Chapter 11
DRACO'S POV
I walked back up to the castle, alone. Normally, I would be chatting with Amy, talking about the Quidditch tryouts, but not today. We were still arguing. When I got back to the dorms, I got changed into my casual clothes and went back into the common room. The kids were eagerly talking to each other, discussing who made the team or if they thought they were good choices. I didn't participate, though I normally would. Typically I was the one people wanted to talk to, but today that was not the case. I noticed Teddy come downstairs and talk to Amy. They hugged. I scowled.
I sat down in the corner, feeling more alone than ever. Slowly, kids crept up to their dorms, tired. I was tired too, but I wanted to get Amy alone in here with me. To my luck, she stayed down here.
She looked around and noticed that I was the only one in here with her. She frowned and got up to leave, obviously not wanting to be with me alone.
"Amy, wait!" I said. I stood up. "I want to talk to you."
"And? I don't want to talk to you," she said, bitter as ever. She turned to leave again.
"Amy! Stop!" I said, losing my temper. "I'm going to talk to you!"
Amy turned, confused. She stalked right up to me, getting in my face. When she spoke, however, her voice was barely more than a whisper. Even without the shouting, her voice sounded as dangerous as hell. "And who are you to tell me what to do? You know who I am, and you know what I can do. If I were you, I would shut my mouth, here and now."
"No, Amy," I said sharply. "You shut your mouth!"
Amy stepped back, shocked. I had never told her what to do.... ever. I was shocked myself, but I continued, despite her astonished and upset expression.
"You need to listen to me! I've already apologized to you! I don't want to go on fighting like this," I insisted. My voice suddenly lost its original angry enthusiasm and became more insistent and sad. "So stop acting so foolish and just.... I dunno, forgive me already!"
Amy shook her head, a faint - but not kind - smile on her face. She turned around. Before she left to go to her dormitory.
"Draco.... you really are daft sometimes," she said.
"What's that supposed to -" she cut me off.
"I forgave you a long time ago," she said, smiling for real this time. "But I wanted you to show me that you cared for me... and loved me... more than you feared me. You passed, Dra."
And with that, she was gone.
I was left smiling where I stood.
HARRY'S POV
Almost 30 kids walked into the Hog's Head. Hermione, Ron, Amy, and I were standing at the front, waiting. Hermione looked anxious. Ron looked interested. Amy looked irritated - but she always looked irritated.
Finally, when everyone was settled in, Hermione began talking.
"Okay, so you're all here today because Harry - er I - had the idea that we should start our own Defense Against the Dark Arts group. Because, er, what we're learning, or rather, what we're not learning, is not Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"But why do we need to learn it?" a kid said. He was a snobby Hufflepuff.
"Because Voldemort's back, you tosspot," Ron said, scowling.
"Who says?" His name was Zacharias Smith, I had just remembered.
"Dumbledore says." That was Hermione.
"Yeah, Dumbledore says because he says," Smith sniped.
"Hey, how about this?" Amy said, speaking up for the first time, obviously really angry. Her eyes even seemed to light on fire.
"About what, dumbass?"
Amy got right up into his face. "Voldemort's back you friggin' shithead Hufflepuff. And if you even try to deny it.... I swear..."
Smith seemed to shrink down. Amy smiled triumphantly. She shoved his hat down over his face and sat back down. Crossing her arms and not taking her eyes off of him. It was silent after that.
"Does anyone else doubt that Voldemort's back?" Amy asked harshly. "Cause I'll deal with you, too."
No one spoke up. Hermione continued with her speech. It all went by in an amazing blur. I was surprised about how many people actually believed me.... by the end of the meeting, everyone signed the paper to join, even Smith.
I was really happy.
After the meeting, I went up to Amy. "Thanks, Amy," I said.
"Oh, no problem," Amy said, waving her hand. "I'm excited for the meetings."
"Cool!" I said, smiling. We began walking towards the castle. "Hey, um, do you want to get something to eat with me? I'm a bit hungry...." I faltered.
Amy laughed. "Is this a date?"
"Er..."
"Sure," Amy said, grinning.
I smiled. "So... how's school going for you?"
"Oh, fine," she said. "Umbridge is still a bitch though."
"Agreed," I said, smirking. "Do you, uh... do you have a boyfriend?"
"What?"
"I - I was just -"
Amy paled. She was usually pale, but she paled even more, leaving her skin almost gray and colorless. I looked at her, confused.
"Er... I...."
I blushed. "I'm not trying to ask you out, really. I was just wondering... I mean if you want -"
"No, no!" Amy said. I blinked. "I don't have a boyfriend, I mean. And I'm not really... It's just.... complicated."
"Oh... okay then," I said, trying to be cheerful. "Yeah, great. No problem."
Amy and I proceeded to have lunch in the Three Broomsticks. As we walked up to the castle, I couldn't help but notice that Amy seemed very quiet. Nervous, even. I didn't ask what was wrong.
AMY'S POV
I had barely escaped a very bad mistake with Potter. A few more weeks went by. The DA meetings were going well. I couldn't help but think that they were quite fun. Obviously I didn't need to know any of the spells Potter had to teach me, but it let me get good information of how powerful Potter was. He wasn't too strong. Nothing I couldn't handle.
Soon, it was time for the Holidays. I noticed Harry took a long time in the Room of Requirement after the last meeting. I had been meaning to chat with him before we went our separate ways. I waited in the hallway for him to come out. After a few more minutes the door creaked open and Harry walked out. He had a rather dazed look on his face.
"Hey, Potter," I said.
"Oh, er... hi Amy." Potter sounded down.
"Was that Cho I saw you with?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"You kissed?"
"Yes - er - I mean.... okay fine. Yes, we kissed," Potter said, exasperated.
"Good for you," I said, grinning. It was kind of funny. "The boy who lived - gettin' it in."
"Wha-? No, no -"
I smirked. "I'm just teasing you."
"But Cho, she's..." Harry faltered. "She's not like... not like you."
I nodded, blushing maybe a little bit. "Right..."
Potter turned to me. His eyes were really blue. They met my black ones. We stared at each other for a while it seemed. I could have imagined it, but I could sense Potter moving closer to me. Finally, we were only inches apart.
"No." I pushed him away a little. "Potter, I already told you. It's too complicated. I'm sorry."
Potter nodded, blushed, and turned away. When he was out of sight, I kicked the wall as hard as I could. I ran back to the dorm and began aggressively packing for the next morning.
I was furious with Potter. I was even more furious with myself. As much as I tried to tell myself that it was all his fault but the more I thought about it, the more I knew that I had let him do it. I had let him get too close. The more I thought about it, the more I thought I was getting too friendly, too close to him.
What was I thinking?
Oh... my father would kill me if he knew.