My Damned Lover: Third Year

Chapter 24

Seraphina came to an abrupt halt in front of Honeydukes and bent over to catch her breath. She had run all the way here, and she was even more breathless because it was so damn freezing. 

Why did I even wear a skirt? I'm a bloody lunatic, she thought. 

She remembered Ron and Hermione's skeptical expressions when she said she'd catch up with them later. They didn't really trust Draco, despite the fact he had rescued her multiple times. She promised them an explanation later, and they reluctantly let her go with a warning to always be on her toes. If she didn't join them by the time Harry snuck into Hogsmeade, they threatened to go after Draco, so she had to make sure she didn't cause any misunderstandings between them. 

Seraphina glanced around, but there was no sign of Draco anywhere. She cupped her hands together and blew hot air over them in an attempt to warm them up. 

I left my gloves on my bed. Damn it. I forgot my scarf too. I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up at the infirmary with hypothermia this time. 

"Bloody hell, Seraphina. You're just dying to turn into an ice sculpture for Christmas, aren't you?" 

She spun around to see Draco. He was dressed in black from head to tie, and she enviously eyed his gloved hands. 

"I didn't realize it'd be this cold," Seraphina mumbled. 

"It's winter. What'd you expect? It's snowing too," Draco pointed out. 

"Yes, thank you, good sir. I have eyes too, just in case you forgot," she said dryly. 

Draco shook his head and enclosed the rest of the distance between them. Then he pulled his black scarf from his neck and wrapped it around hers instead. Surprise flickered in her eyes when he cupped her hands and blew hot air into her palms. Her heart tingled with strange emotions, and she shivered as a jolt of electricity ran down her spine. 

"Cold?" Draco murmured. He had mistaken her trembling as a sign of the weather, but she went along with his assumption by nodding. 

"You're a bloody idiot," he said. 

She frowned and opened her mouth to make a smartass comeback when he suddenly slipped her hands into the pockets of his coat. Her heart was now doing flips in her chest, and her cheeks flushed hotly. She was no longer focused on the cold. All she could think about was how close she was to Draco. She was close enough to get a whiff of his cologne, and she swallowed hard when he ducked down to look into her eyes. She kept her gaze on the snowy ground though and silently prayed that her embarrassment wasn't apparent on her face. 

"I'm flattered you made such a risky move for me." 

"What?" 

"You risked being frozen to death just to impress me in your little skirt." 

"Oh, shove off, Draco!" She tried to jerk her hands out of his pockets, but he just tightened his grip on her. She heard a few students gasp as they passed by. 

They were definitely in awe that a Slytherin and a Gryffindor were together. And they weren't just a Slytherin and a Gryffindor either. After all, he was the Slytherin's prince, and she was one of Harry Potter's best friends. She definitely didn't blame anyone for being shocked because she was pretty dazed as well. 

"Why are you red? Hmmm, Seraphina? Is it because of the weather?" His lips quirked upwards into a pleased smirk. "Because I don't think so." 

Seraphina shot him a look. "I think it's because I'm pissed off." 

Draco snickered, "I won't argue with that. Honestly, I think you're pretty when you get mad." The abrupt compliment caught them both off guard, and they stared at each other in shock. Draco cleared his throat and looked away. He glanced at the sweet shop then looked down at Seraphina. "I suppose you want to get some more of those lame treats." 

"You're lame," was her lame quip. 

He gave her a half-smirk before pulling her hands out of his pockets and nodding for the building. "What are you waiting for? Let's go in." 

They entered the building, and she went right to the back where the glacier snow flakes were. 

"How many?" Draco looked at her. She held up ten fingers, and he rolled his eyes but placed the boxes in her basket. "What's your favorite treat, Draco?" She hadn't gotten him a Christmas gift so this was the least she could do. 

"Nothing." 

"Oh, come on. Everyone has a sweet tooth."

 "Not me." 

"What about a chocolate frog?" 

"I'm not Saint Potter." 

"Cauldron cakes?" 

"You must mistake me for Crabbe." 

"Then what do you want?!" She was getting impatient. 

"I told you. Nothing. I don't like sweets," Draco replied.

 "Why not?" Seraphina demanded. 

Draco's eyes turned cold and sad at once. "I never grew up with sweets." 

Judging from his defeated, flat tone, he meant it in more than one way. Her irritation dissolved, and she looked at the floor with awkwardness. Okay, that was totally my fault. Crap. Seraphina took a peek at his face and cleared her throat. "I guess you won't have any cavities then. Maybe I should cut off sweets, too." 

"Really?" 

"Hell no. Now let's go." She headed for the counter and smiled when she heard him chuckle behind her. 

Once again, Draco paid for her sweets, and the moment they left Honeydukes, a blast of cold air hit her, and she wrapped her arms around herself. "So what now? Three Broomsticks?" 

Draco looked hesitant, and Seraphina grew curious. "Don't you want to go there?" 

"Not exactly... I was hoping we can try someplace new..." 

"Like where?" 

"Don't laugh." 

"Why would I laugh?"