"The most practical way to keep your cauldron at simmer is to employ an Intermediate Charm by the name of-" she cut off the end of the sentence she was reading aloud. Viviel was finding it hard to keep her thoughts on what she was reading; then again, most anyone would finding a warm hand brushing against their leg very distracting. She blushed as she grabbed Draco's left hand with her right one, entwining her fingers with his so that he couldn't continue along that line. He brushed her thumb with his.
"The most practical way to keep your cauldron at simmer is-" This time she stopped because her breathe caught in her throat. Her face way bright red, something Viviel tried vainly to hide from Draco, who had taken both their hands and begun to run them against his own leg. "Draco-"
"Mmm hmm?" She didn't turn to look at him. Draco's warm breathe caressed the side of her neck as he nuzzled his girlfriend under her chin. Her right hand was engulfed with both of his hands, tucked away in his lap. Her heart was pounding so loudly it was a wonder that Madam Pince hadn't heard it from her desk.
"Draco- I've read this sentence nine times already." she explained, trying to keep the panic she was feeling out of her voice.
Viviel heard him laugh softly. "And?"
"I think... my eyes are tired and we should head back
to the common room." said Viviel in a rush. She didn't want him to think
that she was uncomfortable with the situation. What if someone had come
back here looking for a book?
"Anything for you, my queen. Shall I get our loyal servants
to come and carry you away to rest your legs?" he asked, eyes dancing merrily
with amusement at his "tired" companion.
"No, I'm able to walk just fine. Are you coming?" Viviel had put her books away like lightning, ready to leave and get back to the safety of her bed, or atleast, the common room.
Draco stretched his arms and legs and lazily got out of his seats. "I have a couple of books to check out for Arithmancy, so I'll meet you back in the dungeon, alright?"
She smiled. "Of course."
She was in such a hurry to return to the Slytherin dungeons that it hadn't occured to her that there may be others lying for her in ambush. Strike that, Viviel though to herself, it would never occur to me that people would be waiting for me. But here they were. Potter and Weasley and another boy from the Gryffindor ranks who she seemed to recall was named Dean Thomas. They had come out from behind one of the tapestries on the first floor, evidently waiting on the occasion that they would catch her alone.
"What do you want?" she barked, backing up a couple of steps so that there was space between them and her.
"We're not going to hurt you." Potter said, rolling his eyes. Weasley and Dean laughed, as though Potter had made a joke that only they had understood. They stood behind him, much as Crabbe and Goyle did when they walked down the halls behind Draco.
"I asked you what you wanted." Her eyes blazed and her fingers inched towards the wand concealed in her robe pockets.
Weasley pulled out his hand and pointed it at Viviel, causing her to back up even more against the statue of Wiblon the Wandering Wizard. Was this what they meant when Potter claimed they were going to hurt her? The fear and anger must have shown on her face because Weasley said, "Listen to Harry. My wand only here to make sure you don't us."
"Like you could even save yourself if need be." Viviel sneered. Weasley's wandwork was notoriously bad.
He growled, the skin around his ears turning bright pink. Potter took a step forward. "Don't be nasty. We just came to tell you to stay away from Draco if you don't want to get hurt. Granger says you're smart, so I'm just hoping you're smart enough to listen to me."
Her heart thumped in her chest. "Is that a threat?"
"No, just some advice. Don't become Draco's dog. It's degrading and will only get you into trouble you can't get yourself out of." Potter said. He nodded to his comrades and they turned to leave.
"I don't need advice from half-bloods!" she shouted at his back.
Potter paused and whipped around, green eyes electric behinds his broken glasses. In four quick strides, he'd crossed the distance between them and slammed a fist into the wall next her head. Her breathe caught in her throat for the second time that evening. She wasn't putting anything past him; he'd already shown once that he didn't care who got hurt. Why should he care now? Why should he care about her?
"Harry, don't waste your time." Dean said.
"Hermoine was wrong. Her brain is the size of Parkinson's. She's just a pretty bit that Draco has on the side, like we figured." Weasley told him, the words leaving his mouth like poison.
"We won't be around to say 'We told you so.'" he warned and stalked away.
Viviel slumped toward the ground, her bookbag sliding out of her grip onto the floor. This encounter confused her more than anything. Anyone with eyes in their sockets should be able to tell that she was more than just "a pretty bit." And Potter and Weasley had already made it obvious what they thought of her. Why waste time on a Friday night to come and tell her to leave Draco?
"Viviel?"
She looked up in time to see Draco kneeling beside her. She immediately grabbed her bag and lurched to her feet, supported around the waist by one of Draco's arms.
"What were you doing on the floor?" he asked her. "I thought you were going back to the common room?"
"I... just felt faint, that's all. Really." insisted Viviel. "I just sat down for a minute or two."
"Then let's get you back quickly. You've been working
yourself too hard." he said, continuing to keep his free arm wrapped snuggly
around her middle, giving her a good excuse to lean against him. She did
feel faint now.
I haven't been working at all! her inner self cried.
But she soon reflected back on Potter's warning. What had he meant? Probably
just trying to pull us apart. He doesn't like the fact that Draco has someone
that cares about him now. Well, too bad for Potter. I like being with Draco,
and he won't do anything to pull us apart.