Twin Dragons

The next few weeks were a blur. Kitara, desperate to keep her thoughts occupied, immersed herself in her schoolwork. She had few Ravenclaw friends, and since breaking up with Oliver, she rarely saw her friends from Gryffindor. She avoided Draco like a plague, terrified that he might speak to her. And, as much as she hated to admit it, even more terrified that he might not. As the semester drew to a close, she grew steadily lonelier and more miserable.

On the Thursday before exams were due to begin, Dumbledore made an announcement before the students during dinner in the Great Hall.

"To honor your hard work this term," he said in his rich but quavering voice, "the school has decided to give you something of a treat." Excited whispers slithered around the room. Dumbledore held up his hand for silence, waiting until quiet was restored before continuing.

"Tomorrow evening, all students desiring to go and having permission from their parents will travel to the village of Hogsmeade, where you will spend the weekend relaxing before your tests begin."

The hall erupted in an explosive cheer, several students throwing food and hats into the air in their excitement. A few of the younger students, those whose parents had not allowed them to go to Hogsmeade, looked crestfallen, and their friends seemed torn between trying to comfort them and joining the others in celebration.

Kitara stared at her plate and sighed. A trip to Hogsmeade would be little fun without anyone to go with. She resolved to remain at the castle, thinking that she might at least have extra time to study with her roommates gone and the room quiet. Involuntarily, her eyes crept to the Slytherin table, seeking Draco's platinum blonde head. She was shocked to find him staring at her, his ice blue eyes unreadable. Kitara suddenly felt ill. Standing quickly, she excused herself, leaving the still cheering students behind as she ran up to her room.