Crucio: Just Before The War

Chapter Seven

It had been four weeks since I last saw Draco. He hadn't shown up to any classes and I hadn't noticed him anywhere in the grounds. There had been rumours that his family had had some type of emergency, whereas others said he was just skipping classes for no good reason, claiming they'd seen him around the school occasionally. Daphne informed me in the second week that Professor Snape simply said he'd been sick and excused from school, which caused an uneasy feeling to occur in my stomach.

Terence Higgs had laughed when I mentioned Draco's absence, stating that he was 'probably just being a sook and faking it', much to my displeasure. Still, Terence had always taken a liking to me and still helped me return and borrow books from the restricted section during these weeks, not asking too many questions about what I was using them for. He seemed satisfied with my attention and small affections toward him as repayment for the favour. He had joined Daphne and I for lunch a few times which convinced Daphne that we were finally together. He had not denied Daphne's accusations which frustrated me slightly, but I assured her in private that we were not together, just talking and occasionally hanging out as friends.

"But you guys would look so good together," Daphne had said suggestively, throwing me a wink at the end.

Hermione and I had a few chances to speak to and properly be around one another. There had been some breakfasts and lunches where we sat together, being able to share a few jokes and stories of our seperate classes. Harry and Ron had included me in their Quidditch conversations as well, Ron mentioning his embarrassment over the trials and recent practice sessions. Although, these moments were scattered. The three of them still had their strange private discussions and mysterious disappearances for hours, only for Hermione to come back and simply smile at me, reassuring me that it was nothing for me to worry about. It started to feel as if I was being excluded from something I should know, but I stopped myself from questioning her too much.

Professor Slughorn had been very kind during Potions classes, encouraging my ever growing dedication to the subject. I had overheard Hermione and Harry having conversations with Slughorn about a selective group he used to bring together in his previous years at Hogwarts which annoyed me slightly. Harry had been performing impeccably in Potions and it was beginning to get on my nerves since this was the first year he had shown such talent in the class. Guaranteed, Professor Snape didn't exactly favour Harry in the passed years but even being in Gryffindor house myself, I was able to surpass Harry's grades before. Hermione had let it slip that she was very suspicious of Harry's Potions book that she had already mentioned, as her and Ginny had questioned him about it, eventually finding out it was labelled as 'Property of the Half Blood Prince'. Hermione insisted on changing the subject after I had talked about it during Potions class.

There had been a few times I had tried to catch Professor Slughorn after lessons to have some light hearted conversations with him and build rapport, intending to solidify my invitation to this exclusive club he had mentioned. However, frustratingly, Harry had managed to swoop in before me and have Professor Slughorn laughing with him before I could get a word in.

Transfiguration was still proving incredibly mind numbing as Daphne and I studied and attempted practicals a handful of times, finding success only once each. My mind would drift often during these classes, causing Daphne to poke and prod to get me to share my day dreaming thoughts. I brushed her off each time, but that didn't stop her from begging. In the third week, I had finally told her why I had been late and about my conversation with Draco, convincing her it was simply that we had each left a book in the Potions room, causing us to walk out together and speak of classes. I mentioned that he had been strangely intrusive and asked about my family but I was not going to specify the content of the discussion between us.

My parents and I had been sending letters back and forth each week. They would make sure to ask about the safety precautions being put in place at the school and if I was doing okay in my studies. They'd also ask if I was staying safe in general as the Daily Prophet was continuously printing stories about You Know Who's whereabouts and the recent strange activities that were suspected to be caused by him and his followers.