letter, I recieved she stated that she vas vorried about a friend. At first, I vought is vas Harry. Now I see, I vas vrong. She said that somone close to her, has experienced change, and had lot of troubles. Vat his life changed, and vas no more close viff his friends. You see vhy I make mistake? Last time ve met, you called her names, no? You showed deep anger viff each other. Ve vrite often. She never mentioned you by name."
"Hey Potter, Don't you have some illiterate friends to teach?" Malfoy snapped. Harry quickly finished tieing the parchment and opened the window to let the owl out.
"Hogwarts School of Wizardry." he told the owl. He then rushed up the stairs and opened a door on the left of the staircase, across from the room where the group was practicing. He shut it, but remained on the stairs.
"So you like her then?" he heard Malfoy ask.
"Yes, but she has stated ve are just friends. This summer it vould be as friends. She has never seen the North, see? My vahther has invited her to stay. I admit though, I am suprised that you've changed about her. Your vamily is known for its strict vays, even vare I come vrom. She is not like us, so to speak. Not of vull blood."
"I don't know what it is about her. She's annoys me more than anyone in the world, even more so than Potter, at times. She makes me sick. She thinks she's better than me. She shows off and sucks up to every teacher. Even more annoyingly she hangs around with Potter and Weasel, and expects me to be nice to them. At the same time though, I can't seem to get her off my mind, ever. She says things that dig into my brain. She's the first one who's ever actually made me feel guilty. Even after all the shit I've said to her over the past five and a half years, she's forgiven me. I find myself telling her things that I shouldn't. And then when's she gone, I realize what I've done and get more confused. I mean, I've been with tons of other girls. There's just something about her. She's the only person I've ever known, aside from that git Potter, who's stood up to my father. "
"Vell maybe you love her. Maybe you're just doing this cause your vather despises it. But if it really vas something between you two, i vonder vhy she never told me. Haff you spoken vith her about these veelings?"
"Huh. No. I don't want to be with her. She's a mudblood. It's degrading. I just... don't know if I can be without her."
"Either you haff to change the vay you look at her or you just need to giff up. She deserves more than someone who's going to judge her by the vact that she's not a vull blooded vitch."
"It's not a matter of that. It's what she is and what I am. It's a tradition." snapped Malfoy.
"Vell the tradition is stupid. Durmstrang may vallow by it, but I am not my grandvather. My vahther told me that it didn't matter, if you ver a vizard than you ver."
"Yeah, well my father..."
"Break tradition, Draco. Vhy do you haff to live like your vahther? You've proven you don't believe vat he does. You're here on the ovher side of the battle."
"Shut up, you have no idea." Malfoy stood up and headed for the stairs. Harry quickly retreated higher up.
"I vent to a school based on the type of morals your vahther raised you on, but you're right, I haff no idea vhat it must be like vor you. I am going to tell Hermy-own-ninny to stay avay vrom you. Until you learn to adjust to new life, you vill only hurt her."
"Do whatever you want." Malfoy replied. Harry quickly ran to his room and pretended to be writing another letter. Malfoy came in and slammed the door.
"What's up?"
"I know you heard everything. I'm not dumb, Potter. Didn't think I'd be able to hear you run in here from the staircase?"
"Well we better get back to the others..." Harry said solomnly.
Malfoy rolled his eyes and followed Harry out the room. Everyone had seemed to gotten the hang of the Invisibility charm, and had moved on to offensive spells, such as stunning and stinging. Harry joined in with his friends. Malfoy just sat on the piled beds and watched them the remainder of the evening, thinking upon the discussion he'd just had with Viktor Krum.
"About time you woke up. We've been wondering when you were going to come down. Seamus suggest we go and get you, but I told him it might not be a wise idea. We just started eating." he said and walked with Harry to the table. He made eye contact with Malfoy, then both looked away. He'd been engaged in a conversation with Luna Lovegood, obviously not of his own will, as she discussed what her father would be printing in the next edition of The Quibbler.
Harry forced himself to eat something, trying to get the dream he'd had out of his head. He wanted to say something to someone, but he didn't know who to talk to. Normally, he'd tell Ron. But for some reason he didn't think Ron would be the best one to tell with this information. He fancied Hermione and if he found out, the chance of bloodshed would be high. He looked again at Malfoy. He should tell him. He had to tell him, but he couldn't. He was still feeling the anger of the arguement they'd had hours before. The last thing he wanted to do was provoke him or be provoked himself.
