Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 62

A/N
I am so sorry I haven't wrote much! My reasons are, however, valid, in my opinion. Basically I've been super duper ill, and I haven't been able to walk for like nearly two weeks on and off, and I've been in hospital and stuff with it so I haven't had the energy or time to actually write anything as I've been so ill. But I have wrote now, so you are welcome!
Mazzie

The usual hubbub of tea-time in the Great Hall can be heard, yet this time it appears to be more chattier. With the Christmas holidays approaching, everyone is excited. Slughorn's Christmas party is in a few night's time, and I need to double check that Draco can accompany me. I stand and make my way over to the Slytherin table, and I make my way cautiously, making several cases of awkward eye contact on my way towards Draco. I tap him on the shoulder when I approach, and he spins around. 'Hello, my dearest.' I grin, sitting myself down next to him. He smiles gently at me, and I kiss him very slightly. 'Hey.'
'How are you?' I ask him carefully, putting a hand over his. I've decided that I should be more gentle with him, I'm always so harsh. I can hardly help it, he is infuriating.

'I'm okay. But let's be honest, you haven't come over here to ask me how my day is going. What's up?'
'Okay, well Slughorn is having a Christmas Party very soon. I was hoping we could go together, seeing as we are seeing each other, but I just wanted to check you could go?'
'When is it?' Draco asks absent-mindedly, looking at me.
'This Sunday.' I reply, biting my bottom lip.
'This Sunday . . . I can't, I've been on detention with McGonagall all week, and I will be on Sunday.'
'Again?! You need to start doing your homework, sir.'
'I know, but I won't be out in time. There's no point.'
'Okay, alright. I'll have to make another arrangement, then. Don't get jealous . . . please?' I watch Draco, who nods his head, very reluctantly. I grin once the action has been performed. 'Good.' I kiss his lips and stand. 'I love you.'
'Love you, too.' I hear him mumble before I turn and begin to walk away, back towards the Gryffindor table. Almost immediately does my smile fail me.

'Well?' Hermione asks, smiling at me. Her happiness ebbs away when she sees my look of frustration. 'He's on detention that day.'
'Oh, for God's sake!' Hermione leans backwards, before springing forwards and putting her head in her hands. Several people are looking at us cautiously. 'Library.' She hisses to me and Harry, extracting several books from her bag and removing herself from the desk, to which me and Harry follow to do so on instinct. We trek up several flights of stairs and into the library, following Hermione, who starts to put her books back on the shelves, talking rapidly of Slughorn's Christmas Party. 'Well, seeing as neither of us can go with who we really wanted to,' Harry addresses Hermione, 'I was thinking that we should just go together, as friends.' Harry shrugs.
'Why didn't I think of that?' Hermione sighs, 'Now, given the circumstances, I've had to make other arrangements.' She puts a book back on the shelf and looks down, and I feel my brows furrow. 'Who're you going with, then?' Harry asks indignantly.
'It's a surprise. Anyways, it's you we've got to worry about. You can't just take anyone.

'See that girl over there?' Hermione moves to stand in front of Harry, who peers over her shoulder. 'That's Romilda Vane. Apparently she's trying to smuggle you a love potion.'
'Really?' Hermione snaps her fingers once Harry grins.
'Hey! She's only interested in you because she thinks you're the Chosen One!'
'But I am the Chosen One.' Harry smirks, and Hermione whacks him over the head with a book, pretty hard, at that. 'Sorry, kidding.' On the inside, I'm laughing so hard I'm almost peeing myself, but on the outside, my emotions are numb. Hermione looks from me to Harry, and her eyes brighten. 'Oh my, of course! Harry, you and Alyssia should just go together!'
'Huh?' I look from her to Harry.
'Well, you both need someone to go with.' Hermione trills happily, 'Why not?'
'Yeah, I'm cool with that.' Harry shrugs, smiling at me. 'As friends, obviously.'
'Yes, of course.' I grin back. 'Then it's settled. No more problems.'
'Except the bit where Draco loses his shit when he finds out.' Harry chuckles.
'He won't find out, we'll just shut up. Whether or not we're going as friends won't matter to him.'
'I bet he hates the pair of us for it. He'll be pissed with you, you know, and I can't wait to see the look on his face.'
'Harry, your accusations are much obtuse. If he does not know, he cannot possibly act upon his conscience.' I shake my head gently, yet knowing my words are the obloquy of this situation.

