Ellen's pov –

I opened my eyes and tried getting up but my spinning head made it much difficult. My eyes tightly closed by the pain. As the cutting sensation faded, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around.

There was Draco lying on the bed next to mine. Then I recalled what happened before I lost my conscious. I saw him in the water, his eyes turned red, whispered something in my ear and... I heard a voice in my dream. The thought of it gave me chills.

"Ellen!" Amber came running into the Hospital Wing.

"Oh my god, Ellen. How are you feeling? Are you alright?" She then threw herself at me and gave me a tight hug. The motion made my head dizzy a bit but it was really relaxing to see her.

"I guess I'm fine but..." I turned my head to look at Draco.

"What happened to you two? Draco wasn't supposed to be in the water. I was your hostage." Amber's remark got me worried.

"Wait, then who saved you? I'm so sorry. I-" Then someone interrupted me.

"I saved her and -" Harry was now approaching us and Amber finished his sentence.

"And it's perfectly fine." She gave me a reassuring smile.

"How are you feeling Ellen?" Harry sat on one of the chairs beside my bed.

"I feel better. Thanks for checking on me, Harry" I smiled at him.

"What... happened?" He hesitantly asked. Then I told him about what happened but excluded the details about Draco. I didn't want him to be in any sort of trouble.

"I found Draco in the water and he was bound to the tail like a hostage. The rest I don't quite remember because I fainted after hearing a voice." When I finished my explanation, Harry's eyes widened with terror.

"Are you okay Harry?" I asked worriedly.

"What did the voice say?" He tried to sound calm.

"Why? What's wrong?" asked Amber.

"Something like 'you shall meet me soon'?" Harry's look made me feel anxious but I figured he might know something about it.

"I think it could be something to do with Voldemort. Great possibility" And yes, he did know something about it.

"What?" Amber and I gasped in unison. Then I heard footsteps from the door. I looked up and saw Krum and Cedric accompanied by Professor Dumbledore.

"Harry, Voldemort?" Professor Dumbledore seemed to have heard Harry's remark.

"Ellen! You're up. How do you feel?" As Cedric's eyes met mine, he darted towards us and asked swiftly.

"I'm good. Thank you, Cedric." I beamed a smile at him and he sighed.

"Glad to see that you're feeling fine, Ellen" Krum also sighed and gazed at me.

"Professor Dumbledore, thank you for visiting but I feel like I should rest more. I've told Harry and Amber about what happened so they'll be able to explain the situation on my behalf." I spoke politely.

"Of course, Ellen. No worries" He then waved at the crowd to follow him out of the Hospital Wing. They all seemed pretty reluctant to leave me but soon walked away.

The room was empty again, with Draco still lying on the bed, unconscious. I walked out of my bed slowly and went to sit beside Draco's. I looked down at his sharp pale face that conjured up a crossover image of him in the water.

"Why, Draco... Why?" I touched his face again. Then suddenly, he grabbed my hand. I gasped at the unexpected movement and he slowly opened his eyes.

"How are you feeling?" I asked him softly but he didn't answer me right away. He just stared into my eyes.

"...I'm sorry" Draco removed my hand from his face and looked away. He sounded contained. My hand was now awkwardly floating in air so I brought it back to my side.

"What are you sorry for?" I wanted to understand what happened but he was still looking away, avoiding to answer my question.

"Draco? Draco!" My voice raised as frustration flooded in.

"Talk to me -"

"I almost got you killed Ellen!" Draco then suddenly raised his upper body and shouted at me angrily.

"I allowed that to happen and the thought of it..." He was breathing shakily.

"agonises me"

Draco's sudden and incomprehensible burst of anger upset me but he seemed perturbed and those two words broke my heart.

"I'm not really following, Draco..." I tried speaking to him calmly again. Draco let out a big sigh and reluctantly opened his mouth after a few moment.

"The Dark Lord... I was in his command." He spoke with a sullen face.

What..?

"He was basically in me to... approach you" And my heart dropped.

"...How?" I asked gently but his voice heightened.

"I don't know!"

"Why are you so mad at me?" My voice trembled and there was a lump in my throat.

"Because this is going to happen again and I wouldn't be able to stop it!"

Silence followed after his yelling. A long miserable silence.

"...I should leave" I then rose from my chair and quickly turned to leave the Hospital Wing as an attempt to hide the tears in my eyes. I couldn't help sniffling though. Then Draco's voice stopped me.

"You should and... don't place yourself near me"

Is he joking? I turned around to look at him but he was looking away.

"Please, do likewise" I snorted and slammed the door shut behind me. As I did, the tears that I tried so hard keeping in bursted out. I ran to the common room, hardly looking up. People watched me like a show and I felt embarrassed.

"Is she alright?"

"Why is she crying?"

"Cheating her way into the tournament, who didn't expect something like that to happen?"

I heard further deriding remarks and it was getting hard for me to endure them. I've had enough contempt for today... I kept running to hide from everyone and then... I bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry" I mumbled and tried to run away but the person grabbed my arm.

"Hey, Ellen? Are you okay?" It was Kyle. Seeing him was like a breath of fresh air. Someone who is understanding and supportive. Who wouldn't... shut me out like how Draco always managed to.

"I was actually on my way to visit you and Dra- Ellen?"

I couldn't help but start whimpering. I buried my face in both my hands and tears were bursting out uncontrollably. Kyle hugged me and he jeered at the people who laughed at the sight.

"Oi! Fuck off!" He hid me by hugging my tighter and gently patted me on the back.

"Let's go somewhere else" Kyle then grabbed my wrist and led me out of the castle, to the courtyard. It was dinner time so there was nobody around. We sat by the empty fountain and Kyle patiently waited for me to stop crying. After quite a long time, I finally lifted up my head and inhaled the fresh evening air deeply.

"I thought I told you that smile looks better on you" Kyle quipped to light up my mood.

"I'm sorry I always seem to be crying when I'm alone with you" I shook my head and chuckled.

"Well, if you're sorry can I ask you something?" Kyle was looking down at the ground.

"Sure" I smiled.

"Will you be my date to the yule ball?" He then looked up to face me.

"Woah that was really unexpected but why ask here I mean right now, like this?" I pointed my finger at my puffy eyes.

"So far from romantic you mean?" He laughed and added wittily.

"Do you want flowers or something? By the way, I heard Krum sent Hermione a bouquet. Big guy." I laughed at the thought of romantic Krum.

"No way!" We both were laughing now. Kyle always seemed to know how to make me smile again. I was thankful.

"I mean nobody else seems to be wanting to ask and... you wouldn't be so bad after all" I spoke playfully and we shook hands. But as my hand got into contact with his, I was saddened a bit.

I wish... I wish this was somebody else's...

What would it take to understand you, Draco?