Challenged Love

Chapter 8

If it were not for the limited amount of sleep I received the night before, I may have not gotten any last night. My mind had been consumed by my vexatious thoughts right before I drifted off to sleep and for all of this l morning. I woke up at 8:30 AM, since Narcissa was not picking me up until 10 AM. Therefore, I was allowed to get a few extra hours of sleep. I slowly rolled out of bed, and began getting dressed, except this morning, unlike every morning, I was not getting dressed for a normal day of school.

What exactly does one wear to meet two vicious Death Eaters in the hospital?

I decided in the end that perhaps a pair of brown pants, a white-collared shirt, and a blue sweater vest would be appropriate enough. I then topped off the outfit with the pink jacket I politely stole from Hermione and a random pair of sneakers. As I was brushing my bangs, I randomly thought about where Draco would be at this time. When I checked the time on my clock, I concluded that he would be heading to Charms by now, meanwhile, I was heading to possibly meet my doom. Although, I am not sure what my parents could do while laying helpless in a hospital bed, yet I still refrained from underestimating them. Even in there weakened state, I was still somewhat afraid of them, but what choice did I have?

I never actually even had the chance to explain to Draco what had happened or to simply say goodbye. However, I could do nothing at the moment. All I could do was hold onto the fact that he would be here when I returned to Hogwarts.

My mind began to whirl at the thought of our kissing. I do not know what I was thinking, or if I was even thinking at all. He was drawing me towards his body, but not with magic. He was whispering my name, but not with his tongue. He was silently mesmerizing me with the want in his gaze and the softness of his lips. Something about it had felt foolish, wrong in all unforgettable ways. I had once seen Draco as an enemy, though it never felt fully so. Now I look upon him as a friend, except it still does not seem quite right. However, my question is why did I suddenly have this feeling of desire for Draco?

Perhaps I knew the reason, but yet I was acting more cowardly than the people who refuse to believe that You-Know-Who is back.

I tried not to let this consume me. Later on, I met Narcissa at the very front doors of Hogwarts, where Dumbledore was also.

"Remember, Holly," he placed a wrinkled hand on my shoulder, "soften your heart, and open your mind."

Narcissa then offered her hand to me, which I wearily took.

Despite Dumbledore's wording, I decided upon a much different philosophy.

Guard your heart, and watch your back.

Suddenly, Hogwarts swarmed away from view, and Narcissa and I were now standing in front of a bright red, phone booth, which was one of the many entrances to the Ministry of Magic. I proposed to feel a little befuddled since I thought we were going to the hospital as Dumbledore said.

"We must meet with someone first," Narcissa explained as if reading my mind like a book.

I did not dare question her, but followed suite after her into the phone booth. I fidgeted nervously with the necklace around my neck as me and Narcissa squeezed into the phone booth together. After stepping inside, it began descending down into the ground like a lift (elevator), bringing us to the busy halls of the Ministry of Magic. I then trailed behind Narcissa, walking down several hallways until we came to a certain lift (elevator) with a sign beside it reading:

DEPARTMENT OF DARK MAGIC

As perplexed as I was, I still refused to bring attention to the numerous questions I had developed in only a matter of six minutes. We were in the Department of Dark Magic, which was not exactly a good sign to say the least. I did not understand exactly what this meant, but it surely had nothing to do with something pleasant.