Forever Home | Draco Malfoy

Chapter 5-8: Tutoring by Candlelight

"Hey Draco, I was thinking. . . if you're up for it, we could continue our potions tutoring. I mean it seems to help me as much as it helps you," Desiree whispered to him in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Yeah, I'd like that," whispered Draco, a small grin escaped his mouth.

"Ah, Miss Alcyone, talking during class. It seems as though you may need to join me for detention tonight, my office," Umbridge giggled.

"But-"

"If you have any objections you can always join me tomorrow as well instead of going to Hogsmeade," said Umbridge. Desiree felt Draco's had pulling her back down in her seat, she had apparently begun to stand up, she sat down quietly. She hated going down quietly but by now with all of the detentions she'd been given her hand had never been able to heal before it was cut again. Luckily, she had been able to hide it from Draco and the others so far.

The rest of class Desiree stayed silent, never looking up from her parchment or even glancing at Draco.

"Look, do you want to study now or do it some time later? If we do it now we can study until dinner and then I'll have to go to detention. If we wait, I have no idea when I'll be able to. Especially with Umbridge giving me detention almost everyday," said Desiree, disgust was clear in her voice.

"We can do it now it you want," said Draco, turning to walk in the direction of the library.

"Not in the library," she paused. Draco turned to her in confusion. "Umbridge could walk in. Let's go to the common room."

"Alright," said Draco, shrugging his shoulders as they began to walk. As they walked they playfully nudged each other's sides to see who could push who farther. Draco was winning but Desiree was putting up a good fight. This seemed to be calming her down after getting in trouble with Umbridge yet again.

"Oh bloody hell," said Desiree, looking to see the common room was full of people. "How are we supposed to study now?"

"I know somewhere we can," said Draco, pulling Desiree's hand through the common room. He couldn't see it but Desiree was grimacing in pain behind him. He had grabbed her bad hand. They walked slowly down the hall of boys dormitories and stopped in front of the last door on the hall.

"Why are we here. . . at your dorm?" asked Desiree, looking to him in confusion.

"We're studying of course," he grinned, opening the door to a large, spacious room, that was dark much like Desiree's.

"Draco, you can barely see in here," said Desiree.

"Would you relax? That's what candles are for. And our wands if we really need them," said Draco, walking over to his bedside table and lighting two candles. Desiree watched as he walked over to his trunk and pulled out a view more candles, he lit those as well. Desiree thought that gloom of the candle light in the dark room was actually quite romantic, but she wouldn't let him know that. "Ally? Are you there?" asked Draco, waving his hand in front of her face. Evidently she had zoned out for a few seconds.

"What? Oh yeah, sorry," she walked to the other side of his bed and placed her books down.

"So, where are we starting?" he sat down next to her.

"I figured for today, at least, we would just read over what we're supposed to learn this year and we can go from there," said Desiree, turning her head to face Draco. She hadn't realized before how close they were sitting to each other, for their faces were just inches apart.

"Yeah, that sounds good," his voice was quiet, as if this wasn't what he wanted to say. They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment. So many unsaid things lied within them, yearning to be the first spoken. Desiree could feel the warmth spreading inside her once again. This time it almost felt like it was a burning fire inside.

"Hey Draco, do you know- Oh, sorry," said Blaise, standing at the entrance of their room.

Desiree jumped, she wasn't expecting anyone to enter so abruptly, "You're fine Blaise. We're just studying."

"Right, studying," he paused, looking to the both of them then to the candles.

"What can I do for you Blaise?" asked Draco, clearing his throat as he turned his attention to him.

"I was wondering if you'd seen my charms book? I couldn't find it earlier," said Blaise.

"I think I saw it peeping out from your blanket," said Draco, pointing to the opposite side of Blaise's bed.

"Oh, here it is. Thanks," said Blaise, picking the book up from the floor and walking back towards the door.

"Anytime," said Draco, a bit of sarcasm in his voice as Blaise left the room. "So, where were we?" he looked back to Desiree.

"We were going to start reading over our Potions material for this year," said Desiree.

"Right," said Draco, picking his book up along with Desiree. The pair began reading over the material with each other over the gloom of the candles. It felt nice to Desiree to be able to have this time with Draco, away from the others, away from the craziness that was going in around the castle. They got a little distracted in conversation a few times but they studied for hours without even noticing it.

"Oh no, it looks like it's time for me to go to Umbridge's office for detention," said Desiree, slightly throwing her head back in dread.

"It sucks that you have to go," said Draco. "At least it's only lines though."

"Yeah, lines," said Desiree, making sure her hand remained covered under her robes. "I should get going before I end up late and she gives me detention for that."

Just as Desiree opened the door Draco stopped her, "Ally?"

"Yes Draco?" she asked, turning her head to face him.

"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow? Pansy and Blaise are going by themselves again. Not that that has anything to do with why I'm asking," said Draco, a pinch of nervousness was clear in his voice.

A grin began to grow on Desiree's face. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies for the first time since Cedric, "Yeah, I'd like that. I have to do something with Hermione in the morning but I can meet you down there around eleven."

"I'll meet you in The Three Broomsticks then," said Draco, a grin formed on his face.

"I'll see you there," she smiled, closing the door behind her. Her stomach jumping for joy and cheeks burned as she slowly walked away from his room.