Nicole Stevens: Roses and Mistrust

Chp. 8 Hogsmeade

Draco stopped coming to detentions. He left me there to do all the work. I didn't mind though. It was better than having to face him again. I wondered if he felt the same. Probably not. Every night, from nine until eleven, I was in the dungeons cleaning and dusting the classroom. It was tough going, but I never complained, nor had I said anything to Harry. I figured that what he didn't know couldn't hurt him.

During the day, I steered clear of Draco, as well. It was difficult, as we had classes together, but I managed.

One day, the Wednesday before Halloween, we were in Arithmancy. Professor Vector stood up at the end of class and told us, "Alright, the moment we've all been waiting for. It's time to tell you all what the project is. So, here goes. The project will be done with a partner, who I will chose," she looked pointedly at the students who moaned (last time we'd been in pairs, she let us chose who we were with, and, well, it wasn't good), "Professor Dumbledore has also helped in the pairing, because he had some people in mind, that should work together. What you will be doing is researching a topic in the library together. When you get enough information, you will write a five foot paper together. Also, you will present it to the class. This is due right after Christmas. I'll call out pairs now. Granger, Parkinson, you will be studying Sun Cordials and their origins, you'll have to be outside a lot for that. Thomas, Zabini, your subject is Kaleo number sequence. Malfoy, Stevens, you will study MoonScripts, you will need to watch the moon sometimes to get the whole credit."

"Professor I can't. Not with Malfoy, we, uh, don't get along well," I said nearly falling out of my chair when I heard.

"Nonsense Miss Stevens. Professor Dumbledore wanted you two together. You will work with Mr. Malfoy." I gaped at her. Pansy was shooting her famous and well-known death glare at me. Hermione was staring stonily at her notes, which were upside-down on the desk. And Draco, well, I wasn't looking at him. "You will begin working in class and the library. I am giving you permission to use the Restricted Section. You MUST work together, no exceptions. If you have a problem arranging meeting times and places, I will do that for you. Class dismissed."

I shoved everything into my bag and ran up to the teacher's desk. She raised her gaze from what she was working on, "Yes, Miss Stevens?"

"Is there no way on earth that I can get a different partner?" I asked desperately.

"No, there is 'no way on earth'. I explained to you that Professor Dumbledore paired you two together. I refuse to change it. Good day, Miss Stevens."

That was where it ended. I turned around and walked out of the door. It wasn't that I was afraid of what would happen if I worked with Draco, okay maybe it was partly, but moreover what Harry would say. To my utter surprise Draco was standing outside the Great Hall waiting. He was leaning casually against the wall, but I could tell he was tense.

"So, we're working together," I said meekly.

"Yeah, I guess so. We should start working. I'll meet you in the library at five thirty."

"Okay. Bye," I said. I turned around and walked off. I walked into the Great Hall. Harry was already sitting there with Ron. I sat next to Harry and began eating. I pondered how I was going to get through the project, not only the project, but life in general.

The rest of the day was, what's the word I'm searching for? Oh yes! BORING. I finished classes with minimal trouble. I waited in the Common Room until five, doing work. At four-forty five I packed my bag and headed down to the library. My bag was starting to cut into my shoulder by the time I got to the doors.

Draco was standing there, leaning against the doorframe. He saw me trying to lug my heavy book bag and stepped forward, pulling it off of my own shoulder and onto his. "You're going to strain your shoulder, Nicole."

"Thanks Draco," I said breathlessly. He led me into the library, to a back table. Draco put my bag down like it was as light as a feather. He pulled out a chair for me and I sat in it. He sat across from me.

"I think I know about a book that'll help us. It's called 'MoonScripts of the Millennia'. My father has it in his library. I read some of it once."

"Alright, let's go find it." We stood up and I followed him to the section it would be in. He looked up and down the shelves as I stood and watched.

He turned to me and asked, "Are you going to help, or are you just going to stand there?"

"What? Oh, yeah sure." I knelt down and started searching the bottommost shelves. I didn't find it in any of the shelves I checked. Draco hadn't found it either. "No luck. Maybe you could send your father a letter asking him to send that book."

