Desired Life as The One He Loves

Chapter 7: False Accusations

"Natalia, would you stop hiding behind me every time someone walks in the room like a frightened mouse! For the last time, it's not Pansy!" Hermione snaps at me, slamming her Herbology textbook on the table.

For the past few weeks, I have been avoiding Pansy and her gang as much as I can. Seeing as I am dorm mates with Rowena and Amelia, escaping the threats and snide remarks from them is a tad bit more difficult. Pansy, on the other hand, let's just say I am very lucky to have not crossed paths with her within the past weeks. Though I find it a little strange that I have not seen her in the halls between classes, or even at dinner. It's as if she's disappeared. My one and only wish, only now that it's here, I find it a little suspicious. Possibly she is planning something sinister and truly evil. I suppose it's something horrid like warts from head to toe, or losing all my hair. I must stop thinking about all the ghastly outcomes, I am only wrecking my brain by doing so.

"How long is this going to last, anyway? Pansy hasn't tried anything yet, she's probably forgotten all about it. And if she tries something I'll jinx her, I will do it," Ron says, looking quite determined.

"Thanks, Ron. I can always count on you," I say with a hint of sarcasm. We all know very well Ron would end up casting the spell backward and jinx himself instead. However, the gesture leaves me with a sense of stability.

I sit back down at the desk we are all working at and take my essay out of my satchel. Though you could hardly call it an essay, it's merely a couple of sentences. Yet the assignment, effects of Skele-Gro, is due by dawn. The trio and Lila and I had arranged a study date for this afternoon. Twenty minutes in, I have gotten nothing done. However, no one else has gotten any further in their work either. We are all chatting to avoid the dreadful homework. Except for Hermione, she is extremely focused on her textbook.

"As Ron said, you have nothing to worry about. Pansy would be an idiot to try anything when Draco's around. And he's almost always around these days," says Lila, trying her best to reassure me. I give her a slight smile, hopefully convincing enough. I am not quite sure I have 'nothing to worry about'. Pansy has not jinxed me yet. Yet is the keyword in that statement. It's only a matter of time before she gets me alone and tortures me.

We resume chatting about everything and nothing before Hermione harshly hushes us and scolds us for not doing our homework. We all go silent at once, digging our noses deep into our books and completing our essays. The only sound that fills the room is the occasional shush from the librarian Madame Irma Prince and the continuous scratching of a quill on parchment.

When the clock strikes 5:40, I pack up my essay and textbooks to make my way to the Great Hall. Hoping I will be the only one there, some quiet alone time would be a delightful change.

I approach the Great Hall and push past the double doors, revealing that, to my surprise, I am not the only person in the room. In the corner beside the Slytherin table stands two sets of heads, a blonde boy and a brunette girl. I inch closer to the unidentifiable students, walking softly, trying to make little sound. The two students are in a whispered conversation. The girl is smiling, though the boy has a blank stare as she speaks to him. My heart skips a beat as I get close enough to recognize the faces. I know that pale face and those gleaming grey-blue eyes from anywhere. They are eyes one never forgets. And the girl, I couldn't confuse that pug face with anyone else's. Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson'. A gasp leaps out from my mouth and my eyes gloss over with tears. They hear the gasp escape me and turn to see me absolutely dumbstruck. Pansy's thin lips form a menacing smirk, whereas Draco looks stunned. Before letting either of them speak, I run in the opposite direction, out through the doors and into the darkest hall I can find.