Before entering the room for their next class, Defense of the Dark Arts, Draco pulled Eleanor to the side, earning a quizzical look from Theo.
She just shrugged. "I'll see you in there, mate."
He nodded. "I'll save you a seat?"
"Sure."
Luckily enough, Eleanor had Draco in most of her classes except for Transfiguration and Charms. That made it easier for her to keep an eye on him. She, out of all people, knew how stressful it could be sometimes, especially with everything they have on their plate this year.
"Merlin, he can be quite clingy sometimes."
She rolled her eyes. "Theo's just being nice."
"Yeah, too nice. Why doesn't he save a seat for me?" He grumbled.
She grinned, mockingly flipping her hair back. "What can I say, I'm-"
"We get it, Morgenstern. You're hot,"
Eleanor raised a humored eyebrow at his quick interruption.
He continued: "Listen. I haven't been able to stop thinking about that bloody cabinet since Potions . . . and I really doubt that I'd be able to sleep tonight if we don't start on it yet."
She nodded.
"Yeah, I don't want to waste any time either." She didn't want to mention that she probably wouldn't be able to sleep either way. The party helped. By the time Eleanor made it to her bed, she was too exhausted from drinking to think about anything other than sleep.
"Good." He bit his lip, shoving his hands in his pockets. "We can just find it, to start things off."
"After class then?"
Fortunately, it was lunch after that. He nodded, going to sit next to Pansy.
-
Right as the bell rang, she rushed out of the classroom with the blonde boy in tow. It started then and there: the sneaking around.
Eleanor looked back, seeing a glimpse of a very confused Pansy and Theo.
"Where are you guys going?" Theo called out.
Eleanor ignored him, not really knowing how to respond. It was lunch, they expected to sit together in the Great Hall. Where else would her and Draco go to their knowledge? She couldn't really say, "Oh nothing, just a casual stroll to the Room of Requirement. No biggie."
She hated sneaking behind their backs. Sure, they were all Slytherins and their house had the reputation of being Death Eaters anyway . . . but if you were actually Slytherin and not a prejudiced Gryffindor like Potter, you'd know that it's actually not like that.
If she were to tell the others, they'd still be shocked, and most likely would not be able to keep it to themselves. Especially Pansy. Eleanor loved her but she could still admit the girl could be a little too much sometimes. At the end of the day, it was easier to keep it to themselves. It's not like anyone else could help.
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."