"No, I couldn't. I wasn't supposed to go through his library books. He'd be upset. We'll just have to find another one."

"Oh," I muttered disappointedly. "Wait, we could try to find it in the Restricted Section. Professor Vector said we could."

He nodded and I stood up. We walked to the librarian's desk. "Madam Pince, we need to use the Restricted Section. It's for Arithmancy. Professor Vector said we could."

The vulture-like lady stood and said sharply, "Yes. Follow me." Draco and I looked at each other, and tried not to snigger. Madam Pince led us the Restricted Section. She took a key ring from her belt and unlocked the gate-thingy (

"What was it called again, Draco?"

"'MoonScripts of the Millennia'. It should be...here." He pointed at a shelf. I walked over to him. He ran his fingers over the spines of all the books on that shelf. He looked again. "Here it is," he pulled the book from the shelf. It was large and dusty. He flicked through it, "Yes, this definitely will be helpful."

"Let's go sit down." I turned and we went to our table. I sat down in my chair. Draco sat next to me so we could share the book.

"Alright, it says:

'MoonScripts of the Millennia'--"

"Well, duh it does! That's the title."

"Shut up, Nicole. I'm doing this for both of us. Now:

MoonScripts are ancient writings that explain of the moons effects on spell casting. Translations are difficult, because of the complex codes used to write the scrolls. The original writers of MoonScripts were Greek Philosophers. Their names are unknown, as of this date. Some translations have been made, and now they are open to the public.

Some of these new scripts are senseless, yet they have been included none the less.

MoonScript Number One: The month of January

The full moon affects spells cast on a Monday, by increasing the effectiveness of the spell. On a Monday, during the quarter moon, spell cast are bound to be an utter failure.

During the end stage of the moon's waning, spells cast are not affected by the moon.

On Tuesdays, during a full moon, spells cast are not likely to be affected. During the last stage of waning on a Tuesday, spells cast aren't affected at all. Quarter moons on a Tuesday are wonderful for spell casting, because they increase the power of the spells.

Wednesdays during a full moon, are not times to cast spells. Often when this happens, the spells backfire. Waning moons on Wednesdays are average days to cast. Quarter moons during Wednesdays can be the best times to do charms.

Thursdays on a full moon, are considered to be unlucky. A waning moon will not affect charms cast on a Thursday. The quarter moon during this day is very lucky. Only occasionally have there been mishaps during this period of time.

Friday waning moons are not affective on spells. Quarter moons, however, are the best times to use charms. The full moon during this day is unlucky. D-"

"Alright, Draco. That is more than enough. We have plenty of time to do this project."

"Yes, I know that. But, I figured that we should learn just a bit to get a feel of the subject. When are we going to go and watch the moon?"

"What? Oh, yeah. I dunno'. Maybe Christmas break."

He nodded and stood up, being sure to sling my bag over is shoulder as he did. We went and checked out the book. "Let's meet here tomorrow, too. We get Halloween off."

"Tomorrow is my birthday. I was hoping not to have to do any work. And, there's a Hogsmeade visit, as well."

"You're turning fifteen tomorrow? Oh. If you don't want to come then......" he trailed off looking at the floor.

"I'll meet up with you in Hogsmeade, alright? Bring the book. We can look over it some more there. Where'll we meet?"

He looked up, "The Three Broomsticks would work, so long as Potter isn't sitting with us. I couldn't do anything with him there."

"Okay, I'd forgotten about your little dislike of--"

"'Dislike' is a big understatement. We hate each other."

"'We hate each other, I can't stand him, he's a jerk, blah, blah, blah. I'm the embodiment of evil, I'm the Slytherin guy hear me roar, Gryffindors are wimps, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's a load of crap. I'll tell him we need to work and he has to go away. Will that satisfy your inner spoiled child?" I asked with a false sweetness.

"Hey! I'm not spoiled. And I don't have an inner child. I'm all grown," he said crossing his arms and sticking up his chin, like an insulted five year old.

