(1) 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 | d. m

Chapter five

Draco

Now

I spent the following days pondering back and forth around the mansion, reliving the night when Lane told me the reason behind her being at Hogwarts. I was confused, conflicted and - annoyed. Annoyed with Lane for not telling me of her plans sooner, annoyed with myself and the decisions I had made. If only I had pushed her away before realizing we were growing closer, then maybe I wouldn't be feeling this way.

I missed more classes then I had ever done, in a desperate attempt to ignore her.  I knew that it would be hard even seeing her, so I tried my best to distance myself. In potions class, I sat at the far end of the class room, barely speaking to anyone, which probably confused a lot of people, since I was not the kind of person to hide or stay quite if I could help it. Blaise and Goyle tried several times to catch my attention, throwing quills my way, but all I did was give them looks of annoyance. I had never been more unlike myself, and I think everyone noticed. Including Lane. She was as beautiful as ever, her red hair falling down her shoulders and back, her green eyes glistening more radiantly than the full moon. She sat in the row closest to where Professor Snape would be standing, which was where she always used to sit, mouthing the answers to every question asked. She didn't even turn around once, which made a part of me relieved and an equal part somewhat annoyed. I wanted her to forget about me (more than she already had) because only then, would she be completely safe. However, I also wanted us to still be together, which I knew could never happen again.

Not as long as I was a Death Eater.

When it was time for another Defence Against the Dark Arts class, I held my head down low but still hoping that Lane would acknowledge my presence. Professor Lupin was babbling on, but I didn't catch much of what he was saying, I was too occupied with staring down Lane's neck.

Oh, how her neck was beautiful.

Come on, Draco. Pull it together. She's not yours anymore, I thought as I argued with myself, trying desperately to focus on anything else. She seemed to still be ignoring me, only moving her head to speak with Neville, who was seated next to her. The class seemed to go on forever, and when it finally ended, I couldn't be out of there soon enough. However, to my surprise, as I exited the room, I felt a hand on my shoulder and a voice saying;

"You know I can feel you staring at me, right?".

I turned around, only to see Lane standing in front of me, a somewhat intolerant frown upon her face. I gulped, couldn't believe she was even acknowledging me, better yet, talking to me. I tried to hide my feelings as we both waited for the final students to leave the classroom and hallway were we now stood. I didn't know what this meant, maybe she wanted to talk about the conversation we had at Malfoy Manor, maybe she had just gone back to being utterly annoyed with me. Whatever it was, it felt good to have her see me again.

"It's really annoying, and I need you to stop. We did that pair assignment together, but that was it. I don't like you, and I don't want to be seen with you. I think you feel the same way".

I nodded, tried my best to bottle up my emotions. I barely made any sound, which was to be honest, highly unlike me. Lane seemed to notice this, because before she left me in the hallway, she said:

"Aren't you going to say anything? Insult me or throw any snide remarks my way? Maybe comment on my overall appearance?", she stared at me, as if to note to herself that I was being awfully quiet and unlike myself. She let out a slight giggle. "What is wrong with you?", were the last words she spoke, before leaving me in the now emptied out hallway. Classes had ended and it seemed as if people couldn't get back to their dormitories fast enough. When she left, I felt empty. No one had ever spoken to me that way before, at least not since I first met her. I stood still in the empty halls for awhile, thinking about what had just happened. How Lane had addressed me in her old usual way, how I had just stood there, unable to say anything.