Updated as of 2/13/19
"That's it. Come on, now. Come close," Hagrid said from the top of the stairs to his hut to the class of third years. "Less talking, if you don't mind." Some students shushed the others. "I got a real treat for you today. A great lesson. So follow me." Everyone followed Hagrid into the woods and to a medium sized clearing with a short stone wall around it. Most students had taken off their robes since it was still rather warm out. Fiona took off hers and held it over one arm while she held her growling book in the other. "Right, you lot. Less chattering. Form a group over there. And open your books to page 49."
"Exactly how do we do that?" Draco asked.
"Just stroke the spine, of course. Goodness me," Hagrid said. Draco stroked the spine of the book and it purred. He made a face. Neville opened his book and it immediately tried to attack his face.
"Ahh! Ahh!" He fell over, torn bits of paper flying from the book's mouth.
"Don't be such a wimp, Longbottom," someone said.
"I'm okay. Okay." He stood for a moment before the book came at him again. "Ahh!" Harry and the others moved near a large boulder. Hermione put her book down on top of it, opened to the correct page while Fiona put her robe down beside it.
"I think they're funny," she said.
"Oh, yeah. Terribly funny," Draco said. The four turned to him. "Really witty. God, this place has gone to the dogs. Wait until my father hears that Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes." Crabbe laughed loudly beside him.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said walking to him.
"Ooh." Draco grinned. He dropped his bag towards Crabbe who caught it for him, before he walked forward. Draco glanced above Harry and his eyes widened. He took a few steps back and pointed. "D-dementor dementor!" Harry as well as the group behind him turned to see nothing there. Draco laughed loudly. When Harry turned back to Draco he saw that he and his lackeys – minus Crabbe since he had taken his robes off – brought up their hoods as they made eerie 'ooh' noises, wiggling their fingers at him. Hermione grabbed Harry and turned him away, making a face at the group before bring Harry away.
"Just ignore him," she said to him. Ron noticed Neville all torn up.
"You're supposed to stroke it," Ron said to him.
"Yeah," Neville squeaked. Hagrid cleared his throat.
"Da da da daaaa!" He motioned to an animal that emerged from the trees. It had the torso, hind legs, and tail of a horse, but the front legs, wings and head of a giant eagle. "Isn't he Beau'iful?" Hagrid asked before tossing the animal a ferret from his belt. "Say hello to Buckbeak."
"Hagrid, exactly what is that?" Ron asked.
"That, Ron, is a hippogriff," Hagrid said as he approached the class. "Firs' thing yeh wanna know about hippogriffs is that they're very proud creatures. Very easily offended. You do not want to insult a hippogriff. It may just be the last thing you ever do," he said before clapping his hands together. "Now, who'd like to come and say hello?" As he turned his back to them, the entire class, but Harry, stepped back and Neville ducked behind the large boulder.
"Har-" Fiona started to say but Hagrid turned back before Harry could turn to her.
"Well done, Harry. Well done." Harry turned to see everyone further away. "Come on now. Now…" Ron gave Harry a little push. "You have to let him make the first move. It's only polite. So… step up. Give him a nice bow." Harry walked closer. "Then you wait and see if he bows back. If he does, you can go and touch him. If not… well, we'll get to that later." Harry walked even closer and looked to Hagrid. "Make your bow." Harry bowed. "Nice and low." He glanced up. Buckbeak noticed him and made a noise before opening his wings. "Back off, Harry. Back off," Hagrid whispered urgently. Harry stepped back and snapped a twig.
"Oh go-" Fiona jumped and grabbed Hermione's sleeve while she grabbed Ron's.
"Keep still." Harry looked up. "Keep still." Buckbeak made a calmer noise before bowing. Hagrid chuckled. "Well done, Harry. Well done. Here, you big brute, you." He tossed another ferret to Buckbeak who gladly ate it. Harry stood up straight. "Right. I think you can go and pat him now." Harry looked to Hagrid with wide eyes. "Go on. Don't be shy." Draco and his group pushed other students out of the way so they could see better. He took a bite of an apple he'd gotten from his bad before sending a glare at Neville who then retreated to the other side of the group. "Nice and slow, now. Nice and slow. Slow." Harry approached Buckbeak and raised a hand. "Not so fast Harry." Buckbeak snapped his beak once. "Slow down, Harry. That's it…" Hagrid said softly. "Nice and slow. Now let him come to you." Buckbeak slowly walked closer and Harry took a few steps closer too until he touched Buckbeak's face. Harry grinned as he pet him. "Yes!" Hagrid exclaimed before he started clapping. "Well done! Well done, Harry, well done!" The class clapped.
