Dramatic enough

Hagrid beamed with excitement, his massive hands gesturing dramatically toward the majestic creature standing in the clearing.

"Ta-da!" he clapped, eyes twinkling. "Say hello to Buckbeak!"

A collective silence fell over the group as we all took in the peculiar sight before us.

The Hippogriff stood tall, its powerful wings tucked neatly at its sides, shimmering in the dim forest light. Its front half resembled that of a giant eagle, with piercing orange eyes and an intimidating hooked beak, while the rest of its body was all horse—muscular, sleek, and strong. The talons on its front legs looked sharp enough to rip through flesh, and suddenly, I wasn't so sure if this was as thrilling as Hagrid made it seem.

He turned back to us, grinning ear to ear.

"This 'ere is a Hippogriff," he explained proudly, as if presenting his prized possession. "They're very proud creatures, they are. You must always show 'em respect. No sudden movements, no insults, and fer Merlin's sake, don't try anythin' funny."

I exchanged a glance with Draco, who looked about as unimpressed as I felt.

"Now," Hagrid continued, clapping his hands together. "Who'd like ter say hello?"

Silence.

An absolutely painful silence.

Then—

As one single unit, we all took a step back, leaving Harry standing alone in front like a sacrificial lamb.

For a moment, there was pure confusion on his face, followed immediately by an expression of betrayal as he glanced over his shoulder at us.

"Well done, Harry, well done!" Hagrid beamed before Harry could protest.

The rest of us?

We giggled. Heartily.

Harry turned back to face Buckbeak, swallowing hard. The poor boy looked absolutely terrified, and for a moment, I almost felt bad for him. Almost.

"Go on, then!" Hagrid urged, waving his hand in encouragement. "Give 'im a nice bow, Harry! Show respect, that's the key."

Draco and I exchanged a knowing smirk, both equally entertained by Harry's predicament. He hesitated before giving Buckbeak an awkward, stiff bow, looking as though he were facing imminent doom.

"Oh no," I whispered to Draco, biting my lip dramatically. "What if Buckbeak doesn't bow back? What if this is how Potter dies? What a tragedy."

Draco snorted. "He'd probably write a full-length memoir about his own heroic demise before he actually hit the ground."

I stifled a laugh, while Kenny beside me was openly giggling. Sree and Pansy, however, weren't as amused. Pansy was glowering at me, arms folded, while Sree kept stealing not-so-subtle glances at Draco, her lips pressed together as if she had something to say.

"What?" I asked them, smirking. "Jealous that Draco and I have superior wit?"

"You two are insufferable," Sree muttered, shaking her head.

"Yeah, yeah, we've heard that before," Draco waved her off, before turning back just in time to see Buckbeak finally bow in return. The entire class collectively exhaled in relief.

"Well, would ya look at that!" Hagrid beamed. "Go on, Harry, give 'im a pat!"

Draco turned to me, an incredulous look on his face. "This is ridiculous. If we're just going to be hand-feeding monsters, let's throw Potter to a Hungarian Horntail next. Might as well make it interesting."

I laughed, nudging him playfully. "Now, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We save the dragons for later."

Just then, Hagrid hoisted Harry onto Buckbeak's back. Harry froze, gripping the Hippogriff's neck as if his life depended on it.

"Here we go," Draco muttered, watching as Buckbeak took a few powerful strides forward before launching into the air.

The class gasped, eyes wide as Harry soared higher and higher into the sky. I could see his knuckles turning white from how tightly he clutched the creature's feathers.

"Whew, look at Potter go!" I called out, shading my eyes. "He's finally found a way to escape his responsibilities!"

Draco snickered beside me. "Do you think we can send Weasley up next? Maybe Buckbeak will take him somewhere far away."

"Oh, definitely. Maybe even the moon—then he can finally be the first Weasley to do something useful."

Kenny burst out laughing, while Sree let out an irritated sigh, arms crossed. "You two are ridiculous."

"And yet," I said, leaning closer to her, "you still love us."

She huffed but didn't deny it.

Meanwhile, Pansy was practically fuming. She didn't even try to mask her irritation anymore, and I could feel her daggers of jealousy aimed directly at me. But Draco? Completely oblivious.

"Draco," Pansy said suddenly, stepping closer to him. "Did you know that I was actually reading up on Hippogriffs all summer? Fascinating creatures, really."

Draco barely looked at her. "Yeah? That's nice, Pansy."

I smirked, exchanging a glance with Kenny, who was already giving me a knowing look.

"Oh, Draco!" Kenny said loudly, mocking Pansy's tone. "Did you know that I was actually reading up on you all summer? Fascinating creature, really!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Merlin, you lot are unbearable."

