Diamonds

18. I Am

As it turned out, she didn't need Harry's help to smuggle Draco into the Gryffindor common room. She just had to convince him not to tell any other Slytherins what the password was, especially not Theo, who, as it turned out, had been the one who talked Draco into setting Quirrel's turban on fire. He agreed easily enough, and she let him and Neville into the Tower.

"What do you mean, you don't know the password? Neville, you're actually in Gryffindor. How do you not know the password?"

"You already know I don't have a good memory. Can you stop rubbing it in?"

"And I was having such fun." Draco smirked, looking around the room. It was stone, better lit than the dungeon room- it helped that the fires burning in the brazier and fireplace were all red instead of the flickering, eerie green used in the dungeons. The chairs were red velvet and didn't look nearly as lush as the black leather he was used to. The windows looked out into the night sky, while the dungeons peered into the constant motion of the green depths beneath the lake. He preferred the green- the height actually made him feel a little nauseous.

"Okay, why is he here again? Studying? Which you can't do in the library because...?"

"It's closed. Something about a prank- it wasn't Theo, so it must have been the ones you lot talk about."

"Fred and George Weasley?" Hermione tilted her head, dropping some books onto a vacant table and gesturing for Draco to sit. "It probably was. Those two are trouble."

"At least they're fun."

"Neville, didn't you need help with something?"

"Transfiguration. I got an extension on the last essay but McGonagall wants it by Monday, and I don't know if I can write it."

"The Gamp's Law essay?"

"Wasn't that due in April?"

"Yes. Be nice, Draco. What don't you understand, Neville?"

"The only thing I can remember is the food."

"First law? Okay, so the second law states that...".

✦

They were still sitting there when the common room was almost empty, Hermione looking over the essay Neville had finished thanks to their meddling. She was still sitting with Draco, who was dozing in his chair. He jerked awake as she zipped her pencil-case shut. "'Tis it time?"

"Did you just say 'tis'?"

"Hermione."

She nodded to the staircase he had supposed led to the boys dormitories. Turning his head, he identified two figures standing beneath the arch. Potter and the Weasel, side by side.

"Ah. That's a yes, then."

The couple got to their feet, standing side by side like soldiers on the same side of a battlefield. Each of them were waiting for an attack from Ron: Hermione would leap to Draco's defence, and he would leap to hers. To both of their surprise, he offered no threats.

"I don't care right now. Even if you are a- never mind. I'm helping Harry stop Snape and that's it. I don't have to make nice with either of you, and that's my only reason for agreeing to this. Harry needs someone he can trust."

"Didn't think you'd think that one through, Weasel. Not bad."

Ron grimaced. "Thanks, Malfoy. I think."

"We should go. Filch will start his rounds soon and I'd rather not get caught doing what we're about to do."

✦