Benji went busily through her classes, taking notes, copying homework, and attempting not to let her lack of sleep take a toll on her concentration. When dinnertime came she saw everyone talking and happy. She remembered this was how they ate back at Traxel with her mom and dad at the teacher tables. The memories were too much and she ran to her secret spot.
It was a hollow in the ground behind Greenhouse four that comfortably shielded her from the world around her. She leaned against the tree growing from the hole and began to cry about her parents, about her secret, about Joel, and Trevor, and all her other friends back at Traxel.
Suddenly she felt an arm wrap around her shoulder and she jumped, "Merlin's Beard!" she cried.
A boy with pale eyes and palomino blonde hair was sitting at her side. He smiled and she thought she might faint. He was very, very good looking.
"Not quite," he smirked, "I'm Draco Malfoy, and most people call me Malfoy. Who are you though, and what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Benji stood up quickly, but Malfoy's hands grabbed hers and drug her back to the ground. She smiled weakly, "I'm Benji Arrington. I'm from Tennessee, and I really should be going now, my friends will be worried about me."
He smiled a pitying smile, "They aren't your real friends, are they? They don't have your best interests in mind."
She shook her head in disbelief. He continued, "I do though, Benji. I care about you,"
He gently ran a hand through Benji's curly black hair. He could easily get used to hurting Harry this way. It also was beneficial to him, he thought, a win-win situation.
She was staring at him, accusation on her face, "Liar," she whispered, "I don't even know you! What kind of dumb ass do you think I am?"
This was too easy for him. He feigned hurt, "You don't think I care about you," he sniffed in emphasis and got up, "I see, you think I'm ugly and stupid."
She looked taken aback, especially as Draco felt tears tolling down his face. They must be from holding back the laugh that was threatening to bust loose any second, "Oh no Draco, that's not it all," she stood up.
They began walking down the path, Benji busily trying to tell Draco not to kill himself while he busily tried to convince her that it would be the best thing for the world. When they got back to the school, before they mounted the great steps to go back in, Draco leaned in to seal deal. As he was about to kiss her, she turned her head and let his kiss fall upon her cheek.
When she turned back to tell him why she had done this, she was shocked at the rage and fury in his gray eyes, "Bitch," he snarled nastily and shoved her to the ground, pulling out his wand.
"Expelliramus!" shouted a voice.
Draco's wand flew through the air, and a girl's angry voice said, "Transfiguera Ferretus."
Draco turned into a snow-white ferret. Ron ran over and scooped the nasty thing up and Benji saw Joel come running over and he silently, as usual, enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug. When Malfoy had pushed her she had mildly twisted her ankle and she limped over to Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
"Thanks for the help. I'll take the rat out and drown him now," She said reaching for Malfoy – who Ron was ready to hand over.
Hermione's jaw dropped, "Benji, that won't be necessary. We'll – we'll all take him to the headmaster." She then marched them towards Professor Dumbledore's. The going started slow because of Benji's ankle, but Joel quickly snatched her up and carried her.
"How romantic," she remarked sarcastically.
Joel made as if to set her down. A voice said, "Very funny Miss Arrington, but haven't you had enough romance for tonight?"
They whirled around to see Professor Dumbledore, "Oh!" Hermione said, "We were looking for you Headmaster!"
"I know, Miss Grander. Mr. Weasley, PLEASE stop strangling Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore smiled while his pale blue eyes twinkled as they, amazingly, always had a slight tendency to do.
Ron sulked and grudgingly put the ferret into a box Dumbledore was holding out. The Headmaster then led them briskly to his office and they quickly told their story. Dumbledore then transformed Malfoy back into himself.
"So what's your story, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked, but Draco kept silent.
"Mr. Weasly, Mr. Potter, Mr. Arrington, Miss Arrington, Miss Granger, you are all excused for tonight. Sleep well."
As they walked out, Harry saw Malfoy stand stubbornly in the corner while Dumbledore asked him to take a seat. The prat.
Afterwards, Joel carried Benji to the hospital wing to get her ankle fixed by Madame Pomfrey. Soon Benji was as good as new and Madame Pomfrey studied her, "So what happened, dear?"
Benji paled, "I – uh – tripped."
"Tsk tsk! You'd best watch you step from now on before you break something I can't repair!" Madame Pomfrey chided and then sent the five friends back up to their tower.
Once there, the two girls started on their homework which consisted of: a foot-long essay for History, Reviewing silencing charms for transfiguration, and another 8-inch essay for Flitwick. Tomorrow's schedule was Defense, Potion, double divination, and Care of Magical creatures. Dumbledore himself was teaching the jinxed class. Colin Creevy, fifth year, had said it was enlightening.
Benji discovered that it was in fact that. Dumbledore sat in the desk and said "Hello," to each student as they came in. "Miss Granger, Miss Arrington, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Arrington, Mr. Finnigan, Miss Brown . . ."
His quiet voice held their attention throughout the class period as he discussed his N.E.W.T level class. "You were all in the D.A., I believe, except for our newcomers. Well, I greatly appreciate your loyalty. In this class we will be taking that experience and building on it"
Only Hermione and the Arringtons headed down to the dungeon for Potions. This had been one of Benji's best classes at Traxel. Professor Snape really intrigued Benji. How could someone keep his or her hair that greasy?
"Does anyone know the purpose of a numbing potion?" He asked lazily.
Two hands shot into the air – Benji and Hermione. Both looked at each other in amazement, neither was used to having someone else knowing the answers in Potions.
"Yes, the one beside Miss Granger?" Snape prompted, raising his normally un-animated brows up to an uncharacteristic arch.
"Numbing potions are used as antidotes to potions, or to weaken a potions effect,"
"Very good," he said, "Three points to Gryffindor – and you are?"
"Benji Arrington, transfer from Traxel school sir."
"Well, welcome to Hogwarts Miss Arrington. Now class . . ."
Snape turned from Benji and spoke to the rest of the class. Hermione whispered, "I bet he's trying to lure us into a false sense of security. Yes – that must be it!"
"Be what?" Benji asked, thoroughly confused.
"Snape hates Gryffindors. Never ever has he been this cheerful!"
"Oh,"
Hermione kept her amazed look throughout the entire class. After Snape put the instructions on the board, he patrolled the class. When he got to Benji, Hermione, and Joel, he seemed almost conversational.
"I'm sorry you had to come to Hogwarts under such tragic circumstances."
Benji nodded, concentrating little on her potion. She'd made it hundreds of times over the summer for her medical witch at Traxel.
After Potions, everyone met for lunch hour and Hermione told Harry and Ron about Snape's good will.
"Was he really that nice?" Harry asked.
When Joel nodded, Ron made a noise of exclamation through a face full of mashed potatoes and mumbled, "Bluhey 'ell!"