Chapter Eleven: The Blondie

Evelyn...

    Halfway through October was the second Hogsmeade trip; still with fear of the last time's attack, they decided the students needed a break from their strict exams. I, however, had not had any problem with the exams, whether strict or not. I was doing just fine, avoiding to face Mattheo with the excuse of studying.

   When Professor McGonagall was announcing the trip yesterday at the dinner, she actually looked terrified, and was strictly repeating the protections the students had to pay attention to. Such as going around with crowded groups, not walking alone, and not to talking to strangers even if they seemed kind. And, I think, even if the stranger had candies with them.

   She simply looked like a horrified parent telling her dumb children off when she was explaining all this stuff.

   "It's a shock there's even a second Hogsmeade trip with all the stuff that happened the last time," Pansy said at the breakfast on Saturday morning.

   "They're stupid." Theodore let out a small chuckle.

   And Mattheo's amused smirk came next.

   My relationship with Mattheo was going so well; so pathetically annoying and disgusting with the kisses. Even though the relationship was going well, even though I was getting humiliated for being with him openly, I still had not found out anything new, or important, about their Death Eater things; my first information for Dumbledore was the last that I got: Malfoy and his friends were up to something.

   Draco was up to something; he would suddenly disappear, they all would __ he, Blaise Zabini, Lorenzo Berkshire, and Theo, too, sometimes __ but I had no idea where, for they would actually disappear. And anytime that he would not disappear, he would be somehow not in the mood; or the better word for it, not in this world. Just like now that he was blacked out, sitting at the table, staring at nowhere, deep through his thoughts. With Blaise looking troubled next to him.

   "Yeah, they are stupid," Mattheo said with a smirk.

   My eyes squinted thoughtfully. "The last time, no one got really injured. So, even though it is still stupid, and dangerous, it is not surprising at all," I pondered.

   Lorenzo Berkshire raised his eyebrows in amusement. He was busy with the same reason as Draco was lately, so it was a rarity we had him eating with us. That fact was also about Blaise, now sneering at my words.

   "We weren't planning on injuring someone, anyway," Theodore said, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

   "That's why no one got injured expect ourselves," Lorenzo mused, chuckling humorously.

   I pinned him with a bored glance, before looking away. Next to Theo, Pansy was gaping between us unenthusiastically.

   "May I ask, with what benefit would you explode a whole shop, then?" I taunted.

   Theo chuckled, drawing a growl from Pansy.

   "My father wanted to show off a little." Mattheo's eyes were smiling as he said, with a smirk on his lips.

   "It was fun," Theo confirmed, the corners of his mouth twisting upwards.

   "Fun, is it?! Exploding a shop is fun?!" Pansy barked at Theo sharply.

   "Oh come on, Pansy. No one were hurt!" Mattheo told her, protecting his 'bro' from being yelled at. And Pansy gasped dramatically.

   It was annoying how Lorenzo was watching the scene with sheer enthusiasm.

  "Plus, the Ollivander's exactly the same as before. They fixed the bloody shop like it was nothing," said Theodore.

   "Draco, are you alive?" Mattheo spoke to Draco, waving his hand in front of Draco's face mockingly, making him wince slightly, snapping back into reality.

   "Wish I wasn't," Draco said sharply, with his smug, sneering expression.

   I frowned, my eyes narrowing. Blaise, on the other hand, frowned because he did not like the thought of his friend wanting to die.

   "Woah, dude. What's up?" said Theo, his face hardened with concern and confusion.

   "Nothing." Draco's bitter words sucked all the drama off the table, replacing it with his own kind instead. Then checked his expensive watch, and stood off the table.

   "Where are you going?" Theo asked, sitting up, now being boldly concerned.

   "Kill someone." Draco sneered, sarcasm dropping from his words.

   "Good luck," Mattheo uttered with a smirk.

   "Piss off." Draco's taunt came from between his gritted teeth, and then he turned around and walked away, striding towards the entrance.

   "He was joking about killing someone, right?" Pansy asked after Draco fully disappeared out of sight.

   Mattheo and Theodore exchanged dark looks, Blaise and Lorenzo did the same between themselves.

   My eyes narrowed darkly. "Let's hope so."

...

   "Where did he actually go?" I asked Mattheo, pushing my chance, when Pansy and Theo separated from us in the corridor back from breakfast. Blaise and Lorenzo were also gone, tailing behind Draco; leaving me and Mattheo alone walking between the bustling students.

   "Don't worry about him," Mattheo said with a sigh, dodging right in time before a tiny first-year almost bumped into him.

   "I am not worried about him," I said, walking faster to keep at his pace. "I just do not want the whole Hogsmeade villagers exploded."

   I wanted to hex him when he rolled his eyes. "If he does his work right, the villagers won't be hurt." He was being only semi-patient.

   Then I stopped to a skid in the middle of the corridor, making him do the same, staring at me alarmed.

   I raised my eyebrows. "The villagers won't be hurt?" I gave a side eye back to a Gryffindor that was eying us. "Who else is going to be hurt?"

