A Forbidden Love ➵ Draco Malfoy

ʚ detention ɞ

I sat quietly in the dungeons, toying with the ends of my hair to keep myself occupied. Detention had begun 10 minutes ago yet Draco was nowhere to be found.

"Sophie. Where is Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked, glancing around the room.

"How shou-" I started then quickly revised what I was about to say, "I'm not sure, sir." He nodded curtly and sat at his desk.

"Well, if he doesn't show up in the next 5 minutes, we will head out to Hagrid's and let Dumbledore deal with Draco's tardiness." Just as Snape had said this, Draco ran in looking flustered. "Ah, there you are. I'm glad you decided to join us."

"Sorry, I had forgotten about detention, sir." Draco explained. I noticed his unkempt hair and his robes were a mess. Clearly, he was somewhere else. I let out a scoff and Draco sent me a warning glare. I smirked, pleased to have the upper hand for once.

The work we ended up having to do at Hagrid's was cleaning the feces of the creatures Hagrid owns.

I held my breath to avoid the horrible stench but Draco seemed unbothered. There was an awkward tension between us and I'm sure everyone could feel it.

"Where were you before detention?" I ask, hoping to break the silence. Draco glanced over at me and gave me a questioning look as if asking why I was talking to him. I shrugged and looked at him expectantly.

"I was in my room." He replied plainly.

"Sleeping with every girl that passed your door." I finish, nodding.

"No, and is that all you wanted to say?" He asked, the irritation clear on his face. I leaned on my shovel thoughtfully.

"Well, if that wasn't what you were doing, what happened to your hair and robes?" I asked innocently.

"Why do you want to know?" He sneered. I held my hands up to signify surrender and we went back to shoveling in silence.

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Why? Why do I feel so guilty? Upsetting Draco wasn't exactly new in my routine. I have no idea why it only bothers me now.

Ugh. For someone I say I hate so much, he sure does take up much more of my thoughts than he should.

Harry was waiting for me in the Gryffindor common room when I returned. I slumped into the rust-colored couch, Harry sitting down beside me.

I snuggled into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer. We didn't speak until I told him I was tired. He looked disappointed but walked me to the girl's dormitory. I kissed him softly before walking in and closing the door behind me.

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The next day, I had a free period so I spent it in the library studying for my DADA test. I was so engaged in my studies that I didn't notice when Draco slid into the chair beside me.

"What's up, Hale? Wait, you actually study for tests?" asked Draco, leaning closer to read my textbook over my shoulder.

"Yes, I do, Draco. You don't?" I closed my textbook and faced him.

"No, I don't need it. But, I guess I could try it." He smirks, reaching over to my textbook. His hand hovers over mine on the book as he looks to me, asking for permission.

"Yeah, sure." I shrug, pulling my hand back as he grazed it lightly with his own. A shock of electricity passes through me in the spot where he had touched me. I shake the feeling off as he begins to read a passage from the textbook out loud.

I sit there wordlessly, listening to him read. His voice was so calming, so sure. Almost the same as when he talks. However, when he talks his voice is confident in an arrogant and selfish way as if trying to hide something behind the wall he's put up.

"Hello? Earth to Hale?" Draco snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Um, yeah, sorry." I apologise.

"My voice too hypnotizing and magical for you?" He asks teasingly, a ghost of a smirk on his face. Yes, I wanted to say.

"No. I'm just tired." I replied lamely instead. He nodded as if mulling this over as he stood up. I wanted to tell him to stay but restrained myself after realising how pathetic that would sound.

He squeezes my shoulder as a goodbye and I tense up at his touch. He must have sensed this because he pulled his hand away and mumbled a goodbye. I turned to see Harry who walked into the library sometime during my study session with Draco.

"Was he bothering you? Because I can go after him if you want, you know." Harry says when he made his way over.

"No, you don't need to do that. It was nothing." I state.

"Sophie, I just want to know what is really happening. What you're really thinking. You've been so distant lately and I just want to ask if I did anything wrong. If I did, I am so sorry and I didn't mean to hurt you." Harry said and I felt the sincerity in his words.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I've been so stressed out with everything and then we have the O.W.L's coming up and then Dr-," I begin, but quickly correct myself, "the Defense Against the Dark Arts test and everything is just too much."

"I'm sorry too, Soph. But why didn't you tell me?" asks Harry, pulling me into a tight hug. I shrug wiping a single tear that had fallen down my cheek.

"I don't know but I promise I'll let you in more, okay?" Harry nodded and we stood to take a walk around the bustling hallways filled with laughing 8th years and nervous 1st years. I lean into Harry as he slings an arm around my shoulder.

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Draco didn't even acknowledge me when I sat down next to him in Potions. Pretending this didn't bother me, I began scribbling down the homework assignment displayed on the chalkboard into my notebook.

Draco ignored me the entire class, only speaking to me when pointing out the tiniest detail I've gotten wrong. 

"You have to level it out." Draco says, inspecting my measurement of knotgrass. I clench my teeth as he corrects me for what feels like the hundredth time.

"It is level." I argue. He makes a face and I let out an annoyed groan. I give in and level it out even more--although it was perfectly measured already--and hand him the newly-leveled tablespoon of knotgrass.

He dumps the knotgrass into the cauldron as I stir. "Why don't you let me stir? You're going too slow." I roll my eyes and pass him the wooden spoon. My arms were sore but I would never give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

"You don't have to be such an ass." I grumble as he begins stirring. A smug smile plays on his face and I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Draco Malfoy." Argh. Just hearing his name makes me want to strangle someone. Draco and I turn to see who was speaking. I was surprised to see Dumbledore standing before us.

"Headmaster." Draco greets. Dumbledore beckons for Draco to follow him and Draco obliges as Dumbledore walks out of the dungeons.

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When Draco came back, his mood had darkened immensely. "Draco? Are you okay?" I ask, forgetting about the rivalry between us. His eyes were stone and he snarled at me.

"Why do you care?" He snapped and I shut up quickly. I kept glancing over to him but his eyes stayed hard, his expression fixed, like a mask.