CHAPTER THREE
DRACO P.O.V.
A little bit of an introduction- I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and my hair is usually not pink. I don't usually chase after miscreants on trains, and I generally don't feel like strangling my best friend in her sleep. I ran after Adele, catching a glance of my atrocious pink hair in the glass window. I turned back, and was greeted by empty space. Adele had clearly evaded my tantrum. For now.
Just then, an orange ball of fur blocked my path forward. I squinted, it seemed to be a sort of feline with a face that looked like it had been crushed by a bludger on many occasions. It suddenly dawned on me, this was Granger's horrifying cat, which ever since last year had gone out of its way to make my life a living hell. The owner of this disgusting creature would obviously not be far behind, and I looked around to make sure the coast was clear. That was a bad decision.
The moment my eyes left the cat, it sprang on me like some kind of rabid animal. Strike that, it probably was a rabid animal. Oh Salazar, I couldn't afford to get rabies, I was Draco Malfoy, for crying out loud. I had money, girls, fame, and a legacy I had to carry forth- I was-OW! The stupid brute had tried to claw my face, where was my wand?
"Crookshanks, no! Get off him now!" Oh perfect, the bushy-haired, rabbit-toothed nerd was here to add to my humiliation. The imbecile crawled disgruntledly off my chest and I looked up.
The orange-haired menace was being cuddled by a witch, who hadn't yet changed into her robes, and was looking quite alluring in her jeans and T-shirt. I smirked, puberty has certainly done her well.
"Malfoy, my eyes are up here," she uttered in an incredibly put off tone. That's when I noticed how much Granger had changed over the summer. Her chocolate brown hair had grown longer, and no longer looked like a bird's nest, but rather fell in waves and curls to her shoulders. Her bunny teeth had shrunk, and her complexion was as clear as ever. Her hazel eyes sparkled, and her lips parted-
"MALFOY, what are you gawking at? Stop smirking, or make no mistake, I will Bat Bogey Hex you all the way to that blasted manor you call your home! You almost killed my cat"
"I almost killed your cat? Are you blind, Granger? That creature tried to claw my eyes out!"
"It was self-defense against creeps like you!"
"If you had eyes, Granger, you'd see that I am clearly the most sought after creep Hogwarts has ever seen."
"I do, actually. All I can see is a desperate child with pink hair," drawled Hermione.
Merlin, I had forgotten about my hair. Curse Granger.
I floundered, speechless for probably the first time in my life. I drew myself up, giving her the snootiest expression I was capable of at the time, and she ducked her head. I almost smiled, but caught myself.
"That disaster should be locked up." I don't know what it was about Granger that forced me to behave like the prick everyone thought I was.
Her expression changed immediately. "Tell me how to look after my cat again, and I'll help you forget the miracle of speech."
I was about to retort, when I heard a crash. I sighed, and bit my lip. There was only one person who could possibly trip over nothing while running away from an angered companion.
"This isn't over, Granger."
I caught a glimpse of her expression- it was a cross between anger, exasperation and amusement.
I turned, and walked down the length of the train, aware of her presence behind me. I reached the scene and noticed the cause of the commotion, and I immediately wanted to burn my eyes out of my skull, or throttle Potter, preferably both.
I remembered drawing my wand out (finally) and screaming something unintelligible. It worked, because Adele turned bright red and scrambled to her feet, shoving Potter off his previous position ON TOP OF HER.
Adele looked like she wanted to throw herself off a cliff. "Draco-"
Potter didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed. The filth pulled out his wand and cleaned it on his grubby robes. Gold sparks shot out of the end. He raised his arm, glaring at me.
"Harry" said Adele, her voice a whisper. She took his arm, and dropped it. Her expression would have been funny had she not been sprawled across my sworn enemy a few moments ago.
The tension around us was so thick it could be cut by a knife. None of us moved a muscle. Nobody knew what to do.
Except Hermione, of course.
Granger burst out laughing so hard she almost fell over. She clutched my shoulder to steady herself. It was my turn to look mortified, I couldn't meet Adele's gaze. Her eyes were burning holes at the the back of my head.
I don't know what we would've done if a second year hadn't shouted out that we were almost at Hogwarts. Hermione yelped and rushed off to change. I gave Potter the filthiest look I could muster.
"Della, let's leave." She seemed quite meek as she made her way toward me.
"Adele." Potter's voice stopped her in her tracks. I glared.
She turned around to face him. "What is it?"
"Do you remember my name?"
Adele looked at him as if he had gone batty. Indeed, he seemed to be loonier than usual, which was saying something. "Of course I remember your name, what sort of a question is that?"
The imbecile seemed undeterred. "What is it?"
"Harry, Harry Potter," said Adele, speaking slowly as though she were talking to a child.
"Good. At least you didn't forget, unlike the last time we met."
Adele's expression morphed from one of bewilderment to complete shock. She turned pale, and looked like she wanted to throw up. Potter seemed pleased with the reaction his question had invoked, and left the scene.
