Loving Draco

four

Draco

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT this year. The students are different. Specifically the girls. They've grown into their baggy uniforms a bit more and have less acne on their foreheads. 

Girls like Evangeline Woods.

She just so happens to be in three of my classes this year, and I don't terribly mind. She's most definitely not the hottest girl, but she's not the worst. I've been messing with her a lot lately, she's an extreme challenge. And yet, I can't seem to stop bugging her. 

"It's that girl, isn't it?"

I had forgotten that I was sitting in the Great Hall with Blaise, I was too occupied in my own thoughts. 

Blaise doesn't talk much, which I quite enjoy. Unlike Crabbe and Goyle, who won't shut their traps, Zabini's company is far more tolerable.

"What girl?" I smirk.

"You know what girl. Woods."

"Mm. What about her?"

Zabini shakes his head, likely considering not continuing the conversation; but he does.

"You've been stalking her for days. Either you fancy her or you've a diabolical plan to ruin the poor beauty's life."

Me? Fancying a girl like her? That's hysterical. What is he thinking? Wait...he thinks she's beautiful?

"Beauty?" I question, raising one eyebrow.

He shrugs his shoulders and nods, "She's quite stunning."

I let out a laugh at his low standards. However, hearing him call her beautiful made me almost want to punch the lad. Why? Who the bloody hell knows. "Alright, Zabini," I tease between chuckles, "go back to not talking, yeah?" 

He rolls his eyes and turns his head to look a the entrance of the Great Hall. I hear a shriek of laughter, which can only be coming from one person. Stomping steps approach me, but I keep my head forward, watching Zabini widen his eyes and look away. 

"Drakie - Poo!" A pair of petite arms wrap around my shoulders and squeeze too tightly to be comfortable.

"Parkinson." I mumble. Honestly, Pansy was fun for the first few weeks of school, when she started showing interest in me, but now she's like a bloody parasite. I can't get rid of her.  I've known her for most of my life, and she's always been a bit irritating, but it's been taken to a whole new level. 

"You smell so good." She says into the fabric of my robes. I shrug her off, creeped out by her statement and look to Blaise for help. He shrugs his shoulders with a smirk on his face. I shoot a glare at him and turn back to Pansy, who has taken a seat next to me. 

"I haven't seen you all day!" She exclaims. 

"I've been busy." I reply indifferently. 

"Okay," she starts, "who wants to hear some gossip?"

Neither Blaise nor I respond to her, giving her a clear answer, but she goes on anyways. 

"So apparently, Evangeline Woods and Astoria Greengrass have been hanging out a lot lately, and I personally think it's because Evangeline can't find any other friends in Slytherin, but Daphne thinks that she's trying to make her Gryffindor friends jealous because she's got her own friend." Blaise and I exchange looks at the mention of  Woods. 

"That's great, Parkinson." I don't care to hear anymore of this nonsense, so I make up an excuse to leave, "I'm going to the common room, I've studying to do." I stand up and walk away.

"See you tomorrow Drakie - Poo!" Pansy calls behind me.

"Yeah, see ya Drakie - Poo!" Blaise yells, causing a grin to form on my face.

____________

The first task of the Triwizard Tournament is tomorrow and I could not be dreading it more. Another day with Potter in the bloody spotlight, the hero, the saint, the Chosen One. I've considered not going to watch, but I decided that if there is even the slightest chance that Potter will get his arse beaten, I want to see it. 

 Breakfast is unbearable. The Slytherin table is served the worst parts of the meals and is located furthest away from the window, of course. Contrary to popular beliefs, I much prefer windows to dark chambers, they're all I've seen my entire life. 

Blaise has skipped breakfast this morning to go to the library so I'm stuck here with Crabbe and Goyle. Crabbe is chewing a drumstick horrifically loud while Goyle is searching for a house elf to refill his pumpkin juice. 

I slide my plate over to Crabbe. "You don't want it?" He asks with a mouth full of food.

I wince at the sight of chewed processed meat, "It's practically poison. Someone very well may be trying to poison me." I'm the only Malfoy child. The richest pureblood family in the Wizarding World. There are most likely tons of people who want me dead. 

Feeling quite irritated by the unfathomably irritating chewing of Crabbe, and Goyle droning on about some girl in his class, I got up and abandoned the table, deciding to head to History of Magic so I could pick whatever seat I wished. 

As I walked, I began thinking. All of my friends seem different this year, more interested in other things. They aren't giving me enough attention.  Perhaps I should rough up a first year. I'm sure that would get people talking. The girls would go crazy. Girls. One girl. Woods. 

Wait, what? Woods? That's disgusting. Lord, all that horrific cafeteria food is messing with my mind, I swear it -

"Ow!" My thoughts are interrupted when a body crashes into me. Papers fly everywhere and I take a step back to keep my balance. 

"Would you watch where you're going, you sly git!" I recognize her voice instantly, strangely enough. She's frantically searching the floor for her papers, her auburn hair covering her face. 

"My apologies." I say, smirking. 

This causes her to freeze and finally look up at me. She groans and dusts off her legs, "Draco." She says in disgust. 

"Woods." I reply snily, offering my hand to help her up. Evangeline looks at me tiredly and sighs. She places her hand in mine, and I take a moment to acknowledge how much smaller they are than mine. After I help her up she tears her hand from mine immediately. To avoid the awkward moment she turns to pick up her papers, stuttering nervously and fidgeting uncomfortably. 

This girl should be a bloody Hufflepuff. I thought to myself.

Woods climbed back to her feet and looked to the floor, "Uh, thanks." 

"Just watch where you're going next time." I say. 

"You ran into me!" She defends, her face turning slightly red. 

"Okay, Woods, sure." I walk around her and listen as she huffs in annoyance and stomps away.