They call me a criminal

Chapter 74

Draco eventually sighed, "you should probably get back before they start to worry." I bit my lip, "what's everyone going to think if I disappear? That I'm a coward?" He looked at me in shock, "Clara, no one would think that. Believe me. Everyone knows how fucking brave you are, how much you've been through. Even Slytherin likes you. And all these people would understand why you want to leave." I met his eyes, "that's not how Harry will see it." Draco sighed, "Clara, you're strong. There's no doubt about that. But you're not the chosen one, Harry is. He will understand." I bit my lip, "he's going to have to."

Draco tipped my chin up rubbing his fingers down my face, "I missed you. And I know you don't want me, but I can't live knowing that I might not see you again." I took a moment to reflect on what he said and then leaned forward crashing my lips into his. I pushed him back onto the ground crawling on top of him. I smiled as his hands ran roughly through my hair and he held me close. "I've got nothing less to lose being with you Draco." He laughed, "at least you finally admitted it."

He walked me back to the common room and I let him place a small kiss on my lips as I entered the common room. "Clara," Harry sighed rushing towards me. "Where have you been?" Hermione asked with her hands on her hips. I stepped back, "I was just on a walk." Harry pulled me down onto the couch, "we need to talk to you about something." Ron shook his head, "more like someone." I looked up at Harry as he began to talk, "Draco, we think he's a death eater." This hit me like a brick, "why do you think that?" Hermione leaned forward, "we saw him in Diagon Alley, he didn't exactly look innocent." I narrowed my eyebrows, "that doesn't prove anything. We can't go around assuming everyone is death eaters, we have bigger things to worry about." Harry sighed, "it was just odd, that's all."

The next morning I woke up before everyone else and made my way down to breakfast, I quietly thanked god that no one was in the common room and hurried out into the hallway. "You've been sleeping awhile." I turned and saw Draco sitting behind a post. I reached out my hand pulling him up with me, "I'm catching up on lost sleep. A few years of it." He smiled pushing a piece of hair past my ear. "Let's eat. Follow me." I looked around before accepting his hand and following him the opposite direction of the great hall.

He opened up a broom closet pulling me inside and I smiled when I saw a plate for each of us. "Don't expect this everyday," he said while pulling out my stool. I stared down at the food finding comfort in the fact that at least Draco understood. He knew I couldn't be with Harry and them much, it would be to painful. I whipped around and hugged him burying my head in his shoulder, "thank you Draco". I sighed in relief as his hands ran down my back. "Don't thank me, just eat something." I picked up a piece of toast taking small bites choosing to sit on Draco's lap rather than on my own chair. "It seems like you actually like me Clara." I bit my lip, "don't be crazy."

"I need to get to class," I eventually whispered standing up. He nodded, "you got this." I dragged my feet down the halls keeping my eyes glued to the floor. Not much has changed since past years the people here still turned heads as I walked by. Some tried to hide it and others didn't even bother. I quickly found my spot beside Hermione in potions glancing over at her potion in order to know what we were supposed to be making.

"Where were you this morning?" I shrugged, "I ate early." I lifted my head as I saw Harry and Ron entered the classroom. "I didn't think they were taking potions?" Hermione bit her lip, "neither did I."

I returned my eyes to my potion rolling my eyes as Professor Slughorn stared in awe at Harry's potion. "Are they in love or something?" I whispered causing Ron to burst out in a laugh, even Hermione tried to hide hers.

I kept my eyes glued to the ground even as Slughorn stood directly behind me. "Clara." I sighed turning around to face him. "I must say I find you most interesting." I had to fight every bone in my body to not roll my eyes. "It's good to meet you." I forced myself to extend my hand, "You too, sir." He smiled, "I hope one day soon we can discuss what's happened to you. It's truly fascinating." I set my textbook down harder then I meant to and glared at him, "I don't really like to speak about what's happened. It doesn't take a genius to understand those might be a tough subject for one to just bring up in a casual conversation." I pushed past him into the hallway  letting the door slam behind me.