Draco had lasted all of five minutes before he found an excuse to argue with Potter, both boys marching towards each other, their chests puffed out. Kassidy rolled her eyes at their dramatics, looking down to her strange book, trying to figure out what the lesson would be about. She saw someone come to stand beside her, turning to see Pansy with a smirk on her face, obviously enjoying Draco's performance.
"I didn't think this class would be for you, Pansy" Kassidy pointed out, letting the book fall to her side.
"Draco's spent all morning recruiting as many Slytherin's as he could to join this class. Isn't that why you're here?" Pansy frowned.
Kassidy gave her a simple shrug in response, not wanting to admit her true intentions. When Kassidy had heard about the class, it had piqued her interest. Magical creatures sounded a lot less tiresome than Divination. Kassidy was brought back to reality by Pansy's giggling, as she watched Draco mock Harry's fear of Dementor's. After seeing the creatures face to face, Kassidy didn't find it very amusing.
"I still don't understand why you have a crush on that jerk" Kassidy mumbled, as Pansy's forehead wrinkled once again.
"Who said I have a crush on him?" Pansy replied, as Kassidy quirked an eyebrow.
"You've been fawning over him since the end of Second Year" Kassidy pointed out, watching Pansy purse her lips.
"…Can you keep a secret?" Pansy inquired, as Kassidy's lips twitched into a smile, nodding quickly.
"It's my mother. She's been pushing me to make an impression with Draco, keeps saying that we should join houses" Pansy explained, surprising Kassidy.
"And here I was thinking you just had bad taste" Kassidy teased, as Pansy scoffed with amusement.
"Malfoy wouldn't be a bad suitor. His family have a lot of standing—" Pansy began but was quickly cut off by Kassidy.
"Surely your mother's not already thinking about…marriage?" Kassidy gaped, finding the idea ridiculous.
"Not yet, silly. But my mother started to make her interest known to my father at this age" Pansy shrugged, but Kassidy still didn't look convinced.
"But do you actually like him?" Kassidy insisted, as Pansy mulled this over for a few moments.
Her eyes scanned around the group in front of them, flickering between a boy picking his nose, and another one scratching his behind. With a look of disgust, she turned back to Kassidy, her eyebrow arched.
"I think I could do worse" Pansy pointed out, as the two girls erupted into a fit of giggles.
A loud cough pulled them back to the class in hand, as Hagrid ushered over to a creature a few metres behind him. From the back of the crowd, Kassidy could barely see the magical creature, and elbowed her way through a group of Gryffindor's coming to stand beside her brother. Kassidy's jaw dropped open when she the beast plodding towards them. Her eyes trailed over the creature's eagle-like front, staying on the sharp beak for a few seconds, before finding it had a horse's body at the rear. She had never seen a beast like it before.
"Woah…" She mumbled, feeling her brother shake beside her.
"Isn't he beautiful? Say hello to Buckbeak" Hagrid announced, throwing a dead ferret in the air, which the creature easily caught in its beak.
"Hagrid, exactly what is that?" Ron Weasley asked, curiously.
"That, Ron, is a Hippogriff…First thing you wanna know about Hippogriffs is that they're very proud creatures. Very easily offended. You do not want to insult a Hippogriff. It may be the last thing you ever do. Now, who'd like to come and say hello?" Hagrid asked, clapping his hands together.
Everyone apart from Harry and Kassidy took a step back, with Neville even dropping to the ground, opting to hide behind a rock. Kassidy giggled at his ridiculous behaviour, reaching down to haul him up again. She wasn't surprised when their teacher chose Harry, who was very clearly his favourite.
"You have to let him make the first move. It's only polite. So...step up. Give him a nice bow. 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" Hagrid exclaimed, as Kassidy guessed it would result in loss of limb.
After a tense few seconds, when it seemed like Buckbeak would attack, he slowly bowed to Harry. Hearing a few grunts from behind her, Kassidy turned to see Malfoy pushing his way to the front of the crowd, coming to stand beside her. He took an obnoxiously loud bite out of his green apple, his eyes watching Potter closely.
"Let's hope the stupid creature bites his hand off" Draco sniggered to Crabbe and Goyle, who were on his other side.
"At least Potter was brave enough to volunteer" Kassidy muttered, as Draco whipped around to face her.
"I didn't see you insisting to be chosen" Draco scoffed, crossing his arms.
"…Well, if Potter survives, I'll go next" Kassidy retorted, hearing Neville gasp behind her.
