Merely Misunderstood

Chapter Six

I couldn't help but wonder what Draco's boggart would've turned into.

We never got the chance to find out, however, since once Harry had stepped up to the boggart, Professor Lupin had jumped in front of him and shut the boggart back into the cupboard, dismissing the class.

But what surprised me most was the fact that Malfoy was standing in line at all; I didn't think he'd be one to willingly let everyone see his worst fear; it would damage his reputation.

As I thought about Malfoy standing in line, my mind went back to the conversation we'd had shortly before, and remembered he'd asked, "Was that an invitation?"

It had eventually dawned on me that he was referring to after Potions class, when I'd told him to make new friends:

"If I were you, I'd hang around people you don't have to pretend for."

"Was that an invitation?" was something I never would've expected him to reply.

Ever since I realized this, I couldn't help but look at him differently. There was something different about him now than the past two years; maybe he was finally maturing? No, I doubted it. Mean or not, Malfoy was still Malfoy.

I was staring at him as he lounged in a chair across the library, flipping lazily through a book with his feet on the table.

"Brianna!" Hermione hissed, and I whirled to look at her with my face burning, quickly asking, "What?"

Hermione looked to where I was staring, and she pursed her lips. "No respect at all," she said, her tone disgusted as she shook her head. I stared at her; she seemed to think I was staring at Malfoy because he had his feet up on the table.

I nodded in false agreement, feeling flustered. Why had I been staring at Malfoy?

I glanced back at him, taking a start as I noticed he was looking at me, his expression humored, an eyebrow cocked. I hurriedly looked away and resumed my essay, which was supposed to state every reason I'd failed my Shrinking Solution, unable to focus. Why had I blushed? I didn't understand. I'd been flustered to have been caught looking at Malfoy, but what about him intrigued me to the point where I couldn't focus on studying?

After a few hopeless minutes, I told Hermione that I was done for the day, feeling suddenly angry. Ron and Harry sat across from us, Ron looking on the edge of falling asleep. Harry shook him, exclaiming that he needed to finish the star chart Tralawney had assigned.

Mirah sat at a table beside ours, her chin in her hand as she read over the essay she'd just finished. I walked over to her after packing up, asking if she wanted to come back to the common room with me. Mirah agreed at first, but as she was packing she realized she'd forgotten to do her homework for McGonagall. She apologized fervently, sitting back down as she hurriedly pulled out her books, quill, and parchment.

I sighed. I was nervous to go anywhere by myself, but I headed for the library exit alone nonetheless, and I saw Malfoy look up from his book as I passed through the corner of my eye.

I was halfway down the corridor outside the library when I heard quick footsteps follow me, Malfoy's voice calling, "Hey, Locust!"

I clenched my jaw angrily, hating the nickname, and refusing to respond. He caught up to me, asking, "What's with the face?"

I only glared ahead, picking up my pace. The nerve he had to follow me out of the library after making me unable to finish my essay.... He was doing it on purpose, I knew he was.

"Hey! I was only asking!" Malfoy exclaimed defiantly, jogging to keep up with me.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" I asked, turning to face him abruptly.

"Hey, easy! I was only going to ask if you finished your potions essay!" he said, raising his eyebrows innocently as he put up his hands in surrender.

I narrowed my eyes at him skeptically. "How did you know I was working on it?" I asked, and Malfoy smirked.

"I overheard you talking about it earlier," he answered, his nasty smirk growing. "I don't know if you all realize you're working in a library," he teased, raising an eyebrow at me.
I rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to slap the smirk off his face.

"But did you finish it?"

I glared at him suspiciously, asking, "Why do you want to know?"

Malfoy shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Maybe I could help you with it," he answered with an offhanded shrug, and this took me by surprise.

My glare vanished, and I slowly shook my head, bewildered. "No, I finished it already," I lied, staring at him in wary shock.

"Oh," Malfoy said, chewing the inside of his cheek as he narrowed his eyes in thought. I had to admit, he looked incredibly different when he wasn't trying to insult me — unless he was playing some stupid prank....

"Well, do you want me to check it for you?" Malfoy offered, his eyebrows raised innocently.

"What are you playing at?" I asked suddenly, taking a few steps away from him, nervous at the way he was acting.

Malfoy stared at me, his face unreadable and his lips pressed together. He then shrugged as he looked down at his feet, where he scuffed the tip of his shoe on the floor.

"I'm trying to hang around people I don't have to pretend for," he replied quietly, as if hoping I wouldn't hear him.

All my pretenses dropped as I watched him, suddenly acting so vulnerable. Since when did he care about others' opinions, especially mine? I couldn't think of a way to reply; his response had wiped my mind clear of thoughts, and I could only stare at him in utter shock.

Malfoy refused to meet my eyes as he broke the silence, muttering, "You know what? Forget it," and he turned suddenly, sulking away with his head hung, his hands still shoved in his pockets.