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Draco's choice
Chapter 2
Draco
"Excuse me, Malfoy? Why am I on the floor?"
I looked down at the girl; with a start I realized it was one of Granger's roommates. I think. Although I'm pretty sure I'd never seen this girl before. Great, I was going to get more grief from the Gryffindors tomorrow if I didn't rectify this situation. I really didn't need this. Not tonight.
"I'm sorry." I said, trying to muster up the Malfoy charm that all the girls fell for. "I was out for a stroll, we seemed to have collided." I grinned at her and offered my hand.
She stared warily at it but took it eventually, clambering ungracefully to her feet. She was tall, almost as tall as me and I stood at six foot. Her shoulder length hair was curly, almost unmanageable, but was a deep blue black. Hidden under her dressing gown was a curvy, almost too curvy frame. No doubt she was heading for the kitchens.
"What are you doing down here?" I asked her, wanting to confirm my suspicions.
"I couldn't sleep." She said in tired voice. "So I went to get a glass of milk." She blushed slightly and looked me in the eye.
Two things happened then. The first was shock, because no one ever looks me, Draco Malfoy, in the eye. It just wasn't done. People are either to intimidated or scared to do it. Everyone knew that, so I had to give this girl some respect. She either had balls or no brains.
The second thing was that I noticed she had the most unusual eyes I had ever seen. Her eye shape was average and common, but her eyelashes were small at the inner corner, and then flared out at the edges. A look many girls strive to achieve. (I know this due to my many past girl friends, of course.) But the most striking thing was her eye colour. It was a deep blue, but it looked so blue it was almost violet. Small flecks of grey were tangled in the deep purple, adding softness to her face.
For a minute I didn't reply. The girl gave an awkward cough as I stood there staring at her. Then I realized what I was doing. I was giving her the once over. Judging her on her looks and not her mind. Again. This is what my father does, and looks how he's turned out. So I made a choice. I would be polite, not a prick like him.
"So, what's your name?" I asked her and motioned for her to continue walking to the kitchens. I was going back on myself but The Dark Lord could wait…I hope.
"Viola Hathaway." She said, but nothing else. Hmm. Normally girls either gushed about their lives, or mumbled and squeaked when in my presence. Viola seemed to be stuck in the middle, which wasn't something I'd ever encountered before.
"So you're in Gryffindor?' I asked, pushing her for more information. Merlin knows why but I wanted to talk to her more, know more about her.
"Yeah. That's where the Sorting hat put me. You're a Slytherin, obviously." She said and we carried on walking to the kitchens.
"So do you have any family at Hogwarts?" I asked her.
"What is this Malfoy? I just wanted some bloody milk, not an interrogation." Viola said in a rush, then blanched at her rudeness.
I was a bit taken aback. I had never been spoken to like this before.
"Sorry." I said, obviously flustered because a Malfoy hardly ever apologises. "I'll just go then…" I turned back and headed toward the Room of Requirement.
Viola
I watched as Draco walked away. He had never spoken to me before, and suddenly he crashes into my life, literally, and starts questioning me.
"Hey! Draco, wait." Suddenly I didn't want him to leave and I felt so rude.
He turned and paused before slowly making his way back to where I stood near the picture of the fruit bowl that was actually the entrance to the kitchens.
I looked at him as he walked back to me. He was tall, about six foot, but I was nearly that height (about five foot ten) so it didn't really bother me. His skin was smooth, free of blemishes and acne that terrorized so many other Sixth year boys at this school. He had a strong jaw, which I liked in a man, and an aristocratic nose that came with all Malfoy men. But it was his hair and eyes combination that drew the girls in. Cool, slate grey eyes and white blonde hair that was silky smooth, or so I'd been told, that could capture a girl's heart in an instant. Aside from the occasional mini swoon, I think I'm immune to the Draco charm, though.
He had reached me and stood there awkwardly, for the first time I realized he wasn't in his pajamas, which made me think he wasn't just out for a midnight stroll.
