By the Lake

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco had his cloak hood up covering his face as he strayed from his patrol to walk by the lake. He hated the weather, but this was better than nothing.

[Neko Wormwood]

Neko walked out to the lake and noticed someone with their hood up. She couldn't see their face and was about to leave but decided against it. The lake was her favorite place to go to think and she wasn't about to give it up.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco had the intent of going back in but caught sight of Neko, he approached to stand next to her. "Good evening Ms. Wormwood."

[Neko Wormwood]

"Oh, hello Draco. I was wondering who was out here stealing my thinking spot." She laughed a little. "I've been wondering... does it bother you that I use your first name? I don't hear you use first names often. Would you prefer I call you Mr. Malfoy?"

[Draco Malfoy]

"It is fine, Ms. Wormwood, I do not find the use of my first name an aspersion unless that person is anything less than Slytherin." He looked out at the water and folded his arms under his cloak, "I did not notice it is rare of me to use a first name. That may be attributed to the way I was raised, but I feel comfortable with surnames, though with others it is different. You come out here to think?"

[Neko Wormwood]

Neko nodded. "My uncle told me the lake was my mother's favorite place to be when she was at Hogwarts. I guess it's not so much a place to think as a place to talk to her." She smiled a little. "I guess it's silly though. Talking to someone who can't talk back."

[Draco Malfoy]

"Perhaps you are just like your mother, and enjoy the lake's calming qualities." Draco moved his hands around and tucked them under his arms to keep them warm, "Do you miss your family?"

[Neko Wormwood]

"A bit." She responded. "I was only five when the incident happened though so I don't remember much about them. I guess it's hard to miss someone you hardly remember." She looked down and felt a tear run down her cheek. "Stupid Neko. Stop crying." She told herself.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco looked at the girl when he heard her scold herself, rustling around the inner pocket of his cloak and feeling past his wand to find his white kerchief with the silver, ornate DM initials threaded into a corner. He offered it to her, "It is, perhaps, difficult to miss someone you hardly remember but that does not mean it does not ache."

[Neko Wormwood]

Neko felt around for her own handkercheif but couldn't find it. "I must have left it in my bag..." She said quietly. She hesitated for a second before taking his and dabbing her eyes. "I would hug you right now, but seeing as we don't know each other very well I don't think it would be apropriate." She laughed a little. "So I'll just say thank you instead." She handed the handkercheif back. "Thank you."

[Draco Malfoy]

"You are quite welcome." Draco took the kerchief and put it away again, "A hug would be very awkward, yes."

[Neko Wormwood]

"Are you cold?" Neko asked. "You don't have to stay and talk to me. You can go back in the castle if you'd like. I certainly wouldn't want you to catch a cold and have it be my fault."

[Draco Malfoy]

"Under a cloak this thick, Ms. Wormwood, cold is not in my expansive vocabulary." Draco had also added a warming charm to the cloak anyhow, even in the face of snow he would probably be warm enough. "Are you cold, Ms. Wormwood?"

[Neko Wormwood]

Neko shook her head. "I'm not cold. I am getting a little tired though. I think I might go to bed early. Although considering how I sleep I guess it isn't that early for me."

[Draco Malfoy]

"Have you looked into narcolepsy Ms. Wormwood? Muggles and Wizards alike suffer from it." Draco was being serious as he spoke, it seemed unnatural to him a bright and healthy girl would sleep so much and so long, "Do you sleep by choice or do you just fall asleep?"