The Girl Who Lived (Draco Malfoy x OC)

The Storm

The Storm

October 18th 1996

The wind was a tyrant. Roaring and groaning, bending tree trunks and splintering branches. Harper pulled her cloak closer as she watched the heavy downpour smash against the windows from her chair in the library. It wasn't often she found herself studying alone in the library, but owing to Ginny and Lavender with their boyfriends all the time it was becoming quite usual. She also wouldn't be here later than Hermione, but Dumbledore's talks were getting later and later. Now it was past nine at night and she was still nose deep in homework. Not to mention the world of water hammering down outside.

Another flash of lightning ripped heaven apart with a roll of thunder to tear silence into pieces.

Yes, she certainly wasn't leaving anytime soon.

And even if she did make it back to her dorm during a break in the weather, Hermione and Lavender would probably be in another shouting match. If she was going to waste time awake, she may as well try cram more study in.

Though she wasn't the only one procrastinating from returning to their dorm and sleeping.

Across the deserted library was another lone student. Pearly-blonde hair, his head perched on an uplifted hand, lolling to the right. Malfoy looked ready for bed. Memories of his tireless night one evening on Stone Bridge graced her mind and she wondered if he still suffered nightmares. Something in her wanted to ask, offer support and even comfort. Her thoughts quickly recoiled as she shoved her brain back into her book.

Long eyelashes, winter eyes and a frame sculpted by an artist. Ever since that redundant night in the trophy room she found the Slytherin to be deliciously attractive. Everything he did was so painstakingly smooth. She was noticing it now, the little things. The way he greeted his friends so cooly, sending them a quick nod or smirk. The way groups of students parted for him in the castle, his natural walk emanating respect and dominance. Just the simple narrowing of his eyes willed others to do his bidding. So much power in one look that Harper wasn't finding arrogant anymore...

No, she saw it completely different now.

Surely her perspective on Malfoy hadn't changed in one night of being civilised. She just wondered when she slowly stopped seeing him as an annoying ferret.

And she wondered if he still saw her as an annoying fame-grubber.

Not that it mattered, she told herself as she copied down more notes. She just found the guy attractive, that was it. He was still an asshole with prejudice beliefs.

A flash of white filled the room, lighting up even the darkest corners. Harper jumped at the shock of lightning, wide eyes fixed on the devastation from the skies outside. Damn, getting back to Gryffindor tower was going to be a mission. She was half considering just bunking in the library. Another flash of lightning burned into her dilated pupils followed hotly by it's cracking boom.

Deciding to leave when the weather next lets up, Harper returned to her studies. Slughorn bidded the class to compose essays on a mental potion of their choice; she had chosen Veritaserum. The potion sat in a wound for her, having been victim to it in fifth year when Umbridge had it out for her. She remembered how defenceless and vulnerable she felt under its influence. Particularly in front of a certain someone. Her eyes flickered to see Malfoy mirroring her actions, scribbling down his own studies. They never spoke about what Harper said to him that day. She wasn't even sure she remembered it correctly, her mind prickly from the potion. But she knew she said something that boosted his confidence as his teasing and taunting was relentless the week to follow.