There she was. In her short shorts and big sweatshirt, bare feet and hair in a messy bun. She clutched a book to her chest. What was she doing here? She should be asleep by now. Why is she breaking the rules?
"Granger?" My voice was nothing more than a whisper. I cleared my throat and started again.
"What are you doing here?" My voice came out stronger but just as soft. No one can know we are here.
"Couldn't sleep," she said. She walked closer to me, slowly, as if she was approaching a wild animal. Or something dangerous. Did she see me as dangerous?
"What about you Malfoy?" I shrugged and told myself to look out the window again. Don't stare at her. She'll think you're weird.
I turned my head to look out the window but I saw her walking over to me out of the corner of my eye. She kept on coming. She walked past the desk. I started to get nervous. She can probably tell I've been here all night. She probably couldn't tell that I've been thinking about her the whole time. Oh the sounds weird. I could never tell her something like that.
"Malfoy?" I looked to where the voice was. She was sitting across from me in the window seat. If I moved my foot a little I would touch her foot. A shudder ran through me just thinking about touching her. I cannot think like this. She doesn't like me. She hates me. But she is sitting with me.
"Why are you so nice all of a sudden?"
"What?" I choked the words out. I swear I could die right here.
"I mean these last six years you have always picked on me but now you don't as much. When we're alone you are almost sweet," she said. Then she looked down.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Sorry," she whispered.
"No," I said. She looked up.
"What?"
"Don't be sorry. I have been mean because I like you Granger. I have always liked you but I can't like you. I'm not supposed to. I'm supposed to be in love with Pansy but how can I be when I see you? You are beautiful and smart and amazing. I have always wanted to tell you how I felt but I have been scared. You have hated me all our Hogwarts years. I'm not scared anymore," I said before I thought about it.
I just told her I liked her. No that can't happen. What have I done? I just told my biggest secret. The biggest secret I have ever kept, since first year, I just spilt to the girl it's about.
"W-w-what?" She stuttered out.
"Nothing," I said. Maybe she really didn't know what I was talking about. Maybe she didn't hear right. Maybe she didn't hear me at all.
"No. You said that you liked me. No you don't. You're joking with me," she said. She stood up, trying to make sense of everything.
"Yeah I am," I said finally. "Why would I like you?"
I quickly stood up before I could do something stupid. As soon as I turned the corner I started to run. I ran as fast as I could. I ran down the corridors. I finally found what I was looking for.
A small closet full of the old school brooms. It was very small, only a three by four room. One wall had six or seven brooms leaning against it. There was also a small button on the wall. I pressed it and the back wall slowly rose up. Past it was a small, dark tunnel. I took one of the brooms and started through the opening. I followed the tunnel.
I smelt the fresh air before I saw it. I flew out the tunnel and flew into the night sky. The full moon provided enough light for me to see the way. I flew high above the school and circled it a few times. I eventually landed by the lake.
It was this very spot. Three years ago. It was then that I really made her hate me. It was after the Yule Ball. She was so beautiful that day, like always, but even more this time. She dressed up in a beautiful pink dress and her hair was pulled back. She looked amazing. I wish I could have taken her there, but I couldn't. Victor Krum took her instead. He got the chance to dance with her and listen to her talk. I had to watch him. Pansy and I walked outside for a break. She talked to me about Hermione. When Pansy left Hermione showed up. I don't know if she heard anything but I didn't want her around now. I couldn't have her, why should she be allowed to taunt me? She sat with me until Blaise came out. Then I did the worst thing possible. I pushed her into the cold lake and walked away laughing. I couldn't let anyone know I liked her. Even then it was dangerous to love.
After that moment she hated me. Even more than before. She probably hated the fact that we had to live close together. She probably hated me.
But why did she let us share that table? Why did she agree to patrol with me? We're probably not going to see each other but we might. Why would she not try to change her schedule if we have all the same classes? She is so confusing.
Around dawn I decided to go in. I snuck back through the same way and put the broom back. I went up to bed. I wonder if she is back? Or did she stay there the whole night?
It was Saturday. I could do whatever I wanted today. No schedule. No nothing. Just one day of relaxation.
Then I heard a knock. I slowly sat up. I didn't bother throwing on clothes, all I had on were my boxers. I stretched and stood.
"Malfoy," a voice said. Oh no. It was her. I quickly found the pants from yesterday.
"Malfoy, open the door," she said again with some forceful knocking.
I struggled with my pants.
"If you don't open the door I'm coming in," she declared.
No she can't come in. My room is a mess. It's not usually like this. I haven't had time to organize anything.
"Malfoy," she yelled. I ran down the few stairs and was about to yank the door open when it opened. It swung in hard. I ran into it hard. I was knocked backwards but I managed to stay upright.
"Malfoy," she said in an, almost, caring voice. She walked over to me. I was holding my nose, trying to stop the bleeding. It still bled. It dripped down my chin and onto my chest. I forgot a shirt. Oh well, at least I put on pants.
I held up my other hand to stop her from coming too close. She stopped short of my hand and looked at me with her arms crossed but an, almost, caring look.
"What did you want?" I tried to keep the coldness in my voice because I didn't know if anyone else was around.
"I just wanted to know if you would like to help us plan the costume party. We only have a few weeks," she said. She uncrossed her arms and started twisting her hands in front of her like she was nervous.
Why would she be nervous? I'm the nervous one. Just last night I told her how I felt. Maybe she did think it was a joke, maybe she thought she had a nightmare-to her it would always be a nightmare if I liked her. Maybe she hit her head and forgot the whole thing. If I wasn't standing here, shirtless and bleeding, I probably would be freaking out too but my nose hurt a lot.
"Does it look like I want to?" Truth is I want to, badly, just to be close to her. But what if she believed me last night? What if she thinks I'm crazy or weird or disgusting?
"Are you sure?" She wanted me to help her. She actually wanted me. To help, I mean. She will never want me any other way, except maybe to leave but I can't do that right now.
"Aren't any of the others helping?" She looked at the floor, but I thought I saw her eyes linger on my chest. I have been working out, maybe she noticed. I did it for her anyway so it would be nice if she noticed.
"Hannah is out with her boyfriend and Padma is helping her sister organize her room and obviously Michael and Justin aren't helping and Neville is helping Luna with something. Pansy is the only one who agreed but she doesn't want to do it alone so I needed someone else to help too," she said.
She needed me. I mean, sure, it was just Pansy doing it all. She, no doubt, knew that I wanted to help her. She knew the others would say no, so she is making Hermione stand in front of me now and ask me but still, she needs me.
"Fine. I'll do it but I'm getting cleaned up first," I said. She smiled at me. Oh there was her beautiful smile. I could barely stop myself from smiling back.
"Did you want help with that?" She asked gesturing to my nose. It was broken for sure.
"Come on. I know a spell to fix it," she said. She was obviously excited to try the spell out. I sighed and nodded, trying to look annoyed.
"Episkey," she said. There was a loud crack as my nose cracked into place. I grunted in pain and almost fell again. This time Hermione put a hand out, as if to try and catch me. She wanted to help me and she did. She placed her hand on my arm, soft as a feather.
"Sorry. I don't know anything to help with the bleeding but it should stop soon," she said. I nodded.
"Thanks," I said turning around to go get changed. "I'll be out in a minute." I walked up the stairs.
"Malfoy." I turned to look at her.
"Thanks," she said before she left. She shut the door and I quickly got changed. I grabbed some tissues because my nose was still bleeding. I ran into my bathroom and tried to clean off all the blood. When I thought I looked okay I walked downstairs.