firecracker ???

1-11

Pansy looked scandalized. "It's always them, isn't it?"

Only once the trio had moved on down the corridor did the Slytherins emerge.

"That explains the whispers," Daphne said under her breath. "Plotting again."

Then they stepped forward, and Hermione nearly ran into Elestara.

"Oh," she said sharply.

Draco stepped forward too, smug and delighted. "Caught plotting again, Potter? What's it this time—stealing from a troll?"

Harry glanced at him, unbothered. His eyes flicked to Elestara. "Hi, Black."

Elestara rolled her eyes. "Scraping the bottom of the conversation barrel, I see."

Daphne crossed her arms beside her. "Seriously, Potter?"

Pansy stepped forward too. "What do you want with her?"

Ron blinked. "He just said hi."

Draco scowled. "He knows not to talk to her."

Harry smiled faintly. "Didn't realize she needed a guard dog."

"More like a dragon," Elestara muttered, brushing past them.

The group swept by, cloaks flicking and whispers trailing behind them.

Once out of sight, they doubled back to the kitchens. Theo tickled the pear on the portrait until it giggled and swung open, revealing the warm, glowing space beyond.

The house-elves greeted them cheerily, already bustling to set out a tray of cream puffs, éclairs, and a tall silver pitcher of hot chocolate. Pansy made a point of requesting mint tea, while Blaise searched for treacle tart.

Elestara leaned against a counter, watching Draco pace. He barely touched the food. His mind was clearly elsewhere.

"They're going to get expelled," he muttered, mostly to himself.

"Hope so," Theo replied through a mouthful of éclair.

Draco stopped and frowned. "He was looking at her again."

"Elestara?" Blaise asked, licking sugar from his thumb. "He's been doing that since the troll. You're just now noticing?"

Draco scowled.

"He said hi," Daphne pointed out. "That's practically a proposal, coming from Potter."

"I don't like it," Draco said firmly.

"You don't like anyone talking to her," Elestara said dryly, but she took the mug of hot chocolate the nearest elf handed her.

They stayed for another fifteen minutes, enjoying sweets and idle banter before slipping out again through the hidden door.

As they made their way back through the darkened corridors, the conversation returned to Potter.

"Trying to find out school secrets in his first year," Pansy muttered. "Typical Gryffindor behaviour."

"Thinks he's the Chosen One already," Blaise said.

"Do you think Dumbledore actually told him something?" Theo asked. "Or is he just nosing around?"

"Potter always has to be the hero," Draco muttered darkly. "He can't stand not being in the center of attention. And now he's dragging my sister into it."

"She's not dragging," Elestara said lightly. "She's walking far, far away."

Draco didn't stop glaring until they were back at the portrait to the common room.