Great Hall w/ Moodz and Ellie

"You be quiet, Branston." I snapped. I tried to sit up, and was thankful that Branston had put his hand on my back to help. I nodded at him, and he grinned. The students glanced at Draco, then Branston. A few of the boys looked pretty angry that Branston was holdinig my attention more then they were, and I yawned to cover up rolling my eyes at them. Petty petty. I glared at Draco for a split second, then sighed.

I pushed my way closer to the bed and purposely gave Branston a good elbow to the kidney. "Back up and give her some room, you dolts!" I growled, hoping that I could use my Slytherin intimidation skills to get them to back off a little. Almost everyone took a few steps back, except for Branston, who was rubbing his side where I had elbowed him and scowling at me.
"Malfoy, you prat, I need those organs! Cira doesn't want you here anyway," Branston groaned at me. I hoped I had ruptured something in there, honestly, he was the most annoying person I'd ever met in my life, barring Potter and his band of misfits.
I ignored Branston's claim and let my eyes rest on Cira. "Better, Slytherin? A little birdy told me you'd hurt yourself pretty badly..."

My lips twitched at his comment, so I quickly replaced it with a scowl.
"Is that so?" I murmured. Branston quickly pushed Draco out of his way, placing his hands on my face as he brushed my hair away, back onto the pillow. I resisted cringing. But, from him doing that it change by perspective on the boy. If Draco and I didnt turn out well, Branston would be a decent husband.
"You looked very beautiful while you slept, as usual." He said to me. Now the glares from the other kids where growing deadly. I resisted laughing out loud.

(QUICK REPLY OH YEAH!)

I thought I would actually be sick when Branston put his hands on me to push my away. As if he had any right! It wasn't that I was protective of Cira (was it?), I just couldn't stand the thought of her stooping as low as this filthy sycophant. I watched her face and I could tell that she was tolerating him, which was rare. Cira was not the type to put up with much for very long. But, you know, I can see when I'm not wanted, no matter how rare it is. I walked back to my chair to retrieve some odds and magical ends that I had pulled from my pockets to amuse myself and began to stuff them back into my robes.
"Hey, that's mine!" a second-year gasped as I searched for a space to hold a rainbow-colored Sneakoscope.
"Nope, afraid not," I murmured, finally finding the bottomless pocket beneath my left arm. I strode towards the door, wondering if Pansy had come down from her dormitory.

MOOOOOOOODZ.

"Oh, leaving so soon, Malfoy?" I asked as I saw his hand touch the doornob. Branston looked triumphant that he had gotten away with kissing me and that Draco was leaving. A couple of the other students looked like they where wishing that Branston would leave with Draco. A few more looked like they wanted Draco and Branston to get into a non-magic fight. As I though about it, I decided that that would be pretty interesting to watch. I found myself wishing that Branston would leave, which I suppose was resonable.

I glanced back over my shoulder at Cira but couldn't help but see only the face of that smug arsehole, Branston. I set my jaw and forced myself to look only at Cira. "Well, I was hanging about to make sure that you wouldn't be molested by some brutish git, but I can see that you're quite fond of him. Services no longer necessary." I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could in my anger and observed as Branston gave me a rude hand gesture. I smirked at his failed attempts to start something with me. It took a lot more to get a fight out of a Malfoy than this.

MOOOOOOODZ

Oh, NOW we're getting somewhere. As I saw what Branston did, I slapped him over the head as hard has I could. Putting a glower on my face I spoke. "I dont care if you dont like him, Branston. You do NOT disrespect ANY Slytherin. It makes you no better than a Gryffendor. Oh, and Malfoy, I think, even when confined to a bed, I can take care of myself." Then I said, "A little bit... Protective, dont you think, Malfoy?" I kept on a calm, tired façade and sighed.

I lifted my eyebrows at the scene unfolding. Branston looked like a first year being punished for breaking curfew. For a moment, he was actually poking his bottom lip out into a pout that was both girlish and pathetic.
"Protective, Slytherin? Why of course. We are of the most noble house and although we are not those imbecilic Hufflepuffs, we do understand loyalty. No purebloods shall be defiled if my presence can prevent it." I felt a bit like my father as I delivered the words so coldly, so disconnected. I had learned from him how to manipulate voice and language to make anything sound logical, convincing. No emotions were present in my speech or my face. I wondered if it was to end up a blessing or a curse.

