"I hate you, too." - Draco Malfoy Fanfic

Chapter 16

"When you're born in a burning house, you think the whole world is on fire. But it's not."

-Richard Kadrey.

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Draco was in the kitchens at lunch, too.

He had taken to joining Eden every morning for breakfast. Sometimes he'd pester her with useless questions and one-sided conversations that almost always ended in an argument. Other days they simply sat in silence as they ate.

Eden didn't have to look up from her penne as she felt a draft blowing in from the now-open painting and heard the mumbled greeting Draco gave Winky upon entrance. The breeze should have been a cool comfort to her now that the days were warming. It was not. The endless reminder had been even more persistent these days. The dreams were recurring more than usual.

"You know, if you weren't so random with your visits then maybe you wouldn't freak out the elves so much when they have to provide a second meal." Eden still didn't look up as he took a seat across from her. "And goodmorning to you, too." Draco sighed.

"I already saw you this morning." Eden corrected him. She tried not to think about how unusual it was that he was here. It was already strange enough that he insisted on eating in the kitchens with her in the first place, but sneaking away from friends during lunch isn't as easy as it is during breakfast or even dinner. Not when they stuck together due to their shared classes before and after the meal.

"There's a Hogsmeade trip this Saturday." Draco thanked the elf that placed a plate in front of him, and this time Eden did meet his gaze. "And?" She frowned. He hesitated for a moment. "No reason." He shrugged as Eden pulled her book off the table and set it in her bag. She'd stopped reading in front of him. She didn't need him stealing another book and reading it aloud.

"You want me to go?" Eden scoffed as Draco began to deny her accusation. "Oh, you so do want me to go." She set her fork down and watched as he struggled to defend himself. "That's absurd, your presence is nothing more than a nuisance."

"Then why are you here?" Eden rolled her eyes. His logic, as of recently, was flawed at best. "They make food that isn't provided in the Great Hall--"Draco gestured to the elves. "--and it's quieter." He continued. "It most certainly is not quieter. Not with you around." Eden gave him a pointed look.

"I hate you." Draco grumbled. "Me too." Eden picked her fork back up and began to eat. "You hate me, or you hate you?" Draco felt the need to clarify. "You, obviously." Eden released an exasperated breath--trying her absolute hardest not to smile.

Draco looked back down to his own plate of penne--he tended to copy whatever she ate--and just as he wasn't looking, a sudden movement caught Eden's eye. The painting swung outwards ever-so-slightly. Eden would have guessed that it was the wind or a faulty latch if it weren't for the fact that as soon as it crept open, something--or someone-- appeared to slam it shut in a panic.

"I'll be right back." Eden slid from her chair, pure curiosity being her only motive as she approached the painting and pushed it open. There was no one there. Eden frowned, scanning the corridor for any sign of the intruder. Her gaze caught on a head of brown hair, disappearing around the corner.

Eden dashed down the hall, stopping carefully at the corner to peer around into the next corridor. It was Pansy Parkinson who strode away with her back to Eden--and her nose, which was usually tilted arrogantly up towards the ceiling, now hung low--looking to the tiled floor.

"What are you doing?"

Draco's footsteps echoed around the stone walls and Eden spun to face him. "I heard a noise." She shrugged. "Okay?" Draco raised his brows. "We live in a school of magic, dumbass. You know, with students and professors and other things that make noises?" Draco called after Eden as she slipped back into the kitchens without another word.