Groggily, I writhe in my sheets, disrupting the pallid blankets. I am cocooned, my duvet wrapped securely around my body, protected from the outside world. I wriggle uncertainly, clambering out of my blanket cave. I jolt upright, the sunlight scalding my eyes and making me squint. Blinking heavily, my eyes desperately adjust to the bright surroundings. Eventually, the room fades into view. I am in the Hospital Wing, aisles of empty beds deck the room and Madam Pomfrey scuttles around, re-adjusting sheets carefully. Noticing my sudden awakening, she hurries to my bedside, placing a cold hand on my forehead and smiling gently.
"Had a nice sleep dear? You really needed it; you passed out at breakfast this morning." She states and I gawp, the memories flooding back in an instant. How embarrassing, did everyone see me faint? Even worse, what did everyone think of the person carrying me out? Lily is going to murder me, once I've fully recovered from whatever I have anyway.
"I can't seem to find anything wrong with you; you're just overtired and a little bit chilled. I thought it would be best that you stayed in here for the day though, resting." Madam Pomfrey continues. Great, now I won't be able to avoid Lily and her perpetual rage with the 'ill' excuse. I sigh and rub my eyes, they feel tired and sore.
"You've had a few visitors, some have been very persistent. There's one waiting outside. I tried to get him to leave but he said it was important, should I let him in?" She asks tentatively, her lips tightly pursed in a thin line. I nod, grateful to whoever it is for distracting me from eternal boredom. I'd even be vaguely pleased to see Narcissia Black. There is only so much time a person can spend in a hospital bed without anything to do, I can only last for about two minuets. Madam Pomfrey dashes out, only to reappear moments later. She marches in a tall boy with mousey brown hair and glittering hazel eyes. He is going to make me ill, and I will have to be confined in my duvet for the rest of my life; I'm lovesick, no matter how cliché that sounds.
"Are you feeling better?" Remus asks, striding across the room and perching in a chair next to my bed. I force a smile, waving an arm airily and replying quickly, so my voice won't quiver.
"I'm fine, I was just a little tired and that's all." He smiles, dropping several rolls of parchment on the bed. I lean over, my hands scrabbling to reach them.
"I thought I'd return the favour, notes for all your lessons." He states, and I stop reaching. I won't read them normally, there is no way I'll go anywhere near them if I'm ill. Transfiguration notes will probably be the death of me. There is a moment of silence whilst Remus watches me anxiously. I realise why he has come to visit me, and moodily grumble.
"I guess you want that advice." Remus nods enthusiastically and I sigh deeply. He isn't bothered about my wellbeing, he just wants my council and then he'll abandon and ignore me like all the other shallow boys in school. The slug is lovely whilst she's useful, but once there is nothing left to ask, she'll be left in the rain where she belongs.
"I guess you could always go for the usual romantic gestures: chocolates, flowers, love notes, singing gnomes..." I rattle off a list of stereotypical tokens of affection, my voice obviously uninterested. Remus frowns, interrupting my and saying fervently.
"But I don't want to go for the usual romantic gesture, I need something special, because she's special..." his voice trails and I fight to conceal the growing lump in my throat and the pain in my voice as I mumble.
"Right... well I'm not too sure how to help you there," I mutter. What's so special about whoever-she-is. The girls at Hogwarts aren't that great, with perhaps one or two exceptions. Bellatrix and Nacissia Black certainly aren't all they are said to be, I'm pretty certain that they wouldn't be so stunning if the masks of make-up were removed from their faces. Remus leans forward in his chair slightly, his eyes delving into mine, searching for a hint, a clue, anything to help him.
"What would you want then?" He inquires earnestly. What an embarrassing thing to ask me. I would clout anyone else, but because it's Remus, the secret love of my life who's asking this question, I openly spill my innermost desires.
"Um, well, I don't know really. I guess it would have to be raining, because I love the rain, but I guess you should go for the sun as most people prefer that." I stumble over the thoughts nervously, Remus hanging on every word.
"I've always liked wildflowers and weeds, so a bunch of those would be sweet. But pink and white roses or tulips are what most girls like, so have a bouquet of those ready. When you approach her, don't say anything, just lace your fingers into hers, nervous and awkward conversation is always embarrassing, so avoid discussing the weather or what you had for breakfast. Look meaningfully into her eyes and tell her that she's the only one-" and my voice cuts out, luckily Madam Pomfrey interrupts just at that moment.
