Hello out there!
This chapter was some kind of a real task to me, because it is the first which contents some really important revelations. I'm curious what you all will think at the end of it and will find out what funny thing is hidden inside. Can you guess?
Please let me know what you think and REVIEW! For my sake and the progress of the story as well! ;-)
The news of Katie Bell being cursed was spread out like wildfire in Hogwarts. As tragically this was, the rumours of that possibly being an assassination attempt on Professor Dumbledore, outreached the bad news of Katie.
That was what Harry had just been waiting for and suspected Draco Malfoy handing Katie Bell a cursed necklace and even spoke out to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. That wasn't only a curious accusation, it was quite a dangerous one too. If Draco would get to know about it, he certainly would not put up with that.
Professor McGonagall pretended that Draco had detention at hers, but Harry did not dissuade from his point of view. Harry wanted to tell Professor Dumbledore of his suspicion, but he was travelling until Christmas. Harry had been very upset about that, believing that Dumbledore abandoned his own school, while 'Draco tried something to endamage it'.
In fact, Draco Malfoy really did not play at the first seasonal Quidditch game and Gryffindor was therefore lucky to win the game, also with Ron's great keeper efforts.
But as he started snogging with Lavender Brown, Hermione just rushed out of the common room and Alanis followed her, knowing that she had to make a good job to cheer Hermione up.
She found Hermione in sitting at the floor in front of a window in the seventh floor, crying.
"I'm so sorry for you Hermione, that Ron is so ignorant and such an arse.", Alanis said silently and Hermione wiped away her tears, sniffing loudly.
"I don't care about whom Ron is kissing, it's his choice anyway. I just have to try to avoid him. You will you join me when I separate myself from him?", Hermione asked and tried to smile. Alanis nodded and sat down beneath her, looking at the half moon.
"I'd anyway do. But let's make the best we can out of it! I mean, why do we need some childish guys, when we could have some more pleasant acquaintances?", Alanis tried to cheer up her friend and patted her back.
"Such people like Draco Malfoy, you mean?", Hermione asked reproachfully. Alanis just stared at her.
"What do you mean by that?", Alanis asked suffering a snub.
"You're just like Harry, you know. I can see how you both look at other people. I realized how Harry stares at Ginny and how you stare at that bloody Malfoy."
"But... but he's bad! How would I therefore?", Alanis' voice shook heavily.
"I'm just mentioning what I saw. You have to get rid of that affection! He's the biggest moron I ever met! Beside Ronald, of course."
"I can't get rid of it, because there is nothing to get rid of!"
"It's the way how you behave when you see him, the way how you look at him in the lessons, and far worse, the way how he responds to you! Everyone could especially see that glances that shifted between you both in the last DADA lessons!", Hermione argued.
Alanis just stared at her, staggered. How could Hermione think of her having a crush on Draco Malfoy? She didn't even know that moron and was gradually likely to believe Harry's suggestions. If she was interested in that Slytherin boy, she just wanted as well blowing the whistle on him, together with Harry. But what did Hermione refer to with 'Draco responding to her'? If he'd being responding to something, she would have noticed it, wouldn't she?
"I just want to support Harry and that includes observing Malfoy!", Alanis protested, almost lost in her thoughts, but Hermione shook her head eagerly.
"Don't distract from the main theme! Please Alanis, be honest to yourself! Stop it before you really fall in love with him, he's no match for you! Alanis, I beg you to be careful, for your sake!", she answered.
Alanis stood up and to hide her becoming angry. She breathed heavily and closed her eyes to collect herself. How should she get rid of Hermione's accusations? But Hermione was her friend at it was naturally that she was able to read her. Hermione knew her and would always realize if some feelings grew up inside her. Alanis knew that Hermione was right, but she wasn't ready admitting it to herself. Anyway, what were glances able to prove, signifying or perpetrating?
"I will prove myself being worthy becoming a member of Dumbledore's Army and will help Harry preventing dark actions inside of this school. That's all."
Hermione didn't seem convinced, but she left it at Alanis' statement.
"I have to stretch my legs.", Alanis murmured, but Hermione looked sadly at her.
"And try to awaken to your feelings."
Alanis just snorted at her and walked down the corridor. Why couldn't Hermione care about her own mess with Ron? Why did she have to judge Alanis for something that did not even happen? Anyway, would Hermione be glad if Alanis really set that special feelings free? But had Alanis really been looking at Draco Malfoy in a way that proved her to be in love with him? Why should she have reason to? Was it some kind of fascination he fuelled in her? Even if he did, that had nothing to do with serious feelings. She would better look for a better match out of the other students and forget that bloody handsome face.
Suddenly she heard a very childish giggle in front of her. As she looked up she saw Draco Malfoy lurching around with a very handsome girl, who leeched onto Draco's arm. To Alanis' surprise they both didn't have very happy or pleased expressions on their face. Was that girl one of his hundreds of love affairs he had at Hogwarts?
