Three:

"What are you doing out at this time of night?" He demanded, chucking the Dark Arts book onto the table beside him, crossing his arms over his chest before glaring at me.

"If I remember clearly, you aren't a Prefect anymore so you can't take points away from Gryffindor." I pointed out quickly; he only sneered and reached for another book that lay on the table. "Might I remind you Filtch could be wondering about these corridors? You don't want to be caught now do you, Hewitt?" He drawled, flipping through the pages of the book.

"Now now Draco," I mocked using his first name, "nobody likes a tattletale. Besides what would Filtch say when he catches you out of bed?"

"You're playing with fire, Hewitt..." He muttered darkly, his grey eyes flashing to his left forearm for a split second. "Oh scary, I suppose I should run away screaming now then?" I asked, trying to make a scared face as he mumbled, "you are an idiot Olivia."

His words shocked me for a moment before I quickly shook of the surprise and instead scowled as he turned and began packing his bag. If I could, I probably would have hexed him right there in the middle of the library but the words of my mother kept ringing in my ears.

Don't go messing with the wrong crowd...

Couldn't she make an exception? Like, if I hexed Malfoy she would turn a blind eye and pretend that I hadn't gotten a detention? Life would be so much easier if she didn't worry about me all the time and instead worried about what she was going to eat for breakfast.

Snapping back to reality I realised Malfoy was turning to leave, his bag slung over his shoulder and A Guide to Dark Arts clutched by his side.

He stopped just as he reached me, for a minute I swear I saw something other than hatred shine in his eyes, sorrow maybe. It disappeared though, and the dark coldness returned as he stared at me, his eyes burning into mine.

"Have a nice night... Hewitt..."

What. A. Jerk.


"Are you even chewing?" I asked as Ron gulped down his food as if he hadn't eaten in days. "I'm hungry!" He complained with his mouth full of food. Hermione shrieked and shielded her eyes, "Ronald, close your mouth!"

Ron managed to mumble a sorry before diving back into his breakfast.

"I don't get you..." I heard Hermione huff before turning and talking to Ginny Weasley about her classes.

"Hi Ron." I looked back towards Ron to see Lavender Brown standing behind him, possibly breathing down his neck at how close she was. "Er, hi," Ron replied giving Lavender a quick smile before turning back to his breakfast.

Apparently this was funny because Lavender let out a little giggle before walking back over to the Ravenclaw table. Hermione turned back to face us looking annoyed, but she quickly plastered a smile onto her face as Harry walked towards the Gryffindor table.

"So, Harry? What did you learn last night with Dumbledore?" Hermione asked as he sat down, he was clearly tired as he rubbed his eyes, looking as if he could fall asleep right there.

"Voldemo—" Ron hissed, "don't say his name!"

Harry grumbled something unintelligent before continuing, "He taught me about You-Know Who and his past."

Hermione's eyes widened with curiosity while Ron nearly choked on his porridge. "That must have been interesting..." Hermione stated her eyes brightening and the thought of all the things Harry could have learnt. Honestly, I don't get Hermione half the time.

Harry shrugged before glaring at someone; no doubt it was Malfoy.

"He was in the library the other night." I told Harry, prodding my porridge with a spoon. Harry's head snapped towards mine, his green eyes wide and alert. "He was reading a book... I think the book was Dark Arts Guide or something." I continued, looking up and dropping my spoon back onto the table with a clatter.

"I swear he has eyes in the back of his head..." I added as an afterthought, shivering slightly at the thought.

Harry's reaction was exactly what I thought. First he turned a nice shade of pink, followed by clenching and unclenching his hand and then he nearly jumped out of his seat screaming, "Why didn't you tell me sooner!"

"Calm down Harry." I hissed, grabbing onto his shoulders and pulling him back down onto the bench. He crossed his arms and stared at the Slytherin table, grumbling to himself.

"I only thought of it now!" I snapped swivelling round on the bench so I wasn't looking at Harry anymore. "It just doesn't seem right..." Harry whispered to himself as his eyes followed Malfoys retreating figure.

"Creepy book, creepy bloke..." Ron cut in, pushing his now empty bowl forward and sighing. "For once... I agree with Ron." I declared, turning back around to face Harry.

Hermione had been quiet the entire time we discussed Draco Malfoy and the scary book; she probably wanted no part in it but of course Ron had to pull her into the discussion. "What do you think 'Mione?"

"I think Harry shouldn't worry and let Dumbledore handle it." She replied with a frown. "But Dumbledore's... one hundred and fifty, he can't do everything." Ron retorted looking smug as Hermione seemed lost for words.