I snorted with laughter. He uncrossed his arms and glared at me. "Yes, you're all growed-up," I told him in a child-like manner.

Draco scowled and muttered, "It's not funny. We'll meet at two. Don't bring your pet Potter. He's really cute and fluffy, and all that, but I won't work if he's there. He might wet the carpet."

"Fine. Tomorrow, two o' clock, Three Broomsticks, no Gryffindors but me." I pulled my bag off of his shoulder and transferred it to my own. Then I turned and left to the Gryffindor tower.

=================

I was at the front doors of the castle. We were waiting for Filch to check us on the list. And, lucky us, we were second in line.

"Alright, go ahead," Filch said. "Next." Hermione and I stepped up with Ron and Harry. Filch looked at us with a glare. "You may go."

I looked at Harry, who shrugged. "Doesn't like students. Let's hurry."

"Oh, right." We went down the front lawn and out the great gates. The lion statues that guarded the gates growled as we passed. "Oh, Harry, I forgot to tell you. I'm meeting Draco at the Three Broomsticks because--"

"What?!" the three of them yelled in unison, stopping dead in their tracks.

"I said that I'm meeting Draco Malfoy at the Three Broomsticks to get some work done."

"Oh, good thing," Ron said, nudging Harry in the ribs. Harry shushed him and turned red.

"Oh? Good thing?" I asked politely, raising my eyebrow.

"Er, it's nothing. Ron just needs to," he poked Ron in the stomach at this point, "learn when his input isn't necessary."

"Ron?" I turned to him. "Why is it a good thing that I don't get to spend time with my best friends? Is it because Harry has forgotten to do something important?"

Ron's ears went the same shade as his hair and he muttered, "No, of course not."

"Has Harry forgotten to get me a present for my birthday?" I asked looking up into Harry's eyes.

We had gotten into Hogsmeade by now. "Bye Nicole!" Harry said, dragging Ron by the arm towards a store.

I shook my head. I didn't care that Harry had forgotten a present. In fact, I was glad he had forgotten until now. It would keep him away long enough to do some work. "Bye Hermione, gotta' go."

She nodded and left to go into a shop. I continued up the street until I saw the Three Broomsticks. I went to the door and pushed it open. A man brushed past me as I went in. He had silvery hair and was, I had just realized, Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy.

Draco was standing at the bar talking to a pretty woman with long black hair that was serving drinks. I walked quietly over to him.

I stood behind him and tapped his shoulder. He turned around and grinned. "Hello, Nicole."

"Hi, Draco. Was that your father?"

"Oh," he suddenly looked gloomy, "yes. He stopped in and spoke with me. But, that's not important. I got you a gift." He held out a small box and I took it from his palm. My fingers brushed over his skin, and I felt electricity shoot through my hand all the way up my arm. I ignored the effect this had on me and untied the ribbon on the gift.

The silver satin of the box felt cold. I lifted the lid and set it on the bar. Delicately, I moved the tissue paper and saw the actual present. "Oh, wow, Draco." Inside was a beautiful comb (to use to fix my hair). It was, by the looks of it, white gold. There were glittering emeralds, pearly opals, fiery rubies, and gorgeous sapphires on the top. I spent a few seconds admiring it.

"I thought you'd like it. It was made for you. Do you want me to put it in your hair?" he asked, running his index finger over the edge of the comb.

"Yeah, sure." I handed the beautiful comb to him. Turning around, I let my hair out of its ponytail and twisted it into a bun. Draco slipped the comb into my hair and made sure it was going to stay.

"There."

"Here, just in case," I said. I put a spell on the bun to keep it in place. I turned to face Draco. He was smiling slightly. I hugged him and said, "Thanks, it's a great gift."

I stepped back and he suggested, "So, let's get a table and start to pretend like we're working."

"Alright." He ordered drinks while I went to find a free table. I sat down in a chair facing the doorway. Draco came up behind me and set my drink on the table in front of me. Then he went around and sat across from me. "So, tell me what you're father was doing here."