"Kassie, you can't!" Neville cried, his forehead wrinkled with worry.
"Better listen to your brother, Longbottom. We all know he wouldn't survive two seconds without your protection" Malfoy mocked, watching her jaw tense.
"Like I was saying, I'll go next…only if you go after me" Kassidy challenged, a smirk on her face.
Draco seemed a little taken aback at this, uncertainty flashing across his features. Crabbe and Goyle were quick to cheer him on, insisting that anything Kassidy could do, Malfoy could obviously do better. Taking another bite out of his apple, his confidence back, Draco nodded.
"Your on, Longbottom" Draco sneered.
A flurry of claps brought their attention back to Harry, who had been able to successfully pat Buckbeak. Almost immediately, Hagrid was insisting Harry could ride the beast, grabbing him by his arms and all but throwing him onto Buckbeak before Harry could argue. Buckbeak let out a distressed shriek before he was suddenly racing forwards and flying off the ground. Kassidy's jaw dropped open for the second time that day, as she watched Buckbeak fly off past the tree's with Potter clinging to his back. Kassidy heard Draco audibly gulp as Harry disappeared out of eyesight, clearly growing nervous.
"Scared, Malfoy?" Kassidy teased, unable to stop herself.
"Oh, please. If Potter can do it, I'll be able to do it with my eyes closed" Draco insisted.
As Buckbeak flew back towards them a few minutes later, Kassidy could tell Draco was getting nervous, his apple discarded as he fidgeted with his hands. Even she was regretting her actions, wondering what had gotten into her. Harry almost fell off Buckbeak as the creature reached the ground, thunderous applause starting up.
"Looks like it's your turn, Longbottom. Unless you're too chicken?" Draco mocked, a smirk on his face.
"Get ready to eat your words" Kassidy retorted, shoving past him and making her way to the front of the group.
"Kassidy, don't!" Neville cried, in a panic.
"Right, who's next?" Hagrid questioned, as he pulled Harry off Buckbeak, his large size making this easy.
"I will!" Kassidy announced, taking a few steps forward, separating herself from the rest of the crowd.
With a quick nod, Hagrid ushered for her to approach the Hippogriff, as Kassidy tried to calm her breathing. Her palms were sweating heavily by the time she was a few metres away from Buckbeak and slowly gave him a bow. She could hear the beast flap his wings a few times, panicked whispers starting up from behind her. A theory suddenly came to mind, as Kassidy kept her eyes planted firmly on the ground, hoping this would be a further sign of respect to Buckbeak. A shuffling sound had her eyes flickering up nervously, as she watched him bow his head with a squawk. Relief flooded through Kassidy as she pushed herself to her normal height, hearing claps from the crowd.
"Right, your turn to pat him now" Hagrid stated, as the young girl gulped.
The idea of having her hands anywhere near the large creature's beak terrified her, but still, she took a few steps forward. She was surprised when Buckbeak lowered his head a little, almost ushering her on. Letting out a shaky breath, Kassidy held out her hand, her fingers lightly touching the creature's beak, as he closed his eyes. A smile spread over her lips, as Buckbeak allowed her to pet him, letting out a low squawk, enjoying himself. A loud cheer had her whipping her head around, as she saw Neville jumping up and down, a broad grin on his face. She grinned back at him, her eyes finding Malfoy beside him, who was giving her a quick clap. Even he had been impressed. If only a little.
"Alright, let's get you onto his back—" Hagrid began, reaching out to her, but she brushed his hands away.
"He only just flew around the Castle; shouldn't we give him a break?" Kassidy frowned, as Buckbeak let out a chittering sound, as if agreeing.
"Oh…well, yes. I suppose your right" Hagrid nodded, surprised that she seemed to be thinking of the Hippogriff.
"I knew you'd chicken out, coward!" Draco called out, as Kassidy grit her teeth, raising an eyebrow.
"If you're in such a rush to go next, be my guest, Malfoy!" Kassidy scoffed, crossing her arms.
Draco was quickly marching forward, wanting to show her up, and complete the challenge she had set him. Hagrid's eyes widened as he saw Draco showed no sign of slowing down, a sneer on his face.
"I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" Draco mocked, coming to stand in front of Buckbeak.
"Malfoy, no—" Hagrid began, but was cut off as Buckbeak suddenly stood up on his hind legs, his wings spreading out.
