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

Chapter Five

On Tuesday mornings I had my favorite class; Muggle Music. I could tell within the first five minutes that it was where I belong. I live, breathe, and will die with music in my soul.

            I didn’t know anyone in my class. I looked around the room, doodling aimlessly in my book. We’d been given books that had all the classic information in them. We’d study Mozart, Beethoven, and every other musical prodigy.

            This year I’d dropped the book bag and resorted to carrying my books around. I was adapting to using less and less paper, especially since the information is already in the books. There’s no need to copy it.

            I skipped breakfast that morning, avoiding the possibility of an awkward confrontation with Draco. I’d made it this far, there wasn’t any turning back.

            We were just over a month into the school year and I’d decided on the first day that I wasn’t going to let Draco Malfoy ruin my fifth year. Even on my birthday I didn’t talk to him.

            I had class with him that day, though. And he tried to talk to me once, but I turned my head and continued working. He wasn’t allowed to ruin my fifteenth birthday.

            I celebrated that night with my friends. Lucinda had a cake and everything. We played games in the common room and listened to our favorite radio show as we fell asleep in my room.

            They gave me gifts, even though I told them not to. Thank God they were small things, like nail polish, CD’s, and honey. The honey was from Aly, because I’m “so sweet”, just like the honey. I laughed when I opened it and hugged her.

            Even Monica helped me celebrate. She gave me a charm of a tiny piano for my charm bracelet. I couldn’t believe that she’d done that for me and I thanked her a million times.

            After Muggle Music was Transfiguration. I’d gotten interested in it last year and had become friendly with Professor McGonagall. She told me she was there if I needed anything or needed to talk to someone, referring to Cedric’s death. I thanked her for her offer and class has been wonderful ever since.

            I wasn’t picked on or called out during the lesson. We did group participations and I liked not being alone. Sure, most of my class hates each other, which is understandable under the circumstances. We Slytherins had Transfiguration with Gryffindor. I didn’t mind it though. Hermione Granger was in my class and we got along quite well.

            I sat behind Hermione, not wanting to stir up the bad emotions in my classmates. We passed notes sometimes when she wasn’t too busy copying everything McGonagall said. I liked Hermione, but she went a bit overboard sometimes.

            After spending all of lunch and my break contemplating who I should choose for the artist report I have to put together for Muggle Music, I was glad to focus on something other than people.

            Potions was a difficult topic for me, but presented plenty of distractions from other things. This particular day was different though. Professor Snape was in a bad mood and it wasn’t hard to tell why.

            “Because of the incompetence of your classmates,” He said in his slow, monotone voice, “I will be assigning seats to each and every one of you.”

            Dull moans filled the room and everyone gathered their things off the tables. We all stood in one corner of the room. I stood with Harry Potter, hoping to be assigned the same table as him.

            Harry and I had become a sort of friends. We both didn’t like to talk about what happened last year, but we knew we were both having a hard time with it. We were silent friends. We barely talked, but when we did, it was like we’d known each other for a long time.

            Snape chose students at random, pointing to where they’d sit for the remainder of the term. He separated Harry and Ron, placing them at tables across the room.

            As the crowd around me thinned, I glanced around nervously. At least I had a chance at sitting at a table with someone I knew. But then Snape called my name.

            He tapped his fingers on the table I’d be sitting at. The blood drained from my face when I saw who I’d be sharing equipment with. My stomach twisted at the thought of breathing the same air.

            But I tightened my grip around my books and made my way to the table anyway. I put my things down slowly, sitting down. That’s when I felt a shoe kick me in the shin.

            My eyes snapped up and glaring back at me was pure evil in the eyes of Pansy Parkinson. “Stop.” I muttered. She continued to kick me until it began to hurt.

            I pulled my leg away. “What is your problem?” I asked her. She continued to stare me down.

            “I already know you don’t like me. I don’t like you either. But I didn’t do anything to you so leave me alone.” I muttered again.

            “You ruined him.” She spat, crossing her arms.

            “What are you talking about?” I almost yelled. Snape was coming closer. He could hear the debacle and I wanted it to stop. I didn’t need to get in trouble.

            “You screwed with him and now he’s not the same. You’re a menace. You’re a lousy bitch Natalie. You don’t deserve him!” My jaw dropped. I didn’t know what to say to her. All I could do was shake my head.

            “You’re wrong.” I mumbled. But then I thought of what I wanted this year. I didn’t want to be the bottom of the food chain. I didn’t want to be Pansy Parkinson’s little puppet. I didn’t want to be taken advantage of… and if I did nothing, she’d get exactly what she wanted.

            “You know, I never liked you Pansy. You don’t even know what happened last year. You don’t know all of the garbage that I put up with. You don’t know how bad I just really want to slug you right now. Don’t ever call me a lousy bitch again, because if you do, I will find you and I will personally rearrange your face.” I answered aggressively.

            Suddenly my arm was jerked up. Snape was there, pulling me across the room to another table. He pushed me to another seat, which I happily took, and slammed my books on the table.

            I looked to my right and cursed to myself. I couldn’t decide what was worse: sitting at a table with a girl who wants to kill me… or sitting next to Draco Malfoy himself.

            I folded my arms on my desk and put my head down, trying to calm down. Then felt someone’s breath on my ear.

            “I never liked her anyway.” His whispered. I lifted my head slightly, just enough to see him shrug and look away.

            Snape returned to his place in the front of the room. “I will not tolerate harassment in my classroom any longer… Miss Parkinson.” His eyes shot over to Pansy and she grumbled, mumbling under her breath.

            But I’d won this round. I’d showed Pansy Parkinson that I wasn’t going to take her bullshit any more. I showed her that I was stronger than last year and she couldn’t rain on my parade anymore. And if she did, at least I had Draco on my side… I think.