in the dark | d malfoy

chapter forty

i knocked with the knocker on the pitch black door, making a heavy sound erupt. it opened quickly, and i winced as snape gave me a very menacing look.

"what are you doing here after hours?" he asked, an angry tone in his voice. "do i need to take points from hufflepuff?"

i shook my head. "no, please. i came straight here. i just was wondering if you-,"

"if this is about your parents again, i already told you i don't know anything." he narrowed his eyes at me, and i shivered under his gaze. "n-no. it's not. i was actually wondering if i could have another dreamless potion, if that's possible? i-i've been having nightmares again."

this was true, of course. sometimes about alfie, other times about harry, ron, and hermione, the past week had been hell for me. i couldn't sleep.

snape hesitated, then sighed. "all right. but next time, please come when it's not after hours. i don't want to have to take points from you."

"because i'm a slytherin in your eyes?" i joked, and i regretted it as he gave me a dark look. "speaking of slytherins, i've seen you hanging out with mr. malfoy and his gang. it would do you best to stay away from them. they aren't.... they aren't good for you."

"what?" i stared at him in absolute shock. "why do you care? you aren't my head of house, and you barely know me! for the record, draco's my... my boyfriend now, and-,"

my cheeks reddened as snape turned, a look of shock on his face. "you're dating draco?"

"yes, i am." i stood up straighter. "now can i have my potion? i think it's highly inappropriate for a professor, especially not my head of house, to tell me who i can or can't hang out with."

he sighed. "you're right. i'm just trying to help."

"i appreciate it, but i don't need your help, professor. i've... i've got it under control."

when i reached my dorm again, i was still in a state of confusion. maybe it was just late, but snape had seemed unnaturally angry about me and draco, which didn't make sense. weren't we two of his favorite students?

i brushed it out of my mind as i noticed the curtains closed around alfie's bed. i sipped my potion, jumping as i saw jan and hannah both perched on the edge of my bed. "what the- it's the middle of the night!" i gasped, lowering my voice as jan glanced wearily towards alfie's bed.

"we know," hannah said in a hushed tone. "we just needed to talk to you."

"by the way, nice of you to ignore me the past week," i hissed as i pulled off my shoes and climbed onto the bed next to the duo. jan sighed. "i'm sorry, kat. alfie's just upset, and i didn't want her to feel like we didn't care."

"what about me?" i asked, anger in my voice. "what about my feelings?"

"don't you have draco?" hannah asked, and i narrowed my eyes at her. "alfie doesn't have anyone else, is all i'm saying. we're just worried about her."

i let out a breath of air, tucking my cold feet under my blankets, and jan shifted over a little to make room for my legs under the covers. "all right. so why'd you want to talk to me right now?"

"just to make sure you're all right. i noticed that... you haven't been at D.A meetings anymore." jan gave me a sad look, and i stared at her in shock. "they're still happening?"

"you didn't know?" jan and hannah exchanged a nervous look, and i gulped. "yeah, i'm assuming they left me out of it on purpose. they aren't.... happy with me right now. i think they believe i gave them away to umbridge."

hannah furrowed her eyebrows. "why would they think that?" i rubbed my forehead. "it's a long, confusing story. i was just trying to help."

"i believe you." jan said, and i felt a wave of relief rush over me as i eyed the curly haired girl. she had a sad expression on her face, and she reached out, clasping my hand in hers. "you're a really good person, kat. and alfie's just upset right now. i'm sorry you feel like we've been ignoring you. we're still your friends, and i'll... talk to her. she just doesn't understand." jan bit her lip, and i tightened my grip on her hand. "it's okay. i understand."

the potion was beginning to make me sleepy, and i yawned. hannah giggled a little. "i'll see you in class tomorrow, alright?" she asked, stepping off the bed to let me sleep in peace, and i nodded. "thank you. for talking to me, i mean. and... i'm sorry if i caused trouble." hannah frowned at me, leaning against the bedpost. "you didn't cause it. you're just trying to help, and i understand that you can't help your feelings for draco. they've been there a long time."

"they've- what?" jan glanced over at hannah, shock painted on her face, and hannah's mouth opened as she realized what she let slip. "okay- yes i knew, but it was an accident! i promised i wouldn't tell."

jan hit me with a pillow, and i screeched, immediately shutting my mouth as rustling came from alfie's bed. we were silent until we heard a soft snoring come from behind her curtains. i let out a breath of relief. jan cocked an eyebrow at me, shuffling in closer. "okay, i have just one teensy tiny question for you."

i grinned. "what?"

"is he good?"

hannah closed a hand to her mouth to hide her guffaws of laughter, and jan eyed me with suspense lingering in her face. "is he? like.. i've heard it's big, but-,"

"ew, jan!" i covered my eyes, my face beginning to burn as a blush rose to my cheeks. "don't ask that! we haven't- we..."

"you seriously haven't slept with him?" jan asked, and i rolled my eyes. "you thought i have?"

"the way you act around him, i'm surprised he hasn't railed you multiple times, honestly." hannah said with a matter of fact tone, and i buried my head in my pillows as jan began to cover up her laugh again.

"i'll see you tomorrow." jan gave me a soft little kiss on my head, and my friends both scurried to their beds, leaving me to curl up, a smile on my face.

-