"Oh, are we now?" I teased, elbowing him lightly. "And yet you seem to enjoy our company more than anyone else's."

"Hmph," he said, pretending to be unimpressed. "Don't flatter yourself, Cotton Candy."

"Too late," I quipped.

Sree, however, didn't seem as amused. She was visibly tense, her gaze shifting between me and Draco. I could practically see her thoughts spinning—the jealousy, the frustration, the unspoken words. But she didn't say a thing. Instead, she just watched.

Meanwhile, Buckbeak was beginning his descent, and Harry looked absolutely traumatized. The moment he landed, he practically stumbled off the Hippogriff, his face pale.

"Well done, Harry!" Hagrid clapped him on the back, almost knocking him over. "See? Nothin' ter be afraid of!"

Draco's lips curled into a wicked grin.

"Nothing to be afraid of, huh?" he drawled, stepping forward. "Alright then, let me have a go."

I grabbed his arm before he could take another step. "Draco. No."

"What?" he smirked. "Afraid I'll outshine Potter?"

"I'm afraid you'll get your pretty face clawed off. Which would be a shame, considering it's the only thing you have going for you."

"Oi!" he gasped, mock-offended. "How dare you! I'll have you know I'm multifaceted."

"Oh, absolutely," I said dryly. "You're rich, blonde, and a menace to society."

Draco laughed, shaking his head. "Fine, fine. No dying today. But one day, Selene, when I prove you wrong, I expect a full-fledged apology."

"Yeah, yeah," I smirked, linking my arm through his. "We'll see."

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Pansy and Sree both glaring.

Kenny leaned in, whispering in my ear, "I swear, if looks could kill, you'd be buried six feet under."

"Oh, I know," I murmured back, smirking. "They're absolutely fuming."

"And Draco?" she asked.

I glanced at him. He was completely unbothered. Either he truly didn't notice the jealousy surrounding him, or he was choosing to ignore it. Either way, it didn't matter.

Draco couldn't take the appreciation Potter was getting. The way everyone's eyes were glued to him, the way even the Gryffindor girls were whispering excitedly—it was unbearable for him. You see, this was the difference between me and Draco. I knew when to keep my mouth shut, when to hold my tongue for the sake of self-preservation. Draco, however, had the impulsivity of a reckless fool, and what he did next was something I wouldn't have dared.

"Oh, please," he scoffed, standing up and striding toward the Hippogriff, his arrogance practically radiating off of him. "Yeah, you're not dangerous at all, are you?" His tone was dripping with condescension, his smirk firmly in place.

The moment he stepped too close, I felt my stomach tighten.

"Malfoy—" Hagrid started, a warning heavy in his voice, but it was too late.

With an enraged screech, Buckbeak reared up, his massive wings flaring wide as he launched himself at Draco. There was a blur of sharp talons and a terrifying rush of movement before a chilling sound tore through the air—Draco's agonized scream.

My breath hitched as I saw blood seep through his robes. My heart pounded against my ribs as if it wanted to escape. For a split second, I thought—Merlin, no—he could be seriously hurt.

But then.

"AHHHH! It's killed me! IT'S KILLED ME!" Draco wailed, collapsing onto the grass with a dramatized whimper. His voice cracked at the perfect moment, making it sound almost rehearsed.

Kenny choked on her laughter beside me. Blaise looked away, biting his lip to keep from outright cackling. And me? My soul had momentarily left my body in fear, only to come rushing back with an overwhelming urge to both strangle him and burst out laughing.

Hagrid, on the other hand, looked utterly horrified. "No, no! Don't worry, it's just a scratch," he reassured, fumbling around in panic.

"Just a SCRATCH? Look at me!" Draco whined, pointing at his arm as if it were barely hanging on by a thread. In reality, there was a deep gash, but it was nowhere near the mortal wound he was making it out to be.

Hermione, of course, was all business. "Hagrid, take him to the hospital wing!" she urged, already gathering up Draco's bag as if he were moments from death.

"Oh, you're gonna regret this," Draco moaned in exaggerated agony, clutching at his 'wound' as if he were in the midst of a Shakespearean tragedy. "You and your bloody CHICKEN."

That did it. I snorted. Kenny had to turn around completely, shoulders shaking. Even Blaise wiped a fake tear from his eye, whispering, "Gone too soon."

Sree and Pansy, however, were another story.

"Draco, are you alright?" Sree rushed forward, pushing past me to kneel beside him. Her voice was thick with concern, her eyes filled with worry.

"Oh, Draco, this is awful!" Pansy gasped, clutching onto his uninjured arm like some kind of damsel. "That beast should be put down!"

