TWISTED [D.M.]

05

The walk to the seventh floor was a quiet one. It didn't really bother Eleanor. She was nervous. She didn't have it in her to break the silence with Malfoy, he was probably nervous as well. 

Halting at the end of the corridor, Eleanor hesitated. Draco's eyelids fluttered close. 

"Just envision that you need it. The Room of Requirement, I mean."

"I know, Draco." She deadpanned just as the massive gate appeared before them.

Draco turned the knob, letting her in with a scowl on his face. "Leave the attitude at the fucking door, Morgenstern."

This remark had her taken aback. She wasn't trying to be a bitch. What made him so snappy all of a sudden? 

"I'm not. I just don't need you telling me something I already know. I understand how the Room of Requirement works. I'm not a fucking first-year." 

He lingered by the door way, making sure no one was watching before he shut it. "I was just trying to be nice you trifling bitch." 

"In that case, thanks."

Eleanor shook her head, stepping further down the room, recalling that the last time he called her a bitch was before he found out she was a Morgenstern. It didn't really bother her more than it amused her. She figured it was his nerves talking. 

Her and Malfoy never really stepped on each other's toes, but they never saw eye-to-eye either, which is why they limited their conversations to things that didn't really matter. Like Quidditch, or how ridiculous Potter looked yesterday. That helped them remain good friends over the years. Their parents were very good friends too, meaning they visited each other during the holidays often. However, wherever their parents were, followed tension. Eleanor and Draco had to be good friends to stay sane.

Taking in the vastness of the room, Eleanor gulped. It would take them hours, if not days, to find the twin closet of the one at Borgin & Burke's. She needed to be on amicable terms with Malfoy if she wanted to succeed in finding the damned thing.

"Want to divide and conquer?" She suggested, already walking over to the right side of the room.

"I like where your head's at. I'll take this side."

-

After what felt like hours, Eleanor plopped down on the floor next to a pile of boxes with a heavy sigh. Looking down at her wristwatch, she realized she had Transfiguration in thirty minutes. 

She groaned, muttering to herself, "We'll never find this stupid cabinet."

From afar, she heard a loud clatter, making her stand up quickly.

"Malfoy?" She called out anxiously. 

"Yeah," A pause. "Come here Morgenstern!"

"Fuck, okay." Eleanor sighed, quickly heading over to where she heard his muffled voice. 

"What are you doing?" She squinted at his dark figure, as he stood in front of a rather large structure, covered with a duvet.

He didn't reply.

"Malfoy, we've been here for a while, I have Transfiguration in a bit. We should go soon."

The boy turned around to face her, a smug expression plastered on his face. "I don't think you'd care about fucking Transfiguration class if I tell you what I found."

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "At least hurry up."

"Fine, don't get your wand in a twist. I'll show you." With that, Malfoy pulled the covering that followed with a sheet of dust and debris. She covered her eyes, coughing. As she hesitantly opened her eyes, she saw an antique-looking cabinet.

Feeling her heart beat racing, she slowly walked towards it, mouth agape. "You found it."

"Yeah," He sounded unsure. 

"What's wrong?" Eleanor asked quizzically, approaching him.

"Nothing." He shook his head, continuing to look at the mechanism that was meant to provide entrance to Death Eaters in a couple of months.

"Do you know how it works?" She prodded.

"No . . . and I have a feeling it won't be as easy as it looks."