"Does he get to fly?" A student asked quietly.
"I think he may let you ride 'im now," Hagrid said.
"What?" Harry asked, the smile gone.
"Come on." Hagrid picked him up and put him on Buckbeak's back.
"Hey! Hey hey hey hey hey! H-Hagrid!"
"Put you over here, just behind the wing joint. Don't pull any feathers out, cause he won't thank you for that," Hagrid said and, before Harry was settled, slapped Buckbeak's hindquarters. Buckbeak neighed before taking off running then lifting off the ground.
"Whoa!" The students rushed to watch them fly away. He flew around, mostly out of sight of the rest of the class, until Hagrid whistled for Buckbeak. He landed and galloped back to Hagrid. The class clapped and cheered for Harry.
"Well done, Harry!"
"Well, done!"
"Well done, Harry, and well done, Buckbeak," Hagrid said.
"That was wicked, Harry!"
"Oh please!" Draco snarled, standing up from where he'd been sitting on a rock.
"Well done, well done." Hagrid helped Harry off. "How'm I doing me first day?"
"Brilliant, Professor," Harry said with a grin. Draco pushed through the class and strode towards Buckbeak much too quickly.
"Yes, you're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute!" he said.
"Draco!" Fiona's eyes widened and without thinking she ran out after him.
"Malfoy, no," Hagrid said. Buckbeak reared up. "No!" Fiona reached him and pulled him away just as Buckbeak's claws came down and ended up getting her arm cut. The two hit the ground and Hagrid hurried in front of Buckbeak. The rest of the class scattered to get behind the small stone wall around the clearing.
"Buckbeak! Whoa, whoa, whoa…" Hagrid said with his arms up. Draco sat up with a groan.
"Fiona?" he asked as he saw her clutching her arm. "Fion-!" She was whimpering with her eyes closed and he saw blood starting to stain her shirt sleeve. "Oh god-" Draco stared at her with wide eyes as his hands hovered over her arm.
"Whoa! Buckbeak!" Hagrid said sternly. He threw a ferret away. "Away, you silly creature…"
"My father will hear about this!" Draco shouted at Hagrid as he stood before looking back down at Fiona.
"C-Calm down. It's just a scratch-" Hagrid saw the blood stain and his eyes widened.
"Hagrid!" Hermione shouted. "She has to be taken to the hospital!"
"I'm the teacher. I'll do it," Hagrid said before carefully picking Fiona up. Harry quickly ran to go with him, shooting Draco a glare before following after Hagrid. "Class dismissed!"
…
Madame Pomfrey had stopped the bleeding and it would only take a week or so for the cuts to fully heal. There would only be a light scaring on the middle of her outer arm; the talons had ranked down from a few inches above her elbow to the middle of her forearm. Harry sat with her as Madame Pomfrey wrapped her arm before putting it into a sling. She made him promise he would make sure Fiona didn't use her arm for anything and possibly reopen the wounds; she wouldn't be able to write or use her right arm for pretty much anything. Fiona wasn't used to writing with her left hand but Harry gladly agreed to help her out with writing any homework she had even though she insisted she didn't mind how long it took to use her left hand.
After, the two left the hospital wing and met with the others in the great hall for study hall. Harry carried Fiona's books despite her protesting. She still had one good arm, but he insisted on helping her. Out of all of their handwriting Hermione's was the best but she already had twice the homework they did. Ron however had the worst so the best option was for Harry to write for her.
"You should make Malfoy do your homework," Ron suggested. "It was his fault."
"How's your arm?" Hermione asked as Fiona sat down.
"Should be alright in a week or so," she said glancing down at her arm. "I can't use it at all."
"Stupid, Malfoy," Ron muttered, glaring at the back of the blond's head. Fiona glanced over just as Draco turned to look at her. He didn't smirk but looked down before turning back. "You should make him do your homework," Ron suggested. "It was his fault."
"I don't mind doing it for her," Harry told him. "At least Hagrid didn't get fired."
"Yes. But I hear Draco's already told his father and he's furious," Hermione said. "We haven't heard the end of this…"
"He's been sighted! He's been sighted!" Seamus shouted as he put a paper down on the table.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Sirius Black!" Seamus said. The Gryffindors huddled around the paper.
