Dare - Draco Malfoy

Chapter 30: Happy Birthday

Maeve:

January feels colder than usual. I shut myself in my room most days, just like I did last term. I eat less, sleep less, my nightmares happen more often, and I have already been taken to the hospital wing once, after I fainted in herbology on a Monday morning. I had cut my check with a tool clutched in my hands, but Madam Pumfrey managed to make the mark almost fully disappear. 

Aria knows something is going on. I often find her exchanging looks with Nott or Blaise, they must have talked about me. I feel weaker and I am not sure why these things keep happening, but I know I have felt worse and worse ever since I was given the mark. I am afraid of anyone finding out about it. I catch Draco looking at me during meals, he has noticed how sick I got over the last couple of weeks but he kept his word and never talked to me.

He is not looking great either. His eyes are always red from the lack of sleep. He doesn't eat and he's never seen in the comms anymore. He's skipped at least two classes.

Nott has tried to approach me lately but I always pushed him away. I can't forgive him. Not yet.

-

Today is my birthday and the last thing I want to do is be surrounded by people. I wake up purposely early to have breakfast in peace. The hall is empty, just a few students on each table. I sit in my usual spot and start playing with some grapes on my plate. I stare down at it as my eyes grow heavy. 

"You know, it'd taste better if you ate it" 

I look up to find Nott seating himself in font of me.

"What are you doing?" I ask annoyed.

"I just want to talk" He speaks kindly.

I am too tired to walk away. There's no point anymore. I just sit and bring my eyes back to the plate.

"Look Maeve, I'm sorry for what I said. With everything that happened" He sighs, exasperated.

"I— I don't know what I was thinking. I am sorry" he blurts out.

I keep my eyes on the grape.

"Can we just forget about it? Can you stop ignoring me? I was trying to protect you" He continues.

"You can't always be the hero, Nott" I spit, still no looking at him.

"I know, but I had to try something. He-" he sighs again but forces himself to continue.

"He asked me to keep you safe. I gave him my word" He finishes.

I raise my eyebrows.

"Well, he doesn't really care much himself, so whatever deal you had going on, it doesn't matter anymore" I mumble.

"He does care."

I look up now.

"What you said to me changes everything Nott. I'm glad you cared for me, really, I am. But you ruined everything" my lips seal, I stare back into his eyes.

Tears threaten to burst out of my eyes so I stand quickly, he goes to place his hand over mine but he stops before he can touch me and retreats.

"Please stay. I'll go"

I watch him stand and sit back down as he turns to walk away. He freezes, looking back at me.

He smiles.

"Happy birthday" he whispers.

I frown at him and shift my eyes down at the table as he makes his way out of the hall. As my eyes meet the grape again, I finally stab it with my fork and eat it.