A/n: Yay, an update. I'm almost done with the next chapter, so I might have that up tomorrow if I am around the house. Thanks to reviewers: Kurama'sfoxykistune, phabandphat, T. Riddle, and LikeIcareabtU.
Hate's Just A Word
Chapter ELEVEN: All's well
The next day was awkward. The tension between Slytherins and Gryffindor was at it's highest point. Even Neville almost got into a fight with Blaise Zabini. It was insane. Luckily, there weren't many Gryffindor and Slytherin classes together. There was a lot of tension at Apparition lessons, and a bunch of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were afraid and did not wish to get involved. Yet, Potions was the last subject of the day and it was a double block. It was going to be terrible.
"Today, we will be brewing a solution to outbreaks, which I'm sure many you may find useful, that is…if you can brew it correctly," Snape said in his usual, cold voice. "You will be in pairs…that I choose. Potter and Zabini. Granger and Parkinson…"
Snape always made the worst pairs. He was making the whole situation worse. He knew that the Slytherins and Gryffindors were at war and he purposely paired them up together. The Slytherins knew they wouldn't get in trouble for anything they did. Yet, the Gryffindors knew that Snape would take off points in a second.
"Longbottom and Goyle. And lastly, Caldwell and Malfoy."
Everyone gasped at the last pairing. Lindsay shot a glare at Snape. How dare he place them together after everything that happened the day before! Yet, they didn't complain. Everyone moved to their partners. Lindsay walked over and sat down next to Malfoy. She didn't look him in the eye or even greeted him. Everyone was watching them. They thought at least one of them would try to kill the other by the end of the class.
"Let's get the ingredients and get this over with," Malfoy mumbled. She nodded, and avoided any looking directly at him. The two quietly got the ingredients and started to separately prepare them. They both worked together, with cooperation, and as less conversation as possible. After the long hour, they completed their potion, with complete perfection, actually. Yet, mostly everyone else was staring at them, waiting for something to happen. Nothing happened at all. They were silent to each other, without saying a word. Lindsay was determined to keep her gaze away from Draco. She stared down at her notes, but suddenly felt it. He was looking at her. She could feel his eyes watch her, thinking that she didn't know. She didn't want to look at him, but she did. They caught each other's gaze for a second. There was a few seconds of unspeakable tension, yet none of them had hostility in their eyes. They both looked tired, actually. Lindsay quickly looked away, and water started appearing in her eyes again. She tried her hardest to blink it away. She didn't want him to see her in her moment of weakness. She wiped her eyes and sniffed repeatedly. The class ended. Dinner went on, and there was a little free time afterwards. Lindsay had detention with Snape…and Malfoy. At nine o clock, she went to Snape's dungeons. Malfoy was already there, sitting down. Snape looked at her and motioned for her to talk a seat. She sat down in the same row as Malfoy, but not quite near him.
"If one of you even thinks about pulling any of your stunts here, you will be gravely mistaken to do so. Do not cause trouble. You will be cleaning my potions classroom. I want everything to be spotless when I come back," He said.
"Come back?" Lindsay asked, not being able to stop herself.
"Yes, I will be out while you are here," He said. "No magic, by the way. The broom, mop and water are over here. I will know if you have used magic. Oh, and when I return, both of you better be alive and fully functioning."
"Yes, sir," muttered the two. Snape left them. Lindsay sighed and grabbed the broom. She started to sweep up the place. It was a dungeon and dungeons tended to be dark, damp, and dirty. Malfoy was left with the mop. He looked slightly bewildered. He had never mopped in his life. He didn't even know how to use it. Lindsay sighed and put her broom aside. She walked over to him and took the mop from his hands, silently. She dunked it in water, and started to demonstrate how it work. She returned the mop to him, and went back to sweeping. He got the hang of it, and started to mop the floors.
The previous day kept running through Lindsay's head. Pansy was touching him, their fight, and everything he had said to her. "I want to tell you something. Well, wanted to, and for a long time. I love you… I know. I guess we'll just have to find out sometime. But I found a better one. How do you feel about blood? Yet I wasn't going to chose her, as I'm...or rather…was already involved in a relationship.
She felt the tears welling up in her eyes again. She always had the feeling that their relationship was quite doomed, but she never gave up on it. She wanted him and she knew it. She was in love. Even now, after that horrible fight, she still loved him. Yet, he didn't feel the same way anymore. He calmly insulted her dead family, and the one she was raised by. He was even going to use some illegal dark magic on her…involving the spilling of her blood. She started sobbing uncontrollably, which was nothing new as of late. She was quite loud, and stopped for a second to lean against a table for support. She let the tears come and exposed her weak side while he was in the room. It was hard, but she had to let it out. After a few minutes or so, she stopped her crying, wiped her eyes and continued with the sweeping.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around, dropped the broom, and grabbed her wand. Malfoy stood in front of her now, with his hand on her shoulder.
