The 101 of Working With Your Enemy

Chapter 7

I knew that working with Draco wouldn't be easy. But I didn't think we would cross every single line.

When I entered the library, I was oblivious to that fact. Halloween was getting closer and candles were set up all around the library–protective charms cast around them, that kept the flames from setting books or whole shelves on fire. The air smelled warm, like cinnamon and vanilla.

Autumn was my favourite season. The nights got longer, leaves changed their colour, and pumpkins appeared all around the castle. The whole atmosphere changed and one couldn't help but feel comforted. Students started thinking about their Halloween costumes and the parties were being planned.

Buried in a chunky off-white sweater and jeans I burrowed from Scarlet, I let my gaze swipe through the library, searching for blonde hair and pale skin.

I spotted him in the corner closest to the restricted section. Where else would he be? I made my way over to him and dropped down on the seat opposite of him.

He was focused on the book he was reading and didn't even notice me. I cleared my throat, and he startled, his eyes averted from his book to me. His gaze slid over my sweater, down to my jeans and back up to my face. An unreadable expression crossed his face, and I lifted an eyebrow. Did he really need to openly judge my outfit? I knew he wasn't a fan of muggles in particular, and muggle clothing apparently fell into that category.

"You're late," he stated. I glanced down at my wrist. He was right, but five minutes were excusable. I just rolled my eyes at him and pointed at the book he was reading, bearing the tag of the Restricted Sections. Excitement flooded me, when I realised that we could now read books that held dangerous knowledge and were therefore forbidden, just because Snape had slipped us a permission note. Our consent was only limited to a few books, but that was better than nothing.

"What are you reading?" I asked. The book was thick, its bound of a dark red, but visibly old.

"I don't know. It doesn't reveal its title or author," he replied. One of his hands was buried in his hair, making the blonde strands fall unevenly over his forehead. It was so out of character for him to not be perfectly arranged, but it made him somehow more human. "It's mostly about magic that can be sourced through nature. Trees, flowers, grass and shit." He slammed the book shut and pushed it aside to where a whole stack of books was already sitting before getting up. "Come on, I know where we can find books that will actually help us."

Hesitantly, I followed him, but stopped dead in my tracks when he stopped in front of the Restricted Section. "We can't go in there."

Draco rolled his eyes, and stepped closer to me. "What happened to the girl who broke into Finnigan's dorm in third year and flooded it because she wanted revenge on him after he put a spider on her head? A bit extreme if you ask me, but you were smart enough not to get caught. Back then, you weren't scared to do something forbidden."

His words awakened the competitive part of me. If I didn't know it better, I would say that he knew it as well. "Alright, but I'll cast the spell. Your charms skills need some serious improvement."

"Forget it. Last time you cast a spell on me, I ended up in the infirmary," Draco protested.

"Don't be ridiculous. That was four years ago. Besides, it was only the tickling hex. Merlin, who could have known how ticklish you are?" I had almost forgotten about it, but Draco was good at holding grudges. "It takes strength to forgive, you know?"

"Don't tell me that you've forgiven me," Draco huffed.

"You've given me no reason to do so. I apologised after I hexed you. And you didn't accept it. I've tried Draco, but I'm sick of it and of apologising to you over and over again. I don't even know why I do it. Let me tell you how it plays out every single time: First you aggravate me, then you threaten to hurt me, and then you call me a blood traitor. So yes, maybe I lose my cool sometimes. But it is as much your fault as it is mine."