MOOOODZ


"Oh? It seems as if I'm the only one that you seem to be needing to protect." I said curtly, streaching out like a cat and swinging my legs over the side of the bed, opposite of Branston. Standing up, I place and inoccent, little kid smile on my face. I hoped that I looked like a sweet little girl (uhm, ew) even with the gastly scratches on my face.

"Well, those in direst need should always be managed first. I believe some of our...mutual acquaintances...would have tipped you off on that sort of rule." My little reference to the secret world we both moved in and out of was dangerous, but it was the best excuse I had. "In any case, you seem...well, really, you look a bit menacing and wounded, but what I really mean to say is you seem fine. Besides, with all this questioning, one would think you didn't want me here." A few of the females in the room gasped at this and I felt silently triumphant at the fact that none of them could understand how someone could NOT WANT Draco Malfoy.

MOODZ

I crossed my arms, and cocked my head to the side. "I never said that I wanted you to leave. I actually never said I wanted anyone in this room to leave. But there are a few that I do." Was my reply, and I sent back a pointed look to Branston. I smiled at Draco, "Menacing, eh? Then why would I need protection?"

"Oh, but looks can be deceiving, can they not?" Urged on by the admiration of the girls in the room and Cira's seeming determination to humiliate me by implying that I cared, I stepped swiftly across the room and placed my arms around her lightly. "Now, this," I said, leaning my head in closer to her, "would make it seem as if we are an item, would it not?" I still spoke loudly enough that the whole crowd could hear me, as if I were giving a demonstration. "Would it not?" I whispered more softly, close to her face, where I could see the clean but still ragged wounds.

MOOODZ

Smiling, I raised my eyebrows at him. I knew to keep my emotions in check, and just show slight amusment. "Is that so?" I murmured, playing along with his little game and placing my hands on his shoulder. I could basicly FEEL Branstons horror and anger behind me, and it made me want to laugh out loud. But laughing right now would seem a tad odd in my mind. The other girls in the class looked ready to pound on me, which some how made me even more giddy.

"And there are quite a few things," I continued loudly, "that could happen from here that would make people quite certain...." I lifted my hand to her hair, threading my fingers through it and glancing around the room at the general shock and envy. Branston looked as if he were ready to burst. I don't think I've ever seen a person go quite so red.... My mind flicks back to Pansy and what her face would look like if she were present. Since when had I become so indecisive. This should have been an easy break...Dark Lord says so, no other explanations necessary. But lingering bits of fidelity to Pansy (who wasn't even technically my girlfriend) were pulling at my concentration. "The question is....they wouldn't know if they were wrong...or right," I said, leaning down to place my forehead against hers, where she was conveniently not scratched.

MOODZ

"That might be true. But the thing is, some people might think that we are one and each other, while others might think that we are just quite the opposite, wouldent you agree?" I replied, my chin lifiting up defensivly. I had already tilted my face to realize to late that it had brought me even closer to Dracos head. "In fact, some might think that you belong forever with said person, not with who you might be reffering to." i continued, a slight ounce of sarcasm entering my voice.

I struggled to follow her train of thought while being so close to her. Her up-tilted head revealed a smooth patch of her neck not covered by her hospital robe, and her mouth, upturned at one side, mocked me and invited me at the same time. "All of this hypothetical circling is rather too much like a Ravenclaw for me. Perhaps a demonstration..." I attempted to cross the little distance that still separated my mouth from hers, then felt a searing pain in the right side of my head. With a gasp, I fumbled back a step to see what had hit me, but all I saw were rapidly flying fists, thrown with no care or forethough. I was being assaulted by Branston.

MOODZ

I watched as Draco stumbled down to the floor, then took action. Letting lose what sounded like a growl, I flew forward, placing a well thought out kick to Branstons side, grabbing both of his arms and pulling them painfully behind him. He let out a squeel and fell forward with my help. Putting my knee on his back (while being thankful that these hospital robes had pants) I put my hand on the back of his neck, keeping his struggling form on the ground.

