When Vega awoke the next morning and climbed down the stairs to the common room, she found everyone gathered in front of the fireplace. "Did something happen?" Vega questioned Arabelle.

"Luna just posted a sign up sheet for volunteers."

"Volunteers for what?"

"Planning commitee, I think," she said with a shrug.

Vega stepped forward, gently worming between a pair of boys until she reached the paper. The title read, Honorary Feast. In fine print, below the elegantly written heading, was a detailed description of the event. A feast that would be held on Halloween for Sir Nicholas to show him that there were more important things than the annual Headless Hunt. She smiled small, knowing it was likely Luna's idea. There were a total of four names written down, including Luna's.

At the bottom was a note scrawled in Luna's penmanship. All volunteers would be excused from class, if applicable, to meet from ten to eleven in the morning in the library. That was Potions. Vega signed her named, eager to avoid Draco at all costs. She didn't think he'd seen her, but it didn't matter. She wasn't sure that she could put on an act that she hadn't seen him using an unforgivable curse on Blaise. It was too much.

"I'm so glad you volunteered," said Luna wistfully. She was grinning behind her.

"It sounds like a fun thing to do. When is the first meeting?"

"Today, in the library. You'll get along nicely with the others." Vega smiled, taking her word for it since she had no clue what faces belonged to the other names on the list. "Would you like to walk to breakfast with me?"

"Yeah," she answered quickly. She didn't want to risk walking into Draco alone.

Luna beamed happily, taking her arm and escorting her down to the great hall. Everyone was stuffing their faces with the elaborate spread. She sat down and loaded up a plate of pumpkin pasties and a few pieces of toast before pouring herself a hot cup of tea from the heavy iron kettle.

She could practically feel eyes on her back from the Slytherin table, but didn't turn to check. Instead, she leaned over to Luna and started a conversation to keep her distracted. "What all does this feast entail?"

Luna smiled, happy to talk about her idea. "Well, Dumbledore always held a Halloween feast, but I wanted to make this one special. The Gryffindor ghost is always a bit melancholy this time of year. You see, he has high aspirations to join in on the Headless Hunt, but he always gets denied on a count of his head being attached by a tendon still. Sad, really."

Vega glimpsed the ghost near the other side of the room. He was sulking around, halfheartedly greeting students at the far table. "So what did you have in mind? A deathday party?"

"No, he's thrown himself one of those plenty of times. I wanted to make this one into a ball. Like the ones he would attend while he was alive. But," she whispered, "I want it to be a surprise."

Vega nodded, delighted to be a part of such a kind gesture to someone who clearly needed it. "I can keep a secret," she assured her. She finished her plate of food and stood up, saying a quick, "See you in a bit," before skipping to DADA.

Her father was less than enthused at her presence, no doubt bitter from being bested by an eighteen year old wizard in front of his own daughter. She didn't care though. She sat down beside Daniel and smiled wide at him. He chortled at her behavior. "Okay, I'll bite," he chuckled, "I can't fathom this class bringing you so much joy, so what is it? Got a boyfriend?" Vega pulled a face and earned another low laugh. "Made the quidditch team?" She shook her head. "Then why so happy?"

"I'm just having a good day. Can't a girl smile without it having to do with some boy or some big accomplishment?" she quipped at the Ravenclaw.

Daniel held up his hands in defense. "Alright, sorry. Usually you're more..." He squinted, unsure how to follow up.

"Brooding?" Vega offered sarcastically.

Daniel choked. "Well, that's one way of putting it I guess. If it's any consolation, you're the only reason I smile in this class." The unexpected compliment made her blush. "I just signed up for Luna's form in the common room. I noticed you did too."

Vega felt herself breaking into a dopey grin. "Its a bit of a two-for for me. I get to skip Potions for a few weeks and do something nice for someone deserving."

"Enough chatter!" The entire class flinched at her fathers abrupt entry. He strode to the front of the class and scribbled something across the blackboard. When he stepped back, everyone groaned.

"Three rolls of parchment!" Someone was slumping in their chair.

"We can't do that in one week!" Another person was complaining.

