Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Forty-Nine

The next day in the library, I head over to a bookshelf near Draco's table. I pretend to look for something near the end, crouching down a little to get closer to him. "Midnight," I whisper, grabbing the first book that looks interesting as to not return to my table empty-handed. I glance over and he doesn't react, but I know I was close enough for him to hear.

So, like the love-struck fool I am, I go to the Room of Requirement at midnight.

He's not there. I wait for an hour before returning to my room.

The next day, I leave for breakfast later than Hermione, hoping to see him in the corridor. When I do, I make up some reason to be mad at him and get him away from his friends.

"You can't keep doing that. It's weird," he tells me.

"What the hell, Malfoy?" I snap. He doesn't react, staring at me with that infuriating blank expression with a hint of disgust mixed in.

"What?"

"Why didn't you show up last night?" I lower my voice.

"Snape caught me. I got escorted back to my room," he says.

"How did he see you?"

"You think too much, Medlor." He sighs a little, moving to walk away until I grab his arm. He turns back, his nostrils flaring a little as he quickly tries to pull away. "Let go!"

"No!" I say angrily. He finally yanks himself free and shoots me a glare before storming off. I let out a small breath of disbelief, shaking my head. This can't be just because of me leaving that day. There has to be something going on. Those dark circles under his eyes weren't there the last time we met. His arm wasn't so...thin. Almost bony.

At least not last year.

••••••••••

"He disappeared off the map again."

"Who?" I ask, but don't expect Harry to answer me. Things have been weird ever since that comment he made about my father, and while I'm not being completely ignored anymore, our relationship certainly isn't the same. I miss the time when Harry and I were more comfortable with each other than anyone else, when I knew he wouldn't treat me like I was fragile and I wouldn't treat him different just because he's Harry Potter.

"Malfoy?" Ron asks, peering over his shoulder to look at the map. I glance at Hermione in surprise, but she doesn't look fazed by the news.

"It has to be a mistake. Where would he be going that the map can't see?" she asks. I get up to move closer to Harry.

"Where was he before he disappeared?" I ask, my stomach twisting a little as I wonder if it's possible. I feel my heart drop when he points to the seventh floor, right in the hallway of the Room of Requirement. Why would he be going there when he won't even meet me in it anymore?

"Do you know what it is?" Harry asks me.

I quickly shake my head. "No. Just...curious."

"This is the third time this week," he says, his voice sharp and frustrated. "I don't understand where he's going. What he's doing."

"Well, if he is actually a death eater, maybe he's leaving the castle," Ron suggests.

"No one can leave the castle, not from a spot like that." Hermione gestures to the map.

"What else would he be doing?" Harry spits out.

"I think it has to be a mistake," I say. "No one can apparate out of Hogwarts, there's not a fireplace there, and if he were to get out, why choose that spot every time?"