Blood to Love | 5th year

11- A Complex Kiss

I was sitting in my usual seat in Transfiguration when Professor McGonagall informed us that we would be performing a creative spell.

"As you can see, I have placed tea kettles in front of each partner pair. One at a time, you will turn these said teapots into something you treasure dearly. It could be a piece of jewelry or any sort of knickknack that you are fond of. The spell pronunciation and wand movement is on page 188 of your textbooks. Note that this might be in your O.W.L's, so pay close attention."

Because Draco and I were a pair, I allowed him to go first. He practiced the spell a few times on his own before performing it shakily on the tea kettle. In an instant, the tea kettle shrunk and a familiar necklace fell gracefully onto the table in its place. I leaned in slightly to see what was on it but he picked it up quickly and changed it back, seemingly embarrassed.

Without further questions, I did the spell myself, curious to see what the tea kettle would transform into. Draco watched intensely as the tea kettle spun into a rose. I picked it up quickly just as he did and changed it back to a tea kettle. We made eye contact for a moment until I tore my gaze from him and filled out the parchment we were asked to do after performing the task.

My mind had a strand of thoughts running through it. A rose? Really, Y/n? And in front of Draco? The rose he gifted me long ago was still in the back of my mind, evidently. It was the symbol — the symbol that I would never be a burden to Draco. He's quite a burden to me now.

I stopped fighting battles in my mind and left the room as soon as I could, partnering with Ernie Macmillan for our project in History of Magic. For once, I completed my work rather than slept in class. But that was only because I would've felt bad leaving Ernie with an entire project due the following day.

My pocket began heating up and I discreetly checked it, noticing another D.A meeting after dinner. I shoved the coin back where it was and finished the project with Ernie in which we would present tomorrow. Ernie was pleased with the finish project, as was I, and we headed out side by side, departing in the hallway without many words.

The freetime in between dinner was hectic, I caught Ron in the hallway looking miserable. He walked very fast-paced in repeated circles around the school. When I finally caught up to him, I was out of breath.

"Ron, what — is — going on?" I asked.

"Nothing."

"Come on. We're friends."

"Hermione is so consumed in those bloody books that she won't even speak to me anymore. I was sitting with her in the library and asked her a question and she just ignored me! I thought nothing of it at first, and then my mind went into a spiral and now I think she is ignoring me on purpose."

"Maybe she didn't hear you. Did you ever think to ask again?"

His jaw loosened slightly. "No."

"You can be so thick sometimes."

He thanked me and then walked away, hopefully going to talk to Hermione, making me chuckle at his overreaction.

On my way back to my dorm, I noticed Pansy and Blaise talking on the common room couch. It seemed as though they were arguing. Their voices grew louder and people around the room turned their heads towards the noise, rumors already beginning to spread.