Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 5- Ch. 109

Céline woke up Thursday morning very groggy, she hadn't gone to bed until half past two. But she was able to finish her essay for Ancient Runes as well as for History of Magic and write off answers for the questions that Professor McGonagall left for them. She was almost caught up.

Most of the day past in a blur, she was very tired. She didn't really remember any of her conversations with her friends, let alone what the professors were saying during lessons.

The third detention was just as bad as the last two, except that after two hours the words on the back of her hand were no longer healing. They were etched into her skin, oozing out droplets of blood.

"Ah, good." Professor Umbridge said as she got up to look over at Harry's hand, his was also carved and no longer healed like Céline's hand, "That ought to serve as a reminder for you, shouldn't it? You may leave for the night." She then walked over to Céline to check on hers. With a smile still plastered on her lips she continued, "hm, no. Yours seems to need a little bit more. You can stay."

Céline's left land was gripping her robes tightly and said nothing. Harry looked at her worriedly. Umbridge looked back to Harry.

"You may go now, Mr. Potter." She dismissed him, going back to her desk.

"Right, er-" he hesitated, "Do I still have to come back tomorrow?" He asked as he picks up his bag, still glancing over to Céline, who had her head done, writing again.

"Oh yes, I think we can etching the message a little deeper for another evenings work." She said sweetly.

"Right... Good Evening.." he said. Harry made his way to the door, before looking over to Céline once more and then leaving, knowing that there was nothing he could do to convince the professor to have her leave too.

Céline stayed for another three hours before she was dismissed. She walked briskly back to her common room while wrapping a handkerchief around her bleeding hand, only to be stopped at the base of the stairs.

"What are you doing out here so late?" Draco asked, "You're past curfew."

"I just got done with detention for tonight." Celine said, dropping her hand quickly so that the long sleeves of her robes draped over her right hand. He took a step closer, his eyes darting down to her hand and back to her face.

"What was she having you do?" He asked suspiciously.

"Lines." She said. She really didn't want to tell him or anyone about what was happening to her hand when she wrote lines. Though she knew that she probably wouldn't be able to hide it for very long.

"Just lines?" He asked. She nodded. "At least it's not too bad."

"Yeah... Do you mind if I go inside now?" She said, worried if she stayed any longer he'll find out the truth. "I'm exhausted, and I still have loads of homework to do." He looked at her for a moment and then nodded, stepping to the side. "Thanks, er- well goodnight, Draco." She said, slowly stepping away from him.

"Goodnight, Céline." He said, and before she could fully pass him he grabbed her upper arm, stopping her. "What's on your hand?"

"Oh, it's just a small cut, it's nothing really, but- but I was bleeding so I wrapped my handkerchief on it." She said pulling her arm out of his grasp.

He frowned, she knew he didn't believe her, just as he was about to say something.

"Draco," Pansy's voice called out from behind them. They looked to where she was standing by the entrance of the common room, her arms were folded in front of her. "Come on, we're suppose to start our shift." She said, narrowing her eyes at Céline. She walked over to them, then pulled on Draco's arm. "Let's go."