Chapter 11

Bunnies, Kittens and Fluffy Ducks

The next morning dawned cold and bright. It also found Elizabeth, curled up on one of the hard, stone benches in the dungeons; a copy of a practical potioneer perched on her lap. It was her futile attempt at avoiding her housemates. She could just imagine their faces as they headed out to the game and she stayed curled up on the common room sofa with a good book. It was this mental image that had seen her jumping into some jeans, fluffy slippers and a Mrs. Weasley original jumper at six am that morning heading to take refuge somewhere, she had recently come to realize, she felt most safe.

However, no matter how hard she tried to concentrate on this months featured article, (Melting Cauldron Bottoms: How Long Can We Allow This Problem To Persist?) it refused to leave any trace of meaning behind. Her mind was plagued with thoughts of the disaster that was the previous night and was bombarding her with questions, none of which she had the answers to. No matter what she did, her mind would not be quiet, even for a second.

It was time to resort to desperate measures, she had actually taken to counting the cracks in the dungeon wall, against which she was leaning, to attempt to distract her whirring mind; when two people walked passed, seemingly oblivious to her presence.

It was only as they had gone far enough passed her that she risked at peek at who it was. Draco Malfoy and another first year Slytherin, Elizabeth recognized from the sorting as Blaise Zabini, were headed to breakfast. It must have gotten later than she had thought. She watched them for a moment, making sure they had rounded the corner and were gone before she relaxed.

Her relaxation did not last long, however, as the slight breeze in the dungeons carried his voice back to her.

"No, you go on ahead, I'm just going to grab my Omnioculars and I'll meet you there."

Elizabeth sank back into her seat as far as she could go. Shutting her eyes tightly, she hoped that if she thought hard enough Hogwarts would sense her distress and render her invisible, just for long enough that she could go unseen. The sound of someone plopping down on the bench next to her destroyed this illusion.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" She asked, repositioning herself on the bench. If she was going to have to have this conversation she was at least going to do it comfortably. She opened her eyes to be met by a stormy grey gaze which looked, almost, amused.

"You're in my territory here, Potter. What do you want?" She had to give him credit where it was due, he had her there; not that she was going to tell him that.

"How about some peace and quiet?" She replied.

"You want to head down to the lake for that. Chance would be a fine thing down here."

The lake.

Why hadn't she thought of that herself? Although something else about his comment did strike her.

"What, you can't be telling me, you don't like the dark, cold dungeons Mr. Slytherin?" She questioned him, the humour in her voice surprising even her.

"Oh, I love them. It's just all the irritating Gryffindors we get down here, cluttering up the place, gets quite suffocating." She knew he was trying to get a rise out of her, but she wasn't in the mood to argue; she had done enough of that last night.

"Look, Malfoy, I'm really not in the mood for you today. If it's a childish spat you're looking for, why don't you go find Harry or Ron, I'm sure they'd be happy to oblige." Draco's eyes widened and his smirk, if possible, grew even bigger.

"Potter, you just gave up the chance to yell at me and then went on to insult your precious Scarhead and the Weasel all in the same sentence. Trouble in Gryffindork land? Spill."

Elizabeth looked at the young boy before her as though he had grown an extra three heads. What a completely ridiculous idea.

"To you?" She spluttered incredulously, trying extremely hard not to laugh in Malfoy's face.

"I don't see any other Knights in shining armour out here, do you?" he said, puffing up his chest, she was sure there would come a point where that boy's head was so big he wouldn't even be able to enter the great hall.

A few moments later, Elizabeth's internal laughter died. Slowly the realization hit her. He was being serious; well as serious as she imagined he could get anyway. It was absolute madness. There was one hundred percent no way she was about to spill her soul to Malfoy of all people. No way. Not a chance. Not in a million years... Was there?

She had no idea how it happened. If it wasn't for the fact that she hadn't drank anything all morning she would have thought someone had dropped a truth serum into her morning pumpkin juice. No, she couldn't even use that excuse, this was all her. Almost on autopilot she had stood up and began ranting all the thoughts that had been plaguing her mind all morning and she showed no sign of stopping.