"Dufftown?" Hermione asked. "That's not far from here."
"You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you?" Neville asked.
"With the dementors at every entrance?" a boy asked.
"Dementors?" Seamus asked. "He's already slipped by them once, hasn't he? Who's to say he won't do it again?"
"That's right," Bem said. "Black could be anywhere. It's like trying to catch smoke. Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands."
…
Fiona was getting ready for bed that night when Grimm jumped up into the bed in front of her with something in his mouth.
"What's that?" she asked. Grimm dropped the paper and Fiona picked it up before unfolding it.
Sorry about your arm. Feel better soon.
Fiona sighed and looked down at the cat who sat beside her.
"He's such a prat… but then he does something like this. What am I supposed to think of him?" The cat blinked. "I don't know why you like him so much." The cat moved to the foot of the bed and curled into a ball. "Nice talk."
Fiona winced before letting out a frustrated sigh as she attempted to cut up the daisy roots required for the Shrinking Solution they were making in double Potions. She still wasn't technically supposed to use her arm but she didn't want to get any of her friends in trouble for helping her.
"Malfoy, assist Miss Gaunt with her roots," Snape drawled.
"Gladly," Draco chimed with a grin. He held out his hand for the small knife she had been using. Fiona let out a sigh before handing it to him. Draco started on chopping the roots before he went ahead and started to skin the shrivelfig for her. He cleared his throat and glanced at her to see a scowl on her face. "Did you get my-"
"Your note? Yes. I would appreciate if you didn't use my cat as an owl." She turned back to her cauldron and added in the roots. "I don't require your help any longer, off you go." Fiona didn't even look at him as she dismissed him. He let out a sigh and continued on his work.
The students were all standing in a large group in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom in front of a tall wardrobe that rattled violently.
"Intriguing, isn't it?" Lupin asked. Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?"
"That's a Boggart, that is," Dean said.
"Very good, Mr. Thomas. Now, can anybody tell me what a Boggart looks like?
"No one knows," Hermione said. Ron jumped.
"When'd she get here?" he asked.
"Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears the most. That's what makes them so…"
"So terrifying, yes, yes, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now. Ah- Without wands, please. After me. Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!"
"Very good. A little louder and very clear. Listen: Riddikulus!"
"It's this class that's ridiculous," Draco muttered.
"Very good," Lupin said. "Well, so much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart is... laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain. Uh…Neville, would you join me, please?" Neville looked around at everyone else. "Come on, don't be shy. Come on. Come on." Neville walked up. "Hello. Neville, what frightens you most of all?"
"Profter... Snafpt..."
"Sorry?"
"Professor Snape." Everyone laughed good-naturedly.
"Professor Snape. Yes, frightens all." Lupin nodded thoughtfully. "And I believe you live with your grandmother?"
"Yes, but I don't want that Boggart to turn into her either," Neville said. The class laughed again.
"No…" Lupin shook his head before looking at the rattling wardrobe. "It won't. I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind."
"She carries a red handbag..."
"We don't need to hear," Lupin said. "As long as you see it, we'll see it. Now, when I open that wardrobe, here's what I want you to do..." He walked up to Neville to whisper something. Neville's eyes popped open in shock. "Can you do that?" Neville looked rather uncertain. "Yes… wand at the ready!" he took out his own wand to open the wardrobe. "One, two, three." The doorknob turned and the door slowly opened. Snape appeared inside. "Think, Neville. Think!" Snape approached him but Neville waved his wand.
"R-r-riddikulus!" he said. Snape stumbled back as he was studdenly wearing a long lace-trimmed green dress, a large hat with a bird on it, a fox around his neck and a handbag. The class started laughing. Neville blinked, amazed, then slowly, grinned himself.
"Wonderful, Neville, wonderful! Incredible!" Lupin said. "Okay to the back, Neville. Everyone, form a line." He walked over to an old gramophone as the students got into a line but pushed and shoved. "Form a line!" Ron was in the front. "I want everyone to picture the thing they fear the very most… and turn it into something funny." He dropped the needle on the gramophone. "Next! Ron!" A scratchy rumba filled the room. Ron walked forward and the boogart straightened up. "Concentrate. Face your fear. Be brave!" Snape dissolved into a mad whirling mass, then mutates into a giant spider. Ron whimpered as he took out his wand. "Wand at the ready, Ron. Wand at the ready."