In a flash, Buckbeak let out a loud shrieking noise, his talons lashing out angrily. Draco's face would have been slashed if he hadn't raised his arm in time, his robe being sliced open. Draco let out a pained scream, as he fell onto his back, Kassidy felt a strange instinct washing over her. Before she knew what she was doing, Kassidy was racing forward, coming to stand in front of Draco who was now rolling on the ground, clutching his arm.
"Buckbeak!" She cried, her voice firm.
The creature stood back down but was still squawking angrily, trying to get past Kassidy. With a stern expression, she held out her hand, her lips pursed together.
"Hey! Stop it!" Kassidy insisted, as the crowd behind her stood in silence.
Buckbeak slowly seemed to calm down, lowering his head a little, as it chittered. Hagrid quickly grabbed one of the dead ferrets around his neck, throwing it away from them, as Buckbeak chased after it. Kassidy's eyes flickered down to Malfoy, feeling a spark of guilt when she saw blood splattered over his white shirt. If she hadn't been teasing him, Draco might not have challenged the beast.
"It's killed me! It's killed me!" Draco moaned, his eyes still closed.
"Don't be so dramatic. Look, it's not even that bad!" Kassidy exclaimed, crouching down by his side.
She held his arm up as his eyes shot open to look at his limb, finding blood running down his fingers, dripping onto the floor. Kassidy let out a groan, as Draco's eyes fluttered close again, looking like he had just passed out.
"C-calm down, Malfoy. It's…it's just a scratch" Hagrid stuttered, as Kassidy gave him a look.
"He's bleeding. He needs to go to the hospital" Kassidy told him, as Hagrid nodded quickly.
"I'm the teacher, I'll do it" Hagrid announced, as he easily scooped Malfoy into his arms, who was regaining consciousness.
"You're gonna' regret this…you and your bloody chicken" Draco mumbled, as Kassidy couldn't stop the laugh that left her lips.
"Class dismissed" Hagrid called back, as he marched back towards the Castle, holding Draco close to his chest.
Before Kassidy knew what was happening, she was being squished into someone's chest, practically being suffocated. She was quick to push them away, finding it was Neville, who still shaking. She ran an embarrassed hand through her hair, as the class crowded around her.
"Kassidy saved Malfoy!" Pansy exclaimed, as the Slytherin's all began clapping for her.
"…Uh, well…someone had to, right?" Kassidy muttered, a blush on her cheeks.
"Did they?" She heard Ron complain, from the back of the crowd.
Kassidy's feet seemed to have a mind of their own, as she found herself walking into the hospital wing after lessons had finished that day. The guilt was still eating her up inside, especially after seeing how Draco had been writhing in pain. It made her think of her parents. With a shake of her head, she realised that everything seemed to remind her of them, even just the school itself. She often wondered if her parents were found earlier, could have they been saved? Her thoughts trailed off as she saw Draco was out of his hospital bed, pulling something out of the drawers by his bedside. His left arm was in a sling, but he still seemed to be able to use it fine.
"Thought your arm might haven fallen off from the way you were moaning earlier" Kassidy announced, as Malfoy's eyes snapped over to hers.
"You weren't the one attacked by an evil beast" Draco muttered, standing up.
"Neither were you. If you had just listened to Hagrid—" Kassidy started, but he cut her off.
"Is there something you wanted, Longbottom? Or have you just come to mock me too?" Draco snapped, causing her to frown.
She wondered who had been mocking him and realised that Crabbe and Goyle were nowhere to be found. The two boys barely ever left Draco's side. Biting the inside of her cheek, she realised he was probably embarrassed by his outburst earlier.
"Does it hurt much?" Kassidy asked, taking a few steps closer, despite there being no other patients in the hospital wing.
"…Oh...yeah. It's agony" Malfoy mumbled, as Kassidy quirked an eyebrow.
"You're not a very good liar, you know?" Kassidy scoffed, coming to sit on his hospital bed.
"Alright, maybe it's not as bad that, but it still hurts! I needed a bandage and everything!" Draco insisted, shoving his wounded arm in her face.
"Wow, that must have been like so traumatic" Kassidy said sarcastically, as Malfoy came to sit beside her.
"I thought you weren't coming to mock me" Draco huffed, crossing his good arm.
"But it's so much fun" Kassidy smirked, as Draco rolled his eyes, but even his own lips twitched into a smile.
"Besides, what I really came for was to receive my thanks" Kassidy announced, watching a frown grow on Draco's face.
"For what?" Draco questioned, as she looked at him in disbelief.
"Uh, I did save your life back there" Kassidy pointed out, as Draco scoffed.
