"Please don't cry… I hate it when you cry…"
"What is this Draco? What is this thing between us?"
She interrupted and he smiled.
"A bridge." She looked confused at his answer before he pressed his lips against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer as he pulled her closer by her hips.
"So where were you all morning?" Ron asked as Annette slid in next to him at lunch.
"Studying." She replied as Harry sat next to her and Hermione sat on the other side of Ron. Ron looked skeptical until he saw into her eyes and saw her in the common room with a book in her hands.
"Shut up…" He muttered, angrily. Annette giggled as she looked up at Harry with a smile on her face.
"Did you miss me, Harry?" She asked sweetly as he stared at her with wide eyes. She acted as if nothing had passed between them. That or she was trying not to think about it. He looked over his shoulder over to the Slytherin table where Draco Malfoy sat surrounded by his fan club, but Harry noticed he didn't touch a single one of them. It was then Dolores Umbridge appeared behind Annette with a frown.
"Miss Weasley, would you come with me?" She asked in her toad like voice and Annette shrugged before climbing to her feet. Dolores turned away from them and started to walk over to Slytherin table.
"I don't trust her, Annie."
"Relax Ron. I'll deal with her. I'll be fine." She kissed her brother's cheek and put her hand on Harry's shoulder, reassuring him. Draco climbed to his feet as he followed Umbridge behind Annette. He smirked as he watched her form swing from her walk. He jogged to catch up with her and she smiled at him. She leaned over and started to whisper in his ear.
"What's this about?"
"I don't know." He whispered back, smiling. Such childish things like this had had no effect on him before. Umbridge led them into her office where she shut the door and smiled evilly at them.
"Have a seat." She indicated to two plush chairs and Annette cringed as she sat down on them, the eyes of over a hundred cats bearing down on her.
"Mr. Malfoy, you and this young lady were seen this morning talking with the Headmaster in the courtyard. Is this true?" Umbridge questioned and Draco frowned.
"Seen by who?"
"The who doesn't matter. Is it true?" Draco looked over at Annette who shrugged her shoulders. He smirked before Annette answered.
"We were discussing our schedules with him. You see we were both in the same class twice a day so we were trying to fix that so I could have Quidditch practice during the day."
"And I want to have a free period to stay on top of my investigation." Draco and Annette lied effortlessly. Umbridge raised an eyebrow at them.
"And since when have you two become such good friends?"
"Friends? Us? Your sense of humor is just as horrid as ever Professor." Annette stated, unabashed at her insult and Draco chuckled.
"Yes, Gryffindor is known as the laughing stock of this institution."
"I thought that was Slytherin." Annette countered.
"We're the best of this school."
"Not according to your grades." Annette insulted and Draco frowned. Umbridge watched them with interest as Draco leaned toward Annette.
"You and I have the same grades."
"No we don't. We only have the same grade in Potions and that's only because Snape favors you!"
"The oaf's class?"
"You're partners with me, remember?"
"Charms?"
"Top of my class. You?"
"I don't know." Draco admitted, defeated.
"Exacatacally. So Gryffindors are the best in the school."
"Just because you are doesn't mean the whole house is."
"Oh? Name one person who isn't."
"Your idiot brother, Ronald." Annette frowned and pointed her finger warningly at him.
"Don't say my brother is an idiot, Malfoy. He's just slow. Not an idiot."
"And Potter?"
"Don't you bring Harry into this! Don't bring any of my family into this!" Annette hissed as Draco glared at her. Umbridge cleared her throat and the two teens turned to her, still seething from their argument.
"Well I can see I may have misjudged your relationship. Now Miss Weasley, I know you value rules do you not?"
"I'm not telling you anything, toad-face." Annette muttered angrily before climbing to her feet and walking toward the door.
"Then you will have detention with Mr. Potter tonight."
"Fine." She said before slamming the door shut behind her. Draco slid down in his chair as Umbridge eyed him expectantly.
"I suppose you have news?"
