Chapter 9: A Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. :(

Pyxis

"Achooo!"

"Isis. Are you alright?" Hermione asked me. I just nodded and continued eating. But it wasn't long 'til I sneezed again. I was wearing my two thick jumpers but it was still cold.

"You alright, Isis?" The Weasley twins suddenly asked behind me causing me to drop my spoon and sneeze again. They both put a hand on my forehead.

"You have a fever." Hermione checked it too.

"Oh. So that's why you overslept. Probably because of the match yesterday." I shrugged. I sneezed again.

"Good thing it's a Sunday. You should get some rest."

"Hey, Isis. I didn't know you and Malfoy are friends." Ron sat beside his brothers.

"Yeah. Zabini too." Harry added, taking a seat next to me.

"I was at the same compartment with them on the way here." I admitted.

"Well, you better avoid him. He's a git." Ron said with hatred.

"You just don't understand him." I said calmly.

"And you do?" He said his voice rising.

"Ron. Stop it." Harry said.

"But it's true. We're just concerned about you."

"I really appreciate the concern, Ron"

"He might be using you! Or worse. he might hurt you!" He was standing and yelling. That made me snap.

"I can handle myself! I know things you don't, Ron. I know what I'm doing and I know who I can trust!"

Then to my surprise, Ron, who was standing in front of me was thrown back by a few feet. Everybody in the Great Hall turned to me with wide eyes. Tears sprang from my eyes and I just can't take it anymore and ran out of the Great Hall. I heard Hermione call me but I ignored all of them and just ran further.

After a lot of running, I stopped on an empty staircase and just sat there. I don't know how I did that but I felt guilty about what I did back there. I'm really not the one with long patience. I hugged my knees close to my chest and cried. My head hurts like hell and I don't know what to do. I know of their experiences with Draco since first year. I should have considered that before I said those things.

"I'm so stupid." I pocketed my glasses and wiped away my tears. I stood up, having decided to go back and apologise. But when I looked at the top of the steps, I saw someone who shouldn't be there.

"Sirius Black." I managed to whisper out. To my surprise he smiled. I looked behind me but found no one. I turned back to him.

"Pyxis Raine." I heard him said. My eyes widened and I was about to ask him how he knew my name when I heard footsteps.

"Raine!" I turned to my back and found Draco, panting heavily. I looked back to where Sirius is but he's nowhere to be found..

"Raine. I heard what happened. Are you alright?" He was in front of me now.

"Yeah. I just sort of... Snapped." I said sadly.

"Because of what weasel said? You shouldn't get into fights just because of what others say about me." I just stared at him in shock. But I was getting too dizzy to reply.

"But you're important to me, Draco." I managed to say before everything went black.

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Draco

I just had that blasted cast removed at the Hospital Wing when I saw Blaise running to me.

"Draco, have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Butterfly and the Weasel got into a fight."

"What? I'll punch that git." I said about to go to the Great Hall but Blaise stopped me.

"It's about you."

"What? About me?"

"Heard that Weasley said some things about you and Pyxis was suddenly angry and the Weasel was thrown a few feet. Well that's what Potter said. She ran away after. Crying." I was about to run to find her when something he said struck me.

"You're talked to Potter?"

"Uhhh... Yeah. He's the one who told me." He said slowly. I just ignored it and ran fast. I don't even know where to find her. But after a lot of turns and staircases, I finally found her. She's staring at someone standing at the top of the staircase. I can't see the face from my angle.

"Raine!" I called to her. She turned to me but turned back again to what she's staring before. I ran to her.

"Raine, I heard what happened. Are you alright?" I asked grabbing her by the shoulders

"Yeah. I just sort of... Snapped." She said looking down.

"Because of what weasel said? You shouldn't get into fights just because of what others say about me."

"But you're important to me, Draco." Before I could ponder on what she said, she fainted. But luckily, I caught her. She looks so pale, so I felt her forehead. My suspicion is confirmed, she is sick.

I picked her up carefully on my arms and made my way to the hospital wing. On the corridor where the Hospital Wing is located, I saw the Golden trio.

"What the hell did you do to her, Malfoy?" Weasley's anger was very obvious.

"Ask yourself that, Weasley." I said and tried to walk pass them but he won't step aside. Granger and Potter are whispering for him to stop but he won't budge. I lost my patience after a while.

