Pureblood

The Restricted Section

I shot up and looked around to find everyone still asleep in their beds. I held my chest to calm myself down before quietly slipping out of bed, I checked the clock on my way through the Slytherin common room, 4:30am. "well an early start is better than a late one" I whispered to myself. "who are you talking to?" A familiar voice said from behind one of the large armchairs sitting in front of the fireplace. I turned quickly, shocked that anyone else would be up at this hour. platinum blond hair rose from the chair and as he turned to face me. "oh Draco, you scared me." I  said truthfully, I was glad to see someone I've already met, though he did give me a fright. "nobody calls me Draco, besides my mum and dad." he said with a sneer. "Sorry I just like that better than Malfoy." I saw a slight smile from on the side of his mouth, "I like the way you say it though, Draco it is." I smiled, that seemed to be the first bit of actual kindness he's shown me. "why are you awake this early?" I asked. "I like the quiet, no gits making fools of themselves at this hour." he said as he slid his hands in his pockets. he was wearing black slacks and a black turtleneck, he looked quite dapper. "I do too." I responded with a smile. "well, sit" he said as if it were obvious. I joined him by the fireplace with the seemingly ever burning fire. I watched it flicker in his piercing blue eyes for a moment before staring at it myself. "How come you don't seem to know anything about your family?" he asked abruptly. I wasn't sure what to say, but for some reason I felt I could trust him. "I've only just found out I'm a Gaunt, my mum hasn't told me much about about my dad's side of the family." He looked surprised "You mean you don't know who the Gaunts are?" I felt my cheeks flush red. "No, but I'm hoping I'll find out more while I'm here." he laughed softly, "well I can tell you it's one of the most powerful wizard families, all of them Slytherins of course." I turned my eyes to the floor, I think he could tell I was embarrassed. "there's plenty about them in the library, in the restricted section." I looked at him a bit surprised, he had struck me as a bit of a goody two shoes. "Really?" I said, "that sounds promising, but if it's restricted doesn't that mean we're not allowed?" "Well yeah, but if you know how, it's easy to go and not get caught." he stood up from the chair and extended his hand to me. "Well come on then." I placed my hand in his, pale and soft, like he'd never done a bit of hard labor in his life. He led us out of the common room in silence, through the halls and corridors and down the grand staircase, never breaking his grip. When we reached the library he pulled me a bit closer, and said with a whisper, ''we'll have to be discreet, Peeves tends to linger around here, bloody poltergeist always looking to get students in trouble." "Okay then." I said and smiled at him. 

He cracked the door and we slipped inside, I followed him along the edges of the library, the familiar smell of old parchment and the bookcases lit only by the moonlight and the lonesome enchanted candle. We reached the large gated section of the library, he pulled out his wand and muttered a spell. "Alohamora." And the lock clicked open, he placed his finger over his lips in a shushing motion as he gestured for me to enter. He led us to a section all about the history of Slytherin house, I couldn't help but wonder why it was locked away, what was so bad about Slytherin anyways. As he searched the bookshelf for the book he had promised me I heard what sounded like a sinister chuckle. I gasped and turned to see what had made the noise, snd he quickly pulled me close to him from behind with his hand over my mouth. I felt my heart racing, from the fear yes, but also from being held like this from him. I could smell his cologne and feel his heart beating against me back, I grabbed his wrists in anticipation of the ghost called 'Peeves' "I know you're in here!" an annoying high pitched voice rang out echoing through the library. "Come out come out wherever you are!" he said in a sing song-y tone. we hadn't moved an inch, let out a single peep when out of nowhere Peeves flew up in front of us from the floorboards. Draco gripped tightly onto me and pulled us both back. Peeves, floating high above us laughing said, "Oh Mr. Malfoy, Snape won't be happy to hear you were in the restricted section, let alone with a girl." "Oh piss off Peeves, Im helping her research. Surely Snape will understand our academic pursuit." Draco barked. "Hmm perhaps I'll tell professor mcgonagal then!" he said with a giggle before flying out of the library through the ceiling. "Bloody git." He said, annoyed. Neither of us has noticed he was still holding onto me until now, he let go gently and grabbed a book before heading toward the exit. "I'm sorry Draco, if I hadn't gasped me probably wouldn't have found us." I said following him. "Not to worry love, he would have found us anyway." 'Love' I hadn't heard him be that kind to anyone, let alone a girl he barely knew, but I couldn't help but feel the butterflies in my stomach as he said it.

We made our way back to the common room. "Here" he said and handed the book to me, "this should tell you at least a bit about who you are." I grasped the book timidly, before finding the bravery to ask him, "Draco, why have you helped me, why are. you being so kind?" He smirked his signature smirk, "not sure actually, doesn't hurt that you're a Gaunt but, I like you Zara." I was taken aback as we stared at each other for a moment. "well thank you, for everything." he smiled and I hugged him tightly. I let go and told him "we'd probably better go get ready for the day, Im guessing Peeves intends to act of his promise to inform professor Macgonagal." He nodded and off we went back to our rooms. I couldn't believe what had just happened, everything we had done, just to get some answers.

I made my way back to my room to change and prepare for what trouble Draco had gotten me into. At least if I was to face some demise I'd be with him, but for now I had classes to think about, and a new book to tell me more about who I am.