ethereal - draco malfoy

task 2

After everyone left, Max sat with our group in the common room. "I'm sorry for your loss." Max mumbled sheepishly. "Thank you." I said.

"Where have you been, Cynthia?" Max questioned. I scrunched my lips over to one side for a split second. "I just had to get away for a while, Max." I explained.

"Are you better now?" he asked, looking up at me. I sighed. "I'm working on it." I answered truthfully. I then turned to Cedric. "I apologize for hitting her but-" I started.

"She provoked you, Cynthia. She brought up something that she had no right to bring up. She deserved it." He interrupted calmly. I gave him a stiff nod.

Just then, the stone wall opened and McGonagall walked in. "Ms. Morningstar, can I see you for a second?" she asked, craning her neck to see me. I gave her a nod and stood up.

"Alright, Max. You get to bed. I'll see you tomorrow." I said. He nodded and walked off and I turned to the group. "Cedric, you should go back to your common room. I'll see you tomorrow before the task." I stated. Cedric gave me a quick hug before walking out of the common room.

I said goodbye to the group before walking with McGonagall out of the common room. We arrived at Dumbledore's office and walked inside.

Weasel and Granger were sitting down on the sofa. "Ah, Ms. Morningstar, hello. Please, have a biscuit." Dumbledore says calmly. I walk over and take a seat on an empty sofa, ignoring the glares from Weasel and Granger. I take a bite of the biscuit Dumbledore hands me before reaching for the cup of tea he offers.

I look over and see a sleeping Weasel and Granger and my face contorts into confusion. I finish the rest of my tea and biscuit before turning to Dumbledore. "What did you want to talk about?" I asked.

Dumbledore sat there and looked at me as though he was waiting for something. I suddenly grew very tired, and the next thing I knew, I was asleep.

—

I wake up with a loud gasp for air and my body is below freezing cold. My head is pounding from lack of oxygen. I look around and see Cedric, Daphne and Jack all standing around me looking at me with worry.

Daphne casts a drying charm on me and wraps a blanket around my shoulders. I glance at Cedric, then at the lake behind him. I then put two and two together, and I am livid.

"What the fuck was that about?!" I screamed at Cedric. He grabbed his scarf from one of his Hufflepuff friends and wrapped it around my neck.

"I didn't know that's what they were going to do." he said through chattering teeth.

I growled and curled up against whoever was hold me. I tuck my head down and rub my arms quickly, trying to warm myself up. The smell of expensive cologne and mint invades me nostrils and I suddenly stop shaking. Stopped moving entirely, as if I was petrified.

I slowly crane my neck to look behind me, and my eyes fall on a pair of cold, grey eyes. His eyes scan my face and my eyes scan his. I look back down and curl up under his hold and he rubs my back and arm.

—

After everyone was safely out of the lake, Dumbledore announced the champions places.

"In first place... Cedric Diggory!" he bellowed. Cedric's friends all pat him on the back and he looks at me with a scheming look. "No. I'm mad at you." I said with a huff.

Cedric takes a step towards me, water dripping off of his face. "Hufflepuff, you better stay where you are." I warned, slightly backing up. Cedric launches towards me and throws my towel off before hugging all over me, making my clothes wet yet again.

"Cedric!" I shriek as he rubs his wet hair all over my face. I slap at his chest trying to rid myself of his wet hug.

He eventually lets go of me and we walk back to the group. Malfoy's fists are clenched extremely tight and his chest is slightly heaving.

Before I can question it, he adjusts his coat and storms off. I shrug it off and walk back over to Cedric and the others. "Good job, Hufflepuff." I say as I nudge his waist. He takes his hand and rubs the top of my head quickly, messing up my already disheveled hair.

—

I give Cedric his scarf before he goes off to get changed in his own dorm. "I still can't believe you won't just date him already." Daphne whispered from beside me. I sent her a crazy look. "He's like a brother to me, Daph." I said. "Yeah well you're hot, he's hot, just date him." she proclaimed. "No. Gross." I said with a grimace.

"Alright well what about Malfoy?" Daphne questions as we walk down a staircase. "What about him?" I asked in a bored tone. "Why not date him?" she interrogated. I sighed. "Because." I stated.

"You guys go on without us!" Daphne calls to the group while coming to a halt. After they're gone, she turns to me. "Because why?" she asked. "Just because." I said in an aggravated tone. "Because why?" she asked again. "Because." I growl. "Because why?" she asked, yet again.

"Because, Daphne! Malfoy and I are both stubborn, it wouldn't work! Plus we would probably argue a lot. Not to mention, neither of us are the dating type." I explain. Daphne hums as she thinks to herself and we start waking again.

"That's what makes it so perfect. You think me and Blaise don't argue? We argue about dumb shite all the time. He gets on my nerves and I seriously contemplate sending a hex sometimes. But at the end of the day, I love the daft baboon, so it's fine." she lectures.

We reached the common room entrance and I winced at her words. "Oh, see. That too. I'm incapable falling in love. I'm not a lovable person, Daph. You know this." I say before whispering the password to the common room. The door creaks opened and Daphne steps inside and looks back at me.

"You used to be incapable of letting anyone touch you. But now, you've worked on that, and you hug me at least once a week." she stated simply before turning around and walking over to Blaise, planting a kiss on his nose and leaving me dumbfounded in the common room entrance.