"Damn it, Weasley! Are you an idiot? She's sick, ok? She fainted. Just make way!" I howled causing him to just move aside. I quickly made my way to the hospital wing.

"Oh, what happened to her, Mr. Malfoy?" The nurse asked as I put the girl on my arms down to one of the beds.

"She fainted. Has high fever." The golden trio arrived, going straight by Raine's bedside.

"How's she?" Potter spoke for the three of them.

I shrugged then sat on a chair beside her bed while the trio stood on the other side.

"How'd you two know each other?" Potter asked.

"It's a long story."

"We have time, Malfoy."

"It's not mine to tell." I ended the conversation and just went on with staring at Raine, ignoring the trio completely. Blaise and the twins went in after a few minutes and all went to stand beside me. The silence just continued, but after a while...

"Seriously guys. You have to talk." The twins said at the same time. How do they do that?

"We have nothing to say." The Weasel said frowning.

"We'll make this easier for you guys." One of them said.

"Don't you think this is happening a little too often, Fred?"

"Yeah. We are often being put at the same place, George. I wonder what that means..." Fred said in a thinking position.

"We're not calling a truce." Potter, Weasley and I said at the same time. I smirked.

"Good thing you feel the same way."

"You guys are so noisy." Raine said, sitting up.

"Thank goodness your awake, Isis." The twins said. "They are so boring." She looked around before looking at Weasley.

"Look, Ron. I'm sorry I said that. But he's my friend too. And you being thrown back was an accident. Though I don't know how the hell that happened." She added the last bit as an afterthought. "Really, Ron, I mean it. I'm sorry, okay?" She said smiling.

"I'm sorry too, Isis."

"But I still don't like him." He added glaring at me.

"The feeling's mutual, Weasel." I told him. Raine laughed.

"You guys can go now. Do what you have to do. I'll stay here for a while, I think."

"You sure?" Granger asked her. She nodded and they left. Blaise surprisingly came with them. I stood up and sat on her bedside.

"Draco, you don't have to stay."

"But I want to."

"Congratulations, by the way. For making it to the Quidditch team and for a very good game yesterday."

"Making it to the team was an accident because Alicia dropped out. The game yesterday? It's not that good because we lost." She sighed. Is this girl for real?

"Hey, you're very good yesterday. If it weren't for that blasted dementors, you would've won."

"Wow, you admitted the Gryffindor team is good."

"I did not!"

"That's what you said."

"I said, you are good, not the team. Especially not Potter." She smirked.

"I'm just teasing, Draco. No need to be offended." This cheeky girl. Well, two can play at that game.

"So... I'm important to you, huh?" I could see that I caught her off guard by the subject change.

"Of course." She blushed a bit, causing me to smirk.

"Why?"

"Because... You're my friend, Draco. And you're always there for me since the beginning."

"That's all?" I asked, still smirking. Even though I was just teasing, a strange feeling came over me because of her answers. The sincerity in her voice made me feel warm all over.

"Yeah." She said a little too quickly. I chuckled.

"If you say so. See you later, Raine." I took her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles, staring at her the whole time.

She pulled her hand away, eyes wide and the small blush on her cheeks suddenly reached her ears.

"What was that?" She crossed her arms. I just smirked and walked to the door.

"Hey! Answer me!" This girl sure is stubborn. So I turned to her, smiling.

"Because you're important to me too, Raine." Then I left.

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Pyxis

The next day, my fever had gone down but Madam Pomfrey still didn't let me out until Professor Mcgonagall personally got me that night. I made a detour to Professor Lupin's office before going back to our dormitory to ask if he could help me with the Patronus Charm

"Of course, Pyxis. But how did you know about that advanced charm?"

"I read it in a book, professor. I've tried it too and managed to produce an indistinct patronus once or twice. But I would like to learn how to produce a corporeal patronus." He looked amazed.

"That's brilliant, Pyxis. Harry approached me about that matter to earlier. Is it alright if we begin after the holidays?"

"Of course. I'm not in a hurry or anything." I smiled brightly.

"Perfect, good night, Pyxis."

"Thank you very much, professor. Good night!"

