As the match between Slytherin and Gryffindor neared the tension between the two houses was worse than ever. There were many heated discussions and even a few fights here and there. It made it harder for me to see Hermione with all the hatred our houses had. I was somewhat used to it but not wanting to be pulled into anything we decided to wait until after the match when things cooled down.
Pansy had left me alone for the time being; that was a relief. She had pushed me too far and when that happened I often did things I wouldn't normally do. Since the time I was a child I learned to control that side of me but sometimes it still came out. But I wasn't taking it too hard on myself. Blood-traitor; that word brought me too much pain. It reminded me of all the things those people said when my brother left… It was a vile word used by petty people and it was the one thing that caused me to lose any self-control I may have learned with age. But since Pansy was basically avoiding me I decided to leave her alone too
Meanwhile, I had taken Lev for a little walk outside. Although I didn't know where he was… I still had a few things on my mind about the wedding and thought some fresh air would help, this time during daylight. But while I had been inside my own head Lev had wondered off somewhere. I let out a sigh before going to look for him. It was easier said than done when you compared my small puppy to the size of Hogwarts. I'm sure he could easily find his way back to me but I didn't want him to cause any trouble.
Lev hadn't been very happy the past few days either. With everything that was going on he could tell I was upset and was restless wanting to help. But there was nothing he could do other than attack Pansy which, as amusing as that would've been, I forbade. She hadn't mentioned anything about my threat to our headmaster nor to the head of our house, yet. Still, I didn't want to give her more reasons to have me expelled. I thought this walk would've helped relax Lev too but it obviously hadn't since I still couldn't find him. I called his name a few times before I heard the blast
There were surprised screams and sounds of quarrelling coming from behind me. I ran to it. Normally that wasn't something I would do, running to a possibly dangerous situation, but it might've been Lev. I kept running until I was inside the Quidditch Pitch watching my puppy growl at the Gryffindor house team who was on ground watching him. All were covered in varying amounts of dust and dirt; George was holding his arm
"Lev!" I called. All heads snapped over to me, including his
"Is that your dog?" some girl asked rather rudely. I ignored her not bothering to deal with someone who spoke so foully to another whom they didn't even know
"Are you okay?" I asked my puppy though he seemed fine; his fur was still spotless white. There was a disgruntled noise that came from one of the team members. I looked back to them. "What happened?"
"Don't play dumb!" some other girl yelled. I had no idea what her words meant though it sounded like an accusation
"What?" I asked before realization hit. I looked back down at Lev, not happy. My puppy lowered his tail knowing he was in trouble. "What did you do?"
"Wait that was him?" I ignored whoever had said that and picked Lev up, holding him out in front of me.
"What have I told you about using magic in school?" I scolded. He knew that if he wasn't doing it against Pansy that he wasn't allowed to hurt anyone. Although since I had told him Pansy was off limits for the time being that didn't really give him any targets. Lev tried to hide his face in my arm and whined, sorry
"He nearly knocked us all off our brooms is what he did!" I heard a girl voice complain. I looked at her; it was the rude one that had spoken first. I could've sworn someone had told me her name before but I guess my mind hadn't bothered to remember
"Why?" I asked suspiciously narrowing my eyes at her. He wouldn't have disobeyed me for no reason. Even if it were a bad one he would've had a reason. Fred and George instantly looked up, very fascinated with the sky now.
"How should we know!" she yelled but I had turned to look at the twins who seemed to find something very interesting about a cloud above
"Lev, go play with some butterflies" I commanded setting him down. He looked like he didn't want to but knew I wasn't happy with his behavior and left without single whine
"You're just letting him go?" the tall one with the braid said. Man these girls were whinny. "He just sent a gust of wind and blew all of us out of the air. We fell of our brooms! Fred and George go the worst of it standing in front of that evil dog and –"
"You tried to pet him didn't you" I interrupted and stared at twins who both still refused to turn to me. But knowing they couldn't avoid me much longer they slowly turned to me with sheepish smiles. "How many times have I told you, warned you, not to do that?"
"He made me!" Fred said suddenly pointing to George
"Did not!" George defended. "You said I should pet him!"
"I didn't think you'd do it!"
"Wait!" their captain Oliver spoke for the first time. "We all got knocked off our brooms because you tried to pet some stupid dog?"
"Don't call my dog stupid" I frowned at him
"We're trying to practice here, Katerina" Harry said a little coldly. After out talk in the hospital wing he hadn't been as rude as before though it hadn't helped much. "Do you mind?"
"Go ahead, I'm not stopping you" I told them gesturing for them to start flying. All but the twins frowned
"We'd rather not do so in front of a Slytherin, if you don't mind" One of the girls said with the same annoying tone as before. I didn't like it when people were rude to me without cause
"Do you want me to turn my back?" I asked derisively. Normally I'd attempt some niceness but I really didn't like the way they kept talking to me
"Don't worry, Kitty's okay" Fred told them putting his arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah it's her dog you got to watch out for" George mumbled rubbing his arm. I giggled a little and he smiled at me
"I don't want to risk any spies" Oliver said watching me carefully. I tried my best not to laugh but a small smile slipped through
"Alright, you caught me" I told him holding my hands up. "I am a spy." Their eyes widened, all but the twins'; they knew me better than that
"Oh really?" Fred said, his arm still around me
"Yes, I stayed several feet away, nowhere near the field to spy. I sent Lev in to knock you out of your brooms so I wouldn't be able to see any of your strategies. Then I came into plain sight and spoke to all of you. This all in search of information that Slytherin will probably not even use"
"Then why are you here" Wood frowned noting my tone
"I was taking Lev for a walk and he wondered off. Really do you think I would make that bad of a spy?"
