Love How It Hurts - Draco Malfoy Fiction

Chapter 10- Comforting The Enemy

Alexis's POV-

Raindrops rolled down the stained glass windows. The mermaid carefully painted onto it, crying. I could feel it already; apprehension. It was flowing through the air, infecting anyone who happened to breathe in, despite the defences of happy pretences. I included.

I heard heavy footfalls draw near to me.

“Hey Alexis!” Skyler panted beside me.

“Hey. We have defences against the Dark Art’s now. Snape cannot take this lesson today so McGonagall is covering.”

“That’s odd. It’s last lesson too.” Skyler said thoughtfully.

I nodded in agreement as we reached the old, abandoned classroom on the fourth floor.

“Why are we here?” Skyler asked suspiciously.

“I’m not sure. There was a note on the door telling our class to go this classroom.”

Skyler had just begun to reach out and turn the rusty door knob when her eyes widened. “Oh no, I forgot. I have to go; it’s the quidditch try-outs for Slytherin today!”

I had no sooner opened my mouth to reply when I caught a glimpse of her cloak whipping round the nearest corridor. She was always vanishing lately; something was not right. Sighing and shaking my head slightly, I pushed open the door which made a shrill cry. Thirty pairs of eyes began to study me: Malfoys included.

Professor McGonagall raised her head and looked at me sternly. “Miss. Gilbert you’re late but I shall forgive you this once due to the sudden change in your usual lesson pattern.”

I nodded in sign of gratitude and stepped forward, preparing to take my usual seat at the back of the class, when McGonagall halted my actions. “Miss Gilbert please go stand in front of that closet over there.”

I followed her actions, nervously, and went and stood, as directed, next to haggard-looking, oak closet.

McGonagall turned back to the confused pack of students. “Everyone, form a straight line behind Miss Gilbert. Excuse me, Mr Malfoy do not push.”

Once everyone had formed a straight line- or a rather uneven one, McGonagall spoke once more. “Now in that closet is a boggart. You know how to handle one I understand, so, please begin”

The crowded line behind me backed up in fear, leaving me deserted. My body froze as the closet slowly creaked open; Bellatrix Lestrange emerging. My wand shot up as I quickly muttered the spell to cast the beast away; I succeeded.

I prepared myself for frantic whispers and gasps of fright and shock; they did not come. Apparently, no one had seen the form the boggart had chosen to take in an attempt to terrify me; everyone except one person- Malfoy. He smirked.

As I glided by him, his arm sprung out and caught my own, preventing me from moving any further. “Scared Gilbert?”

“Oh, I really can see how you are related to that monster!” I hissed whilst wrenching my arm from his firm grip and hurrying to the back of the classroom.

Now it was Malfoys turn. I was wondering what or who he could possibly be afraid of when the closet door opened slightly and all that could be seen was the hem of a billowing, black cloak. However, before anyone had an opportunity to see Malfoy’s form of the boggart, he snapped out his wand and cast it away.

McGonagall gave him a short nod and he stalked to the back of the line next to me, his face paling.

“Scared Malfoy?” I asked, mocking him from earlier.

He avoided my eye contact. “Shut up. You know nothing!”

I frowned. “Malfoy is something wrong? Don’t take it personally what I said to you earlier about Bellatrix…”

He ran a single hand through his hair, contradicting his usual, immaculate style. “Do you honestly think it is because of you? I couldn’t care less what you say. Believe me; I have much bigger things to about than your stupid retorts.”

Inhaling a deep breath of support, I attempted to comfort him. “Everyone is afraid of him, not just you. I know im petrified but being scared is not going to win the battle.”

He let out an angry growl. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Voldemort.” I said simply.

Malfoy released a small shudder, which, on normal occasions, I would not have noticed but I had been studying his reaction closely.

“Don’t speak his name!” He snapped sharply which caused something to dawn on me.

“It was him wasn’t it? The boggart.”

“No. It was nothing. I am not afraid of anything or anyone. And if you do not shut up right now, I will curse you into oblivion.” He said his voice so dangerously low, I knew he was being serious.

The rest of the lesson passed by without I or Malfoy muttering another word to each other; alough our eyes did meet multiple times- Malfoy’s holding only a cold expression. But amongst all of the ice, I saw something else. Fear. Something was not right. With Skyler also. And tonight, I was going to confront her about it, even if it meant entering the place I deeply despised amongst my natural born enemys; the Slytherin common room.