Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Twenty-Four

I think if I had known that I was going to be attacked by a werewolf a few days before it happened, I would have been a lot more scared. Knowing that it was inevitable, that I'd soon be cut so severely that I'd have scars left on my body.

Except I didn't know. I didn't have to worry, because I never knew what was coming. It was scary, but at least I didn't have to imagine what it might be like for my skin to be clawed open for days prior.

Knowing about the dragon beforehand was both a blessing and a curse; I could prepare, but getting hurt still had to be inevitable, wasn't it? Facing a dragon in front of the entire school was going to happen, no matter what I did to stop it.

I sit in the champions' tent, my elbows on my knees with my forehead resting in my palms. My heel bounces up and down against the grass, nearly matching the pace of my heart as my nearly empty stomach twists with every new fear that comes my way. Harry sits in the chair next to me, just as anxious, his wand spinning in his hand.

I reach up to feel my hair once again, which has been pulled back into a tight ponytail. Hermione smoothed it down for me this morning, and although it seems useless given it'll probably all fall out during the fight, it made me feel kind of cool; the robes were almost like the quidditch uniform, tight but comfortable, giving me a slightly dangerous look. Fleur and I almost appear similar, although my hair is a darker blonde than hers.

Later in the day after meeting with Moody, I found Fleur and explained the task to her. Surprisingly, we ended up having a nice talk, ending in her hugging me and commenting on how brave I am. It made me happy to have someone like her think of me like that; although, for some reason I was in a good mindset that day, the complete opposite of what I feel now.

A small click calls my gaze upward, and my face immediately hardens into a glare. Skeeter stands before me, her thoughtless smirk snapping me out of my daze.

"Nervous, dear?" she asks me. I ignore her, Viktor Krum averting her attention from me a moment after.

"This tent is for champions only," he snaps, and she raises her eyebrow a little, not affected by his tone.

"Oh dear, I'm truly sorry," she giggles. "I guess I'll be going, then." She snaps a picture of his icy stare before darting out of the tent right as Hermione enters.

"How do you two feel?" she asks, shifting her weight on her feet.

"I think I'm going to throw up," I admit, holding my stomach.

"Like a million bucks," Harry adds sarcastically.

"Come here!" she sighs, opening her arms. We both embrace her in a small group hug, right as Dumbledore and Barty Crouch enter the tent.

"Gather, champions!" Crouch calls out, and we separate from each other. Hermione offers a nervous smile and a wave before leaving us. Feeling like I still need moral support, I grab Harry's hand, him immediately squeezing back. "The task is simple enough. You each will face a dragon to get the golden egg. These dragons are very protective of these eggs, so it will be no easy feat. Understand?"

We all nod. I can feel my legs losing all feeling as they begin to shake.

"You will now each choose a dragon from this bag," he says, holding up a small sack. "Ladies first," he continues, holding it out to Fleur. Once she chooses a small green one, I tentatively reach my hand into the bag. Heat envelopes my fingers as they close around what feels like a spiky tail.

I pull out a deep black dragon with ridges along its back, and sure enough, there's a line of spikes going down its tail. Purple eyes stare up at me as the creature lets out a puny roar.