I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. Here we go.

Draco, despite his dramatic suffering, didn't exactly push them away. He basked in the attention like a cat in the sun.

"Oh, I don't know if I'll make it," he sighed, feigning dizziness as he leaned back against Sree for dramatic effect.

Kenny nudged me, grinning. "Your boyfriend's a whole production, isn't he?"

"He's NOT my—" I started, but she gave me a knowing look.

Sree, meanwhile, looked particularly smug as she helped Draco sit up properly, her hands lingering a little too long on his shoulder. My stomach twisted slightly, but I quickly shook the feeling away.

"Should I carry you to the hospital wing?" Blaise asked in mock sincerity, earning a glare from Draco.

"Shut up," Draco muttered through gritted teeth.

"Alright, come on now," Hagrid hoisted Draco up with one massive arm, as if he weighed nothing at all. "I'll get yeh fixed up."

As they started to leave, Draco threw one last dramatic glance over his shoulder. "I'll remember this," he declared. "All of you laughing—betrayal, that's what this is."

"Don't forget to write your will," I called after him, biting my lip to keep from laughing.

Kenny and Blaise howled with laughter, while Pansy shot me a glare so sharp it could've cut through steel. Sree, too, glanced at me with an unreadable expression, and for some reason, it irked me.

As soon as Draco was out of earshot, Blaise crossed his arms. "So," he said, tilting his head at me. "Are we all just going to ignore how Selene practically had a heart attack when Buckbeak attacked Draco?"

Kenny gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, she totally did."

I narrowed my eyes. "I did not."

"You absolutely did," Blaise countered. "You went pale, your mouth was open like a fish—"

"That's just my face!"

"Admit it," Kenny sing-songed. "You looooove him."

"Shut. Up."

But despite my protests, the knowing smirks didn't leave their faces. And deep down, a tiny, annoying voice in my head wondered... if they were right.

Kenny, Blaise, and I took three deep breaths outside the hospital wing, our shoulders shaking as we tried—tried—to compose ourselves. We had to act serious. No laughing. No smirking. No teasing.

It was going to be a challenge.

I mean, how could we not laugh? Draco's dramatic moans and complaints had been echoing through the corridor since we arrived. But we had to be supportive friends. Mature. Responsible.

"Alright, on the count of three," Kenny whispered, adjusting her face into a look of forced concern. "One...two...three."

We stepped inside, only to be met with the most theatrical sight imaginable.

Draco lay sprawled across the hospital bed like some fallen war hero, his injured arm carefully propped up on a pillow. Beside him sat Pansy and Sree—his self-appointed royal bodyguards—both leaning in with over-exaggerated concern.

"Does the arm hurt terribly, Draco?" Pansy cooed, brushing his blonde hair back as if he were on his deathbed.

Draco let out a long, pained sigh. "It comes and goes," he said dramatically, staring at the ceiling as though he were reflecting on his tragic fate. "Madame Pomfrey said I should consider myself lucky. Had it been a minute or two later..." He closed his eyes for effect. "...I could have lost my arm."

Silence.

Then I snorted. I tried—Merlin, I tried—but the sheer absurdity of it all was too much.

"Well, good for you," I smirked. "I have a spare arm in my trunk."

Blaise sucked in a sharp breath, trying not to laugh. Kenny coughed, covering her mouth. Even Draco's lips twitched before he quickly put on a frown.

Pansy shot me a glare so sharp it could have cut through solid steel. Sree's expression was unreadable, but there was a distinct tightening of her jaw.

I raised an innocent brow at them. "What? I was just being helpful."

The three of us settled into chairs near Draco's bedside, doing our best to look serious. But the moment we were in place, Kenny leaned in and whispered just loud enough for us to hear—

"Dracy baby got almost killed by a chicken."

That was it. That was our breaking point.

We exploded into laughter.

Kenny had her head in her hands, shoulders shaking violently. Blaise was wiping tears from his eyes. And me? My stomach hurt from laughing so hard.

"Stop laughing!" Draco snapped, though his mouth was twitching like he was fighting a grin. "I was nearly killed!"

Blaise gasped between chuckles. "By a chicken."

Kenny wiped away fake tears. "Truly, the bravest of warriors."

Draco groaned, throwing his good arm over his face. "You lot are the worst."

I giggled. "We love you too, Dracy baby."

Sree and Pansy, however, were not amused. Pansy's lips were pressed into a thin line, while Sree folded her arms. "You guys are so insensitive," she muttered, shaking her head.

"Oh come on, don't tell me you actually think he was almost killed," I scoffed.

"Well, it could have been worse!" Pansy huffed.

