Of Owls And Killer Trees

-Your POV-

"Where should we go first?"

Y/N still felt the stares of Hermione, Harry and Ron in her back as she was awkwardly walking alongside Draco.

"Maybe outside?" she suggested. "Since there's still some sunlight." But really because she wanted to get away from her friends.

"Why? Are you scared of the dark?" Draco snorted.

"N-no, I just tend to trip a lot."

Luckily the boy didn't make any joke about that. Instead, he led her out of the castle and into the cold evening.

It must have been around 6:30 pm, so they had plenty of time until their curfew. As a result, several students were running around or sitting and watching the lake. Draco didn't pay attention to any of them.

September evenings in Scotland were mellow and friendly, just warm enough to not need a scarf.

They were walking in silence. Y/N didn't know how to start a conversation so instead she let her eyes wander.

The further they walked away from the castle the more majestic it appeared with its countless towers and windows. And the fewer students passed by them.

"Hogwarts is quite beautiful," she said.

"It has its charm."

"But I still find the name...curious. To name a Wizarding school after the warts of a hog is definitely a choice only a special type of person can make."

Draco smiled at the joke but didn't add anything further.

Y/N really hadn't expected him to be this quiet. From what she had seen of him during classes, he was pretty talkative with his friends, always commenting on teachers and his peers, never short of jokes or eye rolls.

Now he almost seemed...disinterested? Y/N hoped that this was only her insecurities speaking. Afterall, silence is not a bad sign as long as both parties are content with it.

In the distance Y/N could spot the Quidditch pitch peeking through the trees.

"Do you play Quidditch?" she asked, acting like she didn't totally overhear the conversation between him and Goyle at breakfast.

"I'm a Seeker, I'm pretty good." He looked proud when he said that. "But I'm not sure if I'll join the team this year."

"And why is that?"

"I might need to concentrate on other things."

"Like your OWLs?"

They were nearing a small wooden shed to their right.

"Not primarily. I'm confident about them. I'm pretty bright, you know? I just don't boast around like Granger."

Y/N tried to ignore the comment about her friend but it was hard. Maybe not choosing a side wasn't possible after all.

She swallowed the thought.

"So you're the nerd, not me."

Draco looked at Y/N for a second as he stopped in his tracks which made her blush. 'Dammit.'

"I don't know, making objects appear out of thin air is pretty advanced magic. Maybe you can show me how you did that."

Although it wasn't worded as such, Y/N decided to take it as a compliment. "Sure. I will."

In her mind she added: 'Given I can remember how I did that because I really don't know.'

Then she noticed that they were standing next to the small hut.

She grinned. "Is this the first stop on our sightseeing tour? A shed?"

"It's not the shed itself."

Draco went to open the small brass lock keeping the door shut. "I thought you might get a better view if we didn't stay on the ground." And he pushed it open.

Y/N's eyes widened as she saw that the shed was packed with brooms. Most of them were old and used but they were brooms afterall.

"How good of a flier are you?"

The girl stepped closer. "I'm not sure, let's find out."

Draco handed her one of the school's brooms. Then he took one as well.

"I have my own broom, a Nimbus 2001 as a matter of fact. But I keep it under my bed because it's quite expensive."

Y/N ignored his bragging and stepped away a bit before she got onto the broom and flew up into the air. It happened so naturally like she had never done anything else.

A few feet above the ground she watched as Draco closed the shed and then followed.

He shot up much higher and Y/N had to react quickly before she could be left behind. They stopped above the treetops and stood in the air for a bit.

Draco seemed much more relaxed now. He was smiling. It was the natural, happy smile that Y/N had seen on the train. And it made her smile as well.

She breathed in the crisp air. Her lungs filled with the type of cool freedom only nature can offer.

"Follow me," Draco said and then they started flying towards the lake.

With the castle to their left, they crossed the water and went even higher until wind started to pull on their clothing.

The last wisps of the sunset were being swallowed by the lake. The part of the horizon where purple and red met greyish blue were blurry. It seemed as if sky and land became one for just a few minutes a day.

Draco let himself fall back a bit and was right next to Y/N. He pointed to a little house that appeared behind a hill.

"Hagrid lives there. He taught us Care of Magical Creatures but he is a lunatic."

"And why is that?"

Draco huffed. "He once brought a hippogriff, very nasty creature. End of story, I broke my arm."

"Ouch, really?" Y/N cringed at the thought.

"Yes but at least I didn't have to do homework for a while. And over there..."

