Merely Misunderstood

Chapter Twelve

The school talked about nothing but Sirius Black for days, but while they all chatted excitedly about how they swore they'd seen him stalking the corridors, my mind drifted to other things.

I kept seeing constellations in the darkness of the dormitory, and I found myself searching over the tops of heads for the familiar blonde hair.

I also started getting excited for Potions, not only because I was getting better at it, but because Draco sat across from me almost every class, cracking jokes and making the class more fun than it had ever been before.

Today, we'd been making another potion, which I had already forgotten the name of, but I was having trouble figuring out how much Billywig stings I was supposed to measure out.

I must've been standing at the measuring station for at least ten minutes before I heard a familiar voice ask, "Having trouble, Turncoat?"

I rolled my eyes, turning to face Draco.

Trying not to smile, he pressed his lips together at my irritated expression, and he stepped forward, saying, "Here."

He took the bag of Billywig stings from my hands and measured out a precise amount, double-checking to make sure it was correct. I watched him as he did this, noticing how his brows knit together and his lips parted slightly as he concentrated.

He stood up straight again, holding the exact amount with a smirk. "Have you got everything else you need?" he asked.

I nodded, although I wasn't sure; my mind felt strangely blank.

Malfoy glanced at the ingredients I had beside me and his smirk grew.

"Do you even know which potion we're making?" he asked, and I blushed, saying, "Of course I do! It's the...."

Draco stared at me, his eyes humored. "Wideye Potion," he whispered, and then he held out the Billywigs to me. "You should really pay more attention; I'm not always going to be able to help you."

I took the ingredient from him roughly, scoffing. "Maybe I don't need your help," I argued, and he raised an eyebrow, glancing down at my Billywig stings before meeting my eyes again.

I said nothing, so he just chuckled, muttering, "Okay, Brianna."

Just then, Mirah stepped up to me, Hermione following, both of them glancing at Draco suspiciously as they approached.

Draco's eyes flicked to them, and then he looked back at me. "See you later, then," he said, his smile fading, and he turned and sauntered back to his table, continuing where he'd left off with his Wideye Potion.

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowed warily.

"He was helping me," I answered honestly, picking up my ingredients and heading back to my cauldron, leaving Hermione at the measuring station.

But Mirah chased after me, asking, "What's going on? I can tell there's something you're not telling me," and when I didn't answer, she asked, "Does it have to do with Draco?"

At this I stopped, and she nodded, knowing she'd hit the jackpot.

"Is he bothering you?" she pressed on, and when I just pressed my lips together, she sighed, saying, "You'd better tell me everything before I ask him myself."

I chuckled dryly. "Go ahead," I muttered, glancing at her sideways. "I can't promise he'll tell you the truth."

Mirah's smile faded. She stared at me for an immeasurably long time before she sighed, crossing her arms impatiently. "I don't keep any secrets from you!" she whined, seeming to think I was hiding some juicy gossip from her.

"I know, and I'm not keeping anything from you!" I shot back, beginning to get irritated. "I told you the truth already."

"What, he was actually helping you?"

I didn't say anything as I stirred my cauldron.

Mirah's voice was cold when she spoke again. "Since when were you all chummy?" she asked icily, crossing her arms and glaring daggers at Draco, who smiled innocently back at her from his table.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand," I told her, surprised at the words that came out of my mouth.

Mirah stared at me for another long time before saying, "You have until dinner." She walked away, and I groaned, almost exhausted by her. I knew I'd regret it if I didn't tell her everything, so it didn't seem like I had much of a choice.

I sighed angrily, finishing my potion.

After Snape dismissed the class, I started packing, proud of myself for receiving good marks. They weren't full marks, mind you, but still, it was better than a zero.

"I hope I'm not causing you trouble," Draco murmured from the table beside me, where he packed up his things, too.

I glanced up at him, shaking my head. "No, of course not."

"Then what was that all about?" he asked, concern touching his brow. I stared for a moment; it was still so strange seeing Draco Malfoy looking concerned.

Eventually, I shrugged, turning back to my bag. "They wouldn't understand. They despise you," I said, looking down as I slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Yeah, doesn't everyone?" Draco muttered, and before I could respond, I heard footsteps approach me, and Snape stepped up to me, holding out a bit of parchment.

"Well done, Miss Locousa. I'm impressed."

I took the parchment from Snape, bewildered, and he walked briskly away. I looked down at the long bit of parchment, shocked to see it was the extra credit essay Draco and I had worked on weeks ago.

I whirled around to stare at Draco in shock. "You turned it in?" I asked, but the way I said it made it sound more like a statement, or an accusation.

Draco shrugged, swinging his bag over his shoulder. "I found it lying by the fireplace. Couldn't help but wonder how it got there...." he said with false curiosity, pressing his lips together to keep from smirking.

We started toward the door, and I shrugged. "I felt like I didn't deserve it."

"Why, because I found out you were using me, or because you were cheating by getting extra credit?"

"Not helping, Draco," I muttered, surprised that he seemed unaffected by the memory of me using him for grades. I sighed, replying, "Both, I guess. It just didn't feel right."

Draco laughed lightly, his smile wide. "I think you were put in the wrong house, Locousa," and with that, he picked up his pace, hurrying down the corridor to catch up with his gang.

Author's note: Ok I know this scene is kinda lame and I know things are progressing slowly. I'm sorryy this is my first fanfic, so I don't really know what I'm doing😩 I promise it gets better!!