Chapter 1
“Hey kid.” Someone whispered forcefully above her.
She looked up sharply with a snappy retort on her tongue but it died on her lips. Standing across from her was Draco Malfoy, her least favourite prefect. He was always popping up in unwanted places. Now that the war was over it seemed that he'd lost his broody mask and was making up for years of terror by being straight up annoying. She couldn’t count the number of times she had watched him harass some first year over eating or going to bed or getting homework done, the guy was a nightmare to deal with! And now he had singled her out. Great.
“Watch who you call a kid. I’m a seventh year so back off.” she said and pulled her book closer to her and kept reading.
“Hmm, you sound hangry, probably because you skipped dinner and that won't do. Off to the kitchens with you.”
“I’m busy, go away.”
“Don’t be so cranky, let's go.” Draco slipped her book closed with a snap and grabbed the hem of her robe sleeve, tugging her up.
“Hey! That's rude! And what about my bag and my books?”
With a quick flick, the books tumbled into her bag and the bag flew to Draco’s outstretched hand. He pulled Ada along as she grumbled and complained but there wasn’t much she could do. He was holding her school bag hostage so she couldn’t just leave.
They were almost to the kitchens when Ada caught sight of her three least favourite people in the school. She ducked her head and tried to avoid their sight but to no avail. She sighed when Isobel called her name and Draco stopped to look back.
“Ada! There you are, we were looking for you!” Isobel said, sounding genuinely concerned.
If Ada hadn’t had a lot of previous experience she would have assumed the other girl was really sweet and caring. Michael and Terri trailed along behind Isobel and smiled at Draco and Ada.
“We were so concerned when you missed dinner, you haven’t been hiding away in the library again have you?”
“Obviously not, otherwise I wouldn’t be standing face to face with you right now.”
Isobel’s eyes narrowed slightly and Draco tugged on her sleeve.
“That's not very nice now is it kid. Don’t be such a cranky baby towards your friends.”
“For the last time, I am not a kid! I am a seventh year and you're only an eighth year!” Ada said frustratedly.
“Really? And how old are you?”
“Nearly seventeen.” she muttered, realising it wouldn’t help her point.
“Ah yes! You’re the one who got accepted early because of her potential. I’m already nineteen so you're practically an infant compared to me.” Draco said smugly and Ada felt her face warm up.
She knew Isobel and the two boys were watching her reactions closely and tried not to show how embarrassed she was both by Draco and his words. She didn’t want to give them any more fuel or power against her. She quickly turned on her heel and started going down to the kitchens, just wanting to escape the most uncomfortable gathering she’d been a part of.
She was halfway down the hall when Draco caught up with her again and she just frowned. Didn’t he have something better to do? She was steadily growing more and more anxious about what would await her back in the common room and if she was hangry, like Draco thought, it certainly wasn’t improving her mood. She walked faster hoping he’d get the hint but he just easily matched her pace.
“You weren’t very nice towards your friends.” He scolded and he noticed she tensed up slightly. Interesting.
She didn’t say anything and continued to walk, but took a turn in the exact opposite direction of the kitchen. School bag be damned, she was going back to the library. There it was quiet and uncomplicated and she could ignore her miserable life.
“Sorry but no.” Draco said so softly that she almost missed it.
She turned slightly to look at him but he quickly picked her up and started brusquely back towards the kitchen. She was too shocked to even say anything, she was frozen with her mouth slightly open and her eyes wide as they walked through the thankfully empty halls. Draco knew that by now that everyone was used to his almost 180 change in character, at least his Slytherins were, but he was more concerned for Ada. He knew she would be mortified if anyone saw her, she was embarrassed simply by being called a kid! And honestly, she did still kind of look like one of the younger students at Hogwarts. She was five foot two, barely, and couldn't have weighed more than 110 pounds which was slightly concerning to Draco.
When they reached the portrait of the fruit, he set her down and she stood there, still shocked into silence. The portrait swung open and he gently pushed her inside where she was besieged by house elves who tugged her over to a table. One placed a cup of milk in front of her and another half a sandwich with a side of apple slices. She glanced at Draco, the tips of her ears red which was honestly adorable and then ducked her head. The house elves knew everyone's favourites and so he supposed she was embarrassed by the childish food set before her.
“Are you going to eat of your own free will or am I going to have to stand her and make sure you do?”
Ada seemed to just kind of give up. She pushed her food away and rested her forehead on the table.
“Please just let me go back to the library, or at least to the tower. I’m just tired, okay?”
“What about just half of it and the milk?” Draco asked, softening his tone a bit.
She looked at him for a long moment and then with a sigh pulled the plate closer to herself. She carefully pulled the sandwich in half. She glared at Draco, daring him to comment or laugh when she picked the crust off as well. For his part, he kept his face decidedly neutral as he sat down next to her to keep her company.
When she finally finished her sandwich she pushed the plate away but before she could stand up Draco passed her the cup of milk as well. She glared at him but accepted it, drinking it as quickly as possible to escape. If she left now she could head to the library and read for another hour and a half before she had to go back to the tower. She wordlessly held out her hand and Draco handed her her bag. She nodded her thanks and quickly left, hurrying back to her safe haven.