The rest of the dinner passed by uneventfully as Adrielle Mackenzie continued to glare at Draco Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin, from across the Gryffindor table. Her friends, Mindry especially, wanted to know what had taken place on the train. Finally, over dessert, Adrielle, nicknamed Elle and Ella by her friends, snapped. She told them all to get lives and fuck off, you winkers, were the words she used. Mindry simply gave everyone else a look that said, I'll find out and tell you later, and to Ella, she said,
"Listen love, why don't you head up to the dormitories, get yourself some rest, and we'll catch up later, yeah?"
"Yeah, alright, " she grumbled and stood up, snatching a brownie from Harry's hand as she left. Harry knew better than to protest; he had known her for too long not to know when to simply back off. He then gave Mindry a knowing look, and she smiled and looked away, embarrassed.
As Adrielle walked back to the Gryffindor dormitories, she couldn't help but notice a dark staircase leading down towards the unwelcoming Slytherin common rooms. There was more than one obvious reason that she didn't want to go down there.
Adrielle finally made her way up to the Pink Lady's portrait and mumbled the password, stumbling as she stepped inside. As the feast was still going on, she was the only one there. She grinned to herself, going up the stairs to the rooms. She opened the door slowly, closing it as she stopped into the room. She looked around the large room, gazing at the plush four-poster beds. She hopped onto the one closest to the window and promptly fell asleep, loosely covered by one of the blankets, still in her Hogwarts robe, t-shirt, and jeans.
Several hours later, Adrielle awoke to darkness and silence. Her housemates were all asleep in the beds next to her. She smiled, she could see Mindry asleep in the bed right next to her, her chest rising and falling with every breath she took. Adrielle giggled, Mindry always slept with a funny expression on her face; her mouth was slightly open, and her face was scrunched up like she was concentrating really hard on something. Adrielle lay there for a moment longer, breathing in the fresh lilac scent of the detergent that the house elves used to clean the sheets. She finally decided it was time to change into her sleeping clothes. She got up and pulled off her jeans, tossed them into her open trunk, and pulled on a pair of ragged red drawstring shorts, her favorite pair. She had taken off her shirt and was about to put another one on when she noticed a glint of green in the window's reflection. She swiftly grabbed a hand mirror and gazed at her reflection in horror. There it was, for all the world to see: a bright green serpent curled around her belly button. She gasped in rage, livid at what she knew was Malfoy's doing, and turned to grab her cloak, completely forgetting to put another shirt back on.
Down the stairs she went, cursing Malfoy in her head with every step she took. Once she came upon the staircase leading down to the Slytherin common room, a triumphant smile appeared on her lips. It quickly faded, however, when she realized that she would have to go through the dungeons. They were creepy during the day, let alone night. God knows what creatures may be lurking around there. It was the way to the Slytherin dorms, and they could have set anything free down there. She reached into her cloak for her wand, and cursed when she realized it wasn't there; she had left it on the small table beside her bed. She tried to quell her fears and bravely ventured down the stairs, once again cursing Malfoy in her head. She stepped down onto the final platform and cursed, something she had been doing a lot lately, as she heard the staircase move from its place. Now she would have to stay in the dank dungeons until it came back. Before she knew it, Adrielle was lost. She peeked in rooms and opened doors but to no avail. She had absolutely no clue where she was. Adrielle needed help. Fast. She sighed exasperatedly, running her hands through her messy dark brown hair.
"Ugh!" she yelled, banging her head back against the wall, sliding down to sit on the cold, hard floor. She had just put her head on he knees and resigned to herself to the fact that she would have to wait until morning for help when she heard a familiar voice.
"Need help, Mackenzie?"
She jumped and looked up to see Draco Malfoy's sneering face staring down at her from the top of the stair she had just come down. Adrielle glared and stood up, brushing dust from the cloak she held close to her body. She hated him for looking perfectly put-together, while she desperately needed a brush.
"Not from you." She said condescendingly, and started to walk away.
"Brave words from somebody who has no clue as to where they are." Draco retorted.
His words made Adrielle stop in her tracks. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. Chances are, she would just get more lost without his help. Slowly she turned around and gazed at him intently, as if searching for any emotions in his face that could betray his plans to her. Unfortunately for her, he kept his face impassive, and the only emotion he let show was the amusement in his steely eyes.
She debated mentally with herself for a few moments before saying,
"I'm lost, okay?" She rolled her eyes and looked away, annoyed at his childishness.
Draco laughed, a real one this time, and slowly descended down the stairs, never taking his eyes off of Adrielle.
"What?" She asked, feeling self conscious under his gaze. "Why do you keep looking at me?"
Draco just looked pompous and arrogant as he said, "Me? Looking at you? You may be a pureblood, but that doesn't stop you from being a Gryffindor bitch." He spat out, with obvious distaste for the word 'Gryffindor'.
Adrielle froze up at once, staring at the Slytherin with contempt in her hazel eyes, green blazing through brown. She walked up to him, and before he knew it, he was clutching his cheek in pain. Adrielle had slapped him.
