The Carnival ⌁ Draco Malfoy [1/4] ✔

36

"You'd best let go of me, Draco! What are you going to do? Take me to Umbridge?"

"Of course not. I'm walking you back to the dungeons. Why would I risk giving Slytherin a bad name just because you've teamed up with Potter and his blood-traitor pals! Umbridge suspected from the start that he's been having these...meetings, and all along you were apart of it!" Draco sneered, his fingers tightening around Emma's bicep.

"I was not apart of it all along!" she argued, trying to break free from his grip on her. "I've only just joined, and you best not speak a word of it! And what are you? Umbridge's side kick? Let go of me - I can walk on my own."

Draco's grasp was removed and Emma felt relieved at once, rotating her shoulder. Her face was flushing with anger - she didn't know where the others were, or if anyone else had been caught; Draco wouldn't say a thing. And he wouldn't let her in on how many other side kicks there were, other than Pansy and Millicent. When they reached the common room, Emma sat down on one of the armchairs, folding her arms to warn Draco off that she was furious.

Draco didn't understand or just didn't care, for he sat down opposite her.

"I should be out looking for the rest of you," he informed her, but she would not look at him. Though she could sense the fury and disappointment in his voice, and that his eyes were fiercely set upon her, she remained staring into the fire.

"Go then!" she spat.

"No," he responded simply, his tone completely different to the last he'd used. "The others have got it."

Emma said nothing.

"I get it now," Draco went on in his casual tone. Emma moved her sour glare over to Draco, he didn't react to it. "That knee thing you pulled on me when we were by the tree after Hogsmeade."

Emma still said nothing.

He suddenly let out a humourless laugh, Emma still continued to stare at him in annoyance. His ice-grey eyes remained on Emma's fierce ones, she was determined to force him to look away, but he seemed just as determined as she.

"I have trouble with liking you so much but not being able to show it," he suddenly blurted, and Emma felt her heart skip a beat. But not from excitement, from annoyance. She really didn't want to hear it right now. "I'm no good at words so I couldn't possibly describe to you the way you make me feel - there are one million, thirteen thousand, nine hundred and thirteen words and I don't think I'll ever be able to explain it without you misunderstanding me."

Emma chewed on the inside of her cheek, and, unfortunately, Draco had won and forced her to look away instead. "How do you know how many words there are?"

"I heard Granger saying it."

She suddenly felt self-conscious and didn't like it when Draco looked at her anymore. She wanted him to look away but he wouldn't, and she felt like sinking into the armchair to become part of it. There were no words that came to mind for her to say, and the situation was suddenly all awkward and she found herself staring at Draco's shoes, then at her own untied shoelaces.

"I might be just like you explained me to be: Arrogant, a bully, mean...but I care about you more than I should."

Emma suddenly looked up. "What do you mean, more than you should?"