All I Ask Of You (Sequel to "The Point Of No Return (Draco Malfoy)"

Chapter Four

I skipped breakfast the next morning. I took my books and went straight to Arithmancy at nine o’clock.  When I got there I took the same seat I had last year. It was located all the way in back, closest to the door.

            I picked this seat for various reasons. One, in the spring and early fall, that room could get very warm and the only draft came in from the door. Two, Professor Vector liked to pick on the kids in the front. And three, sitting by the exit made for a speedy escape from the torture of class.

            I was arranging the things in my bag when the rest of the class began to file into the room. The Ravenclaw’s all took the front seats in the room. They were known for being smart and most of them I recognized. A couple said “hello” to me and one asked how my summer was. The rest either smiled slightly or completely ignored me.

            Then my own house followed in. I decided to keep my head down and they didn’t seem in the mood to talk either. The seat next to me remained empty. A bell rang through the school, signaling the start of class.

            Professor Vector was never a teacher who wasted time and began with a lesson right away. Vector passed out our books and quickly began droning on and on about what’s in them and what we’ll be learning all year.

            I began to drift off. That’s when I felt someone sit down on the bench next to me. I picked my head up, turning to the dark figure. I quickly looked away when I saw who it was.

            I started to take down the notes in the most intense manner I could. I tried to keep my mind on the material, writing down everything that came out of Vector’s mouth, but the blonde haired boy sitting mere inches from me was a major distraction.

            Vector made some reference to Draco being late, but left it as first day business, continuing with the lesson. The material usually came easily to me, but if we never switched seats, I knew this year would be torture.

            Draco sighed and began to play with edges of the paper in his open book. He shifted on the bench, knocking his quill to floor. I clenched my jaw. The quill sat still on the floor at the edge of my foot.

            When he didn’t pick it up I stared at him. He continued to look forward, pretending to be paying attention to Vector. I scoffed, bending down and stretching for the quill. I took it in my fingers and started to sit up, thumping the top of my head on the wood of the desk as I did so.

            “Shit.” I said, sitting up straight. The room went silent and many of the students turned to look at me, including Draco. I apologized to the professor and class resumed. With one hand I held the top of my head and with the other I handed the quill to Draco.

            A smirk rose on his face and he whispered “you’re crazy.” His hand grazed mine and he took the quill from me. I didn’t say anything. I just closed my book, took my bag, and stormed out of the room.

            I could hear Vector call after me, but decided I didn’t care enough to answer or return to class. All I wanted today was to get through the day without having a breakdown and it had already happened and it was only nine thirty.

            Since Herbology didn’t start until eleven, I retreated to the great hall, hoping that Monica didn’t have a class and was in there. Turns out, she didn’t have a class that period.

            I sat down next to her and she closed her book. “What are you doing here?” She asked. I threw my arms around her. She hugged me back, rubbing my back as I wallowed.