I watched in awe as Cira, despite her injury, took Branston down easily. I felt no embarrassment about my fall, as I'd been given no warning. How lowly of him. I quickly recovered and got to my feet, pulling my wand and simply thinking, "Incarcerus." Ropes appeared around his wrists and Cira was able to let go of his arms. I quickly did the same for his feet and motioned for her to stand. "Well that was exciting, no?" I asked, staring down at his wriggling body. I had imagined I would be angry at him, sending all kinds of (possibly illegal) hexes at him, but I felt very nearly nothing. It was vaguely pleasant, and slightly troublesome. I turned to Cira to see if she was upset.

MOODZ

I kept on foot on Branstons back, shaking my head. "Remember what I said about being respectful to other Slytherins? You just broke that rule." I said, angry. The other students look at me and Branston with awe, there mouths open. It reminded me of opera singers. "You okay?" I asked Draco, turning to look at him. There was slight swelling from where Brantson hit him, and looking at it caused me to press my foot down even harder against Branstons spine, making him twitch. Hm. I must be hitting a nerve. I thought happily.

I smiled (yes, really smiled, not a first but a definite rarity) as I watched her press down into Branston's bak. "Fine, fine, of course," I said, touching my hand to the right side of my face. It was hot, tender, but only slightly swollen, and I wondered almost distractedly if it would bruise. I glanced around at the other people in the room. "You all!" There was a general look of fear/shock in the eyes of the students, who all seemed to move simultaneously backwards. "Why are you here again?" I asked, finally discovering a little bit of buried anger.

MOODZ

I smothered my laughter with a cough as I saw the students shock at Dracos words. They all rushed out the door like a little black herd. Yanking Branston up, I pulled him close and hissed in his ear, "Ill deal with you later."Then I shoved him out the door, rolling my eyes and perching myself at the edge of my bed, sighing.

The room cleared swiftly and I let out a breath that I hadn't known I was holding. My senses seemed to be coming back to me, although they'd been completely swept away before, by both my proximity to Cira and my suddent attack. I let my eyes wander to the more pleasant of my distractions. She was the girl I knew who could match me in indifferent glances; she looked as if nothing could happened, although I knew that she must feel some sort of pain or anger. I walked over to her and tentatively sat down beside her. Speechless wasn't usually my style, but there weren't any words that hadn't passed between us. We could go in circles about this for years. Pansy, Voldemort, destiny, father, Branston, the opinions of everyone around us. All diffcult issues, although some much more easily dealt with. What could be done? I felt as if I had no destiny, no future, only the endless swirl of dead-end thoughts.

MOODZ

"You sure your okay?" I asked him. The mark on his jaw was very red, and it bothered me. I gently placed my fingers on the swell, being careful not to press down to hard. It looked painful, so Branston just might have placed a pretty good amount of streagth into it. He must have really wanted to hurt Draco for almost kissing me. I didnt know that he was that...prone to actually PUNCH Draco with me just inches away. In made my angry, but I kept my face blank, letting no emotion show up on my face or in my eyes. I truly WOULD deal with Branston later, if it would be reporting him or a more prefferable form of punishment inflicted by me.

Cira's fingers were cool against my still burning skin, and I held back a shudder at the difference in temperature. I nodded slowly, feeling her fingers slip across my face. "I'll be alright. He hits fairly hard, but he doesn't follow through well. It may not even leave a mark." Besides dueling, I'd had a little combat training, against my father's will of course. Physical confrontation, he believed, was Muggle-ish and beneath all wizards, especially those of high blood such as us. "You reacted quickly...I didn't know you could do that, especially still hurt..."

MOODZ

I shrugged, letting my fingers fall off of his face. "I have to. When your someone like me you have to act quickly, even if you have a broken pinkey or a broken leg. You have to expect the impossible, no matter how quickly it comes. And, did that big brute hit you anywere else than your face? I was too busy planning on how I would hold him back after he punched you that first time." I said, pursing my lips.