"Riddikulus!" Ron said. Suddenly roller skates materialized on the spider's feet and it began to shuffle crazily in place. Instantly, Ron relaxed as the class' laughter rang out.
"Yes!" Lupin laughed. "You see? Very good, very good!" he said. "Marvelous! Absolutely, very, very enjoyable! Parvati! Next!" Ron moved to the back, high fiving Harry on the way by. He grinned at Fiona who grinned back. "Show us what you see."As Parvati steps up, the spider spun again like before until it turned into a giant cobra. It hissed at her. "Keep your nerve. Steady."
"Riddikulus!" The snake turned into a Jack-in-the-box clown rocking back and forth.
"And next! Step up, step up!" Harry gave Fiona a reassuring pat on the shoulder before she stepped forward, taking out her wand with her left hand (as her right – dominate – arm was still in a sling). The Jack-in-the-box spun around until a familiar figure appeared. Fiona's smile dropped as she let out a small gasp and everyone began murmuring behind her. She couldn't move. Lupin turned to see what the boggart had turned into.
"Don't look so scared, Fee… we're family after all," Tom said with a smirk, tilting his head to the side. Fiona raised her wand but her hand was visibly shaking and she ended up dropping her wand. Harry quickly moved in front of her, arms out to block her. Tom frowned and spun into a dementor.
"Here!" Lupin jumped in front of the boggart that then turned into the moon appearing behind some clouds. "Riddikulus!" The moon popped and flew around the room like crazy before it darted back into the wardrobe. "Right, well. Sorry about that. That's enough for today. If you'd all like to collect your books from the back of the class, that's the end of the lesson, thank you." The class groaned. "Sorry! Sorry, you can have too much of a good thing."
"Fiona, are you okay?" Harry asked as he grabbed Fiona's wand off the floor. Fiona blinked a few times before looking at him.
"Wh-what?"
"Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine," she said giving him a weak smile. "Thanks," she muttered as he handed her the wand. Harry put an arm around her shoulders and followed after their classmates to leave the room. Draco looked back to meet Fiona's eyes briefly as he was leaving the room before she looked away.
…
Fiona sat in the common room that night with a book balanced on her knees. Everyone was up in their dorms by now but she was too comfortable to move. She heard a muffled meow and looked down to see Grimm with a paper in his mouth.
"What've you got there, boy?" she asked. "Another one?" She took the paper from him and unfolded it.
Moaning Myrtle's bathroom 11 o'clock. Tonight.
Fiona looked up at the clock to see it was only around 10:15.
"No name again…but you and I both know who it's from," Fiona said looking down at the cat. "So I guess you're a messenger kitty now, huh? Should I transfigure you into an owl?" The cat blinked up at her. Fiona let out a sigh. "I have to respond to this one, don't I?" She looked at the cat that just stared up at her. "I'll do it later," she said. Grimm trotted over to a table and picked up a quill before bringing it back to Fiona. "Thank you." She took it and let out another sigh before writing a response below the message, a simple yes was all her right hand could take. She folded it back up then paused. "I'd hate to make you go all the way back down." Grimm took the paper from her and bolted from the room. "Alright then."
…
Draco was pacing outside the common room waiting for Grimm to return. He heard the little pitter patter of feet coming down the corridor and turned to see the black cat with the paper in its mouth.
"Did she read it?" he asked as the cat walked up to him. "Oh what am I asking you for?" Draco went to take the paper when Grimm raised a claw and swatted the air a few times. "Ah- fine, I'm sorry-I'm sorry," he said before holding out his hand. Grimm put the note in his hand before turning and leaving. "Wait!" The cat ignored him and rounded the corner. "Weird cat…" He let out a sigh before opening the paper. "She's coming?... She's coming!" He slapped his hand over his mouth and quickly entered the Slytherin common room.
…
When she entered the bathroom he was half leaning half sitting against one of the sinks. Fiona felt a chill down her spine as she realized he was leaning against the Chamber's entrance. He saw her and smirked slightly.
"I didn't think you'd come," Draco said as Fiona walked further into the room.
"Neither did I," she admitted. "What do you want?" His smirk faded.
"How's your arm?" he asked, nodding to it.
"Better," Fiona said putting her hand over it. "Kinda. It'll be a few more days."
"You shouldn't have got in the way," Draco said. Fiona frowned. "Not that I'm not grateful! But I'd rather… that you didn't get hurt," he said as he looked away.
