For the next two days, Laurelle practically floated to her classes. Even Potions wasn't so bad, because Harry was in her class. They hadn't really had any time alone since the night of the ball, so all they had were a few stolen kisses here and there, but to Laurelle they were more than enough. She had never felt this way about anyone before. This must be love, she thought. And she hadn't heard anything more from her old conscience since that fateful evening.
Perhaps all of these thoughts were what were keeping Laurelle from being her usual alert self. It was a Wednesday night, and earlier that day during Transfiguration, the only other class they had to endure with the Slytherins this year, Harry had slipped her a note. It said:
Laurelle,
I miss you. Meet me by the statue
of Boris the Bewildered tonight at
Midnight.
-Harry
She had smiled and tucked the note into her bag. However, Draco Malfoy, who sat diagonal from Laurelle, had seen the exchange and was curious. When the class shifted to get into pairs, he swiftly tugged the note out of Laurelle's bag. He read it, and then began to grin. He had a plan.
Laurelle left her room at 11:30. She wasn't positive that she knew where the statue was, and she didn't want to keep Harry waiting. The hem of her flowing white nightgown swished along by her feet as she walked.
She found the statue by 11:40. It was not very far from the common room. So now she had twenty minutes to wait for Harry. That was ok. She would wait forever for him. She leaned against one wall, making herself comfortable.
Draco had also left his room at 11:30. The statue was a mere 2-minute walk from the Slytherin common room. As he walked he thought about Laurelle. From the moment the beautiful girl had walked into Hogwarts, he had wanted her to be his. The way she spoke, the way she walked, everything about her captivated Draco. When he had spied her and Harry in the garden, it had certainly not been the first time that he had wished he were Potter. But after tonight, it would certainly be the last.
He reached the spot before anyone was there. He hoped that Laurelle would come first. He hid in the shadows so that no one would see him. Much to his delight, Laurelle did arrive first, and unarmed at that. He waited another five minutes, and finally saw Potter approaching down the long corridor. Laurelle couldn't see him because her back was turned, and Potter couldn't see her because the statue was blocking his view. Perfect, Draco thought. He silently came up behind Laurelle and covered her mouth with his hand. She struggled to get out of his grip, realizing it wasn't Harry immediately. Draco pinned her up against the wall she had been leaning on and took his hand off her mouth. She started to protest, but before should could even get a whole word out, Draco cut her off with a kiss. His kiss was rough and possessive, not soft and sweet like Harry's. Laurelle struggled to wrench herself from his grip but she couldn't move. Harry had finally reached the end of the corridor and walked to the other side of the statue. When he saw Laurelle and Draco, his face froze. Laurelle could feel hot tears well up in her eyes again, the second time in a matter of days. The expression on Harry's face hurt her more than Harry must have been hurting. He looked confused, betrayed, and heartbroken all at once. Then, his face turned into one of fury. Even through Draco's kiss, Laurelle moaned, trying to call to Harry. Harry turned and started back down the corridor at a quickened pace. Laurelle finally managed to wrench herself from Draco's grip. Draco laughed. He knew well that the damage had been done. He departed for his dorm. Laurelle ran to catch up with Harry. "Harry, please," said Laurelle to Harry's back, as tears began to once again fall from her hazel eyes. She was having increasing trouble drawing proper breath, and if she didn't soon, she was going to pass out. "Harry! I didn't want to kiss him! He just…jumped out of nowhere! I couldn't stop him and he had me pinned down so that I couldn't move! Harry! Please!" Laurelle then realized how far-fetched that story really seemed. "Harry, I'm telling the truth! Harry! Harry!" Harry slowed to a halt. He slowly turned around. "Laurelle," he said slowly, "Leave me alone. Please, just leave me alone. And never speak to me again. Ever." She saw that his face was streaked with tears too. He turned a corner, and this time Laurelle didn't follow him. Instead, she sunk down against the wall and drew her legs up to her chest. She cried uncontrollably. She had made him cry! She kept recalling what he had said to her. The way he had said it stung more than the words themselves. It would have been better if he had shouted at her. Her grief was uncontrollable. The one person that she had ever loved was now gone from her forever, and all for something that wasn't ever her fault! She would never forgive Draco, for as long as she lived, she would hate him with every ounce of her being.
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