Where The Beginning Of The End Begun
Chapter 6-
"No way. Are you absolutely mad? Nope, you are not going." Aibhilin crosses her arms and gives me a stern look.
"Okay, stop. You are acting like my mum Ave. Besides, the worst possibility is that I go down there and I have to deal with Pansy." I tell her honestly.
"M, I don't think you realise that you'll be walking into the snake pit. Draco is a Slytherin and he's evil. They all are."
"Oh yeah, coming from the girl who was making eyes at Blaise Zabini all day. He too is a Slytherin in case you had forgotten and not to mention he's friends with Draco."
Aibhilin pouts.
"Actually, he was the one 'making eyes' at me, not the other way round and besides even if I was, it's not the same thing as going to the bloody dungeons to 'study' with Malfoy."
"This is ridiculous. I'm going. If I'm not back before curfew then you can call the bloody Aurors." I pick up my bag and look at a still pouting Aibhilin. "I'll see you later."
"I wasn't making eyes at him." She mumbles under her breath. I roll my eyes at her as I walk out of the common room.
Upon arriving in the dungeons I receive glares from nearby Slytherins. All absolutely horrified to have a Gryffindor in their part of the school.
I ignore them as best I can and in doing so I bump into someone. I look up to see Blaise's handsome, smirking face.
"Are you lost Blakewood?" He asks. I give him an incredulous look.
"No. I know where I'm going. But, have you seen Malfoy?"
"You're actually going to let him help you with potions?"
I roll my eyes at him.
"What is so wrong with getting help from Draco? If you know please enlighten me."
Blaise just chuckles and I raise a brow at him.
"There's nothing wrong with it Blakewood. It's just…strange. But anyway, your boyfriend is in the common room." He gestures behind him.
"He is not my boyfriend Zabini. You'd do well to remember that." I tell him slowly. He smirks at me, unfazed by my rubbish threat.
"Come on, I'll take you there." Blaise turns around and walks down the steps and I quickly follow behind him.
He turns to me.
"Cover your ears."
"What? Why-" I give him a glare. "Really?"
"Yes. Now cover your ears." I huff but do as I'm told and cover my ears, blocking out Blaise saying the password.
The door opens and we walk through it.
I had never been in the Slytherin Common Room before, but I imagined it to be similar to this. Cold, mysterious and dark.
The room is lit only by a few green lamps. The sofas are all low and green, most of them placed near the giant fire. Looking out the window, I see part of the lake. It gives the room a greenish tint, making it look even more mysterious.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing here Blakewood?" Pansy's annoying voice asks.
"Sod off Pansy. She's here to see Draco." Blaise tells her casually. Pansy's eyes widen and I can see the rage bubbling within her.
"Why would Draco want anything to do with her?" She sneers as if I'm not standing right here.
"Oh give it a rest Parkinson. Draco clearly isn't interested in you. Stop acting as if he's your possession. And besides, he invited me here. I didn't come of my own accord." I tell her, not in the mood for her feeble attempts at harassing me.
Pansy looks as if she's about to say something else but doesn't have a chance as Draco enters the room, interrupting her.
"Blakewood! You came, good choice." Draco announces.
"Alright well, we're going to go. Come on Pans." Blaise takes Pansy's arm and attempts to lead her out but she yanks her arm back.
"No. I'm staying here." She protests with her hands folded across her chest.
"Whatever." Blaise says, walking out. Clearly he isn't the mood for Pansy either.
"Why don't you just bugger off Parkinson?" Draco asks her nastily. Although, it wasn't much of a question, more of a command really.
Pansy's eyes widen and she tries to reach out for Draco but he just walks over to me.
"Draco-wait," Pansy pleads with tears in her eyes. Is she really going to cry? For Merlin's sake, if it was going to be like this, I wouldn't have come here in the first place.
Draco rolls his eyes and ignores her, turning to me. Frustrated, Pansy finally stomps off.
