Echoes of Magic & Blood

Chapter 15: Jealousy Games

The days dragged on with Draco maintaining his stubborn silence. Anna continued to try to reach out, but her efforts seemed in vain. She found herself increasingly frustrated and heartbroken, feeling the growing distance between them like a chasm that might never be bridged.

Then one afternoon, Anna noticed Draco spending more time with Hermione. They were often seen together, talking quietly in corners, and working on various magical projects. Draco's laughter, a sound that had been absent for days, returned, but it wasn't directed at Anna. Instead, it echoed through the halls as he conversed with Hermione.

Anna's heart twisted with a mix of pain and anger. It seemed Draco had taken Klaus's advice to heart, playing his own game of jealousy. While she understood that he was hurting, his actions felt like a betrayal. The sight of Draco and Hermione together stung deeply, each shared glance and laugh a reminder of the wedge that had driven between them.

One morning, as Anna was helping Davina in the courtyard, she saw Draco and Hermione across the way, their heads close together as they discussed something in hushed tones. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but her attention kept drifting back to them.

"Are you okay, Anna?" Davina asked, noticing her distraction.

Anna forced a smile. "I'm fine, Davina. Just... a lot on my mind."

Davina followed her gaze and nodded understandingly. "Draco and Hermione, huh?"

Anna sighed. "Yeah. He's trying to make me jealous, and it's working."

Davina placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't let it get to you. He'll come around. Just give him some time."

Anna nodded, appreciating Davina's support but feeling the weight of her own insecurities. As the day went on, she found it harder to keep her emotions in check. The sight of Draco and Hermione together was like a knife to her heart.

That evening, Anna found herself alone in her room, tears streaming down her face. She hated feeling this way, hated the jealousy and the pain. But most of all, she hated the growing distance between her and Draco.

Suddenly, there was a knock at her door. She quickly wiped her tears away, hoping it might be Draco. But when she opened the door, she found Hermione standing there, her expression concerned.

"Anna, can we talk?" Hermione asked softly.

Anna nodded, stepping aside to let her in. She closed the door and turned to face Hermione, her emotions a tumultuous mix of anger, jealousy, and hurt.

"Draco told me what he's been doing," Hermione began, her voice gentle. "He thought it would make you realise how much he cares about you. But I can see that it's hurting you more than anything."

Anna's eyes filled with tears again. "Why is he doing this, Hermione? I know he's hurt, but this... this feels cruel."

Hermione sighed, her expression sympathetic. "He's hurting too, Anna. And he's not handling it well. But you need to talk to him, to make him see that this isn't the way to fix things."

Anna nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. "I've tried talking to him, but he won't listen. He won't even look at me."

Hermione took Anna's hands in hers. "Then we need to make him listen. I'll help you, Anna. We'll make him see how much this is hurting both of you."

Together, they formulated a plan. Hermione would talk to Draco, try to make him see the pain he was causing. Meanwhile, Anna would focus on gathering her thoughts, preparing to confront him once more with a calm and open heart.

The next day, as Anna watched from a distance, Hermione approached Draco. They talked quietly for a while, and Anna saw Draco's expression shift from anger to confusion and finally to regret. Hermione's words seemed to be reaching him in a way that Anna's hadn't.