PART 3

IT HAD BEEN  almost a week after the incident at the Ravenclaw Tower. After that day , he didn't try to purposefully avoid Evanna , but she never seemed to be where he was.

To whom did the voice belong ? Who had Evanna been talking to ? And , what was 'the job' ?

He was jolted out of his reverie when he heard the scrunch of the burning red autumn leaves that were scattered on the once green courtyard of Hogwarts. Turning behind , he saw Evanna heading towards him with a slight smile and a book tucked under her arm. Making space for her to sit , Draco shifted away slightly , leaning against the backrest - masking his discomfort from the night prior. With a gracious thank you , she took the seat beside him - but not before handing him a queer autumn leaf.

Holding it with his slender fingers , Draco raised a brow.

"What is this ?", He asked , twirling it as he studied the peculiar shape , and colour of the leaf. It had a sharp , pointed end , like that of an arrowhead - and it's tip was an indented curve - both mixing somewhere between the hues of deep red , orange and , quite curiously , a pale pink. 

"A leaf , obviously", Evanna said , as she rolled her eyes and flipped open her new book. The title of the book revealed it to be a book on Transfiguration , but judging by the level of interest with which she eyed the words - it appeared to be something else.

"I am aware. But why did you give it to me ?", He asked , meeting her blue eyes.

"Look at it. It's so queer. These days everything is so boring , and when I found it , I decided to show it to you", Evanna replied absent-mindedly , engrossed in her reading.

"What are you reading ?", He asked , leaning over slightly , keeping up the pretense that nothing strange had happened between them , pocketing the leaf.

"A book on curse breaking. It's quite interesting , if I do say so myself. I tend to read multiple books at the same time , if you are wondering , and so I picked this one up a little later after Charms from the library."

"Oh", Was all Draco said , before he fell silent again. He watched as the white clouds rolled by , in the skies above that would soon turn grey with the upcoming winter - the leaves as  they fell in all their splendor in a variety of colours. In the evening , when darkness would loom over the castle - those of eligible ages would be able to enter their names. Draco was eager to see who would be chosen as the champion of Hogwarts.

Occasionally , he would glance at Evanna - watching how the corners of her lips turned upwards when she read something interesting , or how she would scrunch her nose slightly when she didn't understand something.

"Why are you reading a book on curse-breaking ?", Draco found himself asking , breaking the comfortable silence.

Evanna looked up , as though she had been caught off-guard , before smiling and explaining ,"I happen to be quite interested in the field. I wish to pursue the career after graduation."

"By the way , why are you lazing around here ?", Evanna asked , turning to face him properly.

With a sigh , Draco said ,"We have astronomy tonight  , and I am absolutely worthless at it. I have continuously missed Astronomy , until Professor Sinistra wrote to father complaining about me missing her classes. Father could have bothered less with a subject as wooly as Astronomy  - but he just couldn't bear it when a teacher sent a letter home. I have no idea what to do , and so I am..."

"Sulking", Evanna confirmed.

"No , I was about to say , 'stressed'", Draco said with a scowl.

"Whatever , so in other words - you are struggling with Astronomy , while I am proud to say - am quite efficient in it", Evanna retorted.

"So , what are you trying to say ?"

"I can help you out with the subject if you want."

Draco regarded this. A few days prior , she had not taken well to him listening in on her mysterious conversation. But now , she was offering to help him out. He needed help , yet she was a Ravenclaw. And knowing Ravenclaws , he was well aware that she would be getting something out of this.

"If I do agree , what is your condition ?", Draco asked accusingly.

"Hey , hey. I am in this for your benefit solely. Nothing else. I swear", Evanna said , raising her hands in a surrendering motion. Draco narrowed his eyes.

"After all ,  I did quite miss our friendship , Malfoy", She said , eyes shining with mirth as she repeated his phrase. Draco chuckled a little , extending a hand as a way to make the deal. She accepted it , there hands entwining for a brief time before she pulled away.

"So , when do we start ?", He asked.

"Tomorrow. I know you need help today , but you will have to manage with whatever little knowledge you have. Ravenclaws don't have Astronomy tonight so I won't be able to help. So , tomorrow afternoon I will help you with the theoretical part. And we can ask Professor Sinistra for permission to use the Tower on evenings. I'm sure she will oblige."

"And how are you so sure ?"

"She will , trust me."

Standing up , she smoothed out her already immaculate uniform skirt , before parading down the courtyard , across the leaf-ridden ground and towards the arching pillars of the corridor - waving with her back towards him.

Draco stood up too , after a while , making his way down to the dungeons - deciding to organize his long abandoned pile of Astronomy notes for the sake of studying it.

But deep down , he knew it was just another excuse for himself to meet up with Evanna.

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It had been a little after curfew , and Draco trudged down the narrow , torch-lit corridor , towards the dungeons. He had watched as several brave souls - all appearing to be over seventeen - submitted their names into the pit of blue fire. And of course , who could miss the lovely presentation of the Weasley twins as they made a fool of themselves. But truth be told , Draco had always found them rather amusing and that - nothing could ever ruin their reputation , rather , it only made them more likeable. If only he hadn't been brought up to strictly align to his family's views - maybe he could have befriended them.

The soles of his shoes clicked against the flagged stone of the corridor , the orange flames of the torches illuminating his steps quite dimly - as he stumbled into a petite figure.

Sneering as he regained his balance , Draco glared up ahead to meet soft , blue eyes of a familiar Ravenclaw. Instantly , his expression turned into one of curiosity. 

"What are you doing out of your dormitory , so late ?" , He asked.

Evanna made a big show of dusting her trousers , as she whispered ,"Merlin , Malfoy ! Watch where you're going. One of these days you will run into the wall and break your nose. I don't know about others , but it will quite lessen your popularity among girls when they see your squashed nose."

Draco rolled his eyes , urging her to continue.

"Well I could ask you the same thing you know", She began ,"But the thing is , I couldn't care less. So I go my way , you go yours , and we will not tell about this to anyone. Alright ?"

"Fine by me", Draco replied , as he observed the way the light from the flames illuminated the top of her head , crowning it with a halo of sorts . He watched , as she walked away in the opposite direction , their shoulders slightly brushing against each other.

Draco heard a slight noise , an looked downwards to see a locket lying a few inches away. It was a beautiful , sapphire locket - a silver chain strung around it. He assumed it was a family heirloom , upon seeing a small curly 'F' engraved behind it - so tiny one might have overlooked it while absorbed in the beauty of the azure pendant.  Although , quite oddly , the locket glowed green instead of blue.

 He looked towards where Evanna was , but she had already disappeared behind the rickety steps. Sighing , he gently pocketed the necklace , deciding to keep it safely until the next morning arrived. But when his fingers buried it inside his pocket , his skin brushed against the texture of the leaf Evanna had given to him earlier that day. He took it out , twirling it carefully as he smiled to himself.

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