"So, what's the trouble with potions? I always thought you were rather good at it."
"I'm good at it in theory." I tell him simply. He nods.
"Practical it is then."
"Yeah, sure. If you've got a cauldron and ingredients lying about." I say, looking around.
Draco chuckles and heads for the door.
"Come on then." He nods his head towards the door. I sigh and follow him.
Apparently the pace that I'm walking at just isn't fast enough for him because he stops and grabs my wrist, pulling me along with him instead.
"Bloody hell. Could you be any slower?" Draco growls out. I speed up my pace, trying not to trip up as he drags me by the wrist.
"I could actually." I tell him.
He lets out a small laugh as we arrive outside of an empty classroom.
Draco pulls out his wand and taps the lock.
"Alohomora." He whispers and the door unlocks. He walks into the room and I follow behind.
I recognise the room to be a potions classroom, makes sense.
"We shouldn't be in here…" I say, standing by the door. It's dark, save for the moonlight streaming in from the window, illuminating only one desk. It gives the entire place an eerie feeling.
Draco ignores my comment and goes about finding a cauldron. When he does, he places it on the desk that basks in the glow coming from the moon.
"What are you just standing there for?" He snaps when he spots me beside the door.
"What are you doing?" I hiss at him. He rolls his eyes at me.
"For Merlin's sake. I'm going to teach you how to make a potion properly. Now stop worrying and come over here."
Cautiously, I make my way over to him. I take my potions book out of my bag and place it on the table.
Draco snatches the book and flips through the pages until he stops at one.
"So, what is it?" I ask, curious to know what I'm going to have to attempt creating. I reach for the book but he lifts it so it's out of my reach.
"Ah-ah. I'll tell you what you need and you just go and get it like a good little Gryffindor." He says in a bit of a demeaning tone. I narrow my eyes at him and scoff.
"Go on then." He urges.
"If you're going to talk to me like that then-"
"Do you want to get better at making potions or not?" He interrupts me.
"Yes." I grit out.
"Well then stop complaining or I'll leave right now and you'll be shit at this. Then, you'll not do well in your exams and you'll fail miserably, probably have to go back to a first year class…" He teases. Of course, I don't find it the least bit amusing. "But on the other hand, this can all be avoided if you take the help that I am kindly offering to you. I mean, I have plenty of other things that I could be doing with my time right now rather than helping a bleeding Gryffindor with potions."
Honestly, that kind of stings. Of course I know that Draco hates all Gryffindors, that's just a given but I didn't think that he actually hated me.
He moves closer to me and I stare up at him, careful to not let the small amount of hurt show in my eyes.
"But I am helping you Blakewood. Because, despite my loathing for your house and the people you choose to hang about with, I like to ignore the fact that you're a Gryffindor. And I do so, solely for the reason that I find you rather amusing."
My heart swells at his tiny confession.
If anyone else had said that to me I would have scoffed and walked away. But it's not anyone else it's Draco. From him, I take it as a compliment and as approval, which for some reason is something I value.
"Now," he whispers, his minty breath fanning my face. "Go fetch these ingredients." I nod as he starts reading out the list.
I turn to Draco looking sheepish.
"Ta-da…" I trail off quietly, gesturing to the cauldron. Draco -who is sitting at the desk with his head propped up by his hand- looks dazed and confused.
"Oh my gods. I wasn't aware that it was actually possible for someone to be so awful at brewing a potion." He says bluntly.
"I thought you would've already known considering you are in-fact in my Potions class. And I told you I was horrid." He stops leaning on his hand and straightens up before licking his lips.
"Yes, but in class I'm too busy actually doing things right to be watching you bloody fail."
I sit down on a stool with a small huff. I run a hand through my hair for what feels like the hundredth time tonight since I started making the potion.
"I would hate to be you right now. I must look a bloody state. Just look at my hair, it is a complete riot, my nails are chipped, I'm fairly certain that wrinkles are forming on my face from frowning so much at this fucking potion and-" I stop when I realise how pathetic I sound.