He pointed to behind where this infamous Hagrid lived. "There's the Whomping Willow. I wouldn't go near it if you don't want to be eaten alive."

Y/N couldn't see the tree but shuddered at the thought alone. "Sounds like a dangerous plant to grow on school grounds."

"Right? This school is insane!? Surviving Hogwarts is a challenge in itself. Alright, let's go down."

Y/N looked around and saw a lonely stone tower to their left.

"What is that?" But Draco didn't answer.

They started losing height.

The tower was standing on a rock and many stonern steps led up to the small platform at the entrance.

That is where Draco landed, he jumped off his broom. Y/N went down a bit more before she did the same. Yet she stumbled backwards.

"Woah, careful!"

Draco quickly grabbed her hand and pulled Y/N towards him before she could fall down the stairs.

The touch only lasted for a few seconds but it struck through Y/N like lightning.

Draco grinned at her. "Your flying is good but landing needs some practice. You almost would have broken your neck."

Y/N looked at the steep rock she almost would have fallen down from.

"Well, thanks for making sure I don't die on day two so I that get a chance to check out the Whomping Willow."

Draco chuckled quietly, almost so quietly that Y/N missed it, then he pushed open the door.

Many more steps led up into the tower.

"Lumos."

Draco's wand started glowing like a blue torch, throwing light against the walls. Y/N saw that the ground was covered in feathers, small bones and...droplets.

"Be careful where you place your steps."

She heard a soft flapping above her head and followed Draco up the stairs, making sure to leave two steps of space between them.

Suddenly something flew past her and Y/N almost fell off the stairs again. But she managed to grab the railing.

"What was that?"

"An owl of course. This is the owlery."

Just as he said that, the two Slytherins reached the top.

"Nox."

And there they were. Dozens of owls were sitting in little alcoves in the walls. Hundreds of eyes were watching Y/N as she looked around with wide eyes.

"Wow."

"Right? I'm not really an animal person but I like going here when I need a minute for myself."

He held out his right arm and in one of the darker corners of the tower, a shadow peeled itself off the wall.

A brown feathered eagle owl majestically swung it's wide wings and landed on Draco's hand, its claws wrapping around his fingers.

It was the eagle owl that had delivered the letter yesterday.

"This is mine."

Draco stroked the feathers. His face had gone soft completely. All cold harshness had faded away to make room for the tenderness flowing underneath his skin.

Y/N tried to look at the beautiful bird but couldn't. Draco was much more fascinating.

"What's its name?"

"Felis. My mom bought him for me when I started at Hogwarts. Do you have an owl as well?"

Y/N shook her head. "I don't have a pet."

"Really? Why?"

She shrugged. "I guess I was too busy with other things."

The girl could tell that Draco wasn't satisfied with her answer but he didn't question any further.

They stood in silence for a bit as the Slytherin stroked his owl who seemed very content. Then he looked at Y/N.

"Do you want to try?"

"Me?"

She examined the large bird and felt slightly intimitated. But Felis' big orange eyes lied on her calmly.

"Put your arm out like me and turn your hand to a fist."

Y/N did as he asked.

Then Draco walked closer, their hands brushing against each other for a second.

Felis didn't need any instruction. He hopped onto Y/N' s hand and made himself comfortable.

The claws dug into her skin which hurt slightly. Additionally, Felis was quite heavy due to his size. But she didn't mind.

The eagle owl was trusting her and when she looked at Draco he appeared happy about it.

"He seems to like you."

"Well, who doesn't?" Y/N joked, blushing.

"Come with me."

With Felis on her hand, she followed Draco to one of the empty windows. The sun had now set completely, all lights that were left came from Hogwarts castle. The lake was dead and black.

Everything was so beautiful and peaceful yet eery. And standing next to Draco only fed into it. He too was beautiful and eery.

They remained in their position for a minute or two.

"Tempus."

From his wand a thin silver line of light rushed into the air. It broke apart to write the current time above their heads.

7:23 p.m.

"We should go back. There's still some things I want to show you inside the castle. Though I'm not sure if I can let you climb any more stairs today."

The joke was sweet and Y/N couldn't hold back a smile. "I'll be fine."

She lifted her arm a bit more. Felis understood the sign and flew back to his original spot.

When Y/N turned to Draco, she noticed that he was looking at her.

He didn't turn away and remained in this position for a couple of seconds, clearly thinking about something.

Then he pulled out his wand. "Lumos." The light was back, brightening the owlery. "Let's go."