Draco sighed dramatically. "Finally, someone who understands my pain."

"Oh, shut up," I nudged him lightly, and to my satisfaction, a smirk crept onto his lips.

Madame Pomfrey appeared just then, looking exasperated as she carried a goblet of something particularly disgusting. "Here, drink this," she instructed Draco.

Draco's expression shifted from tragic martyr to horrified child in an instant. "Do I have to?"

"Yes," she said impatiently. "It'll help with the pain and speed up healing."

"But it smells like dragon dung."

"It's supposed to."

Draco made a face like he was being tortured and reluctantly took the goblet. He took the tiniest sip and immediately gagged.

"Oh, Merlin's beard," he spluttered. "That's horrendous."

I smirked. "Do you want me to get you a spoonful of sugar, princess?"

Kenny, Blaise, and I erupted into another fit of laughter as Draco groaned in misery, but even he couldn't stop the small chuckle that escaped him.

"You're all terrible," he mumbled, finally downing the potion in one go before slamming the goblet down on the table.

Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes. "Dramatic, that one," she muttered as she walked away.

Pansy, still in full Mother Hen mode, fussed over Draco's blanket while Sree sat silently, her fingers tapping against her arm. I could tell she was annoyed—whether at Draco, me, or both of us, I wasn't sure.

Then suddenly—

"Oh no," Blaise said, looking at me and Kenny with fake horror. "What if Draco never recovers from this horrific attack?"

"Oh nooooo," Kenny gasped dramatically. "What if he can never use his arm again?"

I gasped loudly. "How will he ever gel his hair properly?"

Draco groaned. "I hate all of you."

But he was laughing.

And that's when I knew—no matter how ridiculous, dramatic, or utterly insufferable Draco Malfoy could be...he was my best friend.

.......................................

The castle was eerily quiet at night, save for the occasional flickering torch that lined the stone corridors. The hospital wing was dimly lit, casting soft shadows along the walls. The warm glow of candlelight flickered over Draco's bed, where he lay propped up against the pillows, his platinum blond hair slightly disheveled, giving him a look far too innocent for someone as dramatic as him.

Kenny, Blaise, and I had lingered longer than we intended, still recovering from the hilarity of the day's events. Sree and Pansy had reluctantly stayed behind as well, and I could tell they desperately wanted us to leave.

Draco, for his part, looked much more relaxed now. The dramatics had died down—well, mostly. He was still enjoying the attention, though it was clear he was exhausted.

"Alright, Dracy baby," Kenny grinned, stretching. "It's late. Try not to get killed in your sleep by another deadly chicken."

Blaise chuckled. "And if you do, at least make sure we're around to witness it."

Draco rolled his eyes, but there was an amused glint in them. "Hilarious," he muttered.

I smirked and stood up, smoothing down my robes. "Alright, we should leave. Before Pomfrey starts throwing vials at us."

Draco let out an exaggerated sigh, placing a hand over his chest. "Oh, so now you care about rules? I get viciously attacked, and suddenly, I'm abandoned—"

I scoffed and playfully leaned over, pressing a light kiss to his forehead.

"Sorry, but you were hilarious," I whispered, ruffling his hair.

Draco stiffened.

It was just a casual gesture—something we had done before, something that meant nothing but pure, platonic affection. But the way his breath caught, the way his stormy grey eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place, made the moment linger a little too long.

For a second, we weren't just best friends.

For a second, something hung in the air between us, something neither of us had dared acknowledge before.

And then—

A scoff.

I pulled back, turning to see Pansy's tight-lipped expression, her nails digging into the sheets of Draco's bed. Sree wasn't much better—her brows were slightly furrowed, and though her lips were pressed into a polite line, her dark eyes held something cold.

"Wow," Pansy said, forcing out a small, sharp laugh. "That was...adorable."

"Truly," Sree added, tilting her head ever so slightly. "So sweet."

The tension in the room was palpable.

I straightened, clearing my throat. "Well, you should get some rest," I told Draco, deliberately ignoring the daggers being shot in my direction.

Draco, however, still seemed... off. He was staring at me, like he was trying to solve a puzzle he didn't even know existed until now.

I met his gaze for a brief moment, heart suddenly beating a little too fast. What was that look?

Kenny, likely sensing the shift in atmosphere, quickly clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Alright, time to go before we witness a catfight."

Blaise barely contained his laugh as I rolled my eyes, nudging Kenny toward the door.

"Goodnight, Dracy baby," I teased over my shoulder, giving him a playful wink.

Draco blinked, then huffed. "You lot are unbearable."

But his lips curled into a small smirk.

And as we walked out, I could still feel the weight of his gaze lingering on my back.