Song: Take Me by Aly and AJ

"Professor Sprout?" I call out into the empty classroom. I'm usually the first one in class so I can talk to my favorite professor.

Her and I have become even closer over the past few weeks, so close in fact, that she usually tells me all of the professor gossip going on here at Hogwarts.

I hear some clattering in the back room, so I make my way over there to see what the noise is all about. Once I open the door, I see her trying to prepare the Chinese Chomping Cabbage for our class today. I rush over to help her as she struggles placing two of them onto the rolling cart.

"Here, let me help, Professor," I say, lifting one of the plants.

"Thank you my dear," she says with a smile, as I help her place the rest of the plants on the cart.

She strolls the cart into the classroom area, and sets it in front of the room next to her desk. I can't help but to notice there's not enough plants for everyone to have their own.

"Professor, why are there less plants than usual?" I question sitting down in my usual seat.

"Umbridge's rules. She thinks it would be less dangerous to have students work together on the plants, instead of having their own. I think it's quite foolish," she says, taking the plants off of the cart and setting them at different areas on the table. Clearly she doesn't like Umbridge's effects on Hogwarts, much like everyone else.

Besides Filch, of course.

"She's been making a lot of ridiculous rules lately. For instance, she set the curfew even earlier than what it used to be...even for us Prefects."

Most nights we can stay out later than everyone else as we typically do a quick check for any stragglers in the hall, but, Umbridge is ignoring that perk of ours and seems that her Inquisitorial Squad can get us in trouble if we're out past curfew for any other reason.

"This woman has the audacity to criticize my teaching, by coming in and taking notes while asking me the most unreasonable questions," she says matter of factly, sitting down at her desk. I notice her face becoming red with anger as she talks about Umbridge.

"Yeah, she even came into Snape's room once when I was in Potions and was criticizing him too," I remark, earning a sigh from her. Snape had pretended she wasn't there, but there was a slight twitch in his jaw whenever she scribbled something down in her notes or opened her mouth to say something. He clearly is irritated by her too.

"It's so unfair to us professors and you students. And don't get me started on that silly squad of hers, I mean she chose bullies to be a part of it—" she stops as she notices some students coming into the classroom.

I look over to the door, noticing Draco walking in with seemingly more arrogance than usual. I can also see the Inquisitorial badges on his and Goyle's robes as they're obnoxiously big and predominant. I roll my eyes at the sight as I turn back to Professor Sprout.

"We'll talk more later, dear." She gives me a wink as she stands up from her seat to start class.

Justin rushes in just as the bell rings, which is something he's been doing a lot recently.

Trying to make things less awkward between us I say, "Hey Justin."

He ignores me, per usual, as he looks up at Professor Sprout who has started her lecture about our O.W.L.S and what we'd be doing for class. I bear a slight frown, turning my head towards Sprout so I can focus on what she's saying as well.

"You will have to pair up with the person next to you as we can only have so many of the plants out for class due to new rules." Her tone is clipped, showing her distaste.

I hear Justin let out a groan, knowing that he'll have to partner up with me. I suppress the urge to give him a glare as he sinks down a bit in his seat.

"Now, please take a look at your plants in front of you. I want you to locate the ridge next to the mouth, which you all know is the chompus detector. Now tap it to let the plant know you are in control." I let out a snort hearing many others do the same.

I see her trying to hold back laughter as she says, "keep your minds out of the gutter, children."

Justin doesn't seem amused, but I ignore him as I tap on the ridge. Professor Sprout then gives us directions on how to feed them the carrots that are placed next to them. She also describes how they are used for the Skele-Gro healing potion.

Luna and Padma are seated directly across from Justin and I, and Justin starts to make conversation with Padma as we start to feed the Chomping Cabbage. They're talking about Dumbledore's Army and how excited they are for our next practice.

"I wonder what we're going to be working on next for D.A.," Justin says at a low volume so others can't hear. I'm holding a carrot out for the Chomping Cabbage, glancing between Padma and Justin as they speak. The cabbage takes a large bite out of the carrot, and after a minute, the carrot is completely gone. It lets out a growl, begging for more food.

"Hermione told me after our last practice that we'll be working on more advanced charms," Padma says with a grin, as she feeds the Chomping Cabbage a carrot.

Luna joins in saying, "Maybe it'll be the charm Stupefy... I heard it's quite useful."

Both Padma and Justin ignore her which bothers me, so I respond with, "Hopefully it is. It would be very fun to practice it."

She gives me a small smile as she takes a turn feeding their plant. Suddenly, I feel eyes on me, so I look around the room to see Draco staring at me. His lips twitch up into a smirk as I feel heat rise up into my cheeks. I quickly turn back towards Luna before the blush can take full effect on my cheeks, but it's too late.

Luna gives me a look full of curiosity while asking, "are you blushing because Malfoy is looking at you?"

I feel my face burn even more at her question sputtering out, "well—um—I."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you," she says, giving me an apologetic look.

"Oh Luna, you didn't, I just—Draco's been weird lately," I tell her honestly. She nods her head, seemingly understanding what I mean.

