Hogwarts Under Lockdown

All the students had been gathered in the Great Hall to spend the night. None of them had ever experienced sleeping in one huge communal dormitory before, and they were incredibly excited.

"Merlin, Weasley, you actually brought your rat? Don't tell me you think Black would take a fancy to it?"

Draco Malfoy looked at the listless Scabbers in Ron Weasley's arms with undisguised disgust.

"Shut up, Malfoy! If it weren't for Hermione's stupid cat, I wouldn't have brought Scabbers here!"

"Oh, come off it, Ron. Crookshanks wouldn't touch your fat rat!"

Hermione happened to be passing by with her bedding in her arms. Hearing Ron and Draco's conversation, she stomped her foot at Ron indignantly.

"Yeah, I wonder whose cat spends all day chasing Scabbers around."

Holding Scabbers, Ron sounded as though he were speaking to Draco.

Hermione turned back. "Cats chasing rats is natural. You should really keep a better eye on your rat!"

"You should keep a better eye on your cat!"

The two turned their heads away and ignored each other in a huff.

Draco pursed his lips and walked off with his bedding, looking utterly unconcerned.

"I've never slept on the floor in my life, let alone... with this many people."

Draco reluctantly laid his blankets on the ground.

"I think it's fine. Don't you think it's novel? It's so lively."

Eli did not mind at all. When he had returned to the countryside as a child in his previous life, he had often laid out bedding on the floor and rolled around with his cousins.

"Well, that's certainly a first."

Draco crawled under his covers and tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The moment he turned his head even slightly, all he could see were people.

"How about I tell you a story?" Eli