Ortum Infernum [d.m]

Chapter Three

     After the awkward encounter in Transfiguration, Odette crossed paths with Malfoy a week later. She could hardly believe her eyes when she exited her Arithmancy class and saw that Malfoy was waiting outside, arms crossed and leaning against a statue of an old hag. He was looking intently at her when she emerged.

"Coventry," he greeted in a drawl.

Odette had been the last student to leave the classroom, too wrapped up in her delirium that Professor Vector had offered to let her reference some past year O.W.L questions. She might have lingered a bit longer than she realised, if Malfoy's expression was anything to indicate that he had spent some time waiting in the corridors.

Then again, it was hard to tell because Draco Malfoy tended to always look like the world had somehow offended him in one way or another.

She parted her lips, then closed them as she failed to come up with something to say. She shifted the books in her arms and tried again. "Is there—were you waiting to talk to Professor Vector?"

He finally shifted his intense gaze. "No. I was waiting for you."

She felt herself falter as she blinked at him inquisitively. "Yes?"

Malfoy's expression was difficult to read. He seemed hesitant, twisting his family ring around his pointer finger then hastily clasped his hands behind his back.

"I was wondering if you'd like to pair up for the Ancient Runes assignment," he said, voice strained.

Malfoy's gaze lingered on her face before his silver eyes casted down to his shoes.

"Almost everyone has found a partner to work with. And I would like to be assigned with you."

Odette recalled with precision that the previous lesson had indeed assigned them a corroborative project, which she had been dreading as she wasn't very keen about working with others. She had never been very good at handling people and hardly knew her way around social interactions.

When everyone had been thrilled to seek out their friends to partner up for the project after the class had ended—Odette had made a dash for the door, eager to get away.

She had been sure she wouldn't be getting any offers to partner up, so she had dreaded having to walk up to her classmates and ask if anyone would consider her proposal. The prospect of being turned down and having to go through the process multiple times made her tempted to ask Professor Babbling if she could possibly do the project all by herself.

Odette was both relieved and taken aback at Malfoy's initial statement. It was surprising that he of all people would be offering to be her partner.

They hadn't been very well acquainted, but they'd both been civil with each other through their academic career and during social events. Even borderline courteous sometimes, on Malfoy's part.

She nodded, then realised he couldn't tell because he was still inspecting his shoes.

"That would be lovely," she said, trying to keep her voice even. "I'm glad you asked. I wasn't sure who to pair up with."

Malfoy glanced at her, his grey eyes seemed bright and disbelieving. Just as quickly, like a curtain had been drawn, the emotions disappeared beneath the icy waters again.

"I figured," he said. Then he cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "You don't seem close with anyone in the class."

It was Odette's turn to inspect her shoes. She adjusted her books and tucked away a strand of her hair that had came loose from her Finnish plait.