"I have noticed him talking to you a lot recently, but with less harshness on his face, unlike how he talks to everyone else," she remarks.

Even Luna has noticed Draco's odd behaviour.

...

For the remainder of class, Justin and I take turns feeding the Chomping Cabbage with me stealing glances at Draco every once in a while.

I'm not sure what has gotten into him, but I'm not necessarily complaining either. I could get lost in his bright gray eyes; they're a color that reflects the light intensely. They seem to flicker when his mood changes: a dark gray storm brews in them when he's angry while a twinkle seems to dance about when he's in a playful or teasing mood.

After I stack my books up, I step over to Professor Sprout's desk since she asked for me to speak with her after class. The reason... I'm not quite sure.

She glances up at me with a smile. "I've noticed you and Justin rarely talk, is everything alright there?"

I awkwardly shift on the balls of my feet as I reply with, "He's, well, he's been acting a lot differently around me after some misunderstanding between him and I."

"Oh, dear. Would you like me to move him? I can have someone switch seats with him," she offers with a gentle voice.

I smile internally. The perks of being one of her favorite students.

"Oh, you don't have to do that—" I start to say before she kindly cuts in with, "nonsense dear, I want you to enjoy every aspect of this class."

"Well, thank you so much Professor, you really don't have to do that," I say, a wave of relief rushing through me. I wouldn't have to bear the awkward tension anymore.

She waves it off saying, "it's really no trouble dear. Now, you should head off to lunch... have a good rest of your day!"

"You too, Professor." I give her a smile and wave, heading out of the Greenhouse towards the Great Hall.

...

After the remainder of my classes, and eating a quick dinner, I find myself swamped with loads of homework, so I decide to spend my Friday evening studying in the library. The hours seem to fly by as I manage to complete all of my coursework, besides Potions of course.

Glancing up at the large clock on the wall, I see it's quarter to nine. Our new curfew has been switched from ten to nine—even for us Prefects who aren't needed for patrolling much anymore thanks to Umbridge's new squad—so I find myself gathering up all my materials in a chaotic fashion.

I really don't need a detention for being in the library past curfew.

I rush out of the library, my books and parchment in a cluttered heap in my arms. I realize that there's no one in the halls, so I decide to run, which is also a rule violation. As I'm only a few corridors away from my common room, Draco and his minions, Goyle and Crabbe, round the corner. Goyle sees me first as he points and begins yelling.

I stop in my tracks, taking a couple steps back. Maybe if I go around down this other hall, I can get away from them, I think to myself

Unfortunately, I'm too slow to get there as they circle around me like vultures. All looking down at me as if I'm their next prey.

Draco's eyes scan down to my books in my arms. "Such a boggin. Out past curfew studying. Wouldn't expect anything less from a boring Hufflepuff as yourself though."

"I still have five minutes until it's past curfew, so please move," I say, giving him a pleading look. His eyes seem to take in my words as he looks over at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Well, what are you two idiots just standing around for...go get Filch!" He barks at them, causing both to nearly trip over their own two feet as they run in the other direction.

I narrow my gaze up at Draco, who simply just raises his eyebrows back at me.

"Well...go on," he says, stepping aside. I give him a curious look.

"What?" I ask, in disbelief. Is he really just going to let me go?

He looks over my form before bringing his eyes back up to my face. "Hurry and leave before the idiots get back here."

I begin walking in the direction of my common room. I'm right beside him as I crane my neck up, looking him in the eyes. "Why are you being—" I look around before whispering, "—nice?"

He scoffs, clenching his jaw as he looks off to the side before looking back at me with a harsh gaze. "I'm not being nice. I just don't want a detention to cut into our tutoring session tomorrow."

"Ohhh...so you want to spend time with me, do you?" I give him a playful smirk. His gaze immediately leaves my face and shifts off to the side.

He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly as he says, "I've had worse company." So is that a yes?

"Really? Even worse than this boring Hufflepuff?" I retort back to which he rolls his eyes.

"Time's a ticking, Tonks," he says, bringing his eyes back to mine, tapping at his silver wristwatch. I roll my eyes at the gesture. He's clearly avoiding my questions.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Draco. Goodnight," I give him a smile before rushing off towards my common room.

I swear I hear him say, "goodnight, Libby," before I am completely out of earshot. I almost stop in my tracks at it, but shake it off and continue on since he has never called me by my first name; I don't think he ever will.

As I finally make it to the common room, hastily doing the passcode and running up to my room, my mind is reeling from everything that has happened.

I still can't believe that Draco just let me go like that. He's been acting so strange lately; from the flirtatious glances in class to being actually somewhat nice to me.

I make it to my room, placing my jumble of books and parchment on my desk. I walk over to my small window, looking out towards the night sky.

Draco still acts like a complete arse in front of his friends and housemates, but whenever it's just him and I, he's like a completely different person. He puts on this act as if he despises my presence, but, from what I have gathered tonight, he actually likes having me around.

I shake my head, laughing to myself.

The thing is, I actually like being around him too.