Half-Blood (Draco Malfoy)

It was just a distraction, I swear!

My friends begged me all evening to try to make it to the DA meeting. So here I was, standing in the Room of Requirement, fifteen minutes before I had to go to my meeting with Umbridge and Draco.

Harry was running a fantastic meeting, and I couldn't help but notice how close he and Cho had become. I needed to remember to ask Ginny how she felt about that.

As students were practicing, I was getting anxious. I had a pit in my stomach and my heart was quickening. I started to think of excuses to make if anyone saw me leaving the room; especially if anyone from the Inquisitorial Squad saw me.

Part of me wanted to just stay here, and pretend I was sick all evening, to avoid my duty. I also considered truly going to see Madame Pomfrey after leaving here, with how nauseous I was becoming from my anxiety.

I kept checking my watch, trying to find a good time to leave.

After a few more minutes, I made a quiet exit, only saying goodbye to Hermione and Ginny, seeing as Harry was helping Cho with a spell, and Ron was struggling terribly with his own.

Luckily, I was able to slip out of the room without anyone seeing. Unluckily, it was getting close to the time that I was supposed to meet Malfoy, and I needed to quickly think of an excuse for why I'm running late.

Sick? Obviously I'm not. Bathing? My hair isn't wet. With a boy? Hm, maybe. But he knows my social life for the most part. Maybe I can say I was chatting with Leo in the Prefect's bathroom.

Speaking of, maybe I should contact Leo. Since being back at school, I've somewhat filled the void of his presence with my other friends. That sounds awful, but I couldn't let myself dwell on it, and we haven't spoken since I left- so it's hard not to look for that connection elsewhere.

I approach Gryffindor House, and Malfoy was arriving at the same time as me. With wet hair. Can't use chatting in the Prefect's bathroom as an excuse.

"Where were you?" He asks, eyes narrowing.

"I was, um-" I say, trying to think fast, with my now lack of an excuse.

"Well?" He asks, rather annoyed.

"I was... changing my..." I was lost for words, until the one thing that boys will never question came to mind, "I was changing my tampon." I said, but it really came out as more of a question.

His nose crinkled in disgust for a moment, before shaking his head, slinging his arm around me and heading toward Umbridge's office.

I was glad he didn't question me further, although I could tell he was slightly suspicious. I felt guilty for hiding this and being deceptive. Now I was forming a genuine bond with him, and I really didn't want to ruin that. I hoped that I could avoid the collision of my two groups all together, to maintain my relationships with both. But, my doubts started flooding in. I could only keep up the charade for so long.

We didn't speak much on the way there, only exchanging ideas for what we expected this meeting to be about. Guilt was throbbing in me like a fist to the stomach.

When we arrived at her office, the door was shut. I leaned on Draco's arm, subconsciously seeking comfort from the variety of emotions I was feeling. I had started to think that I really was getting my period, because the emotions were beginning to overtake me.

I really didn't want to lose this, or anything that has grown for me this year. Millicent, Draco, my Gryffindor friends, heck, even Theo. I didn't want any of that to change.

Draco must've noticed that something was on my mind, because after he knocked on the door he lightly grabbed my chin and his eyes grazed over my face.

He was about to say something, when the door swung open. Umbridge was sitting at her desk, perfect posture may I add, and invited us to come in. I kept one arm on Draco's.