The next few days dragged on boringly. After getting lost in the castle more than a few times, I eventually developed a routine: wake up and get ready, meet Blaise, and sometimes Draco, early for breakfast, do some reading or homework, attend class, have lunch with Rita outside when the sun was shining or inside with the others, attend more class, have dinner in the dining hall, do more homework, get ready for bed. It was a set routine that I enjoyed but now I was faced with a new problem; how to find time to brew potions with Draco.
We hadn't talked much since our outing at The Three Broomsticks. He had made small talk here and there but for the most part just ignored me. That was honestly fine as I was too busy figuring out which potion would be best to show him. I wanted something challenging but not something too rare that it could give him an upper hand if he were to know it. I thought about what might protect me in the long run and then it came to me. The potion I should share was the one that I use most often: Draught of Peace. Ever since my parents died, taking on the chore of calming my mind and not bursting into tears every so often has been especially challenging. Sharing a room with Pansy and her friends meant that I was given little to no privacy, so brewing this potion helped me keep my composure even at the worst times. It's ironic that this potion is so difficult to brew considering how calm it's made me.
After looking through the many potions I had written down in my personal notebook, I ended up choosing Draught of Peace simply because Draco seemed to always be busy thinking about something else. His brows were always furrowed and his forehead was wrinkled deep with frustration. Or was it thought? Maybe anger? Regardless, he was far too serious for a third year.
I grabbed my things and made sure to tuck my wand away safely before leaving the Slytherin common room. The colder and darker atmosphere was growing on me although I think my skin grew paler with every day I spent cooped up down here. The lack of natural light made my already porcelain skin lighter. It felt like there was a spell to keep all people in the Slytherin common room pale and pasty. Even Pansy and Rita's light skin seemed translucent on some days.
It was midday and I used my lunch to gather my things. I planned on meeting Draco on his way to his next class to talk about the potions and hopefully convince him to teach me how to make Wolfsbane. Honestly I was a little nervous to see what he would think. But I can't help but wonder why am I nervous? He's nothing but a mean, cruel, boy who has nothing better to do than to annoy me and my friends. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, why did he even offer to teach me in the first place? Was he finally warming up to me? Will his attitude finally change?
"DuPont, if you don't move I'm going to think you're under the Immobulus charm," Draco looked at me unamused and I could feel myself blinking rapidly to break the trance I was apparently under.
"Unluckily for you I know the counter spell to that one too." I replied, clutching my books tight to my chest and braving a small smile.
"Wanna test it out?" He mumbled.
I chuckled softly and followed behind him as he began walking to his next class. "Yeah you wish, I'm not that much of an idiot, Malfoy."
He shot a glance my way and my smile faltered slightly but I quickly regained my composure. Like usual, his face was scrunched up in disgust and he seemed mildly annoyed. I tried not to take it personally as he seemed this way more often than not.
"I was thinking," I said. "About the offer you made."
"And? Finally have something worthy of Wolfsbane?" He said a little louder.
I nodded. "I do! In fact, I have something even better." I quickly slid in front of him and stopped walking, blocking his path and making him come to a halt. "I have a potion that will make you the most calm and relaxed you've ever been! I take it all the time it's totally safe just as long as you-"
"Why do you take a calming potion all the time?"
Oh. My throat all of a sudden felt tight and my mouth quickly became dry. I swear he could see just how anxious I was but thankfully I was able to regain my composure once more and save my slip up. "I have anxiety," I said. "Really bad anxiety. So I take it about once a week. It helps me talk to people especially since I've moved."
He grew quiet and examined my face as an awkward silence filled the air. I prayed that he would buy it and for a moment I thought I was screwed.
"Okay," he finally said. "So you're going to share your anti-anxiety potion and in return you get Wolfsbane? How is that a fair trade?"
I internally sighed and smiled up at him. Good, he bought it. "Because you can use the Draught of Peace for yourself as often as you want. Wolfsbane doesn't benefit you. At least, not that I know of."
He did a soft breathy laugh and smiled for a split second. He ran a hand through his hair and for a moment I felt my heart start to beat faster. Was I actually anxious right now?
"Fine, DuPont. We'll need both of our cauldrons and I'll talk to Professor Snape to book one of the study halls for tonight, after dinner." I smiled brighter and bounced on my heels slightly in excitement.
"Perfect, I'll see you there." I moved out of his way and let him keep walking towards his next class. He didn't move though, and just looked at me for a few moments longer than I was expecting. "What?" I asked him. Was my hair messed up? Or my robes wrinkled?
He shook his head and the smile that was previously on his face vanished. It was replaced with a snarl and another disgusted expression that made me question if the conversation we just had actually occurred. Why was he so bipolar? What was his problem? Eventually he moved and kept walking through the somewhat empty hallway and left me alone, thinking about what could be possibly going through his head.
. . .
It was a few hours before I was meant to meet Draco and I was sitting by myself at the grand hall. I was early for dinner and the food wasn't quite at the tables yet. Light chatter filled the air but I was too focused on the book in front of me: Mid-Century French Potion Making for Witches and Wizards.
