A Forbidden Love

Chapter 35: Losses

It didn't take long for me to recover, only one class period. I woke up just in time for Potions, my other class with Potter.

While I was out, Madame Pomfrey stitched up my arm and put me in a cast. She let me go to the rest of my classes as long as I promised to come back after they ended. I obviously promised. Today was practical day. I wasn't missing anything more than I had to.

I run all the way to Potions and still arrive a minute late. I open the door and walk in. Snape glares at me, but his expression changes when he sees it's me.

"Take your seat, Malfoy," he says.

I look around the room and see Crabbe and Goyle sitting near Potter, Weasley, and Granger. Potions is the only class that we don't usually sit by Potter in because Snape likes us and hates them. They must not have wanted to sit alone.

I walk over and sit down next to them. A little too loudly, Harry says, "You survived!" He has a smirk on his face, but it's quickly washed away.

"Quiet Potter!" Snape scolds. "For that, you and your annoying red haired friend can cut Malfoy's ingredients."

"B... But..." Ron fights.

"My orders are final, Mr. Weasley." Ron sinks in his seat.

Instead of fighting, Harry grins at me. He leans in and whispers, "Don't worry, babe, I was going to offer anyway."

"I love you," I whisper back.

"I know," he says.

"Mr. Potter! You better not be talking bad about Malfoy or your punishment over there!"

I can't help it. I starting laughing so hard. Harry joins me. Snape glares at both of us now.

"What is so funny? Would you like to share?" Snape asks.

"N... No, sir," I stutter. I hope he doesn't hate me now.

"Then get to work!"

The rest of the class is spent making my potion. Harry and I decide to partner, since he's already doing so much of mine. When we finish our potion, Snape comes over and inspects.

"Nice job, Mr. Malfoy. Even with a broken arm, you did well."

"Actually, sir," I say, nervously, "Potter and I worked on this together."

He looks taken aback. "W... What did you say?"

"I said..." I start, "Potter and I worked together."

"Well I guess that explains why your cauldron is empty, Mr. Potter," Snape says with disappointment in his voice. "Malfoy. I expect to see you in my office at the end of class. Is that understood?"

"Sir?"

"I said, is that understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

I look over at Potter, worry written all over my face. He gives me a sympathetic, but supporting smile, and shrugs. I get up and head to his office. As I'm walking over, he dismisses class. He ushers me into his office and motions for me to sit down.

I barely sit before he says, "Would you like to explain yourself?"

"I don't understand, sir," I say.

"You don't understand? You don't understand?" Each word gets more aggressive.

"No, sir."

"Okay. Well, where should we start. How about with the fact that you and Potter partnered. What was that all about?"

"Umm... Well... I guess I was feeling nice."

"Mr. Malfoy!"

"Sir?"

"I thought you hated him. I expected better of you!"

"Sorry, sir."

"What about you two laughing at me, together. I give you so many advantages and you stab me in the back like that."

"Sorry, sir."

"Sorry is not going to cut it. So, unless you care to explain exactly what happened in class today, you will be reduced to Potter status in my eyes."

Crap! Should I tell him? I don't want to. But I also don't want him to hate me. Then again, what if the truth makes it worse. I don't know what to do."

"Well... Umm..." I say, stalling as long as I can. "I..." I can't do it. "Sorry, sir."

"I expected so much more from you. Feel free to see yourself out."

I get up and walk out the door, head hung low. His last lines continue to play through my mind. I can stop hearing the disappointment in his voice. It hurts so bad.

Crabbe and Goyle are waiting for me right outside the classroom. Lunch is the next period after Potions, so we head to the Great Hall. We walk in silence. I'm not in the mood to talk. I just lost the support of Professor Snape, the head of my house. It's a huge loss.

Before we walk into the Great Hall, Goyle stops and turns to me. "So..." he asks.

"What?" I say, trying to act confused.

Crabbe rolls his eyes. "You can't walk with us in silence and expect us not to think something is up. You never stop talking."

"Yeah," Goyle agrees. "So, what happened in the meeting?"

"Nothing, I swear."

"Draco!" they yell, a little too loudly for my liking.

I cringe. "Okay, fine. I'll explain it when we're in more of a private place."

"We're holding you to that," Goyle says. Without saying another word, hw turns and walks into the Great Hall.

Usually, the food is already lying out when we arrive for lunch, so I was surprised to find the tables empty. I see the rest of my gang, and Crabbe, Goyle, and I walk over to them. They saved just enough space for us on the benches.

My butt barely touches the bench when I hear something I never thought I'd hear. Dumbledore bellows, "Silence!"

I almost fall off the bench. Never, in all my years, would I have expected to hear Dumbledore bellow. Even at the previous meeting when he was yelling, he never bellowed. He must be really angry.

Dumbledore continues, "I thought I had made it clear last time that discrimination is not acceptable! Apparently, my word doesn't matter! So, I'm laying down the rule! Any discrimination, of any form, I don't care your reasoning, will be punished with expulsion! Don't believe me, well, the Slytherins can ask Jackson Hull, who is currently packing and will be catching the train tomorrow morning. Thank you." He sits down, and quickly stands back up. "Oh, and this will be a silent lunch period. Don't test me!"