Draco began to caress her hair and grabbed her fiercely, she giggled in amusement, which rather sounded as if she were a shrieking puberty vocal changing boy and he patted her shoulder with an angry gaze as if he wanted her to be quiet. They didn't seem to enjoy their companionship, as if they reluctantly touched each other. Draco took her arm and moved on, but his gaze froze on Alanis' face as if she just had discovered them doing something inappropriate.
Alanis frowned at the intense and angry gaze of Draco Malfoy. Why would Draco Malfoy react that astonished, that embarrassed when she discovered him hanging around with a girl? And anyway, why did he meet her in the seventh floor? He should know that he would there be likely to meet some Gryffindors, who could disturb him and his date.
It's the way how you behave when you see him.
Alanis tried to gave her expression an easy-going look, but couldn't help herself stare at him and was much more surprised that he also seemed unable not to return her gaze. He placed a kiss on that girls cheek, after which she looked like she had to retch, but even then Draco didn't separate his gaze from Alanis as if he wanted to make sure she understood what he had been here for.
Anger raised up in Alanis and she once more thought of Harry's and Hermione's words. As the couple thrust past Alanis, she turned around to watch them, but she wasn't able to hold herself back.
"Are you taking comfort with that girl to forget about you abandoning your Quidditch team, Malfoy? How does it feel that Gryffindor crowed that losers of Slytherins?"
Malfoy hesitated and looked back at her, while that girl on his side pulled his arm to make him move and her expression was urging and stubborn. The more Alanis looked at that girl the more she thought that that girls' delicate features gradually got harsh and severe.
"That was just luck, with Bell being knocked out.", he answered through his clenched teeth. He looked like he had to force himself answering her.
Alanis squinted her eyes as she believed the skin of that girl getting a light tone of brown, and as if she was in great hurry, the girl pulled Draco's arm back with such an unsuspected strength, that Draco almost lost his balance. But Alanis was persistent.
"Did that book I recommended to you serve you?"
Draco narrowed his eyes, finally regaining his balance and annoyed pushed that girl away from him.
"What do you mean by that?", he asked fiercely.
"I hope you did find the right chapter about cursed magical artefacts?", she shot back, totally aware of what she risked at that moment. Malfoy was no fool, he would know what she was playing at. Malfoy now seemed to lose his complexion, as much as his date gained it.
"It was for no use.", he stumbled and pushed that girl back who still tried to drag him away. Did he treat all of his dates that way if he lost interest in them? If so, she would never even fancy getting involved with him.
"What a pity! However, I am sure you will perform all of your tasks with best efforts.", she answered and smiled wickedly at him and enjoyed how he responded to her.
Responded to her.
He seemed to struggle with himself whether he should snap back at her or pretend to be unconcerned, while his hand wandered to his wand in his pocket.
"Miss Dumbledore!"
The three turned around to Professor Slughorn who waddled in Alanis' direction with a very pleased look at his face.
"It is good to see you, Miss Dumbledore! Mr Malfoy and... ugh...", he nodded at Malfoy and frowned befuddled at the look of that girl, as if he didn't remember having met her in his whole life. But she just smiled awkwardly at him, her face had changed in a grimace as if she was suffering great pain.
"I wanted you to hand out a personal invitation for my Christmas party! You may of course bring along a personal guest.", Slughorn said and handed Alanis out a pell, she just smiled thankfully in response, but Malfoy snorted at Slughorn's words. Just as Slughorn made his way down the corridor, Alanis glanced angrily at him.
"What's so funny about that?"
Malfoy smirked, obviously forgetting about the tense situation before.
"I doubt you'll be ever able to find an escort, Dumbledore. Who would like to get involved with you? These poor guys would always run the risk of being transfigured into a pig!", he tried to laugh, but she recognised him still being distraught by her comment, as his voice shivered.
But she felt herself blush slightly, returning his grin with a more evil one. Had he just been admitting that she was skilled in Transfiguration and that he respected it?
"I only consider someone transforming if he betrays me or lies to me. And I would prefer ferrets."
Draco's teasing expression changed only for a few moments, and she was hardly able to interpret it, but then he turned around and grabbed the arm of that girl.
"I'd better warn all those idiots who consider dating you!", he said and left, that girl looked more than relieved being able to leave and almost ran down the corridor.
Alanis smirked. But she wasn't really satisfied. If Slughorn would not have interrupted, she probably would have been able to corner him and find out more why they had been lurking around in the seventh floor. However, Harry would be very happy about that news of how Malfoy reacted. She was taking some steps further.
But at that moment she didn't even realize that Malfoy's words had hurt her too. Hurt her so much that she knew that proved she was attracted by him. That was the most miserable thing at all.
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