13 – How to Catch a Glumbumble (Sleep-Deprived)
"Yet mad I am not...and very surely do I not dream."
― Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat
...
The days following that conversation Haley kept trying to come up with solutions for her problem. It was harder than she had anticipated. The fact, that she was half-asleep most of the time because she kept spending her nights behind a certain Slytherin's dream door didn't help her case. Quite the opposite. Although, she was having fun during those dreams.
Friendly fun. Of course. During one dream they actually went to that concert she had missed out on. Weird Sisters concert. Of course. Malfoy had caught the sweaty shirt of Myron Wagtail, which the lead singer had thrown into the crowd. He had clutched it to his chest so tightly that Haley hadn't even tried to persuade him to give it to her.
Another time, Haley had found Draco in the kitchen of Malfoy Manor, which had been filled to the brim with eager house elves. The house elves had been making biscuits and Haley had caught the boy sneaking biscuit dough. Once the elves had noticed they had brought them a bowl full of raw dough with extra chocolate chips. They ate so much cookie dough that Haley was sure they would have thrown up all over the kitchen floor, had it not been a dream.
It was strange. She was starting to get used to spending her nights like this. But still, she wasn't getting closer to solving her problem. She was only getting closer to dying of sleep deprivation. When it got to the point that even coffee didn't keep her awake for more than a few hours any more, she decided she needed to take a break.
It was a good thing it was already Friday, so maybe she could catch up on some sleep over the weekend. If only to get her friends to stop asking whether she was okay all the time.
"So, there's a Hogsmeade visit scheduled for the weekend," Ron said during breakfast, clearing his throat somewhat nervously. "Should… we um… go together?" He asked no one in particular. Haley noticed that the boy's plate was still untouched. What was making him this anxious?
"Of course," Hermione replied, her eyes glued to Haley's cup of coffee. "We're always going together, aren't we?" Luckily, Haley knew a handy spell to cover up the shadows beneath her eyes. Otherwise her friends would have already manhandled her to the hospital wing.
"Oh. Right. So, we are." Ron said in a dejected tone. Were his ears turning red? Then Haley realized something. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day. Actually, it coincided with the Hogsmeade visit. Was her friend trying to ask Hermione out? She grinned to herself.
"Actually, guys, I don't think I can make it. I have this huge group project coming up. And there's so much I need to revise for the OWLs. The two of you should go alone. We can go together next time," She said, trying not to sound too obvious.
"Oh, th-that's a pity," Ron commented, his face turning even redder. "Guess it's just the two of us then."
"I'm sure you'll have lots of fun without me," Haley couldn't help but add.
Hermione glanced over at her suspiciously, a soft blush covering her cheeks. It seemed this was her cue to leave.
"Shoot, I forgot my potions essay in the dorm. Don't wait for me!" With that, she jumped to her feet and headed out of the Great Hall, silently complimenting herself on her matchmaking skills.
After potions they made their way over to Hagrid's for a lesson of Care of Magical Creatures. With the Slytherins again. Malfoy was ignoring her as he tended to do lately. They were supposed to look for glumbumbles today, working in pairs.
When Haley had noticed Ron eyeing Hermione hesitantly, she had snatched Neville's arm and declared she was going to pair up with him.
"Have you spotted any glumbumbles yet?" Neville asked, as they were traipsing along the pumpkin field.
"No," she replied letting her eyes wander around the tufts of grass that were starting to sprout from the earth. "At least we're not looking for billywigs," she continued. "I read those were almost impossible to find."
Neville nodded, looking for the small grey insect between two rosebushes.
"This is useless," he said with a sigh. "Why are we even looking for – wait didn't he say they like to hide inside tree trunks?" There was a tall tree opposite them at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It looked like it had been struck by a bolt of lightning. "I'm sure one of them is hiding inside it!" He pointed at the tree eagerly.
"No way." Haley chuckled. "With your luck we might find a beehive instead."
"But he said to look for tree trunks." The boy insisted. "And that is a tree trunk. More or less."
Haley kept chuckling. She didn't even know why she found this so funny. It was probably because of her tiredness.