"Oh, he just needed to tell me some things. It's not a big deal." He looked rather like it was a problem.

"What did he say? Was it about, uh, you know, this summer?"

He looked up at me. "Sort of. It wasn't about me. It was about something he needs me to do. I don't really want to talk about it."

"Oh. I understand. I don't blame you." We didn't do any of the work I'd planned on, but it was nice talking and laughing.

I was about finished with my drink, when the door opened. "Oh," I muttered to myself. I stood up.

"What?" Draco asked turning halfway in his chair to look at the door. "Oh, not The Boy Who Lived but Doesn't Have a Life. I was having a good time. He ruins everything."

Harry saw us and came over to our table. "Hello Nicole," he didn't acknowledge Draco at all.

"Harry, I think you need to be nice. Draco, so do you."

"What? Me, be nice to The Boy Who Lived to Ruin My Life? No way. Not happening. EVER. Sod off, Potter."

"I would be Nicole, but, you see, he's just so rude."

"So are you," Draco said defensively, standing up and putting his hands on the table.

"No more so than you."

"That's a load of--"

"Enough! Both of you shake hands. Now! I will settle with a lack of profanity and bickering," I told them furiously, sitting on the tabletop.

"But, Nicole," Draco whined.

"Shut up, you! Harry hold out your hand. Draco, you too. Now," I took both boys hands and placed them together, "shake each other's hands."

"But--"

"The longer you complain is more time you have to spend touching Draco's hand, Harry. My advice is to get it over with."

"Fine," both said, shaking once and then quickly pulling away their hands.

"Good little boys!" I got off the table. "See you later Draco. C'mon Harry, let's go before the handshake wears off." I dragged Harry away (he was looking at his hand like it had just been bitten by vicious cobra). I pulled him out the door, with him still looking dazed. "Where's Ron and Hermione? Harry? Harry!"

"They're in Honeydukes." He snapped out of his daze.

"Good, let's go." We went over to the sweet shop and Harry opened the door for me. I made my way inside. It was packed with Hogwarts students buying candy. Harry followed me in. "Let's see if we can find them."

We slowly pushed through groups of students. In about five minutes we had located Hermione at the wall with a sign over it proclaiming it to be 'Weird Effects'.

"Oh, hey, did you two see Ron? I can't find him. He was by me one second, and gone the next."

"No, we just found you. So, you don't know where he is?"

"I can't find him anywhere. Harry, go check around the store for him. Nicole and I will just stay here and wait."

"What? Are you going to just stand here? I don't want to look for Ron, he can take care of himself. We can just look around and let him find us."

"Fine by me, so long as I can get some candy," I said. Hermione gave me a look that told me plainly that she thought this wasn't the correct answer. "What? Can't a girl need a sugar fix?"

"Well, certainly just not while Ron's missing."

"I'm missing?" Hermione spun around to face Ron. He was smiling guiltily at her. "I just went over there," he pointed at the wall opposite.

She hit his shoulder, "Ron Weasley! You are so inconsiderate! Did you not stop to think what would happen when we noticed you gone? We were really worried!" I thought she sounded like a worried mother, but that's just me.

"I wasn't," put in Harry.

"Neither was I," I added.

"I don't care about what you thought. But I was worried." Hermione gave us the guilt stare. "If you really cared--"

"We'd know that Ronniekins is a big boy and can take care of himself," someone said from behind Ron.

He turned around, "George, I told you not to call me that!"

"George didn't call you that, I did. I'm Fred. You can't even recognize your own brother. Pity."

"God this is confusing me!" I stated loudly. "Can we just shop and go? This is becoming a Days of Our Lives remake!"

"'Days of Our Lives'?" asked Ron.

"Soap Opera," I said shortly. "Alright, I'm going to shop while the siblings have their squabble." Harry nodded and came with me to buy some of the wonderful sweets. I bought fizzing whizbees, chocolate frogs, every flavor bean, and lots of others. Harry and I paid for ours and went to find Ron and Hermione.

