Chapter 3

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It seemed that my prayer was answered at the end of class when a boy with dark messy hair and glasses, who had been sitting with his friends in class, walked by and took Dracos attention.

"Nice summer Potter?" He sneered and 'Potter' rounded on him.

"That's not funny, Malfoy." He said his name with such hatred it made my hairs stand on end.

Pansy rolled her eyes, going over to back up Draco.

"No need to be dramatic, Potter, Still hung up on Diggery?"

He rounded on Pansy now.

"You stay out of this. I wasn't talking to you." I could see her eyes sting in embarrassment and anger and quickly walked up to her with my timetable in hand.

"Transfiguration next yeah? Can you take me?" I have her a big puppy dog look and she looked between me and Potter, giving me a blunt nod before glaring at the boy, leaving him and Draco to continue their spat.

"Ugh I hate that stupid Scar Head!" She growled out as we left the class.

"Uh, who is he?" I frowned in confusion, letting her breathe and get her frustration out before asking.

"Harry bloody Potter. The 'world famous' wizard..." she looked at me with a friendly smirk.

"Maybe not so world famous if you don't know him." She burst into giggles as we headed for Transfiguration.

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The day passed in much the same way, Pansy and I would be glued to each other's side and I would dodge Draco every chance I got.

Being around Pansy helped a great deal. His tormenting would be understated in front of her or she would try get his attention on her.

I was incredibly grateful to have made an ally out of her.

But my thoughts went to Ginny and her brothers.

Did they hate me now just because of the house I became part of last night? Was the rivalry really that intense?

The end of the day came and after the feast I slipped away to scout out the library on my own before curfew.

I needed some alone time and did my best to leave the Hall unnoticed.

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I wasn't intending to study as I sat down near the back of the library with a work of wizard fiction. It was a collection of short stories and I enjoyed curling up in the comfortable hush of the library with them.

I read about a duplicating charm gone horribly wrong for a young witch, a wizard getting cheated into buying a worthless necklace that was meant to focus his magics and a serious story about a pool that could give an old wizard the ability to see his deceased wife.

I wiped away a sad tear and turned the page to the next story.

It didn't take me long to angrily close the book and push it away from me.

I stared at the ribbon bookmark that I had moved with each page, remembering the words on the page it rested on.

I moved to remove the ribbon from the saved page but a hand picked it up before I could reach it.

"Really? Short stories?" Draco sneered down at me, turning to sit on the desk. I frowned.

"So? Give it back..." I reached out for it and he turned his body away as he opened it to the book marked page.

"'The tale of Gness the treasure hoarder'..." he read aloud with a chuckle.

I lowered my eyes angrily and looked around for his cronies. My glare disappeared when I noticed he was alone for once.

I eyed him curiously as he read quietly.

My mouth opened to ask him why he was here but he placed a finger on his lips and continued to read.

A few minutes passed as I sat back in my chair and watched him read almost peacefully. My eyes glanced around the library that was starting to become lifeless as the hour got late and I began to feel awkward sitting alone with him in silence.

A small exhale of amusement drew my attention back to him as he closed the book and dumped it back in front of me.

"Are you looking for a handsome knight to slay a dragon for you too? Gift you all the stolen treasures and whisk you away?" He bent down to tower over me with a smirk and I angrily stood up, nose to nose with him now.

"I'd rather be the dragon that eats the knight in one chewy bite. Now allez-vous en! Leave me be!" I snapped, putting the book back on the shelf and turning away to leave the library.

"Oi, Miss dragon-"

I turned and slapped him as he began to follow me.

His head turned a little with the force and his eyes widened as the sound carried through the silent air.

My own eyes widened as I stared at him with a hand over my mouth.

Did I really just do that?!

"I-I'm sorry!" I stuttered out as he straightened up and put a hand on his reddening cheek.

With his other hand he pointed a finger at me and glared.

"You will regret that. I promise you." And with that he stormed past me, quickly leaving the library.

Did I actually feel guilty right now?

For slapping him? Maybe.

For snapping altogether? Absolument...

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It took me a while to find the common room by myself but I made it before curfew at least.

There were a few stragglers sitting around by the fireplace and among them were Pansy and Draco.

I waved to Pansy and she gave a bright smile back.

Draco looked away sharply, his cheek still a little red.

I looked to the floor guiltily as I began to climb the stairs to the dormitory.

The rain still tapped against the window and I was surprised the storm had kept strong all day.

Flamber perched atop his cage, having let him out earlier at lunch to stretch his wings and get some food.

He was a very well behaved little garçon most of the time and after Pansy had asked the other girls for me, they agreed it wouldn't be fair that their animals could roam and Flamber couldn't just because he was an owl.

He even made small friendly noises to Pansys cat who had curled up on her pillow.

It warmed me to see him so comfortable and after a shower I gave him some love, scratching him under his wings and beak and feeding him some dry titbits I'd saved in a napkin from dinner.

The quiet was broken by the other residents of the dorm coming to bed.

They gossiped and giggled among themselves and let me join in.

They told me how they liked Flambers name and I explained he earned it for looking like his copper tipped wings looked like fire as he flew.

"And yet my cat is called Bailey because... my mother liked the name." Pansy laughed, petting the sleepy cat.

Does Draco have a pet I wonder...? No! Stop that right now.

My guilt can eat away at me for loosing control but not for Draco.

I will not give him a single thought!

He was an arrogant pig and deserved a slap... but maybe not from me...

"Allie...?" Pansy waved a hand in-front of me and snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Whatcha think?" Another girl asked from across the dorm a few meters away.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening..." I said apologetically, and Pansy giggled.

"We were asking if you wanted to try out for Quidditch when the tryouts open. The team needs more girls and the only one is from sixth year. None of us fly well, we were wondering if you fancied it?"

A laugh escaped my throat as I shook my head.

"I'm sorry I don't fly. Beauxbattons never taught us unless we went out of our way to make a club." The girls all gawked.

"It wasn't mandatory for you to make a fool of yourself on a broom? Lucky!"

The girls began to talk about their first experiences flying and I let myself slip away from the conversation to lean over to Pansy.

"I think I'm gonna turn in. No need to be quiet though, I can zone out easy enough."

"No worries! Good night Allie!"

I smiled at the nickname she insisted on and pulled my curtains before saying.

"Night Pansy."

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A/N: thank you for reading this far! :3

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