"Stop laughing." Neville protested but he had never been able to resist her contagious laughter.
When she looked back at the tree trunk again, someone was standing beside it. It was Malfoy. And he was glaring daggers at them. This was unusual. What happened to being indifferent?
"I'm going to tell Hagrid," she said after her laughter had died down somewhat. It was better to let their teacher know. Just in case there was something worse hiding inside the trunk besides glumbumbles. "Should we warn him?" She added, eyeing the Slytherin thoughtfully.
Neville shrugged. "Maybe."
She didn't wait for him to say more, instead marching back to where Hagrid was observing everyone's progress.
"Haley," The giant man greeted her with a warm smile. "Did ye find one?"
"Actually, Neville thinks there might be a glumbumble in that trunk over there," she explained, turning around and gesturing toward the tree where Malfoy was now joined by Neville. They seemed to be talking about something.
There was a grin on Hagrid's face. "I think ye might be the first team ter find one of 'em. Let's go over ter check."
As they made their way over to the tree trunk the conversation between the two boys seemed to turn into an argument. They were standing close together and Malfoy had gripped the collar of Neville's robes.
"-you promised! If you tell her a word of what happened last Decem-" That was Malfoy.
"No fightin' in my lessons!" Hagrid thundered, interrupting him. He stepped between the two boys, forcing Malfoy to let go of Neville. "Didn't ye say ye found a glumbumble?"
"Glumbumble," Malfoy scoffed derisively. "Yeah right." He rolled his eyes, sending Neville another venomous glance before strutting back to his fellow Slytherins.
"What a glumbumble," Haley commented, staring after the boy.
Nobody found that joke funny besides her. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Here. Ye can lure our little friend with a bit of honey." Hagrid informed them, handing her a small jar filled with a golden substance. "I'll go check on the others."
As soon as their teacher was out of hearing distance Haley turned to Neville, the honey jar forgotten. "What was that about?" She asked him, more than a little curious.
Neville's eyes were fixed on the tree trunk. "Let's deal with this first." He answered absently, prying the little honey jar out of her hand.
She frowned at him. What had Malfoy been saying? Something about a promise? And that Neville wasn't supposed to tell her about it? Her? Had they been talking about Haley? "You know something, don't you?" The girl asked.
Neville knelt down in front of the tree and unscrewed the lid from the jar. He didn't look at her. He seemed completely focused on the task of placing the jar down between the tufts of grass and attracting the little insect.
"Neville." Haley pressed, kneeling down beside him. "You can tell me," she urged him, willing the boy to at least look at her.
When he finally turned to her, his eyes strayed away again after only a second. "It's not my story to tell," he whispered, shaking his head.
The way he was avoiding meeting her eyes and clamping his lips together made it obvious that he wasn't going to tell her anything more.
Haley sighed. For a short moment she had thought she was getting somewhere. But now there were even more questions whirling around in her head. What did Neville know about Malfoy? And why had the Slytherin glared at her friend like that?
"Haley, look." Neville whispered insistently. She followed his gaze toward a small grey insect that was sitting between the tree roots and staring at them out of its big black eyes. "The glumbumble," he whispered excitedly.
As it neared the honey jar, Neville reached out his hand cautiously. He was holding a net between his fingers. He was just about to drop it over the glumbumble when Haley noticed the burns.
"Neville! Your fingers!" Haley exclaimed, grabbing his right hand and holding it in front of her eyes. There were burns all across his fingers, along with blisters reddening his skin. She was pretty sure they hadn't been there the last time she had seen his hands. But then, she couldn't even remember the last time she had looked at his hands. How hadn't she noticed this sooner? "Merlin, how did that happen? Did Malfoy do this to you? We need to go see Madam Pomfrey. Come on."
He pulled his hand away, causing the glumbumble to disappear into the trunk again. "It's fine. I already went to see her. She gave me hypericum lotion for it."
"So? Is it not working or-?"
"It's working. It already got better. I simply forgot to apply it this morning."
"Neville." Haley bit her lips, taking in her friend worriedly.
