Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"It's not fair," Harry murmurs, showing me the prophet. I roll my eyes as I skim the article.

"They're just trying to keep people from fighting back." I sigh, stabbing my salad a little too hard. "God forbid anyone be prepared for another death eater attack like at the World Cup."

"Between this and Umbridge, I'm ready to drop out of school," Ron says through a mouthful of food. "It's like the ministry is taking over Hogwarts."

"That's disgusting, Ron," I tell him, pushing a napkin onto his plate. "They're scared of Dumbledore right now. He's obviously on Harry's side, and they don't want him getting the school to believe Voldemort's back."

"Stupid," Hermione mutters. I notice a sharp movement at the Slytherin table, Malfoy yanking his hand away from Pansy.

"Stupid is right," Harry says. I zone out as I watch the two. Malfoy's eyes are narrowed, and I can hear the anger in his voice as Pansy shrinks back, her mouth gaping a little. A moment later, after his rant is over, he stands up and storms out of the Great Hall. I watch him go, biting my lip. What was that about?

"Elizabeth?"

"Hm?" I snap out of my daze when I hear my name. "I'm sorry, Hermione. What did you say?"

"I asked if you wanted to go to the library," she says, a slightly nervous smile playing on her lips.

"Oh, yes, of course." I take one last bite of my meal and grab my bag from the floor. "See you guys later."

The boys say bye as Hermione and I get up to make our way to the library. "What do you want to work on? I kind of want to knock out the potions essay."

I laugh lightly. "I've found if I don't do potions work early enough, I end up waiting as long as I can. There's a reason my grade is so bad in that class."

"Oh, it is not," she accuses jokingly, readjusting the strap on her shoulder. "Elizabeth?"

"Yes?"

"You've seemed a little quiet the past few weeks," she notices. "You're okay, right? I mean, the only times you're like this are when Malfoy seems to be getting to you."

Shit.

"I'm okay. He hasn't been bothering me much this year," I lie.

"That's good. I just wanted to make sure," she says. "He's a pain to us all, but...I don't know. He's always been particularly interested in you."

I'm not so sure he is anymore, I think.

"I..." I laugh a little, trying to hide my nerves. "I don't know. He got to me in third year, for sure, but it hasn't been so bad since then."

I look over, and she's smiling a little.

"What about you?" I ask as we go through the library doors. "Are you alright? Not taking multiple classes per period again, I hope."

She giggles. "Oh, no. Never doing that again."

I see Malfoy sitting at one of the tables, his fingers tangled in his hair as he stares down at an open book with an empty piece of parchment beside it. I'm surprised homework is his go-to after what was obviously an argument between him and Pansy.

Hermione keeps talking, and I know I'm not helping my case by not contributing much to our conversation. I want to know what their conversation was about.

When he glances up for the first time, he catches me watching him. Hermione is across from me, so my eyes flicker back to her in hopes he won't notice. When I glance back over, however, he's shaking his head a little, still looking.