"It was your fault." Draco opened his mouth but closed it and nodded.
"I know. I'm... I'm sorry."
"Is the world ending? Did Draco Malfoy just apologize… to me?"
"I..." Draco frowned. "I've apologized to you before, you know…"
"I know but not since first year," Fiona said. Draco frowned. "Sorry…I was just teasing you," she said. "It must've taken a lot," she added with a smirk.
"Okay... I deserved that," he said with a nod.
"So will you be using my cat as a messenger often? I'm sure you own an owl."
"Only sometimes," he said with a slight smirk. "Grimm's more discreet," he added with a shrug.
"Not all the time?"
"Well... He can't very well bring you anything heavier than a note."
"And what's heavier than paper that'd you'd be giving me?"
"You'll just have to wait and find out," he said with a bigger smirk. Fiona found her cheeks growing red and tried to convince herself it was just the chill in the room from Myrtle.
"Like flowers and chocolate?" she asked. It was his turn for his cheeks to turn pink. He shifted slightly and suddenly found the ground fascinating. "Tell me you didn't actually write that poem last year."
"Of course I wrote it!" He cleared his throat. "I may have asked Crabbe and Goyle to help with a few lines," he admitted quietly.
"Did you have to have it sung though? Why couldn't you have written it out?"
"I didn't want you to just be able to throw it out," Draco admitted as he crossed his arms.
"Well I didn't throw out the flowers until they died," she told him.
"And the chocolate?"
"Gave it to Ron." Draco scowled. "They wanted me to have it checked for a love potion."
"I wouldn't use that on you," Draco said with a frown. "I don't need a potion for that."
"Well, you're confident aren't you?" He grinned at her. Fiona let a small chuckle escape as she tried to hide her smile.
"So... Your boggart..."
"Uh, I-I'd rather not talk about that," Fiona said as she looked down, her smile gone.
"Who was that boy?" Draco asked anyway. "He said you were family," he trailed off seeing her biting her lip and hugging herself with her good arm. "Sorry," he muttered.
"Tom Riddle... Last year... He opened the Chamber through... a diary. He was a memory trying to come back to life..."
"How is he related to you?" Draco asked with a confused frown.
"Apparently he's my… great uncle," she said before glancing at him.
"Your great uncle?" His head tilted to the side.
"Voldemort." Draco's eyes widened. "When he was a student here…"
"You mean… you're actually related to… him." Fiona closed her eyes and nodded. "Well, he's gone now right," Draco said. "But even if he wasn't... Why would he hurt you?"
"I'm a half-blood and in Gryffindor?" she suggested.
"But you're still his family."
"You think he'd care about family?" Fiona asked as she opened her eyes to look at him.
"You never know," Draco said. "I mean... I don't care that you're a half-blood... Or a Gryffindor for that matter," he told her as he took a few steps towards her. Fiona blinked and felt her mouth fall open slightly.
"You… you don't?" she asked.
"I wouldn't be standing here if I did," he said looking away. Draco turned around to face the sinks. "Is it still there?"
"What?"
"The chamber, it's here isn't it?" he asked turning his head to look at her. "The Chamber of Secrets."
"Of course it is... why?"
"Would you show me?" he asked as he turned to face her again.
"Sh-show you?!"
"Shh-shh-shh! Not so loud," Draco said as he took a few quick steps towards her with his hands up. "She might hear you," he added as he looked around the room.
"I think she would've heard us by now," Fiona said. "She must not like you," she added with a smirk.
"Oh ha ha," he said rolling his eyes. "Now are you going to show me or not?"
"Why would I show you? You think I want to go back down there?" she asked as she hugged herself with her good arm. Another chill went down her spine and she rolled her shoulders a bit as she shifted on her feet.
"He's not down there, Fiona," Draco said shaking his head with a serious look.
"I know that," she said looking down.
"And Potter killed the monster that was down there, didn't he?" Fiona nodded. "So there's nothing to fear. If there is... I'll protect you this time. I swear." He held out his hand to her. Fiona looked from his hand to his face, to his eyes. Not of a hint of a smirk on his face or a lie in his eyes. Fiona bit her bottom lip.
"Oh, take his hand!" The two jumped as Myrtle phased out of the wall. She moved towards Fiona. "He may be Slytherin, and he's no Harry Potter, but he's still quite attractive," she stage-whispered to her with a giggle.
