The next morning Draco proudly presented her with a list of all the teams from other magic schools and famous players that they were going to invite to the quidditch tournament. Rhyann recognized a few of the schools' and celebrity players' names, but most of it meant nothing to her. She gave him a smile, told him it was impressive and hoped that would suffice. He was too pleased with himself to notice that she did not really care about the event.
As the Head of the House, Snape strolled along the Slytherin table handing out the class schedules for the year. He congratulated Draco on becoming Head Boy and said that he would help him do anything he wanted to do for the House's event so theirs would be the most impressive. Snape did not say a word to Rhyann, but her dark eyes locked with his for a brief second to send the message that she wanted to speak with him later. Whether he understood that or not, she could not tell. He was as unreadable as ever.
Looking over her schedule, the petite teen was happy to note that a good portion of a few of her days would be away from most of Slytherin. On Mondays, she would have Transfiguration with her seventh year house mates, but the rest of the day contained classes that very few Slytherins usually took - double Arithimancy and Divination, first with Trelawney and then with Firenze. Plus, she had Muggle Studies twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It was a certainty that no other Slytherin would be in those classes.
Draco glanced from his schedule to hers and made a face. "I don't know why you're still taking those useless classes, Rhyann. It would not have been any problem for them to have been changed. You should be taking more valuable classes like me. Wizarding Economics and Business Management. The Structure and Advanced Workings of the Ministry of Magic."
"It doesn't matter what I take. Besides, if you do remember, I'm not here for the classes." She reminded him stiffly. "Besides, I have no interest in economics, business or the Ministry."
"Your family does own a business." He returned with a little arrogant smirk.
She narrowed her eyes slightly. She didn't doubt if the Malfoys had their eyes on the successful Rookwood business of importing and exporting. "My uncles run the business and do just fine. They will live a good long time and when they retire, my cousins will run it."
"I never knew you were the stereotypical woman to just sit back and let the men do all the work." His irritating smirk remained upon his lips even as he sipped his juice.
"I have more important work to worry about." Rhyann hissed back at him. Folding her schedule, she stuffed it into one of her pockets and stood up with her breakfast barely half-eaten.
Draco caught her wrist and let his other arm snake around her tiny waist to pull her against him. He put on some pressure to get her to sit back down beside him but she resisted. His ice gray eyes bore into her and he spoke in a voice so low only she could hear him. "I do realize that. Now you just sit back down and wait for me to finish my breakfast so we can go to class together. As you reminded me, you're here for things other than the classes. If you remember what those things are, you best do as I say."
"I certainly do not need any reminding of that." Rhyann said coldly and smoothly sat back down, drawing into herself further. She could play it as hard as he could.
Releasing her waist, his grip on her wrist lightened and his hand eased down to take hers. The Head Boy leaned over and nudged his head against hers. There was the scent of grape jelly upon his breath and his words came out just as sweet. "You know I have a lot of stress this year, love. You'll just have to bear with me. I wouldn't be able to handle any of it if you weren't here with me. You still do love me, don't you?"
There was no point in denying it. He knew the truth of it. "Yes, unfortunately I do."
Draco smiled victoriously and gave her a peck on the cheek before going back to his breakfast. The dreamer ate no more, hating the emotions within her. She sat silently and sipped her tea, completely walling herself off from all conversation about her. She did the same in their first class of their seventh year. Not even Professor McGonagall's stern lecture about how vital this year would be for the rest of their lives could penetrate through it.
Hermione Granger was already there when Rhyann arrived at her double Arithimancy class next. The Gryffindor had found some way to tame her hair over the summer and that was by cutting it to just above the shoulders then keeping it tied back. A few loose locks still fell around her face, but the Head Girl did look a lot less girlish this year. She had also grown taller by an inch and was bustier as well. Rhyann had not grown in any direction but she was older and she guessed she had physically grown as much as she was going to in this life.
Rhyann took the seat next to her and smiled her greeting. "Hi Hermione."
"Hi Rhyann." Hermione grinned back.
Then they both started talking at once. "I'm sorry about the summer, but things had happened and I hope Ron told you about the code in the letters…" "It's so good to see you again! So much has happened, I have lots to tell you. You know…"
The two teens stopped and then laughed at each other. The dreamer made a motion with her hand. "You go first. You are Head Girl, after all. Congratulations on that!"
"Oh, thank you!" Hermione beamed. Her pride did not contain the conceit as Draco's had. "And Ron did tell me about the letters. I can't believe I missed it! I must admit, I was a little peeved that you couldn't visit and that is probably why I missed the code. I fully understand now. I could only imagine how dreadful your summer must have been at their manor." Her voice lowered as she continued talking and discretely did not say the Malfoy name. "Did they treat you awfully?"