I located them at the back wall. We went to them. "Oh, good you're done, let's get back to the castle for dinner," Hermione suggested.

"Yeah, sure." We trudged down the long lane that led back to the castle. We were among the first to start heading to school. As we reached the gates, I noticed a piece of paper lying on the ground. I bent down and stretched out my hand, picking up the parchment.

I continued walking up the front lawn with my friends. They hadn't seen me pick up the scrap of paper. I turned it over, checking for writing. On the back were the words 'is a seer'. I frowned and stuck it in the pocket of my jeans. The words kept running through my mind, as if my brain was cross-referencing the words with anything I'd heard.

We stepped in the front doors, into the bright Entrance Hall. I went up to Gryffindor tower and dumped the sweets on my four-poster. Then I ran back down and we all went to dinner.

The Great Hall looked magnificent. It had been decorated for Halloween with large jack-o-lanterns and hundreds of bats flying around the ceiling. The tables were laden with all kinds of food. The ceiling looked dark, like there was a storm brewing, which there was outside. There were black and orange taper candles floating above the tables. A lightning bolt lit up the hall, followed almost immediately by the sharp crack of rumbling thunder. It was magnificent weather for a Halloween evening.

We sat and ate the absolutely grand supper. I kept pausing in-between bites to stare at the fluttering bats. Eventually, I had eaten my fill of interesting dishes. We all sat and discussed the upcoming Quidditch match, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. It was enjoyable listening to Seamus and Harry excitedly chatting about tactics. There was one problem about it though; I was in the middle of the boys. I had to lean far back in my seat so as not to interrupt their conversation.

After dinner we all headed upstairs. Fred and George got a party started in the Common Room. They had food and drinks for everyone. The noise was giving me a headache, so I started up the spiral staircase to my bedroom. I stepped in the door and stumbled tiredly over to my bed. I fell back onto it and closed my eyelids.

A few seconds later, there was a rapping at my door. "Ugh," I grumbled quietly. "Come in!"

I closed my eyes again. I heard soft footsteps on the plush carpet. Then I felt someone sit next to me on the bed. I opened my eyes and saw Harry sitting there. He smiled as I moved to sit up.

"I brought your gift," he extended his hand. On his palm was a small, maroon, velvet jewelry box. I gently took it from him and sat up, leaning against the headboard. I opened the lid (it had hinges). Inside was a beautiful charm bracelet. I picked it up ad felt the cold of the silver on my skin. The charms were a heart, a book, a wand, a broomstick, and an owl. I shut the lid of the box and set it on my bedside table.

"It's wonderful Harry," I whispered looking at him.

He touched the heart charm, "Do you want me to help you fasten it?" I nodded and he took the bracelet from me. I held out my left wrist and he unhooked the latch. He put the bracelet around my wrist and closed the hook. "I had to pick it up this afternoon. But I didn't forget your birthday. I wouldn't ever."

I grinned. He smiled sheepishly at me through his hair that was falling over his eyes. "I love it Harry." I kissed him on the cheek and put my arms around his neck. He hugged me to him and rested his cheek on my neck. His black hair was tousled and smelled like fresh air. I inhaled the scent of him. It was a mixed laundry detergent and soap. He always smelled good.

"Do you love me?" he asked in a whisper.

"Yeah, Harry, I really do."

==============

The room was really dark. Well, it always was. I walked forward. "Ow!" I'd stumbled into a chair. I rubbed my knee where I'd hit it. My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. I felt my way in-between the chairs and tables. The cold stone floor was rough and freezing cold against the bare skin of my feet.

I didn't really want to see Draco. I wasn't sure why, but it just didn't seem the thing to do. So, instead of walking down the hall that led to the boy's dormitories, I traveled down the one to the right. This hall had portraits of stern-looking women in long, heavy dresses. I saw a door on my left that said 'Fifth Year: Girl's Dormitory'. I grinned to myself and pushed open the door.

Inside were five beds. I tried not to laugh out loud at the sight of all the cosmetics that were scattered on a vanity table. I would bet fifty galleons that half of them belonged to Blaise Zabini (Harry had told me about her, and how she loved to look pretty, but I thought she looked like a tart, go figure), and the other half to Pansy Parkinson.

