Merely Misunderstood

Chapter Ten

Halloween arrived two weeks later, and the Hogsmeade trip commenced. Mirah and I excitedly joined the group that stood in the courtyard, handing our permission slips to Professor McGonagall.

We made our way to Hogsmeade, and I ran to catch up with Hermione and Ron as Mirah went to join her group of Slytherin friends, and I searched for Harry.

Ron noticed and said, "He couldn't come. He didn't get his permission slip signed," with a glum expression. "Now I'm stuck with her," he gestured to Hermione.

Hermione chose not to react to that last bit as she said, "Honestly, those awful muggles he lives with...." she shook her head, seeming unable to come up with anything more to say.

I nodded in fervent agreement. "Maybe we should confund them into thinking they treat him like a son," I suggested, and Hermione giggled.

"Or maybe we could just confund them into thinking they're pigs," Ron muttered, and I burst out laughing.

"They certainly look the part!" I exclaimed, and Ron wheezed.

Hermione, who I expected to chastise us for being rude, laughed openly with us, agreeing between giggles. We continued to tease each other and joke around until we arrived in Hogsmeade, where we visited Honeydukes, Zonko's, and the Shrieking Shack (but we left almost instantly; Ron claimed he left his money back at Zonko's and practically dragged us away).

Hermione and Ron went to get some sweets for Harry from Honeydukes, and I told them to go on without me, and that I'd catch up with them later, deciding it'd be best not to be tempted to spend any more of my measly savings.

I wandered around Hogsmeade, admiring the beauty of the old village, and the way the multi-colored leaves scattered the cobblestone path. I was admiring a clocktower as it chimed, accidentally backing into someone.

"Oh, sorry!" I exclaimed while the person said, "Watch where you're going!"

My stomach twisted as I recognized the voice.
I turned around to see Draco, standing alone. He was wrapped warmly in a grey coat and scarf, and his wind-blown blonde hair stuck out from beneath his warm wool hat. Everything he wore looked like it had cost a fortune.

His hair danced over his forehead in the freezing wind, not quite long enough to reach his eyes yet. His usually pale cheeks and nose were rosy, and his eyes, which were squinted against the wind, suddenly shone brightly, his dark eyelashes making the color pop. It shocked me how attractive he suddenly looked to me.

We stared at each other for a long while, neither of us saying anything in our awkwardness, but he didn't walk away, so I assumed he wanted me to say something.

Fishing for something to talk about, I glanced at the bag Draco was holding and was surprised to see it was from Zonko's.

"You went to Zonko's?" I asked, interested.

Draco blushed — or he might've, his cheeks were already rosy from the cold wind, so I couldn't exactly tell. "Yeah, I heard the sugar quills are worth buying," he said with an offhanded shrug.

Just then, a large group of fifth-year girls sprinted toward us, heading for the Weasley twins, who stood outside Zonko's. Draco reached out and grabbed my wrist, pulling me out of their way just before I was stampeded.

I glanced down at his hand wrapped around my wrist and blushed furiously, and he noticed, pulling his hand away with a smirk.

I shivered; his smile was very attractive on his rosy face.

He looked at me as I shuddered, and then frowned at my lack of warm clothing. "Don't care to dress for the occasion?" he asked, glancing around as if in search of something.