WITHDRAWAL. draco malfoy

xi. the way he looks at you

« THE WAY HE LOOKS AT YOU »

"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whomever he likes. I really couldn't care less." Hermione lied as she dropped books onto the table. "Was I under the impression that he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes. Of course, now, given the circumstances, I've had to make other arrangements."

"Have you?" Harry asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"I just thought, you know, since neither of us can take who we'd really like... maybe we'd go together. As friends."

Hermione stopped what she was doing, fear and realisation in her eyes. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"So, who are you taking?"

"I swear, if it is McLaggen.." Lillian muttered, causing Harry to chuckle.

"Um.. it's a surprise. Besides, it's you we need to worry about. And you can't pick just anyone. See that girl over there."

The three gryffindors turned around not so discreetly to look at a very beautiful girl with dark hair.

"That's Romilda Vane. Rumor had it she's trying to slip you a love potion."

"Really..?" Harry asked with a smirk.

Hermione snapped her fingers in front of the boy to catch his attention again. "Hey! She's only interested in you because she thinks you're the Chose One. You know that, right?"

"But I am the Chosen One."

This time Lillian laughed loudly, earning a few glares as she shrugged her shoulders meanwhile Hermione hit him on the head with her parchment.

"Okay. Kidding. I'll ask someone I like. Someone cool."

+ + +

In all Lillian-way, the blonde didn't find anyone to come with her at Slughorn's party. Actually, to be completely honest, she had not been looking. The reason was simple but not easy to tell, only Hermione understood what she meant when she said she didn't need anyone to go with.

In some way it was true, in her friends' eyes, she was a strong and independant woman who didn't rely on anyone, but sometimes, she wish she had this one person to make her feel greater, more loved.

But this person, she couldn't have. So she walked inside the beautifully decorated room with no one to carry her arm and it didn't matter. She had much better things to care about than her love life. She still had all these demons in the back of her mind, demons that were draining her out of all energy and filling her sleep with these repetitive nightmares.

After taking the very formal picture with her potions teacher she chatted for a while with Luna, who had been so far-sighted  she noticed right from the bat that Lillian had tried to cover her large and dark circles.

"Drink?"

Lillian turned around and smiled at her friend, Neville. He was dressed in a very fancy black and white ensemble, holding a silver tray with many glasses over it.

"Yeah, sure. Why not."

The sparkling liquid surprised the teenage girl as she swallowed almost half of the glass at once, under Neville's amused look.

"I hope you'll have a great night, Lillian."

"Thanks, you too."

Soon enough, she was joined by Harry who looked very elegant in his black suit, making the girl stare for a few seconds as she remembered how childish he still looked a few years ago.