silent affections || draco malfoy

Chapter 3: Forbidden Encounters

Veronica hurried down the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Her mind was still preoccupied with the events of the Potions lesson earlier that day. She had barely made it halfway to her next class when she collided with something—or rather, someone—solid.

The impact sent her stumbling backward, her books scattering across the floor with a loud clatter. Blinking rapidly, she looked up to see Draco Malfoy standing before her, his arms crossed and a disdainful sneer etched on his features.

"Watch where you're going, Adams," his voice cut through the air like a blade, cold and sharp.

Veronica's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly scrambled to gather her fallen belongings. "I-I'm sorry, Malfoy," she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest. "I wasn't paying attention."

Draco's grey eyes narrowed, and he made no move to help her. "Typical of a Mudblood like you—always causing trouble," he spat, his tone dripping with malice.

Veronica felt a surge of anger rise within her, but she forced herself to stay calm. She refused to give Draco the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.

Ignoring his taunts, she focused on collecting her scattered books, her hands shaking with indignation. But before she could gather them all, Draco stepped forward, deliberately planting his foot on top of one of her textbooks.

"Not so fast, Adams," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I have a message for you."

Veronica's eyes narrowed as she looked up at him, her jaw clenched in defiance. "And what message would that be, Malfoy?"

Draco leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Stay away from me," he whispered, his voice laced with venom. "Got it?"

Veronica's heart hammered in her chest, but she refused to let Draco see how much his words affected her. Steeling herself, she met his gaze head-on, her eyes blazing with determination.

"Why? Afraid I'll find out your precious secrets?" she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Or maybe you're just scared I'll see through your façade."

A flicker of uncertainty flashed across Draco's face, barely noticeable but enough to give Veronica pause. She knew she had hit a nerve, and she wasn't about to let up now.

"Well, guess what, Malfoy?" she continued, her voice gaining strength with each word. "I'm not going anywhere."

With that, she pushed past him, her shoulder brushing against his as she stormed away. She could feel Draco's eyes boring into her back, but she refused to look back. She had made her point, and she wasn't about to let him intimidate her.

As she rounded the corner and disappeared from view, Veronica couldn't shake the feeling of exhilaration coursing through her veins. She had stood up to Draco Malfoy, and she hadn't backed down. Whatever secrets he was hiding, she was determined to uncover them, no matter what it took.

But deep down, she couldn't deny the nagging sense of unease that lingered in the pit of her stomach. Draco Malfoy was a dangerous adversary, and she knew she would have to tread carefully if she wanted to stay one step ahead of him.

---

Veronica entered her next class, her mind still racing with adrenaline. She took her seat, trying to focus on the lesson at hand, but her thoughts kept drifting back to her encounter with Draco.

As the minutes ticked by, she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of parchment made her jump, half-expecting Draco to appear out of nowhere.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, Veronica gathered her things quickly, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the classroom. She stepped out into the corridor, her heart still racing.

As she made her way through the maze of corridors, her thoughts drifted back to Draco. She couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter had been more than just a chance collision. There was something... calculated about it, as if Draco had been waiting for her.

Lost in her thoughts, she rounded a corner and collided with something—or rather, someone—solid once again. This time, however, she was prepared.

"Watch it," she muttered, sidestepping the figure blocking her path.

But as she tried to pass, Draco stepped in front of her, his expression cold and impassive.

"Not so fast, Adams," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Veronica's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "What do you want now, Malfoy?"

Draco's lip curled into a sneer, and he took a step closer, invading her personal space. "I thought I made myself clear earlier," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I don't want anything to do with you."

Veronica felt a surge of anger rise within her, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Fine by me," she shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Believe me, the feeling's mutual."

With that, she pushed past him, her shoulder brushing against his as she stormed away. She could feel Draco's eyes burning into her back, but she refused to look back. She had more important things to worry about than Draco Malfoy and his petty games.

As she disappeared around the corner, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of her stomach. There was something about Draco Malfoy that didn't sit right with her, something dark and dangerous lurking beneath the surface.

And as she made her way to her next class, she couldn't shake the feeling that their paths would cross again, whether she liked it or not.