black arts // draco malfoy

chapter five

Inanna knew Khai and the Golden Trio wanted to bring up her boggart for the rest of the day, but they didn't. And she was deeply grateful for that. The way her boggart changed left her shocked and slightly worried. She was not naive enough to shrug it off as a coincidence this time. But, her brain did the only thing that any person would do; it went into denial.

It happens. Even the smartest ones can be the dumbest sometimes.

Inanna had a gut feeling that she was going to regret not agreeing with her conscience before, but she didn't really care about it right now. Right now, what she was concerned about, was that at dinner, Dumbledore was supposed to announce the students participating.

During a free period, Inanna dropped her belongings and went to The Black Lake again. With the tsunami of emotions and feelings still pumping through her, she completely forgot that this place wasn't hers only, it had secretly become someone else's too.

"Again, thought I'd find you here," The familiar, deep voice drawled. Inanna squeezed her eyes shut in frustration and anger. She should've never come here. "The weather's nice, isn't it?" Draco said lamely, as he plopped down beside Inanna.

"What a way of starting a conversation!" Inanna muttered sarcastically under her breath. Bit fo course, Draco heard it. He clenched his fists at his side, willing himself to not loose his self control.

"Ah, Elsher, why so crisp?" Draco asked teasingly. Inanna felt her annoyance build up towards the boy, yet the corners of her mouth twitched.

"I was very happy until you came here, uninvited." Inanna shot back, giving him a side glance for maybe a second before looking straight back again.

Suddenly, Draco was all business. "I came here to convince you to reconsider the offer I gave you-" Inanna opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Draco shot her a warning glance and told her to shut up. "-And I want to discuss why you should take up my offer." Draco finished and Inanna felt her interest peak up.

"And why should I take up your offer, Malfoy?" Inanna quipped.

"Because, let's just say, you are well known, and I am well known around the castle as well. Well, for me, I am not only well known around the castle but also the whole wizarding world knows about me-"

"Draco, your point?"

Draco cleared his throat. "Well, my point, Elsher, is that if we go together - which by the way no one will expect because we have tried to hex each other in front of people enough times to let the public know that we hate each other - people will obviously be very interested. Not only would we make the oddest of couples, but we would blow people away." Draco finally finished his rant, still not forgetting the fact the Inanna had called him by his first name earlier.

"And why are you trying to do this?" Inanna asked.

Draco cursed himself. Of course she wouldn't give in this easily. Of course she'd ask that question. And of course Draco couldn't tell her about his real intentions - the ones concerning his family, especially a certain task from his darling dad.

"Well- well, it'd be better for my popularity and I don't want to be seen with any mudblo-," - With a harsh shove from Inanna, Draco corrected himself. "I don't wish to be seen with any muggleborns."

Inanna hummed in appreciation.

"Ah," Inanna thought about it for a second. "Malfoy, with all due respect, I still do not want to go to the ball with you. I'll probably end up going with someone else."

Fury took over Draco. How dare she? She had the audacity to decline his offer  twice. Girls would be begging for him to pay the slightest bit of attention towards them, but here this infuriating girl is, declining his offer like she was superior to him. And, she could go to the ball with some other bloke and not him? Draco Malfoy could bet with all he has that Inanna would be much better going to the ball with him than some other random dude.

"You'd rather go with some worthless random guy than me?" Draco hissed, getting close to her face. So close, in fact, that he could clearly see her long natural lashes, the endless depths of green swirling in her doe-shaped eyes. Her delicate soft skin, and those maddeningly full lips.

Inanna rose one of her eyebrows. "Yes, now move." Inanna attempted to push past him, but he caught her wrist. His rough hands made contact with her delicate skin for the first time, and suddenly, the skies seemed brighter.

All of a sudden, Inanna snatched her wrist back as if it was on fire. Draco furrowed his brows, confused by her sudden actions.

Had Draco held her too rough? Did he hurt her?

Oh my god. Draco never had thoughts like these. This girl - standing in front of him - was driving him crazy. He thought of her before going into a blissful sleep, and thought of her after waking up to the birds chirping. This was too fast, there was no way. This was all professional, no feelings.

Inanna was a whole different story. Her mind was working faster than ever. His touch had just shot something through her skin and it was electrical. Goosebumps rose on her skin, one after another, and she suddenly felt a lot warmer. The skies seemed brighter.

Was this normal?

"I- I have to go, Malfoy. Hope to see you never." Inanna tried her best to put on her facade, the usual unbothered expression. However, all that withered away when she looked into those eyes of his. Oh, those enchanting grey eyes.

"Same." Draco said simply, and he stood there, watching as she walked away from him. "By the way, my offer is always open!" He called out.

He saw as Inanna turned her head, and smirked at him.

"Better close it, then. Because I'm not going with you!" She called back. With one last teasing smile, she turned completely and walked back towards the castle.