For the next several weeks, Cyn watched as Draco continued to isolate himself and became more withdrawn. He still hung around Blaise, Verity, and herself but his attitude was considerably different. He wasn't as snarky as he used to be, or as keen on interacting with anyone least of all Cyn. His complexion had paled significantly in those few weeks and deep, purplish circles had made their appearance known underneath his eyes. He looked like a walking skeleton, and it worried Cyn immensely. She didn't like that he was acting so unlike himself and she really didn't appreciate how he wasn't willing to confide in them, despite numerous attempts by Verity and herself to get him to do so. His go-to response was always, "I am handling the situation. Everything is fine", but he also wouldn't elaborate on what the situation was.

He was undeniably frustrating.

Cyn hid her scowl from Pansy as best she could as she wrapped her Slytherin scarf around her neck, and grabbed her matching green and silver gloves. Pansy, had been out to get her ever since the Parkinson girl had learned that Draco and Cyn were friends once more, and ever since Draco had more or less tossed her to the side and completely abandoned her. But if Pansy knew that there was something one, she'd swoop in and try to take advantage of the situation which was the last thing Cyn wanted or needed.

Maybe a Hogsmeade weekend would do Draco some good. At least, Cyn hoped it would. She wanted him to stop acting so broody and distant. She wanted everything to be back to normal with him. She didn't like his newfound demeanor; she wanted him back to being snarky, yet unexpectedly kind (at least with her and Verity), confident and a little bit of a show-off. She didn't want him to constantly be quiet or to flinch every time someone moved too fast. Cyn quickly made her way out of the common room, meeting Verity in one of the hallways where many students from the various Houses were gathered. Some of them were already leaving in small groups, but others like Verity and Cyn, were waiting for people to join them.

Blaise wandered away from a group of shy, giggly Hufflepuffs. Verity reached out to hit him once he had drawn close enough but Blaise ducked away from her, hiding partially behind Cyn as Verity scowled at him. Cyn shifted uncomfortably in front of Blaise as he hid behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders. As her eyes darted between Verity and Blaise, she couldn't help but wonder if something was going on between the two of them. Verity seemed annoyed over Blaise's flirting with those Hufflepuff girls.

"Hands off," Draco's voice growled, and then the man himself shoved Blaise away from Cyn. "Can't you see you were making her uncomfortable?"

Cyn smiled gratefully at Draco as he stood at her side, looking tired. But, then again he always looked tired, anymore.

"Thanks," Cyn said, as the quartet began their journey to Hogsmeade. "I'm so excited to buy Christmas presents for everyone."

"Didn't you already buy presents?" Verity asked.
"No," Cyn laughed, shaking her head. "That was you and Draco. I haven't even gotten around to buying presents, yet. You could say that I'm a bit of a procrastinator."

"Apparently only when it comes to buying presents," Draco commented, sticking his hands into the pockets of his designer jacket. Cyn glanced at him a puzzled look on her face. "You always finish your homework as soon as you are able to, so you are not a procrastinator."

"I guess you're right," Cyn conceded.

Conversation lulled between them, as Cyn pondered what to get for her friends. Verity was an easy one, because the younger girl would be happy with any designer clothing that Cyn could get her hands on or even music from Spellbound (a rather popular all-witch band), but Verity would also appreciate journals and writing materials or even a book about Potions since the younger witch was exceptional when it came to Potions.

Blaise, was a little harder for Cyn to figure out, although she had some idea for what she could get him. She was thinking of purchasing him a watch, since he always wore one and then getting a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Blaise would surely find some enjoyment out of those, and he did love candy. But, she still wasn't entirely sure if that was what she was going to actually do.

Blaise was complicated.

But, then again so was Draco. But, Cyn had a little bit better of an idea on what to get Draco. It also helped that her mother had asked Narcissa what a suitable gift would be for Draco, and then relayed the message to Cyn. According to Narcissa, Draco was looking for Advanced Alchemical Experimentation and Magical Instruction: The Dark Arts by Elythia Winters; the first book looked deeply into the works of Nicholas Flamel and explored (on a minor scale) the potion-making world, while the second book offered in-depth analysis of the Unforgiveables, the Dark Arts, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. She was certain that she could get her hands on both of those books while she was here in Hogsmeade, and if she couldn't she was sure that she could convince her mother to get them for her.

Maybe I can even get them signed for him, Cyn thought, as the quartet entered Tomes and Scrolls (a bookstore). Cyn immediately went to the bookshelves, her eyes roving the titles for the two that Narcissa said that Draco wanted. Ah-ha, she thought, grabbing one of the books and flipping to one of the first pages, feeling immensely happy when she notice it was a special-edition autographed copy. Draco ought to like it, she thought, as she began looking for the other title (that one being, Magical Instruction: The Dark Arts).

After ten minutes of searching for it, she was able to find it and like the other book it, too, was a special-edition autographed copy. Cyn grabbed the book off the shelf, cradling it gently to her chest as she headed to purchase the books. Blaise and Verity had remained near the front of the story, talking in low voices, while Draco had wandered off somewhere. But as soon as she had purchased the books, he was standing by the door of the store, holding it open as they headed outside.

"I could really go for some butterbeer," Verity said, looking between the three older students. "Hint, hint."

"We know," Draco said with a roll of his eyes, "it is not like you were being particularly subtle."

"Well I would have liked to know that you had at least caught on to my hints," Verity sniffed. "So are we?"
"Going to The Three Broomsticks?" Draco sighed, "Yes, we are. Quit being so impatient."

