The Carnival ⌁ Draco Malfoy [1/4] ✔

34

"I really don't think we should do this, it's a terrible idea. We're going to get caught! And what's worse is we'll fail Divination!"

Draco, Theodore and Emma reached the tree by the lake well away from the castle, a specific area where they weren't going to be spotted by one of the teachers in the castle. It was a bit of a windy day yet plenty of birds were out; Emma was afraid of being underneath this tree, fearing the chances of being the target of bird dropping.

"Are you always such a teachers pet?" Theodore demanded, his tone suggested he meant to be casual but he definitely sounded quite rude. "And you say failing Divination is worse. How...exactly is failing Divination worse?"

"If only Mum were here," Emma ignored Theodore, following him a little up the tree. "I'd get a slap if she knew I was out here alone with two boys."

Both Theodore and Draco climbed all the way up to the same branch Emma and Draco sat on just weeks ago, only they walked along the branch as though it were a plank. Emma remained at the bottom of the tree on the stump, resting her back against the tree.

"So you're telling me you want to be in the same room as some half-breed?" said Draco, interrupting Emma's peace and quiet.

"You hate everyone, don't you, Draco?" Emma said idly, keeping her eyes set on the lake in front of her. It was so quiet out with all the students up at the school, and it was strange hearing just the birds and not the students.

"I don't hate you."

"Yeah, I gathered that much on my own. Anyone who isn't a Pureblood is a piece of crap, though, huh? Let alone a centaur who is barely even human."

"That's right," Draco scoffed, and Emma could hear Theodore sniggering as well as the both of them walking along the branch.

"I hope that branch snaps," Emma said loudly, finally casting a look up at the pair. Draco looked down quickly, offended. "It'll serve the both of you right."

"Me? What did I do?" said Theodore.

Draco's attempt at changing Emma's mind about Halfbloods and Muggle-borns was failing greatly - she could see he was trying to do so. With every little scoff, irritable sound, change in expression...he'd been trying to do so all along. It was the little things he'd said. Putting Hermione Granger down, dissing all the Weasley's and calling them Blood-traitors, speaking highly of Purebloods and Purebloods only. Emma, from what she'd read all over the place, was a Halfblood, and she'd prefer Draco to keep thinking she was a Pureblood.

All of a sudden, Emma's heart seemed to have just stopped beating. It felt as though a ball had been plunged into the depths of her throat and she was unable to breath, though she was inhaling quite loudly, her hand on her chest. Her heart started beating again, fast, it was racing and she had no control at all to slow it down, her hands shook, and she stood, taking deep fast breaths and intaking as much air as she could. And she suddenly burst into tears.

"Freckles?" said Draco quietly, Theodore murmured something, Emma couldn't hear it.

"I have to...go to class," Emma managed to get out, she hunched over a little and coughed a bit. She didn't even know why she said it, but they were the first words that came out before she'd even thought of it.

There was an earthquake, and the earth beneath her feet was shaking, trembling like crazy, and she was wondering why the hell Draco and Theodore were still up in the tree, how they hadn't fallen out yet! The earth behind her was shaking harder; someone was walking toward her. She didn't know if she was being touched for her body was numb, and she couldn't hear much other than her own sharp intakes of air. She had no idea what was going on...why all of a sudden she was feeling dreadful and desperate after being relaxed in that tree, thinking about her parentage, the exams, why Draco was so desperate for her attention. What was going on? That was the question.

"Emma!" 

Her name was being called, and her body was pulled but she couldn't feel it, she could see it. The ground had shifted all of a sudden.

"What the hell is wrong with her?"

She could hear the voices now, echoed and distant, but they were audible. She was whirled around forcibly, but she plunged her eyes shut. It seemed every ounce of dread was filling the empty spaces in her body, her blood was being disposed of and the dread was taking it's place. Though very numb, she felt her face pale.

She fought to get the words out, but she couldn't understand where they were coming from, it was as though it wasn't her talking. "I have to go to...class. I have to pass, I can't fail! I don't want to fail!" she cried, her eyes shot open automatically. She was just so out of control, but she could hear her mind screaming, demanding that she take control of herself. "I have to go to class now!"

Her eyes appeared to have been out of focus, for it was like there was a pair of lens and she could finally spot the concerned grey eyes staring directly at her no more than thirty inches away.

"Emma, just breathe, OK?" Draco said softly, and it was a relief that she could finally hear him again. "I'll take you to class. Come on," he added when he saw she wasn't moving. He took her hand in his. "I'll take you to class now. Nott, grab her bag for her."

She heard a faint scuffle of feet, and she was pulled toward the stone steps. She could hear her own breathing and she feared her stomach was directly by her ear.

It was like living through the terror of somebody else for the past five minutes.

Next thing she knew, when she'd finally come to her senses and in total control of herself, she was sitting on a bed surrounded by other beds and what appeared to be the school matron.

"Now, Baranov, just calm down," she said, and she, Emma, understood for she could hear herself breathing fast, feeling as though she was going to die. "I've had plenty of these, not to worry. All fifth-years, too. Drink this."

Emma did as she was told just as the bell rang, signalling that her Divination class was over.

"Will she be all right now?" Draco demanded, and Emma felt the part of the bed beside her sink.

She caught onto the words Sabrina had told her at the start of term. "The woman at the end there is Madam Pomfrey, she's the school nurse."

Madam Pomfrey took the empty cup from Emma. She felt as though all the dread was being sucked out of her, and she let out a long, silent sigh. She felt calm at last, and let her head rest on Draco's shoulder. He squirmed.

"What was that?" said Emma, her voice cracked and anybody would've mistaken her for a girl who had just finished screaming her raw little lungs out.

"The Calming Draught," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Well, it worked," Emma smiled, and lifted her head from Draco's shoulder and looked around. Theodore was standing awkwardly by the bed next to the one Emma and Draco were sitting on.

Madam Pomfrey seemed to have followed Emma's eye. "Did it really take the two of you to have to escort Miss Baranov here?"

Draco and Theodore both nodded.

"What happened to me?" asked Emma, curious as she thought back to her usual behaviour and then the sudden abnormalcy.

"You just panicked a little," Madam Pomfrey answered. "There were a few before you, so don't worry about it. You're free to go if you feel better." And then she walked away.