[R: sixty nine]

Getting everyone down to the Chamber of Secrets every single DA meeting was difficult. They had to sneak into Myrtle's bathroom in small batches to avoid suspicion from the students who weren't sworn into secrecy. Not only that, but, Harry and Ron had to take turns muttering the parseltongue for 'open' to let them all in.

The first time they were all down there, all the Slytherins had disgusted looks on their faces from the musty odor, damp air and dead snake skin. Pansy and Astoria cleaned up the rotting Basilisk skin at the side, with their faces green from disgust. Blaise and Celine, on the other hand, worked together to levitate the Basilisk's bones out of the way, careful not to break any of it because in Blaise's words "Who the fuck knows when we'll need the venom?". The rest of the Big Twelve, save for Draco and Theo, cleaned the Chambers to get rid of the sickening smell and make it a good place for hiding.

Today was their third meeting down in the Chambers, and it was also the dawn of Quidditch finals. Seated on the makeshift podium up front, Ron and Harry looked about ready to pass out on each other. It was too early.

The rest of them, on the other hand, were high with energy and excitement despite the ungodly hours. The excitement for the Quidditch match in the afternoon had them all in a fighting spirit. All around the room, their members were dueling with each other, practicing the offensive spells that Harry had taught the other day.

At the side, Draco and Blaise snickered at the state of Harry and Ron "Weakshits." Draco laughed

"We'll see who the weakshits are on the pitch." Harry grunted

Draco rolled his eyes "We're going to win—" but his sentence was cut short when Hermione's silver otter glided into the room, stopping just in front of Ron and Harry "Let us in, please?"

"Us?" Harry frowned, just as Anthony Goldstein beckoned for him to come help with a spell. "I got it, mate, go help them." Ron patted Harry's shoulder and got up to let Hermione in.

Blaise looked at the silver otter in wonder "Does yours look exactly like it?" He asked

Draco watched the patronus dissipate and shook his head "Of course not, Zabini. Mine's the male counterpart, obviously."

Blaise snorted "If it were exactly the same, I'd tell Hermione to run for the hills. That'd mean you were obsessed."

Draco shot Blaise a flimsy stunning spell, shrugging "I just love her, that's all."

Blaise smirked, a Flipendo shooting out of his wand "Seriously, though, when did you find out?"

Draco blocked it with ease, and with his wandless left hand no less, before smirking back at Blaise "That's a story for another time."

Blaise snorted, returning his focus back on their duel. A minute later, Ron came back with Hermione and Theo in tow. He looked visibly upset, but he kept his mouth shut.

Behind him, Hermione looked faint. It made Draco stop his tracks "What happened?" He asked, his mind, both the bond and his legilimency, tried to get into hers, figuring out what he'd missed.

"She walked through Peeves on our way here." Theo answered, his wand tapping against Hermione's back ever so slightly.

"I'm fine. Just hungry." She gave Draco a weak, but reassuring smile "So, what have we got for today?"

"Nothing, we're grabbing breakfast." Draco pocketed his wand, taking his hand into hers. He'd always been overly protective of Hermione. He never wanted her to feel hungry or unwell. She shows the slightest hint of discomfort and he's already on his feet trying to ensure she's fine.

Hermione frowned at him "I just got here."

"You just said you were hungry." Draco argued, brows furrowed too.

"I am, but it doesn't matter—"

"Doesn't matter?" Draco scoffed

Blaise and Theo shared a smirk, with the latter muttering "." under his breath. Harry was the only one that saved Hermione from arguing further with Draco "I was wondering who you meant by ''." He shrugged, giving Theo a nod in greeting.

"Yeah, we, erm, just made sure the wards were okay." Hermione nodded, which made Ron scoff in disbelief.

Draco's eyes narrowed at the gesture, giving Ron a glare. The red-head was about to say something, but Theo's eyes stared piercingly into his in warning.

Blaise cleared his throat "Alright, let's get back to business, shall we?" He squared his shoulders and looked at Draco "Are you going to let me beat your arse or what?"

"In your dreams, Zabini."

Harry decided to join the training, choosing to pair with Theo and duel next to where Pansy was dangerously trying to control the little Fiendfyre she conjured. "Parkinson." Harry warned. It was dark magic and he didn't like the fact that she could do it. "Mind your business, Potter." Pansy grunted.

Theo cocked his head a little slightly "Are you sure that's how you wanna do it?" He asked softly.

"He deserves to burn in hell. This is just a sneak peak of that." Pansy muttered lowly. Theo didn't push the topic, merely nodding in agreement.

Harry didn't want to know what it was about.

At the far corner of the Chambers, Ron pulled Hermione to talk. At the corner of his eye, Draco could see them visibly arguing, with Hermione looking even more pale and stressed than she had when she entered.

Draco gritted his teeth, what was Weasley talking to her about and why is it making her so upset?

Ron looked nearly ready to tear his hair from its roots, as if his frustration was going to eat him up alive. "Malfoy, when I asked you if you were ready for me to kick your arse, I didn't mean you should actually let me." Blaise tried to get his attention, but Draco merely waved him off, nonchalantly casting a as he watched Hermione explain something to Ron rather intently.

Draco didn't fail to notice how he couldn't reach her through their bond.

"Mate." Blaise's hand clasped Draco's shoulder, his voice a little worried "Everything good?"

Draco narrowed his eyes as he watched Ron finally nod in agreement, face grim but covered with defeat. Hermione sighed heavily, her shoulders moving up and down. "I'm not quite sure."

Blaise looked at Hermione and Ron, and then at Theo, who was dueling with Harry in complete focus "I'm sure whatever it is, they'll tell us."

"Yeah. For sure." Draco didn't sound convinced.

———

While Harry chose to give the Gryffindor Quidditch team his heartfelt pep talk in the locker room, Draco kept it close to home and spoke to his team in the Slytherin dungeons.

He looked at each of his teammates, eyes lingering a little longer on Goyle, who seemed to be smirking at him curiously. Draco had wanted to give a speech that would tug at the heartstrings of his housemates, but he was supposed to be evil and a jerk. It was exhausting. It didn't use to be exhausting being a pompous arse.