-*-

As I pull on my dress, I have Hermione zip me up. She is wearing a pretty pink dress with a skirt that brushes her knees and has no straps, and I am wearing a dress of long, midnight blue silk that has very skinny straps and a skirt which grazes my toes in my blue heels. My hair is curled in large waves which are pinned to the side, and I have spent the past hour perfecting my makeup, trying to keep it rather basic. Hermione is lagging, taking a while to do up her shoes. 'Oh, go on. I'll see you and Harry there, don't worry.' Hermione then stands and ushers me out of the dormitory, handing me my clutch and closing the door firmly behind herself. Perplexed, I make my way down the stairs and to the common room, where I find Harry waiting for me in dark dress robes. I feel relatively guilty to admit it, but he does look very handsome.

'Hey,' He grins when he sees me approaching the fire, where he stands.
'Hello, Mr Potter.' I smile, moving my hair out of my face a little.
'You look stunning.' Harry says as we head away from the fire and toward the portrait hole. 'You look pretty spiffing yourself.' I chuckle as our footsteps begin to echo around the corridor.

-*-

'Get your hands off me, you filthy squib!' I hear someone shouting. I look at Harry briefly, and we exchange dark looks. I'd know that voice anywhere; but it isn't a reception as I usually have, such as butterflies, it's like I've just been plunged into a bath of ice. Draco. 'Professor. I've just found this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party.'
'Alright, alright, I was gate-crashing. Happy now?' Draco glances around the room, and then his eyes settle on me. For a moment, I note a sparkle, and then I watch as his eyes travel to Harry, then back to me, and again, and I can almost tell that he has guessed my predicament. He tries to start forward, but stops suddenly, and Snape steps in front of him. 'I'll escort him out.'
'Certainly, professor.' Draco smirks wickedly, then looks around Snape at me, and gives me a look as if to say Outside, later, before turning with Snape, and no sooner, does Harry excuse himself, and I am left standing in the middle of the room, until Ginny reaches out and touches my arm, smiling at me weakly.

When it is finally time to leave, after brief conversation with Hermione, and hiding her from McClaggen, to which I had to suppress my desired laughter at her choice of a date, and she therefore scolded me for such actions and thoughts, I leave with Harry and Hermione, laughing along with the both of them at the fact that Harry has just fallen over the end of his dress robes, is when I feel a cold hand grab me, and, as I go to scream, another hand covers my mouth, drags me away from the other two, down the dark corridor, and into a classroom, closing the door firmly behind us.

'Potter?!' The voice of Draco hisses, which causes me to roll my eyes as light bursts from the tip of his wand. 'I inquired for you not to be mad.'
'Not be mad?! Out of all the fucking people, and you go with Potter!'
'We went as friends.'
'Oh yeah, that's fine.' Draco scoffs, sarcasm dripping in his tone.
'Come on, Draco, you know I would not go on a date with him. What, did you expect that I'd been making out with him under fucking mistletoe the whole night? Because I most certainly had not!'
'No, I - never mind.' Draco mutters, and I give him a long look. 'You look so beautiful.' I look down at my feet and brush my hair behind my ear. 'Thanks.' I hear his footsteps walking over to me, and the arms slip around my waist, the lips brush mine gently.

'What were you doing out, anyway?' I ask him. 'Had your detention not finished?'
'McGonagall held me back.' Draco mutters back, moving towards the door. 'I should really go, I can't get caught out again.' He slips behind the door, and is gone without wishing me farewell. I frown for a long time, before removing myself from the room, to find Harry and Hermione. 'What was that about?' Hermione asks, yet I shake my head and mutter about nothing. 'Well, Harry?' Hermione looks at Harry inquiringly.
'I have some information regarding your boyfriend, Alyssia, but I will have to tell on the train, so we aren't overheard. I think you'll find it interesting.' My brain becomes a state of confusion - what a night of sense I am having!