Draco lingered in the forest with Nyx until he had to leave. Dusting the mud off his jeans, he trotted to the castle, Nyx prancing with him until the forest edge. The sun hung low, casting an ominous yellow. The Squid inside Black Lake stirred, drawing ripples at the water surface. The lake will freeze, sometime soon. Maybe tomorrow for all Draco knew.

When he went back to the Great Hall, something felt different. The chattering, the passed gossips, and something purposeful.

Luna passed him, patting his shoulders with reassurance before she settled beside Longbottom. He saw the letter in her hands. Puzzlement settled in Draco. Along with dread. One week left to improve social relationships with his dear classmates. Less than a month left before interviews.

He rushed to find Pansy, plopping down by her side, “Why does Luna have the Ministry letters? And why is she sharing it to Longbottom?”

Pansy, visibly in a good mood, sang to Draco, “They’re going to tell rest of the DA about the Ministry actions. Tonight.”

“And then,” she beamed with mischief, “they’ll tell the whole school. Tomorrow, 3PM at the Room of Requirements. And you and Blaise will be there to represent Slytherin.”

Snake hissed in panic, his tail slithering as he crawled under Draco’s jacket.

“Pansy, Blaise is alright,” Draco gritted his teeth, attempting to negotiate, “But me being there wouldn’t build the case. I’m not exactly the best example of charismatic Slytherin.”

“It’s a strategical option. If it were Blaise and Theo, it would be too perfect. People know if we tried to hide what was already public knowledge. We need to let them know we’ve acknowledged our faults,” Pansy gestured between the two of them. “Cracks are where the light shine in”, Draco traced his fingers over the words absentmindedly.

“I’m not the best reformed Slytherin, can’t you go?” Draco frowned. Everyone knew what his friend was before the battle, yet she changed gradually, and people sensed it, some embraced her. Draco, he himself, was still in progress to the transformation, subtle to a point where some days he even doubted if there was a change. Objective view, unideal to the meeting. Subjective view, he doesn’t like crowds, not anymore.

“Me and Theo have our own role to play,” Pansy replied enigmatically.

At the mention of Theo, Draco scanned the room. Not in five feet within Pansy. Weird.

“Where is your love life anyway?” Draco dared a look at Pansy.

“Share yours and I’ll tell you mine,” the little bastard grinned. Snake slithered out of Draco’s sweater, coiling lazily at the helm and hissed with interest. Oh? Absolutely perfect timing. Vile little traitor. Draco stuffed the necklace back in his sweater.  

“When I bought it, Pip told me the necklace would be a mirror of your most inner thoughts,” Pansy started, winding up Draco with her every word, “He said it would only awake if both the owners feel something for each oth...”

“I’ll share it! Merlin,” Draco hissed, interrupting Pansy.

“Tell me why you disappeared. It would be totally cool if you had a second love interest besides Harry, but I deserve to know,” Pansy interjected. She and her imagination will be to doom of him.

“No, certainly not that,” Draco glimpsed at Snake, it laid, quite comfortably, silently encouraging him to continue, “He asked if I was gay, I said yes. Then, I panicked and ran.”

Pansy nodded, “It’s alright. You’ve experienced a lot since the past week. Me and Theo got off some of the tension from our trip today. I’m not sure about you though,” Pansy turned away, almost guiltily, as she grabbed another burrito.

“I got my own therapy. It’s certainly better than playing chess with Weasel,” Draco exclaimed proudly, thinking back to Luna and Nyx. When he graduates, he would abduct Nyx and bring her with him, to wherever she wanted to go.

Pansy giggled, “Glad you’re coping just fine.” She turned back to her food. Was she not going to question him anymore? Years of friendship proved wrong, Draco’s instincts told him she was currently judging his behavior, waiting to be voiced out when they’re somewhere more private, not in the Great Hall with the entire student body.

Minutes later, Theo appeared beside Pansy, giving her a small peck on the cheek before saying, “Slughorn said yes. Thing is ready for action.”

“What is?” Things just get more confusing.

“You’ll know next weekend,” Theo assured to Draco, his response identical to Pansy. He hadn’t liked it when the couple schemed. Last time, Blaise ended with a growing caterpillar mustache.

Snake huffed with disdain and wariness before he could. Sly bastard.

