Arctic Love

Chapter 47: Talk To Me

We sit in the grand hall as Dumbledore passive aggressively gets Umbridge to shut up. He completely cuts her off and she sits down as if she doesn't care. Dumbledore comes to the stand and everyone listens closely. 

"Hello, students, as many of you know, we had an attack on the school. Many of you may also know we lost a student, Michael Bell. This terrible occurrence has forced the school to shut our doors. Hogwarts is no longer safe, you're families have been notified and you will be leaving the school in two days" he turns and walks back to his chair as the hall erupts is confusion and disbelief.

"Hogwarts is closing?" Maddy says looking at us.

"They have to Maddy, we're all in danger," Claire says

"Can't they ask the ministry for help?" Maddy asks

"The minister won't believe that the Death Eaters are still here, especially you know who," Blaise says

"This is awful," Maddy says resting her head in her hands.

"Think of it as an early summer," I say trying to be positive.

"That's a good way to see it" Maddy sad looking up at me.

"Oh my god," Olly says nudging me.

"What?" I ask looking around

"Ben," he says

I look over my shoulder to see Ben walking up to us and I'm instantly confused.

"Elena, can I talk to you?" He asks

I look at Olly to hopefully a look of disapproval or for him to say something but he just looks back at me blank.

"Sure," I say looking back at Ben.

I stand up and follow Ben down the grand hall. I notice Draco look up as we walk by but pay no attention to him. We walk out to the main hall and Ben stops.

"Elena I have to apologize to you," he says

"For what?" I ask hoping he'll really understand what an ass he's been.

"For everything with Pansy, with being so mean, for not supporting you and Malfoy," he says

Yup, I think that's everything... I wonder if it's a coincidence that he's apologizing right after Mike's passing.

"Thank you, Ben, it's fine, I know you still care about me," I say

"I do, and I'm so sorry that I ever treated you like I didn't," he says.

"Thank you," I say not really sure what else to say.

"Elena, I have something else to tell you," he says

Oh god, of all the days to "have something to tell me" he sure picked a terrible day. What's he going to say? Shit. I stand there waiting for him to say something.

"Elena I love you," he says

Awesome...

I stand silent taking in what he just said. Does he love me? He sure picked a great day to tell me.

"Ben I...um"

"It's ok Elena, I know right now probably isn't the best time, I just needed to tell you, because I mean, I want to be the one you come too when your sad or just need a friend," he says

It would have been easier to come to you for a friend if I didn't know you loved me but ok

"Um, ya, Ben right now just isn't a good time, but thank you for telling me. I just really can't think of anything but my family right now." I say

"I understand, can I at least leave you with something?" He asks

"What do you mean?" I ask

Ben doesn't hesitate, he instantly grabs my waist and kisses me. I feel myself being caught completely off guard and I'm not sure what to do. His kiss is soft and passionate and I instantly fall into him. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back. He holds me closer to him and we push into each other.

I pull away from him and he looks at me.

"I love you, Elena," he says kissing my cheek and letting me go.

I stand there and let him walk away. I feel my hand brush over my lips as j try to figure out what just happened. I turn to see an empty hallway and sigh. I start to walk back to the grand hall and walk straight into Draco.

"Elena," he says "I need to talk to you"

Great...