Can't Fight the Feeling
Chapter 3
THE GUILT!
He looked at her and stood up immediately.
"H-How long have you been in here? What have you heard?" Draco asked her,
stammering.
"What? I didn't hear anything except for the sound of that book against
your head!" Hermione retorted.
"Are you sure you haven't heard anything? If you did and you didn't tell
me, I'll turn you into a slimy slug!"
"Yes! Yes! I know! Don't worry! For cripe's sake, I didn't hear anything
and I don't care about whatever you're blabbing about!"
"Good!" Draco answered back in relief.
The moment of silence was broken by the laughing and the talking of the
coming students. Harry and Ron came into view and they approached her.
"Hey! Hermione, we're sorry we didn't accompany you here a while ago. We
went back to the dormitory because Neville needed our help. Turns out there
is something wrong with his wand. He had done his spell wrong so the wand
backfired (just like mine!) and now he's turned all green and slimy! Good
thing Seamus was there and helped. I thought I was going to have slime all
over my robes!" Ron explained as he chuckled.
"Yeah! Ron's been trying his best to keep his distance from Neville as much as possible and as far as possible!" Harry said, laughing. Hermione giggled. "Poor Neville! Is he now in the hospital wing?" "Yup! We had a hard time taking him there because he kept on spreading slimy goo all over the floor!" "It was very slippery and smells bad too! Yuck!" Ron added, frowning. A loud bang silenced the whole class and the low voice of Snape started. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make. Professor Sprout is going to take our time for potions for your Herbology class because we have an urgent meeting later. And since we are finished in all our lessons I'll let you have your Herbology at my time to let you finish all your lessons in that subject. Now please take your things and go to your class." They took their things and started for the door. When they arrived at the greenhouse they settled down on their tables where there were Bell sprouts, Bubotubber Pus and something that seemed to look like a Koala's ears only it was coloured red and smelled like mint.
They proceeded with their lessons. Although Hermione was quite deeply into what Professor Sprout had been explaining, in the corner of her mind she had been thinking of what could be Draco didn't want her to hear. Even as she knew it was none of her business to think of whatever it is, it still interested her somehow.
***************
Later that day, Hermione went to library to do research for their homework in Herbology. She looked through the shelves for different botanic books and she saw some on the upper right corner of the shelf. Since the shelves in the library were very high, she looked around for a ladder and climbed it up to get the book. Meanwhile, Draco and his cronies were almost up in the Slytherin tower when he remembered he had left his book in the library. "Oh man! I forgot my book in the library!" he said. "Go ahead, I'm going to go back and get it. I'll meet you in the common room in a while." He waved them off and started for the library. As he entered, his gaze fell on the table where he thought he forgot his book but it was not there. "Where could it be?'" He thought, scratching his head. He went to ask if anyone had seen his book but apparently, no one was there and Madam Pince was out. Draco decided to look for it himself, first on the other tables. When he didn't find it anywhere, he made his way through the bookshelves. When he was in the fifth shelf, he didn't notice a ladder on his way and he bumped on it. Hermione, who was up the ladder, unfortunately got out of balance and started to fall. "Oh no! Iiiieeeee!!!" Hermione shrieked. "What the bloody." A stunned Draco looked up and luckily, caught her in his arms. Hermione look up at him and their eyes met once more and their thoughts dissolved in the look of each other eyes. Draco's eyes were still cold when it stared. Hermione knew that. But it seemed like his eyes didn't show that cold anymore, there was some sort of warmth in his eyes, though it was not clearly seen. Hermione's eyes looked the same as the way as when she stared at him every time they see each other. A look that told him they were drastically different from each other. Draco could see that, but then he saw in her eyes a hint of curiosity and doubt. They both stared at each other for a moment. Then the sound of the library door broke their eye contact. Hermione realized that she was still in Draco's arms and she pushed him away with amazing speed and stood up. She looked at him once more. She seemed too shy to say anything but when she finally mustered up the courage to say a word to him, Professor McGonagall came into view. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, fancy seeing you here. The Library is going to be used by the first years for their research on Transfiguration, so please go back to your houses now."