"What was that for?" he asked, furious.
"You insulted me, you wanker! Don't you dare speak to me that way!" She turned around and proceeded to sit down rather unceremoniously on the floor, unmoving.
Draco was still holding his cheek as he stalked off. "Fine!" he yelled. "Get lost! See if I care! You'll be there all night, and have fun being found by the whole Slytherin house tomorrow morning!" Draco felt no guilt as he left Adrielle stranded there and walked quickly back to the Slytherin common room. When he got there, he sat himself down in a plush green armchair, waving his wand over the table next him. A pack of ice appeared, and he held it over his stinging cheek, glowering over what had happened.
Meanwhile, Adrielle was still sitting on the floor, tears starting to fill her eyes. Her chin trembled as she tried to keep herself from crying. She failed, however, and tears were falling down her cheeks at an alarming rate. She curled up onto the floor, and draped her cloak over herself, her tears reduced to sniffles. After a few minutes, she fell asleep, although the floor was not the most comfortable place to sleep, she was rather tired, and it wasn't like she knew somewhere cozier.
Fifteen minutes later, Draco was still in the Slytherin common room, and although he hated to admit it, he was slightly worried. The day before last, Blaise Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle had set loose a Boggart down in the dungeons. It had made a few appearances already, and Draco Malfoy was sure it would make itself known again. His worries were not purely philanthropic, however. If Adrielle told a teacher that Draco was the last one to talk to her, and that he neglected to warn her about the Boggart, he could be in trouble, and that was the last thing he needed.
'Wait!' he thought, relieved. 'She has a wand! I'm so stupid, worrying about…' he trailed off as he remembered when he had first seen her. When he spoke to her, her hand had immediately jumped to her pocket, as if reaching for her wand, but there had been none there. She had left her wand in her room, he realized worriedly.
Now, Draco Malfoy was not one to get worried over girls, or even a Gryffindor in general, but, Boggarts take the form of what the person they encounter fears most, and without a wand, there was very little a person could do in defense. He got up, grabbed his wand, and headed out the door, hoping Adrielle had not moved from her spot.
Meanwhile, Adrielle had woken to find something looming over her. Something large, eight-legged, and hairy. A massive spider, with eight beady eyes the size of dinner plates and a clicking mouth with great, shining fangs was staring at her, only a foot above her head.
She gave an ear-splitting shriek as she got up and tried to run away. She stumbled over the hem of her cloak but managed to get up and keep running. She had no clue where she was going, but the spider kept following her. Yes, it was cliché that her greatest fear was spiders, but after a traumatic experience with a bright red spindly-legged creature at the age of five, she couldn't stand the things. It didn't help that her mother had a large garden, well maintained, full of the little buggers. She could hardly go outside, or gaze at a flower without seeing one. She turned down a long hallway, and turned around. The spider was still following her. It was huge, every frightening detail in plain view. As she reached the end of the hallway, she hoped to turn down another, but it was a dead end. She collapsed against the wall, sobbing, her eyes shut and her body unmoving in terror. The spider reached out with an elongated, skeletal leg and stroked the side of Adrielle's face, as if examining its prey. She whimpered as she felt the rough, scratchy hair covering the leg come into contact with her face. Suddenly, it retracted, though Adrielle dare not look up.
"RIDDIKULUS!"
Adrielle heard a bang and looked up to see a small black shadow fleeing the hall. She turned her head slightly to see her rescuer.
"Malfoy?" she asked incredulously. She wiped her eyes and sniffled, her cheeks were covered in tears.
He looked at her strangely, then walked towards her, offering a hand to help her up.
She eyed it with suspicion, then took it as he hauled her to her feet. She collapsed against him as he pulled her up, her body shaking in hysterics. He awkwardly patted her on the back, not sure what to do.
"Are you okay?" he asked, not sure what else to say. His pale complexion had a tinge on pink to it.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She sniffled and pulled away. "I'm sorry. It's just… Spiders scare me more than anything else in the world. Thank you." She said. "I- Um, well. What are you doing here?" she asked, clearly confused.
"Well, I knew there was a Boggart wandering the halls, and, well… I noticed you didn't have your wand, so… Well." He trailed off embarrassedly, then mentally smacked himself in the head. Draco Malfoy did not get embarrassed. He was always cool, calm, and collected. "I may be, well I know people see me as-"
Adrielle cut him off as she grinned, sniffling, and said, "A pompous, self-centered, egotistical, bigoted jerk?"
"You know, I just saved you! You should show a little more gratitude!" He said stormily and looked away.
Adrielle grinned once more. That was more like Draco Malfoy she knew. She shivered and pulled her cloak closer to herself, then cursed as she noticed the spider had torn a large hole in the back.
"Bloody hell! Godforsaken spider!" she cursed.
Draco smiled faintly and took off his own cloak. "Here, " he said, handing it to her stiffly. "I know it's Slytherin, but, well, if you want it."
Adrielle was surprised. She had never known Draco Malfoy to act this way, but her surprise was pleasant, if not unexpected. She reached for the cloak, her fingers accidentally brushing his own as she took the cloak into her hand.
