Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development.
M rating for sexual content anticipated in year 4.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Doting Rival
Chapter 7
Madame Pomfrey insisted Adelyn remain in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. She didn't complain. She was too sore to move much anyway. She was also enjoying all the visitors: Hagrid, the Gryffindor team, and of course Ron and Hermione, who only left at night when they were forced to.
"My, my. Quite the popular one, aren't we?" teased Madame Pomfrey, as she delivered yet another bouquet, this time white roses. Adelyn's bed side table was covered with a wide variety, but none were roses.
"Oh, they're beautiful." She took a deep breath and sighed. This was a moment of bliss she much needed. She loved roses. In fact, she could use these to make herself more perfume. Though, she would need to obtain some ivy as well. "Who are they from?" Adelyn could not find a card anywhere.
"I think you may have a secret admirer, Miss Potter. He has stopped by every day, but won't come in." Madame Pomfrey gave a side glance to the entry way.
Adelyn followed her line of sight to see who it might be. She didn't have the best view from her bed. She could have sworn she saw someone quickly duck out from view. Blonde, perhaps?
Malfoy flattened himself against the wall. Had she seen him? Madame Pomfrey wasn't supposed to indicate he was here. Bloody, woman. He scanned both sides of the corridor to ensure no one saw him as he left.
Monday was welcomed readily by Adelyn. She was glad to return to the noise and have distractions from her thoughts. Everyone was kind to avoid asking her about the incident. She was even surprised that Malfoy wasn't teasing her. Maybe Dumbledore addressed things.
She was on her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts when Ron stated, "If Snape's teaching for Professor Lupin again, I'm skiving off." That lesson was rough. Snape had them skip multiple chapters to focus on werewolves and proceeded to bad mouth Lupin. To top it off, he assigned an essay as well. "Check out who's in there, Hermione."
Hermione peered into the class room as request. "It's okay!"
Professor Lupin was back at work. He certainly looked like he had been ill. He had evidently lost weight and had dark circles below his eyes. Still, he greeted the class with a smile and asked how their studies where in his absence.
The whole class burst into complaints, interjecting over one another.
"Why should he give us homework if he was only filling in?"
"- two rolls of parchment!"
"We don't know anything about werewolves."
"Now, now." Lupin raised his hands to quite the students. "Don't fret. I will speak with Professor Snape. You do not have to do the assignment."
There was a chorus of cheering in reply. Professor Lupin was a great teacher, by far everyone's favorite. Not only were his classes entertaining and enriching, he was fair. The class continued in good spirits through the entire lesson on hinkypunks.
As the bell rang dismissing the class, Professor Lupin called out, "Wait a moment, Adelyn. I'd like a word."
Hermione and Ron nodded to indicate they would wait outside the room for her.
Adelyn approached the desk. "Yes, Professor?"
"I heard about the match. How are you feeling?"
"You heard about the dementors, then?" Adelyn asked.
Lupin nodded. "Yes, I did. I don't think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing restless for some time with the refusal of entering the grounds. I imagine they could not resist such a large crowd; a feast of sorts for them, you see."
"Why do they affect me like that? No one else seems to be targeted by them. Am I so weak?" Adelyn hung her head. She didn't mean to lay all this on Lupin.
"It has nothing to do with weakness, Adelyn," he reassured. "Dementors thrive on decay and despair. They will drain any semblance of hope and happiness. If it can, it will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something soul-less and evil. You'll be left with only the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to YOU, Adelyn, would make anyone fall off their broom."
Tears began to form in Adelyn's eyes. She stared at Lupin's desk. "When they get near me. . . I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum."
Lupin suddenly gripped Adelyn's shoulder in comfort.
"Professor. YOU made that dementor back off on the train," Adelyn said suddenly.
"Yes, there are certain defenses one can use." Lupin settled back into his chair. "But that was only one dementor."
"What defenses? Will you teach me?" Adelyn looked at him with such hope.
"I don't pretend to be an expert, Adelyn. Quite the contrary." Lupin was reluctant.
"Please, Professor Lupin. I need to be able to defend myself should the dementors return."
"Well. . . all right. But it will have to be at the start of the new term. I have some work to catch up on first."
With the promise of anti-dementor lessons and Christmas only two weeks away, Adelyn finally had something to look forward to. Ron and Hermione had opted to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. Hermione claimed she needed to study and Ron stated he needed two weeks away from Percy. But she knew it was to keep her company. She was very appreciative of her friends.
