Toxic Crush

~35~

Breakfast the next morning was an interesting affair for Clara, considering she hadn't gone back to her dormitory last night.

Cho and Luna hadn't even noticed. They were early sleepers and they assumed she was out doing her prefect duties, however, Padma could never seem to get to sleep, and she had been up half the night wondering where Clara had gone.

"Where were you last night." Padma asked her as she slid into the seat next to her on the bench.

This wasn't the first time Clara had stayed out all night, but it was the first time Padma wanted actual answers.

"I slept in the room of requirement." She told her truthfully, skimming her timetable and placing it in her bag.

"With?" Urged Padma.

"Myself."

Padma sighed. "It was Malfoy wasn't it?"

"What?!" Clara hissed, dropping her bag to the floor and turning to face her friend. "How do you... who did you..."

"Relax. No one told me."

"Then how do you-"

"I'm observant." Padma told her simply, folding her arms and smiling.

Clara laced her fingers together and sighed. "Congratulations. Does anyone else know?"

"No."

"Know what?" Cho asked, coming to sit opposite the two of them and serving herself breakfast.

"About Malfoy."

"Padma!"

"Cho already knows!" Padma cried indignantly.

Clara placed her head in her palms. "Does anyone else know?"

"No." Padma assured her. "Not even Luna."

"Thank god." Clara sighed with relief.

"Where is Luna anyway?" Asked Cho, turning around in her seat to look for her.

Padma smiled. "She's at the Gryffindor table with Neville."

"Again?"

"Again."

Clara laughed and tied her hair up, pulling two strands out at the front and looking at her wristwatch-- waiting for classes to start.

"Does anyone have potions first?" She asked, tightening her ponytail and folding her arms on the table to lean on them.

"I do." Terry said. "Anyone else?"

"Nope."

Michael pushed his plate of finished food towards the center of the table. "Let me know how this slug man is, I need to know whether I should drop potions before it's too late."

"Yeah, okay."

Clara tapped her hands on the table in inattentive bursts and looked at the clock again.

"That's a nice ring Clara." Marcus commented as he sat down at the table and yawned.

"Oh... thanks Marcus." She said, copying his yawn.

Terry looked up from his conversation with Michael. "It's on the wrong finger... unless you're engaged." He joked.

"Shut up! You're not engaged!" Exclaimed Padma excitedly.

"No! I most certainly am not!" Clara defended.

"Why are you blushing then?" Asked Terry with a smirk.