"Stop it," said Malfoy. She stared at him. She didn't think that a glare would be half as intimidating with her red, puffy eyes.
"Excuse me?" She asked, coolly, although she her voice was a bit shaky.
"Stop crying," He said, looking straight at her. He looked so calm, and collected, and at that moment, he looked especially handsome. That made her want to cry even more.
"I'm glad for you that you are taking this so well, but I am not as…lucky. I can't just stop as you want me to," She muttered, angrily.
"I can't take it. Every time you cry, I…" He looked down. "Just a couple of hours ago, I went into the boy's bathroom, locked my stall, and carried on in a manor just like you have."
He expected her to laugh or something. She didn't. She just stared.
"Why?" She asked quietly. "I'm nothing but a blood traitor, right? And don't I deserve to die in the same way as my traitorous parents?"
"Pansy's words, not mine," He said, calmly. Malfoy was unusually mature. He wasn't sinister or angry this time. He was truthful, and serious. "Am I a not a Death Eater in training? According to you, on many occasions, I'm a Death Eater like my father and I'm ready to get the dark mark."
She looked away, guiltily. "Malfoy, this was doomed from the start. It can't work. I mean, you're not a death eater now and you don't have the dark mark now, but who knows how long before that time comes. We're way too different. I don't agree with your views at all."
"Doomed, huh?" He asked, still as serious as ever and mature. "Then why are you crying?"
She looked at him through her red eyes. "It's hard to let go…"
"Then why do it? Why let go?" He asked, tightening his grip on her shoulder.
"Because I have to," She said, bursting with emotion. She gave a nod to her shoulder. "So should you."
"No," He said, simply. He didn't change his expression. He just stared. "I don't want to."
"What is wrong with you!" She asked, yelling now. "Did you not learn anything? We're meant to be enemies! Your father killed my father! You attempted dark magic on me!"
"It was a fight. We have different views. Yes, I did try to curse you because I knew I couldn't win. You made me angry. You insulted me and my family, just as I insulted you and your family. We were both angry, and we had a fight. That doesn't change our feelings. You're the one is crying in class because you still care. I still care as well. I don't care about the fight. I should have told Pansy to back off. I should have respected you more."
She stared. This was so unlike him. "Thank you for taking the blame, but it's not entirely your fault."
"No, it is," He claimed. "I didn't know you would be…well…jealous. I should have told you or something."
Lindsay sighed. "I don't know if it can be like it was. Maybe we should take it much more slow or something… Plus, I don't think Snape would like to come back to find us snogging."
"I just want it to be the way it was. I think it can be," He said, sounding as if he were ready to plead if necessary.
"I think he half-expects us to be snogging, well, now that he knows," She said, crossing her arms.
"Sorry 'bout that," He mumbled, quietly, looking aside. He then looked her again. "I'm sorry about everything and I don't know what else I can say to get you back. I know I've always loved the hard-to-get thing, but I just want you now."
"You're acting as if we're going to die tomorrow. We have more time than that," Lindsay said. Draco didn't say anything, which was quite suspicious. He didn't believe it as she did.
"Please," He said, simply. He looked her in the eyes. He looked so innocent.
"Oh, Draco," Lindsay said, as she sank into his open arms. She sobbed quietly onto his chest.
"Listen," He said, quietly, as he stroked her hair. "I'm going to be busy. I mean, we're finishing Apparition Lessons, although I can't take the test yet. The only time we'll have together is at night. I want it to be more, but like I said, I'm going to be busy."
"I understand," said Lindsay, just as quietly. Draco looked down at her and casted a sad look. She didn't understand at all. "I just want one thing, Draco."
"What's that?"
"To stop fighting, to stop talking," She said, quietly. He looked down at her, and she looked up at him.
"Er, does that mean our relationship will only contain…snogging?" He asked, confused.
"No. I mean we're to stop talking in our classes. I'm not going to insult you and you're not going to insult me. We're not going to start fights or talk about one another even if someone else starts it. We're not going to talk about Harry, Ron, Hermione, and anyone else you hate. We're not going to talk about anyone I hate, nor our families nor Voldemort. If your going to insult Harry or anyone else, I better not be there, alright?"
"Okay," He said softly. She pulled away from him and wiped her eyes.
"We better get back to cleaning or Snape will poison us…well, me anyway," said Lindsay, who was breathing heavily.
"Right," Draco said, but he pulled her close to him and kissed her as if he hadn't in years. It was more like days. They hadn't had the time to be together, even before their row. They pulled away, and resumed their jobs. Lindsay still felt the air around them to be awkward, and quickly resolved, but Malfoy pleaded with her. There was something else going on with him and she couldn't just do that to him. She still had the same feelings for him as before, and she was really glad she didn't lose him. Yet, it would be a bit awkward for a while.