I pulled Adele away from the crowd that had gathered around us, and shoved her gently into our compartment. Blaise looked up from The Quibbler.
ADELE P.O.V.
I sat up so fast that I nearly gave myself a whiplash. I gave Draco a worried glance. Draco was furious and he was arrogant enough to start a duel there and then if he felt that Harry had laid so much as a hand on me.
He drew out his wand and pointed it menacingly at Harry who too pulled out his wand looking furious. I grabbed Harry's arm before he could do anything stupid and he looked at me and his eyes momentarily softened. Draco emitted a soft growl and I whipped my hand back off again and Harry went back on the aggressive. I spied Hermione standing behind Draco and I silently pleaded for her to help- despite what everyone else thought Slytherins and Gryffindors could be friends and that's exactly what we were. She didn't need to be asked twice- she burst out laughing, and almost fell on top of Draco, who turned a violent shade of red. Harry looked like he was on fire. Draco turned his head away refusing to meet my gaze- the git was so embarrassed.
"I d-don't know whether- we're about to reach" a nervous voice broke through and Hermione yelped and rushed out of the Compartment.
"Della, let's leave" Draco said loftily.
I opened my mouth to retort when I realized we were the censure of a million wildly curious eyes. I turned a deeper shade red. One of the Zabini twins and a Malfoy were enough to get them chirping but throw in Hermione and Harry and you've got yourself a party. Plus Draco's hair was pink. Pink. I quietly made my way over to him and he immediately grabbed my hand, pulling me close he began to walk out.
"Adele!" Harry's voice made me stop short and Draco stiffened. He was one step away from punching Harry in the face.
I looked at him over my shoulder as if he was an insect. "What is it?" I said in a cool tone.
"Do you remember my name?" he said in a blank tone.
I looked at him as if he'd gone nuts. "Of course I know your name. What sort of a question is that?"
"What is it then?"
Okay just because I had lost my marbles for a while and gone off about goats did not mean I had been hit by an Obliviate spell. "Harry. Harry Potter" I said as if I were talking to a child.
"Good" he seemed satisfied and he turned to leave, took two steps and then thought better of it. He turned and his green gaze bore holes into me. "At least this time you remembered" I looked at him in confusion and then it hit me. I started to feel nauseous and he took one last look at me and left without another word.
Oh God, how could I have forgotten?
I woke up in a frenzy, completely disoriented to find myself alone in the Slytherin Dormitory - they'd already left for the party we were illicitly holding one of the abandoned classrooms on the third floor due to the fact that school was ending the next day- and I was grateful for the fact. I really didn't feel like listening to Pansy moan about Draco- I'd heard things no one should hear about their best friend, like exactly how flexible he was. I mean, these things just tend to make your day don't they? I lifted the bottle of water lying next to my bed and took a large sip. I nearly gagged when I realized that I'd drunk firewhiskey instead of water but trying to spit it back out was useless. Tears burned my eyes but after a few minutes I felt normal again if a little winded and dizzy.
I got out of bed and stretched and tripped over something lying on the ground. I picked up the box and surveyed it. I grinned- chocolates. Blaise knew just how to perk me up. I'd been feeling pretty down and out lately. My mother's upcoming nuptial with husband eight didn't make me feel too happy. I sat down on the edge of my bed and picked up a chocolate and ate it. Why did she have to go ahead and get married again? I thought as I ate. Why couldn't she ask us for a change what we'd like? We weren't bad kids- we were the perfect children in the most literal sense of the word. I was poised and sophisticated when need be and Blaise was a gentleman- we worked the Pureblood tag like we were born to. Ha. I guess we were. The thought that no matter what we did, specifically me, never seemed to make her proud still made me unbearably sad. I swallowed the chocolate and the one solution to all my problems struck me.
Dean. Dean Thomas.
Oh my god, I was so in love with him. If I told him I loved him, everything would be alright. My mother would love me, I'd know who my father was, Pansy would die. Yeah, that was it. I should tell him the first thing tomorrow. Wait, why tomorrow? I'd tell him today. I'd tell him now! I glided out of the Common Room and into the secluded Halls. I reached the portrait of the Fat Lady in record time.
"I'm ready" I said. "Open the door"
"Password please"
"You don't understand. I love Dean Thomas. I need to tell him I love him now"
She laughed. I wanted to rip her apart shred by shred. "No password. No Entry."
After a few moments I realized that no matter what I did she wouldn't let me in unless I had the password. I flounced off in anger. What should I do? I thought to myself. I needed to seen Dean tonight. His lovely hair, charming smile and freckles, I sighed, Dean. What if some other slag took Dean from me? No, Dean had to know today. I loved him after all.