I share a look with Draco before we both burst out laughing.
"Do you ever stop complaining?" He asks when we stop laughing.
"Of course not."
I walk down the corridor with Aibhilin, listening as she continues on about last night.
"So then he didn't try to kill you like the evil bastard he is?" She asks slowly. I roll my eyes at her and let out a small laugh at her question. She's basically been asking me the same thing all morning, but in different ways.
"Will it please you if I say that he did and I barely got away with my life?" I ask, desperate to get off the subject.
"It would actually. It'd be proving my theory that he is in fact very much evil like his father." She sing-songs in her Irish accent.
"I don't disagree with you about Lucius but I think Draco's only semi-evil." I say teasingly.
"Oh M," She loops her arm through mine. "Forever trying and failing to be funny." I laugh at her and nod, acknowledging the fact that she's right.
"You coming to the library?" Aibhilin asks out of the blue. "I have some studying to do and I could use my best friend to make it less boring..."
"Sorry Ave, but I need my fresh air." She huffs and lets go of my arm as we have arrived outside of the library.
"Fine, well this is where I love you and leave you." She blows me a kiss and walks into the library.
I sigh and head outside where I see Harry and Neville.
"Harry!" I call out, running to catch up with him. He turns and gives a small wave.
"What are the two of you up to then?" I ask casually, falling into step with them.
"Going to study plants by the lake." Neville says excitedly. I nod and look at Harry, who lacks the excitement that Neville possesses. I can't blame him though.
"No offense or anything Magenta but why are you talking to me? I thought that you'd be like everyone else and want nothing to do with me." Harry says with a twinge of sadness in his voice.
"Ah, well Harry, as I thought you might've learned by now, I'm not like everyone else. We're friends and I'm not going to just stop talking to you because you got chosen for some bloody tournament. That would be petty. And I like to think of myself as non-petty person."
"Thanks, I guess." He says, unsure of himself as he sits down against a tree. I take a seat next to him and watch Neville go to stand in the lake, looking at various plants.
I lean my head back against the tree trunk and close my eyes, enjoying the peace. Well, as much peace as I can get with Neville mumbling about how fascinating the plants are.
After a while of just sitting I hear footsteps on the stones behind us. I stand up along with Harry to face Hermione, Ron and Ginny.
"Ronald would like me to tell you, that Seamus told him that Dean was told by Parvati that Hagrid's looking for you." Hermione rushes out.
"Is that right? Well you can- what?" Harry asks, confused by what Hermione said, just as I am.
Hermione goes back to Ron and he whispers to her.
"Dean was told by Parvati that…please don't ask me to say it again." She pleads.
"If you're so confused about what to say why can't Ron just say it himself and stop being so petty. I mean, even Magenta said-" Harry begins but my eyes widen and I cut him off.
"No. Nope, no fucking way am I getting dragged into this. Sorry Harry." I give one wave and quickly walk away, not wanting to be involved in that rot.
Not really having anything else to do I decide to go to the Owlery, to see if maybe my mother has sent a reply to my letter.
When I finally reach the West Tower, I make my way up the path and carefully walk up the narrow stairs leading into the Owlery.
Most of the owls are sitting on their perches but a few are flying in and out of the stone room.
Just as I go to look out of the glassless window a brown tawny owl swoops through it screeching. I quickly duck down, not wanting to be scratched or bitten by it.
It settles on a perch and looks at me, with a letter in its mouth. I raise a brow at the owl but walk over to it anyway, taking the letter from it. When I do it flies off again.
Well, that was extremely good timing.
I open the envelope and take out the parchment that's inside, unfolding it and reading it.
My darling Magenta,
I am aware of the Triwizard Tournament. Rather exciting isn't it? Russia is fantastic dear; I'll be coming back soon though. And Magenta Tamsin Rosalie Blakewood, who raised you to be so cheeky? Finding a man is not my main priority in life.
