Open Your Eyes

Chapter Four: Jinx, Episky, and Worry

A/N: I'm SO SORRY, that this has taken SO LONGG, (three weeks I think?) there has been tons of stuff going on and I've been busy. I hope everyone will understand that life happens and I can't control my stupid dentist's office inability to yank out my teeth. Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and added me to an alert list XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Blah.

X.x.

~September 3rd~

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. My fist was tightening by my side and it took every ounce of strength I had not to turn around and slam it into Pansy's face. She should know better than to mess with me this early in the morning, in Herbology no less. I'm bad at Herbology, well, I've always been in the top of the class but it's something I actually have to work at. It's hard to focus when I have her and her sidekick gossiping about me –literally- behind my back. I knew that Pansy was doing it on purpose; she was speaking loud enough for me to hear when she could have just whispered. She knew that if I were to do anything –like break her nose- I would get a detention…bitch.

She wouldn't even be doing anything right now if Draco was in this class with us. However I wouldn't be seeing him until next period. I was just going to have to deal with it until class let out. This period was made up majorly of Gryffindors, Harry and his friends were here, and a scattering of other students from all the houses.

Focus. Focus. Focus. I unclenched my hand, picked up my quill and began trying to pay attention again. My parchment was almost bare of notes. However, there were a few holes in it from where I had applied too much pressure and tore through the parchment. Stupid Pansy, it was all her fault. She shouldn't be running her mouth about how I 'got expelled from Bauxbaton's and Dumbledore was just adding me to his charity projects' and that I 'have a thing for my brother' (I nearly threw my chair at the wench when I heard that and simultaneously puked). Unfortunately the logical side of my brain told me that she was only saying these things because she has no self confidence and needs to put other people down, so I should probably just tell Draco to control his pet before I do anything drastic (like re-arrange her face and intestines). Still, she was making it impossible to focus on the lesson, and unlike most people I actually care a lot about my grades. I tuned in just long enough to hear Professor Sprout say that there was a three foot essay due Friday and that the rest of class was time we could use to start. I smirked at that, like anyone was actually going to start it now.

I was looking around the room, with no real purpose or direction, just looking. I was trying to space out and ignore Pansy's gossiping. I was mostly succeeding, at least for a few minutes, until her voice seemed to get louder and more of her 'conversation' reached my ears.

"She's such a pathetic baby, you know, she slept with my Dray last night. He told me that she was afraid of the dark, and that she begged him to let her stay with him. She even cried!"

Both of my fists were clenched, my quill was broken and white hot fury was coursing through my veins. I'm a bigger person, I won't steep to her level…at least not until the weekend when I can tie her up and leave her in a spare room where she'll be until someone finds her…I smiled, and then realized that Pansy had stopped talking. What? I snapped my head up and looked around, did Professor Sprout make her shut up? The professor was no where to be seen but Harry and Ron were laughing and Hermione was giving them a look of disapproval, though she appeared to be hardly restraining a smile. Pansy started squealing behind me so I turned to look, which made me start laughing, she appeared to have her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Her 'friend' was freaking out as well which was beyond amusing. I turned around and mouthed "Thank You" to Harry, he nodded back while still laughing.

I didn't know what exactly this meant, I was glad that they jinxed her but I didn't know why. Sure she was probably annoying them too, but why go so far as to jinx her? Ignoring her may be harder but it doesn't come with the risk of detention. I didn't quite understand but I was thankful none the less. When the bell rang I cast a smile at their group before heading out and to Potions.

When I arrived my brother was already seated, Blaise was at the table behind him. Which was either A) he knew that I was going to have him move so I could sit by Draco, B) he wanted to look at my butt, or C) both. Either way I didn't care. I walked swiftly to my seat and slammed my bag down on top of the table, making Draco jump in his seat. I sat down gentler and started taking out my things.

"What has got your knickers in a twist?"

"Control your damn pet or I will." I snarled, he smirked and his eyes were gleaming with the ghost of a smile. I released a breath of hot air and frowned. I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by professor Slughorn beginning class. I waited for him to introduce the potion we would be working on today and let us start before opening my mouth again.

I kept my eyes glued on my knife as I spoke and sliced sneezewort. I kept my voice low so only Draco could hear me, I didn't want anyone overhearing and I didn't think that they would. After Slughorn released us to work the room automatically acquired an audible humming noise from all the overlapped voices. "Do you have a reason for being different at school? Or do you just enjoy having everybody think you are a badass?" His own chopping paused for a moment.

"Can we talk about this later?" His voice was even lower than mine, a murmur at best.

"Relax, they can't hear us; I can hardly even hear you. Or are you just trying to dodge the question?" He was silent for a few moments more before sighing.

