a/n: you know when you're talking to someone you like and you want to just keep talking no matter how dumb it is to keep the conversation going? yeah, that's this.

Unfortunately for us, the looming threat of exams was enough to preoccupy us from further action. I spent more time than before alone in the library, reviewing my notes and practicing charms under my breath. I noticed that other students (though mostly older ones) were starting to follow suit, and over time it started to get louder despite Madam Pince's best efforts. I ended up moving to the art room and staying there. It was much more peaceful, only a few art students coming and going silently.

I spent a warm, sunny Saturday morning inside the art room, practicing transfiguration until I could confidently turn beetles into buttons, then I left for lunch. I had forgotten the art room was between the stairs to the dungeon and the stairs to Gryffindor tower, so as I left I'd accidentally walked into a shock of blonde hair.

"Watch it!" He snapped at me. I blinked. I hadn't realized how tall I was compared to him. I hadn't stood so close to Malfoy in a while, or at least long enough to take note of it.

When he noticed I didn't respond, his scowl only grew. "What?"

"You're so short," I observed, placing a hand at my forehead and extending it into the air just above Malfoy's head. "Truly. You could be Harry's height."

Malfoy's ears went pink. "Quit trying to humiliate me."

"I wasn't, I was just saying." I said neutrally. I thought the conversation would end there, but Malfoy still stood as if he wanted to say something else. He looked up at the label above the door, pensively raising an eyebrow at it.

"Didn't peg you as an artist, Holmes."

"I'm not," I told him. "Though I used to play the violin — I couldn't pick it up, though, so I stopped playing."

He looked at me incredulously. "You couldn't pick up a violin?"

"No," I huffed impatiently. "I mean I couldn't read the music, didn't understand the fingering. I could physically pick up the violin, Malfoy."

He scoffed so softly it almost sounded like a chuckle. "Well yes, I'd hope so. You carry that bag of books around like your life depends on them."

I still wasn't sure why he was talking to me. Malfoy had been particularly disagreeable lately. It was like he was everywhere at all times; and to think that months ago I would have enjoyed that. I'd buried any interested I had in him under all of the resentment that had been piling up one snarky comment after another. However, I tucked away my anger from the last interaction we'd had and decided to be a little more placid.

"Well, I'm studying for exams," I informed him, breaking the strange silence. "What are you doing here?" I looked around again. "Alone?"

He didn't answer at first, only leaning against the wall with his arms crossed before him judgmentally.

"Exams are months away, and if you're worrying about them then that's concerning for me." He hesitated. "Not that you're smarter than me—"

"Which I am," I butted in.

"You just try a lot harder," he ignored me. "Which is making me feel like maybe I should start trying too. I wouldn't let a mudblood beat me for top of the class. Though, I wouldn't want to seem like a know-it-all. That's you and Granger's job."

"Sometimes, I wish I could transfigure you into a rock and hurl you into the Black Lake," I grimaced. "Maybe then I could drown you out."

"Well I'm glad to know the feeling is mutual," he replied coolly. "Which, by the way, I was actually on my way to the library to speak to you. See, I've got some news I think you'd be interested in."

My curiosity got the better of me. "News?"

"Has Potter told you what's going on in Hagrid's sad little shack?" In response to my silence, he grinned wolfishly. "No?"

I sighed. "Harry hasn't said anything. Frankly, I don't particularly care." Which was a lie. Ron, Harry, and Hermione had been distant lately. I'd been very focused on studying, among other things, but there was definitely something going on that they weren't telling me, which, admittedly, hurt a little.

Malfoy seemed to see through me. "I think you do. But I know, and I'm not going to keep it from you. Guess what I overheard this morning?"

I began to turn and go. "I don't have time for games, Malfoy—"

"Hagrid's got a dragon!" Malfoy hissed gleefully.

I stared at him for a moment, studying his expression. He wasn't kidding.

"Isn't that illegal?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, extremely!" He grinned. "And it's hatching today. That's where your 'friends' disappeared to, by the way. If we go now, we can see it and rat them out—"

"No thank you," I shook my head. "I'm done fighting with them. I won't stop you but if you'd like you can stay and study with me instead."

He seemed to consider this for all of two seconds. "While the offer is very tempting," he said this with great sarcasm, "I've got business to attend to." He smirked. "You'll thank me later, Holmes."

I shook my head, but didn't stop him. Malfoy had told me what was going on when my own friends didn't. In all honesty I didn't like the three of them going out and about without me. It made me feel like they didn't want me around.

Deep down, I knew it was because Malfoy was always nearby, having latched on to me like a snarky little parasite. We'd just had Herbology and Harry had urged me to go inside and study. Granted, I had mentioned it as a suggestion, but were they just trying to get rid of me?

I sighed. I didn't need them anyway. I walked back up to the common room, setting my things on the couch and busying myself with my Potions paper.

It'd been at least fifteen minutes before Dean, Neville, and Seamus came through the portrait hole. I pretended not to see them. I wanted to be alone. Unfortunately, Dean seemed to spot me right away. Seamus and Neville went off to their dorms and Dean set his bag down on the floor and sat beside me.