"Don't worry. I'm fine." He said with a smile that looked like it was more forced than genuine. She noticed that he hadn't told her where the burns were from.
"I think we've missed our chance with the glumbumble." Neville said with a heavy sigh.
Haley didn't reply. She didn't care about the stupid insect. Nothing around her seemed to make sense any more. First, the thing with Malfoy and now Neville was keeping secrets from her? What were the odds that this was all some crazy dream and she was going to wake up any moment?
…
During lunch, Haley's eyelids kept drooping. No matter how much she fought to keep them open they stayed closed for longer and longer intervals. She hadn't even managed to eat more than one spoonful of her mashed potatoes. It was hopeless. Why should she keep fighting when the pull of sleep was so powerful? Her head fell forward and her spoon clattered to her plate…
Then a loud clash and the feeling of something cold and wet jolted her awake at once.
"Haley!" Someone yelled.
She had knocked over the jar of pumpkin juice with her arm! Now the orange juice was flowing all over the table and into her lap.
"Sorry," she mumbled, fumbling for her wand to clean up the sticky mess. But someone – probably Hermione – had already whispered the incantation to make the juice magically disappear.
"Merlin! This has gone too far! When was the last time you slept properly?" Her friend asked accusingly.
Haley didn't know. It was a sobering realisation. "I'll go right up to take a nap. Would you tell McGonnagall that I'm not feeling well?" There was a flash of blond hair, slipping out of the hall. She got up quickly.
"I really don't think you should miss another-" Hermione protested.
"I'm too tired to concentrate anyway," Haley interrupted her. "Thanks. I owe you." She didn't want to lose any more time. Ever since Care for Magical Creatures she felt unsettled. Something was going on between Neville and Malfoy. They were fighting for some reason. Was it because of her? But that was stupid. And it made her incredibly mad because Neville was already hurting. He didn't need more trouble. If Malfoy had a problem with her he should settle it with her and not with her friend.
Ah. There he was. Walking down the hall that lead toward the grand stair case. She intercepted him before he could start to climb the stairs by grabbing his arm.
"Do you have a moment?" She asked breathlessly, as the boy turned around with a glare. He seemed to hesitate. Before he had the chance to decline, Haley pulled him down the hall in the opposite direction.
"What the-"
She ignored his protests.
That old Charms class room to the left looked like it hadn't been used in a while. She pulled him inside and closed the door behind them.
"Merlin, Potter! What's your problem?" Malfoy asked irritatedly.
"My problem?" She fired back, whirling around to face him. "What is your problem? Apart from doing a hundred eighty degree turn, I mean?"
The boy frowned at her.
"Look, just leave Neville out of this, okay?"
He scoffed, leaning back against one of the walls and crossing his arms. "Of course this is about your precious sweetheart." He said that last word with so much venom that she unconsciously took a step back.
"I'm not – he's not my sweetheart," she protested, momentarily taken aback. This was not what she had wanted to talk about. "Anyway, he's done nothing wrong. So you should leave him alone."
Malfoy scowled at her. "Nothing wrong? So, you're saying he did not spread dirty rumours about me?"
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"I'm not stupid! I've seen the two of you pointing fingers and making fun of me during Magical Creatures! Did you have a good laugh?"
"We weren't laughing at you. It was because of the glumbumble!"
"The glumbumble." He echoed, disbelief colouring his voice.
"Um. Yes." It sounded stupid to her now. But it was the truth! It wasn't her fault he had been hiding behind that stupid tree.
"Do you take me for a fool?" He burst out, throwing his arms up.
"Merlin's beard! We weren't laughing at you!" She repeated impatiently.
"Whatever." He eyed her sceptically. He still didn't believe her. And what did she even care?
"Just… tell me you'll leave Neville alone and we can forget about this." She said with a sigh.
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "I'm late for Binns," he said, ignoring her request and stepping away from the wall. She was losing again. He wasn't taking her seriously at all. It made her feel powerless and mad at the same time.
"Look. I know. Okay?" The words spilled out without her being able to stop them. "I know. So, you don't need to pretend any more."
