ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 46

The collision caught him off guard."Oh!" She gasped, feigning surprise, "I didn't see you there" her voice flowed calmly. A side of Draco refused to turn around, feeling overindulged in her, far more than what he agreed with himself, but easily, not having even to lift a sword, the other, more irrational one took over.

"Clearly Lestrange" He spoke, no actual coldness behind it. She allowed her lips to tug, taking a step forward to be next him, confidently leading the way. Way he followed not even pondering on his previous reflection. "So. How have you been?" Lestrange turned her head.

He didn't smile, "I'm fine" that again. The clipped, defensive tone she'd been hearing all day from him. Behind them, the rest of Slytherin House streamed toward the common room. The tide of emerald and silver was thick, and for a moment they were pressed close, shoulder to shoulder, before she reached for his wrist without thinking. Her fingers closed around him. He went still. Completely still.

"Come with me" She whispered, her eyes flicking toward a side passage. No, don't, his subconscious said. Yet he found himself walking, weak, there was something in the way she said it soft but insistent, that made him relent. He didn't look at her, but he followed. Down the narrow, torchlit corridor, past the portraits that watched with silent disapproval, until they slipped into an unused classroom. The door clicked shut behind them.

A sigh left her once inside, walking straight without sparing him a glance. Her body rose to sit casually at the edge of a desk, hair darker in the greyish lighting. "Are you frozen or something?" She frowned at him, standing completely still. "Why are you so off today?"

His face tightened, "I am not off today" he purposely relaxed his shoulders to keep up the 'I'm fine' facade, walking closer. "Hmmm" She hummed, moving her dangling feet.

She looked up, slightly discouraged by the small distance he kept between them, it used to be null. Was he bored already? "I haven't seen you in three weeks, I figured you would not go all Malfoy on me" She spoke with her face tilted.

Draco's features contracted, "Lestrange" he breathed out, dismissal in his tone. That scrunch in his face, bothered and fussed, it made her smile. "What?" She gasped, reaching over to pull him closer by his lapels, "You quite literally have not spoken to me at all today".

Of course, she would think that. She was not aware the piece of glass that had his focus reflected her profile the majority of the ride. But it was better she didn't know, it was better she thought him indifferent, the thought crawled in, he needed to cut any distractions to get this right.

He'd already separated from his friends, gotten his own space where no one would question his research or timetables. He needed to cut it off with her too, "That's an exaggeration". Right now, he should do it right now.

"Is it?" She blinked, supporting herself on her hands. "I have a lot to think about, didn't even notice..." He cut himself off, his hand went again to his temple, rubbing it as if the light hurt. "Did you take any Wiggenweld?" The girl pursed her lips, watching him nod firmly.

After a beat he lifted his head, blinking slowly, deliberately. "I didn't know you had a headache" She whispered, bothering him for a kiss did not seem as fun anymore. "Comes and goes, it was probably the ride" He lied on the spot, believably also as she nodded slowly.

"You should ask the elves for some tea before going to bed, maybe lace it with some Pepperup if you already had Wiggenweld" Her soft hand gave his chest a gentle tap as she jumped down from the desk. Usually he could manage the headache as an irritating pulse throughout his day, it was only the short lapses it nulled him, like right that moment when he realised she had moved and was staring with a hint of worry in her features.