PRINCESS ➳ harry potter , draco malfoy (OLD VERSION)

15 || Neville

"Watch where you're — Katie?" the person's original harsh tone faded away when they realised that it was Katie who they had walked into. Katie rubbed and soothed her head before her blurred vision cleared and she could focus on the person in front of her.

"Malfoy."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were at the Gryffindor common room." Draco said, clearly bewildered.

"I was... looking for you actually." Katie replied. For some unexplainable reason, she suddenly grew flustered and her voice gradually got quieter as she spoke. Draco raised an eyebrow and looked at Katie suspiciously, but he didn't question the girl, much to her discontent. Malfoy hadn't given her a chance to explain why she had been looking for him in the first place.

"Well, I was just about to come and get you, actually." Draco said, his voice at the same level as Katie's was before. "Flint decided that you should have a last minute training session this evening. I just wanted to let you know."

Katie was taken off guard by Malfoy's sudden act of kindness.

"Thanks, Malfoy, but I actually wanted to talk to you about—"

"Katie!" she was cut off. "Katie! You left this behind!"

A panting, red-faced Ron Weasley ran up to the two Slytherins. He stopped, placed his hands on his knees, and took a few deep breaths. Finally, he stood up straight (but he was still out of breath) and handed a large, tattered, dusty book to Katie. She smiled and took the book from her friend.

"What's that?" Malfoy asked nosily. He peered at the book cover.

"Just a book that Hermione lent to me." Katie shrugged. Malfoy snorted in amusement.

"That's a big book, Blair. Are you sure you've got the brain to read it?"

There it was again. One moment, Malfoy was completely civil, almost friendly, and the next he was giving out insults as though they were sickles.

"What's your problem, Malfoy" Ron bit, spitting out Draco's name with evil venom. A devilish smirk split across Malfoy's face.

"I don't have a problem," he said, "I'm just speaking the truth." Katie's heart sank and she felt herself at a loss for comebacks. She became utterly embarrassed when Ron had to stick up for her instead of her defending herself. Ron grabbed Katie's hand and started pulling her away.

"Come on," he said gently before turning to Malfoy "Leave her alone, you slimy git. She's better than you'll ever be."

Malfoy didn't get a chance to respond because Ron whisked Katie away at the speed of light. When they were out of the dungeons, Ron finally let go of Katie's hand and the Slytherin girl spoke.

"You didn't need to stick up for me like that. I can handle myself." she mumbled, refusing to meet Ron's bright eyes.

Ron grinned. "I know you can."

***

The weather at Quidditch training that evening was clear but bitter cold. Katie came to realise that the changing rooms were much too cold to wash up in, so she decided to go return to the castle and have a bath there.

After Katie tucked her broomstick neatly into the broom shed, she turned around to see a mysterious looking Draco Malfoy standing a few feet away. He had his hood up and the sky was dark, but Katie recognised him by his shiny, blonde hair. At first, Katie thought that he had come to apologise for what he had said to her earlier in the day, but then she remembered that this was Draco Malfoy. He didn't do apologies. She twisted her eyebrows together in confusion and stepped over to Draco.

"You're filthy." Malfoy pointed out as he eyed the girl, who was covered in mud.

"What are you doing here?" Katie ignored Malfoy's comment. "You're out after dark."

"You said you wanted to talk to me about something." Malfoy shrugged nonchalantly. Katie was taken off guard. Had Malfoy really come out to the Quidditch stadium at the risk of detention just because he was interested in hearing what the girl had to say?

Katie brushed her moment of awe away, reminding herself that she was mad at Draco.

"I wanted to talk to you about Neville."

Draco momentarily stiffened out of fear, but his expression quickly changed and it was clear to see that the boy was glowing with pride.

"It was quite a funny joke." Malfoy said smugly. The pair begun to walk side-by-side through the castle's grounds.

"No, it wasn't." Katie argued sternly. Her anger was beginning to boil up again.

"Loosen up, Blair. That Longbottom boy isn't worth a punt anyway."

Katie balled her hands into tight fists and her jaw slacked in anger. She tried to contain herself but she just couldn't seem to.

She hit Draco.

Suddenly, not being courageous enough to tell Draco off wasn't an issue. Her small hand whipped right across his face leaving a glowing, red handprint splashed across his pale cheek. Draco's jaw dropped in pure shock and he found himself at a complete loss for words. He stared at Katie, gobsmacked, with wide, crazed eyes.

"That's from Neville." Katie growled coldly before storming off ahead lf Draco.