With out a word Hermione walked fast to the door and went out. Malfoy stood there, still filled with the thoughts of what just happened. "Mr. Malfoy! Didn't you hear what I just said?" Professor McGonagall was clearly not pleased. "Err-sorry Professor." Draco muttered and walked out of the library. He went to the Slytherin common room and then met up with his cronies once more. Out of boredom, they played cards until dinnertime, and then they all went down to the Great Hall.
**************
After dinner everyone settled in his or her dormitories getting ready for bed. Draco pulled on his pyjamas and got on his four-poster but he didn't feel that sleepy.
"What's been happening to me? It's not my nature to feel this way about anything, not to mention anyone. Why hadn't I forgotten everything that happened? How could I be so stupid? I'm not supposed to be thinking of what just happened. It's meaningless. it's nothing."
He heard Malcolm Baddock's voice, talking to Crabbe and Goyle and then their voices faded away.
For a long time, Draco lay staring up at the canopy of his bed. The sounds in the Dormitory slowly faded away as the other students retired for the night. However, Draco still didn't feel sleepy at all. His problem about his confused feelings seemed to be haunting him more and more.
At last, he came to a decision. He figured out that since he couldn't avoid thoughts of Hermione, which he thought was just the work of a very bad spirit trying to distract him, he just had to think of horrible thoughts about her and start to be mean to her again.
"Maybe I can only see all her appalling and ugly sides." He whispered. "From now on she's the ugly Mudblood know-it-all with bushy hair, buck- teeth, duck-feet and stupid voice!" he continued.
The thought of Hermione looking like that made him twitch but made him smile a bit and then he sighed.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!! That feels much, much better!" He then turned his back and dozed off.
Next morning was a great day for Draco. Incredibly, he had not dreamt of Hermione at all unlike the past nights.
He hurriedly changed to his robes and went down to breakfast with his cronies. As he went down to the Great Hall, he came across the trio who seemed to look tired and still sleepy.
"My head aches!" He heard Ron say groggily. "Too much homework!"
"I can't believe Professor Trelawney made us read all those tea leaves to let us see the future!" said Harry, looking as though he had been run over by truck.
Hermione shrugged at them. "Why do you keep on taking up Divination? You should've dropped that class a long time ago and take Arith.- Uh-oh!"
Hermione didn't finish her words for Goyle tripped her and she dropped face flat on the floor. Malfoy and his cronies guffawed sycophantically at her.
"Looking for mice somewhere Granger?" drawled a cold voice.
She looked up and saw Draco Malfoy's pale face sneering at her. "Or you just want to take a good look at my newly polished shoes? Don't go too near though; you might slime Mudblood germs all over it."
Harry and Ron's faces turned red with anger. "Shut up Malfoy!" Ron barked, his face burning with rage. "Watch your mouth you slimy git!"
Harry, though hot with anger, kept quiet but stared daggers at Draco.
Malfoy on the other hand was not taken aback by his stares at all and pretended not to hear what Ron said. "Watcha going to do Weasley? Call your mommy?" He and his friends laughed at them once more.
"Let's go!" Malfoy said to his cronies. "I have no time for chickens! Bawk, bawk, bawk!" Draco jeered as he walked away, his cronies following him while laughing uncontrollably.
In rage, Ron reached for his wand and pointed it at Malfoy's back. He was about to hex him when Hermione stopped him.
"Ron! No! Stop! You're going get detention for that!" she told him.
"She's right Ron. Better cool it!" Harry agreed. "He'll have his days!" And they all went to breakfast, still fuming at Malfoy.
After breakfast, they headed to their first class, Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid spotted them as they approached his hut.
"'Arry, Ron, 'Ermione! Come here! We'll wait for others and the Slytherins to come."
"Oh! The Slytherins! Talk about unlucky!" Ron shrugged.
"You've been unlucky since birth Weasley!" drawled a cold voice behind them. They looked around and saw Malfoy.
"You've been poor as a rat! Your parents can't even afford to buy you new robes! That's unlucky!" Malfoy sneered at Ron and Goyle and Crabbe laughed loudly.
Ron would have burst out with so much anger, if it hadn't been for Hagrid, who interrupted them.
"Everyone! Let's get goin'!"
He led them to a pumpkin patch. As they entered, they saw creatures that looked like chickens with long buck-teeth and slimy yellow head.
"Eeeeew!" said Parvati with disgust.
