Chapter 18

Dear Fiske,

How are you? It's been a while since we last hung out and I really can legitimately say I miss you. Things here at Hogwarts are rather iffy. There is a lot of speculation going about that Harry is a liar about the Dark Lords return. It seems the Ministry of Magic is trying to hush him up about something, though no one else believes me. I've found out more information from Hermione who the Dark Lord is so now I have a full grasp of who he is and how dangerous he can be. It doesn't sound good.

Harry Potter was almost expelled from Hogwarts for using magic in the presence of a muggle. They were going to try him just like a criminal, can you believe that? If that doesn't sound like paranoia and an attempt to get rid of someone then I don't know what does. It sounds to me like they don't want him spreading around that the Dark Lord is back to keep the peace. That or because Fudge is a chicken shit.

Recently we got a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Poor Severus has tried and tried to get into that position for years. Poor man. Our new teacher supposedly works for the Ministry. Her name is Dolores Umbridge, she's one of Fudges lackeys I guess. She's already turned the class into a writing intensive class. How the hell are we supposed to defend ourselves if we're not learning spells? Stupid woman. Lately she's been having Filch hammer new rules onto the wall. Stupid little rules like how far apart people should be when walking, not being allowed to walk in groups, even things like the Quidditch team are being affected by her decisions and Dumbledore is doing nothing to stop it. She even almost got Professor Trelawney kicked out of Hogwarts. That was the first time Dumbledore stepped in in a while. I fear that things are going to get progressively worse from here out. I'll keep in contact with you if anything else goes down.

Your friend,
Ellenyx

Signing her name she handed it to Fiske's owl and watched as it flew off into the distance. She had kept contact with Fiske. Because of the secrecy of the Durmstrang location he had sent his owl instead. He couldn't risk being caught by his headmaster sending letters back with a strange owl. Not that it would really matter.

Standing she turned and made her way from her room, heading down into the common room. Because of the new rules all of the students were required to head straight to their common room after classes. Though she hated the rest of the Slytherin she also hated sitting on her bed for hours, or sleeping to pass the time. The only time the students could get out of their common room was for Quidditch practice –which Slytherin was receiving special attention for- or other clubs that Umbridge deemed necessary in having.

Finding a chair by the fireplace she sat down and grabbed her books. She had already read most of the book –out of boredom really- and found it to be shit. She hated the writing intensive courses, but unlike the other students, she was used to it. She had to study like this before she came to Hogwarts.

"Hey Nox," She stopped, her eyes closing. She already felt the headache start. She tried to ignore him as he came over, sitting on the arm of her chair. She didn't look at him, pretending to take notes from her book. Reaching over, a smile on his face he grabbed her book and pulled it away from her. Her breath hitched angrily in her throat as she looked at him. He was accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle, his normal goon squad. But where was Pansy?

"What do you want?" She grunted, irritated.

"No need to get snippy Nixie." He snickered, rubbing her shoulder. She grimaced pulling away.

"Don't call me that." She rubbed her shoulder where his hand had been, looking at him as if he were diseased.

"What would you like me to call you? Nox?"

"How about you call me my name? You know, Ellenyx? Or even just Nyx, or Elle? Hell Elle would be better than Nox or Nixie." He grinned and nodded, looking back at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Yeah, I think I can do that, Elle." Her forehead crinkled. She didn't like that he had chosen Elle, but she did give him the option. But for some reason as her name rolled off his tongue it sent a shiver up her spine.

"Now that we have that straight, what do you want?" She turned trying to grab her book back. He pulled it away from her grinning as she leaned over his leg a bit, her breast on his thigh.

"Slytherin Quidditch team is down a chaser, I wanted to know if you wanted to try out." He put the book within reach, yanking it away again as she lashed out to get it again, pushing herself to her knees to reach. He smiled in approval as she practically laid across his lap.

"Chaser?" She pulled away looking at him confused. She'd rarely seen a Quidditch game unless it was against Gryffindor, but that was only because of her friendship with Hermione, Harry and Ron.

"Yeah, you know what a Chaser is right?" He handed the book to Crabbe.

"I do," She nodded. "But…why me? Why offer me, I've never been good at sports. To be honest I've never been interested in sports and I'm bollocks when it comes to flying. You should just ask someone else." She reached for her book but Crabbe held it out of her reach.

"It's alright Elle, we have time. I'll even instruct you on flying seeing how I'm the best flyer in the school." He grinned looking at the two behind him who also smiled, nodding. She was just about to tell him to bugger off when the thought of getting out of the common room crossed her mind.

"Can I go out any time I want?" She pressed. Draco's smile stretched farther. He knew he had her.

"As long as I'm with you, Umbridge won't care." She nodded, looking at him. Crossing her legs she rested her chin on her palm, propping her arm up.

"So why the sudden interest in including me in your daily life?" She questioned seriously, staring at him.

"Well you are a Slytherin." He admitted.

"Never fazed you before."

"I just thought you'd be good on the Quidditch team." He pushed.

"You're planning something foul Malfoy and I don't like it." She stood, heading for the common room door. He stood and followed her out into the hall, heading down the stairs.