"Afternoon, Lila," Dean seemed cheerful as ever. "Didn't expect to see you in here. It's lunchtime. We just got back."

"How is it you're always the last ones to breakfast and the first to lunch?" I asked, letting my gloom fall away with amusement.

"Growing boys need sustenance," Dean simply shrugged. "Where are the rest of your friends?"

"I wish I knew," I lied. "I've been studying so I've seen them less and less." 

"You should come hang with us more often," Dean offered. "I mean, we need somebody to keep us on track for exams, but that's not the only reason I'm inviting you. You're fun to be around and Seamus and Neville and I really enjoy talking to you. We want to get to know you more."

"Really?" I asked, my heart growing warm. "I'll take you up on that."

"Fantastic," Dean smiled. "Have you been out at all today? It's a gorgeous day."

"I was planning to take a walk after lunch, but I ran into Malfoy and lost my appetite," I grimaced.

"Oh. He's still bothering you?" Dean asked. "You didn't seem very chummy in Potions the other day."

"We're not," I looked out the window, imagining his small form running toward Hagrid's Hut. "But I suppose unwelcome company is better than no company at all."

"We'll keep you company, no worries," Dean patted me on the shoulder. "Neville lost his Potions book, so he's checking the boys dorms again but if he doesn't have one we're going to the library to see if he could find a replacement. You're welcome to come with us."

As if on cue, Seamus and Neville came down the stairs, Seamus patting a distraught Neville on the back.

"He can borrow mine," I told Dean. "It's not like I need it. Besides, I have most of them memorized anyway and can just share with Malfoy."

"How sweet of you." Dean smiled. "You think Malfoy will share with you?"

I wasn't sure. There was a chance he'd say no, but there was a higher chance he'd say yes.

"Something tells me he will," I shrugged. "He wouldn't fail the course without me but both partners do need to be involved for full credit."

"Tell that to Lavender," Dean sighed. "If she could take her eyes off of Harry for just one minute maybe we'd be successful."

I laughed at this. After giving Neville my book, I sat with Dean during dinner and I got to know Neville and Seamus a lot better. Dean persuaded me to help them study during our breaks in the week and in return we quickly became friends.
In the common room, Dean and I stayed up trying to coordinate a study schedule. We would start at 3 pm on the weekends for however long it took, and then during our morning breaks on Mondays and Wednesdays.

"I'll be honest with you, Lila," Dean sighed happily. "I've never been this excited to study before."

"I'm glad to hear that," I grinned. I felt warm inside, happy again.

"Im mostly excited to spend more time with you," he elbowed me playfully. "You're a lot more fun than you give yourself credit for."

"So are you," I felt my smile widen. "And I'm really glad we're doing this because I like spending time with you all too."

Dean's smile widened, but it was cut off by a yawn. "I'm so glad. I'm exhausted, but we'll see you in the library on Wednesday, then?"

I nodded. "That you will."

Dean stood with a yawn. "Goodnight, Lila."

"Goodnight, Dean." I waved to him as he made his way to the staircase to the boys dorms. I put all my things neatly into my bag and was about to leave when I saw Hermione standing by the stairs. Once we made eye contact, she hurried over.

"I need to talk to you, but I didn't want to interrupt you and Dean." She winked. "It looked important."

"We were making a study schedule," I shrugged, keeping my face neutral. "Thats all. What is it?"

"Well, I'm very sorry for keeping this all a secret, and Harry and Ron and I are very sorry about sneaking around without telling you, but—"

"Hagrid has a dragon?" I asked. She appeared shocked. I shook my head. "I figured."

"How did you—?"

"I ran into Malfoy today," I told her. "Told me all about it. I must say, I was surprised to hear it from him first—"

"Which we're so very sorry about," Hermione frowned. "It's just that he was always around you and we didn't get a chance to tell you."

"It's okay," I shook my head. "Dean's been making sure to keep me company. Neville and Seamus too."

Hermione seemed very happy with this, but also she pursed her lips worriedly. "Look, Lila. I don't want you to think that we don't want you around. We do, and I do especially. You're my best friend, and I've never had one of those before. It's admirable that you've been so patient with us not telling you things but you don't have to be. If something's bothering you we want to know. I speak for all three of us when I say that we really, really love being your friend."

"Thank you," I had started to cry, and I hugged her tightly. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she said tearfully, also crying.

Still, I had promises to keep to my new friends. It was different being around Seamus and Dean and Neville instead of Harry and Ron and Hermione. Seamus and Dean were a lot more rambunctious as a pair and Neville was the worrywart always telling them to cut it out.

They all copied off each other's homework but were wrong most of the time and needed my guidance for a lot of it. I didn't mind, as all of them seemed more eager to learn than Harry and Ron instead of just getting by with copying down the bare minimum. Neville also helped all of us with Herbology, and I began to feel like I was getting on Professor Sprout's good graces again.

A few days later, Hermione invited me to visit Hagrid. He looked suspiciously at me when I arrived, so I shook my head.

"Malfoy knows; he's the one who told me. You have to get rid of the dragon, Hagrid, or you're going to be in some serious trouble."