Snape wasn't very impressed with the cleaning job when he came back, but called it 'acceptable.' They would be there the next night and he probably had something much more horrible for them to do. It was 11:30 pm when the two finally left. No one was in sight. Draco took Lindsay's hand and grasped it tight. He started to take her back to the Slytherin common room.
"Vinovat."
The wall opened and the two went inside. The common room was dark and empty. The walked the familiar steps they had done before many times and they ended up in his room. She sat down on his bed and took off her school robes. She hadn't gone back to the Gryffindor Tower and was still in her school uniform. She loosened the tie around her neck and pulled it off. Draco took off his shoes, and then his tie. He started to unbutton his shirt, and pulled it off. His was turned away from Lindsay, and his back was facing her. She looked away, but only slightly. He had no problem changing in front of her. He was quickly changed into his usual Malfoy pajamas. Lindsay took off her shoes, and laid down on his bed, putting her arms behind her head, and looked up at the ceiling. Draco walked towards the bed, and she moved over to make space for him. He sat down, and then laid down next to her. He looked up at the ceiling as she did.
"So, you okay?" He asked her, slightly looking over at her.
"Yeah…well, I will be," She said, quietly. She moved in closer to Malfoy. "Thank you… I was trying so hard to make this end…even though I didn't want it to. You saved us."
"I told you, remember? I told you I wanted to make it work. I'm not going to give up that easily," He said, grinning. They were quiet for a little. He wanted to ask her something, but it was something they were not supposed to talk about, but he still had the need to ask her. "Lins, I want to ask you about something, but it includes Potter…"
"Draco…"
"Yeah, I know, but it's about us," He said. She sighed, and waited for him to go on. "You said the only reason you gave me the time of day is because Pott—Harry did… Yet, it's over. We're enemies now…so do you…"
"I think by now I've been giving you the time of day on my own accord," She said, before he could even ask. He smiled and gave a nod.
"Do you want something else to wear? I mean, it must be uncomfortable to sleep in those clothes all the time," Draco said. He sat up.
"Oh, no, I'm quite used to it," She said.
"Too bad," He said. He got up and went to get her some clothes. He ended up throwing her a long, light green button-up shirt, and a pair of his boxer shorts. She stood up and turned her back from him. She knew he was watching as she started to unbutton her shirt.
"Malfoy, please," She said, turning her head and giving him a glare. He simply smirked.
"Oh, what's wrong?" He asked. "You can watch me change, but I can't watch you?"
She rolled her eyes. It was typical Malfoy. "Fine, you're right." She took of her shirt, keeping in mind that Draco could only see the back, not the front. She put the shirt on, and quickly buttoned it up. She slipped her skirt off, and put on the pair of shirts. They were quite big for her. She grabbed her wand from her discarded robe, and made the shorts fit. She put her wand away, and put her clothes neatly together. She stood in front of the bed again. Draco came from behind her and put his hands around her.
"You tired?" He asked in a whisper. She smiled.
"No," She replied.
"Ah, well, I'm quite sleepy. Spent, actually," He said. She rolled her eyes. The two got back into bed, and resumed the 'stare-at-the-ceiling' positions. Draco actually had been tired, and fell asleep soon after. Lindsay, on the other hand, was not quite as tired. She watched him sleep. He seemed more… different as of late. Before their fight, they hadn't had much time to see each other. It started even before Valentine's Day. He had been mysteriously busy. She was busy with her homework, but he didn't even do half of it anymore. He seemed more tired lately. She knew that there was something going on with him, but she didn't ask. He didn't tell her, so he obviously didn't want her to know. She would wait for him to tell her, but she had a feeling it had to do with well, you-know-who. She never got around to using he-who-must-not-be-named, which was the stupidest one of his many names. She didn't want it to be something to do with that, but she had a feeling that it was.
At sunrise, they both awoke. She changed, and left him as she usually did. She headed back to the tower, and it was no surprise that Harry Potter was awake. He had been awake more often, and he greeted her today.
"Where have you been?" He asked her, actually surprised to see her walking in the common room. She didn't reply. "Oh, don't tell me… not with him…"
"Harry, it's really none of your business," Lindsay said.
"What happened to that fight?" Harry asked.
"It was terrible and I wish it never happened, but Harry, you cannot possibly understand our feelings," Lindsay said, sternly.
"Maybe not, but you realize what he is and who he will be," Harry said.
"Of course," Lindsay said.
"That fight wasn't the only reason I ended it right there…" He said. "I've been suspecting him of something. You've noticed too, right?"
