"Why were you following me?"
"I wasn't." I say defensively "Okay… I was."
"Why?" he asks imperatively.
"Because… I wanted to talk to you… and I'm a Gryffindor and you're a Slytherin…" how do I say to someone that I want to hang out with them but I don't want people to see us together? Especially at this time of night. We managed to squish the rumours quite abruptly last time however a second time of being seen together would most likely not end too well for us. Me especially. Draco seems to visibly relax as he sweeps over our surroundings and deems us alone.
"What is that rag on the floor?" Draco asks pointing at Harrys invisibility cloak.
"Oh um, I was a little chilly, it's just a blanket." I stammer and stuff the cloak into my satchel. Standing straight I rub dust off of my knees. Patting them clean. Just then Draco steps forward and starts patting at my shoulder.
"Ari… you're filthy." He says, not in a condescending way but in a more matter of fact way. And he was right. I was pretty dirty. Not in a gross or smelly way. But I had been tossed around a little in the training room and I couldn't deny I was covered in dust.
"Yeah…" I laugh awkwardly as I continue to swipe away any dust off of myself. And just like that a flip switches in Draco and he laughs a little.
"You always were the mucky one." He retorts as he steps closer and starts swiping away at the dust between my shoulder blades where I couldn't reach. "Do you remember that time you convinced me to swim in that old lake by Abington trying to search for mermaids?" he reminisces. I laugh and nod in agreement, recapping the whole adventure. Draco was still wiping the dust off of my back whilst we talked and neither of us had realised but he was now wiping dust off of my lower back, if his hand was a just a little lower he would actively be making a dishonest women of me. We must have noticed where his hands were at the same time because his hands stop where they are and he takes a step back. I take a step back too.
"thanks." I say, not entirely sure what I'm thanking him for. "I'll see you around?" I say taking a few steps backwards, I smile one last time at him and turn on my heel. Heading straight for the darkness of my room so no one could view the intense blush flushing my cheeks a warm coral.
"You were gone ages" a sleepy Hermione yawns as I crawl into bed.
"shhh" I hush her. The next morning I stroll casually into the dining hall with the twins, as I walk in I catch Draco's eyes and he chokes on his orange juice a little. His house mates laugh at him and jab him with their elbows. I pretend I didn't notice and make a beeline for the side of the table where I would have my back to him.
"Ari" I zone back into the room to find Fred's ghostly pale fingers snapping before my face.
"Yes?" I chuckle as I shove his hand away from my personal space bubble.
"Did you find anything useful yesterday?" he inquires on a serious note. I nod and with my hands do a come hither gesture to the gang. They all lean in forward.
"After analysing your skills I've mentally been preparing individual lesson plans for each of yo-"
"we don't have time for that Ari." Harry interrupts. "We need to learn a lot and we need to learn quick." Although I didn't appreciate being interrupted I understand the great amount of stress Harry was under.
"It's okay Harry, you gave me a job and I'm going to do it. I won't let you guys down" I smile at him reassuringly and squeeze his shoulder reassuringly.
"Well what do we have here gents?" Draco's snide voice cuts in. "Looks like a couple of peasants, an orphan and the insufferable know it all are all plotting." Blaze and Goyle snigger.
"Hang on a minute." Goyle cuts in with his usual sluggish tone of voice. "What about her?" he asks, pointing straight at me.
"What about her?" Draco asks, rolling his eyes.
"You didn't insult her, so what is she?" Draco looks flustered for a moment, but within a split second he had regained his composure.
"well she's the weird new kid isn't she, she's a nothing." Draco answers smugly.
"A nothing? Is that the best you've got Malfoy? Cause I'll tell you what you are-" I say hotly before Draco interrupts.
"And what is that?" Draco asks with slits in his eyes.
"A snake." I spit before I stand on my feet and walk straight out of the hall. I didn't linger to hear the resounding 'oooooo' from my peers. I just left.