It was only a few minutes later that I was standing outside the Castle, looking up at Gryffindor Tower trying to discern which window would lead to Dean's room. Oh my little Deanpuff must be so cold, so lonely without me. It must be tenth window to the right, the twelfth from the bottom. Oh, even if it wasn't who cared? I Accioed my broom there and flew up until I was outside the requisite window. I peered in, it was still quite dark but who cared. I tried to open the window but it was locked. It didn't matter, these petty hurdles couldn't keep me apart from my one true love.
"Alohamora" I whispered and the locks opened. I graciously let myself into the room- I would have to talk to Deany-poo about that, locking your soulmate out of a room in the middle of the night simply wasn't acceptable, he should've been able to sense I was coming. I let go of my broom and it felt over and hit something that fell over and I tripped on. I yelped. I heard some shuffling and I saw the silhouette of someone sitting up in the room. Oh that must be him- he'd already known I was coming after all.
"Who's there?" he said in his deep voice. I tiptoed over to his bed and jauntily pushed him back on it.
"Who do you think babe?" I said giving him a saucy smile.
"Adele?"
"Were you expecting someone else?" I snapped but before he could reply I slipped into bed next to him. "It's alright" I said magnanimously, kissing his shoulder. "The past is in the past. I forgive you for not realizing sooner that I was the one meant for you" I kissed his collar bone and then his cheek and he finally began to relax against me and he put his arms around me and pulled me closer into the warmth of his body. I giggled and then pouted. "Why aren't you kissing me?" He moved forward and kissed my cheek and I could feel his breath on my lips, I knew he was seconds away from kissing me. I looped my arms around his neck. "I love you Dean Thomas" I proclaimed with a giggle.
He froze. "Dean?"
I stiffened as he moved off me at the speed of light and switched on the bedside lamp. I squinted as the sudden light and sat up in the rumpled sheets. "Ow, Merlin's Beard you're acting weird. Come back to bed"
"Adele. I'm not Dean"
"What do you mean you're not-" I blinked a couple of times and a face materialized before mine. "Oh" I said in a disappointed voice bouncing off the bed. "That was you?" I asked Harry. "Never mind, do you know which room is Dean's?" I asked. "Whoops" I giggled as I tripped. Strong arms gripped mine.
"Adele" Harry said firmly. "Are you alright?"
"Of course" I said giggling "Now where's Dean?"
"How did you get here?"
"I flew, duh" I said like he was stupid, moving out of his embrace to go past him. I started to feel a little dizzy.
"You flew to the twelfth floor to meet Dean in the middle of the night?"
"Of course. He needs to know I love him. No other slag can have him" I twirled on my heel and then yelled. "Dean! DEAN! COME HERE! WHERE ARE YOU? I LOVE YOU. DEAN THOMAS I LOVE Y-" I was silenced when Harry threw his hand over my mouth and I bit his hand in anger. He yelped and pulled it back "Wait till Dean hears about this. He will not be happy" I said turning away from him to flounce off in search of Dean. Before I could though, I felt on the ground, black spots appearing in my vision.
"Della?" Harry whispered crouching down besides me.
"Can't move…hurt" I bit out through the pain pulsing through my body and head.
The next second I was being lifted up and being carried somewhere.
I woke up the next day in the Infirmary Wing and blinked a few times. My throat felt incredibly dry and my body hurt. I groaned.
"She's awake!" I heard someone yell.
"Oh thank Salazar" I heard Draco's concerned drawl. I tried to sit up, a firm hand pushed me down again.
"No you're still tired"
"What happened?" I croaked.
"Millicent" Blaise said in disgust. "She gave you a love potion in the chocolates except she made the potion wrong. She left Firewhiskey on your Cabinet because she thought it would be funny but the combination of the wrong potion and Firewhiskey wasn't too great- she poisoned you instead.
"The slag could have killed you" Draco spat viciously. "I though you were dead when I walked in this morning- you kept slipping in and out of consciousness"
I closed my eyes as memories cam rushing back to me. Breaking into Gryffindor Towers, kissing Harry, yelling out that I loved Dean, Harry carrying me to the Infirmary, Harry talking to Madam Pomphrey, Harry sitting next to my bed, Harry holding my hand through the night, Harry leaving in the morning"
'How did you find me?"
"You didn't come back last night so we went searching for you and Alicia told us that she'd heard you were here. We nearly had a cardiac arrest when we saw you"
"Has everyone already left?"
"Ages ago. But because you weren't in any position to leave we were allowed to stay"
I turned my head away and curled up on my side.
"Della, we're sorry. We never thought something like this would happen- if we'd known she was this crazy about Draco we'd have done something, you know that" Blaise pleaded.
"Della" Draco begged.
"Forget it. I'm fine now" I said flatly.
But I wasn't fine. I crawled into his bed and thrown myself at him and then proclaimed I loved someone else. He'd saved my life and I hadn't even said thank you. How could I ever look at Harry Potter again?
Turns out it wasn't that hard to gaze at him, I thought, blinking out the memory.
The rest of the ride to Hogwarts was a blur of voices and faces none of which I could remember.
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