"I'm not planning anything but to include you in Slytherin's greatest victories."

"Greatest victories?" She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and whirled around. "Where's Pansy?"

"Who?" He stopped right in front of her, his face inches away.

"Pansy, your girlfriend?" She shot.

"She's not my girlfriend Ellie." He smiled. "What's got you all tense huh?" He leaned on the railing. "You act like you don't trust me."

"Because. I. Don't." She hissed, bringing her voice down, her eyes narrow. He grinned and opened his mouth to say something when a perky, sickening voice sounded behind her.

"Is everything alright?" She whirled around to see Umbridge, standing just a little way down the hall. "Out of the common room hm? For what reason?" She was holding her pad of paper writing something when Draco spoke up.

"Just escorting my fellow Slytherin." He defended.

"Oh?" She looked at Nyx with questionable eyes, just waiting to for her to screw up. "Where to?" They were both silent for a second.

"To the co-"

"To the Quidditch field. I agreed to be Slytherin's new Chaser, ma'am." She interrupted. The smile that stretched across Umbridge's face made Nyx sick. Like a squashed toad on the sidewalk.

"In the rain?" She looked at Draco.

"That's the best time to practice. We'll beat Gryffindor this year. We'll show them not to mess with us." Nyx looked away. "Teach the filthy mud-bloods not to mess with Slytherin house." He continued. By now Nyx had grown to despise the word mud-blood and her affiliation with Slytherin house, but the only reason she hasn't gotten in trouble for half of the back talking she's done was because of being in Slytherin. "Isn't that right Fairbourne?" He nudged her. She grimaced, forcing a smile through.

"Right. We'll teach Gryffindor how little talent they really have." She muttered.

"Oh goodie, you two be careful out there. Oh and keep your eyes open will you Mister Malfoy?" She patted his shoulder. "I thought I heard that…Mister Potter discussing something asinine. If you see him, report him to me will you darling?" Draco smiled and touched her hand.

"You have my word High Inquisitor Umbridge." Grasping his shoulder tightly, that sickening smile on her face never fading she flipped her hair and continued walking. Once out of sight Nyx turned on Draco.

"You're serious? You're going to help her?"

"Yeah, so?" he shrugged. Gritting her teeth she stomped away, Draco following closely behind her. "Why are you so upset by that?"

"Why?" She whirled around. "You're fueling the woman who would drown babies if she thought it would hinder our progress! And you're supporting her!"

"If they were mud-blood babies I would support her even more." He snickered. She huffed and slapped him, stomping away.

"You're absolutely mad! We're trapped here unable to learn magic because Mistress Let's-fuck-everyone's-life-up wants to keep the truth from us!" She snarled.

"She's not stopping all of us form learning, she lets the Slytherin's learn." He grabbed her arm stopping her. She stared at him shocked, her jaw dropping. "Why are you so upset about this?" He growled. "It's because you're friends with the mud-blood isn't it?" Inhaling deeply she slapped his hand away shaking her head.

"No it's not. We're at a school Malfoy or have you forgotten? Hogwarts has turned from a school to a prison. What do you suppose we do if the Dark Lord has returned?" She questioned honestly.

"He hasn't returned."

"What if he has?" She pushed. He stared at her for a long second then shook his head. "We're dead." She whispered, seeing the look in his eyes. "All of us are dead, because Fudge can't admit that Voldemort is back."

"Why does it matter to you?" Draco countered. "What does it matter to you if he's back or not? You have no ties with the Dark Lord." She stared at him for a long time, thinking back on the dream she had in the house with the Dark Lord himself. Averting her gaze, she shook her head. It was cold around her, the silence drawing her attention to the sound of the rain and the coldness of the air around her.

"You're wrong Draco," She whispered, her eyes closed. "I didn't know my parents; they were killed before I could start collecting memories of them. They were both Death Eaters. I didn't know much about them until I came here. I still don't know much about them but I know enough to say that I want nothing to do with the Dark Lord." She looked back up at him. He didn't reply for a while, thinking her story over. Inhaling she shook her head and started for the game grounds. "We'd better go. When I said I was bollocks at flying what I meant was I'd never been on a broom before." He followed her. "I'm surprised you forgot that after what you did to my underpants within the second year I was here." She turned looking at him.

"Oh yeah," He smiled. "Tossing your panties to Snapes window."

"Why did you do it?" She growled. "You almost made him lose his job."

"Why?" He looked at her. "Well I was hoping you'd get on your broom and go up there." Her forehead crinkled as she stepped out into the rain.

"In my skirt? You would have seen everything." He didn't say anything, he just smiled. Gasping she punched him in the arm. "You pervert!" he looked at her shocked holding his arm then laughed, trying to hide the fact that she really hurt him. "I can't believe you, you…"

"I can't believe you couldn't tell that that was the intention from the start." He stopped then smiled. "Alright, we'll use my broom." He headed for the Slytherin Quidditch room and grabbed his broom from a broom cupboard. She waited patiently as he returned. Putting the broom on the ground he smiled and stepped back. "Alright, now step up to the left side of your broom and with your right hand over it say Up." He repeated instructionally as Madame Hooch had done his first year. Nodding she did as she was told and stepped up to the broom. Hovering her hand over it she barked her order.

