Emerald Waters

Chapter Four: Astronomy Tower

It was the morning of Halloween when my parents finally stopped sending me owls daily to make sure my finger and I were in one piece. By now everyone at Hogwarts had heard about my pumpkin disaster. They heard how much blood there was, how Draco had carried me to the hospital wing, and how he didn't leave until I left the next morning. So many rumors were spread. Some that we were now dating and that I was going to ask Dumbledore to be resorted into Slytherin. Totally ridiculous. Some that Draco was the one who cut me and was about to be kicked out of Hogwarts. Even more ridiculous. And some that maybe he was not such a bad person after all. That one wasn't so ridiculous but from what Ive heard, that was the most ridiculous one for Draco. He did not want people thinking he had changed his ways. So for the last week, he hasn't looked in my direction.

I should have known that was a one time fluke thing to happen. That we weren't going to magically be friends, start dating, and live happily ever after. That was a dream of mine that would never come true and I kept my mouth shut about the whole thing. The only person I confided in about any of it was Graham. Who nodded after I finished and gave me warning words of "be careful with him." Graham didn't trust anyone. I knew that. But he didn't tell me to stay away. He didn't tell me to drop it. He just told me to be careful. Which I thought was interesting.

We didn't have classes today. Just a Halloween feast later tonight. I spent my morning in the Great Hall and then Ginny and I walked down to the Quidditch Pitch where the Slytherins and Gryffindors were practicing. We sat in the stands together and Ginny couldn't take her eyes off Harry. And I couldn't take mine off Draco. I had a feeling Ginny knew how I felt about Draco although I did not tell her anything. She fancied Harry too much to even think about another side of Draco. She watched Draco turn into a ferret last week after bothering Harry in front of Professor Moody. Im really glad I didn't see that. But Ginny didn't bother me about any of it, which I was thankful for.

Draco was flying through the air on his broom at lightening speed. I was watching the way his hands were gripping the broom, the look of pure determination on his face, and the smile when he knew he was gaining speed enough to grab the snitch they were practicing with.

I had my Gryffindor scarf around my neck and tucked into my jacket. I slipped on the hat and gloves my dad gave me the beginning of the school year. I definitely needed them now. It started to snow ever so lightly. I looked up at the sky and watched the snow falling around us. Practice was just about to end and all the players started to land their brooms on the cold ground. I watched Draco gracefully land on his feet and carry his broom in his right hand. He was talking with the Slytherins when he looked up into my direction. I wanted to look away so badly but couldn't. He looked at me quickly. A look of desperation in his eyes. Like he wanted to wave or smile or do anything but couldn't. I looked away.

Ginny and I went back up to Gryffindor tower to change before the Halloween feast. I put on a burnt orange colored dress, pulled up my black tights and my black boots. Then I pulled my hair back from my face and put a little makeup on. Halloween was my favorite holiday second to Christmas. Ginny was hoping to sit with Harry tonight. She wanted to talk to him and gushed to me that she couldn't wait to see how dashing he'd look tonight.

Part of me envied her. I wish I could tell her how I couldn't wait to see how Draco looked and how I prayed he'd talk to me tonight. But I couldn't. We walked into the Great Hall and just as we were turning the corner to walk in so was Draco and his friends. I could feel Draco looking at me up and down. Id wondered if he ever even noticed me enough before to see me in something other than my robes. We walked in swiftly and we bumped arms in the commotion. He looked over at me and smiled quickly. "You're looking better than ever" he said to me under his breath. Too quiet for anyone else to hear. I blushed crimson red. I looked up at him and smiled. "Meet me in the astronomy tower? 9pm?" He whispered. I nodded and shot him a smile before anyone could see.