Draco’s eyes glanced up. Harry talked with a Ravenclaw, offering a few words before he stood up, stopping at another person like some over-eager hummingbird.

“What is he doing?” Draco mumbled, voicing his thoughts aloud.

“Grinding for the sake of your ass,” Pansy cheered as Draco’s cheeks flushed red. Across the hall, Harry chuckled charmingly, like the poster boy he is. The Gryffindor mouthed something with importance before standing up again. Draco watched as Harry downed a cup of water, his Adam’s Apple bobbing. Draco had the sudden impulse to lick – he needs to stop thinking. Draco jerked around, grabbing the nearest food.

Pansy noticed Draco’s distress with glee, “You’re pathetic to a point that I would hesitate on teasing you because you’re gonna break.” Snake hissed at her. Good.

After a few seconds, Draco risked another glance at Hary. Harry didn’t take off the bracelet. Draco registered with surprise. Or he didn’t know how to. Typical Potter clumsiness.

Long, elegant fingers caressed the bracelet, like it’s something precious. The golden Lion grinned smugly at the attention. Its ruby eyes turning lazily over the Great Hall, stopping at Draco.

Draco turned away abruptly. Snake, however, coiled and stretched against Draco’s neck, twisting like some peacock. Draco focused on his plate, knife and fork cutting the piece of chicken. Familiar grounds. Right. Think of familiar grounds.

“Stop flaunting!” Draco hissed. Snake flicked its tail, dragging over Draco’s chin with defiance.

After a few bites, Snake hadn’t calmed down. Draco, for some weird reason, believed it was alright to continue staring at Harry.

He raised his head. Harry’s green eyes met his. Harry’s lips tugged upwards. Draco jerked to Pansy, suddenly engaged in her rambling. Yeah, house elf rights, interesting. Certainly. More interesting than the classic Gryffindor smirk Draco caught before he turned away.

“Hey, pass it down, school meetup tomorrow at 3 in the afternoon. Room of Requirements. Potter has something important to say,” a Slytherin third-grader beside him whispered.

Draco trotted back to the Slytherin dungeons. Their room was eerily silent when Draco went in. Blaise sprawled on the floor, folding paper cranes mindlessly.

“You okay?” Draco asked with concern. Staring as the paper crane hovered a few circles, only to be ignited into sudden flames. Dramatic bastard, Draco thought fondly. The ashes drifted down like snow, onto the floor beside Blaise.

“Just nervous about the meeting tomorrow, that’s all,” Blaise responded with indifference.

Draco scoffed, as if, “Don’t lie, you thrive in crowds.”

Blaise chuckled lightly, the smile not reaching his eyes, “Mother sent a letter, they’re going to France for New Years, said I should stay.”

Oh.

“They’re idiots, you planned on staying at Hogwarts, didn’t you? All the better,” Draco reasoned, sinking to the floor beside Blaise, wincing at the sharp coldness of stone.

“This’s different though. I stayed because I thought I don’t need her, like I could convince myself I had a choice. She doesn’t even bother pretending she wants me,” Blaise sighed. Draco patted Blaise gently. He thought about Narcissa’s letters, still unopened. However, messed up it is, at least they cared. Ever since he met Blaise’s mother, Draco knew the woman didn’t care about anything, except money and status. She knew she was beautiful and sultry, and she exploited it.

“I’m just like her, aren’t I? Only that she does it better, doesn’t get attached,” Blaise admitted, still staring at the ceiling. Draco knew that it wasn’t true. Blaise learnt all his socializing skills from Mrs. Zabini, he’d inherited her ambition of status. But he wouldn’t exploit love nor affection, wouldn’t harm the vulnerable.

Blaise glanced at Draco, his voice rough, “Just gimme a few minutes alone. I’ll be alright by then.”

Draco nodded, closing the door behind him with a small pop. He guarded their dorm.

“Not now,” Draco mouthed, jerking his head towards the common room. Theo hesitated but nods and leaves eventually.

Another small hiss of flames behind the door. Another paper crane flapping its wings helplessly.

Blaise opened the door minutes later, his usual smile back.

“Hey there pretty,” Blaise drawled at him. Draco scoffed. Back to familiar territory.

“I know, I know, you have Potter, you’re not influenced by my flirting anymore,” Blaise waved casually. Like that was a normal thing to say. What was it supposed to mean anyway? Draco opened his mouth. Blaise already disappeared up the steps.