Chapter X

Straying from the Plan

The rest of the day passes uneventfully and damn slowly- probably because I didn't speak to Draco once the whole time.

In Herbology, Pansy tries and fails to cast an acne curse on me- Professor Sprout notices just in time and gives her a detention, which doesn't help my situation at all.

Throughout Charms I try to ignore the churning feeling in my stomach that reminds me that tonight I have to fall asleep in the girls Dormitory under the watchful eyes of Pansy, who could do just about anything. Plus I'll be in Slytherin headquarters, and they could have just about any opinion on torturous behavior to another member of their house.

At lunch I eat quickly, trying to ignore Esme's chatterings and Pansy's cold glare as she grabs hold of Draco's hand on the table. He doesn't react, as if he's used to it or just doesn't really care about it. It comforts me a little that he shows no signs of romantic reference to her, but judging my Pansy's suddenly radiant mood, she's completely unaware of being practically ignored; it seems she's living in her own world.

After I bolt my meal down, I hurry off to the library, trying to pretend I don't see Pansy's happy face at my departure. Luckily, Hermione's there, pouring over some huge textbook.

I collapse into the seat across from her and heave a sigh which ruffles my fringe.

"Being targeted by Pansy is hard work." I tell her.

"Tell it to the girl whose skirt was vanished by that cow." She says without looking up from the book. I grimace and pat her hand consolingly; as a girl, I have learnt to be sympathetic. It'll come in useful with the ladies when I'm a guy again, I guess.

"I can guess you haven't used the special spell yet."

"How did you know?"

"Believe me, I'd know!"

This puts me off using the spell even more, if the effects would be so obvious. I prefer the more subtle spell casting, like people's wands flying out of their hands.

I watch her read for a while, enjoying the calm that washed over me from the silence of the library. Forget the plan, just put your head in your arms and relax…

Footsteps, their echoes chanting down the hallway and drifting through the open library doors puncture my peaceful thoughts. As they grow closer I lift my head to see who it is, natural curiosity getting the better of me. As the person emerges from behind the doorframe by heart lurches to my mouth at the sight of Malfoy.

Because I wasn't prepared to see him, I just stare, wide eyed and gormless. The perfect image…! He continues to walk past, his eyes locked with mine the whole time- which seems like an hour. Realizing I'm sitting with Hermione, he smiles a simple smile, bordering a smirk, and disappears behind the other side of the doorframe. I stare at the exact place, unable to look back at Hermione, who is still reading, her breathing quiet and steady unlike mine, uneven and shallow.

"Was that Malfoy?" She murmured in a low voice, her eyes still on her book.

"…Yep…" It comes out as a rasp.

"Go on." She looks up at me for the first time and smiles widely, "Aren't you going after him?"

"Aaactually…" I shuffle restlessly in my seat, wanting nothing more than to join him, "I'm playing hard to get at the moment."

Hermione looks at me for a while, long and hard, before murmuring, "I'll have to ask Ginny what that means…"

"I noticed you sitting with Granger in the library at lunch." His voice lulls from behind me in Care of Magical Creatures. I nearly squash the pixie I'm wrestling with.

My blood boils; my heart sings but plummets at the same time.

How the hell do I avoid him now? I can't just run off…I haven't got the self-control…

"Granger?" I ask innocently, my eyes squinting in the afternoon sun as I look up at him over my shoulder. He's standing closer than I thought, dangerously close; I might just have to jump on him again.

"…Hermione?" The first time he's said her actual name, I think. It takes physical strength for him to force it out.

"Oh yes, I'm meeting as many people as I can." I say brightly, and hastily slap a remedy on the Pixie's backside, which Hagrid has assigned us to moisturize because at this time of year apparently, they're prone to getting boils in awkward places. The guy cares too much…and the students don't care at all. I have to admit though, it was hard not to run and hug him when he emerged from his hut at the beginning of the lesson. I think these girl hormones now see him as a huge cuddly bear…it freaks me out.

"You know she's a mudblood right?" He asks, aghast underneath his calm exterior.

I try to stay calm, but I nearly pop the head off of my pixie. It lets me know by biting me nice and hard though. I shriek loudly.

"What? I'm only warning you?" Malfoy asks calmly, as if I'd acted like a civilized human, and hadn't just screamed like a banshee.

"No…the pixie bit me, idiot." I growl darkly, forgetting myself. The real hatred and frustration towards the git spills out before I can control it. But he just…laughs. Openly, loudly, properly like a real person. It sends a surprising tingle up my spine.

"Just squish the bloody thing if it's offended you." He moves to my side so he can inspect the struggling pixie more closely. He leans forward, and his shoulder grazes my cheek. Without thinking, I breathe in his scent. It's spicy, but with a hint of something fresh, something I can't place. The only thing I can picture it as is an open meadow, its grasses being teased by the sighing winds.

Snap out of it. You're a boy. You're straight, remember?

Malfoy takes the creature from me, his fingers brushing against me. I'm surprised by their temperature. They're warm, not cold like I imagined, like a vampires. I feel like an idiot really- did I expect him to be a cold-blooded monster once I got to know him?

…Well yes, but I had fair reason!

Anyway, Malfoy squeezes the pixie's head between his forefinger and thumb, until it squeals.

"Stop it!" I cry out. I've forgotten what a heartless bastard he can be! But to my surprise, he does, and it collapses in his palm.

"There." He said, satisfied, as he laid it gently in my palm, "Now it knows not to play up."

I stare at him, incredulous.

"No. Way. You're good with Magical Creatures?" This is Harry Potter thinking, "But you always act like you hate-"

"What do you mean 'always'?" He asks sharply, looking down at me, the sun behind him giving him a halo, "This is your first Care of Magical Creatures class isn't it?"

…Fuck.

"W-well…Hermione was moaning about it in the Library when I asked her about this class." I stammer, blushing- not at the sticky situation, but at his ridiculous beauty right now. His lips are right there…just stand on your tiptoes…

SHUT UP!

What the hell is going on? My blood is hammering through my veins, I feel feverish, my palms are sweating and I can hardly control the emotions screaming through me all at the expense of Draco bloody Malfoy!

"Are you ok?" He asks me, looking genuinely concerned through his angelic features. It's too much.

"Ihavetogo!" I squeak, and with the greatest strength I've ever mustered, I leave him and get the hell out of there.

Behind a random statue I sit, out of breath because I'd broken into a sprint once I was out of sight.

Do I…?

Is it possible that…?

Now way can I…

I have to admit it…

I can't believe this is happening…

Just say it…

It could just be the hormones…

Say it…

What if…?

SAY IT!!

I think I – Harry Potter- have got the hots…for Draco Malfoy.

Now that wasn't part of the plan!