   He chuckled. "Princess. Don't worry." Then he placed a kiss on the top of my head, making me freeze.

   Just like that, he successfully shut me up with disgusting me.

   "Are you coming with us, anyway?" he asked, but all I could think of at the moment was not spitting on him.

   "Yes," I said in spite of myself: I did not want to go to Hogsmeade because it was Hogsmeade, but because if Draco was going to do something, and a disaster was going to happen again, I was curious to witness it __ And I was supposed to be there, anyway. "But I have to get my bag from the dormitory. You go, I will join you."

   "Alright, see you." A smile, and then he walked away.

   When I made sure he had disappeared out of sight, I peaked up my pace in a hurry, though, not towards the dormitory; but towards Dumbledore's study.

   If something was going to happen, if Draco was going to do anything, kill anyone; I needed to let Dumbledore know. After all, that's what spies are supposed to do: delivering information.

   Though, the going-to-Dumbledore's-study thing was a little unsure; for I doubted if he was even in Hogwarts at the moment. Because I had not seen him in a while, not even at the feasts __ and that he personally said that he would be gone. And, even if he was in his study, the password was possibly changed to something I did not know, so I would not be able to enter.

   But, even so, I was going to give it a try. So, when I reached the stone gargoyle, hoping for it to move, I said, "I enjoy acid pops." One second, two seconds... but it stood moveless. With a snort, I looked around the empty corridor, trying to think of something to do.

   I am definitely not supposed to get furious. It will be useless.

   I took a deep, calm breath, and I let my mind to ponder.

   I could go to Professor McGonagall instead. But it would be risky. If something is actually going to happen, she probably would not be able to do anything about it... Or maybe she would not even believe my words. And besides that, I have no idea where she is, and I am running out of time.

   I do not think Snape would be a good option either. Let alone Harry. I mean, what could he do?

   A gesture from the gargoyle pushed all my thoughts away. It leaped aside and the wall behind it began to move apart. I did not know who I was expecting to see, but I definitely was not expecting Snape to step off the spiral staircase.

   He stared at me blankly, I stared back.

   "Miss Black. May I ask, what are you doing here this early?" Snape asked coldly. He was looking at me as though he was trying to find something to blame me for.

   "I need to see Professor Dumbledore," I said.

   "Professor Dumbledore?" he asked, as if he had never heard such a thing __ The wall behind him began to close. "I do not think he is in the best position for having a guest at the moment." He narrowed his eyes coldly.

   "If it was not important, I would not come here." I looked at him haughtily.

   I focused on my breathing, just like how I had learned in our lessons with Dumbledore, but this time to control my mouth, not my thoughts.

   His eyes squinted further. "May I know what is so important?" The gargoyle moved back to its usual position, as though there was never a staircase there.

   "Dumbledore has given me a mission, and he made it clear that he wants to know everything __ immediately." I returned the cold expression.

   He narrowed his eyes once again, analyzing me for the last time, before finally turning around to whisper something to the gargoyle; causing the gargoyle to, again, leap aside.

   When the staircase appeared, Snape stepped aside to let me in. "After you, Miss Black." He said my last name with such force, making my jaw tense __ I could not blame him, though.

   I stepped onto the staircase without hesitation, and so did Snape behind me. In seconds, we reached the great door of Dumbledore's study, and Snape took the lead to knock. When his hand left the knocker, a soft voice came from inside, causing Snape to open the door and step in.

   "Professor, Miss Black wanted to have a word with you. I told her that you were not in the best position __" "Let her in, Severus." Dumbledore cut him off. At that, I stepped into the circular room before Snape could say anything further. So he gave me a bitter smile instead.

   "Good morning," I said to Dumbledore.

   "Good morning, Evelyn." Dumbledore had a sweet, yet weak smile on his face. He was sitting at his desk, looking weary.

   I glanced back at Snape. He closed the door, then looked at me with a cold, bitter smile.

   I did not have the time to wait until Snape was gone. And, seeing Dumbledore's nod in approval, too, I went on. "Malfoy is going to do something __ today. I am not sure specifically what, but I think it is going to be at Hogsmeade. And, it seems like he is not planning on hurting anyone except his target ___ or targets. But he has a specific goal, nothing more." As I explained, Dumbledore's eyes widened slightly, then he blacked out; seemingly absorbing the information he just heard.

   I glanced at Snape again. His eyebrows were raised, and he looked unpleasant for a second, before a mockful sneer shaped on his face. He opened her mouth to say something, but Dumbledore interrupted him with a gesture of his uninjured hand.

   "Thank you, Evelyn. I shall ask, do you know any other details about this matter?" Dumbledore asked.

   "No." I flexed my jaw." But, I think he is alone in this. At least I know Mattheo and Theo are not helping him. However, I am not aware if he has his other friends by his side."

   "Very well, Evelyn. Thank you so much," he said sweetly.

   Again Snape opened his mouth to say something, again Dumbledore stopped him. "No, Severus." He gave Snape a meaningful glance, then looked back at me with a smile. "Thank you for your information. You may leave if there is nothing else you wanted to tell me."

   I nodded, then forged out of the circular room.