16. "I DO CARE!"

The next three weeks flew by me; before I knew it, it was 2 days before graduation. I ran around frantically making sure I was passing all my classes, and that my parents would be able to make it. I wanted everything to be perfect, after all, we only graduate once. The next day, I saw Draco walking toward me as I waited for Lulu outside by Hagrid's hut.

"Hey, Hazel, " he began.

"What the hell do you want?" I cut him off.

He looked down at his feet and muttered something.

"What?" I asked.

"I wanted to tell you that I've been thinking about you alot lately," he said, not lifting his gaze from the floor.

"Draco, look at me."

He did as I asked, and he lifted his gaze. His eyes showed me he wasn't lying. I just didn't know if he'd been thinking about me sexually or not.

"I know this is the wrong time to be telling you this, with graduation being tomorrow and all, but I think I'm in love with you."

"Well, it is the wrong time, and you're not in love with me or anywhere near for that matter."

"How do you know? How do you know what I'm feeling? I do love you. I care about you so much!"

"You can't love anything. You're a slytherin, you're cold hearted, and you're just like your father."

"I AM NOT! I DO CARE! I am just as capable of caring about someone as you are!"

Just then, Lulu came running out of the castle.

"There you are! I thought you were gonna wait for me at the Great Hall," she said, out of breath. She looked at Draco. "What's he doing here? Is he giving you any trouble?"

"No, Draco was just telling me how happy he is that Ron and I are still together, and he wishes us good luck after graduating." I turned to Draco. "Well, thank you, I wish you the same. I hate to cut our conversation short, but we've got to get going. Lulu and I have things to do. 'Bye."

Lulu and I were walked around the gardens talking about graduation, and our plans afterwards. While turning to the castle doors, we bumped into Harry and Ron. Ron seemed really nervous, so I asked him what was up.

"Hazel, I've got something to ask you," he said, "you know how much I love you, and I wanted to know if you'd be my wife." He got on one knee as he asked. I looked at him with disbelief, shock, awe, and I nodded. He got up and kissed me softly on the lips. I don't have a ring yet, but I will soon. I'll have the best ring for you. You'll be so proud to wear it."

Dinner

I could barely eat that evening. Graduation was the following day, and I was extremely nervous. We were being sent out into the real world. We weren't babied anymore, people wouldn't care about us like the professors did. I was going to miss Hogwarts. Everyone was chatting away excitedly, and I would just nod and smile every now and then. I was off in my own world. Was Draco telling the truth? Did he really love me? Did he really care? I made up my mind and decided I would send him an owl later that night, when everyone was asleep.

"Hazel. Hazel." Lulu shoved me.

"Huh?"

"Are you ok?"

"Oh, me, yeah. I'm fine. I was just thinking about tomorrow. Sorry if I didn't seem to be here."

"It's ok, I know how you feel. Im a nervous wreck also."

A few minutes later, we were sent to our houses. Harry, Ron, Lulu, and I went outside the Ravenclaw common room to talk. After half an hour of talking with Ron, Harry, and Lulu, I faked a yawn and said I was tired. I couldn't wait any longer. I had to send him the owl now. I wanted an immediate response from him. I kissed Ron goodnight, and Lulu said she'd stay for another hour before she went to bed. I walked into the common room, and hurried to the girls' dormitory. I sat on my bed and wrote him a quick note:

"Meet me tomorrow evening at my place. Hazel"

I sent my owl off, and I changed my robes. I layed in bed, waiting for a response. I was getting drowsy, and my eyelids began to close slowly, when Lada dropped a note on my face. I quickly read it. It said:

"I'm curious as to why you want me at your house, but I guess I'll find out when I get there. I can't wait to see you again, my love."

I fell asleep with a smile on my face. I was going to see Draco again, alone, in my house. No one interrupting.