Malfoy however was laughing loudly. "Look! Looks like Weasley and Granger combined!"
The Slytherins roared with laughter making Ron's face flush with anger.
"Shut up Malfoy! I'd rather look like that than a cowardly bouncing ferret like you!" he spat and the Gryffindors laughed even louder.
"That'll shut him up!" said Dean and Seamus, grinning.
Malfoy's face was pink. He stared at the Trio, whispered something and turned away to look at the slimy creatures.
After their class with Hagrid, they headed to Transfiguration, which unfortunately had the same group of Slytherins.
While in Transfiguration, Hermione was thinking why Malfoy had acted that way. He hadn't done much damage and criticizing for the past few weeks, not until today. What's up with him? Hermione realized that she had been thinking of him more often these days.
"Why do I always ask myself about him?" she asked herself. "I don't even know what to feel about him anymore!" she thought. "I should feel hatred, right?"
But Hermione knew too well that she did not really feel hatred for him at all. It seemed so odd but she couldn't bring herself to feel angry with him. She showed other people that she despised him, but the truth, she didn't feel like that and she didn't know why. A voice broke into her thoughts.
"Ms. Granger! Ms. Granger!" Professor McGonagall called to her attention.
"Uh-oh! Yes Professor?"
"Please bring this Clear White Burning Ink to Professor Binns, he needs it badly. Be careful though, it does not have a cover and you might stain your robes and burn your skin." She looked at the class. "I'll be going to Professor Dumbledore to attend to some important matters; I'll be back in an hour, please behave yourselves!"
She went out of the room. Hermione took the ink and headed to the door. But before she reached the knob, Malfoy, who was seated at the back of the classroom, tripped her. Hermione fell flat on the floor with the Clear White Burning Ink splattered all over her black robe, causing dirty white spots and it started burning her robes and her skin. Everyone was looking at her and the Slytherins were paralyzed with laughter. Malfoy's group was banging their fists on their desks and Pansy Parkinson's group was pointing at her with unpleasant looks on their faces.
Harry and Ron approached and helped her. She burst into tears and immediately ran out of the room. Harry and Ron followed her. Malfoy was still sniggering when he suddenly felt weird. He stopped to think. 'He was supposed to feel satisfied, right?' He was supposed to feel satisfied for he had done it! He made Hermione cry. He showed all the people how he hated her and her friends. But instead, he felt the opposite. He felt guilty. He then felt a rush of coldness inside him and he shivered. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked around. He saw Pansy. "What's wrong Draco? Are you okay?" Pansy asked, pouting her lips so that it almost touching his face. He backed off a little. "Huh? Me? I'm fine Pansy!" Pansy took his hand to his, tangled their fingers together and leaned on him. "Oh! But you seemed so distant Draco! You're not yourself! I missed you!" Draco's eyes widened and took off her hands from his. "What? Missed me? Missed what?" "Missed you! Your sweetness, sleekness and all about you! We don't even talk anymore! At least not often!" Draco backed off even farther, his eyes wide. "Pansy! What are you saying? I've never been sweet to you! Not to anyone! There is nothing between us. I thought you already understood that! Besides, I've been busy. That's why I don't talk to you much!" Pansy leaned against him once more and held him close. (Draco could hardly breathe!) "Draco, you don't have to deny it. It's okay!" Crabbe and Goyle let out a snort of laughter. Draco glared at them and they stopped immediately, trying to contain their laughter. After Transfiguration, Draco managed to get away from Pansy's deadly grip and went to the Great Hall for lunch. He looked over at the Gryffindor Table and he could see that the trio wasn't there. Then the scene that took place a while ago filled his mind and he felt guilt rushing over him like blood through his veins. He shivered slightly. He had never felt guilty about something before and neither had he regretted any scam he had done in the past. He even used to think he had no conscience, but now he proved himself wrong. He was guilty and he wasn't happy at all.
Draco pushed his steak and potatoes aside. He was not in the mood to eat and he didn't think he could swallow any more food. "I'm going to go back to the common room. I'll meet you there." He stood up and went out of the Great Hall, not even listening to what Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy were asking him. They all looked puzzled but continued eating. Hermione came out of the hospital wing together with Harry and Ron at nearly half noon.
"I'm starving!" Ron said, rubbing his tummy.
