Devotion

Chapter 5

"You kissed him?!" Pansy yelled, a bit too loudly for my liking.

"Pansy, shush!" I whisper-shouted, glancing frantically around the room. Luckily, everyone was too invested in their breakfast and conversations to notice.

"Sorry, but Salazar! He rarely kisses anyone, and he snogged you on the first night! I'm impressed!"

I raised my eyebrow at her. "Really?" I asked. I might be new, but I'd seen the looks he got from girls in the hall.

"Well I mean, he shags plenty, but he never kisses them on the mouth as he did to you. He saves that for when he's really into someone," she corrected.

"I suppose that makes sense. But how do you know this?"

She laughed. "It's common knowledge for everyone here. And I had a bit of an obsession with him when I was younger. But don't you worry, I've been over that a while now," she assured.

I glanced down the table in Draco's direction. He and three other boys were laughing over something. I sighed, turning back to Pansy.

"What else do you know about him? I barely know anything."

She thought for a moment, thinking over her next words. "I can't tell you everything, as that's his story to tell. But I can say that you're probably going to hear a lot of bad things about him, and what he did. But you must remember, that his parents influenced almost everything that he did, and he has a good heart. He's trying to change, much like I am, and most of this house, in fact."

I nodded, glancing down the table again. Draco was still talking with his friends.

"So how is it with your partner? Who were you matched with?" I questioned, redirecting my full attention to her.

She smiled as she answered, "Theodore Nott."

"What's he like?" I prodded further.

"Oh, he's wonderful. We've known each other since we were kids, and he's always been kind to me. It's just odd trying to transition from friends to lovers. I feel like with time we would be able to, but we're getting barely any."

"I'm glad I'm not alone in that feeling. At least you're a step ahead of me, though. You know the person you're marrying," I said with a sigh.

"Are you kidding? That just makes this harder! Now I have to view the person I've known for years as my husband and lover instead of my friend. Whereas you've already kissed your guy! You'll be at the next stage in no time."

"I wish it was as easy as you make it sound," I muttered.

"EVELYN!!" I heard shouting from across the hall, making me jump in my seat. I turned to see Hermione angrily storming towards me.

Once she reached me, she grabbed my arm and pulled me out of my seat, her grip a bit too strong. "Hermione, let go!" I yelled, trying to pull my arm free.

"What the bloody hell are you doing, sitting at that table with her?!" She turned to face me once we were out of the Great Hall, fury in her expression.

"What do you mean, she's my friend—" I defended, still trying to tug myself from her grip.

"No, she's not. It's bad enough you got stuck with Draco Malfoy, but there's no way I'm letting my sister be pals with Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin house."

Now I grew irritated. "It's not up to you who my friends are, I will hang out with who I want! Now leave me alone!" I retorted.

"Yes, leave her alone!" Pansy added, catching up to us and pulling out her wand.

Faster than lightning, Hermione had cast a spell at her, and Pansy toppled to the ground, stiff as a board.

"Pansy!" I cried, finally breaking free of my sister's grip to kneel beside my friend. "How dare you!" I said from the ground, glaring at Hermione. I quickly examined Pansy to see she was alright, and was able to tell that it was just the body-bind curse.

Once I knew she was safe, I stood up, turning to face my sister. "What the hell is wrong with you?! It's none of your business who I hang out with!""

"I'm protecting you sis, can't you see that?" she pleaded.

"Oh, don't start this again. I don't want or need all this protection, Hermione! I am going to be friends with Pansy, and there's nothing you can do to stop it!" I told her.

"You're going to do as I say, Evelyn," Hermione ordered, raising her wand at me. My eyes widened, and I heard gasps behind me. I hadn't realized we had an audience before now.

But I stood my ground. "No. I'm done being bossed around by you Hermione."

Her wand was shaking with emotion, when to my horror, a spell shot out of it. In a split second, I felt a deep pain flare up in my arm. I cried out in pain and sank to the ground.

Within the next minute Draco was at my side, muttering spell after spell. First cutting the cloth away from my arm, he cleaned some of the blood and I saw a deep gash in my upper arm that made me feel sick. Bandages soon got wrapped around it.

"Take her to Pomfrey's, Mr. Malfoy. I'll talk with Miss Granger and then come see you two," I heard an older woman's voice order.

"Right you are, Professor McGonagall." I felt myself get lifted up by a pair of strong arms, and though my vision was slightly blurred from the pain, I saw my sister with a look of horror on her face.

"I swear I didn't mean to cast a spell, I don't know what happened," I heard her plead to anyone listening.