Chapter Five

The first day back was a Friday and I only had three subjects on those days. Potions. Charms. Transfiguration. I woke up early, with the help of Katie, and grabbed the bathroom first, to the shouts of my best friend. I got washed quickly and dried my hair with a charm, letting the unruly curls hang down my back. I knew some of my professors responded unfavourably from the sight of my curls, even Severus had at the start, but I wasn't going to keep my hair tied back everyday just to appease my professors. After dressing in my school robes, I exited the bathroom, avoiding a particularly nasty stinging hex. Katie, herself, ducked into the bathroom to get ready.

With this extra time, I took the chance to dig around inside my trunk to discover my necessary textbooks, as well as some parchment and ink. I placed it all neatly into my off-the-shoulder bag and waited for my roommate. I'd also added the book on animagi from Flourish and Blotts into my bag for some light reading, just to refresh the facts I needed to know for tomorrow's session with Severus.

"Gem!" came the call of Katie.

"Yeah?"

"Can you help me with my hair?"

I padded into the bathroom (Katie always did her hair after washing and dressing). Katie was standing in front of the mirror, her long hair strewn across the place. "Don't you have any more hair cream?" I wondered.

"No," she sighed. "Mum won't buy any more. Says I use it too much."

I nodded to her through the mirror and pulled my wand out. I waved it, non-verbally casting a charm that would comb her hair in less than a second before securing it in a high pony-tail that was perfect for school. I stepped back to let her see my work. She squealed, giving me a quick hug before disappearing back into the room. I followed after her, pulling my bag off the bed and slinging it onto my shoulder. Katie did the same before we got into a debate of the best quidditch team like usual – The Holyhead Harpies (mine) verses The Chudley Canons.

Breakfast was a quick affair. Most of the professors weren't even there considering there was only fifteen minutes left until first class. Katie and I sat down at the Gryffindor Table. "Fred told me something interesting last night," said Katie. "Fred and George bought their own joke shop in Diagon Alley. They're going to set it up during the summer. Cool, right?"

I made a non-committal sound.

"Oh, come on, Gem, you know you're going to love their store just as much as the rest of us."

I let out an indulgent smile. "You're totally right." Then, I changed the subject. "Hey, do you want to go flying tomorrow night? The pitch is free. Training doesn't start until next week."

"Sure," she agreed.

Potions was an easy affair. We brewed a wit-sharpening potion to recap the ingredients. Professor Snape, as I was supposed to call him in public, set an essay on this potion – five inches. Due next lesson, which was Monday. So, we had the weekend to do this essay. Severus always did enjoy setting mountains of homework. Charms and Transfiguration were the same – we recapped the hardest part learned last term to get us back into the mindset.

I was heading back to the common room after Transfiguration when I saw Matthew Prewett, the good-looking sixth-year Slytherin. He was walking in the opposite direction, no doubt going to his common room. I had no intention of stopping to talk or acknowledge him in the school hallways and it seemed he didn't either as we passed each other without fault but three seconds later… "Hey, Black," I heard.

I turned around to face him. "Yeah?"

He walked back towards me, a cute smile on his face. "I just wanted to say that Weasley was bang out of line on the platform and you handled it really well." He shifted his hands into his pockets. I hadn't noticed him there but, well, I hadn't noticed him at all in the previous years. Which was weird, because most of the girls I spoke with had a radar for cute guys, even Slytherins, and loved filling me in on it. I had half of one, too, if the smile I was now sporting said anything.

"Thanks," I answered. "Matthew, right?"

"Yes. And you're Gemima, right?" he replied, although I could tell it was slightly joking. Of course we both knew each other's' names before now. I nodded anyway, my smile increasing. "I hear you play chaser."

"I do. So, you like quidditch? Do you play?" My tone might have seemed just a tad eager but any man gained a few points if he played quidditch. Especially if he supported my team, although I knew the majority of men would not get caught dead supporting an all-women team. Masculinity and all that stuff.

"I'm a Keeper," he told me.

"In more ways than one, I'm sure," I replied, tightening my grip on my schoolbag.

He laughed. "I sure hope so."

"Well, anyway," I started before it would get awkward and ruin the perfectly flirty dynamic we had going on. "I have to go. So, I'll see you around?"

"Definitely." He nodded.

I turned back around, walking back towards the Gryffindor Tower, taking extra care to make sure I wouldn't stumble or anything. I mean, how embarrassing would that be? Gosh, I finally understand why Katie acts the way she does around Fred. I'll never tease her again. I never felt that way about Nott, I'd met him when I was younger and he was friends with Draco for years.

I turned the corner. The next person who calls my name is not so interesting – just Draco. "I saw you talking to Prewett," he says, catching up with me.

"And?"

"He was asking about you last night," Draco said. "Asked if you were single. Zabini almost had a heart attack. He warned him off you."

