Second Chances: A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter 17

                Harry was rushing through the halls, leading Kyra, Neville, Hayden, and Draco toward an unknown location. He claimed to have found somewhere for the group to practice but wouldn't tell them where or what it was. They followed closely behind as he weaved through the halls, dodging students who were scattered around the school. They shot up the marble staircases. One staircase, then two and three, then another three.

Kyra's chest was heaving and she was out of breath, a burning in the back of her throat. Harry stopped abruptly in front of a small wooden door. It was only half her height and made of a dark, red, polished cedar. Kyra doubled over, choppy breaths hardly escaping her mouth. She could see Draco smirking at her out of the corner of her eye. Standing up straight, she shut her mouth, forcing herself to breathe through her nose, hoping she would appear less strained for breath. She scowled at Draco, and he chuckled to himself. Harry paid no attention to Draco as he fumbled with his wand, waving it in a bizarre fashion. The door slid open with a creak so loud, Kyra thought, it must have been a decade since this door had been opened.

Kyra peered inside, though it was blanketed in darkness. Each of them raised their wands, muttering 'lumos', several streams of light striking through the blackness. They cautiously stepped through the doorway and were met with a swift rush of air as the door slammed behind them. The thin jets of light from their wands were doing little to illuminate the space. Hayden huffed.

"For Merlin's sake." She griped, her shadowy figure swinging her arm up, the light of her wand gliding across the space, exploding 200 feet from them. Kyra turned around, shielding her eyes with her forearm. Her body shook in anticipation of the inevitable pain the explosion would cause. Kyra noticed a bright, muted light seeping in along the edges of her arm. Cautiously unfurling her body, she glanced up to see that once-dark room had revealed itself to a long, steep, upward slanting hallway. The walls were adorned in Victorian paintings with intricate, gold frames. The paintings were muggle portraits, unmoving, of 19th century aristocrats.

"What is this place, Harry?" Kyra mused, gazing at the paintings in wonder. Harry was grinning smugly, watching Kyra, Hayden, and Draco react to his hidden hallway. It was a stark contrast to the sterile halls of the school. The floors were covered in a plush, burgundy carpet that was forming around Kyra's feet.

"This is just the way there. The potions professor seems to have an interest in me so when I asked if she knew any spacious, private areas, she was quite helpful." Draco snickered.

"You hooked up with a 60 year old woman to find this room, Potter?" He cackled, hardly containing himself after what he believed to be an ingenious and hilarious joke. Harry glared at him and shook his head.

"Can we go now or do you need a break to start your career as a comedian?" Harry spat. Draco smirked, raising an eyebrow and lifting his arms to encourage Harry to lead the way. Rolling his eyes, he shoved past Draco, bumping his shoulder in the process. He stormed across the floor, pausing in front of the small wooden door. Raising his wand, Harry swung the door open, a set of iron stairs spiraling straight up on the other side of the door. Kyra stepped with caution toward the stairs, leaning across the threshold and peering up to only see endless stairs. She eyed Harry with suspicion but he wasn't paying attention to her, he was merely beginning the trek up the stairs.

Hayden brushed by her, bounding up the steps, which creaked precariously under her. Kyra hesitated, still attempting to catch a glimpse of what she would be climbing toward. She jumped as she felt a hand graze her lower back, electricity surging across her skin. Draco was gazing at her, his eyes sharp and playful.

"You coming, doll?" Kyra narrowed her eyes. She wished he would stop saying things like that. He was infuriatingly consistent, he clearly was not going to back down any time soon. Smirking at her, he started up the stairs, his hand trailing across her skin before finding a tight grip around her hand. Draco pulled her up the stairs but climbed them slowly, savoring every second she didn't pull out of his grasp.