"Me too! Come on, let's eat!" Harry agreed.
Hermione looked at them and smiled. "You two go ahead! I'm not really hungry."
"Oh come on Hermione! Join us!"
Hermione shook her head. "No! It's okay! I'll see you in the common room after lunch."
After Harry and Ron finally consented, they went down to the Great Hall while Hermione started to head for the Gryffindor tower.
She was staring at the floor as she climbed up the stairs and as she reached the third floor, she suddenly bumped into someone. She lifted her head, looked up and saw Malfoy.
To be continued.
"Yeah! Ron's been trying his best to keep his distance from Neville as much as possible and as far as possible!" Harry said, laughing. Hermione giggled. "Poor Neville! Is he now in the hospital wing?" "Yup! We had a hard time taking him there because he kept on spreading slimy goo all over the floor!" "It was very slippery and smells bad too! Yuck!" Ron added, frowning. A loud bang silenced the whole class and the low voice of Snape started. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make. Professor Sprout is going to take our time for potions for your Herbology class because we have an urgent meeting later. And since we are finished in all our lessons I'll let you have your Herbology at my time to let you finish all your lessons in that subject. Now please take your things and go to your class." They took their things and started for the door. When they arrived at the greenhouse they settled down on their tables where there were Bell sprouts, Bubotubber Pus and something that seemed to look like a Koala's ears only it was coloured red and smelled like mint.
They proceeded with their lessons. Although Hermione was quite deeply into what Professor Sprout had been explaining, in the corner of her mind she had been thinking of what could be Draco didn't want her to hear. Even as she knew it was none of her business to think of whatever it is, it still interested her somehow.
***************
Later that day, Hermione went to library to do research for their homework in Herbology. She looked through the shelves for different botanic books and she saw some on the upper right corner of the shelf. Since the shelves in the library were very high, she looked around for a ladder and climbed it up to get the book. Meanwhile, Draco and his cronies were almost up in the Slytherin tower when he remembered he had left his book in the library. "Oh man! I forgot my book in the library!" he said. "Go ahead, I'm going to go back and get it. I'll meet you in the common room in a while." He waved them off and started for the library. As he entered, his gaze fell on the table where he thought he forgot his book but it was not there. "Where could it be?'" He thought, scratching his head. He went to ask if anyone had seen his book but apparently, no one was there and Madam Pince was out. Draco decided to look for it himself, first on the other tables. When he didn't find it anywhere, he made his way through the bookshelves. When he was in the fifth shelf, he didn't notice a ladder on his way and he bumped on it. Hermione, who was up the ladder, unfortunately got out of balance and started to fall. "Oh no! Iiiieeeee!!!" Hermione shrieked. "What the bloody." A stunned Draco looked up and luckily, caught her in his arms. Hermione look up at him and their eyes met once more and their thoughts dissolved in the look of each other eyes. Draco's eyes were still cold when it stared. Hermione knew that. But it seemed like his eyes didn't show that cold anymore, there was some sort of warmth in his eyes, though it was not clearly seen. Hermione's eyes looked the same as the way as when she stared at him every time they see each other. A look that told him they were drastically different from each other. Draco could see that, but then he saw in her eyes a hint of curiosity and doubt. They both stared at each other for a moment. Then the sound of the library door broke their eye contact. Hermione realized that she was still in Draco's arms and she pushed him away with amazing speed and stood up. She looked at him once more. She seemed too shy to say anything but when she finally mustered up the courage to say a word to him, Professor McGonagall came into view. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, fancy seeing you here. The Library is going to be used by the first years for their research on Transfiguration, so please go back to your houses now."
With out a word Hermione walked fast to the door and went out. Malfoy stood there, still filled with the thoughts of what just happened. "Mr. Malfoy! Didn't you hear what I just said?" Professor McGonagall was clearly not pleased. "Err-sorry Professor." Draco muttered and walked out of the library. He went to the Slytherin common room and then met up with his cronies once more. Out of boredom, they played cards until dinnertime, and then they all went down to the Great Hall.
**************
After dinner everyone settled in his or her dormitories getting ready for bed. Draco pulled on his pyjamas and got on his four-poster but he didn't feel that sleepy.
