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

Chapter Ten

I didn’t go back to the Astronomy Tower again that week. I didn’t see Draco again until Friday, when I was studying in the library.

            Friday was the best day to get my work done. I only had class in the morning, so the rest of the day could be used to catch up on work for other classes.

            I was completely consumed in the book I was reading on transfiguration when Draco Malfoy entered the library. I didn’t hear his footsteps approaching, or the chair next to me being pulled from its place.

            I nearly jumped out of my chair when I saw him sit down from the corner of my eye. “Oh my God. You almost gave me a heart attack.” I said as I put my hand to my chest.

            He smirked. “I apologize.” He said.

            I recognized the warm look in his eyes, but couldn’t tell if he was in the mood to act on it again.

            “It’s okay; I didn’t hear you come in.” I put my hand on the book. “I was just doing some reading for Transfiguration.”

            His eyebrows pulled down for a moment. “You can finish. I’ll wait.” He said, pulling his chair closer to mine. He sat up straight with his right arm resting on the table. I continued with the reading, getting back into the crazy ideas in the book.

            I could feel his hand on my knee then. It sent a shiver up my spine that I tried to disguise, but I could see his smirk from my peripheral vision and I could tell he was quite satisfied with making me squirm.

            As much as I tried to focus on the reading, all I could think about was the feeling of his thumb slowing gliding over my bare knee. His hand was warm and suddenly slid up to my thigh.

            I gasped quietly and the smirk on his face grew. My breathing became even more irregular and my heart raced a mile per minute. I pushed a dark strand of hair out of my face and tucked it behind my hair, attempting to distract myself.

            I read the same line over and over, never coming close to grasping the concept. It was just a bunch of meaningless words strewn together on a page. No matter how many lines I read the words, I couldn’t comprehend them.

            His fingers tightened on my thigh and my muscles tensed. His hand went flat against my skin, and then tightened again.

            His right hand stayed still on the table while his left did the work of making me uncomfortable. I tried my best to stay calm, not draw attention. But it was hard to do when Draco Malfoy’s fingers were lingering at the edge of my skirt.

            The words on the page began to blur and my head snapped up to look Draco in the eye. A devilish smirk rose on his face and it took every bit of self control to hold back from grinning too.

            “Is it your goal to make me uncomfortable?” I questioned.

            His smirk continued. “You love it.” He accused. I shook my head in response to his exclamation.

            “Of course not.” I argued.

            He raised his eyebrows. “You’re a Slytherin. You should know to tell a better lie.” He countered.

            “I can lie!” I argued again. “Maybe not as well as you, but I can lie.” He shook his head at me. “Why are you here anyway? Don’t you have class now?”

            “Lessons are for berks.” He said. “Why play with dirt in Herbology when I could sit in here and do this?”

            I squinted at him. “You better be on Professor Sprout’s good side, or she’ll have your head.” I warned. He laughed softly.

            “I don’t want to discuss Professor Sprout.” He stated.

            “Then what are you doing here?” I asked. He smirked again, running his hand down to my knee and then back up my thigh. My face broke into a grin and I looked away from him, attempting to hide the pleasure.

            “Draco, darling,” I heard. Draco’s hand swiftly retreated to his own lap.  My head snapped towards the center aisle, the way Draco had come in. None other than Delores Umbridge was standing at the end of the aisle.

            “I’m sure you and Miss. Hailey are not interacting inappropriately. Am I correct?” She asked in a fake, condescending tone.

            “Yes Professor.” He answered.

            She put her hand on his shoulder. “Come Draco, the Inquisitorial Squad requires your assistance.”

            He nodded, giving me a look of desperation. I crossed my arms, upset he hadn’t told me of his involvement.

            “I’m sorry.” He said softly.

            “Mr. Malfoy may finish his business with you later, Miss. Hailey.” She gave a sly grin and turned to leave, Draco trailing behind.

            What bothered me most about that woman was her attitude. She simply felt entitled to boss people around, even though it wasn’t her place.

            When Cornelius Fudge made her High Inquisitor, anger filled my thoughts. The problems at Hogwarts were the same as many schools, and less than my school in California.

            But now we’re completely unprepared to take the O.W.L’s and even less prepared for the real world, where actual threats could reach us. What happened last year was a sign and the Ministry is completely ignoring it.

            And the worst part is: Draco seems to think what she’s doing is okay, all because of his hate for Harry Potter. When will this finally be over?