"Look, Malfoy, I had to spend the best part of last night with the brain dead trio discussing how Snape is an evil villain, who stalks the night looking for fluffy bunnies and cute little kittens to eat and is sung to sleep by the sound of student, hanging by their thumbs in the dungeons..." She caught Malfoy's incredulous look as she paused for breath.

"Oh, OK, maybe they didn't put it quite like that. Although, with the ridiculous ideas and theories they were coming up with, they may as well have." Malfoy looked as though he might interrupt, but didn't get the chance as she pressed on.

"And then I find out my so called little sister can't keep a secret to save her life, she blabbed to George about my decision to not go to the game today..." Malfoy gave her a questioning look that just seemed to irate her even more.

"Oh, don't give me that look, Mr I'm-Jealous-Of-The-Boy-Who-Lived-Because-He-Gets-All-The-Attention. You of all people know exactly why I'm not going." Draco had looked slightly put out by that comment but realised she wasn't finished and stayed quiet.

"So anyway, this wonderful revelation, led to an argument where he had the nerve to tell me I'm a self-centred brat who needs an attitude adjustment. To which I, so eloquently, replied the he was an over-protective sod that needed to keep his abnormally large nose out of my business. Which of course I didn't mean and now I don't know how to apologise. So you see, I really don't need your silliness today. And as for your knight in shining armour status, you are much more an idiot in tin foil, but you wanted to listen so there you have it. What exactly are you going to do about it Oh Great One?" She said with a heavy sigh plopping back on the bench and looking at Malfoy, who she was shocked to see wasn't laughing at her. In fact, to her surprise, he seemed deep in thought.

For a moment she thought he had completely lost it, he just seemed to be staring off into space; when suddenly he spoke.

"As for Snape..." he began, "Accurate, though I think the students hanging by their thumbs thing is more filch myself."

Elizabeth let out a loud choked laugh, more out of shock than anything else. This was not how she had seen this conversation going.

"As for your sister," he continued. "Not that I'd ever compliment a Weasley, I may have to shower just for saying this," Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but couldn't seem to shift the grin that was now plastered on her face, intrigued at where this conversation was going.

"She is your sister, and she is probably just worried about you." Draco made a face as if even the words were sour on his tongue.

"As for the one with the abnormally large nose..."

"George!" Elizabeth corrected him, but Draco wasn't listening.

"I don't think there is anything to apologise for there. He is over-protective, he's your brother, he is supposed to be. And he does have a rather large nose, but hey, at least he isn't in it alone." Elizabeth giggled at that one. She actually giggled. She was beginning to get rather appalled at herself.

"As to my knight in shining armour status; HEY! And as for not going to the game, you're an idiot." This one earned him a punch in the arm.

"Hey!" she reiterated his previous sentiments.

"Look," he began. "If it was any other first year that had made a house team, but Scarhead," she gave him a warning look that he proceeded to ignore.

"Would you be going to the game?"

Suddenly it all hit her. He was right. George was right. She was self-centred and maybe when it came to Harry she did need an attitude adjustment. She was punishing Harry and in doing so, ultimately, punishing no-one but herself. Malfoy was right, she was an idiot.

Somewhere in the distance the sounds of doors slamming and the buzz of the herd beginning to head to breakfast could be heard.

Draco stood.

"You off? Gotta keep up that Malfoy reputation now haven't we?" She said sarcastically.

"Naturally, I can't be seen to be hanging out with a Quidditch hater now can I?"

"I'm not a..." but what she wasn't she never got to say as Malfoy interrupted.

"Then prove it!" He started walking away.

He only got a few steps, however when he stopped and turned back.

"Oh, and Potter, nice slippers." And with that he headed off and rounded the corner, leaving her behind staring at the fluffy duck slippers she had been wearing throughout her rant.

Only one thing was going through her mind; 'memo to self- fetch more appropriate footwear before heading to breakfast ready for the best game of the season.'

With a smile and her mind a thousand times quieter than it was, she headed off to enjoy the festivities she had been avoiding all week. One thing was certain, however, Malfoy was never going to let her live this down.