"Stella, you have another visitor." She says briskly, Remus, mumbling his thanks to me, standing quickly and heading towards the door without her having to say another word. He smiles at me as he leaves his hazel eyes strangely radiant. Madam Pomfrey follows him, showing in another visitor and guiding him towards my bed. She races off, uneasy to spend large amounts of time with him. To be honest I don't blame her, if I hadn't collapsed earlier today I would have leapt out the nearest window to escape his icy company.
"I see you're feeling much better," Lucius states curtly. I fidget anxiously, nodding and fixing my eyes on my fingernails. Why is he visiting me? I thought I was just some vile mudblood who happened to whiff of cinnamon slightly. He stands by my bed, his body rigid, yet his tone irritatingly suave and relaxed. I wish I could wipe the smirk off his cold, and unfortunately for me, handsome features.
"Aren't you going to thank me?" He questions pointedly after a moment of silence. I squirm uncomfortably, whishing that I could magically transform myself into a slug, and sneakily slither away. Perhaps it's my pride kicking in, or the Slytherin verses Gryffindor competition pulsing in my veins, or maybe being cooped up in a hospital wing has put me in a bad mood, but I just can't bring myself to express gratitude to him. The room is quiet, I drum my nails on the bed sheet and Lucius lets out a controlled cough before muttering.
"I carried you all the way from the Great Hall to the hospital wing, and you're not going to thank me?" He is trying to sound nonchalant, but it's not working, I can still hear the edge of ice in his voice. I nervously shake my head, and I see the corner of Lucius's mouth twitch, I can't tell if it's turning into a smile or a frown, he is managing to show a surprising amount of control today. His pureblood facade is overcoming his temper.
"You are in my debt then," he states, the smirk growing on his frosty face. I'm in his debt? That really doesn't sound good. What will he have me do? Serve him tea on an hourly basis? Do his potions homework? Either would be stupid, I'm so clumsy I'd scald him with the tea and potions really aren't my forte. I'm lucky I have a potions wiz as a best friend, or I'd fail.
"Being in your debt, what does that entail?" I question anxiously, visions of myself grovelling at Lucius's feet flash through my mind in an instant. I should have just apologised, stupid stubborn streak. Also, I should stand up to him, but he is so intimidating I can't find an ounce of courage. He contemplates for a moment, brushing a strand of silvery-blond hair out of his eyes, wild with delight. He's really enjoying tormenting me. Lucius may be handsome, but his manipulative personality leaks through and tarnishes his appearance.
"Oh, I could make you do some terrible things." He muses, his smile utterly wicked. My stomach lurches and my heart stumbles warily, caution flashing in my mind. However, I ignore all the warnings, leaning closer and listening intently.
"But I won't. You will only have to do one simple thing for me. Come to Hogsmeade with me this Saturday." It's a statement, not a question. He believes that it's a privilege that a muggleborn could be even spoken to by the King of Slytherin; he's probably waiting for me to collapse with delight. I think I might do the opposite. His haughty grin is simply sickening.
"You will meet me in the wood near the shrieking shack at half past ten, don't be late." Orders, not requests and insults instead of compliments; that is what I receive from Lucius. Sometimes I think I understand people completely and at other times, everyone outside of my own personal sluggish world is completely perplexing. Lily with her vendetta, Peter with his marmalade and Lucius with his insults, they are all bizarre. Hogwarts is filled with lunatics. Lucius verifies my thoughts as he leaves the hospital wing. Completely shocked, I only manage to choke out one question before he leaves, to which he replies completely calmly.
"Why me?"
"You're beautiful." My heart practically falls out of my mouth and onto the blankets that cover me. Madam Pomfrey will have to clear up a horrible mess. She and Filtch will have to clear up a more terrible mess once Lily has discovered about my date, they'll have to peel me off the common room floor. Even worse will be facing the wrath of Narcissia Black; it is unspoken knowledge that Lucius is her plaything.
I watch him leave, cloudy thoughts storming in my mind. What should I do? I've been in love with Remus for nearly six years, but he doesn't feel the same way about me, and is utterly fixated with some girl who is more 'special' than me. The King of Slytherin, who is a really nasty piece of work, has demanded a date with me, and although it is against my better judgement, I can't seem to refuse him. He completely confuses me, his insults are somehow supposed to entice me, yet he just called me 'beautiful'. Is that an honest truth, or is he toying with my emotions and lying to me?
I chew on my lip, the different thoughts a tempest in my head. I've got to get a grip, before my world starts spiralling out of control.