'His fingers are cold, ' she thought, and at the same time, Draco was thinking, 'Her fingers are warm.' Both smiled at their thoughts.
She took off her cloak and cast it to the floor.
Draco's eyes immediately widened and he grinned appreciatively as he saw what she was wearing. Maroon short shorts and a wine red bra exposed her pale skin and toned legs and stomach.
"Is that what you sleep in?" he asked, laughter dancing in his eyes.
She looked at him questioningly before looking down at herself. She quickly wrapped the cloak around herself, remembering now that she had forgotten to put a shirt on as she left the Gryffindor common room. She looked down, her face flushed with red.
"I- I forgot to put on a shirt when I left. I was really pissed off!" she said to her defense, but the Slytherin was already laughing. She turned around, her eyes shut, threatening to spill tears once again.
"No, look, I'm sorry." Draco said as he realized she was about to cry. He seemed to be feeling a lot of remorse tonight. It was not an emotion he was used too. "I'm a jerk, like you said earlier." He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him. He stared into her shining eyes and said, "Come on, smile. You know you want to…" he said teasingly.
Adrielle couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, turn around a second." She said.
Draco obliged, and he stared out across the dark hallway, hearing cloth rustling behind him.
"Okay, you can turn back around, now." Draco turned to see Adrielle standing before him; she had folded and tied the cloak so it had a knot right below her cleavage, and it hung loosely around her the rest of her torso and her legs, almost like a cross between a toga and a kimono.
Draco smiled briefly, "It looks better that way." God, what was he saying? Draco wanted to hit himself over the head. Draco Malfoy never complimented people, let alone Gryffindors. He was rewarded, however, when Adrielle grinned in return, then her smile faded.
"Now I remember why I came down here." She said, anger coloring her tone. "Look at this!" she said, moving the cloak so Draco could see her stomach. "What the bloody hell did you do?"
Draco tried his hardest to contain his laughter, but he couldn't hold it. He recognized the serpent, marked like a tattoo around her belly button.
"It's not funny! Make it go away!" she said irritably, crossing her arms in front of her chest, deliberately not looking at him.
"Alright, alright." He said, still chuckling. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the serpent, the point of the wand poking Adrielle's stomach. She gulped, the sensation unwelcome and unnerving. He muttered something under his breath and the serpent moved, uncoiling and slithering up and into the wand. "Better?" he asked, a smile still on his lips.
Adrielle tried to put a frown on her face but failed. "Yeah… But, what was the point of that?" she asked, slightly annoyed.
"Oh, no reason." He said nonchalantly. "Just to piss you off."
Adrielle glared at him. Draco Malfoy could be foul git when he wanted to be. "You're a prat, I hope you know that." She said angrily.
Draco simply laughed and brushed off the insult.
Adrielle was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable now, and wanted to go back to the comfort of her bed. "Um, can you take me to the Gryffindor dorms… please?" she asked meekly.
"Sure," Draco said, almost disappointed that she wanted to go back. He was enjoying this little chat. "Let's go."
They walked in silence, Adrielle kept her pace a few steps behind Draco.
About ten minutes later, a much quicker trip than Adrielle had anticipated, they arrived in front of the Pink Lady's portrait. Knowing that the Pink Lady wouldn't ask for the password in front of a Slytherin, Draco turned to leave.
"Wait, " Adrielle said.
Draco turned, "Yes?" he asked.
"Your cloak." She said simply, not sure what to do with it.
"Keep it," he said, "As a reminder of your heroic savior." He joked, and turned to leave once more.
Adrielle laughed, and didn't want to see Draco leave so quickly.
"Um-" She started to say, and Draco turned around. "Never mind, " she mumbled, not sure of what she was doing.
Draco smirked to himself. This girl liked him, was what he was thinking. Now, Draco wasn't a complete prat, but he liked having a little fun every now and then. And he knew he could turn this into something fun. So he did something he knew she wouldn't expect. He raised his hand and stroked her cheek, letting his thumb brush over her lips. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Adrielle couldn't speak; she simply nodded and watched Draco walk away. She turned around and once again mumbled the password, too stunned to speak straight. As she climbed into bed, Draco's cloak still around her, she thought one thing only.
'How could I be attracted to Draco Malfoy?'
And in the Slytherin dorms, Draco sat up in his bed, staring out the window, leaning back against his dark green pillow. He was also thinking, but not along the same lines.
'Now what else could I do?'
He smiled to himself; this would be a fun game. Then he thought of his friends. What would they say about his sudden friendliness with a Gryffindor? He couldn't tell them; Crabbe and Goyle were far too stupid to keep a secret, Pansy was a jealous shrew, she would certainly mess up his plan, and Blaise. Draco was simply friends with Blaise because the Malfoy's and the Zabini's were two very prominent pureblood families. Whether he could actually trust Blaise was something under question. No, Draco would keep this plan to himself. Something to occupy his thoughts as he settled into yet another year at Hogwarts. He couldn't wait to see how this would unfold.