BAD INTENTIONS - [D.M.]

Nine

Aliya's POV
Hogwarts - November 1996

I am straightening my hair when it knocks. I bet it's Daphne. After all, she maybe wants to get ready together. "Come in," I yell. I watch the door open in my mirror. "Theo?"
"Hey," he smirks. Maybe Daphne was right.
"What do you want?" I ask and go back to my hair.
"Some Slytherins and I are pre-drinking in a few minutes in the common room, you wanna come?"
"Yeah, sounds fun. Be there in a few minutes," I say casually, at least I try to. He nods and smiles at me. He is an asshole, yes, but he is still really hot.

I pull my dress down as I walk down the stairs into the common room. I prayed that Pansy won't be there, but of course, I spot her face first. She sits on Malfoy's lap. "Who invited her?" She giggles to him loud enough so that anyone hears her.
"Aliya, sit with me," smiles Theo. He pushes Goyle away to make space for me. I smile awkwardly in the round. "What do you want to drink?"
"Vodka."
"Uh, I can work with that," he chuckles and picks up the bottle. "How was your way back?" I glance over to Malfoy. Smoke escapes his mouth. His jaw clenches at the mention of the train ride and glances back at me.
"Interesting, but I slept most time," I mumble, still looking at Malfoy. Theo hands me the glass.
"What was interesting? Your ugly face in the mirror?" Mocks Pansy. I lean back, knowing what I am about to say will ruin her night.
"No, my conversation with your little boyfriend." Another girl in the round gasps. Pansy glances offended at Malfoy. He looks mad at me. I smile and take a sip of my drink. I watch Pansy push herself off of Malfoy's lap, the girl who gasped follows her, probably to comfort the crying baby.
"Moving on," scoffs Theo, "What about a little round truth or dare?" I remain quiet, I hope without Veritaserum. Everyone else agrees, but no one mentions Veritaserum.

"Theo, kiss the prettiest girl in the room," laughs Goyle like he is a mastermind for making up this dare. We are half an hour into this game. I am tipsy, yes, but not as drunk as Theo. I look around to see who Theo is going to choose. Pansy and the other girl returned by now and are sadly a part of the game. I wait for him to move off the couch, but instead, I feel his finger on my chin. Please, don't.
"No, Theo, I think you are a little tipsy," I giggle nervously and push him away a little.
"Oh, come on," he whispers. I keep backing up, but he doesn't give up.
"No, Theo, really-" This feels like a Déjà-vu. Holy shit, someone help me, please.
"Dude, she said no," mutter Blaise behind me.
"A kiss won't hurt," he keeps getting closer.
"No, really-" I try to push him away, but he is too heavy.
"Theo, back the fuck up!" Draco shouts and pulls him away from me.
"What are you? Her fucking bodyguard?" Yells Pansy in her high-pitched voice.
"Yeah, what the fuck, man?" Slurs Theo in his words.
"I am done playing," I mumble and head to the door. It's getting late anyway. The door falls into its lock behind me. I still hear them arguing. I take a deep breath. I don't want to cry. I can't cry. My makeup. Shit. A tear runs down my left cheek. Another one down my right. I need fresh air before I go to the actual party.

Draco's POV

"I am gonna go outside now, smoke a cigarette, take Draco with me, and you, Theo, you think about a way to apologize," announces Blaise and tromps to the door. I follow with my head down. We don't talk on our way up the stairs, he just looks back at me and watches out if someone is coming behind us. He leans against the wall in the courtyard. It's his usual place to stand. "Admit it," he mumbles to me.
"What?" I ask as I light up my cigarette.
"You like her."
"I don't."
"I bet you would say that after Veritaserum," he chuckles. "You can tell me."
"I do not like her," I repeat.
"Bullshit, I see the way you look at her. You protect her. You care about her."
"I don't," I mutter angrily.
"Draco, I know you hate that you feel this way, but-"
"Shut up! Honestly, Blaise, mind your own fucking business. I don't like that girl. Baker and I have nothing in common. If you talk about shit like this and keep making it up, I'll kill you? We good?"
"Yeah, yeah, right," he laughs.
"What?"
"You act all tough, all cold, use Pansy as stress relief, like she is a fucking toy, but all you want to be is Ioved. Tell me I am wrong, Draco," he provokes me.
I pause but eventually answer, "You are wrong."
"I don't believe you-"
"I don't care what you believe! Mind. Your. Fucking. Business." Blaise looks down at his shoes. I know he is smiling to himself. This is ridiculous. I step on the cigarette and turn on my heels.
"Hey, Draco, wait! That's not how I meant it!" Fuck you, Blaise. Fuck everyone in this shitty school.

I walked far away from him, far away from everyone. I hear music. It's only 9 pm and so much happened tonight. I sit on a bench outside. It's freezing, but I don't care. I watch the fog in front of my face as I exhale. If I keep doing this for another minute I hope I'll be calm enough to finally go to the actual party. I don't want to spend new year's sitting here alone-
"Hey," a voice appeared behind me. I don't need to turn around to see who it is. "Can I sit?"
"Sure," I mumble.
"What are you doing here?" She asks.
"Calming down," I say and finally look at her as she takes a seat next to me.
"Aren't you cold?"
I shake my head. "Are you?"
She nods slightly. "Wanna go back insi-" I stop her from talking by taking my jacket off and putting it around her shoulder. She thanks me quietly. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Go on," I demand.
"Why were you so cold suddenly? You know, after the train ride."
"We agreed to avoid each other, don't you remember?" She nods a little and remains quiet.
"Are you okay? After what happened with Theo," I scoff. She nods again. "You sure?"
"I thought we were avoiding each other, why do you keep asking? Why did you help me?"
"I know, Theo can be an ass, but I won't watch him do such things-"
"No, Malfoy. I want to hear the truth," she tells me.
"What truth? Why I helped you?"
"Yeah, and why are you making sure I am okay?"
"I saw how Adrian brought you down-" I start, but she cuts me off.
"No, still not the truth." She stands up and heads back inside.
I stand up and yell after her, "What do you want to hear from me?"
"Admit it!" She shouts.
"What the fuck am I supposed to admit?" I shout back.
"That you care!" She pauses and exhales loudly. "About me." I stare at her.
"You want me to care about me, don't you?" I ask and take a step toward her.
"No- no, but I know you do." She whispers. I raise an eyebrow, but she turns around again and just leaves. I still stare at the door, hoping she would come back.

Aliya's POV

I still have his jacket around my shoulders. Shit. I look at the watch, it's probably time to finally go to the real party. I need more alcohol. I need a lot of alcohol tonight. I put the jacket down on a random windowsill and go to find Daphne.

"Hey, girl!" Daphne yells in my ear as she hugs me. She is already tipsy, I can tell.
"Sorry about earlier," I mumble in her ear. I hate fighting and even if I did nothing wrong, I feel like I need to apologize.
"Oh no! Don't apologize! It was stupid of me to say such things! Why are you so late?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow, but now, let's get drinks!" I pull her away from Cedric and we find a new glass to fill with alcohol for me. She starts to tell me what happened at the feast, while I scan the room. I spot Theo staring at me from across the room. I quickly look away. I keep looking around to see who is here.
"And then he just threw up, on his plate! Professor McGonagall had to take him to the hospital wing!" Daphne explains. I barely listened to her, I just nodded along with the story. I still have no clue who threw up. I look to the door and see Malfoy walking in with his head down. It doesn't seem like he found his jacket. "Come on, let's go dance!"