"Harry, at this moment in time, I really don't want to have this conversation. I've been unstable without him, and it's hard getting back to normal. Please, just not now. We can have it later, because I do realize things like you…" She went upstairs and laid down in her own bed. He was right, but at the moment in time, she was glad to have her Draco back. Draco himself realized their time together would be limited. They would both be going to different sides, soon. So, they were going to be together as long as they could.
The rest of the week, they both had their detentions which weren't that bad. Lindsay suspected that Snape didn't really want to punish Malfoy, and in turn, their punishments weren't bad at all. After detentions, they would go back to his room. It was a miracle that none of the Slytherins caught them, yet a good miracle. They spent their nights much like the first one. And at least two of those nights featured snogging. That weekend, Draco was mysteriously taken out of school. He never said anything to her, so she was slightly worried. She tried not to act worried or preoccupied, but she was. She decided to do all of her homework, to take her mind off of the missing Malfoy.
She was doing okay with her homework, although she had other things on her mind. As she was writing on her essays, she saw Blaise Zabini near her. She could ask him, although she really didn't want to be talking to a Slytherin. Things were still more worse than they have ever been. Yet, she really wanted to know where he was.
"'ey, Zabini," She said, coolly. He looked over at her.
"What?" He asked, coldly.
"I don't think you should be wandering around without your leader," She said, trying not to sound as if she wanted to know anything about Malfoy.
"Draco's not my leader," said Blaise Zabini. "Plus, he's not even in school."
"Oh?" She asked.
"His mother took him out of school for the weekend. I suppose he'll be back by Monday," said Blaise.
"Pity," said Lindsay. She looked back at her essay, and picked up her quill again.
"I'm surprised he didn't tell you," said Blaise to Lindsay's surprise. She frowned and gave him a puzzled look. She stared. "Let's just say you might have left something in his room."
She stared with disbelief. Oh, god. Blaise Zabini was going to blackmail her or tell everyone and ruin everything. She would lose everything if he told. She tried to think of what she had left there. She couldn't think of anything. He was bluffing.
"Excuse me?" She asked, acting appalled.
"Your tie," He said.
"What do you mean by my tie?" She asked, glaring. "So he had a Gryffindor tie in his room and it suddenly belongs to me? I don't think so."
"It was your tie because on the back, it featured the initials L.R.C.,"He said, smirking. "…which I happen to know mean Lindsay Richmond Caldwell."
"So, the boy has my tie. It just means he's a creepy stalker," She said, although her heart was pounding.
"Don't worry. I can't tell. Malfoy's got me under a curse. If I tell anyone, something much like the incident last year with the girl who ratted on Potter's group will occur," Zabini said. "It makes perfect sense, though. I should have realized it earlier…"
"Go away," She hissed. She couldn't believe Malfoy told him. He could have just said he was a creepy stalker, but he told Zabini. Even though Zabini couldn't tell, she didn't want a Slytherin to know. Zabini smirked and walked away. It was simply wonderful. Just a few seconds later, she heard a noise from behind her. From the shelves behind her, she heard a 'I knew it.' She couldn't believe it. Not another one. She took out her wand and pointed it at the bookshelf.
"Who's there?" Lindsay asked, angrily. A moment later, Hermione Granger stepped from behind the bookshelf. She stared in disbelief. She was surprised Hermione hadn't already figured it out, but she didn't want her to know.
"So, that Blaise boy knows as well," Hermione said.
"Knows what?" Lindsay asked, still pointing her wand at Hermione.
"About you and Malfoy," Hermione said, simply. Lindsay let out a frustrated sigh.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Oh, just a minute. I just heard him telling you he can't tell anyone," Hermione said.
"How do you know?" Lindsay asked, with a sigh.
"Well, it seemed to make sense, didn't it?" Hermione said. "You were always leaving in the middle of night and coming back in the early morning. You're always fighting and then staring at each other in class. Suddenly, he knows everything about you and you about him…and once Harry told me to tell you what he had said that day to Pansy, I was quite sure."
"Wonderful," Lindsay muttered, bitterly.
"So, who knows?" Hermione asked.
"Malfoy, me, you, Harry, and Blaise."
"Harry knows, does he?" Hermione asked, slightly surprised.
"Yeah, we didn't tell him. He found out with his map thing that is an invasion of privacy. Whatever that thing is called…he caught us snogging, but whatever," Lindsay muttered. Hermione looked as if she did not want to hear the bit about the snogging. "Well, I trust you to know to keep it to yourself. I'd rather not have another person knowing. Try not to talk about it with Harry, alright? I'd rather not have him knowing that you know. Just keep it to yourself."
"Okay," Hermione agreed. First Malfoy was missing, and now suddenly two more people knew about their secret relationship. Things couldn't go right, could they?