Fractured Hearts | Draco Malfoy

7 ~ So far out of your depth you can barely swim

FRACTURED HEARTS

so far out of your depth you can barely swim

The Gryffindor common room was way too tense for my liking. Seriously, I could practically feel the walls closing in on us. Harry was on one side, Ron on the other, both pretending to focus on their Transfiguration homework but mostly just glaring at their parchments like they might set them on fire with sheer willpower. Hermione, sitting next to me, was furiously scribbling notes, determined to block out the uncomfortable silence that hung over us like a dark cloud.

I leaned over, keeping my voice low. "This is torture. I swear, one wrong move and this place is gonna explode."

Hermione sighed, rubbing her temples. "I know. I can't concentrate with them being so... so ridiculous."

I glanced at Harry, then Ron, and back to her. "You're telling me. How about we ditch this awkward energy and head to the library? At least we'll be able to breathe in there."

Hermione's face lit up like I'd just suggested we go find some rare, magical book together. "Yes, please! I need some peace and quiet."

Without wasting any more time, we gathered up our things. I threw one last look at the boys and rolled my eyes. "Honestly, if you two manage to stop sulking, maybe try actually getting some work done?"

Predictably, neither of them responded, so Hermione and I made our escape. The halls were cool and dim, the perfect antidote to the stuffy tension we'd just left behind. I breathed in deeply, feeling a little more human with every step.

By the time we got to the library, I could practically feel the relief radiating off Hermione. "Merlin's beard," I muttered, plopping down at an empty table in the back. "I love those idiots, but if they don't make up soon, I might actually hex one of them."

Hermione gave a half-hearted laugh as she settled down with her books. "They'll work it out. Eventually."

"Yeah, sure," I said, rolling my eyes as I unrolled my parchment. "But in the meantime, let's get through this Transfiguration nightmare."

We got to work, and for a while, it was just the sound of quills scratching on parchment. Honestly, it was nice. After the tension of the common room, a quiet library was exactly what I needed to get my brain back on track. It wasn't until we'd finally finished McGonagall's endless list of questions that I leaned back in my chair with a satisfied sigh.

"Alright, Transfiguration is done," Hermione announced, stretching like a cat who'd just taken a very long nap. "Ready for Arithmancy?"

"Do we have a choice?" I groaned but reached for my Arithmancy textbook anyway.

We'd barely opened our books when I noticed the atmosphere in the library shift. A few tables over, some girls were suddenly sitting up straighter, their heads turning in one direction. I followed their gaze and nearly choked on my own breath.

Viktor Krum and Alexei, the Durmstrang champions, were walking toward our table. I could feel eyes on us from all around the room. Some girls even shot daggers of pure jealousy in our direction, clearly wishing they were the ones getting attention from two of Durmstrang's most famous students.

"Uh, hi," I said as they stopped in front of us, trying to sound casual despite the fact that half the library seemed to be staring.

"Hello," Viktor said in his thick accent, nodding politely. "May we sit with you?"