Cedric Diggory is a lovely boy, but I think he's just a little bit old for you. Same goes for Viktor Krum. You tell Hermione to be careful. And tell her I send my love to her and Aibhilin as well.
Now to the part I'm dreading. Magenta…Draco Malfoy is not for you. I don't want you with someone like him. I'm sorry you feel that way love, but honestly you can do so much better. Sure, he may seem like he's got it all but trust me he hasn't. He'll end up like his father and I don't want you involved in any of that. Call it my motherly over-protectiveness but I am just looking out for you. We've all wanted someone that we can't have and it's no fun but you get through it. You will get through it, because you're my daughter and you're tough.
That was lovely of Adelaide. Never-mind those other girls, they are just like their mothers and I never liked either of them. But besides them, how are you doing in class? Have you gotten any better at potions? Maybe you can find someone who's good at it to help you. Why don't you ask Hermione? Anyway, I love you so much Gen-bug.
-Mum x
I internally cringe as I read mum's nickname for me. I fold the letter back up and put it in my pocket, running a hand through my hair.
Great, so my mum is completely anti-Draco. I wonder what she would say if she knew that I'm getting help with potions from him. She'd pitch a bloody fit. Oh my mother, always feeling superior to others.
"Alright Blakewood?" I turn to see Blaise entering the Owlery.
"Dandy Zabini." I tell him, leaning against the wall.
"Letter from your mum?" He asks casually, whilst going to his owl.
"Yeah, she's coming back from Russia soon. Speaking of mums, how's Valentina?" I've always liked Blaise's mum. She's a lovely woman and I have to admit she is enticingly beautiful.
"She's probably on the look-out for a new husband but apart from that she's good." I was glad our mums were friends because without them Blaise and I probably wouldn't talk at all. And that would be a shame because despite what people think, Blaise is a pretty genuine bloke. A little snobby, but all Slytherins are. He's not friendly with many people though. Especially if they aren't attractive. Apparently, Blaise is very hard to please that way.
"How did potions practice go with Draco?" He asks suddenly.
"Eh, good I suppose. We just discovered that I'm actually worse at making potions than I say I am. He didn't try to poison me though so that's a plus." Blaise lets out a small chuckle.
I walk over to the stairs and wait for him since he's sending his owl off.
We start walking down the steps and Blaise decides to carry on our conversation.
"Well, he probably didn't try to kill you because he fancies you." He sends a small smirk in my direction.
"Oh fuck off Blaise, you know that isn't true." Although I wish it were.
"Oh I'm sorry I just forgot that Malfoy tends to help all the Gryffindors with their schoolwork." I glare at him.
"If you're going to say that then I'm just going to point out the fact that you quite obviously fancy Aibhilin."
"She's fit sure but I don't fancy her." He scoffs.
"And Draco doesn't fancy me. There, now we've got that sorted." I bump his much taller frame with my shoulder and he just laughs.
After that, we walk back to the school in a comfortable silence.
I quietly push open the portrait leading out of the common room. Once I'm out, I turn to close the portrait over but I am faced with the Fat Lady giving me a stern look.
"And where do you think you're going?" She asks me in a rather loud voice.
"I'm…sleepwalking." I lie, curious to see if she'll buy it. Her stern face melts away and is replaced with an apologetic look.
"Oh, sorry dear." With that she wonders off to another painting. I smirk a bit, surprised that she believed that. Well, I really shouldn't be. She can be a bit dim at times.
I carry on down the stairs, heading to the Slytherin common room. Last night, Draco had agreed to keep helping me but to keep people finding out and getting into a big tizzy about it, we decided that it would probably be better to meet after curfew. Of course, it'll be trickier, having to sneak about but I'm really not that bothered. It means I get to spend more time with Draco and get better at potions. For me, it's a win-win really.