"I would have handled it" Draco muttered.
"From where you were rolling around on the ground like a baby?" Kassidy went on, as Draco's jaw tensed.
"The only reason I got hurt in the first place was because of that stupid bet!" Draco insisted.
"That wasn't my fault" Kassidy complained, through gritted teeth.
"Then why does everyone around you get hurt, Longbottom?" Draco accused, as her eyes snapped up to his.
Draco watched hurt flash over her face, a hidden meaning obvious behind his words. The two continued to stare at each other for a few seconds, as Kassidy cursed the tears that were beginning to well in her eyes. She wondered how much Draco's family had told him about what had happened to her parents? Did he know his Aunt had all but destroyed her life when she was just a baby? Did they joke about it at the dinner table? Kassidy pushed herself to her feet, with a scowl, storming away from Draco, who's eyes were now downcast. Kassidy wiped away at a stray tear that fell down her cheek, angry with herself for thinking for a moment that Malfoy could actually act like a normal person.
Kassidy laid her chin on her hand, as she listened to Snape drone on about what potions they would be making that year. Her mind was still on what Draco had said to her the day before, his harsh words hitting their mark. She had been foolish to volunteer to pet Buckbeak and to spur him on. Neville had tried to persuade her not to and she hadn't listened. Her eyes flickered over to Neville who was sitting on the opposite side of the large oak table. He was busy scratching his head as he looked at the ingredient list in front of him, a frown on his face. Hushed whispers started up from behind her, as Kassidy turned her head to see Draco walking into the classroom, his arm still in a sling. Snape did nothing more than usher him into the classroom, despite the class having started five minutes. He had always been easy on Malfoy, and most of the other Slytherin students. But not on Kassidy. He seemed to have something against her from the first day she stepped foot in his classroom. And Neville was even worse off. She couldn't keep the surprise off her face when Draco pulled out the stool next to her with his good arm, hopping up a moment later.
"You seem well…shame" Kassidy muttered, a harshness to her voice.
"Careful, they say if you scowl hard enough your face might get stuck like that" Malfoy told her, as she rolled her eyes, looking away from him.
"…I see you've still got your wand in a knot about what I said in the hospital wing" Draco huffed, but Kassidy still wouldn't turn to him.
"I only meant that with bonehead constantly falling over his own robes, you'd be used to people getting hurt around you" Draco exclaimed, as Kassidy turned to him with a frown.
"Bonehead?" She questioned, as Draco waved his hand towards her twin.
"Your apology could use some work, Malfoy" Kassidy mumbled, reaching out to pull her cauldron closer.
"Malfoy's don't apologise" Draco spat out, the mere word feeling like an insult.
"And I bet your all the better for it, huh?" Kassidy retorted, as Draco seemed to falter.
"Am I boring you, Miss Longbottom?" Snape's voice boomed, making Kassidy flinch, her eyes flickering to the front of the class.
"Sorry, Professor" Kassidy replied, biting her lip.
"Now, pick up the daisy roots in front of you and begin to carefully slice them" Snape instructed, emphasising the word.
"With your sharp tongue, I imagine you'll have no problem" Kassidy whispered under her breath to Draco, who's lips twitched into a smile.
"Yours is almost a match" Draco told her, causing her to shrug.
"…Is that really all you meant by what you said in the hospital wing? Nothing…else?" Kassidy stuttered, over her words.
"Yeah" Draco mumbled, as their eyes connected, but he could only hold her gaze for a second.
He was lying. They both knew that, but at least he had the good graces to look guilty. Whatever he did know about her parents, he didn't seem proud of it. That was something.
"Well, I—" Kassidy began, but she was cut off by a loud voice.
"Detention, Miss Longbottom!" Snape exclaimed, suddenly behind the pair, making them both jump.
"But sir…" Kassidy trailed off, when she saw the look on Snape's face.
"Malfoy was talking too" Neville muttered under his breath, as Snape's stern gaze fell on him.
Neville looked like he was close to having a heart attack, as Snape marched over to him, coming to stop only inches away from Neville's shaking form. Kassidy was surprised that Neville had spoken up against the teacher, as she knew how afraid of him Neville was. A smile tugged at her lips, grateful for Neville's actions, even if they hadn't worked.
"It seems I must make this a family affair. Detention, the both of you" Snape insisted, earning an amused chuckle from Draco.
"How sweet" Draco teased, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"And now you've just brought yourself a seat with them, Mr Malfoy" Snape exclaimed, as Draco's jaw dropped open.
