Cut.

Chapter 7 | Nicole

Edited: 2/6/2021

Nicole

After about an hour of awkward stares between myself, Amy and this Elena girl, who seemed to know a lot about our subject for our project:

Murder.

I rolled my eyes with another smart crack she and Amy exchanged, it was like they already knew each other. It was as if Elena had already rubbed off on Amy and turned her into a Slytherin and outnumbered me.

Which, in social situations or a fight - I didn't like, nor appreciated. 

With the wave of the Professor for us to dismiss, I bid them both goodbye and exited out of the room, but Amy caught up to me rather quickly talking about our project. 

We had to write four research papers, make a poster board and have a presentation prepared by the end of the year. That professor was rather lazy with the year-long assignments, and to make everything even more odd.

It was Professor Snape this year, go figure.

"What's wrong, Nicole?" questioned Amy finally taking a breath after explaining what Elena had explained in class. "Anything?"

"Okay," I grinned, finally able to get a word in. "First, I understand everything Miss Elena was explaining in there, no need to repeat." I sighed, moving into the connection I was concerned about, "You two seem like you've met before..." I said, looking from in front of us to her. "...have you?"

"No." giggled Amy. "She is just a nice Slytherin is all."

I just nodded with a fake smile.

Something didn't sit right with me about Amy this year, or this Elena girl. 

I shrugged it off, Amy was my best mate she would never get into anything dark or evil, would she?

"Well I'm off to Potions, catch you later." and with that Amy disappeared into the sea students. I rolled my eyes at her cheerfulness and marched off towards Muggle Studies.

I plopped down, realizing there was only one other Gryffindor in the entire class I actually liked or came into contact with, Harry Potter. He was sitting at the front, talking to the Professor, who looked different somehow.

"Well, hello there." smiled a voice from my left. I turned to see him again.

"Hello Malfoy." I greeted, being the Gryffindor I am, I can be rude or nice. It all depends on the person. I grinned slightly at his smirk that played into the grin. "Why are you sitting beside me?" I asked, pulling out my book and hanging my bag over the back of my chair.

Draco shrugged, "I wanted to." He looked as if he gave this content and amused expression. It put me in the mind of him debating his next move, or - you know - the face of a little boy that just got a new toy for Christmas.

This made me shiver a little, I couldn't tell if it was disgust or attraction, I was praying - to who? who knows! - it was disgust.

"What?!" I squealed, catching his eye for the third time.

"Nothing." He said, turning form me and slamming his book on the desk as well. "Did, you do something with your hair?"

You're playing with fire Malfoy.

I grinned at my playful thought.

My lips curled into a smile without my body's command. I didn't know where the hell it came from, although I never hated Draco, or really disliked him, he was always head to head with the Golden Trio, never me nor Amy, we just kind of rolled with it.