A month has passed since that night in the tower. I haven't really talked to or about Draco much. He'd occasionally look at me in the hallways or in the Great Hall, but that's about it. What Hermione said happens to be true in the end. Draco doesn't smile.
I lied. I did talk to Draco twice in the past month. Once two weeks ago and once about two minutes ago. I didn't think much of the first conversation, until just now.
It was in the third week of January and I was walking down the hallways, anxiously.
In these weeks, I've tried to take my mind off of the situation by reading the books I got for Christmas. Yes, even the astronomy book, even though that doesn't help me taking my mind off of things, it's way too interesting. Also this guy, Seamus Finnigan, has taken an interest in me and I don't like it. He asked me out twice, but I've turned him down both times. Don't get me wrong, he's cute and kind of funny, but I'm really not looking for something romantic. At least not with him. Ginny told me to just go out with him once, to get my mind off of things and to, perhaps, make Draco jealous. It was tempting, but I couldn't do that.
I also still follow Harry's defensive classes twice a week. Seamus just started following those as well, which made it slightly awkward. He keeps giving me compliments and it makes me kind of uncomfortable. Anyway, Harry's defence classes, that's where this all began.
We had just walked through the door to the Room of Requirement and I looked back to see it disappearing, since I find it rather peculiar. But I was distracted when I saw the blonde boy standing at the end of the hallway, looking at me in shock. Then the door closed and disappeared, anxiety rushing through me. Draco knew and he wasn't going to like it. Whilst I've been busy with my squad, he's been busy with his. The Inquisitorial Squad, what a great match we are. The worst thing was that he didn't look angry. He looked disappointed, which is so much worse. Because I still care. It's worse because I care about him and I don't want him to be disappointed in me. I already miss him, I don't want to create even more distance.
I didn't do great in that class, being completely distracted. I just pushed through it and left as soon as the class ended. I didn't even make it 2 hallways before a hand grabbed my cloak and pulled me into an empty classroom.
"You're in Harry's dumb army?" Draco asked and then he did look angry. "Why?"
"Why not? At least he teaches us something useful since Umbridge doesn't", I said.
"They want to overrule the Ministry, are you supporting that?" He asked and I sigh.
"You really believe that Harry is going to take over the Ministry?" I asked with a hint of a smile.
"No, but Dumbledore might and we all know Harry is his little favourite", he said.
"I promise you that Dumbledore has nothing to do with it. Harry just wants to be prepared if... when he returns", I said and Draco looked concerned.
"He's not coming back", he said, but I could see that he was lying.
"You're delusional if you believe that. I like these classes, I'm learning a lot, just let me", I said and sighed. I knew I shouldn't care about what he thought about it, I couldn't give him that control, but I couldn't control my feelings either.
"And what's up with the Finnigan kid anyway?" he asked and I raise an eyebrow.
"Seamus?" I asked.
"He so obviously likes you", he said. He was jealous, Draco freaking Malfoy was jealous of Seamus Finnigan.
"Do you like him too?" He asked.
I immediately wanted to reply 'no', but I knew that wasn't a smart thing to do. I had to show him that he didn't have me anymore.
"That's none of your business", I said and pulled my arm loose. "You have no right to be jealous, Draco. You lost that privilege a while ago."
He looked at me with a sad yet annoyed look in his eyes.
"Just be careful", he said.
"I will."
I didn't think it mattered that he knew. I know for a fact that he'd never rat me out if he could avoid it. But now I'm standing outside, completely flustered and I realise that it did matter.
I just had a second conversation with Draco. Very swiftly though. He stood outside, alone, as I walked to the courtyard. He signed that I had to follow him. I was confused, but did what he asked anyway. He walked away and hid behind a pillar.
"What's wrong?" I asked him as I had caught up to him.
"Y/N, listen to me. Don't go to that defense class today", he said and I looked at him confused.
"I'm serious. Umbridge knows and has contacted the Ministry. She's going to expose it during your next class."
"What? But that's in half an hour", I said.
"I know", he sighed. "Just don't go. I don't know what she's planning with those she finds, but it's not going to be good."
"I can't do that to them, they're my friends. I have to warn them", I said and turned around to tell them, but he pulled me back.
"Please don't. They'll know it was me. Umbridge only told me, Pansy, Filch and the Ministry. Those others really don't have anyone they'd possibly tell. They can't know it was me, they'll know we still talk and it would be the end of me. Snape has truth serum so if they get suspicious they'll use it. She does it all the time", Draco said and sounded desperate.
