The next day, Leandra woke up in a panic again, like so many times before.
-Is this going to happen every day? - Bulstrode asked.
Leandra sent her a glare.
-No need to be mad at me, it was just a question - Bulstrode lifted her arms in surrender.
They went and got ready, had their breakfast and were off to class before Leandra realized someone was missing from the group.
-Where's Draco?
-I reckon he doesn't want to take the risk - Zabini answered - Milly promised to beat his sorry self if he ever said a word against muggleborns or squibs in front of her.
-Is he really that awful? - Leandra frowned - I spent a lot of time at Malfoy Manor last month and they never said a thing about muggleborns.
-They never saw a muggleborn during the summer - Bulstrode said - They never do. How could they? They isolate themselves in this high class society and think they're the best because they come from generation after generation of only magical beings. I bet they're the kind of people who'd throw a squib on the streets on their seventh birthday. They're so frustating, I want to take a beater's bat and -
-What Milly is trying to say is, Malfoy is not someone you want to be hanging around with - Zabini cut Bulstrode off when she started punching the air - He's the kind of person who will bully you if you even think about being friends with a muggleborn. That's how he was brought up and for whatever reason, he likes it. It'd be awesome if he changed, but I doubt he will.
Leandra went silent for a long time after that. Well, it felt like a long time. It might have been just five minutes, because she broke the silence almost as soon as they reached the greenhouses.
-Potter! - a voice she knew all too well called - Can I be your partner for the class?
Oh goodness gracious, she thought, Could this day get any worse?
As if he had heard her (and felt obliged to comply), Draco made his way through the students followed by Vincent and Goyle, both of whom looked as if they'd seen a dragon. Draco had the ugliest smirk on his face, head held high as he approached Leandra.
-Good morning, Leandra! - he exclaimed - What are you doing here, mudblood? Get lost, an elite like Leandra would never talk to you.
-Yeah, I'll just go, if that's the case - Jackson said - I'll sit myself with other people, don't want to cause trouble.
As Jackson turned around to go, Leandra was tempted to let him. One less murder attempt to worry about. The word Draco had said echoed in her brain, though. Saying that someone's blood was mud just because they were different than him. Feeling as if he's better than Jackson. If he had the chance, would he threaten to kill a muggleborn like Jackson had once held her from a window and threatned to let go? In a heartbeat, Leandra turned around and grabbed Jackson by his sleeve.
-Wait! I'll go with you. Let me just do something first.
She turned back around.
-Draco Malfoy, you are right - she said - Some wizards are better than others. And right now you are the worst I've met. I do not like bullies, and I will not be your friend and watch you bully someone for anything, especially their bloodline.
Malfoy stared at her, mouth hanging open, as Leandra dragged Jackson by the sleeve to the other side of the group of students. She shoved him a bit aside and hissed at him:
-I don't know what you're trying to do, Jackson, but what I said for Malfoy? It goes for you too. You've been a bully since diapers, and I do not like you. I saved your butt back then because you were the one being bullied this time. But do not try anything with me, nor with Greengrass, Zabini, or Bulstrode. Understood?
He nodded once.
-Good. I will let you be my partner to prove that pompous boy my point, but try to get me killed once and I will go to Dumbledore about it.
At this, he rolled his eyes.
-It was six years ago, Par - Potter, can't you forget it?
-And the year after that you tried to feed me to the school's dogs - he murmured something that sounded like "thought they were pugs, not rottweilers" - I don't know what happened to stop your murder attempts, and I don't care. I'm glad they stopped, but you didn't stop your friends from beating me up for one whole more year and you called me a freak along with them up until last year. I don't care what changed, I don't like you.
He seemed about to retort, but Mrs. Sprout had arrived and was calling everyone into the greenhouse to start the lesson.
The class went by without incident despite Leandra's worries. After that, they had Defense Against the Dark Arts, in which Leandra and Harry sat beside each other. The teacher, professor Quirell, stammered a lot, even though he was only talking about the organization of the class. Transfiguration, after lunch, went by the same as last class, except that the professor had an actual reason to be watching Leandra. Until Charms, neither Jackson, nor Draco made any attempt to talk to her.
-Hello - Jackson seated himself next to her - Malfoy's being a prat again, don't want to deal with him, so please let me sit here.
Leandra took a deep breath. And then another. And then another just to make sure.
-Sure - she said.
Malfoy sat himself right behind them.
-Look what we've got here, Goyle - he said - A mudblood and a blood traitor, all cuddled up.
-Just because you've been taught to groom since you've been five, doesn't mean we all have, Malfoy - Zabini sat down on the table next to Leandra and Jackson's - Some of us have this thing called manners. You should try it someday.
-Shut your mouth, Zabini - Malfoy sneered - Just wait until my father hears about this. Not that he'll be surprised, considering who your mother is, Potter.
-You're walking on thin ice, Malfoy - Bulstrode let a hand fall, rather abruptly, on Malfoy's shoulder - I'd had stopped talking by now if I were you.
She sat herself down beside Zabini. Malfoy didn't say a word for the rest of the day.
After the class, however, Leandra still didn't feel like hanging out, so she went to explore. She found a tower, where no one seemed to be, and sat down near the windows. Looking over the lake, the tower had a wonderful view, and it was perfect to sit and think. If only she had time t o think. Five minutes passed before Jackson sat himself down beside her.
-Are you following me? - she asked, one eyebrow raising.
-Nah, was just looking for somewhere to pass the time - he said - You happened to be in here.
There was silence for a while.
-We thought they were pugs - Jackson suddenly said.
-What?
-The dogs - he continued - We thought - well, I, at least, thought, they were pugs. It never crossed my mind they might have been rottweilers. Who even has rottweilers as school dogs?!
-Doesn't excuse what you did - Leandra hugged her knees.
-I know. I just think you deserve an explanation. We also thought you were a vampire. Tyler wanted you to kill the dogs. He hated their barking.
Tyler had been one of the worst of the boys. He had a mean kick, and he always got his foot right where it hurt the most.
-It doesn't excuse the fact we almost killed you. Twice. I didn't know about magic until I performed accidental magic. Mother didn't think she'd have enough magic in herself to make a magical baby. So she never told me. I'm really sorry about all the things we did to you. I understood after locking you up with the dogs that we were doing something wrong. I didn't want you killed, I really didn't. I just wanted to mess with you, mostly because I didn't understand what you could do. And after I did understand, I had to pretend, so that I wasn't treated like you were by the other boys. They used to beat you up because they wanted you to stop doing all those things. They were scared of you. That's why they - we called you a freak. I know we can't start over, but I'm really sorry.
Leandra snorted.
-So you were following me after all - she looked at him - I won't forget what happened anytime soon, Jackson. But I'll make you a deal. You never talk to the boys again, and you never bully anyone and one day, maybe, I might call you by your first name.
He smiled.
-Deal. Now, let's get to the Great Hall, I'm starving!
After dinner, they went to bed.
The next day, Leandra did not wake up screaming.