Bad Blood | Draco Malfoy

f i f t e e n

          "Right, you've had all term to do this homework, so I'm expecting your maps to be filled with constellations," Professor Sinistra says at the end of the lesson.  I glance to Malfoy beside me, who is already looking at me with circumspect.  All the work on this map is my own, due to Malfoy not bothering as much as I did.  He's probably expecting me to take credit for all the work, just to spite him after our last chat three days ago.

          I walk over to the line behind Sinistra with the map in my hands.  When the professor finally addresses me, she unrolls the parchment and looks over all the constellations I've drawn and corrected.  "This is the most accurate map I've seen so far," Sinistra tells me.  "Who is your partner?"

          "Draco Malfoy," I say.

          "50 points to Slytherin for this incredible piece of homework!"  Sinistra smiles.  I thank her and walk back to where I was sitting.  A platinum blonde boy looks at me with disbelief, walking up to me quickly.

          "de Lange, what the hell?"  Malfoy hisses.  "I didn't do shit, you should have taken the credit."

          "It doesn't matter.  Our names are on that map, it's our work."

          "You're stupid."

          "I know," I give Malfoy a one sided grin.  "But I owe you one, after what I said."  Before he can say anything I leave the class, feeling happier than before.

          When I reach my dormitory I shower quickly and change into a white vest top and black shorts.  I magically dry my hair and brush it, avoiding the mirror so I don't begin to examine my face.  I leave the bathroom and then pick up my book from beside my bed.  It's a book about the Muggle discovery of witches and their approaches of sussing out our kind.  Reading it is slightly scary, knowing that if I'm ever exposed I could be killed or experimented upon.  Currently, I'm reading the part about the Salem Witch Trials in America.  It's an interesting chapter, but I have to stop every so often to process the violent things they do to witches.

          I decide to read in the common room by the fire. I recline upon the sofa and open up my book, reading carefully about the burning of several Muggles mistaken as witches.  I'm so stuck in my book that I barely notice someone taking a seat beside my feet.  The person sighs, shifting uncomfortably.  It takes a few minutes, while I'm turning my page, for the stranger to speak up.  "How come you walked off like that after Astronomy?  Are you okay?"  Malfoy.  I smirk behind my book, pretending to read as he continues to speak.  "You didn't have to do what you did."

         "I needed to do something after what I said to you," I say to Malfoy.  "Even if we didn't have that argument, I would've let you share the credit anyways."

          Malfoy's silent.  He's probably thinking, thinking about why I would ever let him get praise for something he hasn't shown much interest in doing.  I've already answered that question earlier anyways, so there isn't any point of him asking me.  "I'm sorry," I finally say.  "I should've thought before I said what I did.  I'm really stupid."

          "I know," he says, making me scoff.  "But you're sweet.  Thank you, Mira."  I feel my cheeks heat up.  Luckily, my face is still behind my book, so he can't see me.

         "You're welcome," I reply in a soft voice.  Nothing else is said after that.  I continue to read, while Malfoy sits beside me awkwardly.  I don't know what else I'm meant to say to him.  He may as well get some sleep, but no, he decides to sit here with me even though I'm not doing anything to make him want to stay.  I should do something.