Heliophilia; d.m

X

That was the day it happened. It was a day that I remembered for a long time and could hardly have forgotten.
Looking back, I always think that "we" could have started earlier if we weren't so stubborn and if we weren't afraid of our feelings.
But it happened the way it did, and it's no worse.

—

DRACO

"I'm surprised you don't have a t-shirt with a picture of his face on it." Kristen said with a grin as she wrote Krum's name on Crabbe's cheek.

She was carefully drawing red letters with a thin brush, and Crabbe didn't even seem to be breathing.

It was the last task and everyone, especially him, was really excited.

The common room was bustling with people coming in, people coming out, people discussing the upcoming task, and people betting on who would win and I couldn't wait for this to finally over.

"It's done. Wait a bit." Kristen blew lightly on his cheek to let it dry. She smiled, pleased with the work she had done, and lightly patted his other cheek as she stood up from the couch, tilting her head to the side.

"Are you serious?" Suddenly I heard Violet's voice coming down the stairs, looking at Crabbe, and as she came closer to us, Kristen's hand was on Violet's shoulder.

Crabbe was smiling proudly, turning his head so that she could get a better look at his face.

"Confetti? Chants? Pom-poms?

His face took on a strange expression. A little drooping and at the same time uncomprehending.

"Unfortunately only this." He pointed a finger at his cheek and everyone laughed.

I chuckled, as i imagined Crabbe jumping around the bleachers with pom-poms in his hands and shouting chants for Viktor Krum. That was hilarious.

"Okay, guys, it's time. Let's go!" Someone shouted and everyone started to leave the room.

I glanced at Violet, whose expression was almost pained as Kristen began to pull her by the arm to leave the room.

"Why are you so reluctant to go? You don't have to fly on a broomstick." I said as I passed them, remembering how she had nearly broken her broom and her neck a few days ago.

"Maybe you are the main reason." She muttered softly after me, and her words seemed to stab me in the back, even though I knew they were just another joke.

In my mind, I went back to the time when we were almost alone there, how she dragged me to the lake shore because it was a "perfect day", or how she persuaded me to take her to the forbidden forest after lights out, because "Draco, I've never been there", or how she made me help her write some poem, and I did it because she asked.

I did everything she asked, just because it was her.

But that time was over, school had started again, and we were back to the way we were before.

And again, she barely paid any attention to me and talked about how I was the main reason why she didn't want to go to the last task of that stupid tournament.

It affected me and my mood a little more than it should have, it made my jaw involuntarily clench, it made a fireball grow somewhere in the chest area — it made me regret that I had said anything to her at all.

I walked, almost ran, not waiting for anyone, not noticing anyone, I just walked until the field, the saving field, appeared around the corner. It was only when I sat down in my seat that I managed to get rid of the crease between my eyebrows. I hated being so vulnerable.