11

11. Back at Hogwarts

The day finally arrived. John Dawlish appeared again and brought me to the Hogwarts Express. With Hermione, Ginny and Neville in a compartment we travelled to Hogwarts. Strangely, Harry and Ron were nowhere to be seen. They weren't even in the great hall, missed the sorting and dinner. Severus wasn't there either and I had the feeling that it had to do with Harry and Ron. On the other hand, that Gilderoy Lockhart guy sat at the teacher's table. Hermione and many other girls were only staring at him, not caring about eating. Honestly, I didn't understand their behaviour. I mean he wasn't good looking and something was just wrong with him.

After the feast, Hermione and I made our way to the Gryffindor tower wondering about Harry and Ron. I wanted to talk to Severus but could only go if it wouldn't look suspicious. We met them in front of the portrait of the fat lady, not knowing the password to enter.

"There you are! Where have you been? The most ridiculous rumours – someone said you had been expelled for crashing a flying car." Surprised I looked at Hermione. I didn't know where she had heard that from.

They old us what happened and as expected Hermione wasn't pleased at all. The other Gryffindors however where celebrating them. Able to leave the tower without anyone seeing me I made my way down to the Dungeons to see Severus. Standing in front of the door to his classroom I let my magic check the room if there was somebody in there. I didn't feel anyone so I went on to his office. I had to hide once because some Slytherins were sneaking around. When I turned around the last corner and saw the door I would have loved to run and burst into the room. I had missed him so much. He was the father I had always dreamed of. I couldn't contain myself from grinning as I checked his office for other persons. Suddenly, the door opened and there he stood, his robes rippling in a cold breeze. When he saw that it was me his cold gaze turned warm.

"Well, look who's here" he said laughing whilst I entered and he closed the door. He hadn't come to a stop from turning into my direction when I already crashed into him, embracing him with all my energy. He put his arms around me and hugged me warmly.

"I missed you." I spoke quietly into his robes inhaling the scent of potions in his robes. He only smiled and sat down on his chair, taking me on his lap.

"Why weren't you at the feast?" I asked, wanting to know what happened exactly when Harry and Ron had been in here. Tiredly, he rubbed his eyes with one hand, breathing deeply.

"I had to take care of your friends but I guess you already know that, don't you?" He looked at me and I nodded. "And I guess you want to know what happened when they were in here…" I nodded again, grinning now. It faded when Severus told me everything.

"Why the hell would you want my friends to be expelled?" I asked outraged.

"There are rules Aryanna, rules that even your friends have to follow. They put our world in danger." He tried to explain but I jumped up and stared at him. "Well, they couldn't go through the wall so it's not their fault."

"But they had an owl they could have used it to inform us."

"Yes okay they should have done that but what I don't get is that you would be responsible for them being expelled." I said angrily.

"Oh really?! What would they think if I hadn't asked for them being expelled? I have to keep up my reputation even if none of us likes it. And for your information, Albus would have never let it happen."

I knew he was right but continued looking at him darkly. "To me it sounds like you would enjoy your reputation." He only laughed, I couldn't be angry anymore. I sat down on his table.

"My reputation saved me from sitting next to Gilderoy Lockhart. Albus told me about your encounter with him in Diagon Alley." Severus grinned when he saw me wrinkling my nose in disgust.

"He's nothing else than a loudmouthed man searching for attention." I said gloomy.

"And I was afraid you would admire him like every stupid girl in this school does. Happy that you are immune to his charm." He said with raised eyebrows. I had to laugh at his helpless expression.

"He might be an idiot but I have to say he really does look good, especially once he smiles." I put on a faked admiring gaze, earning a sniff from Severus.

"Stop it please. Every time he is smiling – and he is doing it whenever he is making himself important what is like all day long – I would love to punch him." I started laughing loudly whilst Severus only stared at me.

"Don't take that as an offense but I would love to see that! You are not the one being physically aggressive. You are good with words but I don't think you would really do that." I couldn't stop laughing, I had tears in my eyes.

"You definitely underestimate me Aryanna Jackson." He stated raising one hand warningly. "And I would have said the same about you but since your encounter with Draco I think otherwise..." he grinned and started shuffling some papers. I immediately stopped laughing.

"How do you- Wait, Dumbledore told you right?" I asked sadly, breathing out loudly. Severus only nodded, looking at me again. His grin had been replaced by a worried expression.