Hagrid sighed. "I can't. He's too little, he'd die."

From my perspective, the dragon seemed anything but little. It was a beautiful creature, onyx scales and glittery eyes, but it could bring Hagrid some very serious consequences. Smoke was already billowing out of the openings of the hut. It wouldn't be long before the dragon would get too big to hold anyway.

"I've decided to name him Norbert," Hagrid said cheerfully. "Look, he knows his mommy! Here Norbert! Norbert!"

Ron leaned in to me to whisper, "he's lost his marbles."

"Hagrid, give it two weeks and Norbert will be twice the size of your house," said Harry loudly. "Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment."

At this, Hagrid pursed his lips. "I know, but I can't just get rid of him."

Harry sharply turned to Ron. "Charlie!"

"You've lost it too," Ron shook his head. "I'm Ron, remember?"

"No, your brother, Charlie," Harry said excitedly. "The one who studies dragons in Romania. Charlie can take care of him and then send him into the wild!"

"Brilliant!" Ron exclaimed. "How about it, Hagrid?"

It took a lot of convincing, but Hagrid ended up agreeing to this plan. We owled Charlie about it that day.

The Wednesday evening of the next week, Ron and I went down to Hagrid's with Harry's invisibility cloak to help feed Norbert. Initially, I'd been opposed to sneaking out, but how many times would I get to feed a real dragon? I knocked rhythmically on Hagrid's door, and he cracked it open. Not seeing anyone, he swung it open a little bit wider to let us in.

"Norbert's been waiting for yeh," he said gleefully. "He's just been eating those rats. Be careful, he might nip yeh on accident, but he's jus' playin."

"Why don't you just feed him yourself?" Ron asked. I elbowed him.

"I'm sure Hagrid has things to do," I said politely. I looked over at the pile of dead rats by the fireplace and grimaced. Eugh. 

"I've lost Scabbers again," Ron said disdainfully. "I hope he didn't end up here."

"Maybe it'd be for the best," I frowned. "I'm shocked he's still kicking. How old is he again?"

"About as old as I am, I think," Ron made a face. "If not older than the pyramids."

I picked one up by the tail disgustedly and walked it over to Norbert. His long, dark tail thumped excitedly on the ground, shaking the entire hut.

"Easy, boy," I said quietly, dropping the rat into his mouth. "You don't want to get Hagrid in trouble, do you?"

Norbert seemed to understand, ceasing the thumping. I turned to fetch another rat as Ron walked by me with his own. As I stooped down to pick up another I heard a yelp of pain. Hagrid and I both whipped around to see Ron, holding his finger in anguish. Norbert looked rather pleased with himself.

"I told yeh ter be careful," Hagrid shook his head. "I'm sorry about that. I've got ointments, jus' hold on."

Ron looked at me irritably.

"This wasn't my idea," I said defensively. "Blame Harry."

Hagrid produced a sickly smelling bowl of purple slime, instructing Ron to put his finger into it. He looked hesitant.

"It's either this or yer finger will fall off," Hagrid said encouragingly. Ron groaned, finally putting his finger into the ointment. I tossed Norbert another two rats as I waited for the ointment to start working on Ron.

"Will I need to go to the Hospital Wing for this?" Ron asked nervously.

"Definitely," Hagrid nodded, to which Ron groaned. "Jus' don't tell her what happened. She'll come down righ' away."

"Madam Pomfrey is very hard to lie to," I said. "Let me see the bite."

Ron took his finger out of the ointment. I examined the bite for a few seconds. "You can put your finger back in. The bite looks a lot like a dog's, specifically a German Shepherd's; which is a shame because they are such wonderful dogs—"

"Better than saying it was a dragon," Ron shook his head. "When can I take my finger out of this for good? I think it's eating me."

"Give it another few minutes," Hagrid said. "Yeh'll be fine."

"Let's hope Malfoy hasn't said anything," I frowned. "Once he finds out about this he's going to use the bite as proof."

We waited for another few minutes before leaving the hut under the invisibility cloak, Ron's hand wrapped in a bloody hankercheif. Upon reaching the common room, the clock chimed midnight. Ron threw the cloak into my hands irritably.

"It bit me!" he said, showing Harry and Hermione his hand. "I'm not going to be able to hold a quill for a week. I tell you, that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit. When it bit me he told me off, and when we left, he was singing it a lullaby!"

We were startled by a tapping on the window.

"It's Hedwig!" said Harry, rushing to the window. "She'll have Charlie's reply!"

Hermione read the letter aloud, Charlie instructing us to bring Norbert to the astronomy tower at midnight on Saturday.

"We've got the invisibility cloak," said Harry. "It shouldn't be too difficult - I think the cloaks big enough to cover two of us and Norbert."

"Ron clearly can't go — his hand might get worse," I frowned. "I'll come with to keep watch for Malfoy; I don't trust him not to try and catch you."

"Without the cloak?" Hermione seemed alarmed. "Lila, I'm not sure if that's a good idea—"

"We weren't caught last time, were we?" I assured her. "Besides, I've grown up doing this around the house. I know what I'm doing."

"If you're sure, Lila," Harry agreed. "Just be careful."