The boy froze at the spot. A number of emotions flitted across his face. Disbelief, surprise and was that… fear?
Following an impulse, she took a step toward him, making him step back in turn.
"What." He said coldly, his face a blank mask again. "What do you know."
Haley could see that he was breathing too quickly. Did she have his attention now?
"I know why you're really angry at Neville." She took another step forward, cornering him against the wall. Suddenly she was in control. It felt exhilarating.
Malfoy waited, his hands clenched to fists. "You don't know what you're talking about." His voice sounded low and dangerous. But she wasn't afraid of him any more. She was in control now. Everything seemed sharp and focused. She felt more awake than she had in days.
"You're jealous of him." She blurted.
He snorted. It seemed a little too forced. "Me? Jealous of that plant-crazy halfwit? Why would I-"
"Because you have a crush on me!" She accused. "And since Neville and I used to date, you're treating him like this." It was all out now. What was he going to do?
A slow amused grin spread across the boy's features. "What? you think I'm-? Crushing on you?" He chuckled like this was the most ridiculous thing he had heard in ages.
"That's brilliant. How did you find out? Was it before or after I turned your skin green?" He was making fun of her.
For a short terrifying moment Haley thought she had been wrong after all. But then all of the things he had said and done in his dreams came rushing back to her. She couldn't be wrong. And she wasn't going to let him make her look like a fool.
"I can prove it," she said, jerking her chin up in defiance.
"Yeah?" He scoffed. "How?" His eyes were shining with amusement. But there was something else hiding in them. She didn't know what it was. But it was concealed behind his mask of amusement.
He smirked at her as if he knew he had the upper hand. As if he was so sure he was going to win. Had already won in fact.
But she wasn't going to let him win. Not this time. Not when she had already got that far. He wanted a proof? She was going to prove it.
"I knew you were all talk, Pot-"
Her arms hit the wall on each side of his head and she leaned in to silence him with a kiss. Apparently, she had lost her mind. Why else would she have resorted to such means? But at least he was quiet now. And he wasn't smirking at her in that annoying way. In fact, he wasn't doing anything. It seemed like he had turned into an ice sculpture.
Haley pulled back, opening her eyes and staring at the boy.
His eyes were wide with surprise and his mouth slightly opened. He was breathing quickly, his eyes running all over her face. "Did you just-?" His voice was no more than a croak. He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath. "No one's going to believe you, you know?" Was he admitting that she was right?
"I wasn't planning on telling anyone." She replied, wondering if he was threatening her.
"If you tell anyone," he whispered defiantly, a hint of shyness and uncertainty flashing in his grey eyes. "I'll tell them that you kissed me first."
She frowned. First?
Suddenly, there were fingers on her waist and a second later she was flipped around and felt herself being pressed against the wall. That look. Doubtful. Almost shy. It had reminded her of the other boy she knew from her dreams. Maybe it was because of that thought that she was allowing him to kiss her. Or maybe it was because she hadn't properly kissed someone ever since her break-up with Neville.
She had missed the kissing. The sensation of feeling another pair of lips pressed up against her own. The way her heart rate sped up and her breaths came shorter. The smooth feeling of silky strands of hair that were sliding through her wandering fingers.
But even though she had missed all this she realised that she had actually never been kissed like that. In such a passionate way. Malfoy's hands were gripping her waist in a way that was almost painful. He was kissing and sucking on her lips as if he had been waiting to do so for years. As if he was addicted to the taste and feel of them.
And yet, Haley had her arms wrapped around his neck and was pulling him closer. She was lightly tearing at his hair, causing him to make this sound that was something between a whine and a sigh. It made her kiss him back with a fiery passion that had ignited her insides. It was like this wild animal had been sleeping inside her all along and now it had woken up. Like Sleeping Beauty but in a messed up way.
When he pulled away to catch his breath, she followed his mouth, catching his lower lip between her teeth and biting sharply. He seemed perplexed for a moment, before his eyes darkened and he dove back in to kiss her with a growl, his hands wandering up and down her sides and along her back, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Why did this feel so amazing?
