the last time I spoke to him was yesterday, Draco Malfoy somehow wriggled his way into my mind like a snake.

It was explainable, but it was also incredibly immoral. Yesterday was an absolute nightmare, because I had to deal with the worry of Harry in the tournament, Ron's jealous fight with Harry, Hermione's fight with Ron, and....just everything. I couldn't sleep.

I could only think.

About someone.

Someone who had given me a piece of spare parchment paper with my face on it, told me they've always noticed me, and left me standing alone in a room with an aching heart. I shouldn't have stayed. It was wrong of me to do.

But I couldn't help but want it.

"Dragons, [y/n]," Harry rambled, his brown hair strewn over his eyes as he walked, "Hagrid showed me them last night, and...I'm going to die aren't I?"

I blinked, remembering where I was. Harry and I were stalking through the courtyard after indulging with a conversation with Cedric Diggory, and he was talking about the first task.

I must have zoned out.

"No, you're not going to die," I exhaled, clutching the strap of my satchel tightly, "even if you were to get hurt, Dumbledore would probably put an end to it."

The boy furrowed his brows, "Dumbledore's not allowed to interfere."

"Oh, please, he always interferes when it involves you."

"I disagree."

"And I have eyes," I shrugged, "favoritism is so rampant at this school, they should make it an actual subject—"

Before I could finish my sentence, a voice erupted from the other end of the courtyard, rudely cutting me off. Harry and I both turned our heads to the right, where a boy was perched highly on a tree trunk, his group of friends watching from below.

Specifically, Draco.

"Why so tense, Potter?" He yelled, his voice almost inaudible from how high he was seated.

I noticed Harry's jaw clench.

This was not good. Whenever there was an altercation, it usually took place when Hermione and Ron were with us, or just Harry alone with Draco. That's why I always took a step back to watch, and that's why I had never spoken to the Slytherin till this year.

I obviously couldn't do that now.

"My father and I have a bet, you see," Malfoy sneered, "I don't think you're gonna last ten minutes in this tournament."

This...was the biggest mess that ever probably happened. If it was just a usual thing, it would have been fine, but it's not usual. Why? Because no usual day involved previously sharing a pensive moment in the Room of Requirement, and no usual day involved the knowledge that Draco freaking Malfoy drew me a damn portrait.

The Slytherin dropped down to the floor, his green-lace robes billowing behind him.

"My father disagreed," he spat out, beginning to approach us, "he said you wouldn't even last five."

Harry looked like he was going to swing a punch, but I couldn't let that happen. It was ridiculous, and it was unnecessary, and I didn't want his hands getting hurt by punching a worthless bully.

"Shut up, Malfoy," I hissed, stepping in between the two boys, "leave us alone."

I meant what I said, but I also didn't.

I wanted 'mean Draco' to go piss off, but I wanted 'tolerable Draco' to stay. The one I always had a glimpse of every time we met in the ROR. Unfortunately, bully Draco seemed to be the only version in the moment.

Something flickered in Malfoy's eyes, as if he was surprised I actually dared to speak to him in public. I usually never did, and he knew that.

Apparently he also found it amusing.

Averting his gaze from Harry's, Draco glanced at me, strutting his way towards me with pride dripping off his expression. I could tell what he was thinking, and he knew I was thinking about it too; that brief moment that we shared a night ago.

Coming to a stop in front of me, Draco pressed his finger against my chin, gently tilting my head back so that I was looking him straight in the eyes.

"Did you just tell me to shut up?" He grinned, his breath tickling my nose, "I know a way you can help me with that."

He did not.

Please tell me that Draco Malfoy did not just touch me in front of Harry. In public. Where everyone in the courtyard could see.

Before I had a chance to react, I saw a figure flash across my eyes, and Draco stumbled backwards, his back hitting the tree behind him. Letting out a painful groan, he scrambled back onto his feet, his blond hair hanging messily over his eyes.

Harry had punched him.

"Stay away from her," Potter spat out, his face fuming with a shade of dark red, "you're just as pathetic as your Father."

Grabbing my hand, Harry began to pull me off, but I turned my head to see Draco fumbling to get his wand out. Dammit. As soon as he whipped it out towards my best friend, I prepared to jump in front of him, but a flash of light cracked across my eyes.

Alastor Moody came thundering out from behind a column, his wand sparking with yellow tints, as a curse spilled out of the end and towards Malfoy.

"Oh, no you don't Sonny," he hissed, stalking over towards the gathering group, "that'll teach you to cast when someone's back is turned!"

Turning our heads, we all watched as Malfoy spun into the ground, shrinking, and shrinking, and shrinking, until he had turned into a small white creature—a ferret, to be exact.

Laughter echoed around the space as Moody flicked his wand, flinging Draco's transfigured body back and forth. Normally I would have begged someone to stop it, but this time I didn't. It was nice seeing Malfoy so powerless.

Only seconds after, Professor Mcgonagall came pushing through the crowds, her lips gaped open in horror.

"Professor Moody!" She stammered, her eyes widened at the spinning ferret, "what are you doing?"

The man shrugged, "teaching."

"I—Is that a student?"

"Technically it's a ferret."

Flipping his wand, Moody's eyes (or should I say, one eye) scanned the crowd until his gaze landed on me. He winked, sending the ferret flying into my arms.

I gasped, before catching the wriggling creature with a smirk on my face.

"Awe," I muttered sweetly, holding up the small animal up to my eye level, "how cute."

I let out an amused chuckle as Draco's body tried to wriggle out in fear. That made me tighten my grip, moving him closer to my face. Everyone was watching, of course, but I had one last thing to say to the pompous idiot that almost cost me my secret.

"Looks like I found a way to shut you up," I whispered, lowering my voice so no one but him could hear.

Tossing him back onto the ground, I let Mcgonagall wave her wand and spin him back into his original state. Glancing at Harry, who was staring at me in bewilderment, I grabbed his hand and began to pull him away.

"Let's go," I said, "let Moody deal with him."