"What's been happening to me? It's not my nature to feel this way about anything, not to mention anyone. Why hadn't I forgotten everything that happened? How could I be so stupid? I'm not supposed to be thinking of what just happened. It's meaningless. it's nothing."
He heard Malcolm Baddock's voice, talking to Crabbe and Goyle and then their voices faded away.
For a long time, Draco lay staring up at the canopy of his bed. The sounds in the Dormitory slowly faded away as the other students retired for the night. However, Draco still didn't feel sleepy at all. His problem about his confused feelings seemed to be haunting him more and more.
At last, he came to a decision. He figured out that since he couldn't avoid thoughts of Hermione, which he thought was just the work of a very bad spirit trying to distract him, he just had to think of horrible thoughts about her and start to be mean to her again.
"Maybe I can only see all her appalling and ugly sides." He whispered. "From now on she's the ugly Mudblood know-it-all with bushy hair, buck- teeth, duck-feet and stupid voice!" he continued.
The thought of Hermione looking like that made him twitch but made him smile a bit and then he sighed.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!! That feels much, much better!" He then turned his back and dozed off.
Next morning was a great day for Draco. Incredibly, he had not dreamt of Hermione at all unlike the past nights.
He hurriedly changed to his robes and went down to breakfast with his cronies. As he went down to the Great Hall, he came across the trio who seemed to look tired and still sleepy.
"My head aches!" He heard Ron say groggily. "Too much homework!"
"I can't believe Professor Trelawney made us read all those tea leaves to let us see the future!" said Harry, looking as though he had been run over by truck.
Hermione shrugged at them. "Why do you keep on taking up Divination? You should've dropped that class a long time ago and take Arith.- Uh-oh!"
Hermione didn't finish her words for Goyle tripped her and she dropped face flat on the floor. Malfoy and his cronies guffawed sycophantically at her.
"Looking for mice somewhere Granger?" drawled a cold voice.
She looked up and saw Draco Malfoy's pale face sneering at her. "Or you just want to take a good look at my newly polished shoes? Don't go too near though; you might slime Mudblood germs all over it."
Harry and Ron's faces turned red with anger. "Shut up Malfoy!" Ron barked, his face burning with rage. "Watch your mouth you slimy git!"
Harry, though hot with anger, kept quiet but stared daggers at Draco.
Malfoy on the other hand was not taken aback by his stares at all and pretended not to hear what Ron said. "Watcha going to do Weasley? Call your mommy?" He and his friends laughed at them once more.
"Let's go!" Malfoy said to his cronies. "I have no time for chickens! Bawk, bawk, bawk!" Draco jeered as he walked away, his cronies following him while laughing uncontrollably.
In rage, Ron reached for his wand and pointed it at Malfoy's back. He was about to hex him when Hermione stopped him.
"Ron! No! Stop! You're going get detention for that!" she told him.
"She's right Ron. Better cool it!" Harry agreed. "He'll have his days!" And they all went to breakfast, still fuming at Malfoy.
After breakfast, they headed to their first class, Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid spotted them as they approached his hut.
"'Arry, Ron, 'Ermione! Come here! We'll wait for others and the Slytherins to come."
"Oh! The Slytherins! Talk about unlucky!" Ron shrugged.
"You've been unlucky since birth Weasley!" drawled a cold voice behind them. They looked around and saw Malfoy.
"You've been poor as a rat! Your parents can't even afford to buy you new robes! That's unlucky!" Malfoy sneered at Ron and Goyle and Crabbe laughed loudly.
Ron would have burst out with so much anger, if it hadn't been for Hagrid, who interrupted them.
"Everyone! Let's get goin'!"
He led them to a pumpkin patch. As they entered, they saw creatures that looked like chickens with long buck-teeth and slimy yellow head.
"Eeeeew!" said Parvati with disgust.
Malfoy however was laughing loudly. "Look! Looks like Weasley and Granger combined!"
The Slytherins roared with laughter making Ron's face flush with anger.
"Shut up Malfoy! I'd rather look like that than a cowardly bouncing ferret like you!" he spat and the Gryffindors laughed even louder.
"That'll shut him up!" said Dean and Seamus, grinning.
Malfoy's face was pink. He stared at the Trio, whispered something and turned away to look at the slimy creatures.
After their class with Hagrid, they headed to Transfiguration, which unfortunately had the same group of Slytherins.