"What are you reading?" Rita sat down across from me and I smiled. I showed her my book cover and she let out an interested 'ooh'. "I forget you speak French, I don't know how with the accent you have." I smiled and out a bookmark in before closing the textbook.
"I grew up bilingual. I spoke French with my mother and English with my father. They both understood each language but it helped me learn growing up." I explained and felt a tinge of sadness thinking about how I'll never talk to my parents again. Thankfully I've gotten good at holding my expressions in about them.
"Where are your parents now?" She asked curiously. "You don't talk about them much."
I shrugged absentmindedly and toyed with some pages on the side of the book. "They're back at home, in France. My mom is a botanist so she's at home a lot and my dad is a photographer for Magical Creatures." Those were lies. "He travels so it was me and my mom home a lot. Now that I'm here, I'm sure my mom is traveling with him to keep each other company." More lies. I can feel myself smiling despite how heavy my chest feels.
"Oh that's cool!" Rita smiled brightly and relief fell upon me seeing as she hopefully bought my story. "A botanist and photographer work well together, did she ever help your dad find magical creatures with her botany skills?"
"Sometimes, she dabbled more with medicine with plants. That's why I took an interest in potion making," I gently tapped the book that actually was a hand me down from my mom.
Rita seemed satisfied with that answer and soon enough the others joined us. Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, but no Pansy or Draco? I glanced around looking to see if maybe they were just trailing behind but there hadn't entered the dining hall yet.
When the others sat down I reopened my book and reread the potions. I didn't always tell lies, sometimes I blended the truth when I could. My mother and father worked for the French Ministry of Magic which ultimately cost them their life against the Death Eaters. My father was an Auror who dealt first hand with tracking down Death Eaters and sending them to Azkaban. My mother on the other hand was an Alchemist that aided the ministry by creating and supplying potions when needed for any... unlikely, situations at hand.
With her job, she accumulated an entire library of her own of books and scriptures that held potions I can't even begin to imagine. She slowly introduced them to me as I grew up but this book was the last I was given of hers. I never knew where she locked up the rest, maybe Gringotts with the rest of our families inheritance, but I was never given access to the key to go into our family vault.
My memory allowed me to read up on as many potions as I could and I'd be able to recall them. Not perfectly of course, but once I made it in person then it would stick for good. I loved the little talent of mine and it made class profoundly more enjoyable.
"DuPont," the voice was loud and from far away, but given the somewhat empty dining hall, it echoed loudly amongst the golden plates and large windows. "Do you ever stop reading?" Draco approached with Pansy on his arm, smiling joyously for once. He pulled out his wand and quickly said, "Wingardium Leviosa", causing my book to levitate before my eyes.
"Malfoy don't you dare! It's old and tattered, you'll rip it!" I stood quickly and went to reach for it but with one swift flick of his wand, the book was high near the magical candles and taunted me some more.
"Oooh, can't quite reach that high, huh, DuPont? Seems like you need to visit the infirmary and get some growing potions." He laughed and Pansy laughed with him, resting her pale hand against the fabric covering his chest. I eyed her hand for a moment and her eyes narrowed in a snake-like fashion as her smile grew maliciously.
"Draco please," I begged, turned to catch his gaze once more.
Something flickered across his eyes and for a moment he looked like he contemplated lowering the book. Pansy however reached to grab his hand that was holding his wand. Her quick and jerked movements caused my book to zap quickly across the singing hall and land abruptly over at another house's table.
I frowned deeply and shot Pansy a glare. She laughed and pulled Draco close for a kiss but to my surprise he evaded it swiftly. She pouted, settled with a kiss on the cheek, and then pulled him to sit down.
"Have fun fetching that out of the mashed potatoes, DuPont." She snickered.
I huddled softly and held back any tears I felt coming up. "It's Adeline," I mumbled back, turning to go retrieve my book.
Pansy laughed again and began assembling her plate. "Like I care." She shot back in the distance.
I found my way over to the Hufflepuff dining table and scanned the tables for my book. Eventually I spotted it duo near the front of the table with a familiar chestnut haired man holding it up for me to see.
"Adeline!" Cedric said, standing and meeting me in between the houses tables. He smiled brightly at me and I looked up at him. "This landed right in my mashed potatoes, I would've caught it but I hate to admit I wasn't expecting a textbook being served for dinner."
I smiled sheepishly and took the textbook back. I hugged it close to my chest after checking to make sure most of the mashed potatoes were gone. At this point I'd rather get a little dirty than lose it again.
"Thank you, I'm sorry I spoiled your dinner," I said.
"I'm sure it wasn't you," he glanced over at the Slytherin table and he and I watched as the group of them laughed boisterously. I felt a tinge of pain in my chest and I couldn't help but feel somewhat excluded. "Are you okay?" Cedric pulled me out of my thoughts and I forced a smile.
"Of course, sorry!" I pushed a laugh out for good measure and used one hand to brush my hair out of my face. "Sorry I got totally lost in thought. I was just... distracted."