"Not at all" Fred said making me look at him
"It's ingenious really" George added
"Hiding in plain sight"
"Brilliant!"
"You're not helping" I reproached but they smiled
"Well if you would excuse us we would like to have practice now." Again with these girls and their annoying tones. And they said Slytherins were the rude ones
"You're excused" I told her and she frowned. These girls were all very rude and catty. Well two of them, one hadn't spoken since I got here. Either way I don't like that quality in people. They all looked over at me suspiciously but Oliver signaled for them to continue practice. One by one they all flew up until it was just me and the twins
"Don't mind them, you can stay if you want" Fred smiled taking his arm off me
"Nah, I have to study for Arithmancy anyway. Lev was just getting restless inside" I said only half lying. If I had told them I had come out for air they would have asked why and I wasn't planning on telling them about my brother. Only Draco knew and that was fine by me
"You sure?" George asked stepping closer to me and his brother
"Yes. I think he's calmer, now that he took it out on you two" I commented looking at Lev who was swatting his paw at something on the ground. They laughed and nodded
"Alright" Fred smiled at us. That was apparently enough for him as he went and joined the team hovering a long way above us, winking at me in the process
"Sorry about all this" George said looking down a little not having noticed Fred
"You should be." His eyes snapped back to me at my serious tone and expression. "It's your own fault for petting my puppy"
"Hey at least I'm not unconscious like last time" he smiled once he realized I was faking it. "I think he's warming up to me"
"Just don't push it" I warned. Lev had warmed up to Daphne and was now slightly getting used to Hermione but he didn't seem to like anyone else. I think he had a problem with boys being around me. Alla had said it was more because he didn't like people who took up too much of my attention. He just liked having me to himself I suppose. "You better go before they think I'm questioning you for secret strategies"
"No need to question, just ask nicely" he smirked but mounted his broom
"See you around" I laughed and turned to leave. I called for Lev and took him in my arms to make sure he didn't cause any more trouble.
We left the Gryffindors behind and I walked my puppy down to the Slytherin common room. There were several people there sitting around having conversations with one another or studying. I found Draco playing Wizard's Chess with Theodore in one of the small tables set up around the room. I pulled a chair from the next table and sat between them. Lev went his own way climbing up the stairs to my room having been more relaxed
"Hello" I greeted watching them. Draco smiled at me. Theo just nodded not turning from the chessboard. It must've been his turn. He instructed his Knight to move taking out Draco's Bishop.
"Want to play when we're done?" Theo asked me signaling Draco it was his turn
"What makes you so sure you'll win?" I smiled guessing by his tone that was what he expected
"It's Draco" he smiled as if that answered everything. I giggled and Draco frowned still haven't moved a piece
"Substitution?" I suggested
"Who with?" Theo asked looking at Draco's hand hovering over one of his remaining Pawns.
"Draco and my brain against you and your brain." Draco looked up. I smiled and scoot closer to him
"Fine" Theodore shrugged doubting I could help much either way
"Shouldn't I have to agree to this" Draco mumbled looking between us
"Don't you trust me" I whined batting eyelashes and pouting. He grumbled incoherently turning away. Theo shook his head at him then turned to me
"Your turn." Looking more closely at the board I saw Theo had been right to be confident. Draco had his King in check, only allowed to go back to be safe. Theodore's pieces were making sure no other possible move could take place. Or so he thought. I move Draco's King back.
Theo looked at me for a second then looked back down moving one of his Knights closer, taking our last Bishop. There was a small smirk on his face but I smiled back. I had expected as much from him. Once again I moved the King back. Theo looked a little confused but went on. He edged his promoted Pawn in front of my King. It was smart but predictable. Still I moved the King away, back to its starter position. Theodore was now downright suspicious. He stared at the King wondering why I had made that move. And as expected his Bishop moved closer, close to trapping me. I smiled and he narrowed his eyes
"You know you're supposed to be helping me right?" Draco mumbled looking at our match. I put a finger on his lips to shush him. It was my turn. Theo looked at the board wondering where I was going with this and why I was smiling at him. Then he saw it. He leaned back on his chair and chuckled slightly shaking his head
"Only you could've saved this"
"Only you could've missed it." I moved my Queen to take his Pawn. Theo had been so focused on Draco's King he didn't look carefully enough as to where his other pieces lay. His confidence, while just, was his downfall
"So… who's winning?" Draco asked looking at the chessboard not understanding our smiles. All he saw was Theodore's pieces in front of his. What we saw however was Theo's King in check. Only so many moves could be made and each one gave me an opportunity to take his pieces, not letting him close to our King
"Who do you think" Theo said calmly. He extended a hand to me and I shook it. Theodore had resigned. A good player knows when it's best to do so, as for respect of the other. Theo smiled and shook his head again before collecting his pieces and heading up to his room. Draco turned to me confused
"Congratulations" I smiled as he frowned at pieces still not understanding. I stood up, patted his head, and made my way to one of the vacant sofas in the room. I stretched my arms over my head for maximum comfort. But before I could put my feet up Draco took the seat next to me. I puffed out my cheek at him making him chuckle. He looked down for a second and in his lap I saw his chess set wrapped neatly in their bag. When I looked back up he was still smiling at me.
"You know, sometimes I wonder why you even need school" he smirked
"Everyone needs school but strategic planning can take you a long way" I smirked back
"If I were you I wouldn't bother with it" he stated leaning back against the couch
"If you were me you'd be a girl. Are you trying to tell me something Draco?" I teased. This wiped the smirk off his face making mine grow just a little more.
"Shut up" he glared at me a second more before standing up to leave. I laughed and he rolled his eyes before marching towards the stairs to his room. I was just teasing but Draco certainly would make a pretty girl