"I'd rather you not compare me to Potter!" Draco spat, glaring at the ghost. She whined sadly.
"He's nicer than you!" she shrieked before floating away, crying, before going into a toilet.
"I can be nice!" Draco shouted after her with a deep frown. He glanced at Fiona. "I can…"
"Sure you can," Fiona said. "But you have your reputation to uphold." Draco nodded then frowned and looked away.
"You uh… you and Potter... You're not...?" he trailed off before glancing at her. Fiona blinked. "You know."
"What? Me and Har- no! No. We're not..." Fiona shook her head but her cheeks went red. "He's like my brother."
"Right." Draco nodded. "S-so..." He cleared his throat. "The chamber?" He nodded towards the sinks.
"We'd have no way to get back up," Fiona pointed out.
"How'd you get up the last time?"
"Fawkes."
"What?"
"Dumbledore's phoenix," Fiona said. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Of course…There's gotta be another way up," he said. "I know, if I get my broom we can ride it down and back," he suggested.
"I don't know, Draco. I-It's getting late and-"
"Look, I know you're scared but if you don't face it you always will be," he said.
"This isn't about me. Why are you so determined to go down there?"
"Well… there's not many places we can hang out together," he said with a shrug as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"We never… hangout," she pointed out.
"We could," he suggested with a hopeful smile that made her heart flutter. "No one would see us down there."
"So… you just don't want to be seen with me. Is that it?"
"No! I swear," he said, surprising her with how serious his tone was. "I just meant… just the two of us… I thought it could be a secret place only we could go."
"Why… why do you want a secret place to go with me?" Fiona asked. She saw his cheeks turn red and he quickly looked away.
"Well, it's just…we… I just…" He cleared his throat and Fiona smiled; for once he didn't know what to say right away.
"You know, Harry can open it too," she said, changing the subject for him.
"Well, I highly doubt Potter would go back down."
"And you expect me to?"
"We don't have to do it tonight. Meet me here same time in a few days? When your arm is better. I'll be right there with you." He held out his hand to her again. Fiona hesitated.
"O-okay." She put her in his and he smiled, an actual smile. His hands weren't as cold as she thought they'd be.
"I think it is best we wait. You'll need two arms to hold onto me with," he said with a wink before surprising her further and kissing the back of her hand. Fiona's face flushed and she looked away. "Good night, Fiona," he said letting go of her hand, slowly.
"Good night."
A few nights later, the two faced the sinks in Myrtle's bathroom; Draco held onto his broom with one hand, and took Fiona's hand with the other. She glanced at him briefly and swallowed before taking a breath.
"Hesha-Hassah," she spoke in parseltongue. The sink moved like it had the year before to reveal the entrance. She glanced at Draco to see him staring in awe. He snapped out of it and mounted his broom before he gently pulled Fiona on behind him.
"Hold on tight, now," he said glancing back at her. Fiona wrapped her arms around him and ignored the colour in her cheeks.
"It's a long way down," she said.
"You're safe with me," he said softly as he smiled back at her. She nodded and they lifted off the ground a few feet. She gasped, her hold on him tightened and she squeezed her eyes shut as he flew over the entrance. "Is this the first time you've been on a broom since first year?" he asked.
"No," she squeaked. "I just don't make it a habit to ride a broom during the school year."
"I'll go slow then," he said and lowered the broom into the hole. "Should we talk to keep you distracted?" he asked. She nodded against his back. "Alright... Will go with me to the first Hogsmeade weekend?"
"What?"
"Will you go with me? Just the two of us. No Potter, no Weasley or Granger and no Crabbe or Goyle."
"No Pansy Parkison?" she asked. Draco chuckled.
"You jealous?"
"No... She might be though."
"Don't mind her. Annoying really," he admitted with a sigh as he shook his head.
"You encourage her."
"I don't think I need to," he groaned. "So why the name Grimm?"
"I didn't name him," Fiona said. "But I liked the name so I kept it."
"Fair enough," Draco said. "Did you ever open that present last year?"
"Was I supposed to?"
"Uh-...well… you didn't have to…" he muttered.
"Why are you always..." Fiona paused.
"Always what?"
"I don't know... Ever since you learned my last name... You always smile at me... And now we're doing this... And... It's all just because my last name is Gaunt, isn't it?"
"No! That's not why we're doing this... I-I mean... Yes my father told me to be nice to you and try to be your friend... Well, he gave me some advice to get you to like me… but I swear that's not why I'm doing this!"
