ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 09

The girl has strolled about the streets, satisfied with herself looking for her friends, they must have already eaten, she thought. Her eyes gazing at the different shops as the sole of her boots sank in the snow.

Magic could lean the path in a second but it was just the way Hogsmeade was. It had a certain charm that part of town, warm, homely, relaxed. A different vibe than some streets away, shoes perfectly hearable in the paved paths. Tall street lamps showed the way as she browsed.

Most of Hogwarts students didn't go there, prices not compatible with most pockets. There was though, the vocational visit for a birthday gift for anniversary when they saved some galleons. Unlike the other side, the chatter was low, the people were meticulously arranged with bags hovering by them.

Probably on their way to the private properties a couple blocks down or to the nearest apparition point. She passed by some flower shop as she spotted a lonely Theodore reading some announcement on the showcase of another shop at the end of the street.

"Oh you're back" Said Nott as he saw her. "Yeah, where is everybody?" She asked.

"Tula's bar, well most" He pushed his hair back with his fingers, "Some ditched on us". As he said so, she couldn't help notice the big bold letters in the paper.

"And why are you here all alone?" She pondered. "There's an auction happening soon, quidditch reliques" He replied enthusiastically, "And there's a fraction of the inventory here" He followed pointing to the pamphlet. "But let's go with everyone I've checked enough" He said, leading her to the bar.

She found out Malfoy, Pucey and Corine had gone their separate ways, the first two, however, giving no notice of their absence. That made Parkinson hysteric, she could not go five minutes without proposing to go look for the blond.

Corine had met with an older cousin of hers that was passing by and decided to shop a few things with her before meeting the group a couple of hours later to go back to the castle.

•••

It was around five in the afternoon now, people tired of walking. In an antique shop, Lilianne had found a gift for her mother's birthday two weeks later. Then one for Corine's next month. They all met together on the snowy path that led to school. "What if something happened to him?" Pansy shrieked. "He is fine, probably saw some girl and came back with her" Theo's comment gave Parkinson no peace of mind.

Actually, it increased her nerves and anxiousness for reaching Hogwarts soon.

To their surprise, Draco was there, sitting on the common room couch with a drink in his hand.

"Oh Draco, where have you been?" The black-haired girl rushed to him. He merely looked past her to the group with squinting eyes. "Would've been nice to know you were coming back mate" Blaise said, throwing himself to the couch next to him. "Just couldn't handle the hypocrisy of some people" The blond shrugged in a serious tone.

"No, Merlin! Who have you fought with now?" The dark-skinned wizard asked to which he just rolled his eyes. "No one," He said.

"Are you hurt?" Pansy asked nasally, caressing his cheek. He just rolled his eyes again. As the girls accommodated on a large couch, Eleonora requested her belongings from Lilianne's purse.

Lestrange pulled bag after bag until Hazelton had everything she brought in her hands, now realising it would have been better to ask for them in the dorm, "I believe that is all Elli" she said politely as Malfoy gazed angrily at her.

He shook his head with a huff and emptied his glass, leaning on the table to pour himself another. "Draco you are scaring me, what is wrong?" Pansy asked once again as she scanned his face thoroughly.