"Quiet! If you wish to pass this class, you'll have three rolls of parchment on the qualities and uses of unicorn blood by this time Monday." Everyone zipped their mouths shut and kept their whining to themselves.

Vega scowled at her father. "So much for your smile," Daniel whispered to her.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

She couldn't wait to reach the library with Daniel. They both ended up being the last to arrive as the other four were all seated around a table. Luna had sprawled three scrolls over the table and was animatedly talking about her plans to dispel nargals from entering the celebration.

"Hello, Daniel, Vega. I'm so happy you could join us." She pulled out two chairs for them to sit in and picked up her speech where she left off. "So, if we place the pendants at this door and this one here," she said, pointing to the parchment, "we'll successfully repel any pests." Everyone nodded in agreement. Vega could tell from the bored looks on their faces that they had signed up to help Luna for the same reason she had. Skipping class.

"What do you think, Vega?" Luna pulled her from her thoughts as the others began chatting around them.

"Hmm? On what?"

"On the party. Do you have any suggestions?" A few sets of eyes turned to her expectantly.

She fidgeted with her hands beneath the table. "Oh, er...maybe we could set up two tables in the back? One for party food and one for their food."

Luna's face lit up at ger contribution. "An excellent idea!" Daniel was giving her an impressed look, wagging his brows.

Vega discretely blew out a breath of relief at her approval. Truthfully, she hadn't been even remotely listening. "Would you mind going down to the kitchens and putting in a word with the house elves? I want to give them ample time to prepare." She wasn't altogether upset at the notion of not having to stay in the library with the Ravenclaw group.

"No problem," she said with a sincere smile. Vega wasted no time in slipping out of the library and towards the lower levels. The grand staircases vibrated gently beneath her feet as they carried her over to a nearby platform. The kitchens were just under the great hall, below the ground floor.

She rode the stairs down until she made it to the floor and realized only then that she wasn't sure where the entrance was. She knew generally where it was, but she'd never walked there herself. On one side was the familiar cracking stone steps that lead to the dungeons, and on the other was the basement stairs. Chancing it, and not wanting to see Draco leaving DADA, she took the stairs down to the basement.

The sconces on the wall held dozens of torches that lit her way, not at all like the dark corridor she'd walked to the Slytherin common room. She saw handfuls of students in golden and black walking to and from the basement, and surmised the Hufflepuff common room was somewhere below. For that, she was grateful. She'd much rather ask a Hufflepuff for directions than a Slytherin.

Her feet hit the floor and she peered through the dimly lit hall for a sign of the kitchens. There were a few archways with flickering orange lights spilling into the corridor and lighting some areas better than others. Vega headed towards them, but stopped when a stack of barrels shifted like a door beside her.

A tall boy in a Hufflepuff uniform stepped out and nearly trampled her. "I'm so sorry!" His arms shot out to catch her before she stumbled over one of the barrels. "I didn't see you there," he said with a charming grin.

Vega stared up at him, easily a few heads taller than she, and a flush crept across her cheeks. "Oh, I, uh," she fumbled for her words.

The Hufflepuff chuckled lightly and let go of her to hold his hand out. "Gavin McClain," he introduced himself.

"Vega Candlewood," she returned and shook his hand. "Perhaps if you weren't a giant you could see the little people before you step on them," she jested and earned a laugh.

His eyes crinkled slightly in the corners when he smiled and it made her heart flutter at how handsome he was. "Beautiful and witty," he commented, "I like it." His words did the absolute least to keep the reddening of her cheeks at bay. He seemed to take notice and pointed to her face before saying, "Your eyes look a bit bluer when you blush."

She couldn't contain the nervous laughter that bubbled up within her. "You're making it worse," she said and covered her face with the sleeves of her robe.

"Sorry again," he muttered with a smirk. His honey brown eyes twinkled softly in the amber glow of the flames and captured her attention effortlessly.

"It's okay," she said with an anxious clearing of her throat. "Actually, if you aren't heading to a class right now, can you help me?"

"Of course," he offered enthusiastically.

"I'm trying to find the kitchens," Vega explained.

Gavin beamed at her and gave a mock bow. "Allow me, my lady," he cooed and she blushed furiously, shaking her head.

"Thank you," she glanced up at him as he lead her farther down, "I didn't want to get lost in this maze."

Gavin chortled. "It is quite the labyrinth, isn't it? You just haven't grown up here. I could navigate these halls with my eyes closed by my fourth year, but there are still places that even I haven't explored."

She felt more at ease with him. He was much easier to conversate with than Draco. "Like where?" Vega prompted.

Gavin thought for a moment before deciding, "I suppose I've never been to the dungeons other than for Potions with Snape, but I'm not required to take it this year. I've never been to the seventh floor come to think of it." She stopped walking at the mention of the floor. "You okay?" Gavin raised his brows.

Her book. She never grabbed her book. She had been so consumed with the urgency to leave unseen that she had disregarded her novel that was now likely covered in a film of debris from Draco's tantrum. "Fine," she quickly replied. "Just thought about something I'd forgotten."

Gavin gave her an amused look before carrying on with her down the corridor. "I hate it when that happens. I have this now, so it makes it a bit easier," he said and lifted a small glass orb from his pocket.

"A remembrall," Vega mused.

Gavin tucked it back inside. "Yep, comes in handy. Saved me from forgetting to bring my essay to Charms just the other day."

"I need one of those," she giggled. "Maybe I'd remember to not waste my time with people undeserving of it." She mumbled the last part, but Gavin's smirk told her that he'd heard.

"Candlewood!" They both whirled around to see Draco marching towards them. Gavin gave her an inquisitive look before addressing the Slytherin prince.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Gavin barked at him.

Draco stopped a few yards in front of them and gave Gavin his signature sneer. "Don't think I was talking to you, McClain."

"What do you want?" Vega snapped just as harshly.

The sneer slipped, but stayed in place. "I want to talk to you," he said in a growl. "Alone," he emphasized.

Gavin seemed to sum up the situation in his head before voicing it. "Whoa," he pinched the bridge of his nose, "are you dating this git?"

"Git?" Draco snarled.

"No!" Vega cried out a bit too loud.

Draco glared at her before turning his attention back to Gavin. "Regardless," Draco gritted out and stepped up to the Hufflepuff, "I wasn't asking your permission. I'm sure you have a kilt to iron somewhere else. Candlewood!" Vega jumped at her name. "Now."

Gavin scoffed at his demanding behavior. "I'm Irish," he growled. A snide smile formed on his face. "You'll never make friends that way, Malfoy. The way I hear it is that you need a new one after what happened last year."

Vega saw Draco lower his wand from his sleeve, readying it. A small vein in his neck was pulsing rapidly and she recalled how easily he had cursed Blaise. Gavin wasn't going to back down, and she didn't want to go with Draco, so she leapt between the two boys. Her hands went to their chest to separate them before something happened. "Alright enough!" She shouted in exasperation. "Draco just go." Draco looked at her in utter shock. "Gavin's helping me on a project of sorts right now. I don't have time for this," she sighed and hooked her arm in Gavin's to pull him away.

"What about our project?" The words came out so small that she wouldn't have thought it was Draco if she didn't know better.

It made her pause and glance back over her shoulder. "What about it?"

"When are we going to finish it? Its due this week."

She couldn't believe it had already been a month of school. She'd been bullied, scolded, humiliated, and treated like dirt. She wasn't looking forward to the rest of her year. "You work on your half and I'll work on mine. We can put it together when its due." And with that, she walked off with an amused Gavin.

She could hear the deliberate departing of Draco as he stormed back the way he came. She would have been lying if she said there wasn't a lump in her throat.

"I don't think anyone but the Golden Trio ever talked to him like that," Gavin complimented. "Good on ya'," he gave her a wink.

Vega forced out a small laugh despite the hollow feeling she felt inside. "Thanks," she muttered. "He's a jerk."

"That's an understatement," he agreed. "Here we are," he announced when they'd come to a set of opened doors. There were a plethora of elves scurrying about and all manner of delicious smells wafting into the hall.

Vega beamed and gave him a quick hug around the neck. "Thank you so much!"

Gavin stopped her when she went to enter the kitchens and she regarded him coolly. "Sorry," he said, retracting his hand from her arm. It still ached from where her father had bruised it. "I didn't mean to rip your arm, I just wanted to say..." he trailed off, biting the corner of his lip. "I think you're really beautiful."

She gaped at him for a moment before regaining herself. "Gavin," she started, but he waved his hand.

"I know you have something going on with Malfoy. I just want you to know that, I think you deserve better. That's all."

She was taken aback by his words, but not surprised entirely. Part of her feared that Gavin had also heard what Draco had been spreading around the castle. If her father knew, she was sure other students did as well.

"Gavin," she began again, "I-" she sighed with a smile, "thank you. Really." For the first time in a while, she felt genuinely happy. Reaching up, she planted a kiss on his cheek, having to use his tie to hoist up to his height, and left him gawking in the doorway.

The doors weren't nearly as extravagant as the great hall's, simply because the ceiling was a good deal lower in the basement. The elves barely took notice of her as she wandered about, looking for one that didn't have their arms full. It was difficult. Every house elf appeared to be working hard. "Excuse me?" Vega tapped a scrawny, leathery shoulder.

The elf turned around, neither a pleasant nor an unpleasant expression worn on its pointy face. Its nose was wide and flat, save for the very tip that protruded out several inches. Its eyes were big, bulging green orbs that shined under the candlelight. "Yes?" It was an oddly high pitched voice that she wouldn't have guessed came from such a creature.

"The Head Girl sent me," she began, indicating her authority straight away. "Sir Nicholas is having his deathday soon, so-"

"Ghosts," the elf grumbled.

Vega paused for a moment, thinking there would be more, but the elf went silent again. "Yes," she clarified, "and he's going to celebrating Halloween night, but you see-"

"We don't feed ghosts," it said evenly.

Vega crinkled her forehead at the elf. "If you'll let me finish," she smiled despite her tone, "I was going to ask if-"

"Ghosts don't eats food!" The elf shouted. All of them stopped working at once to stare at the scene unfolding. Vega would have blushed f she hadn't been a Candlewood. If there was one thing she learned from her father it was that house elves weren't allowed to talk back. Three unmarked graves in her back yard in France could attest to that. And though she disagreed with his extreme measures, she still knew the social ranking standards.

"I'm sorry," she said venomously, "but I will not be talked to like some equal. Sir Nicholas is having his deathday party on Halloween night and you will personally see to it that all preparations are in order." A few elves came to take the other by the elbows.

"Winky doesn't mean to make the master upset," said one in a shaky voice.

The other chimed in, beginning to pull the elf away. "Winky is always sad," it explained in a somber tone.

"Oh," Vega stammered, unaccustomed to an elf talking back. "Why?"

"Winky was fired by her master."

"Winky's friend was killed during the war."

"Her friend?" Vega checked.

"Dobby," the first one spoke again. "By the black one." Winky burst into tears and was carted away. She turned to look at all the looks of disapproval and concern aimed at the elf.

"Sirius Black killed Dobby?" She queried to no one in particular.

"Not Sirius Black," she turned to see an old decrepit elf staggering up to her, "the black witch it was. Lestrange," he grumbled out the name as though it pained him.

"Bellatrix Lestrange?" She'd heard of the infamous witch, but knew her to be dead. The elf made a growling sound and nodded.

"Give your order to Kreature. Kreature will make it." She assumed he was referring to himself when he awkwardly scrambled onto a stool and sat patiently.

Vega glanced back at the sobbing elf and felt bad for her. It wasn't just witches and wizards who had lost someone during the war. It affected all creatures great and small, humanoid and beast alike. Looking back to the expectant elf she said, "We are to host a ball, a dance if you will. Luna Lovegood is requesting a special feast for Halloween night in honor of Sir Nicholas. We'll need the usual, but in addition we'd like to surprise him with some food of his own."

"Rotten, moldy, spoiled," Kreature said in a guttural slur.

"Precisely."

The elf hummed in agreement. "Anything else for the master?" He was obedient, but he had an attitude unlike the others.

"Actually, yes. Could I possibly get a steak or two? Preferably fresh and raw," she requested, thinking of the wolf.

Kreature groaned and hobbled across the kitchens to a large meat pantry. He took out two large steaks and brought them over to the cutting board. Carefully, and painfully slow, he wrapped them up in a cloth and handed it to her. "Thank you."

It was easy to make her way out of the castle with the steaks hidden in her robes. She could detect the faintest smell of raw meat, bit she doubted very much that anyone else could tell. As usual, there wasn't a soul at her spot where the forest met the lake. With her steaks in one pocket and a new book in the other, she took a seat beneath the tree and reclined against the trunk.

It was much cooler on this day, than the others had been that week. She took out her book and began to read the first chapter, wishing she had been able to finish the previous book before moving on. She hadn't finished the first paragraph before she heard the snapping of twigs. She turned around with a grin splitting her face and called, "Noori?"

"Who is Noori?" Her face fell when it appeared to be only Draco.

"Nevermind," she huffed and went back to her book. "I thought no one ever came down here," she spat.

"I saw you leave the castle."

"So you're stalking me now?" She didn't look up, letting him be aware of how little she wished to see him.

"Can we talk?" He walked in front of her, crossing his arms and inadvertantly hiding his Head Boy badge.

"About?" Vega drawled out in a bored tone. She didn't take her eyes off her page although she couldn't concentrate on the words with him looming over her.

He didn't answer. She heard a rustling sound as he shifted and then the soft thud of something hitting the grass in front of her. Her heart dropped into her gut as the hardcover lay before her. She snapped her head up to meet his gaze and gulped. She didn't want to have a confrontation with him. She didn't want to have to explain what she saw, let alone what she saw him do. In all honesty, what she had witnessed gave her a profound new sense of apprehension about the white blond. The fact that he would blatantly perform an unforgivable curse, for any reason, on school grounds, had her mind buzzing with everything else he could get away with.

"This is yours." It wasn't a question.

"I-"

"I told you not to go back in there, and you did." His gray eyes flickered between her and the book. He lowered himself to a crouch and watched her expression carefully. "I know its yours. Muggle book."

"Draco, I was only looking for a quiet place to read." It was a struggle to keep her voice even, but she managed.

"Is that all you were doing? Reading?" The accusation was clear in his voice. She could see the familiar signs of his temper rising. His hand was in his pant's pocket, and her mind urged her to flee before he pulled out his wand.

She dropped the book off her lap when she saw him pull it out, and grabbed her own wand in a flash crying out, "Expelliarmus!"

Draco's eyes widened as his wand flew from his hand. "What are you playing at?" His eyes narrowed at her. Vega's wand hand shook, but she kept it trained on him.

"I could ask you the same question." She thrust it forward, pressing against his pale throat. She didn't register that she was so much lower than him until he began to inch forward, hovering over her. She swallowed hard, not knowing whether to hex him and run or yell for help. She didn't want to end up like Blaise, but she was frozen.

"Are you going to curse me, Vega?" He breathed out her name, taunting her. "You won't," he smirked as he read her hesitation.

"Don't tempt me," she seethed and pushed the wand to make her point.

He swallowed at the uncomfortable contact and she watched the lump in his throat bob as he did so. It was all the distraction he needed before he snatched the wand from her hands. She would have scrambled away if the trunk wasn't pressing against her back. He rested his arms lazily on either side of her head, trapping her there. "Draco..." She let his name linger in the air between them. An indirect plea.

He stopped moving, watching her suck her bottom lip between her teeth as her eyes shined wetly. "You're afraid of me," he stated calmly. Vega said nothing, focusing on keeping her breathing normal and debating on how to get away from him. "You saw."

"Please, Draco," she whispered desperately. He raised his hand to press against her cheek and she flinched, squeezing her eyes shut at the touch.

He retracted his hand and sighed, flopping beside her and resting his back on the tree. He looked at her wand, slender and long with black speckles dotted here and there on the white wood. He tossed it into her lap and she relaxed a bit, confused and hesitant to move.

"Everyone else is scared of me." He was looking out over the glittering water. Vega couldn't find her voice. "I don't want you to be afraid of me too," his voice cracked and she looked over to see tears forming in his stormy orbs. "I didn't have a choice."

She was unsure how to respond. "Draco," she blurted and clutched her wand.

He whipped his head to stare at her in a moment of unrelenting fury. "You're judging me just like the rest of them!" He jumped up, towering over her with his hands fisting his hair. His tears were dripping to his chin. Vega gripped her wand tightly, just in case.

Draco caught her grasping it and dropped to his knees. "I don't want this," he whimpered in his hands.

Vega tentatively stood up, her hands shook violently, her wand poised and ready should she need it. When she stepped over to him he snapped his head up. He grabbed her arms and tugged her down, forcing her to look at him. Her breath hitched as she felt him invade her mind.

Images of her time in the room flooded her vision. The timeline of events played out in her mind's eye as he used occlumency against her. The vision ended and she wrenched free of his grasp. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. She felt such an invasion of privacy that she couldn't even form a proper sentence. "You weren't there the whole time. You didn't hear," he stated quietly, dark blond brows knitting together.

She staggered backwards to where her books were and accidentally stepped on one. "You-you just-" she couldn't speak right.

"I'm sorry," he said, clearing his throat. "I had to know."

"Occlumency." She finally formed the word. Her anger flared as it settled in that he had watched her evening play out through her eyes. "You used occlumency on me! How dare you!"

"Vega I don't want you to hate me," he mumbled at the grass.

She huffed indignantly. "Is this a joke? You invade my thoughts, you curse your friend-"

"Blaise is not my friend!"

"You told the entire Slytherin house that we had sex!"

"I never did that!" Draco had picked up his wand and tucked it away in his trousers.

"Stop it! Just shut up!" She screamed at him. "I trusted you," her voice lowered as her emotions began to creep up on her, "and you turned around and exploited that. I wish I never slept with you." He flinched at her words. "I wish we didn't have any classes together. I wish I never would have met you on the train!"

He pulled himself together, curling his lip in a sneer as he picked up her books and thrust them at her. "If that's how you feel then prove it."

It caught her off guard. "Prove it?" Her brows pressed together.

He grabbed her wand hand and forced her to aim it at his forehead, dropping the books back to the ground. "I'll make it easy for you," he jerked her hand roughly. "Do it. Erase every memory of you. DO IT!" She felt herself crumble as he screamed in her face. She shook her head, trying to pull the wand back, but he held her firm. She sobbed openly, afraid of what he was capable of in his wrath. She didn't have to wait long to find out before he threw her wand to the side and replaced it with his own trained between her eyes. "Then I will," he rasped.

"No! Draco don't do this!" Her body trembled under his aim. "Please, don't do this. Please!" She was crying, tears falling freely. Her knees wobbled beneath her, threatening to give out.

Draco seemed to be debating with himself before ultimately deciding to drop his wand. He stood there, staring at her with a defeated expression before bolting away. She gasped for breath, calming herself down as best she could.

He was insane. She had been so close to having sympathy for him, but it vanished the instant he threatened to take away her memories. She couldn't believe his audacity. Her mind refused to fully comprehend how unexpectedly his moods shifted. One minute he was talking, the next he was crying, and then trying to curse her. She decided then that she would make avoiding Draco her top priority for the rest of the year.

Noori's presence near the wood's edge drew her attention. She wiped her tears and sniffed one more time before smiling at the wolf and patting the ground beside her. He jogged over to her and curled up at her side, sniffing her pockets eagerly.

"I almost forgot about the treat I brought you," she sniffled and pulled out the wrapped steaks. The sound of a tail wagging echoed over the water. "I wish I could take you home with me," she admitted and earned a curious stare from the swirling gray eyes. "I'm leaving in a week to visit my mother on her birthday. I'll only be gone a few days, but I'll miss you." She tossed the steaks to Noori, but he didn't attempt to eat them. He whined softly, tilting his head at her. She giggled at his antics and mussed his white fur. "It'll be okay. I'm sure Hagrid would be happy to keep you company."

Noori made a sneezing sound at the notion that made Vega laugh genuinely. "You'll be fine," she assured the wolf. He didn't let up, nuzzling her side and whimpering. "I don't know how I would even sneak you out of here. It's not like I can just waltz onto the train with a giant wolf." The wolf whine, but seemed to understand and went to gnaw at the steaks.