He pursed his lips and didn't seem to buy my lies. "Are you sure?" He asked again.
I glanced back at the Slytherin table and unknowingly made eye contact with Draco. His smaller faltered a bit before looking me up and down. I couldn't tear my eyes away as he eyed my physique. Eventually, he brought his eyes back to mine and smiled slyly before pulling Pansy closer to him and letting her press a kiss to his cheek.
Heat rose to my face and I finally managed to look away. "Since when have Draco and Pansy been a thing?" I spat, surprised by my sudden outburst.
Cedric chuckled softly and looked over at the two who were laughing and smiling once more. "They're on and off all the time. Pansy is really into him but I think he just toys with her when he's bored." He admitted. "Do you fancy him?"
"What?! No! Of course not!" I blinked rapidly and hugged the book tighter to my chest. My knuckles turned white and I could feel the blush rise to my face even more so now than before. "He's obnoxious and arrogant, I only tolerate him because he's friends with Blaise."
Cedric smiled and nudged my shoulder a bit. "Good, I'd like to get to know you more, Adeline." Oh. "Maybe we can hang out sometime." Oh. My. "Are you free this weekend?" Oh. My. God.
"Um, yeah, actually. I don't have anything planned." It was true, I hadn't any plans since starting here. My time had been taken up with reading and studying and now soon it would be with swapping potions with Draco.
"Perfect. Why don't we meet up in the great lawn on Saturday?" He asked. "There's a quidditch match that afternoon, Slytherin versus Gryffindor, I heard it's meant to be a good game. We can maybe have a picnic before and then go see it together?"
My mouth was dry and my hands were clammy from nerves. Or was it excitement? I tried to hide the growing smile but it all failed when he smiled and nodded slightly. "I'll take that as a yes," he said simply. "You should head back and grab food before they eat it all, I'll talk to you later Adeline."
I simply nodded, smiling bright and sheepishly. "Okay," I said softly. I managed to finally loosen my grip on the book and I waved before making my way over to the Slytherin dining table. My smile was so big that my face began to hurt and cramp up but I honestly didn't care. Cedric was interested in me. He wanted to take me, a silly little no one, out on a date.
I found a seat next to Blaise and I searched for some food to eat but honestly I wasn't sure if I'd be able to eat with how crazy my stomach was going right now. It felt like I had one hundred pixies flying about in my tummy.
"What's got you redder than a tomato?" Snickered Draco. Pansy rolled her eyes at the sudden change in topic but thankfully didn't say anything. "What happened, embarrass yourself over there?"
Rita leaned over to take a peek and she gasped softly. "No it's not that!" She said, beginning to giggle herself. "You like him! Don't you!"
Draco's face scrunched up and he put his fork down. "Like who?" He questioned.
"No one-"
Rita cut me off excitedly and to my dismay, she blurted exactly who I did actually like. "Cedric! Cedric Diggory, I saw the way he was talking to you. He's the one who found your book, right?"
I nodded sheepishly and Draco shot daggers to Pansy. I eyed him and shook my head slightly. What was his problem? Why was he so bent up over Cedric finding my book after what his little girlfriend did?
"So what does Cedric have planned for your date?" Rita's voice picked up in a sing-song manner and I couldn't help but feel some butterflies resurface after recalling the conversation I just had.
I laughed nervous and brushed a piece of hair behind my shoulders. "It's just the quidditch game-"
"He's taking you to the quidditch game?!" Rita exclaimed loudly. I quickly tried shushing her but that made Blaise begin to laugh now too.
"There's no use doing that!" He said. "Look at how excited she got."
I rolled my eyes playfully and buried my face in my hands. I gently rubbed my cheeks and forced myself to stop smiling so intensely. "It's not a date," I said. "He just asked to hang out. So we're... getting food and then watching the quidditch game together."
"Getting food?" Rita pressed. She bit her lip and was now fully leaning on the table. Had she moved any more up I swore she would've gotten some gravy on her dress shirt.
"He said he'll pack a picnic. I suppose the weathers meant to be nice." I shrugged softly and tried to play it off like it was nothing. Although I couldn't deny that I was a little excited to be taken out on a date by such a handsome guy.
Draco scoffed and I realized his face had dropped entirely. I directly my attention towards him and the smile quickly got wiped from my face.
"Is something the matter?" I asked innocently.
"'Course not," he said, eyeing me intensely. "Why would there be something the matter? You've clearly got your knickers in a twist over a fifth year."
It took everything in me not to scrunch my face up in disgust at his tone. I directed my attention towards the food at the table and took a nimble bite of my chicken. "What's it matter if he's a fifth year?"
He scoffed again and rose to his feet abruptly, letting some of the silverware clatter. "Nothing, of course. I just didn't peg you for such a slut."
I nearly choked on my food and quickly drank some water to help get the food down. "Excuse me?" I said, bewildered at his comment.
Unfortunately he had already began walking away but I had had enough. I stood, grabbed my things, and quickly followed him out of the dining hall.