the chase (draco malfoy)

chapter fifteen

Days turn to weeks and into months and before I've realized it, Spring is upon us. It's the first week of April and the sun has finally started to shine at Hogwarts. 

The last few months since Christmas had been blissfully amazing. I spent nearly every Saturday with Draco in his dorm. We'd decided to keep our relationship on the low. I knew my friends wouldn't approve and neither would his, but we were happy and that was all that mattered. 

Cedric and I became closer than ever before. He was my only friend who knew of my secret love affair and he became my confidant. We often spent nights in the common room talking about life, and my relationship with Draco.

Draco was amazing. We had our arguments here and there, which is normal for a young couple. But every Saturday night I snuck into the Slytherin dorms and we fell asleep together, and every Sunday morning I found a new part of him to fall for. 

It's Saturday morning and I find myself wishing I could fast forward. My heart aches to spend another night with Draco, and tonight will be different. We've been dating for several months now, and he's waited so patiently for me to be ready. I finally feel like I am, and I'll tell him tonight.

I'll tell him I love him and that I want to give him every part of me. 

After my morning shower, I get dressed and exit the dorms to go downstairs for breakfast. I arrive at the Hufflepuff table to find Cedric and Harry sitting together. I take a seat next to Cedric and dig into my breakfast.

Harry and Cedric chat about their next task while I absentmindedly search the room for my blonde lover. I spot him at the Slytherin table, having breakfast with Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy of all people.

A strong hand grips my left arm and yanks me from my seat.

"Come with me, little sister." Says Alex. Cedric starts to get up from his seat.

"It's okay, Cedric. I'll be back." I tell him, wriggling out of my brother's grip. He leads me out of the great hall and into a broom closet.

"What do you want?" I ask Alex. He has never once spoken to me at school. He wouldn't dare associate with a Hufflepuff, blood related or not. 

"You need to be careful about who's bed you're sharing." Alex says, pointing a long, accusing finger at me. The color drains from my face. 

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." I tell him, hoping he doesn't see through my lie.

"Draco Malfoy is not a nice guy, and this is the only warning you'll get from me. Stay away from him."

Alex leaves the closet without another word. I roll my eyes and open the door, hoping he's nearby to offer some explanation, but he's nowhere to be found. 

I head back to the Hufflepuff dorm, suddenly having lost my appetite.

I spend the day studying for the transfiguration exam coming up, but my mind often wanders to other places.

The warning Alex gave me was confusing. How did he know I'd been sleeping over in Draco's dorm? Did someone see me? Why does he want me to stay away from him?

I close my textbook and decide to go out for some fresh air. The sun will be setting in only a few hours and I need to clear my mind before I see Draco. 

I exit the castle and see Luna sitting in the courtyard, reading one of her father's newspapers. 

"Hello, Annie," Luna says in her soft voice. I smile and sit next to her.

"Is everything alright?" She asks, placing the Quibbler down next to her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lie to my friend. I think she knows I'm not telling the truth, but she doesn't push.

Luna and I sit quietly in the courtyard, peacefully observing those around us until she leaves to go back inside. Alone with my thoughts yet again, I close my eyes and attempt to clear my head. 

The wind rustles the surrounding trees and as the sun sets the warmth I felt before disappears along with it. Draco has given me the password for his dorm and I think I'll show up early tonight to surprise him. 

I walk back into the castle and quickly transfigure my Hufflepuff robes to Slytherin, a charm that Draco taught me so I can blend in, just in case anyone sees me in the dungeons. Growing more anxious by the minute, I pull my hood over my head and pick up the pace towards the Slytherin entrance. 

Right before I turn the corner, I hear a feminine giggle just before a familiar voice that stops me in my tracks and makes my blood run cold. With all the strength I can muster, I turn the corner and my heart turns to concrete and sinks to the bottom of my stomach. 

Draco, the boy who had made me feel so safe, so happy, so special, with his mouth attached to that pug faced bitch and his hands full of her ass. 

It takes them a few moments to notice me, and moments go by like hours when your hearts just been ripped out of your chest. Pansy sees me first.

"Can we help you?" She asks in her nasally voice with her shit eating grin. 

Draco looks and his smile drops. His eyes fill with dread and he backs away from Pansy. He takes a step towards me and I back away. If he touched me I'd scream.

My eyes burn and I know that they're filling with tears but I feel too numb to wipe them away. Draco just stands in front of me, frozen.

"Aw, Draco," Pansy says, "she thought you actually liked her."

My knees feel like they'll buckle underneath me but I refuse to let the two of them see me as weak.

"Get out of here, Pansy." Draco says through gritted teeth.

"No, you stay," I say, finally breaking my silence, "I'll go." I turn to leave and Draco grabs my arm. I break away from him and dart up the stairs.

His footsteps follow behind me, and he calls out my name. The sound of his voice is muffled by the ringing sound in my ears. I stop suddenly and turn around, he almost bumps into me.

"Annabelle, I'm so-" He starts.

"Don't!" I shout, pushing my palms against his chest. He stumbles backwards but quickly regains his composure.

"There is absolutely nothing that you can say that will make this better!" I yell again, hot tears sliding down my face. 

He stands before me completely silent. His excuses and lies mean nothing to me, and he knows that.

"Everything was a lie." I say, backing away from him again.

"It wasn't," he says stepping towards me, "I lo-"

"Don't you dare say that to me!" I shout again, louder. Surely we can be heard by other students and professors but I can't think about that right now. 

"Annie?" A familiar voice says from behind me. I turn around and for once am relieved to see my stupid older brother.

Alex steps towards me and stands between Draco and I. The two of them are about the same height, but even though Draco is younger than Alex, he's far more intimidating. Alex doesn't seem to care. He grips Draco by the collar of his shirt and pushes him against the wall.

"Don't ever come near her ever again." Alex says through his teeth. I grab his arm. 

"Let him go, Alex," I say, "He isn't worth it."

Alex releases him and he slumps against the wall. He meets my eyes with an expression that tells me my words have hurt him, and I'm slightly satisfied knowing I've delivered him a fraction of the pain he's caused me. 

Alex wraps an arm around my shoulder and walks me back to the Hufflepuff dorms without another word.