In the first bed I saw, Pansy was sleeping with a shower cap over her hair, and a green face mask on. I smiled wickedly and went over to her, grabbing some of the lipstick off the dresser. She looked snobby even while she was sleeping. I pulled the cap off the lipstick tube (the color was electric blue) and started giving her a 'makeover'.

First, I put some of the lipstick on her eyelids, which she'd neglected to put any of the avocado mask on. Then, I began giving her little blue hearts on her cheeks. I gently pulled the shower cap off her hair and gave her highlights. I snorted with laughter at the sight of her. For the final touch, I applied the lipstick onto her lips, going WAY overboard. Ha, ha, ha, mwahahahah!

She stirred as I walked away to give her friend a 'makeover'. I paused and turned to look at her. She hadn't woken. I threw the tube back onto the table and picked up another one, this time, it was bright crimson. I went over to Blaise's bed and uncapped it. She had on a purple mask and black eyeliner (yes, even while she slept!). I rolled the stick up and began giving her the same treatment. The blood-red smeared with the black of her eyeliner. I drew stars on her cheeks, and intentionally overdid the color on her lips. I chuckled to myself and threw the tube onto her bedside table.

I went to the door and was about to open it when I heard someone ask angrily, "What the ----!?" I spun around in time to see Blaise jump up from her bed. She looked around and saw me at the door. "You--you did this!" The girl looked mad enough to kill.

Pansy woke up and had the same reaction. I pulled open the door and pelted down the hall into the Common Room. They ran out after me.

I went down the boy's hall and threw open the door of Draco's bedroom. I shut it behind me and leaned against it. From outside I heard the girls trying to find me. I looked at the bed, where Draco was sitting up frowning. "What's all that shrieking?"

"I...went into...the girl's bedroom...and put lipstick...all...over their...faces," I panted.

He stood up and walked over to me. I kept leaning against the door. I had a huge stitch in my side from running so quickly. It hurt for me to breathe.

"Move back from the door," he said. I did and he opened it and walked out. I heard snatches of voices out in the hall.

"A Gryffindor...she went in your room...go get her...we'll give her the punishment she deserves..."

"Pansy, there is no one in my room...I was the only one...it may be hard to believe but I was they only person there tonight...it's not necessary...no I won't allow you to...as a Prefect I can tell you what to do..."

"I saw her go in there...you can't be serious...I won't leave...you...it's not...you're not serious..."

"No...Blaise I told you...no one...your make-up...lovely...splendid...wear it to the ball..."

"I will not...that Stevens girl...she had to have...we both saw her...who else would have..."

"It was probably a...leave me be...I was trying to sleep...go back to bed...it's nearly three...go to bed..."

"Draco, you can't make us...it's not...you're just a...you're lying...I just know...you can't..."

"Yes, Blaise I can...I'm a prefect...Now go back to bed...I'll...you're not to be...I won't allow a search...you will go to bed now...I said now and I meant it..." From there on there was just murmuring. Draco came in a second later. He ran his hand through his hair, tousling it.

"Thanks." He turned to look at me.

"It was nothing. Seeing Pansy's face was good enough. I told you not to go in other people's rooms."

"You can't tell me what to do, prefect or not. I couldn't care less what you say. It's not my job to listen to you. This is my dream, and I want to have as much fun as possible annoying them and everyone else here," I said stubbornly, crossing my arms over my chest.

"No, it's my dream, and I say not to do that again. It really isn't safe. These people are dangerous. It won't take much to tip the balance of their sanity, they aren't the safest people to be around, and--"

"And neither are you, but I'm not staying away from you, am I?"

"That's true, but they don't like you, at all. Blaise knows a lot of Dark Magic. So does Pansy, but she's too daft to use any of it. They will both try to kill you if or when they get their hands on you," he warned.

"But that's only if they can. I happen to be smarter than either of them. But I'm going to go wake up."

"Alright," he said.