"He hasn't been here for a while..." I told the two, pointing towards the staff table; Dumbledore's seat was empty. "I think it's something to do with the Order." I whispered as Ron and Hermione gazed at the staff table.

"There's been a Dementor attack," Hermione said as she flattened out her copy of The Daily Prophet, "and people are getting more worried about the Death Eaters and You-Know-Who."

Hermione fell silent as she stupid The Daily Prophet carefully as if trying to decipher some secret code.

"So Harry, when's Quidditch tryouts?" Ron asked changing the subject as he noticed everyone seemed slightly uncomfortable talking about Death Eaters. "What?—Oh, er," Harry scratched his head, "I'm thinking Saturday."

"Brilliant!" Ron grinned, "Are you trying out Liv?"

I stared at him for a while, trying to register what he was saying until I finally managed to get out, "are you kidding me?"

"Do you clearly not remember me in third year falling of a broom?" I asked, shocked that he could forget such a terrifying moment. Ron smiled sheepishly, "right, I forgot about that, so you'll be cheering then?"

I groaned, "Do I really have to?"


"Yay Gryffindor..." I mumbled unenthusiastically as a couple of Gryffindors zipped past on broomsticks. Hermione sat next to me trying not to laugh, even though she was doing a terrible job at it.

"You're supposed to be cheering too, or would you rather Lavender Brown do that?" I asked jerking a thumb at Lavender who was bouncing up and down in her seat while waving to Ron. Hermione pursed her lips, staring down at the Quidditch field, trying to ignore Lavender as she squealed.

"They all look so little from up here..." I commented, watching as Ron tried climbing onto his broom.

We watched as Cormac McLaggen flew to the goal posts, looking confident as he sat on his broom re-adjusting his gloves. "I hope he doesn't get in," Hermione muttered.

McLaggen managed to save four penalties out of five. Just as the fifth one came flying towards him Hermione whispered, "Confundus."Cormac's broom went in the complete opposite direction he wanted it to go, leaving the goal post wide open for the ball to fly into.

I turned to face Hermione, watching as a blush crept onto her face. "Well... that was totally unexpected. I mean I know you want Ron to become Keeper but never did I think you would do that!"

Hermione opened her mouth to apologise but I cut her off by saying, "I'm so proud."

"Good luck Ron!" I didn't have to look to know that Lavender was the one who had spoken. I tried to disguise my laugh with a cough but couldn't hold back the giggle that wanted to escape. Hermione just glared at me before straightening up as Ron zoomed past, flying towards the goal posts.

Even from where we sat, it was obvious Ron was turning green as he stared straight ahead, looking like he was about to pass out.

Everyone watching seemed to hold their breath as the ball flew towards him; but Ron held onto the broom and kicked the ball away with his foot. The second ball zoomed towards him and this time he punched it, trying to keep his face cool and collected. He saved the third ball by swatting at it with his hand, the fourth he caught in his hands a grin sweeping across his face and the fifth he managed to head-butt.

"Let's go congratulate him!" Hermione said as she stood up tugging on my arm. Obviously somebody was happy; well Lavender Brown was happy too, she was grinning like she had just been told she won a lot of money.

Once we reached the pitch, Hermione left me and ran towards Ron saying, "You did brilliantly Ron!"

Ron seemed quite pleased with himself as Hermione said this, his smile widening. I shared a look with Harry before he shook his head in a just-leave-it kind of way.

The wind howled, blowing dead leaves across the pitch and making my hair fly out and whip my face. Grey clouds moved in the sky, tumbling over each other, drifting through the sky easily; like smoke. I don't know why, but I suddenly thought of Malfoy, his eyes were grey like clouds.

"Who are you daydreaming about?" Harry questioned, pulling me back into the real world as he waved a hand in front of my face. My eyes widened, "What? Nobody—I just like clouds!"

Harry seemed to be having a mental battle, not knowing whether to laugh or send me to Madame Pomfrey to see if I was insane. He ended up laughing, slapping me on the back (rather hard) and saying, "Somebody's paranoid!"

We stood side by side for a while, watching as people slowly left and walked back to Hogwarts. "So judging by all the congratulation Ron has received today, I'm guessing he's Gryffindor's new Keeper?" I asked as Harry let out a chuckle.

"He better good, I hate losing to Slytherin." I told him, watching out of the corner of eye as Harry smiled to himself.

"I'm starving," Ron exclaimed as he walked towards a hand on his stomach, "feel like heading over to Hagrids for a bit?" Hermione trailed behind him, a frown clear on her face, I'm guessing at the thought of eating something of Hagrids.

"Well I guess—" I began not really keen on the idea but Ron cut me off, "brilliant!"