"Up." Automatically the broom flew up into the palm of her hand with a slap. Gasping she grabbed the broom with her other hand and shook the injured one. He laughed.

"Nice one. Now mount it." She looked at him hesitantly then nodded. Lifting her leg up high she swung it over but stopped still when he lifted his hand. "Hold it right there." She didn't move a muscle, remaining with one leg in the air. He rubbed his chin then leaned over, looking up her skirt. Her cheeks puffed out. Grabbing the broom she cranked it back like a baseball bat and threatened to hit him, swinging it, purposely missing him by an inch.

"Draco I swear to God you're going to get it!" He ducked staring at her horrified waiting for her to swing again, but this time she turned back to the task and mounted the broom, tucking the shaft snugly between her legs.

"Lucky broom." He whispered, grinning. "Good, now with your feet planted firmly on the ground, kick off, hover then touch back down." Nodding she hesitated then kicked off. She hovered a bit then zipped off. Gasping she leaned forward hugging the broom hard, her eyes wide as she saw the building speed by her. She wanted to scream but as her hands tightened on neck of the broom it stopped, almost flinging her off but she kept herself sitting upright. She panted staring down at the water below. ijhb

"Ellie!" Draco flew up beside her. It was his old broom before his father bought him the better one. He reached out and grabbed her broom, steadying her. "You ok?" He stayed next to her. She nodded looking down, her legs shaking.

"This broom hurts my butt." She whimpered leaning forward, lying on her broom. He laughed and shook his head.

"Trying having testicles. Alright, now, let's work on your maneuvering." He grinned then dashed off, zipping across the air. She shook her head.

"I'd rather get down now, really." Turning he looked at her. Fishing deep into the pocket of his robes he pulled out a pair of panties and held them up.

"You want these back don't you?" He smiled at her. She stopped, staring at him. She felt her blood boil.

"Malfoy you bastard give them back!" She barked.

"You'll have to catch me Fairbourne." He snickered deviously then sped off.

"You bastard!" Clutching the broom tightly she rushed after him, wanting to knock him off. He zipped in between the buildings, working on sharp turns and spinning away from her. She tried her hardest to keep up to him, at first missing the sharp turns completely, then gliding by them as she attempted to turn until she was able to turn as sharp as he did, and even ran the same stupid stunts he did.

After a bit her anger was gone, she felt free, zipping around above the school grounds, drenched from the pouring cold rain, not caring that her shirt stuck to her flesh, transparent from the wetness. Finally catching him she grabbed the panties from his hand and dashed off, causing him to chase after her. She smiled, leaning down she slipped one leg into one of the holes then stood on her broom, slipping into the other hole. Touching down she hopped off and turned looking as Draco touched down a few feet from her and closed the gap between them.

"Take that Malfoy." She snickered victoriously. "I'd like to see you get them back." She challenged, her eyes narrowing.

"That's for another day," He smiled, his drenched hair dripping down the front of his face. "I think you're ready for Quidditch." Wrapping an arm around her he led her towards the school.

"Really?" She brushed her sopping black hair back, the saturated strands stuck to her back and shoulders like soggy tendrils of silk. Suddenly she stopped. In the walk way sheltered by the stone roofing Hermione stood staring at her sternly. Nyx had seen that look before when she was in her old school and a popular girl had caught her chatting with her preppy boyfriend.

"Out for a little stroll aren't we, Granger?" Draco sneered looking at her.

"Thanks to you and Umbridge we're not allowed to go out for strolls," She spoke harshly, her voice quiet then she made eye contact with Nyx. "I guess you really are a Slytherin." She turned and stomped away.

"Don't talk to my friend Elle like that mudblood! The only mistake Elle has made was being friends with you and Potter!"

"Draco enough!" Nyx barked. He stopped looking at her. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw her hurt expression.

"You can't be serious." She didn't say anything. Her eyes remained glued to the cracked grey stone flooring where Hermione once stood. Turning he stepped in front of her, his body breaking the illusion that remained in Nyx's mind of her first friend at Hogwarts. He pointed at her, his finger in her face. "You're a Slytherin, Elle. You can be great, you are great and you'll only be dragged down if you let those Gryffindork's associate themselves." He spoke mainly through his teeth. "You're a Slytherin, Elle." He repeated almost threateningly. She stopped for a second then looked up at him. Bearing her teeth she bit his finger, almost drawing blood. Pulling away he screamed and looked down at the red set of teeth mark that had clamp around his middle knuckle.

"I would rather be dragged down by friends then succeed with selfish brats like you." She hissed in return. His face contorted, his breathing speeding up. He wanted to say something. He wanted to scream at her, yell in her face and tell her to wake up as he gripped his injured finger so tightly his knuckles paled. He wanted to yell, but he didn't. Turning he stomped away, heading back for the common room.

Standing alone in the rain she felt the cold of the rain sink in. She was back where she had started only a few years before. Hated by both sides, drenched to the bone feeling sorry for herself.