"I really don't see how this is supposed to cheer me up."

       "It will, if you at least try to enjoy it."

      "We're sitting here staring at a stupid lake! How's that gonna help!?" Draco retorted.

       "It helps if you shut up and focus on the view rather than nagging!" I snapped.

    Draco looked away and folded his arms grumpily, leaning back against the tree trunk as we sat before the Black Lake.

       "Sitting here somehow always eases my mind," I said with a light sigh, looking back at the still water.

      "You know what's the only thing on my mind when I sit here?" said Draco moodily.

      "What?"

      "That you turned my hair red at the beginning of fourth year right here."

        I laughed, only remembering it now. "Well, in my defense," I started with a grin, "Fred did that. Not me."

       "Who do y — oh, right... your weasel boyfriend."

       I rolled my eyes. "You know, I really don't know why you're so bitter at him. What has he ever done to you?"

        "Hmm... let me think," he said in mock thoughtfulness. "Well, for starters, he used to prank all Slytherins with his other weasel half, and not to mention the pair of them hexed us last year!"

       "They wouldn't have if you hadn't hexed me and given me a bloody nose!"

      "And I wouldn't have done that if you hadn't punched me in the face!"

       "That's because you crossed the line when you insulted Sirius!"

       The pair of us fell silent at that. I abruptly looked away, only realizing what I had just blurted out and hoping to God that he hadn't noticed.

       But I wasn't on luck.

       "Why would you care about that Sirius Black?" Draco raised a brow at me.

       "I-I don't like people insulting other people in general," I said briskly, avoiding his gaze.

      "If you say so..." he said, but something in his tone told me that he obviously could tell that I was lying. But thankfully, he didn't press the matter any further.

We sat there for long minutes, gazing at the lake in silence. I remembered all the times Fred and I used to sit here, talking nonsense and laughing.

I remembered the night of the Yule Ball as I sat here with my head on his shoulder, and then he made me chuckle when he so suddenly said my hair smelled like cherries.

Or when last year I came out of Umbridge's detention only to find him waiting here for me with a box of cookies to comfort me.

When I came out of my daze, I realized that I had been smiling like a fool and so I shook my head, regaining myself.

I cleared my throat, standing up. "We — we better get back to our common rooms before Filchykins catches us out of bed again."

Draco scoffed, standing up as well. "I still don't know why you keep calling him that."

"Like I said," I grinned, "you really don't wanna know. Trust me. It's not a mental image you'd want before sleeping."

By that, we started making our way back toward the castle, but as we reached the entrance hall, where we had to part ways, Draco came to a stop.

       "It's fine. I'll accompany you up there," he said tonelessly, his expression unreadable.

I playfully narrowed my eyes at him in suspicion.

"Don't give me that look, Hooper," he said with a small hint of a smirk on his lips. "I already know where your stupid common room is. I'm just trying to be a gentleman."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but you have a long way to go to earn that title, Draco. So don't flatter yourself."

"One would think you'd show more gratitude, but here you are, acting like a true Slytherin." He grinned. "Am I missing something?"

Oh, I don't know, I thought to myself sarcastically, maybe you're missing the fact that almost my whole father's side had been Slytherins.

But I said nothing and only gave him a cheeky smile before making my way up the marble staircase with him following me right behind.

"Listen..." Draco started as we kept on walking, avoiding my gaze. "About what you saw —"

"I won't tell anyone," I said earnestly, shaking my head at him reassuringly.

"No, it's not that..." he muttered, sighing. "I just wanted to say that — you don't have to be scared."

"Of what? You?" I said, scoffing. "Don't worry, you'll always be the same little ferret to me."

Draco shot me a glare.

"Sorry," I said, chuckling and so he shook his head at me in disbelief.

"You're the craziest person I've ever met, Hooper."

"Firstly, thank you again for the compliment, and second, how long will it take you to start calling me by my first name? I have one, you know."

But at that, all of a sudden Draco came to halt and froze on the spot, looking around with a frown.

"Okay, you don't have to call me 'Lexi'," I said. "No need to get all weird about it—"

"Shh!" he cut me off sharply, looking over the corridor.

And when I payed attention, I started hearing footsteps approaching us.

"Quick, this way," said Draco hastily.

But without waiting for my respond, he got a hold of my arm and started dragging me hurriedly toward the nearest broom closet.

"Hey!" I let out as be abruptly pushed me inside and closed the door behind us.

We kept quiet, listening to the sound of footsteps which were growing louder the closer it got to us and to my great horror, I started giggling uncontrollably.

"Stop laughing!" Draco hissed in a hushed voice.

"I can't help it!" I muttered, starting to chuckle in a muffled tone. I pursed my lips together, trying to stop myself from laughing, but it only made it worse as I finally bursted and snorted loudly.

"Damn it!" Draco cursed under his breath and before I could start laughing audibly, he quickly raised his hand and covered my mouth with it.

I started laughing uncontrollably. "Shush!" Draco snapped, and so to piss him off, I stuck my tongue out slightly against his hand.

"URGH!" he yelped in disgust and removed his hand off me immediately, walking backward in shock, only to accidentally hit the door, causing it to burst open and ending up in the corridor.

Our eyes widened and so we looked into the hall, knowing that we were probably going to be landed in detention.

But we were faced with Professor Trelawney, who just stood there, staring at us with surprise. But then she just shook her head and kept on walking, mumbling to herself.

"Phew," I sighed. "That was a close one."

"You think?" Draco snarled, glaring at me, but I only chuckled.

"What? I told you I laugh in serious situations!"

But he only huffed in frustration and started walking on, so I followed after him, my grin still dangling on my lips.

After a few minutes of walking, we finally came to a stop by the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Alright... I guess this is goodbye..." I muttered awkwardly, before saying sarcastically, "Thank you for being such a gentleman and accompanying me here. I would've been so scared without you."

"You're welcome," he said with a grin, making me look at him in disbelief. "Aren't you going in?"

"I'm not gonna say the password while you're here!" I said in mock-suspicion, folding my arms.

"Fine." Draco rolled his eyes. "Goodnight."

"Night," I said and so watched him turn on his heels, walking away with his hands in his pockets.

I was just about to open my mouth and say the password that Draco stopped, looking over his shoulder at me. "Hey, Hooper?"

"Yeah?" I raised a brow at him.

"Thank you," he said softly. "For everything." And without waiting for my reply, he turned around and walked away, disappearing out of sight.