The next morning at breakfast, Draco repeatedly tried to catch Heather's eye to some how let her know that he had wanted to tell her that he loved her as well, but she stead-fastly avoided his gaze. Only once during the entire meal did she meet his eyes, but only to quickly look away again. Was it Draco's imagination, or had her cheeks just gotten a very rosy tint to them? He couldn't be quiet sure, trying to surreptitiously watch her over the Ravenclaw table between their two house tables, but no, it defiantly wasn't his imagination, he decided as he watched one of her friends, Hannah was it?, ask her something. Most likely why she was blushing. He watched her for a long time as she brushed off her friend's earlier comments then proceed to joke and talk about this or that.
At the Hufflepuff table, Heather studiously ate her food and talked with her friends, making sure not to look up at the Slytherin table. The one glance she had already spared hadn't been a fine decision on her part. She had finally told Draco she loved him, and hadn't waited for him to say it back. Heather knew that he hadn't told anybody he'd loved them before, except maybe him parents, but that didn't count, and she was positive that her being a half-blood in Hufflepuff would make it even harder for him to say it back. She was also well aware of that fact that she wouldn't be able to handle it if he hadn't said it back. Not after he promised to talk to him mother about them. Maybe she was pushing him a little to hard and fast, but she didn't care at the time. She had to tell him how she felt, regardless of whether or not he would say it back.
"Heather!" Hannah poked Heather's left side, making her jump, "did you hear anything I just said?" Hannah laughed.
"Um… Was it something about potions class with Snape?" Heather tried to answer, but Hannah shook her head. No. "Oh! I know, you were saying how Snape creeps you out, just like he does for everyone except the Slytherins, and Justin came in and saved the day, so now you can't stop giving him googly eyes?"
"I am not giving him 'googly eyes'!" Hannah protested, but then giggled, just like she always did when she knew was caught in a lie, "Okay, fine! I am. But come on! Have you not seen him?! He's the Gryffindor Keeper after all! I really don't see how you can get much better than that! I mean we were just sitting in class, and Snape said we were going to be working with a partner. So we got all sorted out, and Justin turned out to be my partner! Now if that wasn't lucky enough…" Hannah rambled on about this and that for what was left of breakfast time, talking about a mile a minute. Every time she mentioned the Slytherin house, or aparticular student from that house, she would shoot a nasty glare over to their table, as was Hannah's habit.
"Are you okay?" A male voice whispered into Heather's ear.
She jumped and turned, expecting to see Draco standing behind her. It was just Owen, though, another one of Heather's friends, sitting on her left.
"Yeah, you know how Hannah gets… Once she starts, she can't stop!"
Owen was an old family friend: his parents went to school with her parents, and he and Heather had grown up together. Owen was just like a brother to her, and she couldn't imagine not having a single class without him since they had always been in the same ones. He was also one of the Hufflepuff beaters, which made just about any sane, single Hufflepuff girl swoon.
"Are we still on for that study session after I'm done with practice?" he asked abit hesitantly.
"Yeah, sure! Although you don't sound too happy about it," she replied, trying to rip him on, "What is it? Got a hot date?"
Owen laugh under his breath, "No, it just that… What do you say we ditch the studying and go to Hogsmead instead? I'll even buy you a butter beer!"
"Because you know it's against the rules! Besides, I actually do have to study. We can'tall be born with the infinite knowledge on how to pass our exams! Also, I would like to get in a few more hours at the owlery before Ravenclaw takes over showing their first years how to care for their owls. You know how that goes…I'll take a rain check on the butter beer though!" Heather smiled at Owen, and realized Hannah had gone quiet.
When she turned around to face her friend, Hannah was staring very intently at the meal in front of her.
"Is there something insanely fascinating about this morning's pancakes that I missed," Heather joked.
"He's looking over here, why is he looking over here?" Hannah hissed, ignoring Tiffany's words.
Heather, assuming Hannah meant Justin, looked over at the Gryffindor table, and quickly found their keeper. He was busy talking to Professor McGonagall, though.
"No he's not, he's talking to a professor," Heather said as she turned back to Hannah.
"No you dumbo! Not him! Malfoy! Draco Malfoy is looking over here! What does he want? Why is he looking over here?"
"Oh," Heather looked over to where Draco was sitting, and sure enough, he was glaring at them.
Draco knew Owen had a thing for Heather. After all, they had grown up together, and he couldn't see how anyone who knew her couldn't love her. When she smiled, her warm honey-brown eyes glowed, and she had a way of lighting up a room when she walked in… He'd never say any of that out loud, however, he did have a reputation to uphold after all! Soon they were dismissed to go about their daily routines. Draco watched with jealousy as Heather walked off to class with Owen. He should have been walking to his class as well, but he had promised he would write to his mother, so he went to find his owl instead. After writing to his mum, his next class was about to begin, so he went to Defense Against the Dark Arts class. This class was his favorite, not because it was with his best friends Crab and Goyle, but because of other reasons.
"Hey," Heather whispered as she passed him on the way to her seat. As she passed him, he could smell the warm scent of her perfume as she passed. Draco knew she didn't wear it for him; it was simply a habit and part of her morning routine to put it on. But he loved the smell all the same. Draco could never tell what exactly it smelled like, though, he just knew it smelled like her.
He saw her drop a crumpled up piece of paper and reached to pick it up. He almost through away the insignificant piece of paper, but then recognized her familiar handwriting.
Owen canceled studying, Owlery after classes?
Draco looked up to meet Heather's eye. Knowing that she was watching him. He nodded once, and then took his seat as the class began.