"You can't—" Malfoy started, cutting himself off as Snape raised a finger.
"The next student to speak will find themselves in detention for the rest of the school year. Do I make myself clear?" Snape announced, as silence washed over the classroom.
"…And five points from Gryffindor for Mr Longbottom forgetting his house loyalty" Snape added, walking towards the front of the classroom.
A chorus of groans came from the rest of the Gryffindor students, the loudest from both Ron and Harry. Kassidy dropped her chin back onto her hands, hoping the coming days wouldn't involve so much drama.
Kassidy muttered a curse under her breath, as she busied herself with cleaning the cauldron in front of her. Snape had given them the almost impossible task of cleaning every cauldron in his classroom, expecting them to all be spotless before dinner. It was a pointless exercise, as they all knew by the next day the cauldrons would be stained and tarnished again. Her eyes flickered over to Draco, who was obsessively scrubbing at the pile of cauldrons on his table, despite only using one arm. She was surprised he was putting so much effort into the task. A loud crash had her head snapping in the other direction, finding a cauldron laying shattered on the floor, with Neville hovering over it.
"You really are an idiot, aren't you?" Draco sneered, as Kassidy turned to glare at him.
"Don't talk about my brother like that" Kassidy retorted, making Draco roll his eyes.
"I wouldn't have to if he wasn't such an oaf" Draco mumbled, as Kassidy raised her wand.
After a few whispered words, the cauldron he had just finished scrubbing, levitated in the air before crashing to the ground, as Draco's eyes widened. She expected him to retaliate, placing her arm out to shield the cauldrons on her pile as he pushed himself up from his chair. Instead, he crouched onto the ground, picking up a few of the broken pieces in his hand, before getting his own wand out.
"Reparo" He exclaimed, as Kassidy watched the cauldron easily mend itself.
A frown grew on her face as he then pushed himself to his feet and marched over to Neville, holding out his wand. She watched as her brother flinched, holding his hands in front of his face, expecting to be struck. When Neville slowly opened his eyes, he was surprised to see Draco fixing his own broken cauldron and looked to his sister in confusion.
"T-thanks, Malfoy" Neville stuttered, leaning down to pick up the now mended cauldron.
"Whatever" Draco spat out, walking back to his own table.
"Are you really that scared by Snape?" Kassidy questioned.
She guessed that was the reason why he had helped Neville, worried about what their Professor would say at seeing the broken object, even if it wasn't the one he had been given. Draco scoffed a little at her comment, his eyes downcast.
"I've only been given detention once before" Draco admitted, reaching out to grab the next cauldron.
Kassidy's mouth fell into an 'O' shape, as she realised it was Snape that Draco was afraid of…but his parents. From what Kassidy had heard about them, she wasn't surprised. They had been apart of Voldemort's inner circle, who knew the things they were capable of. Once again, she felt a sliver of sympathy for the blond, despite herself.
"I, uh…I heard one of the girl's in my house using a charm to clean her shoes yesterday. She said it was the scouring charm. Maybe we could use that to clean the cauldrons quicker?" Neville whispered to his sister, unsurely.
"That's a great idea, Nev! Do you remember the charm?" She asked, as Neville bit his lip.
"…Scourify?" Neville answered, scratching his head.
"It's not gonna' work" Draco muttered, from where he was already cleaning the next cauldron.
"Zip it, Malfoy" Kassidy replied, raising her wand towards the pile of cauldrons in front of her.
"Scourify!" Kassidy exclaimed, as the cauldrons all levitated off the table.
In the next second, a wave of water came out of nowhere, but instead of falling onto the cauldrons, it drenched Kassidy instead. With a grimace, Kassidy wiped her soaking hair out of her face, hearing a strange noise from beside her. Draco was in stitches, clutching at his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably. Turning towards Neville with an unamused look, she flicked some of the water away that was still running down her arms.
"Now that I think of it…the charm may have been Scourgify…" Neville trailed off, as Kassidy suddenly jumped from her chair, lunging towards him.
Draco's laughs got even louder as he watched her chase her brother around the tables, eventually managing to tackle him to the ground, as Neville let out a high-pitched scream. Draco couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so much, wiping away at his eyes that had begun to well, from the way he was laughing so hard.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Is there anything, in particular, you want to see in this story? Please leave a review:)
2433184730: Thank you for reviewing:) I'm glad you're liking their interactions so far!
iRedeem: Aw, thank you! I hope you liked the update:)
