|| Star-Crossed ||

47

High

3 MONTHS LATER
CAROLINE POTTER

It's been 3 months and things at school are going so much better than I could have hoped. I'm doing great in all my classes. Max is hanging out with Parker more and he's happy. I've grown closer with Blaise and Enzo and Theo and we're great friends now. And Draco and I. We aren't back together but something changed. I stay with him almost every night. Sometimes we have sex and sometimes we don't. But it's nice to have him back. I missed him. Though it feels different. Not just because we aren't dating, Draco himself is different. He's always tired, he's falling behind in classes, he misses meals, he comes to bed at odd hours and he just acts strange. Cagey, like he's hiding something or he's afraid of something. I don't know what it is.

"C!" I was sitting in the library catching up on some homework when Harry, Ron and Hermione came in. "Hi guys," I said. "We're heading to The Three Broomsticks. Do you want to come?" Harry asked. "Sure, why not?" I said. I grabbed my coat and we began to walk to Hogsmeade. "Who's the Half-Blood Prince?" I asked. "It's the owner of Harry's potions textbook." Hermione said. "So that's how you've been getting such good grades?" I said. Hermione nodded. "Hey!? I'm smart," Harry said. I scoffed. "Yeah right," I said. They laughed. "Anyway, I went to-" Hermione started. "The Library?" we all said. She looked at us with a glare. "Yes. And there was no reference anywhere to the Half-Blood Prince," she said. "He doesn't exist?" Ron asked. "Or someone wants you to think that," I said. They nodded. "Did you check the restricted section?" I asked. Hermione smirked at me. "Of course you did. I don't know why I even asked?" I said with a chuckle. She nodded. "There wasn't anything there either," she said. "Strange," I said. "Maybe it's a joke or a made up name?" Ron suggested. "Yeah, wouldn't be the first time a Hogwarts student used an alias," I said. They looked at me in confusion. I raised my eyebrows. "Really, guys? Prongs, Moony, Padfoot, Wormtail?" I said. "Ohhhh," Ron said. "Good point," Harry added. I nodded. Then we arrived at The Three Broomsticks. We went inside and sat down. "4 butterbeers, please," Harry said. The woman nodded and left. "Oh Bloody hell," Ron said. I turned around and Ginny and Dean were sitting behind us. I looked at Harry and he looked down. I felt awful. I knew he liked her and now he had to watch them snog. "Harry-" I started. "I don't care," he snapped. I nodded. "What?" Hermione said. Ron and her looked at us but I shook my head. "Nothing," Harry said. We started to drink our butterbeers and talk and I saw Draco walk in. My eyes lit up and I smiled. Hermione looked at me and chuckled. "Go ahead," she said. "No, it's alright. I'm here with you guys and-" I started. "Go, it's fine. Harry's about to interrogate Slughorn anyway." Hermione said. I nodded and stood up. I went over to Draco and tapped his shoulder. "Draco," I said with a smile. He whipped around and his face dropped. "What are you doing here?" he exclaimed. His voice was full of distress and fear. "I'm here with Harry, Ron and Hermione. We are having a butterbeer. You can join us or we can sit together if you want-" I started. "No! You need to go. Leave!" he said sharply. My face fell. "Why? What's going on?" I asked. His face went stone cold. "I don't want to be seen with you." he spat. I stepped back and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "Fine then, but you can find someone else to keep your bed warm at night!" I spat back. I grabbed my coat and rushed out. I ran all the way back to Hogwarts. I was heading down the hall when I saw Blaise. I walked over to him and he smiled. "Hello, gorgeous. How are you on this fine day?" he asked. "Not good, do you want to get high?" I asked. He looked at me strangely. "You...Caroline Potter...want to get high?" he asked. "Yes. Now let's go." I said. I grabbed his hand and we walked to Theo's dorm. He knocked and Theo opened it. "Do you have any herb?" he asked as we walked in. "Come on in," he mumbled. He shut the door and went through his drawer. "What's got you so upset, Caroline?" Blaise asked. I shrugged. Theo rolled a joint and lit it with his wand. He took a hit, then Blaise did and he passed it to me. "Just inhale slowly," he said. I inhaled and coughed as the smoke filled my lungs. Soon enough, I felt high. Everything felt warm and I couldn't stop laughing. "This was a bad idea," Theo said. I laughed. "If Harry knew, he'd avada kedavra me!' I said. Blaise chuckled. I pointed my finger at Blaise and waved it around. "Avada Kedavra!" I said. "Potter, that's not a wand, it's your finger," he said. I laughed again. Then Draco walked in. "Theo, I need to talk to you." he said. He was out of breath. Theo stood up and rushed over. "Are you ok?" he asked. "Not now, I'll tell you later." he said. Theo nodded. "What is she doing here?" he asked. "Avada Kedavra!" I said laughing as I rolled on the floor. Draco's face dropped. "Is she high? Did you guys get her high?" Draco exclaimed. "Whoops," I said. Draco sighed. "Just great," he mumbled.