Sketchbook ~ George Weasley

Chapter 37 - Malfoy's Proclamation

There was little I could do as I walked towards my potion class. I itched at my hands that ached to draw again. I yearned for the feeling almost, but I knew it wasn't me. I know it's that book. I can't control it, I'm not sure how long its grip will last on me, but I hope it's soon.

I take my usual seat between Malfoy and Hermione, noticing the pitying look in Hermione's eyes. "Don't look at me like that," I say.

"Have you gotten any sleep at all?" Hermione asks, refusing to follow my request.

"Not really," I say. "Fred and George, they know now, by the way."

"I was wondering when you were going to tell them."

"I didn't want to drag them into this," I wince. "I didn't want to drag anyone into this at all."

"We're your friends, Paige," Hermione says softly. "We want to help you." She almost reached out her hand but pulled back with hesitation, probably not knowing the best way to comfort someone.

"If you're finished droning on about your useless nonsense, I would like to begin my class," Snape said, facing the chalkboard, yet somehow never losing the range of his voice as it flowed across the classroom, silencing the students. "Today we'll be making the Pepperup Potion, thanks to Professor Sprout as there has been an abundance of the mandrake crop this year. I will not keep you as you should have read about this potion. You may get your supplies." He waves us off, and I could have sworn gave me a glare in the meantime, but perhaps I've just been paranoid lately.

As per usual I go grab the supplies whilst his majesty sits, waiting for me to come back. I can't complain all that much, though, since my potions grades have never been as good as they are now. While he might be a pretentious ass, he is damn good at potions.

I start to slice the mandrake root when on key I get a glare from Malfoy.

"What am I doing wrong this time?" I begrudgingly halt my movements and look toward the blonde-haired boy.

"Where did you get that?" Malfoy says.

"From the back of the classroom, where else would I have gotten it?"

"No, not the mandrake root, you dimwit. That!" Malfoy says, nodding towards me. For the first time, I noticed that his eyes weren't trailing down towards my hands but were fixated around my neck. I flung my hand up and grasped at the pendent that hung around my neck and noticed it slipping over my collar.

"It was a gift," I say. "And it doesn't concern you." I move my hands back to the mandrake root after tucking the necklace away again.

"It does concern me if you're a thief," Draco points out.

"What?" I say, my hands halting once again.

"My mother has the same one so you can tell it's real. So the only way that you'd be able to get one is by stealing it," Malfoy said. "But I suppose it could have been a gift from one of your many conquests." He shrugged and pulled the mandrake root away from me, starting to slice it in the opposite manner that I had been.

"Excuse me?" I said. "Conquests?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes as if it were obvious. "What? Thought the new girl could date around and not have people notice? Diggory, Potter, and those dastardly twins. I suppose the ones with taste you're keeping hidden since I know none of them could afford that necklace."

"T-they're not, there's nothing like that going on," I say. "Who's saying this?"

"Who isn't?" He shrugged again, seemingly bored of the topic now. "Can you start on the Jewelweed already? We're going to fall behind because of you."