Anna's schedule settled down into a steady routine as the days past, and next to sitting next to Draco, silently taking notes in her classes she had avoided bringing up their… unorthodox friendship. As soon as class ended she would silently slip out of her seat at the back of the room, keeping her head down as she memorized an incantation for Snape's lessons, or went over a set of potion ingredients in her mind. Although Hogwarts had been her sanctuary in the past, it seemed now that only stress and more pressure lay in store for her, the days of relaxing by the lake now replaced by the fearful letters Snape received from her father each week. Most of the time they had nothing to do about her, much to her relief…. But she knew that if her grades slipped…. Or if she took one step out of place, punishment… most likely by him would not be far to follow.
Anna sat in her favorite spot of the castle. She had stumbled upon it one day during the summer, the light fell through it's skylights in dusty rays as the sun neared the horizon, bringing the fragile light of the dimming sky tumbling onto the cracked stones of the floor. It reminded Anna of a church her father… Arthur… had taken her to once.
She was seven at the time, and although many things had made her feel small in her large world, this… church as her father had called it made her feel like an ant. Her father examined a book that sat at the front of the room as she stared at the vaulted ceilings in awe.
"Dad?" Her voice carried through the silent temple, echoing back off the walls.
He looked up at her.
"What do they do here exactly?" She asked, brushing her finger over the wick of a half burnt candle.
He put down the book, coming over to her and kneeling to look at her in the eyes.
"This is where they celebrate." He said.
She frowned.
"It doesn't look like a place to have a party…"
He laughed, it sounded like bells to her, ringing throughout the large open space.
"I should have been more clear… this is where they celebrate life… count their blessing so to speak."
She looked at the thick layer of dust covering the benches around her.
"Why did they stop?" She asked.
He frowned, scratching his head as he looked around at the deserted place.
"I don't know…"
A group of students shuffling past brought Anna back from her memory. She gave her head a little shake, looking down at her half-done essay she needed for Snape's lesson tomorrow. She sighed, realizing that she had no idea what she had been writing about, and would most likely have to restart the paragraph for the paper to make any sort of sense. She frowned to herself… the flashbacks were getting worse… maybe even bad enough for them to show… which would be bad… very bad, especially if her father found out that she still had unresolved feelings about the Weaslys. She threw her quill down on the sheet, putting her head in her hands.
"Anna?"
The voice made her jump, causing her books to slide to the floor. She jumped up, gathering them into a pile, a pale hand stretch out, holding a book towards her, she looked up, the pale blue eyes that met her own.
She took the book from him gently, averting her gaze.
"I have to go…" She murmured, sliding past him.
"Anna." He said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her around to face himself.
She looked at him with shocked eyes.
He let go of her wrist when he saw her expression, a look of embaressment in his eyes. He shook his head, letting out a sigh as he rubbed his neck with one hand.
"Sorry…" He muttered stepping to the side and staring out the window, letting her know that she could go.
Anna hesitated, watching the hurt, and confusion on Draco's face as he looked out the window.
She let out her breath, not realizing she had been holding it, and stepped up beside Draco. He looked at her for a moment, and then turned his gaze back to the setting sun. They stood in the peaceful stillness of the dusk for awhile, watching as the sun dragged lower and lower towards the horizon.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" He asked finally, the question she knew was coming, but it didn't help the sting of his sad words any.
"This isn't a good idea Draco…" She said after a long pause. He looked at her, she could see it out of the corner of her eye and she turned to him.
"We both know—" Her words were cut off as he came forward towards her, their lips so close that a deep breath would draw them to touch. His breath was hot against her, it made her skin tingle and her hair stand on end.
"I don't care." He said, closing the distance between them, and embracing her in his arms. It felt like ice running through her veins, numbing… beautiful ice… like the first frost of the season. He pulled back, looking into her eyes… and she started to cry.
