Mandy slowly lowered her new Herbology book and checked what the other girls in her dormitory were up to.

Lisa was absent, likely down in the common room with Terry. Morag MacDougal sat on Padma's bed, stubbornly trying to change her gray cat, Athol, into a dog while Padma brushed Morag's messy red hair.

"Bestiamuto!" Morag cried, flicking her wand downward. Athol's stubby tail became longer and yellow, but it remained a cat. Morag tried again. "Bestiamuto!" This time the cat grew larger.

Eden Du sat on her own bed, located right next to her friend Padma's, and was busy meticulously arranging her belongings. Some objects went on the chair next to her bed, others on the windowsill of the window directly behind it, and yet others were placed in her bed or under it. Those items that stayed in her trunk were being carefully arranged as the number of things in it emptied.

Deciding there was nothing happening that was different from what usually went on in the Ravenclaw dormitory, Mandy set her book aside and quietly pulled the curtains around her bed shut. She needed time to herself now.

Why in Merlin's name had Draco asked her if she could keep secrets? He must be desperate for a listening ear. But why couldn't he talk to any of his fellow Slytherins? Vincent, or Gregory, or Pansy, or any of the others that belonged to the group that was constantly with him? Whatever he wanted to talk about must be something he didn't want them to hear. She could see how he wouldn't want what he had told her about Pansy going around, at least. But what else was he trying to hide from them?

And what had pushed him over the edge? Everyone had secrets they had never told a soul. Why did Draco all of a sudden feel the urge to share his? Well, his father was in prison. That occurrence had probably turned his life inside-out. Perhaps he was trying to prove to himself that his father, some Draco had always boasted about, was truly a bad person. Or perhaps it was the opposite. There was no telling what went on inside Draco's head after today. After today….

Triumphant shrieks broke Mandy's train of thought. A medium-sized golden dog was now running around the dormitory, chased by Padma and Eden. Morag still sat on Padma's bed, smiling proudly at the sight.

Mandy sighed. There were too many distractions in here to think properly. She got up and pulled on her black robes before walking out of the dormitory. Soon she was heading down the staircase and weaving her way out of the common room. There was no one in the corridor outside the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower, but Mandy hardly noticed. She wandered the castle in a dream-like state, deep in thought.

The whole thing didn't make any sense, no matter how she looked at it. And the worse part was that she was spending all of her time thinking about Draco rather than her own problem. Listening to Draco's secrets would get her nowhere. But, somehow, oddly enough, she was still attracted to the mysteries she might unravel by going along with his little game…

She was on the fourth floor when a hand reached out and pulled her roughly into an unused classroom.

"What are you doing here, Brocklehurst?" a male voice demanded in her ear, "Isn't your common room a few floors up from here?"

Mandy stiffened. She recognized that voice. "Draco?"

Her captor turned her around, still with a rough manner, and backed her up against the door to close it. Gray eyes flashed dangerously beneath a black hood. Mandy had guessed right.

"Watch your mouth, Brocklehurst. And answer my question."

His grip on her arms was so tight, they felt like they would explode at any moment. The burning sensation in them was driving her crazy. She tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter.

"I was…going to do research, in the library….Malfoy," she added in a whisper.

"It's half an hour after seventh-year curfew. The library is closed. What were you doing?" Draco demanded, his voice shaking slightly.

"I…I…I-"Mandy stammered breathily. She could barely think straight, he was so frightening.

He let go of her left arm and slapped her across the face. It began to smart instantaneously, and she was sure it had left a mark.

"Tell me!"

Suddenly, Mandy's head cleared and she could think again. Her free hand flew to her robes pocket and drew out her wand.

"Impedimenta!" she said clearly, pointing her wand straight at Draco's chest. Her voice was calm and steady now.

Draco was blasted off his feet and onto his back a ways away. His hood slipped off to reveal his white-blond hair and pale face. He was clearly shocked that she had dared to hex him.

"Locomotor Mortis!" Mandy added, her wand still pointed at him, "Expelliarmus!"

She caught his wand and carefully placed it a good twelve feet away from his fallen body. Then she slowly walked out of the room, leaving the door open behind her. As she passed the dark library, she heard a weak "Brocklehurst?" from behind her, but ignored it. Her Draco-free life started right here, right now.

In-Between

I like you, I hate you

You annoy me, inspire me

You're polite, you're rude

You're cute, you're ugly

I like you, I hate you

Stop doing this

Keep on

You're nice, you're nasty

You're sweet, you're sour

I like you, I hate you

I'm in-between