"Well, if it isn't Wren Inkwood sitting at her own table for dinner! To what do I owe the pleasure?" I let myself fall onto the seat next to her, watching her annoyed expression with an amused smirk on my lips.
"Very funny," She mocked, grimacing once, and taking a bite of her food before focusing back on the newspaper in her hands.
I greeted Draco with a nod, the blonde sitting a few seats down on the opposite of our usual spots. He mirrored my action and then turned back to Blaise and the rest of his friends.
"Since when do you read the newspaper?" I asked curiously, my eyes roaming the various foods on the table before sneaking a peek at the paper.
Mass breakout from Azkaban. My eyes widened as I read the headline, skimming the words quickly to filter out as much information as I could.
Wasn't the point of Azkaban that you weren't supposed to be able to break out?
"They're blaming Sirius," Wren mumbled, finally looking up and placing the newspaper on the empty seat next to her. "Can you believe that?"
I snorted humorously, shaking my head at their audacity. "I can," I huffed annoyed. "If I was in charge of a high-security prison, with dangerous, truly dangerous, dark witches and wizard in it; And I was incapable of keeping those exact witches and wizards inside of the prison... I'd be looking for a fall-man, too."
"And Bellatrix Lestrange, of all people," Wren sighed, letting her head fall onto the table next to her half-empty plate. "His, arguably, most loyal follower."
"I still don't understand how the Minister is acting like Voldemort doesn't even exist. Like, hello, I'm literally living proof. So is Harry. And, well, Cedric isn't living proof, exactly, but he's still-" I cut myself off, shaking my head quickly. "You know what I mean."
Wren nodded, the best way she could with her head still on top of the wooden table, and I sighed.
It was frustrating; Seeing him cease power and control again while nobody is stopping him. Instead, a bunch of 15-year-old witches and wizards are building an Army to protect themselves and the rest of the wizarding world if it ever came to it. But Merlin forbid the adults would do something about it.
My eyes scanned the table again, trying to find something else to focus on. Inevitably, they landed on Draco who looked like he was listening to our conversation rather intensely.
I furrowed my brows but ignored it afterwards. He had always been curious, listening in on other people's conversations. It was hardly news.
"So, this Bellatrix-" I began, but was cut off by a series of noises coming from my left. When I turned back in Draco's direction, he was already half-way up. The plate he had almost knocked off the table with his movements was still shaking slightly and must've been the noise that startled me.
I watched him scramble off his seat and leave the table, and then the Hall, at once. "What's wrong with him?" I asked Wren, my eyes still on the doors he had just disappeared through.
Blaise looked just as confused as I was, while Wren had her brows raised as if his behaviour was the most normal thing in the world.
I looked at her, waiting for the explanation she clearly had.
"She's his aunt," She explained nonchalantly with a shrug of her shoulders. "Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange are sisters."
"They're- She is-" I tried to say, my mind trying to wrap around the fact. Was it just a coincidence Draco's mother had come up twice in just a month's time now?
It seemed like she was connected to everyone, everything. Yet, his father was the one he worried about.
"You know, Harry wasn't exaggerating when he tried to tell you about his family-" Wren began, but her hands went up in the air defensively when I glared at her.
My facial features relaxed, though, throwing another look in the direction he had disappeared through before sighing.
"Maybe he wasn't."
✧·ﾟ: *✧·ﾟ:*✧
I couldn't stop thinking about Draco's exit. Trying to assure myself it was only because he had finished eating early, or his Inquisitorial Squad patrol started soon. The latter was true, it was, though I doubt that's why he left.
He was too startled, too much in a hurry, for that to be the case.
I sighed, walking along the corridors until I had reached the bare stretch of wall, where I waited for the doors to the room of requirements to show up.
During Christmas, Harry asked if I was still on board with it; joked he would have to obliviate me if I wasn't. At least I hoped he was joking.
I didn't see a reason why I wouldn't still want to be part of it. Though, I made him pinky promise not to doubt my loyalty again. And he did without another word about Slytherin, or Draco, or Merlin knows what else he could've come up with.
"Make it a powerful memory. The happiest you can remember," Harry began, walking around the room as he explained how the Patronus charm worked. "Allow it to fill you up!"
I listened to his words but had no clue where to even begin. I'm sure I had many happy memories; From the ones I made at Durmstrang, to the ones I made here at Hogwarts. But a memory happy enough to form a full-body Patronus?
I knew I was overthinking. So, I tried to quiet my mind, closed my eyes and held my wand up, deciding I would just go with what first came to mind.
"Expecto Patronum!" I heard myself say, as soon as the memory began flooding my mind.
A loud sigh left both of our lips simultaneously, and we chuckled. Before I could protest, my brother had me wrapped inside his arms, his warm breath tickling my ear. I immediately relaxed, squeezing his torso as tight as I could. Nothing in the world felt as good as this.
I opened my eyes, not expecting to be face-to-face with the full-bodied Patronus of a deer. In awe, I watched it hop off into the air, circling me twice before beginning to dissolve in the most beautiful way.
"That was beautiful, Y/n." Luna appeared next to me, sighing softly at the image before my Patronus had completely disappeared.
I smiled, agreeing with a nod. It was.
Obviously, I always knew how happy I was to be reunited with my brother, but it was only now that I realised how happy he actually made me.
He was the only family I had left.
I watched him with a smile as he walked through the room, amazed by how good everyone was doing. Then, my face fell. And so did his.
I turned around slowly as I noticed the pounding against the wall; the whole room turning quiet with it.
Everyone walked towards the centre of the room, wanting to have a look at what was happening. We watched as the mirrors fell off the walls, nobody saying a word.
"I'll make short work of this." As soon as I recognised her voice, my heart began beating so loud I could hear it clearly, my breaths becoming irregular as I remembered the way she punished me just for speaking up in class.
I didn't want to know what this would get me. Not just conspiring against her by joining the DA, but actually spying on her own little club, and messing it up with Draco.
Oh, Merlin, please don't let Draco be there.
The whole wall exploded with a loud noise, clouding our vision and having me snap out of my thoughts.
When the dust settled, we were staring right at Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, another boy, and Umbridge. A sigh of relief escaping my lips when I didn't see Draco.
But, of course he would be there. Walking into my field of vision, dragging Cho Chang by her uniform.
His eyes scanned the room, not surprised by the sight until his eyes landed on me.
He furrowed his brows, his breathing heavier as he looked at me with absolutely nothing in his eyes. He just stared, his grey eyes piercing into my own.
I couldn't stand it, my gaze lowering towards the floor in shame.
Fuck, I really should've told him.
Why was I more concerned about the consequences with him than what Umbridge was going to do to me?
A/N: Y'all should be happy to hear that the next few chapters are going to be a lot longer because the stuff happening in it is more mandatory to the story than rlly revolving around Draco and y/n and I didn't wanna drag it out. so, long chapters yay ?? lol
Also, year 5 is coming to an end! Only a few chapters left !! (I'm scared, year 6 Draco is gonna be so hard to portray lol definitely expect mood swings at its finest)