Once Harry's robes were lenghten, they say their good-byes to Seamus who heads over to the Quittich Shop.
Afterwards, Harry sees Pixe and Malfory go into Flourish and Blotts.
'What is Pixe doing with Malfory?' Harry thinks.
"Anything else?" Ron asks.
"Only our books," Hermione says.
Hermione walks towards Flourish and Blotts with Ron and Ginny right behind and Harry a few feet back.
They walk into the store but stops when they see Pixe talking with Malfory.
"Pixe. Why are you talking to Malfory?" Ron asks.
"Because he's my friend," Pixe says.
"Why?" Ron asks.
'Why not?" Pixe asks.
"I'll see you later, Pixe," Draco says heading for the door.
"Remember. Leaky Cauldron. Noon," Pixe says.
"Yeah. Whatever," Draco says and leaves the store.
"Malfory's going to be there for lunch?" Ron asks.
"If I get my way, yes," Pixe says.
"But it's Malfory," Ginny says.
"So?" Pixe asks.
"Malfory is evil," Ron says.
'Is that all you know about him?" Pixe asks.
"What else is there to know?" Harry asks softly.
"Do you want me to tell you?" Pixe asks looking straight into Harry's eyes.
"Yes, please," Harry says even softer than before.
"Draco's life so far has been a living hell. He barely lived through it. But he has something to get away from it. He draws and paints beautiful pictures. So vivid and life like," Pixe says. "Bet you didn't know that."
"No," Harry says. "I didn't."
"Well here's something else. Draco loves nature and all animals," Pixe says.
"Yeah right," Ron says. "Guess you haven't seen him during Care for Magical Creatures."
"That is all just an act," Pixe says. "Just like everything else."
"Apparently," Harry says.
"Well as least accourting to you who we barely know so why should we believe or trust you?" Hermione asks.
"You have no reason to believe or trust me," Pixe says. "Well not yet at least. I'm going to try and change your mind."
"Good luck," Ron says. "You'll need it."
"I believe in what I see. And from what I've seen of Malfory, I believe he is a lost cause," Hermione says.
"Don't believe in everything you see," Pixe says. "Or read."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asks.
"Everything's here," Pixe says to the owner of the store. "I'll be going now."
She picks up a copied of the book Draco needs puts it in her backpack, puts her backpack back on, and leaves the store.
"What was that about?" Ron asks.
"I have no idea," Harry says.
The kids walk into the Leaky Cauldron around noon time after getting their books and Ron, Harry, and Ginny telling Hermione about their accouter with Pixe before they meet up with her.
They see Pixe sitting in between Fred and George with Mrs. Wesley sitting next to Fred and Mr. and Mrs. Granger next to George.
"Over here you four," Mrs. Wesley says.
They walk over and sits down.
Ginny next to her mum and across from Fred then Ron and next to him Harry and finally Hermione is sitting next to her parents.
"Have any of you seen Draco sense this morning?" Pixe asks.
"No. Thank god," Ron says, as the others three shake their heads no.
"Draco…" Fred says.
"Malfory?" George continues.
"Yes," Pixe says.
"That kid…" Fred says.
"Is trouble," George says.
"As I told them, that is all just an act," Pixe says. "He's not really like that."
"Pixe? How long have you known Malfory?" Hermione asks.
"For 9 years," Pixe says. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Hermione says.
"Well there's always a reason for what people says and do," Pixe says. "You just don't see it right away."
"You're going back to Malfory, right?" Harry asks.
"Right," Pixe says. "And speaking of the devil himself, there he is now."
Everyone looks at the blonde coming into the room and going to the stairs.
"Draco. Wait," Pixe says getting up and goes over to him.
"What is it, Pixe?" Draco asks stopping but not turning to her.
"It's lunch time. Aren't you hungry?" Pixe asks.
"No. Not really," Draco says.
"So what are you hiding?" Pixe asks.
Draco turns halfway to her but keeps his back to the others.
Pixe sees a bleeding puppy in Draco's arms.
"Where did you find it?" Pixe whispers.
"I found him in a side alley," Draco says.
"Collar?" Pixe asks.
"None," Draco says.
"Ok. Take him up to your room and in a few, I'll bring something up for both of you to eat," Pixe says.
"Thanks, Pixe," Draco says smiling then he turns and walks up the stairs never losing his smile.
Pixe walks back to the others and sits back down between the twins with everyone watching her.
"Was I just imaging it or was Malfory smiling?" Ron asks.
"No, you weren't imaging anything," Pixe says. "Draco was smiling."
"Never seen him do that before," Harry says.
"Maybe he never had a reason to smile before," Pixe says. "Well enough of Draco, why don't we get some food already."
"Yeah," Ron says.