˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ unexpected - h.p.

Chapter 14 - Bleeding

I ignored Draco after that. I wasn't sure how to talk to him, not after I'd gotten so mad. I rarely ever lost my cool. I still hadn't figured out why Draco had made me so mad. The more sensible side of my brain was telling me it was Harry being there, as if I'd felt I had to stand up for him - but I really hoped it wasn't true. I couldn't risk becoming close with Harry, not with how my friends - and most of the school - felt about him currently. I felt so guilty for two reasons; knowing I wouldn't be able to get any closer with Harry and how unnerved Draco had become since my outburst.

I was still annoyed at Draco, though I badly wanted him to return to my old brother figure, my best friend.

Draco seemed eager to do this too because on Thursday night's Quidditch practise he acted like it had never happened.

"Lola!" Draco called when I reached the pitch ten minutes late.

I jogged over to him, praying he wouldn't be mad.

"You're late," Draco smirked.

A wave of relief crashed over me. I knew Draco could hold grudges but he seemed to have dropped it for me.

"Sorry sir," I answered, smirking back.

He looked relieved that I had dropped the mad act. Draco winked and pulled me to where my team was sitting on the grass, brooms at their sides. Theo raised his eyebrows at me.

"What happened to being mad at Malfoy?" Theo teased. "Is he back to being your fake boyfriend now?"

I rolled my eyes and sat on the grass in between Blaise and Graham. Draco laughed loudly.

"Lola wishes," Draco jeered. "Anyway, are we going to sit here for another ten minutes or actually go practice?"

Theo leapt into action after that.

It wasa good practice, I didn't have to worry about playing my best in front of Harry because he didn't show up. Not once in the full three hours. Part of me was slightly upset he didn't, the other relieved.

★

In Care of Magical Creatures, we were all surprised to enter the forest clearing and see Hagrid. He looked just as tall, but he was badly bruised, his face swollen and covered in purple and yellow bruises. Dried blood stained his torn skin from his left eye to his chin. He was grinning at us all, though I could bet only Harry, Hermione and Ron were grinning back.

"Look! The oaf's got himself all bloodied up!" Draco laughed, pointing at Hagrid's injured face.

"Shit, he looks bad," Pansy muttered, her eyes wide in alarm.

"Where did he go? Hey! Maybe he fought in one of those giant wars Binns was telling us about," Blaise suggested, a smug smirk spread across his face.

We dumped our bags and very cautiously walked towards Hagrid.

"Ello students!" Hagrid boomed happily. "I've got a great lesson for you today."

"What happened to your face?" Draco asked bravely.

"Thas' none of yer business," Hagrid replied sternly.

Draco pulled at face at our half-giant professor and rolled his eyes.

"Right follow me, they like the dark, these ones," Hagrid declared, turning his back to us and stomping off.

Many worried glances were exchanged from the class. Draco's eyebrows went up.

"Did he just say 'likes the dark?'" Draco repeated slightly worriedly.

"You're not scared, are you?" I mocked.