"None. They're not talking to me."
"Make them Mr. Malfoy. Especially that girl!" Umbridge declared and Draco groaned inwardly. He knew this was going to get very rough for both him and Annette and their shared secrets. He nodded and got up to leave before Umbridge cleared her throat again, earning his attention.
"Yes Professor?"
"And Mr. Malfoy, I don't care how you get the information out of her. Use her if you have to. Break her stubborn heart. Break her and we have all of them in our grasp." Draco nodded and exited the room, his heart dropping to his stomach. If he didn't help Umbridge, his father would hear about it and punish him. If he did, he would hurt the one person he'd die for.
"Annette Guinevere Weasley!" Annette cringed when Hermione used her full name and Ron laughed.
"Shut up, Ronald Billius Weasley." Ron closed his mouth instantly. Annette turned to Hermione with an innocent look upon her face as the blonde glared at her.
"Yes Hermione Jean Granger?" Annette asked and Hermione pulled out a Daily Prophet.
"Umbridge sent in an article about you!" Her voice was frazzled and edged with fear. Annette's frowned and took the paper out of her friend's hands. She read the article her eyes widening with each word she read.
"She wrote an article to the newspaper about me being seen alone with Draco Malfoy? Why would she do that?"
"So his parents would find out." Hermione blurted out and Annette's hands trembled. She looked up as she heard Draco's cursing and quickly hid her face with the paper. She heard his footsteps approaching her and she shrunk down in her seat, still hoping the paper hid her from his wrath.
"Weasley, stand up!" His voice was hard and distant as Annette lowered the paper and climbed to her feet. His face was set in a scowl and she frowned.
"What is it Malfoy?" She asked, her rage getting the best of her again.
"Why did you tell Umbridge we were alone together?"
"I didn't! Maybe it was you!" She countered and Ron turned around and continued to eat a chocolate frog, captivated by the raw rage between his sister and his enemy. Harry stood up and pulled Annette back.
"Leave her alone Malfoy!" He said and Malfoy sneered.
"This doesn't concern you Potter. This is between me and Weasley."
"Well anything that concerns Annette concerns me and her brother. So be on your way." Annette froze and pulled her arm out of Harry's grasp.
"I don't need anyone to fight my fights for me! I'm doing fine by myself!" She hissed and stomped away from the two glaring boys. Harry turned his attention to Draco and glared.
"You even think about hurting her, I will kill you."
"Ooh so scary, Potter." Draco countered before leaving the group alone and Ron swallowed his chocolate frog.
"God I love my sister! She brings the best drama around!"
"Shut up Ron." Both Harry and Hermione said this and he closed his mouth and pouted.
"Annette!"
"Go away Draco!"
"Stop!"
"No!"
"Will you just wait up?" Draco caught her arm and caused her to stop and she turned to him with a frown.
"What?" She asked angrily and he frowned.
"What Umbridge wrote is just a way to break you into telling your secrets to her. And a way to make sure my parents keep an eye on me while I'm here." He whispered as Annette stared at him.
"So you're just going to let it go?" She asked, shocked. He shook his head.
"Of course not, you stupid girl. I'm going to get back at her but I may have to hurt you in the process." He whispered back and she frowned.
"What that's supposed to mean, Malfoy?" She asked. He smirked and brushed his lips against hers.
"It means between you and me, it's war babe." He muttered softly into her ear and it caused a shiver of anticipation to go down her spine.
"War? Between us? Why I never! Very well. All is fair in love and war!" She muttered back and pulled him in deeper. He chuckled.
"And we just happen to be in the middle of both." He whispered before leaving her alone.
"Annette, wake up!" Ginny's fearful voice filled Annette's dreams before she awoke with a start with her younger sister standing over her with tears in her eyes. Annette sat up and pulled her sister into her chest and hugged her close as she sobbed.
"What's wrong Ginny?" She asked and Ginny continued to sob.
"It's dad, Annie. He was attacked."