After they'd eaten the group reformed back upstairs in Luna, Parvati, and Lavender's room because it was the largest. The girls accioed the beds on top of each other leaving a clearing in the room where they could all stand and discuss their plan. Fred and George said that the Order would be at the manor either that day or the next. Krum and his crew would be there shortly after. They had about a day at the most to practice whatever spells they had before what was left of DA headed off to help. After the meeting, the twins left to rejoin the rest of the order. Fred gave Harry directions on how to get there, and a warning.
"Watch out for the King of Slytherin. You and Dumbledore may trust him, but we never will.
"Just watch your back, okay Harry?" George added, as he grabbed Fred by the arm and dragged him out the door. Harry nodded at them then turned back to the group.
"So we have today. We need to work harder than ever. It should be a bit easier now that we don't have to worry about anyone discovering us. But I don't want a repeat of last year, I don't want anyone to be..." his voice trailed off. There was that sting in his heart again, Sirius. Neville nodded, fully aware of what he was speaking of. Luna gave a slight expression of agreeance before slipping back into her dreamy state, staring out of the second floor window.
"I think our best bet is to just teach them how to defend themselves. Let's not worry about capturing or killing anyone. Leave it to the others." Malfoy said, absentmindely while picking off string and soot from his robe.
"Right. You guys will be in charge of distracting the death eaters while Ron and I go find the others. Use the spells we learned last year and Malfoy here will teach you how to block or avoid being hit."
"I will?"
"Yes... you know the spells, I don't."
"Well what've you been doing the past few years to avoid the Dark Lord?"
"It's been luck. Nor more than that." Harry replied, solomnly.
He didn't want to talk anymore. Being reminded that he would soon be seeing everyone who'd been a part of the ordeals of the previous year brought back a wave of emotions that Harry just wasn't ready to deal with. There had be one other thing on his mind besides rescuing Hermione. He wanted to avenge Sirius' death. He knew it was the only way he'd could be at rest. His first mission was going to be to kill Bellatrix Lestrange. It struck him then that maybe he understood Malfoy a little better than he thought. They both had their own motives, their own reasons for taking a part in this. He did love Hermione, he just had to take care of something first. He looked up at his archenemy as he began walking the group through the basic blocking and shield spells. He caught Malfoy's eye and mouthed;
"We need to talk."
"So basically watch your attacker, you can usually tell when their about to strike. You have to watch their body language. My father for instance was trained in the Martial Arts as well, and it's all about psyche. I wouldn't be suprised if he's taught the others as well. So when you see that you're about to be attacked you can use i Invisico Miselfo/i. You have about thirty seconds in which you'll be invisible. It will confuse your attacker and give you time just enough to get out of the way of the casted spell. Understand? Hey Looney, you even listening?"
Luna snapped out of her trance and smiled at Malfoy, who rolled his eyes. She moved closer to the group. Her hand touched Neville's, and he jumped a bit before blushing. She smiled back at him. They took turns in pairs. The room only allowed enough space for that. They'd cast harmless spells at each other and try to make themselves invisible. They were failing. Seamus turned a bit pale and shadowy, but you could still see him in full. Malfoy started getting annoyed.
"You're not consentrating enough. Try again!"
"Why don't you start us off on something easier? It's a complicated spell." Lavender snapped at him.
"Fine. We'll practice the Shield Spell. When you're being attacked, you can protect yourself by saying iMiranium Deflecto/i. It'll protect you from the spell, but it wears off quickly, so don't be nieve and think that it'll continously save you. Now go." he told them irritably, then walked over to Harry.
"What is it?"
"It's about Hermione. I saw her talking with your father again... Draco, she's-"
Harry didn't get time to finish his sentence. The door opened and there stood Viktor Krum with six other blokes the same size of him from Durmstrang. Viktor walked up to Harry and offered his hand. Harry took shook hands.
"The moment I got Hermy-own-ninny's letter, ve had to come. Ve owe it to Dumbledore avter Karkaroff betrayed us and Hogvorts. She says you haff...dreams? How is she?"
Harry had never felt more relieved to see them. Now at least, the DA stood a chance. Ron however, seemed to have regained his dislike for the Bulgarian Seeker and accidentally set of an Incarcerous spell, binding Neville up.
"Oh sorry!" he muttered, and helped him out of the ropes, still glaring at Krum.