"Your… father told you to be nice to me?" Fiona asked, she couldn't hide the shock and even hurt in her voice.
"N-no-! He-! Don't get the wrong idea!" he said quickly. "H-he and your dad aren't the best of friends and I guess he was thinking he could improve that relationship if we were friends…. At least… that's what he told me." Fiona clenched her hands in his shirt. "I asked him for advice before you started talking to me last year since the year before went so well. Regardless of what my father wanted I was going to be nice to you!" he added quickly. "When I first mentioned you, he mentioned your father."
"Why do you want me to like you so much?" she asked. Draco opened his mouth to answer but was glad when they reached the bottom.
"Where from here?" he asked. Fiona opened her eyes and pointed.
"Um….that way." Draco nodded and they headed down a pipe.
"You're a pretty girl. Why wouldn't I want you to like me?" Fiona found herself smiling slightly. "I know I can be..."
"An idiot, a prat, a jerk, an arse-?"
"Difficult," Draco said. "But... I do have a reputation to keep. As do you. I mean... I'm sure you won't go bragging to Potter about being with me so late at night... Though I'd love to see the look on his face," he said with a chuckle.
"And you wouldn't brag about me," Fiona said.
"I'd brag about you in a heartbeat," he without missing a beat. His eyes widened. The words had just slipped out. "Who wouldn't," he added.
"I kinda wish you were like this all the time," she said quietly.
"Just for you," he said back quietly.
"When did you become such a romantic?"
"R-romantic?" he asked with an almost nervous chuckle. Draco's cheeks went pink and when he heard Fiona giggle quietly he couldn't help but smile. "You never did answer my question."
"Which one?"
"Will you come to Hogsmeade with me?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Mhm. Ask me again later."
"Alright. I will," he said. "Which way from here?"
"Um… that way." Fiona pointed. Draco nodded and the turned to the right. "Were you afraid of me last year?"
"What? Afraid of you?" What are you talking about?"
"Last year… whenever I looked at you, especially after you'd said something stupid… you just looked scared."
"Well, I may have… thought you were the heir of Slytherin," he muttered.
"You did?"
"You are related to the founder, why wouldn't I think that?" he asked. "Just because you don't share his views on blood purity doesn't mean you couldn't be the Heir. Though I knew it wasn't you when Granger was attacked," he added. "How do we get this door open?" They had come to the round snake door.
"Same way as before." Fiona got off the back of the broom before Draco did. She approached the door. "Hesha-Hassah." The door started to unlock.
"You've always known how to… talk like that?" Draco asked. Fiona looked at him and nodded. Draco nodded. "Neat."
"It wasn't so neat last year," she muttered. The door opened.
"Well, I find it cool," he said. "You can talk to any snake?" Fiona nodded as the two stepped over the bottom part of the round door.
"Mostly the garden snakes at my house. They were just as surprised as I was." Draco chuckled.
"I'll go first," he said before climbing down the short ladder. Fiona went down after him. She turned and saw he had put his arms up in case she slipped. "It's not that scary down here..." Draco said. He noticed Fiona looking around and held out his hand. "Shall we?" Fiona took his hand and he gave hers a reassuring squeeze. The two started walking down the walkway. "Was that the monster?" Draco asked seeing the large skeleton. Fiona nodded. "How did he kill it?"
"Stabbed it through the head with a sword."
"Where'd Potter get a sword?" Draco asked with a frown.
"The sorting hat."
"What?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know. That's what happened," she said with a shrug. "I was a bit paralyzed with fear of the 16 year old Dark Lord telling me we're related."
"Bit dark in here, isn't it?" Draco took out his wand. "Lumos." The tip of his wand started to glow. "That's better." He smiled down at her. The two approached the stone face. "Are you alright?" Fiona nodded. "See… no one here, nothing to harm you." He turned to face her. "You're safe." He smiled down at her. "So, how much later until I can ask you out again?"
"Ask me out?" she teased with a smirk, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in her stomach.
"To Hogsmeade," he corrected himself quickly. "Though, if you wanted to think of it as a date I wouldn't complain."
"Alright." Draco's eyebrows shot up.
"What?"
"Alright. I'll go with you." She chuckled slightly. "You know, you're cute when you have that silly grin on your face," she admitted as her own smile started to spread. He chuckled slightly and scratched the back of his head.