Cyn sighed in relief when they finally made it into the pub, but before Draco could walk in he was called by a very irate McGonagall who began escorting him back to school, chastising him about skipping the detention that he had. Cyn watched the two go with a frown on her face, before quickly hurrying after Verity and Blaise who had gotten a table.

"Where's Draco?" Verity titled her head to the side with curiosity written all over her features.

"Apparently he has detention with McGonagall," Cyn answered, setting her bag beside her on the bench. "Apparently he skipped out on the detention he was supposed to serve, or something. I don't know. I only overheard a little bit of their conversation."

Verity hummed, looking quite disgruntled. "He really needs to get his act together. Narcissa is going to be so upset with him, when she finds out and she will find out."

"Give him a break," Blaise encouraged the two. "I'm sure it's just normal teenage angst and rebellion. Draco's never rebelled before, so maybe this is how he's choosing to do it." He sent Verity and then Cyn a stern look. "But lighten up. He doesn't need the two of you judging him."

"I'm not judging!" Cyn protested, as Verity mumbled a meager apology. "I'm only concerned for him, and wish that he would confide in one of us." Her cheeks flushed when Verity stared at her, a strange glimmer in her eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," Verity sang, slouching in the bench before abruptly straightening. "Is that Katie Bell?"

Cyn twisted in her seat, her eyes landing on the suspicious looking figure of Katie Bell who was practically stalking out of the pub, a wrapped package in her hand as her friend, Leanne, followed behind her gesticulating wildly and speaking in a hushed, hurried whisper to the Gryffindor girl. As soon as Katie had left, after a moment or two Verity decided that they should follow after them. They tailed them at a distance, their steps unhurried. Cyn didn't care what happened, just like Blaise didn't and despite Verity's insistence that they hurry so they wouldn't lose sight of those two, but then slowed her steps when Cyn and Blaise refused to hurry up. The lane they were on was covered with snow, and it wasn't long before Cyn realized that they weren't alone. Ahead of them was the Golden Trio, and ahead of the Golden Trio were Katie and Leanne who were in the midst of what looked to be a very heated argument.

Then suddenly, Katie rose into the air, her arms gracefully outstretched and her face void of any expression. Leanne's frantic voice pierced the air, as the Hufflepuff tried to frantically pull the Gryffindor back to the ground. Cyn's jaw dropped and she gripped tightly onto Verity's arm as Hagrid pushed past them, heading toward the girl.

Then she screamed. Katie dropped like a sack of rocks, becoming limp on the ground and Cyn pressed herself closer to Verity as Blaise wrapped his arms around them, gently herding them back to the castle and leaving Katie in the care of the Golden Trio, Leanne, and Hagrid.


Events back at Hogwarts were a somber affair, after the student body learned what had happened to Katie Bell. Cyn quietly nibbled at her sandwich during dinner, her hands still shaking from what she had seen. The whole thing with Katie had scared her. She had never seen something like that before and she wondered why it had happened to Katie. She knew, or rather suspected, that the teachers wouldn't be giving them any answers. Draco, was also peculiarly quite quiet during dinner although given his recent attitude change, his silence wasn't perceived as anything unusual by anyone else.

But, Cyn still found it unusual. He had been acting almost earlier in Hogsmeade before he had been taken away by McGonagall, but now he was just as silent as he had been in the weeks leading up to the Hogsmeade trip. Cyn swayed in her seat, her vision suddenly going spotty and she leaned against Draco, the sandwich in her mouth suddenly tasting like dust and dirt.

"Cyn?" Draco asked, his voice sounding worried.

"I'm fine," she murmured, shakily sitting back up even as the world spun around her. "Just dizzy. I don't know why, though."

"Stress," Verity suggested. "Emotional strain." A mischievous smirk pulled at her lips as she said, "A lack of Draco in your life."

"Verity!" Cyn and Draco scolded, their voices filled with embarrassment that only multiplied when they realized that they had spoken at the same time.

"What?" the younger girl questioned defensively, holding her hands up. "It was just a joke, nothing more and nothing less. Although now that the both of you are so defensive, I have to wonder if the two of you are having relationship problems."

"We are friends," Cyn stressed, narrowing her eyes at Verity. "Don't turn this into something that it is not."

Verity made to protest but Blaise quickly clapped his over her mouth, halting any words that she wanted to say. "Do not make the situation worse," he told her.

Verity scowled at him but didn't protest too much. Cyn ate her dinner slowly, her stomach tossing and turning with every bite that she managed to force down. Her hands were still shaking and she stared down at them willing them to stop as frustrated tears sprung to her eyes. A pale hand grabbed one of her own, stilling the shaking and Cyn glanced up, her eyes meeting the molten silver that could only belong to Draco.

"Relax," he whispered, tucking their hands beneath the table. "You need to relax, Cyn."

"How can I? After seeing what was done to Katie Bell, how can I possibly relax? What if Verity is next? Or what if I am" Cyn snapped, but didn't pull her out of Draco's grip.

"You aren't," Draco sounded so sure of that as he spoke. "Don't dwell on the possibilities, Cyn, but live in the present. It's no use worrying over something when you don't even have the full information. Relax."

Cyn scowled, but found herself doing what he bade her. "Thanks."

He didn't answer but a smile tugged at his lips.


I used the Harry Potter wiki page to determine what house Leanne would be in. Also, some events may be slightly different or altered from what they originally were but that's to fit the purposes of this story. I've tried to stay as close to canon or the movie-verse as I can, but this story will alter events a little bit. What did you think of this chapter?