"I don't know why it bothers you so much, I'm just different."

I rolled my eyes, shot him a look of 'puh-leaze', and then went back to watching my knife. "Why?"

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw him shrug his shoulders. "I don't know…Some people in here don't even deserve to be this close to us, why should I allow them to see who I really am?" I shot my head up to see him sneering at the Gryffindors across the room. Harry's group in particular.

"AH-OW!" My eyes squeezed shut as I jumped and dropped the knife from my hand. Opening them I looked down at my bleeding finger and tried not to curse out loud. People were staring and my brother was trying to grab my bleeding hand. I held it away from him in my other hand, it stung, I didn't want him touching it.

"Let me see it Kat. How bad is it?" He reached for my hand again but I moved away from him.

"No, don't touch it, it hurts!" My eyes were watering, but I'd be damned if I was going to let anyone see me cry.

"Fine, I won't touch it, just let me see how bad it is." Eyeing him wearily I held out my hand, my cut was dripping onto the floor.

"It doesn't look that bad, just heal it." I rolled my eyes at him, he was so concerned a second ago. He was right though, I should have healed it already.

I picked up my wand and pointed it at the cut, "Episky" and it was healed. I wiped the blood off on my potions rag and went back to preparing my potion ingredients. "It's not you that feels that way. That's our father's words, you're nothing like him. Why do you even try?" The words were barely more than hissing from my lips, I was livid.

He turned and looked down at me, "You know why and this conversation is over."

"For now." I snarled, truthfully, I know why he acts like our 'precious' father. If he didn't it would cause more pain than it does now. Even I act a part while I'm at home, for the most part at least. Seeing him like this is just a sad reminder that he has more weight on his shoulders than I do. I've always known that he's taken the brunt of our 'parenting', I wish it wasn't so. All I was required was to be the perfect lady so they can marry me off to some rich pureblood slime ball. Draco on the other hand has to become our father. He's expected to kiss Voldemort's feet and do everything that he's told while abandoning all morals and respecting every Death Eater that is responsible for countless deaths…

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice when Slughorn came around to check everyone's potions. I only became aware when I felt and elbow in my side. Looking up I saw the Professor's concerned face and I could only conjure up the faintest smile of reassurance. Luckily he seemed to accept that and nodded his head.

"Again an excellent job Ms. Malfoy just slightly off the mark today is all. A twinge bluer and it would be perfect!" He passed on to the next table and I stared down at my potion a tad bewildered. I must have done it on autopilot or something, I smiled, it wasn't bad for not paying any attention. I looked over at Draco's and smirked – it was almost green.

"Way to go bro, did you stir in the wrong direction again?" I demonstrated clockwise and anticlockwise for him but stopped when I heard Slughorn's outcry.

"Brilliant Harry! Brilliant! You know-" I smiled at Harry, he was better than I was and I felt the sting of losing but it was all in good fun. It was only a competition in my mind, and I was glad that he was doing well. He looked a bit flustered to have Slughorn raving on at him, but a dazzling smile was scrawled across his face anyways. I chuckled at Hermione's disapproving look, what could she possibly be upset about, he was doing great! Next time I'll focus more, then he'll have some real competition.

"What the hell are you smiling at?" I blinked out of my daze and looked up into my brother's snarling face.

"Wha?" The bell rang then and Draco flicked his wand at our things and they flew into our bags. He grabbed them, my arm, and dragged me out of the room and down the hall. I was practically tripping over my own feet trying to keep up, I tried yanking my arm out of his grip but it only hurt me more.

"Ow! Draco let me go!" At my 'request' he did, and pushed me back against the wall. I hissed in pain at my head hitting stone. "What the freaking hell Draco?"

"I asked you first! What do you think you're doing smiling at them?" I was surprised that he was yelling, but after a frantic survey of our surroundings I realized that we were completely alone.

"I was amused Draco that's all. In case you've forgotten people smile when they're happy." Oops, I shouldn't have said that.

"Why the bloody hell were you happy to see Potter do better than you?" He spat Harry's name in a way clear of what he thought of him. I was done messing around now.

"Bugger off Draco, it wasn't a big deal. I'm going to lunch." I picked up my discarded bag from the ground and headed to the Great Hall, I was surprised that he let me pass. I was expecting a greater fight from him.

