Hey people! Wow, I'm posting two times in two days! Yay! I know this is short, but I'll post another chapter soon. This one's just to tide you over. As always, please read and review! I love reviews, people! And I'll probably take suggestions, as long as I like them and they fit into the story. Also, an incentive! If five (or more) people review, Draco will kiss Arietta within the next few chapters! YAY! ;) So, enjoy!
Later that night, I decided to go down to the common room. I couldn't sleep, and the light of the ever-present glow from the lake was a good, if not perfect, source of light to read by. I usually fell asleep in my nightgown and bathrobe on one of the low-backed, dark-green leather sofas, only to be awoken in the morning by whoever was the first one down. A couple of times, the Bloody Baron drifted through, but I was fine with that as long as he didn't interact with me.
The cold cut right to the bone and I shivered, pulling my robe more tightly around me. There really was nothing as chilly as a winter night's air. As I neared the bottom of the staircase, however, I heard something a bit stranger. There was someone in the common room, making a noise I never liked to hear: quiet, muffled sobs.
I bit my lip and considered going back. It was like being in the bathroom, and someone you don't know that well comes in. You just don't want to be seen. I wasn't doing anything wrong, though, just reading after everyone else was asleep. Well, obviously not everyone else, but still.
Okay. If it was someone like Crabbe or Goyle down there, I was turning around and making sure they didn't see me. But if it was a quiet kid like Kreisler, I would just curl up and read. Kreisler was manipulative, sure, but so were most Slytherins. Anyway, he wouldn't bother anyone outright.
Slowly, I made my way down the staircase. The soothing sound of the lake water lapping gently against the window soothed me. It was probably just some homesick first year that was missing their parents. I could deal with that.
The freezing stone floor met my bare feet and I winced. I always hated that sensation after stepping from warm carpet. Then I looked up, and immediately wished I had listened to my instinct. Draco Malfoy's familiar hair shone silver in the greenish light. His robe-clad shoulders shook and his hands covered his angular features. His usually sleek hair was mussed and fell into his eyes, as though he had run his hands repeatedly through it. I battled a sudden instinct to go comfort him- even if he did look like he needed consoling, I was sure he wouldn't appreciate me going over and giving him a hug, or whatever.
I backed up slowly, being careful not to make any noise. Maybe I would find a lamp or something to use within the safety of my dorm. At that moment, however, Malfoy looked up. His icy grey eyes, slightly puffy from crying, met mine with shock. For a moment, I stood there like a deer in headlights. A stupid thought crossed my mind: How does he manage to still look good when crying? Then my brain kicked in and I sprinted out of the common room, up the stairs, and into my dorm room, when I jumped into bed, heart pounding. After a few minutes, I shimmied under my green-and-silver covers. The canopies around my bed made me feel safer, enclosing me in green warmth. Shutting Draco Malfoy and his bitter tears out, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.