It almost seemed like a dream. But then, kissing him in her dreams had been vastly different. For one, it had been extremely short because of her reluctance to kiss him. And besides that it had been a much less sensual experience. Because she had been dreaming, everything had lacked this sharp sense of reality. She hadn't felt the smoothness of his hair or the softness of his lips. She also hadn't perceived the way he smelled. It was something woodsy, like resin, which was probably because they had been in the woods earlier. But there was something else as well. Something flowery like lavender and something minty. She could even hear him breathing close to her.
It was like all of her senses were filled with him. She honestly couldn't say for how long they had been kissing. Or when they had relocated their snogging session to the floor. At some point Haley opened her eyes and the boy was just there, kneeling close to her and staring at her. His fingers were gently cupping her face and he kept kissing her lips as if they had become his sole focus of existing. Surely, they had to be bruised by now. With every peck his kisses grew softer, sweeter. Less feverish. As his thumb stroked over her cheek soothingly, his lips just lingered there, softly brushing against her own.
It was making her sleepy. Who knew kissing could be that exhausting? She could barely keep her head upright.
"Hey," he whispered, supporting her head with his hands. "Are you okay?"
"I'm… a bit tired," she mumbled, her eyelids drooping again.
"Oh." He sounded uncertain. "It's not because…" He let the sentence hang there, unfinished. Was he afraid, the snogging had bored her? Haley chuckled. Wouldn't it be fun to torture him with that thought for a bit?
"'s because I didn't get enough sleep." She said instead, yawning tiredly.
"That's good then," he said, sounding relieved. Then he seemed to realise exactly what he had said. "I mean – I – I'll take you to your common room."
"'s fine. You don' have to," she mumbled, already half-asleep. Maybe she would just sleep right here. But then she was suddenly lifted up, two arms coming up around her back and under her legs.
"I said don't. I have legs. I can walk." She protested weakly, hitting the boy's chest.
In true Malfoy fashion the boy ignored her and proceeded to carry her through the castle as if she were some damsel in distress. Could this get any more embarrassing? What would the other students think?
A part of her did like being carried. Honestly, who wouldn't? But she would never admit that to anyone. She couldn't anyway because she slept through most of the walk.
"Um… the password," she heard a whisper close to her. Had they already reached the portrait of the Fat Lady? What time was it anyway?
"What time 's it?" She asked softly.
"Around dinner time," came the reply. "Probably the reason why we didn't encounter anyone."
Haley opened her eyes and blinked up at the boy. A hood was covering most of his face. Was he that scared of being seen with her? She snorted. "Put me down. I'll manage from here."
"But you-"
"Put me down already!" She insisted. The boy obliged, eyeing her warily. She felt a bit more awake now.
Malfoy seemed to wait for something. Did he expect her to thank him?
"You can go now," she dismissed him, nodding toward the stairs.
"I just want to make sure you're-"
"I'm not about to tell you the password, okay?" She said, a tad too forcefully.
"Oh. Right." He looked as if he had been slapped. "Well, then." It was fascinating how quickly he was able to re-erect the wall that had been crumbling down bit by bit during the afternoon. His face was back to its usual cold and emotionless expression. Without another word, he turned around and descended the stairs.
There was a pang somewhere in her chest but Haley ignored it. She had done nothing wrong. Or maybe she had done everything wrong but in her exhausted state of mind this was hardly the moment to question her latest life choices.
She whispered the password and stepped through the portrait door as if she was sleep-walking. Maybe she was. As expected, the common room was deserted. She barely made it up the stairs toward the fifth year dorm. As soon as her head hit the pillow, the girl was dead to the world.
…
A/N: Hey everyone! So, finally, there's a confrontation! And a... resolve :D I bet you didn't expect that, did you? Let me just tell you, we're moving into the next arc now and there's still a lot more to tell. In case you were wondering. Glumbumbles are an actual thing. I found them in Phantastic beasts (book) and found them quite interesting. And what did you think about the Neville/Malfoy scene? Any suspicions or ideas? As always leave me your thoughts and thanks for reading :)