"Strictly speaking it was Dawlish. Arya I know you don't want to hear this but I think you should stop pushing him away. You have told me so often that Draco is like a twin brother for you. You shouldn't throw that away. You love him, he loves you." He looked me deeply in the eyes but I turned my gaze.

"I need to protect him Severus." I said quietly. "If my father comes back – and he will soon, I can feel it – he will turn to his followers. And Draco is right in the middle of this. If he finds out about Draco and me he will be in mortal danger. And losing Draco is one of the worst things that could happen."

Severus took my hand and bend forward searching my gaze. "Arya, I am here too. I wouldn't leave you alone. I would help protecting him, as would Albus and Minerva."

"I can't. I cannot risk his life for my happiness." I stated helplessly.

"And what about Draco? He knows why you are pushing him away but he is willing to take the risk. You have your friends, the Weasley family and the teachers but Draco only has Blaze Zabini as real friend. He cannot count on any other classmate or his parents. I am there for him as good as possible but it's difficult if you don't want to deal with him." I could feel my eyes prickling again. Damn, Arya stop crying all the time. I took my hand out of his and stared at the shelves behind him.

"Don't you think I haven't thought about this already? Don't you think I haven't thought about any possible solution that would keep him safe? No matter what I think of the risk is always to high in my opinion." I swallowed. Severus stood up and gently pushed my head up with one finger so that I couldn't avoid his gaze any longer. "I won't force you to do anything but I see how it's tormenting you so I won't stop telling what I told you now." Then he put his arms around me and hugged me tightly. I felt so comfortable and wrong at the same time. I loved Draco so much but I had to hurt him and myself to keep him safe. That wasn't fair at all. All because of my damn father and his stupid family.

When I went to bed this evening I fall asleep right away. The next morning, Ron got a howler from his mother because of what happened with the car. When we went outside to Herbology Gilderoy Lockhart was there, talking to a very irritated Professor Sprout. Professor McGonagall gave us more work to do than any other teacher completely ignoring the fact that it was our first day back. Colin Creevey, a first year Gryffindor, asked Harry for a photograph. He was sweet but very agitated.

"You're giving out signed photos Potter?" Draco's voice echoed loudly around the courtyard. As always he was flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Eat slugs, Malfoy" said a very angry Ron, taking out his spellotaped wand. Before he could use it however, I took a step forwards and fixed Draco with my gaze.

"Get off! And take your morons with you." Calmly I took another step closer.

"Sweet how you're always interfering for your little friends Jackson. But do I need to remember you what happened last time you tried to help them?" He grinned evilly and his two bodyguards snickered. Before Ron could use his wand Hermione came over. Draco stopped grinning when Gilderoy Lockhart appeared asking for what happened here. He took Harry with him even if he didn't want to go. When we arrived at his classroom for the test of Defence against the Dark Arts Ron joked about Harry's reaction to Colin Creevey. Once everybody had sat down we started the test. Every question was about Lockhart himself. I couldn't prevent myself from snorting. I earned a dark look from Hermione and Lockhart but I didn't care. The others were writing when I looked around the room. I met no other gaze than Draco's. He took a quick look through the room then stared at me again. Pointing discreetly at the test he rolled his eyes. At that moment, I react before I could think about it. I grinned and looked on my test again. I could hear him cough but ignored it. Then I decided to answer the questions but by relating them to Draco.

1.What is Draco's favourite colour?

That's too easy I thought grinning. Blue, just like mine.

2.What is Draco's secret ambition?

Well, I remember you saying becoming a quidditch star when you were 8 years old.

3.What, in your opinion, is Draco's greatest achievement to date?

Definitely becoming seeker of the Slytherin quidditch team.

After 53 questions I finally arrived at the last one: When is Draco's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?

I would give you a Firebolt Draco and it's the 5. June 1980.

When I had written the last answer I leaned back in my chair grinning wildly. I could see Draco grinning as well, just like Blaze next to him but I ignored them. Lockhart collected in the papers and rifled through them in front of the class. One moment he stopped in his work and looked at two papers with pinched eyebrows. Then he laid them on the side and continued rambling about himself. Hermione got full mark for answering right every question. Then he took out a cage with wild Cornish pixies and freed them. He asked us to restrain them and fled as the bell rang after some time.