"Why would Zabini care if I have a boyfriend or not? I – very publicly – declined his proposal. I humiliated him. He should hate me." I mean, it seemed as if he did. He glared at me and avoided me and whenever I walked past him in the halls, he'd make a comment. Nothing rude, I suppose, just annoying.

"How should I know? This is not a topic I want to stay updated up."

"You could have fooled me," I teased. "You always seem to know who I'm dating or who I'm flirting with." The tips of his ears turned pink. Aw, my little brother was trying to fulfil a big brother role. That was adorable.

"You were flirting with him? Yuck."

I laughed. "What about you, dork? Who are you going out with this week – Daphne or Pansy?"

"Neither. Anyway, Severus told me you wanted to become an animagus." I stopped walking, looked around us and decided that the school hallway was too public for such a conversation. I pulled him into one of the nearby classrooms and put up some notice-me-not charms and a Muffliato one. Then, I slouched at one of the desks.

"Yeah," I murmured as he took a seat near me. "I asked Severus to help me. We start tomorrow."

"Why do you want to become an animagus? You already know occlumency and legilimency and wandless magic. What more do you need to know to become an accomplished witch? You already are one." He sounded so frustrated. I knew he had experimented with legilimency last term with Severus but hadn't got anywhere. I reached out a hand and placed in on his shoulder. I didn't want it to seem as if he was inadequate or anything like that.

"It's not about achievement, Draco. I spoke with Dumbledore last night. I've joined The Order officially and this summer, you and I are going to be staying at their headquarters. I'll be going on some missions. Do you see how helpful it would be to just transform randomly into some type of animal? It could be the difference between life and death and right now I'm angling for any edge I can accomplish before then. Do you see?" I looked straight into his eyes to show him how serious this mess was. And I really hoped I'd turn into a useful animal, like I needed.

He nodded, seriously. "I can help you with those missions. I'll come with-"

"No." This time, I put both hands on each of his shoulders to express this sentiment. "Draco, you're not of age yet and anyway, this was my deal with Dumbledore, not yours. Okay? You're going to stay at the headquarters, safe. This is what Dad wanted. It's what I want."

He pulled me to him, wrapping me in his arms in a sweet hug, although it pulled me from my chair and I ended up kneeling. I didn't car, though. This was my little brother and I shudder to think of all the horrible things he'd have to go through if I wasn't here to protect him. He'd probably be forced to accept the dark mark. This way, he'll have a safer life. "Okay," he whispered. "But can I come to the lessons along with you?"

"Sure. Is this your way of asking to become an animagus, too?"

"No way," he balked. "I'd like to stay firmly human from now on."

I started laughing. "I'm sure your animagus will be a cute ferret. Are you sure you don't want that?" He released me from the hug immediately, letting me sit back in my previous chair.

"I'm sure," he said strongly.

"Okay, if you say so."

Draco stands, heading for the door. I pick my shoulder bag off the ground where it fell and follow him. The charms immediately break as we exit the classroom. Approaching us from the direction of the Slytherin common room is none other than Blaise Zabini. He slows down a bit when he sees us and eventually comes to a stop in front of Draco.

"Malfoy," he nods at him, and then looks past Draco, to me, where I'm standing with my back to the classroom door. "Gemima."

"Move along, Zabini," says Draco.

"No, I want a word with your sister. Now, get lost, Malfoy." Zabini pushes Draco out of the way a bit but Draco retaliates immediately, pulling out his wand and pointing it directly at Zabini's head.

"I told you to move along, Zabini."

Zabini ignores this, moving closer to me. I hold my ground flawlessly, not moving an inch to showcase any reaction I may have towards his frightening proximity. He's somehow discarded his school robe and jumper in the last ten minutes since classes ended. It makes him look ridiculous, in my opinion, as if he has to stand out from the crowd to beg for attention. And the white shirt really didn't suit his personality.

"What do you want?" I demanded. Draco moved his wand arm in front of Zabini, protecting me from his proximity. I feel discretely for my wand but it's in my shoulder bag, and if worse comes to worse, I can just use some wandless magic, even if that is less powerful.

"I think you know exactly what I want," he murmured, lowly, coming closer. He leaned closer, whispering horrible words in my ear. I push him away from me, slapping him across the face. His head cracks to the side, forcefully, and he retaliates, bringing his fist up. But Draco was ready and body-bound him with a strong hex. He froze and dropped to the floor, as stiff as a board. Draco tugged on my hand, pulling me away from him. He continues to pull down the corridor, towards the Gryffindor common room.

I look at Draco as he takes charge, leading me away from the deserted corridor. His face is set, determinedly. He looks so grown up. Before then, I had never really thought of him as practically an adult. He'd always been my little brother, someone to be protected, kept safe and happy. But, now, I realise that wasn't possible. He was already grown up and powerful. And, although, I would never let him accompany on any Order missions, I wouldn't treat him like the child he wasn't.