Chapter 33
Returning to school and pretending to hate most of her friends after days spent in close contact with them was horrible. Daisy kept wishing over and over again that she could sit at the Slytherin table, ignoring the rest of their peers, just to fade their absence.
For some absurd reason they kept finding the Room of Requirement occupied so it was impossible for them to meet in secret. Of course she appreciated spending time with her other friends but she knew how isolated the three Slytherins felt.
She would never admit it to the three of them otherwise they would strut their stuff too much but she missed Blaise's irreverent comments, Daphne's sweetness and Astoria's gossip. Fortunately, for her sanity, Harry and Susan found a way to sneak them all out after curfew.
If they couldn't use the Room of Requirement, they would hide in the secret passageway that would take them to Mielandia. It was dark, uncomfortable and cramped, but for that evening it would be more than fine.
And, honestly, witnessing the way everyone scattered into small groups so they could freely adjourn brought lightness to Daisy's heart. She wasn't the only one suffering from the distance of her friends.
She sat on the floor, bringing her knees to her chest, and smiled while watching Astoria teach Hermione a spell that would help her get rid of the frizz in her hair, leaving her with defined curls.
" I wonder how many decades this floor hasn't been cleaned. " Blaise commented, still sitting by her side and looking at the ceiling for some strange reason.
" You could join Susan and Ron at their little argument about the best Quidditch team. " Daisy proposed, suppressing a laugh at the Slytherin's disgusted face at the suggestion.
" It's a conversation that happens every time they meet and it always ends the same way. " Blaise rolled his eyes, looking with ill-concealed amusement at their friends. " Not that Weasley can sustain an accurate debate when the only thing he repeats is how magnificent the Chudley Cannons are, even though they haven't won a game since 1892. I'm pretty sure the only fans left are him and Dumbledore. "
" His comments will only attract the attention of the rest of them who will feel compelled to state their opinion until they come to the awful conclusion that they will never agree on this matter. " Daisy giggled, resting her head on her friend's shoulder and watching the rest of the group do just what he described. " Actually, what's so great about Quidditch? I don't get it. "
" Teamwork, adrenaline, fun... it depends on the person responding. " explained the Slytherin, smiling sweetly at Daphne who was taking a seat between his legs, joining their chat.
" Guys wearing tight clothes. " the girl winked, sticking her tongue out at Blaise when he looked at her shocked.
" Ew, my brother uses that thing. " observed Ginny disgustedly, making Daisy who was thinking the same thing laugh heartily. " I don't want to imagine all the girls looking at his ass. "
" Harry and Cedric probably had the best kind of flirting when they were in the field. " joked Daphne, blushing when Harry admitted he had hit the nail on the head.
" And not just judging by the amount of times they disappeared during the wedding. " Hermione teased him. It had been the hot topic of the wedding at their table.
" Did you see how good he looked in that suit? It hugged all the right parts. " Harry said dreamily. Daisy thought with amusement that if they were inside a cartoon her brother would have big heart-shaped eyes by now.
" Theo and Daisy started disappearing at the same frequency if I'm not mistaken. " Hummed Luna, throwing fuel on the fire. " Only they were better at sneaking around and no one was aware of anything. Except me, of course. "
" Luna, love, couldn't you have said that before? " said Ginny ecstatic at the mere prospect of a new gossip. It seemed Astoria felt the same way because she turned to look at her with interest.
" It must have been our clothes. " Nodded Harry, not at all perturbed. " We looked really good. "
" Leave her alone. " Blaise pretended to defend her, before escalating her blush by adding, " Although I'm pretty sure the moment you two threw off your jackets led to an escalation of terrible flirting. No one in their right mind would have agreed, you can tell you're completely gone for them. "
" If we're being honest, I feel like I met you and Daphne in one of the hideouts. " retorted Daisy, laughing when Blaise bit her on the arm out of spite. " What is it with you snakes and bites? Last time Astoria bit me because I ate the last piece of chocolate cake. "
" Fair enough. " laughed Ron, giving the girl an enthusiastic high-five.
