Toxic Crush

~21~

The room of requirement was perfect for meetings, and all of them fit inside it perfectly. The group had called itself 'Dumbledore's Army', at Ginny's suggestion, or the DA for short.

They used fake galleons as a way of communication that glowed and showed meeting times.

Clara and Harry were a perfect team when it came to teaching the group, and members kept joining as word spread.

After a particularly long day of classes, Clara decided to take a bath in the prefect bathroom before the last DA meeting for the term, and she went straight there after class; unaware that she was being followed.

She closed the door to a chamber behind her and began to fill up the bath, which to be fair, was more of a pool.

She dropped her body into the warm water and swam a few little laps before climbing back out and draining the water.

She left the chamber and went into the main bathroom to brush her hair out, but jumped and dropped her hair brush when she saw a figure already standing there.

"Draco!" She gasped. "You scared me."

Clara hadn't spoken to Draco since he'd broken down in Hogsmeade, and she was very careful as she approached him.

"Hey Clara." He said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Listen, I am so sorry that I lost it at you."

She stayed silent, staring at his calculated expression.

"I really am. I was... Out of line."

"You really were."

He nodded in agreement. "Please forgive me."

"I forgive you." She said quietly, going into his arms. "See me tomorrow night?"

"Of course I will. How about tonight?"

"I'm busy." She said. "I have a meeting of sorts."

"A meeting?"

"Yeah, just a few of us meet up and learn defensive spells while toad face isn't watching."

Draco laughed and grabbed a hold of her hand. "Pothead and his friends aren't going to be there are they?"

"Yes..."

His grip on her hand tightened warningly.

"But there will be sixty odd other people there, so you don't have to worry about me spending too much time with them."

"Good." He said, pulling her into him. "Be careful please?"

All the anger had ebbed out of his voice and Clara smiled. "I will."

"And don't talk to Potter."

Clara sucked air through her teeth and shut her eyes for a second.

"Draco, please don't try to control me."

His eyes widened in panic. "I'm not trying to be possessive-"

"But you are." She said. "I can look after myself."

"But I want to look after you."

Clara was stuck. Half of her wanted to be looked after and protected by him, but the other told her that these were serious reg flags, and she should walk away from the toxicity.

"I'll be okay." She said.

"No you won't." Draco hissed. "You'll have the time of your life as you sneak around with them, and you'll listen to them as they slowly brainwash you with bullshit until you hate me. You'll leave me."