I ran my hands through my wayward hair, a nervous gesture. He saw it and gave me his trademark smirk.
"I apologise. I'm not normally that rude." I tried a shy grin, but I probably ended up looking constipated.
"That's quite alright. I rarely speak about my family as well." He said with a wry smile.
He headed to the picture and tickled the pear. The door swung open and we climbed into the warm, familiar kitchen. The head house elf rushed over and tugged my hand to my normal chair. She eyed Draco warily.
"It's alright Miffy. Draco will have a glass of milk as well, please." I said and Miffy smiled and nodded before toddling off.
Draco sat and clasped his hands on the table.
"Without sounding rude. Again. Can I ask you a question?" I said and sat opposite him.
He glanced round the kitchen, then at me.
"How about a question for a question?" He proposed and I motioned for him to go first.
"Ok. Same question as before, do you have any family here?" He asked.
"Yes. I have a half sister called Vienna. She's a Ravenclaw." I said and then carried on. "My question is, what are you doing wandering round Hogwarts in the middle of the night?"
"I had some errands to run. I suppose I find it difficult to sleep as well." His answer was curt and frosty. I wasn't expecting that. He continued with his question. "Half sister? How come?"
"My father died when I was four. My mum remarried and they had my sister a few years later. Before you ask, it was a car accident that killed my father. Now what were you really doing? I saw you walking towards the Room of Requirement." I said. I knew he had been lying and I didn't like liars at all. My stepdad was living proof of what a liar is.
"I told you. I had errands to run." Draco said. That was it; just then Miffy arrived with our milk. Mine was warm and sprinkled with chocolate flakes and honey. Draco's was plain, I think.
"Thank you Miffy." I said with a smile. I love that elf, she always takes care of me when I can't sleep and come down here for some milk to remind me of home.
"Why do you thank them? They're just house elves." Draco said and sipped his glass of milk.
I hated pompous prigs like him, who thought they were above the working class population. Well, I'll soon rectify his way of thinking!
"I thank them, because they're hard working, polite and nice. Which is more than can be said for you Malfoy!" I didn't care that his family was powerful and I was a lowly Muggle-born or he was the popular and handsomest boy in school. I was angry. "They work because they need to, they don't all have mansions waiting for them or millions and billions in Gringotts! So don't be pompous and up yourself. Just accept the milk with a smile and a thank you. Show some respect."
I huffed and rose to leave, taking my glass of milk to the sink and washing it out for Miffy. Draco joined me and washed his out too. I turned to leave and thanked Miffy on the way out, quietly I heard Draco thank her as well.
I started to walk towards Gryffindor but paused and looked over my shoulder. Draco was watching me leave. He was leaning against the picture but when he saw me looking he walked quickly towards me. Our eyes were locked and I couldn't think of anything but cool grey.
Draco
I had never been put in my place before. So when this nobody, this seemingly insignificant girl I had been talking to because it was the dead of night and I was putting off a seemingly fatal meeting, began yelling at me for not saying thank you to a stupid house elf I couldn't help it. I was star struck.
I walked towards her, she looked ridiculous, I noted again, in bunny slippers and a robe but I couldn't stop looking at her. Who was she? I had honestly no memory of her before tonight. But I was glad I met her, she was refreshing.
My feet were carrying me towards her. My alligator skin shoes stopped suddenly, toe to toe with her floppy eared bunny slippers. Our gazes were locked, electricity crackled in the air, I reached up and tucked away a curl behind her ear. I didn't know why I was doing this! I just was. I dipped my head slightly, and only very slightly, because she was very tall and just as my lips were about to touch hers, a voice rang through the dark corridor.
"What is going on here?"
I hope you're enjoying this story. I am very much enjoying writing it, this chapter just flowed out and I am pleased with it Just to let you know it takes place in their sixth year, but it's the end of their sixth year.
Now who can guess who found them? It's a teacher. That's the only clur you're getting ;)
Lots of love
Annabelle
