Henrietta Potter || Draco Malfoy

16 - The Bathroom

Taking Cedric's advice, I woke up early one morning, grabbed my golden egg and crept out of the common room.

Life after the ball had been weird. Ron and Hermione carried on talking after their spat, but there was an awkwardness between them that had not been there before. I chose to ignore it, hoping it would eventually go away.

And then there was Cedric. He would smile coyly at me across the hall at mealtimes but apart from that - nothing. I wondered if he had regretted taking me to the ball. I didn't know what I was hoping from him, and I didn't know how to talk to him.

The least I could do was to take his advice and try and work out what this stupid second task would entail.

Following the directions he had given me, I found the door to the prefects bathroom, hovering by it hesitantly.

"Like some company, Potter?"

I froze at the familiar drawling voice, my breath hitching in my throat. I had been avoiding Draco Malfoy ever since that night, for obvious reasons.

I looked up at his approaching figure, his hands casually stuffed in his pockets. He wore his usual smirk across his smug face as his eyes danced delightedly into mine.

"Get bent, Malfoy," I muttered, clasping the egg tightly in my hands.

"No need to be so rude," he closed the distance between us, stopping only inches from me. A whiff of his cologne hit me, making me shiver involuntarily.

"So, pretty boy has told you about the bathroom, has he?" he continued, leering down at me.

"How would you even know? It's not like you're a prefect, Malfoy," I spat, wishing he would just piss off.

"Oh, I know things, Potter," he growled, leaning in closer to me. I dared look into his eyes and they glinted wickedly into mine. "I know red suits you. Gave me something to think about in the shower."

I recoiled in utter revulsion. If this creepy git thought this was actually flattering, then he could think again.

"Seriously, Malfoy," I sniped, "get back to Pansy before she chops your balls off."

But this didn't seem to deter him.

"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" he grinned widely. "Pretty boy not joining you then? If you ask nicely, I might be willing."

"In your dreams, prick," I said, pushing him away. He had gotten far too close for comfort.

He chuckled as he staggered backwards. "Oh don't you know it, Potter."

I wrenched the door open, hastily sliding into the bathroom before shutting it firmly behind me.

My heart was hammering in my chest and my breathing fast and shallow. I leant my head back against the door waiting to calm down. Draco Malfoy had gotten me completely riled up and I did not like it one bit.

I made sure to put extra charms on the lock, ensuring he wouldn't do something so stupid as to follow me in.

And then I noticed the room I was in.

Bloody hell! This place was something else. With warm colours and soft lighting, I could see why prefects would come here to relax. It was huge, yet cosy at the same time, with a bathtub resembling the size of a large swimming pool. Golden taps lined the edges, all of which appeared to be pouring from them different coloured bubbles.

I eagerly stripped off my clothes and sank into the warm, welcoming water.

Turned out I had company.

Moaning Myrtle.

She was very giggly and rather annoying. I just wanted her to leave me alone so I could work out how to find the clue.

In the end, Myrtle finally told me to dunk it under water. She was pissing me off, talking about how she had watched Cedric naked in the bath.

Maybe I ought to introduce her to Draco, they both seemed just as horny as the other.

But in the meantime, I just wanted to get out of there - away from her.

So, I found out that my second task was going to be in the depths of the Great Lake and that I had to retrieve something precious from it.

How the fuck was I going to breathe?!

I ran back to the common room, hoping at least Hermione would be able to help me.

"I thought you said you worked out the clue ages ago?!" Hermione scolded me.

"I - uh- I... I lied." I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. "Sorry."

The problem was, the second task was only days away. Time seemed to have passed me by and, in all the drama, I had forgotten about the egg.

"Merlin, Etta!" Ron cried like the dramatic ass he is. "What are we going to do?!"

But that was just it. It wasn't them who had to do anything. It was me. All sodding me.

***