Interstellar || Draco Malfoy

6 || Second Year

The second year spent at Hogwarts was by far the scariest year for Desdemona. There were multiple attacks on muggle-born students, most of them being petrified, and every student half-blood or muggle-born was afraid.

Desdemona was unsure who her parents were, which made the attacks all the more unsettling. She didn't know if she was a pureblood like her other Slytherins, or if she had any muggle blood in her veins, so she spent the time she had between classes fretting that she would be next.

A new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had been appointed for Desdemona's second year. One Gilderoy Lockhart, who spent his allotted teaching time to prattle on about his new books, had a major distaste for Desdemona Littlesea. She had let slip early in the term that she was an avid reader, something that perked Lockhart right up. Draco corroborated this fact, telling Professor Lockhart that Desdemona "always has her nose in a book, more often than Granger."

Since that fateful day, Professor Lockhart tried everything he could muster up to get the critical young girl to read- and actually enjoy- one of his books. Desdemona, between fearing for her life and balancing extra Defense lessons with Professor Snape, managed to turn Lockhart down in less than sensitive ways. More often than not, Desdemona was sent to her head of house for mouthing off or throwing Lockhart's books right at the professor.

It was also during her second year at Hogwarts that Desdemona found herself spending more time with the troublesome trio of Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. Without meaning to, Desdemona used the three purebloods as a shield, protecting herself from whatever it was that was targeting muggle-born students. The troublesome trio didn't mind that though, they wanted to protect their new friend.

After Christmas break at Hogwarts- which Desdemona spent holed up in the Slytherin common room surrounded by mountains of books gifted to her by an anonymous source- Draco sought Desdemona out for help with his potions homework. The two ended up in a heated debate over which ingredients were meant to be used, so neither of them really paid much attention to Crabbe and Goyle.

However, as soon as Desdemona looked at the pair, she could tell something was off about them. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, especially with Draco droning on about Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter. She noticed a scar appear on Goyle's forehead, and tilted her head at the red hair sprouting from Crabbe's head. She couldn't confirm it, but she believed she'd just witnessed Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter attempting to learn something from Draco.

Towards the end of the term, Gilderoy Lockhart was exposed as a fraud and the basilisk that was petrifying students had been killed. The end of year feast was lighthearted, and Desdemona was able to finally breathe. She enjoyed herself for the first time all year, and found herself lightly conversing with the troublesome trio.

The night before the students were to go home, Draco pulled Desdemona aside and gave her a small smile. She was confused at his actions, as he never simply smiled at her, and she grew even more confused when Draco handed her a large box. She furrowed her brow, taking the box gently from his hands.

She questioned the excited looking blonde, but he kept urging her to open the package. So she did. She placed the box onto the common room table, tearing at the elegant wrappings slowly. Inside the elegantly wrapped package was the snow white broom she'd admired in Diagon Alley. Her hand brushed against the wood, in awe that someone would purchase this for her.

"How did you know?" She had asked. He didn't respond, just shrugged and asked if she liked the broom. She nodded, her eyes returning to the broom before her. Draco smiled warmly at Desdemona as she admired the broom, happy that he could provide her with something she could call her own.

The next day, when Professor Snape gathered Desdemona and her belongings, he caught himself smiling softly at the sight of the new broom in her possession. Before any of the Slytherin students could catch him, the potions professor wiped the smile from his face and told Desdemona to follow after him to the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore gave the small girl a smile, motioning for her to sit across from him. Desdemona climbed into a chair across from her headmaster, struggling to meet his all-knowing eyes. The headmaster noted this, and quickly got to the point; he was offering her a home for the summer. Desdemona would spend her summer with the Weasley's.

So, once the Hogwarts Express rolled to a stop at King's Cross station, Desdemona gathered her belongings and followed behind the rowdy Weasley twins. They led her right to a warm and welcoming Molly Weasley, who took the timid girl under her arm and smiled at her children.