As I near the dungeons, I see Draco sitting on the stairs. He turns at the sound of my footsteps and stands up.
"Took you long enough." He scoffs, walking up the steps towards me.
"Yes well, some of the girls in my dormitory take ages to fall asleep." I tell him honestly.
"Whatever. Let's go." He leads the way to the classroom we were in the night before and I follow behind silently.
I push my food about the plate, too tired to eat. Potion making had taken longer than I expected it to last night and I didn't get to sleep until around two.
"Are you alright Magenta?" Hermione asks curiously from beside me.
I offer her a small smile and nod.
"I'm fine Mione, thanks. Just not that hungry."
"So, where were you last night?" I freeze for a moment but try not to let it show.
"I must have been sleepwalking." I tell her, laughing a bit at the end.
"I wasn't aware that you sleepwalk…" she says disbelievingly.
"Oh yeah. It just started recently. Nothing to worry about though. Listen, I'm going to head off so I'll see you later." I tell her quickly, wanting to get away from her penetrating stare.
"Alright, see you in Transfiguration." She smiles a bit and turns to talk to someone else as I gather my bag and head off out of the Great Hall.
Transfiguration. That reminds me… I need to get some papers off of Cedric. He had promised to give them to me a while ago as extra revision.
Where the hell will he be now?
I walk about the school, asking people if they've seen him when finally Cho tells me she saw him outside. I thank her and head out to the courtyard where the Hufflepuffs are known to sit about.
On the way over to him, I see loads of people wearing badges. I narrow my eyes at them trying to see what they say. Then someone hands me one. One second it's saying support Cedric and then it changes to Potter stinks. I clench my jaw and chuck the badge on the ground angrily.
Bloody stupid people. I'm really starting to despise all of this 'Hate on Harry' rubbish. It's tedious. And making badges about it is just completely immature.
"Cedric!" I shout. He turns to me and smiles.
"You alright Magenta?" He asks politely.
"Yeah, I'm great thanks. Hey, you weren't the one who made all the badges were you?" I ask, very much doubtful that he was the one who did it. He shakes his head and looks ashamed.
"No, it wasn't me. I've been telling people not to wear them, but they just don't listen." He says.
"Okay well it's good that it wasn't you because that means you're still in my good graces and I hope that I'm in yours just enough to be able to ask for those Transfiguration papers?" I ask sweetly.
He chuckles and opens his bag, taking out the papers.
"Here you go. I was wondering when you'd be asking for them." He smiles.
"I almost forgot about them. But thank you so much. You are a genuine life-saver Ced!" I jump up giving him a hug. He returns it and laughs.
"See you around Gen." He winks and walks off.
I sigh and turn to walk away but when I catch sight of a group of Slytherins handing out the bloody badges…it all clicks. I grit my teeth and briskly walk over to the Slytherins.
"Ah, Blakewood. Like the badges?" Draco asks in his arrogant voice. The rest of the group laughs with him and I grit my teeth. Upon reaching Draco I shove him roughly, making the other Slytherins step back slightly.
"No! I most certainly don't like the fucking badges! They're horrible and petty and Harry doesn't deserve that." By now I'm seething. "It was you who made them, wasn't it?"
Draco's jaw clenches.
"Maybe. Maybe not." He sneers. I narrow my eyes and shake my head.
"Of course it was you. You stupid, jealous, arrogant prick!" I honestly don't know what I'm getting so worked up about. I should have expected as much from Draco.
"How dare you speak to me like that… filthy little blood-traitor." He spits.
I waste no time in slapping him hard across the face. His head snaps to the side from the force of the slap and clutches his cheek but doesn't say anything.
"Draco! You alright?" The others gather around him.
I push them all out of the way and stand right in front of him, looking up at him and giving my harshest glare.
"How. Dare. You." I turn and fight the urge to break out into a run. I walk as fast as I can to the Gryffindor common room, harshly wiping away at the tears that have sprung to my eyes.