Dragons at Hogwarts

Chapter 57

"C'mon, please?" I looked at Harry with my best big puppy eyes, but he just shook his head.

"No WAY am I going out into the Forest without a guard, do you remember why the Dementors are here in the first place? There's kind of an insane maniac out to kill me. No."

"Who else am I meant to ask? Hermione won't do it, you won't do it, and I TRIED doing it alone before. Ugh."

"Uh, maybe you should, I don't know, not do really dangerous stuff in the Forest that could get you killed?"

"Spoilsport." I pout, crossing my arms and leaning back in my armchair. The common room was quiet, most people having gone home for the holidays. I don't have a home to go to, so... Harry sighs, hand combing through his messy hair and giving a glimpse of the famous lightning scar.

"Look, I want to find out more about my parents as well. But I'm not crazy enough to run off into the Forbidden Forest to find a Dementor and get my soul sucked out! Maybe you should try some other way, like, I don't know, reading about the role of you dragon people in the War? If Death Eaters attacked your parents they must have been important."

I think, and slowly realize what a brilliant idea that is. No danger, nice and safe and boring. Just reading, like I enjoy doing anyway, and about my kind. Maybe the library has some books? I'll have to check. It's only the afternoon, Madam Pierce won't glare at me for being up after hours (she'll find some other offense).

"Good idea. I'm off to the library then, see ya!" I jump out of my seat, and stumble (stupid low tables) out of the portrait hole. The steps down from the Tower clatter under my feet, and as I screech around the corner and jump a false step on the staircase that leads to the library my mind is so occupied with this new idea I fail to notice a 1st year Ravenclaw coming the other way up the stairs, nose in a book. Barely avoiding crashing into her puts me off balance, and I reach for the banister but miss, and fall painfully onto the steps. One digs into my stomach, and I can feel others pressing on my legs and face.

Owww. That's the third time I've tripped this week, stupid stairs.

I huff, and push up onto my elbows, but before I can stand a pair of feet in polished shoes takes up residence in front of my face.

"Take a tumble, Draconis? Or did you just see your better coming along and prostrate yourself? Either way, you're at my feet, where animals like you belong." Malfoy sneers the words.

"Shut up." I spit back at him, manovering so that I'm crouched on the stairs instead of laying all over them, then straightening. I'm a few steps above him, so I tower over him. He doesn't have any of his friends. "Where're your croonies? Did they get tired of the stench of snivelling coward hanging around you? I wouldn't blame them, it's quite overwhelming."

I have the pleasure of seeing him bristle at that, and grin, before sidestepping him and continuing on my way towards the library.

"I'll get you back for this, Draconis! You've disrespected my and my family one to many times, and I will get you back!" Aww, you made the coward angry.

"I'm trembling in my boots." I throw the words back over my shoulder, then whisk through the archway of the library corridor.

I have some reading to do.