As I was leaving I heard him say one last thing before I rounded the corner, "It better not be a big deal, and it better not happen again, leave them alone. It's for your own good." I almost turned around and told him to shove it but I thought better of it and continued on my way. It would have only made things worse. Besides, he has enough stress to deal with; he doesn't need to worry about my not hating the 'enemy'. And I told the truth, it wasn't a big deal…

I was rushing down the hill toward a hut where I was told Care Of Magical Creatures was supposed to be held. I hoped that the student didn't lie about the location; it would be hard to explain why I didn't show up to class. It was only the second day, but how were they supposed to accept that I had no idea where the class was held? I ended up eating lunch by my self. Draco never showed up, and I couldn't find Blaise. I should probably make some friends but if Pansy is the average Slytherin co-ed I don't think I'll make friends with any of them. I was in luck, as I got closer I saw that there was a group of students congregating in front of the hut. I couldn't see a teacher so I wasn't late either. When I reached the group I surveyed it looking for Draco but I came up empty. It appeared that this class was made up of Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Bored, I started tugging on my hair and rubbing my toe in the dirt. There wasn't much for me to do until Dray appeared or class started. I hoped that he wasn't going to be late.

"Ah, there you are." I looked up at the sound of Blaise's voice to see him and my brother striding toward me. His two goonies were only a few feet behind, I rolled my eyes at the posse.

"Where have you guys been? Class is about to start." My tone was stern as I placed my hands on my hips. I really didn't like being left alone with no explanation, especially since I still needed their help to find my classes.

"Relax. We're here now, no reason to get all worked up about it." Dray looked at something behind me and sneered, "Let's get this over with. I can't believe that oaf is still teaching it's pitiful!" I turned around and couldn't help but drop my jaw at seeing who was apparently our professor.

"That's our professor?" Blaise nodded in response.

"Father tried getting him sacked last year but Dumbledore brought him back."

"Hmm." I chewed on my lip and walked closer towards the group, the professor was talking and I didn't want to miss anything…

"Are you seriously listening to his drabble?" I jumped a bit at hearing my brothers' voice in my ear.

I turned my head towards him and saw that he was casually leaning up against one of the large boulders. "Of course I am, you should be too." He shot me a look that conveyed his contempt at that idea and I just shook my head. "I'll lend you my notes later, but you owe me."

"Yeah yeah"

"Why weren't you at lunch?" I only asked as a means of starting a conversation, I didn't really care too much. He was probably off doing something stupid or being mean to some first years to make himself feel better about something. The last thing I expected him to say was "I wasn't hungry." But that was exactly what he said. I raised my eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean you weren't hungry? You're always hungry. You're a boy."

"I'm not always hungry, I'm not you."

"Hey! No need to get snippy, jeeze. If you don't wanna say what you were doing that's fine, don't be rude…I'm not always hungry, I just eat a lot when I am." I stuck my tongue out at him and went back to paying attention. He can have his secrets, as long as I can have my own.

"I heard Pansy went to the hospital wing today."

I grinned, "I didn't have anything to do with that. Though she definitely had it coming to her, some one else got to her first."

"Sure."

"I wouldn't be giving some one else the credit for it, you know me."

"True…Try not to kill her though, she's good in-"

"Ew, Dray, shut up. I know the only thing she's good at; I don't need you to tell me that."

"Class dismissed!"

"Sweet, Dray lets go! Charms then dinner!"

So, I may have lied to myself. I picked at my dinner with an almost unused fork. I thought that Dray could have secrets, but it's bothering me. If Pansy was in the hospital wing than what was he doing? Well, I suppose he could have been with some other girl, but if he had he would have been boasting about it, he wouldn't have tried covering it up with such a lame excuse as 'I wasn't hungry.' Gahhh, this was going to drive me crazy!

"What's wrong?" I looked up to see my brother regarding me with a concerned gaze.

I rolled my eyes and said, pointedly, "I'm not hungry." With that I stood up and walked out, with one quick glance back at Harry before I turned the corner. I was half way through the common room before I even knew that Draco had followed me.

"What is your problem?"

I spun around to face him, I was angry at first but it melted away faster than I wanted it to. I was left with distress and concern and that I couldn't use against him. "Where were you today?"

His face flashed a moment of surprise but it was quickly concealed, "What are you talking about?"

I 'pufft' air out of my lips and a strand of platinum hair flew out of my face. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Where were you at lunch today?"

"I told you, I wasn't hungry."

I rolled my eyes at him, but the gesture didn't contain its usual flippancy, instead it was just an action of habit. "Not being hungry doesn't pertain to a location genius."

I saw him clench his jaw and waited for his response. When it didn't come my concern grew, "Does today have to do with your you-know-what?" I was referring to his 'mission', I didn't think it wise to mention aloud.

"You know I can't answer that."

I took a deep breath and felt dread cooling the blood in my veins. "You just did…Goodnight." I stumbled upstairs and collapsed into my bed. I begged for sleep to come but was met with disappointment and half a night spent with a head full of worries.