REBEL

16. SHADOW BLACK - SLATE BLACK

16. SHADOW BLACK - SLATE BLACK

Ever since I so harshly rejected Malfoy in the trauma room, he's been making my life hell, although not in the way I might have expected.

Because he doesn't make himself scarce, he doesn't stay away from me and he doesn't ignore me. All of that would have been bad enough, because after a while I would certainly have found pathetic excuses to turn up wherever he was according to his daily schedule. But nope, not necessary, because he's bloody everywhere. And he's not mean, dismissive or even indifferent towards me. It's far more perfidious than that.

He's sweet fucking temptation incarnate.

I first notice his strange behavior a few days after my discharge from the trauma room. At breakfast. In the dining hall.

Day One: Weak Knees

While up until now I could only guess what it might feel like to be the direct recipient of Malfoy's affection, I am now one hundred per cent sure. Now that I'm standing in front of the breakfast buffet with weak knees, frantically trying to remember why I'm even here.

The sincere "thank you" from his mouth would have been shocking enough, after all, this was (at least as far as I am concerned) an absolute first. But Malfoy had to go one better, of course. And so not only did I become the victim of his gratitude, but also of his appreciation, his praise (my greatest weakness), his physical closeness (how is it possible that he smells so good even though we all use the same soap?) and his smile. Quite the assault on the senses, I must say. And all this just because I ensured Luna no longer had to perform the Exit. As if I had done it for his sake. Tsk.

An amused quirk of the corners of his mouth. A strong, sharp jawline. Full pink lips and, flashing out between them, two rows of perfect white teeth.

Teeth that I know exactly what they are capable of. Teeth that I would love to feel on my skin again. Preferably soon.

"Are you okay?"

I lift my head and look directly into Neville's worried face. My throat is so dry that I can't answer him straight away, and my cheeks redden against my will. His gaze drops to this telltale reaction, then his eyes dart over to Malfoy, who is just sitting down at one of the long dining tables.

"Of course," I croak far too late. "Why wouldn't I be?"

One of Neville's eyebrows shoots up, but I resist the urge to hex him. Instead, I leave the room without another word and, unfortunately, also without breakfast.

During the afternoon's combat training session, I can't help but keep glancing over at Malfoy. I'm on the hunt, longing to catch another glimpse of his teeth, his twitching lips, his smirk. What I observe instead is almost as knee-weakening. Because he masters his task of the day (a duel against two opponents in which he is allowed to defend himself but not attack) with a nonchalance and arrogance that reminds me of myself. And that suits him pretty well.

***

Day Three: Heart Palpitations

When Malfoy emerges from between the trees, I stop dead in my tracks.

Having just come from the night watch in Godric's Hollow, I'm dead tired, but that's not the reason why I can't believe my eyes. Rather, his presence is pretty much the last thing I expected on this bitterly cold winter morning. Especially here. On the Apparition meadow near Box Hill. And apparently without an escort.

The realization makes me blink a few times.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, perplexed.

"Waiting for you," he replies with a dismissive gesture.