While in Transfiguration, Hermione was thinking why Malfoy had acted that way. He hadn't done much damage and criticizing for the past few weeks, not until today. What's up with him? Hermione realized that she had been thinking of him more often these days.
"Why do I always ask myself about him?" she asked herself. "I don't even know what to feel about him anymore!" she thought. "I should feel hatred, right?"
But Hermione knew too well that she did not really feel hatred for him at all. It seemed so odd but she couldn't bring herself to feel angry with him. She showed other people that she despised him, but the truth, she didn't feel like that and she didn't know why. A voice broke into her thoughts.
"Ms. Granger! Ms. Granger!" Professor McGonagall called to her attention.
"Uh-oh! Yes Professor?"
"Please bring this Clear White Burning Ink to Professor Binns, he needs it badly. Be careful though, it does not have a cover and you might stain your robes and burn your skin." She looked at the class. "I'll be going to Professor Dumbledore to attend to some important matters; I'll be back in an hour, please behave yourselves!"
She went out of the room. Hermione took the ink and headed to the door. But before she reached the knob, Malfoy, who was seated at the back of the classroom, tripped her. Hermione fell flat on the floor with the Clear White Burning Ink splattered all over her black robe, causing dirty white spots and it started burning her robes and her skin. Everyone was looking at her and the Slytherins were paralyzed with laughter. Malfoy's group was banging their fists on their desks and Pansy Parkinson's group was pointing at her with unpleasant looks on their faces.
Harry and Ron approached and helped her. She burst into tears and immediately ran out of the room. Harry and Ron followed her. Malfoy was still sniggering when he suddenly felt weird. He stopped to think. 'He was supposed to feel satisfied, right?' He was supposed to feel satisfied for he had done it! He made Hermione cry. He showed all the people how he hated her and her friends. But instead, he felt the opposite. He felt guilty. He then felt a rush of coldness inside him and he shivered. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked around. He saw Pansy. "What's wrong Draco? Are you okay?" Pansy asked, pouting her lips so that it almost touching his face. He backed off a little. "Huh? Me? I'm fine Pansy!" Pansy took his hand to his, tangled their fingers together and leaned on him. "Oh! But you seemed so distant Draco! You're not yourself! I missed you!" Draco's eyes widened and took off her hands from his. "What? Missed me? Missed what?" "Missed you! Your sweetness, sleekness and all about you! We don't even talk anymore! At least not often!" Draco backed off even farther, his eyes wide. "Pansy! What are you saying? I've never been sweet to you! Not to anyone! There is nothing between us. I thought you already understood that! Besides, I've been busy. That's why I don't talk to you much!" Pansy leaned against him once more and held him close. (Draco could hardly breathe!) "Draco, you don't have to deny it. It's okay!" Crabbe and Goyle let out a snort of laughter. Draco glared at them and they stopped immediately, trying to contain their laughter. After Transfiguration, Draco managed to get away from Pansy's deadly grip and went to the Great Hall for lunch. He looked over at the Gryffindor Table and he could see that the trio wasn't there. Then the scene that took place a while ago filled his mind and he felt guilt rushing over him like blood through his veins. He shivered slightly. He had never felt guilty about something before and neither had he regretted any scam he had done in the past. He even used to think he had no conscience, but now he proved himself wrong. He was guilty and he wasn't happy at all.
Draco pushed his steak and potatoes aside. He was not in the mood to eat and he didn't think he could swallow any more food. "I'm going to go back to the common room. I'll meet you there." He stood up and went out of the Great Hall, not even listening to what Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy were asking him. They all looked puzzled but continued eating. Hermione came out of the hospital wing together with Harry and Ron at nearly half noon.
"I'm starving!" Ron said, rubbing his tummy.
"Me too! Come on, let's eat!" Harry agreed.
Hermione looked at them and smiled. "You two go ahead! I'm not really hungry."
"Oh come on Hermione! Join us!"
Hermione shook her head. "No! It's okay! I'll see you in the common room after lunch."
After Harry and Ron finally consented, they went down to the Great Hall while Hermione started to head for the Gryffindor tower.
She was staring at the floor as she climbed up the stairs and as she reached the third floor, she suddenly bumped into someone. She lifted her head, looked up and saw Malfoy.
To be continued.