Oliver still looked devastated the following week but was given hope when Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff. His determination immediately came back and he resumed our 5 day practice again. But Professor Mcgonagall asked Madam Hooch to supervise it for safety and to avoid Oliver pushing us to our limits like before.

Two weeks before Christmas holidays, we are granted a surprise Hogsmeade visit. Harry immediately told me to go and not waste my time here with him. I just nodded because I know he'll get there with the help of the Marauder's Map anyway.

I changed to winter appropriate clothes and put on my winter cloak. I got several galleons, grabbed my purse, and looped my scarf around my neck. I went out to the entrance hall where Hermione and Ron are waiting.

"We'll bring you something back, Harry." Hermione said waving at him.

"We'll be back in an instant." I told him smiling. I can already see the beautiful Hogsmeade Village when I realised something.

"I forgot my gloves." I said face palming.

The two laughed at me and we walked faster to Hogsmeade since it's very cold. We practically ran inside Honeydukes once we saw it. I purchased a few of each sweet and waited for something. Ron and Hermione were currently arguing about what Harry would like when he turned up.

"Harry!" They both exclaimed. We paid for our sweets and we went out to go to The Three Broomsticks. Harry explained how he got there on the way.

"How come they never gave it to me?" Ron asked after he knew about the map. "That's so brilliant."

"But you're going to hand it in. Aren't you, Harry?" Hermione said.

"Of course he's not going to do that." Ron said. We went in the pub and chose a table at the end of the room.

"Four butterbeers, please." Hermione ordered. "But Sirius Black may be using one of those passages." She whispered to him. Our orders arrived and I happily sipped it once it was put on our table. They followed my example but Professor Mcgonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Hagrid came in with the Minister. We hid Harry below the table. Hermione charmed a Christmas tree to cover us from their sight.

They ordered and began talking about Sirius Black. How he betrayed the Potters and how he killed muggles and Pettigrew with a single curse. We waited a few minutes after the four departed, before going out. No one dared to speak about what we heard. Harry went back early to the castle to avoid question. I told Hermione and Ron that I'll be going somewhere and I'll just go back on my own.

I took my remaining time and went shopping for Christmas gifts. I got the trio, the twins, and the rest of the Quidditch team gifts. With difficulty, I also got Blaise a gift, but I saw nothing that would suit my other Slytherin friend. I was very careful, not letting anyone see the things I bought, especially because I was being followed since the trio left me.

"Hey! Steller!" I turned around and found Cedric Diggory running towards me. I wonder why.

"Hey, Cedric. You can call me Isis, if you want."

"Ok, Isis. Are you alright now?" He asked walking with me.

"Yes. You? Is your arm fine now?" He was accidentally pushed by one of the Ravenclaw chasers during their game.

"Yeah. Why are you alone?" He asked looking at me.

"No. I'm not exactly alone." I told him, smiling.

"Who're you with?"

"Hermione and Ron. Blaise and Draco." I said grinning. The two have been following me for a while now.

"Zabini and Malfoy? But they're Slytherins." He said slightly shocked.

"I know, it's a strange friendship with the Gryffindor and Slytherin rivalry. But those two are my best friends, believe it or not." I explained to him. "And I've got to get back to them now." I said looking at my watch.

"Sure. See you again sometime." Once he's out of sight, I rushed to where the two Slytherins are.

"Hey guys!" I greeted them. "Following me?"

"How'd you know were following you, Butterfly?" Blaise grinned.

"You're footsteps are too loud, Blaise." I laughed at him.

"No, it's not." He said pouting. I just laughed more and this time, Draco joined in.

"Not fair. Two against one?" He walked away from us and didn't even turn back.

"You think I upset him?" I asked Draco when Blaise didn't come back after a few minutes.

"No. Blaise is just like that. He'll come back later." We just walked in silence.

"Why aren't you wearing gloves?" Draco must have noticed my hands shaking.

"Oh... That.. I left it on my bed. Hermione was in a hurry and I-" Then I felt warmth on my right hand. Draco had slipped his other glove to mine. Then he held my left hand to his now cold hand. His gloves are too large for my hand, but it still gave warmth, so I didn't mind.

"You're blabbering again." He commented while he did that.

"What're you doing?"

"So you won't be cold." We started walking again, deciding to go back to the castle.

I just smiled while staring at our intertwined hands. The smile never left my lips until I was back in our dormitory.