"Back to witches and wizards and magical feasts." Lydia giggled, holding onto my arm, letting her smirk drop.
She was right beside me, and we smiled as the magic of Hogwarts bursted from the holidays.
Ghosts were flying through the walls and into the grounds, laughing and welcoming students back. The portraits seemed just as happy, each walking around into the other frames, making toasts and occasionally stopping to speak to another student. The professors were all scattered along the main floor, shaking hands and handing out free sweets.
"I want some!" Crabbe exclaimed, running to Professor Flitwick, who was handing out Licorice Wands.
I chuckled as Flitwick jumped at Crabbe's sudden appearance.
Along the corridor that led to the Grand Staircase, we saw Snape and Archidia looking silently at everyone passing by, occasionally nodding their heads to fellow Snakes.
I pulled Lydia, Goyle and Draco happily towards them, and as soon as Snape saw us, his everlasting scowl turned into the smallest smile.
"Hello Professor, Archidia. How was your break?" Draco asked, leaning against a nearby wall.
"Quite enjoyable, thank you Draco. And yourselves?" Archidia responded, taking out a few Chocoballs and handing them to us.
"Thank you!" Lydia giggled, biting into hers.
"Nice, actually thank you." I smiled and took my Chocoball. "I'd really prefer to talk to you two, with all of us, sometime later in private, if you don't mind."
I hissed the last part quietly, hoping they would get the message. Gratefully, they did.
"Come along, we'll discuss before bed tonight. Meet us in the Trophy Room once everyone has gone to sleep." Snape said under his breath then quickly looked up, nodded his head towards us and went to talk to Dumbledore with Archidia right behind.
"Hello Vanice. I see you've gotten new robes. You look nice."
I cringed at the voice and hesitated to turn around, knowing exactly who it was.
"Hello Felix."
From the corner of my eye, I saw the Gryffindorks huddled and hugging, the Rottenclaws all taking out papers and books, the Huffleporks exchanging gifts, and Draco, Lydia and the boys fuming with anger. Lydia was tapping her foot with her hand on her hips and Draco had his arms crossed, glaring at Felix. I took a step closer to them, hoping it would lower the angry tension.
"As much as we're in the same family of Snakes, I can't help but think you don't like us, Rower." Lydia snickered, clearly not liking that he was trying to befriend only me.
The tension thickened.
"Not true Lydia! I like you all." Felix said.
Draco scoffed, rolling his eyes. Crabbe and Goyle imitated him, standing beside him. Clearly there was some tension that was there before our coming to Hogwarts.
A sudden coldness swept over me and I jumped, turning to my left.
"A problem here, Snakes?"
The Bloody Baron had calmly floated in through the wall that Draco was leisurely leaning on, just a few inches from off his right shoulder. It was clear that Draco had been surprised, and he was cold because his teeth started to quietly chatter. Crabbe had stepped away to continue to eat his Licorice Wands and missed being phased through by the ghost.
"No, not at all sir." Felix responded, smirking at Draco.
At his action I began to fume. What was his problem? He clearly didn't like Draco, and it was obnoxious to have to deal with him already. Glancing at Draco, I saw he was still chattering, and when Felix didn't wipe his smirk away, I stalked off to Lydia, grabbed her arm, then went to Draco, grabbed his, and led us off to the Slytherin Common Room, with Crabbe and Goyle in close pursuit.
"The nerve of the nitwit! I should've wiped off that smirk when I had the chance!"
Marcus was standing by the entry, giving us each the password for the fortnight.
"Fiddlewonks." He told us, and the wall opened.
I marched inside and stood by an empty couch arms crossed and still a bit peeved. The Common Room was surprisingly not that full. A few Third and Fifth years, and a handful of Fourth years. Everyone else must be outside still greeting.
Lydia walked in with the boys following behind, and Draco was still looking shaken. He must really not like ghosts.
"Are you OK?" Goyle asked him, taking a seat on the leathery couch.
"Yeah Dracey, you seem like, pale." Lydia observed, tilting her head to the side, making her hair bounce.
He did look pale, though his teeth stopped chattering. I felt a bit of pity, knowing how cold and dreadful it has been said to feel when a ghost passes through you. Especially one that's been called the Bloody Baron. And so I picked up a small blanket that was on the side of the couch and walked up to him, placing it around his shoulders.
Again, a warm flush of pink grew across the rim of his nose, and I smiled a bit, knowing this was my act of kindness in return.
"You seem warm now." Lydia snickered, giggling a bit.
"You try and have the Bloody Baron float right beside your shoulder." Retorted Draco, sticking his tongue out at her.
"Uh, like no thank you." She said, taking a seat next to Goyle.
Then there was a cough behind us, and in an overly perky voice, we heard someone speak.
"How was your break Draco?"
I mentally groaned and rolled my eyes, knowing a welcome back to Hogwarts wouldn't have been complete without Pansy Parkinson making an appearance.
Draco and I turned around to face her, seeing that she was batting her eyelashes and was smiling a not so lovely smile at him.
"Uh, good. Thanks." Sighed Draco, scratching the back of his head.
Pansy, oblivious to the fact that none of us wanted her here, began to giggle.
"Do you want to share some of the fudge I have left over?" She asked, indicating to the box she had in her hands.
"Is there enough for all of us?" Said Draco, waving his arm towards us.
Lydia and I exchanged glances, smirking, knowing she was only willing to share with Draco.
"Well no, not exactly." She mumbled, lowering the box and giving Lydia and I a glare.
Suddenly there was a loud bang from the entrance of the Common Room, and Professor Snape came striding in with a serious expression. Archidia was a few feet behind him, looking bored and sleepy. All other Snakes began to file in, some yawning and others wide awake.
"Slytherins, I suggest you all go to bed, soon. Classes begin tomorrow, and once you walk out of the Common Room I expect points to be rewarded."
A few Snakes cheered and clapped, and Archidia gave us a quick glance before looking away.
"Let's go to bed..." Draco whispered, nodding at us all.
We all quickly dispersed, getting into our night robes and turning off the lights.
"Like, goodnight..." Lydia mumbled before falling silent.
I stayed still, hoping Jean and Millicent were to fall asleep quickly.
The time dragged on, making me impatient and moody. By the time I heard Jean's soft snores, I was a bit agitated.
"Lydia, get up." I hissed, walking over to her and yanking off the covers.
"Already...?" She mumbled, rolling softly off the bed.
"Yes. We need to talk to Snape."
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
WOOH! I'm proud I wrote this chapter somewhat soon(:
•Q of the Chapter...
-How would you wake up Draco, Vanice, Lydia, Crabbe and Goyle?
So R&R, F&F and Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon!