Eve

            Within the week after Dumbledore vanished and Harry and the others were caught in the Room of Requirement, a lot changed at Hogwarts.

            Flint had been right—Umbridge did take over in Dumbledore's place as head of the school, and just a few days after she took her role, she had already set up a new list of rules. This included a curfew of 6 o'clock, something that all the Slytherins were still complaining about even a week later. Umbridge had also banned all after school activities, which meant the rest of the Quidditch season was cancelled. The entire Slytherin team, Draco included, had thrown a fit in the common room once they'd found out, and there was a lot of pacing and cursing; I don't think I've ever heard the words, "This is bloody ridiculous" or "My parents will be hearing about this" used so often. There was also a new rule for no physical contact between students, but no one paid attention to it unless Umbridge was nearby.

            So if I was being honest, things at Hogwarts weren't going so great.

            And to make matters worse, Draco had been called home yesterday by his father and he still wasn't back when I went to the Great Hall the next morning before classes. He'd gotten the letter yesterday before dinner, and he hadn't exactly told me what it said; he just told me that he needed to go home quick, that something was up with his parents. I hadn't asked why because he'd seemed really out of it, but now I was pretty worried about him. I'd assumed he'd be back by the next morning, but as I headed to Potions alone, I knew he definitely wasn't back at Hogwarts yet.

            When I got to the Potions classroom, Zabini and Goyle weren't there yet. I sat in my usual seat and waited for Snape to finally arrive, trying not to worry too much about why Draco was still at home. I just hoped everything was okay.

            Snape got to the classroom just as the final bell rang, and he was five minutes into the lesson when Zabini and Goyle finally showed up. As usual, Snape said nothing as they both sat at my table; he never cared if Slytherins showed up late to class. I didn't glance their way as they got their things out and Snape continued his lesson. This would be the first Potions class I'd been to without Draco there, and I was just hoping that Zabini wouldn't try to talk to me for the first time in about a month.

            But Snape's lesson dragged on and Zabini didn't make any attempt to talk to me, and I let out a quiet breath of relief when the bell finally rang. I was grateful Zabini didn't try anything, because with the way I had been feeling lately—stressed, worried, and mostly annoyed—I knew that I would have probably blown up at him. I gathered up my things and got out of there quickly, feeling immensely relieved that it was over and nothing had happened.

            Of course, I forgot that I would be seeing Zabini again during Care of Magical Creatures.

            Despite my best efforts to stay away from him, Hagrid paired the two of us together when he was assigning partners to feed the Flobberworms. I reluctantly headed over to Zabini while he got a bag of lettuce out of the bin, silently cursing my bad luck. I would've rather worked with anyone else here—even Pansy, and that was saying something. Zabini smirked over at me when I finally reached him, but I pretended I hadn't seen it. The two of us headed over to the area where Hagrid kept the Flobberworms, finding an empty space where a few worms weren't being fed by anyone. As we started to toss the lettuce to them, I hoped Zabini would be smart enough to just pretend I wasn't there—unfortunately, he did exactly the opposite.

            "Haven't seen Malfoy around today," he said casually, reaching into the bag to pull out more lettuce. I still didn't look at him as he asked, "Any idea where he is?"

            "He got called home yesterday," I told Zabini coolly, tossing more lettuce at the nearest Flobberworm.

            There was a brief moment of silence where he clearly expected me to continue, but when I didn't say anything more he mused, "Weird. Know why?"

            I didn't want to admit that Draco hadn't actually told me yet, but I really didn't have a choice. My tone of voice gradually sounding more annoyed, I replied shortly, "No."

            "What, he didn't tell you?" Zabini asked, and now I knew he was smirking.

            I ripped the piece of lettuce I was holding with a bit more force than usual and tossed it to the worms, pressing my lips into a thin line and forcing myself to not to snap. Through gritted teeth I said, "He didn't tell you either, Zabini."

            Zabini snorted at this, and I rolled my eyes. Why couldn't he just keep quiet and ignore me until class was finally over? I was perfectly alright with an awkward silence for the duration of the period, but apparently, he couldn't handle keeping his mouth shut.

            "So what's the deal with you two, anyway?" Zabini asked rudely, making me barely contain my sigh of annoyance. I should have known that was where he had been going with this.

            "I don't know what you mean," I replied coldly, not taking my gaze away from the worms.

            "I think you know exactly what I mean, Hawkings. Are you two dating now, is that it?"

            "I don't really think it's any of your business, actually."

            Zabini was really looking at me now—I could practically feel his gaze against the side of my head—but I still refused to give him the satisfaction of glancing his way. "Who said it had to be anyone's business?" he snapped. "I'm just curious, damn. Are you his girlfriend now or what?"

            Really starting to get angry now, I didn't say anything. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I could actually call Draco my 'boyfriend'; in a way, that didn't even begin to describe what he meant to me.

            As I ignored Zabini and threw more lettuce down, he laughed out loud and said, "Wait—I just remembered. I saw you two holding hands the other day, that was priceless—"

            "Why don't you do yourself a favor and shut up," I interrupted calmly, even though my hands were starting to shake. Something about the way Zabini spoke to me made me want to throw whatever I was holding—and I didn't think lettuce would do much damage, unfortunately. I kept my voice even as I added coolly, "You're embarrassing yourself."

            Zabini laughed again at this, and out of the corner of my eye I could see that he was shaking his head as he reached for more lettuce. "You crack me up, Hawkings. I'm just making conversation."

            "Really?" I asked icily. "Because it sounds like you're jealous."

            "Jealous? Good one. Next you're going to tell me that I have a thing for Umbridge."

            "Wouldn't surprise me."

            He was really laughing now, but I just glared down at the worms as I forcefully threw more lettuce down. The period had to be over soon, I didn't think I could take much more of this—I suddenly had the urge to turn and strangle Zabini to make him finally shut up.

            "Either way," Zabini laughed, "you moved pretty fast. First me and now him. If you want my opinion—"

            "Let's get one thing straight, Zabini," I snapped, finally turning to face him and looking him dead in the eye. "There was never a 'you and me', got it? I don't know how you got it into your stupid brain that I was into you like that, but you need to get your shit together and leave me alone. Stop giving me your shit opinions and shut the fuck up, got it?"

            I expected him to laugh and say something even more insulting than before, but instead he shook his head and said with a grin, "Wow. He's really changed you, hasn't he? You were never like this before."

            "I was always like this," I replied coldly. "Now I'm just saying it out loud."

            Zabini was opening his mouth to say something more—and I was seconds away from completely flipping out on him—when Hagrid called to everyone that the period would be over soon and we needed to clean up.

            I whipped the last of the lettuce at the ground and started to turn away from the worms, anger hot in the pit of my belly. Before I could head over to where everyone else was gathering, Zabini smirked down at me and said coolly, "I don't know how he can put up with you."

            "Eat shit," I snapped without a second thought, turning away from him and furiously starting back for the castle.

            I stormed right past the group of Slytherins standing around Hagrid as he gave some last minute information about the Flobberworms, not even caring that the period wasn't exactly over yet. Hagrid called after me, asking why I was leaving before I supposed to, but there was such a loud pounding in my ears that I barely heard him. I didn't even care that the period wasn't over yet; all I wanted to do was put as much distance as possible between myself and Zabini.

            I knew that if I stayed around him for a moment longer, I would end up sending him to the ground.

~*~

Draco

            I didn't get back to Hogwarts until late, and when I entered the Slytherin common room, I was expecting it to be empty.

            But Ben Parkinson was dozing in the armchair by the fireplace, and I realized Eve was lying on the couch, facing the green glow of the fire. I felt my knees nearly turn to water at the sight of her, but I couldn't tell if it was from relief or nerves. I had secretly been hoping to avoid seeing her for as long as possible—I still didn't have an excuse ready as to why my parents had sent me home for a day.

            When the portrait door shut behind me, Ben jolted awake and Eve twisted to look over the arm of the couch at me. I avoided her gaze as I came around the side of the couch, and I rolled my eyes tiredly when Ben asked nosily, "Where've you been all day?"

            "Just go upstairs, Ben," I said quietly, my voice giving away how exhausted I was. I didn't want to have to deal with anyone right now, so I was relieved when he actually listened to me and got up from the chair, saying hastily, "Alright, mate, I'm going."

            As he disappeared up to the boys' dormitories, Eve sat up to make room for me on the couch. I slowly sat down next to her, letting out a tired sigh as I was finally able to lean back against the cushions. Eve was watching me carefully, and I looked over to see how worried she looked. I gave a tired smile and reached down to give her hand a squeeze, my voice sounding worn out as I said, "Hey."

            "Hi," she said quietly, not looking away from me. She continued cautiously, "Are you okay?"

            I stared into the flames instead of looking at her as I lied, "Yeah."

            There was a moment of silence where the common room was quiet except for the crackle of green flames, then I heard Eve ask in a small voice, "Do you want to talk about it?"

            I didn't want to talk about anything right now.

            "Not really," I replied carefully, deciding to just be honest. I let out a heavy sigh and told her, "Some shit's going down at home, that's all."

            "Are you sure?" Eve asked, and I knew she was being extremely careful. "You were gone for a while."

            "Yeah," I told her, "it'll all blow over soon, though."

            If only that was true.

            "Okay," Eve said quietly, and I could tell she was forcing herself not to ask any more questions.

            I was suddenly incredibly grateful for her. There was another long minute of silence, and then I finally turned to her and asked, "How were classes?"

            "Boring," she admitted. She gave a small smile, which I forced myself to return.

            I realized that today had been the first Potions class she'd had without me, so I asked quickly, "Potions was okay? Zabini didn't try anything, right?"

            "No, he ignored me," Eve told me, but I was too tired to notice when her voice faltered slightly.

            "That's good," I said, leaning my head back against the couch cushions tiredly. All I wanted to do was fall asleep and never have to stand up ever again.

            Eve scooted closer to me on the couch, resting her head against my shoulder. Her hair tickled my cheek, and I lazily lifted her hand up and kissed it without thinking. After a few minutes, she asked quietly, "Are you sure you're okay?"

            This made the corner of my mouth turn up slightly, and I twisted my neck to kiss the top of her head quickly. "Yeah," I replied, rubbing my thumb against the smooth back of her hand. "Just stressed out. Don't worry, okay?"

            "Okay," she said. After a moment, she added with a tiny grin, "At least there's only a little more than a month left of school. I'm counting down."

            My stomach dropped into my shoes at her words, but I still managed to force out, "That's good." I didn't want her to know how badly I didn't want the school year to end.

            Because that meant summer was almost here...and that was when I would become a Death Eater.