"Ah ves, Ron Veasley. Good it is to see you again. And you, Draco Malvoy" Krum smiled, if you could call it that.
"Yeah, hey Viktor." Ron stumbled back up to his feet and shook his hand. Harry hid his amusement at Ron's sudden change back to worshipping. Malfoy just nodded and directed his attention to six new people in the room.
"I'd like to introduce my friends, Gavril, Ivan, Borka, Mikhail, Pavel, and Poliakoff. He vas also there at Hogvorts vor the tournament." the tall lankey man that was Poliakoff bowed and moved back into line. There weren't many of them, but Harry was sure they'd make an impression.
"I'm glad you could join us. Maybe you can help? We're trying to train in defense. There was a problem at the school last year, we missed out on a whole years worth of Defense Against the Dark Arts, so we're a bit behind."
"No problem. Vhat is it you vant to learn?"
"I've been trying to teach them the Invisibility Charm but none of them are skilled enough for it. They're even struggling with the Shield Spell." Malfoy butted in, pushing Ron and Neville aside.
"Very vell, ve'll continue vourking on that then." Krum nodded and took Malfoy's place as instructor. Much to Malfoy's annoyance, the group learned quicker with the new teacher. They'd all mastered the Shield Spell by the time the sun was setting, and they got to work on the Invisibility Charm. Harry had tried to talk to Malfoy again, but there was too much commotion. They kept getting distracted. At one point Harry had to dodge a Furnuclus hex that Neville had accidentally sent his way.
"Sorry, Harry." he flushed.
"I'd be more focused on your aim, Longbottom. You'll get one of us killed quicker than you'll ever be able to protect yourself." Malfoy spat, as he too had to jump out of the way of the misguided hex.
"Hey, at least he's trying. He's a better wizard then you make him out to be, you know."
"Oh yeah? How many O.W.L.s did you get last year, Longbottom?"
"Five."
Neville turned redder, everyone was now evesdropping and the spells ceased. Malfoy smirked. Harry glared at him and went over to help Neville. They continued for another hour, before Lavender and Parvati started complaining about being hungry. Harry told them all they'd continue after dinner, and they went downstairs. Harry went back to his room, after borrowing a quill from the Inn keeper and a piece of parchment. He sat down to write a letter to Dumbledore.
Professor Dumbledore,
They have arrived. They've helped us learn protective spells, and everyone's improved greatly. I'm sorry I didn't tell you.
Sincerely,
Harry
He looked at the parchment, unsatisfied. He wanted to tell Dumbledore how sorry he was that he was probably going to let him down. He wanted to explain to him everything that was going on inside his head, but he wouldn't be able to do it in an owl. It was too risky. He, at the least, though wanted to tell Dumbledore that everything was okay. He rolled up the letter and went downstairs to borrow an owl. He was halfway down the stairs when he heard the yelling.
"Vot is your problem?" he heard Viktor ask.
"Oh, he just doesn't like to hear anyone else talk about her like that." Parvati told him, with a certain air in her voice.
"Shut up, Patil." snapped Malfoy.
Harry decended a few more steps. Malfoy had Krum on the ground as Borka and Poliakoff grabbed him and pulled him off. Harry rushed down the rest of the stair case. Everyone turned, noticing his presence.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. I vas just talking vith Ron about how I vanted Hermy-own-ninny to vist this summer. Ve got close during the time since I left Hogvorts, and ve ver discussing spending summer together. I asked Ron vot kind of places she likes to see vehn he attacked me." Krum explained, looking at Malfoy with bewilderment.
"Oh don't try and act like you just want to take her site seeing." Malfoy sneered, still struggling. Borka and Poliakoff were near the same height and build, but were obviously stronger.
"Vot do you care? You don't consider her... eqval is the word, I think."
"It's not about how I consider her. You just can't come in here and start talking like you two have some sort of relationship. When...when..."
Harry watched Malfoy, attentively. He got a bit of satisfaction watching Malfoy try and cover up his reckless action. There wasn't anything he could say, everyone knew the truth, and no lie could cover it up. Harry looked at Ron, who returned the glance with matched contentment.
"You and Hermy-own-ninny, you two viff each other then? She did not mention. I am sorry, I did not know." Krum said, blatantly. He motioned for the two other Bulgarians to release him.
