Chapter 12

                                    

                                          
"Remember the Three D's, students!" Mr. Twycross said pacing around the students in the Great Hall. "'Destination, Determination and Deliberation'. One must be completely determined to reach one's destination, and move without haste, but with deliberation."
                          
Leo and the other sixth year students who paid to take apparition lessons focused on his every word. Twycross may have been the butt of many students' jokes, (dung-head was a personal favorite of Ron's), however, that didn't mean that they weren't all intently engaged during lessons. Leo had decided to take the apparition class even though her birthday was past the deadline to take the exam at the same time as the rest of her year and her mum and dad had agreed it would be very helpful. 
                          
Harry and Ernie also took the class despite not being old enough to test, as well as Draco, so she didn't feel completely left out. 
                          
Unfortunately, nothing too exciting happened during the lesson in terms of splinching, and only a few of them had managed any movement at all. They were all focusing on the hoops they were meant to be appariting to, Leo stared intently at the circle trying to keep in mind what Twycross had taught them. She glanced around to see how her classmates were fairing and she was happy to see most of them seemed as red in the face as she felt. 
                          
Suddenly there was a crack and everyone looked to see Hermione standing proudly, not in, but at least nearby the hoop she was aiming for. "Well done Miss Granger!" The teacher exclaimed excitedly. Leo shot a look at Hannah and Leanne, hoping to communicate her annoyance at how pointless this felt. They both laughed quietly and refocused on their hoops. 
                          
"Last attempts everyone one more try, come on now as Miss Granger has just displayed!" Ron rolled his eyes. Leo thought to herself Come on, Destination. She thought of nothing but the spot on the floor.  Determination. She would apparite this lesson. Deliberation. She wouldn't be hasty, she would focus and- Leo began to feel as though she was being pulled through a tight tube, everything went black and she saw stars explode in front of her eyes. 
                          
Crack. She suddenly felt her feet slam into the floor and she tipped sideways straight into Draco. Thankfully, whether it be kindness or quick reflexes he caught her. "Watch it!" He said, but not harshly. 
                          
"Well done Miss Tonks!" Twycross clapped. "Not exactly the spot we wanted, as can happen when not fully Determined about one's Destination, but a marvelous attempt!" 
                          
Draco was still holding Leo up, and she began to laugh, still unable to fully support her weight. He looked down at her and said "What's wrong with you, are you alright?" She continued laughing and Draco couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from turning up. "I think you splinched your brain." He teased. Leo looked around. Twycross had cleared the hoops with a wave of his hand and returned the tables, and the rest of her classmates were slowly filing out of the Great Hall.  Harry was watching her curiously from where he stood next to Leanne and Hannah, the three of them looking at her as if unsure if they should approach her and Draco. 
                          
This pricked Leo with annoyance, and she thought to herself it was no wonder Draco felt like he was alone, no one gave him much of an option. She leaned away from Draco to support herself and looked at him to say, "Thanks for catching me." Draco shrugged. "Not like I really had a choice." He said. She noticed him glance over her shoulder and he said, "I think your friends are waiting for you." 
                          
Leo opened her mouth to tell him that she didn't care and they could wait, but quickly shut it again. Draco looked at her concerned. "What's wrong?" He said, "You don't look good." Leo clapped a hand over her mouth. "I think I'm going to vomit" she mumbled. Draco's eyebrows shot up and he began to back away slowly. "I think I heard, um, I think Pansy is calling me.." he hurried out of the Great Hall. Her friends and Harry hurried over. "What did Malfoy say to you?" Harry said angrily. Leo turned to tell him off for always thinking the worst about Draco, and promptly threw up on his shoes.