"Bloody hell, I should've never told you, I'm so stupid, I-"
"Draco, I won't tell them", I saif and he looked up.
"You won't?"
"Of course I won't. Trust me", I said. We suddenly heard voices.
"Thank you, just make sure you're not there when it happens", he said and started to leave.
"Why did you warn me?" I asked and this time I was the one pulling him back.
It stayed silent for a while.
"Because I still care", he said and left. He still cared.
So here I'm standing, totally perplex. He still cares. Another beacon of hope that I really shouldn't hold onto.
What do I do? Do I tell the others and betray Draco. Do I not go to the class and betray my friends? Or do I go and risk expulsion? I can't betray Draco, not after he trusted me like that. But I can't betray Hermione either, or Luna, or Cho, the Weasleys. All of them took me in when I had no one. I can't possibly do that, so I guess there is only one option left. With fear running through my veins, I walk to the Room of Requirement.
I try to be as calm as possible. I can't risk them figuring it out. But I'm so scared. We all might get expelled. I kind of wish that Draco didn't tell me. But he still cares.
It happens when Fred is trying to use expelliarmus on me while I'm casting my patronus. All of the sudden the chandeliers start moving and the room starts shaking. Everybody falls silent. Suddenly the mirrors of the wall to the left of me start breaking. They all fall down and everyone points their wands. There's a little hole in the wall and Harry looks through it.
"Get back!" he screams and pushes little Colin behind him.
"Bombarda Maxima", we hear and the wall explodes. I hold my arm up to prevent pieces of stone from hitting me in the head and when I look up again, two silver eyes are staring at me in shock. He's holding Cho. I guess that's how they knew about our whereabouts. Did she really tell them? We vowed each other not to. I can see the pain in Harry's eyes. Merlin's beard this is not going to end well.
"Get them!" Umbridge shouts and her squad enters. Pansy walks straight up to me and I shoot Draco a look that tells him to act normal. Pansy stabbed him in the back once, I don't need her to get suspicious again. Not that there is any need to. We talked twice.
"I'm going to enjoy this", she says and pulls me with her roughly. We're pulled to Umbridge's office.
"I need those three to come with me", Umbridge says and points at Hermione, Ron and Harry.
"Miss Parkinson, you take those 3 Gryffindors. Crabbe and Goyle, take the Hufflepuffs." She goes on giving every member of her stupid squad a couple of kids.
"Mister Malfoy, I trust you with the three Ravenclaw girls." Wow, what are the odds.
"Bring them to their prefect and don't go easy on them. I allow the use of some spells that... prevent them from pulling stunts like this again", Umbridge says and leaves.
Pansy laughs and takes the three Gryffindors: Fred, George and Colin Creevey. I can see the scared look on little Collin's face. Pansy is cruel. Fred lays a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. She takes all their wands so they can't try anything. And clever too, dammit.
"Wands please", I hear and turn around. Draco is looking at me, not showing any emotion. I reluctantly hand him mine and so do Cho and Luna.
We leave last and I can see that Draco is slowing down his pace. What is he up to?
About halfway to the Ravenclaw common room, he suddenly stops.
"Malfoy, I know Umbridge isn't afraid to use the Cruciatus curse, but you're not going to, are you?" Cho asks. She really thinks Draco would do that?
"What?" he asks confused.
"Well, Umbridge did give you permission", she says.
"Or dock all our House points, Anthony is certainly not going to be happy", she adds. Anthony is one of the Ravenclaw prefects and well... he can come off a little strong sometimes.
"Just go", he says and hands them their wands. They look at him shocked.
"Just... tell them I turned you into a rat or something", he says and smiles slightly.
"Thank you Malfoy, that's very kind of you", Luna says and grabs the wands.
"I'll be there in a bit", I say and Cho leaves reluctantly.
"How do you even know which one my wand is", I say as he hands it to me.
"I've had it at my throat plenty of times, how can I forget?" he says and I smile.
He lifts up my chin and looks into my eyes. He's doing it again, he's regaining control over me and I do not like it. He does not get to do that. I need to get over this guy as soon as possible.
"Thanks", say and walk away.
"Y/N! Why did you go? You knew it would happen", he says and I roll my eyes.
"I don't turn my back on people I like".