When we sat at lunch this day some owls came flown in. One landed right in front of me and I took its letter. It was a school owl I could see it.

Dear Ms. Jackson, please come to my office today at 7 pm. There is something to discuss.

G. Lockhart

Wondering what that was about – Hermione got very excited about it – I went to meet Lockhart in the evening. Before I reached the classroom I almost run into Draco as I turned around a corner.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked astonished.

"I could ask you the same question. Well, I'm meeting up with Lockhart." He then turned around and left me speechless in the corridor. Why is Lockhart asking for the both of us? I wondered. Then I quickly followed him. When he heard that I came after him he stopped and turned around with one eyebrow raised. "Can I help you Jackson?"

"Actually, Lockhart asked me to come too." I let my magic check the nearby corridor for any students or teachers but there was only Lockhart in his office. "Do you think he knows something about what's going on between us?" I asked him worried and quietly.

"Tell me, Arya, is there something going on between us?" he asked coldly, looking me dead in the eyes.

"I just mean-" before I could finish my sentence he turned around again and knocked on the door.

Whilst he entered I was thinking about what just happened. I hadn't insulted him once and spoken with like I talked to my friends. I didn't understand why I had changed my behavior towards him. I shouldn't have done that! But it feels good being normal with him…

"Ah there you are Ms. Jackson and Mr. Malfoy. I thought I had to fetch you, you are 10 minutes late." Lockhart laughed loudly.

"Excuse me Sir but why am I here?" Draco asked emotionlessly, completely ignoring me.

"Well, I ordered the two of you here because I want to know what you thought filling out the test like you did." With that he gave each of us our paper back with no mark or comment on it. "You have the same answer written everywhere. As for you Mr. Malfoy I understand it, I mean you answered them referring to you. Ms. Jackson however has exact the same answers as you. Ms. Jackson can you give me an explanation to why you have the exact same answers without sitting next to Mr. Malfoy?" I was speechless and didn't know what to say seeing as my head seemed empty. Crap, that really ended in a complete cock-up. I stood there like frozen whilst Lockhart stared at me. I could feel Draco gazing at me. How should I explain this?!

"It's my fault Professor." Surprised I turned to Draco who was looking at Lockhart. "Jackson annoyed me to death the other day and forgot her books in the library. To get back on her I changed some statements about you. So she learned the wrong facts." My jaw fell down as I stared at Draco in surprise.

"I must admit I am disappointed of your childish behavior Mr. Malfoy." Lockhart rambled. He said some other things I didn't realize, still in awe of Draco's help. "Well, seeing as she has answered every question right about you I guess she would have had every answer right about me if you hadn't changed the books. Therefore, I give you Ms. Jackson full mark. Mr. Malfoy, you get a T for wrong answers. In addition, you will come tomorrow evening at 7pm for detention." Draco didn't react, only stared at the Professor in front of him. Lockhart went to his desk and scribbled something on a paper. Then he turned around again.

"Take that paper to Severus please. And now you may leave. Oh and Mr. Malfoy, don't be late tomorrow." Lockhart smiled his awful smile. Draco turned around and left quickly. When I had closed the door behind me I ran after Draco who had just reached the corner.

"Wait!" I called. He ignored me and continued his way. "Damn it Draco, please wait. You cannot run away from me." Now Draco stopped but didn't turn around. "What do you want Jackson?"

"Oh come on nobody's here. No need to call me Jackson." I finally stepped in front of him. He stared at me emotionlessly. "Oh really Jackson?" He passed me walking away taking big steps. I followed him again and stopped him by holding his arm tightly. "Come on, I only want to thank you Draco. You really saved my ass because I had no idea how to explain this. Thanks!"

"Don't do anything like that again. Next time it won't be with someone as peasant and selfish as Lockhart." With that he left again leaving me alone in the corridor. I couldn't prevent myself from grinning as his silhouette faded. It felt so good talking normally with Draco again.

Come on Aryanna, you cannot keep this going and you know it. You have to push him away! I said to myself. I couldn't let it happen again. I could feel that something was coming, something that had to do with my father. Therefore, I needed to protect Draco at any costs. Sighting, I made my way to the Gryffindor tower. Tomorrow I would have to face a surely angry Severus because of my recklessness.