"Sit, ve vill talk." Krum sat down at the table, then looked at Malfoy. Harry went over and whispered to the others that they should get back upstairs to practice, since they were leaving first thing in the morning. Lavender and Parvati protested, eager to hear what Malfoy and Krum were going to talk about, but Ron pushed them towards the stairs. Once everyone was on their way up, Harry turned to Ron.
"Go on, I'll be up in a minute. I've got to get this sent out to Dumbledore."
"The others are going to mad that you get to listen and they don't."
"Just tell them I'll fill them in later. That should please them for now." Harry replied and went back down the stairs. Malfoy glared at him, wanting him to leave the room.
"I'm just going to owl this out. I'll only be a minute." he remarked, walking to the Inn keeper and paying him for the use of the owl. Harry tied the letter on slowly, listening the best he could.
"The last letter, I recieved she stated that she vas vorried about a friend. At first, I vought is vas Harry. Now I see, I vas vrong. She said that somone close to her, has experienced change, and had lot of troubles. Vat his life changed, and vas no more close viff his friends. You see vhy I make mistake? Last time ve met, you called her names, no? You showed deep anger viff each other. Ve vrite often. She never mentioned you by name."
"Hey Potter, Don't you have some illiterate friends to teach?" Malfoy snapped. Harry quickly finished tieing the parchment and opened the window to let the owl out.
"Hogwarts School of Wizardry." he told the owl. He then rushed up the stairs and opened a door on the left of the staircase, across from the room where the group was practicing. He shut it, but remained on the stairs.
"So you like her then?" he heard Malfoy ask.
"Yes, but she has stated ve are just friends. This summer it vould be as friends. She has never seen the North, see? My vahther has invited her to stay. I admit though, I am suprised that you've changed about her. Your vamily is known for its strict vays, even vare I come vrom. She is not like us, so to speak. Not of vull blood."
"I don't know what it is about her. She's annoys me more than anyone in the world, even more so than Potter, at times. She makes me sick. She thinks she's better than me. She shows off and sucks up to every teacher. Even more annoyingly she hangs around with Potter and Weasel, and expects me to be nice to them. At the same time though, I can't seem to get her off my mind, ever. She says things that dig into my brain. She's the first one who's ever actually made me feel guilty. Even after all the shit I've said to her over the past five and a half years, she's forgiven me. I find myself telling her things that I shouldn't. And then when's she gone, I realize what I've done and get more confused. I mean, I've been with tons of other girls. There's just something about her. She's the only person I've ever known, aside from that git Potter, who's stood up to my father. "
"Vell maybe you love her. Maybe you're just doing this cause your vather despises it. But if it really vas something between you two, i vonder vhy she never told me. Haff you spoken vith her about these veelings?"
"Huh. No. I don't want to be with her. She's a mudblood. It's degrading. I just... don't know if I can be without her."
"Either you haff to change the vay you look at her or you just need to giff up. She deserves more than someone who's going to judge her by the vact that she's not a vull blooded vitch."
"It's not a matter of that. It's what she is and what I am. It's a tradition." snapped Malfoy.
"Vell the tradition is stupid. Durmstrang may vallow by it, but I am not my grandvather. My vahther told me that it didn't matter, if you ver a vizard than you ver."
"Yeah, well my father..."
"Break tradition, Draco. Vhy do you haff to live like your vahther? You've proven you don't believe vat he does. You're here on the ovher side of the battle."
"Shut up, you have no idea." Malfoy stood up and headed for the stairs. Harry quickly retreated higher up.
"I vent to a school based on the type of morals your vahther raised you on, but you're right, I haff no idea vhat it must be like vor you. I am going to tell Hermy-own-ninny to stay avay vrom you. Until you learn to adjust to new life, you vill only hurt her."
"Do whatever you want." Malfoy replied. Harry quickly ran to his room and pretended to be writing another letter. Malfoy came in and slammed the door.
"What's up?"
"I know you heard everything. I'm not dumb, Potter. Didn't think I'd be able to hear you run in here from the staircase?"
"Well we better get back to the others..." Harry said solomnly.
Malfoy rolled his eyes and followed Harry out the room. Everyone had seemed to gotten the hang of the Invisibility charm, and had moved on to offensive spells, such as stunning and stinging. Harry joined in with his friends. Malfoy just sat on the piled beds and watched them the remainder of the evening, thinking upon the discussion he'd just had with Viktor Krum.