Inferno | Draco Malfoy

026 | Gentle Touch

"No he's not! Get your eyes checked."

When will the day of peace arrive in the Great Hall?

I'm eating my breakfast like a normal person, like the majority of people do, why the hell are Pansy and Tracey arguing over the top ten most handsome wizards ranked by Witch Weekly? Personally, I think Benjy Williams is superior to all the other men. He's ranked third. Of course, Gilderoy Lockhart has been ranked first once again. Overrated wizard, what's so good about him?

Tracey is team Lockhart and defending him as Pansy argues that he doesn't deserve the top spot. Tracey compares Lockhart's smile to the sun which just sounds ridiculous.

Okay, so what if he has blond hair and perfectly straight teeth, we don't know the man personally. He could have the worst attitude known to mankind. Not as bad as Malfoy, that's impossible.

All the witches seem to love Lockhart's smile as he's won the "Most Charming Smile" award from Witch Weekly more than once. He was a teacher here; Lockhart had taught Defence Against the Dark Arts before I came. He left because he'd gotten into some accident that resulted in him losing his memory.

Lockhart is now at St Mungo's Hospital where he is being pampered and is still as "handsome" as ever.

As the two girls argue and attack each other verbally, Tracey gets up from beside me and shoves herself next to Pansy so they can rearrange the list of wizards. This leaves a free space next to me and a lovely Gryffindor takes this as an invitation to sit. Nothing wrong with mixing students at tables but this is still rather odd as most people see Slytherin as threats.

"Good morning, how are you?" McLaggen smiles.

Good before you came along chi mochyn.

I'm joking.

"Good."

Our conversation is surprisingly pleasant, let's just ignore some of the stares we are getting.

He's finally not talking about Quidditch or the Ministry but he is talking about Transfiguration. He's smart, no doubt he will pass his exams this year.

As I finish my breakfast, I turn around to face him fully.

He has a golden watch with brown straps, designer and probably handed down from his father. I heard that Mr McLaggen is great in the Ministry of Magic. That might explain why Cormac McLaggen himself can be self-assertive. In the sunlight, his naturally bright skin has a warmer hue. His dark hazel eyes turn a light and pale brown mixed in with a deep mossy green. His dirty blond curly hair turns to a golden, honey-blond.

I wouldn't call him attractive but, he's not horrid.

"What else are you taking for your exams?" I ask.

But, without even a slight warning, McLaggen catches my off guard when he grabs a tissue, raises my chin and wipes my face.

Embarrassment and if not mortification takes over my body. I was raised better than to have food dangle out of my mouth.

I can't even bring myself to meet his eyes through the terrible feeling of discomfort as I feel his eyes focus on me. His warm thumb is resting on my chin, below my bottom lip. His index finger is underneath my chin, lifting my face upwards.

At least he isn't grabbing my cheeks or pinching me like Malfoy had done so previously.

He's being gentle with my face.

"Are we all interrupting something?" My eyes meet Blaise. He raises an eyebrow at us, not nicely either, more scornfully.

"Not at all." McLaggen removes the tissue and his touch away from me, he smiles at Blaise as I wish to be buried underground from all my embarrassment.