The school was abuzz with the delight of another Hogsmeade trip the last weekend of the term. All except Adelyn, of course. She would be stuck at Hogwarts on her own again. She decided she would research different makes of broomsticks. The school's broom did well enough for practice, but she refused to use it for a match.
Adelyn had bid Ron and Hermione farewell outside the common room. As she made her way down the corridor towards the library, she heard a noise.
"Psst - Adelyn!"
She turned to find Fred and George hiding behind a witch statue.
"What are you doing?" Adelyn asked curiously as she approached the twins.
"We've come to give you a special gift before we go," said Fred with a wink. "Come in here. . ."
He and George led her to an empty classroom and closed the door.
"An early Christmas present for you." Fred handed her a square, folded, heavily worn piece of parchment.
"What's this?" Adelyn asked, eyeing them curiously.
"This, Adelyn, is the key to our success. And we decided your need's great than ours," answered George.
She looked at them waiting for the explanation.
"Care to explain, Fred?" Geroge encouraged.
"You see, Adelyn," Fred explained. "When were young first years biding our time in detention, we came across Filch's Confiscated and Highly Dangerous cabinet."
"Oh, no. . ." Adelyn's eyes grew wide.
"Oh, yes," George continued. "Set off a Dungbomb and swiped out this! Reckon Filch knew what it was, but couldn't figure out how it worked."
"And you do?"
"We do. Watch this." Fred took out his wand and placed in on the parchment in Adelyn's hands. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The parchment began to change. Spider webs of ink blots began to creep into view. "The Marauder's Map." Adelyn opened it up to see foot prints and names listed below them. Her eyes grew wide as she recognized some of them. "Wait, is that -"
"Professor Snape. Pacing in his office? Yes." George confirmed what she was reading. "This shows you everyone at Hogwarts and where they currently are." He opened it up to where they three were standing.
"And," Fred added, "access right into Hogsmeade." He pointed out a few available tunnels from the castle.
"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. We owe them so much." George looked at Fred who nodded in agreement.
"Don't forget to wipe it clean. Mischief managed." Fred tapped the map again and it went blank.
"Otherwise, anyone can read it," George added.
"See you at Honeydukes." Fred smirked prior to leaving with George.
Adelyn could not wipe the smile off her face. December was by far the best month of the year. She had to get her invisibility cloak right away. She made haste and headed for the staircase.
She was practically running as she rounded the corner of the corridor. She had no time to react as she slammed into someone coming from the opposite direction. "Ah!" Her momentum flung her back to the floor.
"Oh, geez! I'm sorr-"
"-Are you alright?"
Adelyn stopped speaking when she looked up into the grey, enigmatic eyes of Draco Malfoy. His platinum blonde hair was askew from the impact. He extended his hand to her. She hesitated a moment before accepting his offer.
"Thank. . .you," she said. She continued to stare into his eyes as he helped her to her feet. She was slightly on guard. This situation was new to her, Malfoy helping her. She couldn't recall a time when he wasn't taunting her in some way. They also never ran into each other like this before.
There was a pause as they just stood together, hand-in-hand, neither knowing how to proceed next. Her hand was as smooth as butter. Malfoy's heart was beating so fast he was worried Adelyn would see it bounding from his chest. He was caught off guard. This was the last thing he anticipated to happen.
Malfoy cleared his throat and gently released her hand. "You're in quite the rush." He combed his fingers back through his hair to remove it from his face.
"Yea, sorry 'bout that." She looked down bashfully.
"Right. Well, I best be off then." She was acting so cute and it was making him nervous. He couldn't linger here for fear of making a fool of himself. Malfoy began to step around Adelyn.
"Oh, uh. Ok. Enjoy your holiday."
Malfoy scoffed. "Doubtful."
"Why do you say that?" Adelyn turned around to face him. She found herself genuinely wondering.
"Can't enjoy the holiday if you don't get one." He shrugged with a straight mouth smile. It was obvious he was disappointed. He was going to be stuck at Hogwarts for Christmas. . . just like her. She actually felt bad for him.
"Christmas is actually quite lovely at Hogwarts." She gave a soft, warm smile. "You just have to be open to it."
"Hmm. Guess we'll see." Malfoy turned and continued on.
Did that really happen? Adelyn stood there watching him walk away. She actually had a pleasant interaction with Draco Malfoy. She never saw that happening. She recounted the event in her head and suddenly remembered why it happened. "Oh, right!" She took off for the Gryffindor common room.