" From what I've unfortunately heard during your escapades in our dorm, I'm not the only one who likes to bite. " Blaise said, looking into her eyes with amusement.
" I will no longer be able to look Theo in the face without thinking about it. " commented Neville, much to Ginny and Susan's amusement.
" Can we talk about something other than the Potters' sex life? This is getting weird. " Ron said, supported by most. The only ones to put up a bit of a fight were the most gossipy of the group. Their talk diverted to something simpler and soon they were all talking about McGranitt and Poppy's relationship. Finding out about such a thing during the wedding shocked them greatly, as they had not expected anything of the sort. However, watching them, they realised how blind they had been to the evidence.
Talking about couples led them to make veiled comments about Ron and Hermione's possible relationship. Although the two didn't know they were talking about them, Daisy couldn't help noticing with great pleasure the amount of times they looked into each other's eyes without looking away in embarrassment. Maybe they would finally find the courage to talk about their feelings.
" Could I say something worrying? " Astoria asked, reluctantly. " I should have said it as soon as we arrived but I really needed some recreation and being with you relaxes me a lot. "
" What's going on? " asked Harry, worried.
" I think I know what's going on in the Room of Requirement. " said Astoria, telling them how she had seen Draco disappear several times a day. She had followed him up to the seventh floor so she had no doubt that it was him who was perpetually occupying the room.
" Do you think they want to attack the school? " Neville asked, shocked.
" I think the goal is to attack Dumbledore. " said Hermione, reminding them of how Dumbledore said that Draco had been ordered to kill him in exchange for his mother's freedom. " They probably don't trust him to complete such a task so they'll want to get some Death Eaters in here to keep an eye on things. "
" I think they want him to fail so they can kill him. " Astoria said with tears in her eyes. Despite what others thought, she had met the real Draco and was head over heels in love with what she knew would one day become her husband.
" Don't worry, we'll find a way to save him and his mother. " Ron promised, resolute. The statement met with several stunned looks, especially coming from the one who seemed to hate Malfoy most of all. " What? If Astoria's in love, it means he's not a total asshole. "
" Ronald, you always continue to amaze me. " Hermione said in surprise, making Ron blush. " But as good as our intentions are, we have to find a way to help him without risking drawing attention to ourselves. "
"I can talk to him." nodded Astoria firmly, ignoring her older sister's opposition. " I know it's dangerous to take such a risk but he won't hurt me. He would rather die than see me hurt. Whether it be at the hands of others or at his own. "
" And how are you going to catch him without his henchmen? " Susan said, remembering how Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be perpetually following him.
" Not on his rounds. " revealed Blaise, explaining how she saw him always disappearing alone.
" So I would have to find a way inside the Room of Requirement. " said Astoria, conflicted. She knew it would be impossible to do such a thing, but since she had started attending this magnificent and varied group she had learned that there were no such things as impossible.
" Open your heart to Hogwarts and the school will be able to help you if they wish. " Luna encouraged her.
When Astoria got up from the floor, wiping her skirt with her hands, she looked at all her friends who were ready to tell her not to do this now. It was true, she could have tried to approach another day but the girl didn't want to leave Draco in pain any longer than she had to. She knew he needed her and no one was going to convince her to back down once her decision was made.
When Harry handed her the mischief map, explaining how to use it, Daisy realised how much her brother cared about helping them. Ron and Hermione surely thought they had only lent it to her to keep her safe, but Daisy knew how often Harry had felt guilty for refusing Draco's friendship in that rude way when they were children.
Sure, the blond's arrogant way of talking had certainly not been attractive to Harry but the twins knew they could change things if they gave it a chance. Going back was not possible, however they could try to change the future. This time he would be the one to offer the boy his hand in the hope that he would accept it.