"Oh yes. They took me out to the most exclusive restaurants and bought me a whole new wardrobe. I had the pleasure of having at least one of them as a companion most of the time and I was at least allowed to write to you to say that I could not meet you." Rhyann had not meant to sound so hard and sardonic, but it came out that way nonetheless. Sighing, she gave the other young woman a half-hearted smile. "Other than restricting where I could go and who I could see, they did not mistreat me." Yet, that in itself, had been bad enough for her. She did not add that it was her family she was kept from and their lives were used to get her to do as she was told.
"I'm sorry for bringing that up, Rhyann. I was worried after Ron told me about the code in the letters and they were a bit cryptic, you must admit."
"I suppose it was my mood at those moments." It was as much of an apology as she was willing to give for that.
"At least you're okay. I wouldn't put anything past that family. Especially after what happened this summer." Hermione sighed sadly and gave a little shake of head, obviously referring what happened to her boyfriend's brother. "Plus, things are clearly strained between you and Draco. It must have taken a toll on your relationship."
Rhyann shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Clearly strained?"
"Well, anyone who is really watching the two of you. I could tell right off by your body language. More you than him." The Gryffindor nodded at her own observation.
"Oh, well, things are…" She gave a little shrug of her shoulders, not wanting to get into it. Besides, why was she talking like this with her! It wasn't anyone's business what was going on between her and Draco. Luckily, Professor Vector arrived and gathered the class' attention. At least she knew that Hermione, being the attentive student that she was, wouldn't be pestering her through class about anything.
Once the two hours were finished, the students stood and started gathering their things to head to lunch. Hermione was writing down all the homework for the semester into a thick, detailed calendar she had stowed in her book bag. She glanced up at the Slytherin. "Did you still want to get together and study Saturday mornings? I'll only be able to stay an hour or two this year with all my responsibilities, but it should be enough since you do have a good handle on things."
"That would be fine." Rhyann nodded, doing up the clasps on her bag. "Same time right after breakfast like last year?"
"Yes. I'm writing it down right now." Hermione's hand darted along the page and wrote in 'Study session with Rhyann.'
"And what about…" Rhyann peered about and noticing most of the other students were gone, she went on. "Harry mentioned more meetings. He said you would tell me?"
"Oh! Yes!" She closed her calendar and slipped it back into her bag. "We really haven't had much time to discuss it yet. I mean, I've been really busy. We had a vote in Gryffindor last night and we've decided to take the dueling competition. So now I have to set up a committee for that and get it going. Plus all the homework we'll get this year along with everything else I have to do as Head Girl. It's quite a lot." Yet she only appeared slightly frazzled. Hermione did thoroughly enjoy the responsibility.
"It's alright. You can tell me on Saturday or in Muggle Studies. I assume Ron and Harry are still in Divination too?" She pursed her lips and then decided to take a chance. "Or, if you'd like, I could help to get things organize?"
Hermione did look a bit surprised at the offer. She almost seemed as though she were going to refuse as well, but then she gave a relieved smile. "That would help a lot, thank you. You and Harry can sort things out. I'll tell him that you want to see him, maybe during lunch or after dinner at the library…"
"Oh," Rhyann interrupted. "Well, best we do it as covertly as possible. You can tell him to send me an owl with a time and we'll meet the same place as last year."
"Yes, that is probably best." Hermione picked up her bag and led them out of the classroom. She then leaned over to add, "I think it will be very good, too. This is an important year in more ways than one. House unity is going to be vital. Slytherin and Gryffindor need to learn to get along. Well, Slytherin needs to learn to get along with all the other houses. I do think that's why Draco and I were made Head Boy and Girl."
Rhyann frowned inwardly. Why did she say something like that? The Sorting Hat had pleaded for House unity and she had no doubt that Hermione would take the old rag seriously. Yet she felt that it was more than that. The other girl knew something more. Darcy had told her what their Lord had been planning for May or June. Surely no one outside of Voldemort's closest circle could know anything. It had to be something else.
She kept her questions to herself at the moment. "If you ever do need any help with Draco, just be sure to ask. I know he's not going to make this easy on you."
Hermione gave her a smile that said she already knew that. "Thanks. I will be able to handle him just fine. Calling me a few names won't throw me off. We aren't children any more."
Rhyann left it at that. She knew her boyfriend better. No, they weren't children any more and that's what made him all the more dangerous. His once silly childish tricks were now devious and well thought out plans that would be far more devastating. Perhaps the tug of war between him and Hermione would provide them both with enough distraction that she could do what she needed to do this semester.