Book 1: Of Thorns & Roses

4: The Mirror

"This doesn't mean we're friends Grier... It just means we can tolerate each other in Potions," he looked away quickly, trying to hide a smile, which only made my heart beat faster.

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say Malfoy. Say, is that a blush I see?"

It was.

He suddenly stopped me in my tracks, a look of seriousness gleaming in his eyes, "This has to stay a secret. You can't tell a soul, Grier."

We were so close I could smell the strong cologne he wore, which acted like a cape of mysteriousness. A glamour to hide his true self.

"Don't try to talk me out of it because you don't know the danger you would be in if anyone found out. Especially my bloody father," he hesitated a bit before leaving me in the dark hall.

Mocking his accent, I said, "Welp, it would be nice if you weren't such an arse." Seconds later he poked his head back around the corner, giving me a vulgar gesture. Oh, Malfoy.

I just couldn't wait for the week to be over.

I slowly walked back to the Hufflepuff common room and up the steep stairs to my room. Once I reached my destination, I immediately bolted to the bathroom, ready to rid the day's events off of my tanned skin.

Turning on the shower, I slowly peeled off my robes. I sighed once I entered the hot shower, letting the water cascade down my body and through my hair. It felt as if I was stuck. Stuck in a world where I didn't feel like I belonged.

I felt off.

Grabbing the shampoo, I massaged my scalp and closed my eyes. My thoughts wandered to Draco. A boy I had known a little over 24 hours, yet I felt like I have known him for a lifetime. He was a confusing, hauntingly beautiful boy.

Taking a deep breath, I was startled when I heard the bathroom door opening.

"Shea? Alexandra?"

Without a response, I narrowed my eyes as my stomach dropped. I knew. Something was wrong.

Turning off the shower, I poked my head from the curtains. The door was closed. No one was in here.

"What the hell..." I mumbled, grabbing the towel off of the hook next to the shower. As I wrapped the towel around my body, I looked up at the mirror. The condensation was prevalent, but what caught my eye were the words: Get out.

Oh. Hell. No.

They were scrawled onto the mirror as droplets of water gilded down the surface and onto the counter.

I stood frozen, not quite sure what to think before I gathered the rest of my things.

I frantically asked Alexandra if anyone had entered our room's bathroom, and I dreaded their inevitable response: no. I was shaking at this point as I quickly got dressed and told the girls I had to go do something before bolting out of the room, through the busy common room and out the door.

I didn't know where to go. I didn't know who to go to. A multitude of thoughts entered my mind, none of them good. Who could it have been? Why did I hear the door opening?

My heavy breathing translated into blurry vision, so I decided to sit against the wall right outside the Divination classroom. I didn't notice the footsteps running my way until I heard that voice.

"Langston? Grier, what is it? Why are you crying?"

I hadn't even noticed the tears streaming down my flamed cheeks as I slowly stood to face Draco.

"I... someone was in my bathroom. I don't know what they wanted, but they wrote on the mirror 'Get out.'" My body began shaking uncontrollable as I recalled the fear that flooded my veins. Something was wrong.

"Okay, c'mon. Let's go to Dumbledore, this might be serious."

For whatever reason, I could see the fear in Draco's eyes. Fear that mirrored my own.

We quickly walked to the Headmaster's Tower and faced the statue of a winged creature that stood before us.

"Sherbert Lemon," said Draco as he stared blankly at the circular, moving staircase, which led to Dumbledore's office.

"How do you know the password?" I asked dumbfounded that a student had access to such an important fact.

"I'm a prefect and a Malfoy," he said flatly. He didn't remind me of the Draco I was with a mere hour ago. Biting my lip, however, I followed him up the spiral staircase, uncertain for what this night would bring.

"Get your head out of your ass, Malfoy & stop being such a hothead," I mumbled. I couldn't stand his arrogance and need to bully.

I had been at Hogwarts for 24 hours, and I was already in the headmaster's office. God only knew what this year would hurtle my way.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss. Langston, what might be the cause of your visit at this unprecedented hour?" His soft eyes planted on me.

Gulping back my intimidation of the headmaster and the greatest wizard alive I retold my story.

While I did so, Dumbledore simply nodded and made a few concerning expressions, which did nothing to ease my nerves.

"I can see why you are concerned Miss. Langston. I will send myself and a professor up to your rooms while you wait here with Mr. Malfoy," he gave me a warm smile before hurrying out of the office.

I turned to face Draco, my face clearly showing signs of distress.

"I'm terrified."

Draco laughed softly and took a step towards me, "You know it could only be Peeves. Then again, he's not allowed in house common rooms, let alone student's rooms..."

I watched his face as he thought, mesmerized by the simple beauty a person could possess.

"What are you staring at Langston?" Draco said, his mouth curling into a cocky smirk as he drilled his eyes into mine, like he was staring right through me.

"I know you're only trying to... be helpful, in your own way, but I really think it was more than a castle poltergeist who sent me the message. All night I have felt off, almost like someone was watching me Draco," I said with apparent distress in my voice.

Running his hands through his hair, he inched closer, which led me to take a step back and against the cold wall. I watched as Draco's face softened and his lustful eyes bore into mine.

"You know Langston, you interest me. I can't put my finger on it, but you just do. No one has ever made me feel this way. Let alone achieving it in less than 24 hours," his voice seemed to drift off, like the soft words of a love story.

My back was etched against the wall, but he continued to decrease the distance between us, slowly leaning into my pulsating body. It felt like a lifetime before his soft lips grazed the eager surface of my tingling skin.

Our breaths intertwined before our lips collided in lustful glory as heat spread across my entire body. We fit together like two puzzle pieces as our lips explored each others. The soft graze of his tongue against mine ignited a feeling of delightful ecstasy.

Sure I had been kissed before, but it was nothing like this. It was nothing like when I was with him.

His lips wandered away from my swollen ones and glided down my flushed neck, sucking softly against the tender skin. A moan escaped my lips as my hands clasped around his neck.

He slowly pulled away, only far enough to look into my wild eyes.

"You intrigue me Grier Langston."