Chapter VI

When we reached the Hogs Head, it was extremely quiet. I kind of expected this, seeing as how everyone usually went to the Three Broomsticks. It was cleaner; this place was very old, and very filthy... and I could tell because there was an old, musty scent to the air that had my nose crinkling in distaste. I almost preferred the overwhelming smell of cinnamon.

Draco continued to hold my hand, even as we sat down at the table our group was apparently sitting at. "Why the Hogs Head?"

I was truly curious about this. It was not a common hang out for Hogwarts students, unless they were up to something and thought a quiet, mostly unpopulated place would be the best for plotting.

"It's quiet," Said the male voice I had heard earlier. "I can actually hear myself think in here. Hey, Pansy, would you mind getting us all a Butterbeer?"

I heard the annoyed and amused scoff somewhere to my right. "You are so funny, Nott," she said.

"And you are so lazy," he mused. I heard the soft ruffle of clothing as he crossed his arms over his chest. Draco chuckled beside me. I frowned, not liking it after hearing a genuine laugh from him back at Firestone.

"Why do you want to send me?"

"Because you are so annoying, it fills me with happiness as I watch you walk away. Regretfully you won't disappear, but a brief moment of Pansy-free time would make my day."

Someone laughed. "Shut up, Theodore," Pansy snapped angrily, though there was no conviction behind it. I still remembered this morning, and her snarky comment when I had fallen back onto the sofa when I had first woken up. I had said something similar to what she had just snapped to Theodore, a Slytherin boy I barely knew, now that I recognized his name. Shut up, Parkinson. I wished I could have said more.

"Right, Darcyn?"

There was an expectant silence after I heard my name. "What?"

Someone sighed from really close. "She was asking about Pansy's expertise at being a pest," Draco's voice informed me. I nodded, still not fully getting what I was being asked.

"I said that Pansy doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. And blah blah blah, and I was asking for you opinion." I could practically visualize Astoria rolling her eyes at my simple-mindedness. I shrugged. Why did she want my opinion? Why had I suddenly been included into a conversation I had never paid any attention to?

"Where is Pansy?" I asked, avoiding the question.

"Finally convinced her to get us all some drinks, don't know if she will, or if she just decided to leave," Theodore chuckled happily. He obviously did not like her. I thought it odd that Slytherins will associate purely on status, popularity or blood wise, and not on character. "So what do you think of her?"

I liked how Theodore rephrased the question. I pursed my lips in consideration. "Well, I think that she's annoying, and given the choice," I grimaced. "I would be nowhere's near her."

Theodore clapped loudly and got rudely shushed by the bartender. Theodore shushed him back and everyone laughed. I only smiled half-heartedly. I didn't find that funny at all. I would have before. I felt Draco's hand around mine tighten slightly, as though he were empathizing with me, but without words so we would go unquestioned. I squeezed his hand back.

"I'm bored!" Astoria moaned in a whiny voice.

"Then go to Honeydukes or something," Said a female voice. I recognized it, but I couldn't put a name to it.

"Come with me Daphne?" Astoria whined to her older sister. I could picture Astoria jutting her bottom lip out and widening her eyes. The puppy dog face worked on a lot of people, except for me. Ah, blind jokes. So funny.

"No," Daphne said irritably. "I have things I need to do after we're done her, and you are so picky when it comes to food. I do not want to be stuck in a candy store with you for the next three hours."

Astoria made an angry sound and pushed herself away from the table, her chair screeching against the floor. Dust was kicked up and I wrinkled my nose again. I could feel my eyes starting to water. "This place is too dirty for me," I said, standing as well. As I stood, Draco's hand came free of mine, but he stood, too. I felt his arm around mine as we walked away.

"Damn," I heard Theodore mutter. "No one likes us."

"You mean, no one likes you," Daphne snorted, her chair screeching against the filthy floor. "I know I'm liked. You... you're gross."

I smiled at their banter. It was easy going, not meant to actually be taken seriously. But another thought came to mind, one I had meant to say aloud to Draco, but had gotten sidetracked by the sudden arguement between Daphne and Theodore.

"You know," I began as we walked out into the chilly late-afternoon air. "You are really committed to this guide thing."

"You insult me," He said with a smile in his voice. "I can be chivalrous."

"Rarely," I grinned, pushing him lightly so I wouldn't stumble in the process. He snorted and I had a sudden pang of sadness. I wanted to see, so bad. I wished beyond any hope that one day I would open my eyes and see the world for myself. I didn't want to have to imagine the blue of the sky, or try to picture someone's actions. I wanted to see it all for myself. I wanted to see him for myself.

"What's wrong, Darcyn?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

"You are a rotten liar," He repeated his earlier statement. "I hope you know that."

"You've pointed that out," I quipped. "I think I get it."

"Do you?" He asked. He stopped walking, pulling me to a stop. He ushered me into a very cramped space. My back pressed up against a brick wall. My heart raced, and I longed again for the ability to see him. I felt his arms on either side of me, keeping me from trying to leave. Like I would have been able to; I was completely and utterly immobilized.

"Do you get it?" He repeated. I didn't want to speak, afraid of what my voice might sound like. I nodded, a short jerky movement that probably made me look unsure. I didn't care. My brain was muddied, I couldn't think straight. Draco was too close to me for that to even be a possibility.

"Then why won't you tell me? Give me some insight into what you're thinking?" He whispered, his breath warm against my face. A shiver ran down my spine. I didn't know why I didn't tell him. In retrospect, I probably should have. If I liked him, and boy did I ever, it would be smart to get closer to him. To tell him about me. If I ever hoped for him to return my feelings, he had to be allowed certain things.

I shook my head finally. "I-I don't..." Why was speaking so hard for me? "I don't..."

Draco waited, whether impatiently or not, I didn't know. He was silent as he let me stew, let me think about what I was going to say. I shook my head again. "I don't know," I whispered, my voice barely audible, even to me. Draco sighed, obviously having heard what I had said. I could hear his heart beating, only faintly, but it was fast; racing like mine was. But for what?

"Darcyn..." He trailed off, as though he were having trouble finding the right words. Draco? Struggling with words? Impossible. "I... don't know how to tell you... It's hard for me to..."

I held my breath. What was he trying to say to me? Why wouldn't he just get it over with?

Deciding to rephrase what he had been about to say, he spoke again. "I do really care for you, and not being able to... know what you're thinking... what you're feeling... well, it frustrates me. And I-" He cut off and I heard his fist hit the wall behind me. I flinched, but I don't think he even noticed. "I wish you would tell me. I want you to be able to tell me."

"Wh-what?" I stuttered, my voice weak and breathy. I felt really stupid after saying that, but I was no longer in control of what I said. He didn't finish speaking. Instead, I could suddenly feel his body against mine. I didn't mind, but it made it very difficult for me to breathe again, for me to realize what was happening. He grabbed my chin gently and tilted my face up. Before I could react to what I knew was happening, he had pressed his lips to mine.