Book 1: Of Thorns & Roses

12: The Task

The next month or so was filled with the usual, a normalcy I hadn't yet decided if I liked or not. My yearning for chaos stuck to me like a tick. I was left dwelling on Draco and all that he had kept from me, but my friends helped in distracting my foreboding troubles.

Hermione and I became even closer, considering that we would spend every waking moment in the library together to study for our O.W.Ls., which we so desperately needed to do well on in order to take N.E.W.Ts our 7th year. I felt like she was the sister I never had.

Being an only child was rough, especially after the death of my mom. I had no one. Even though I was surrounded by friends, ones who cared deeply for me, I felt wholly alone. 

My dad had written me only one letter this school year to tell me I couldn't come home for Christmas because he was "preoccupied" with work.

Bullshit.

I reminded him of mom, so I was slowly becoming nothing to him.

Harry continued to help me in Defense Against the Dark Arts because I felt a deep sense of unease when it came to the Dark Lord and his whereabouts, which neared Hogwarts. I admired Harry's willingness to comfort me when he had mirroring fears of my own. Merlin I didn't deserve his kindness.

Ron and I liked to travel out to Hogsmeade in search of the best delectable treats, which we immensely enjoyed. Maybe a little too much according to Fred and George.

I had also become quite close with the Weasley twins with our shared love of pranking, especially if it was directed towards Peeves, or their siblings. They also fell oddly in love with my American accent, for they would ask me to read to them just to hear me speak. Merlin I laughed my ass off when they tried to imitate me.

And of course, there was Draco.

I always observed him from a distance, for he moved away from me in Potions and we hadn't spoken since that night he confessed his wrongdoings. The circles under his eyes became more prominent, and he began skipping classes more frequently, leaving me suspicious, but how could I not be? He was a liar and a Death Eater.

I was pulled from my reminiscing when Draco himself came sauntering into the Slytherin common room, where I lay stretched on one of the leather couches reading a book and sipping the tea my mother so frequently made for me. A concoction of rare black roses, cinnamon, and a pinch of obsidian. The tea was horrid, but it reminded me of my mother, so like Hell would I stop making it.

"Drink it once every week to ward off evil and negative energy." She had murmured those instructions to me throughout my life. It hadn't seemed to work in my favor as of late, but that wouldn't stop me from ignoring her command in my head.

Pulling me from my thoughts, my eyes followed his every move as Draco sat on the couch across from me, where Blaise and Pansy were bickering. His black dress pants shifted slightly with each smooth movement of his body, hands in his pockets, hiding those fingers that had once graced my body. Merlin save my sinful soul. I forced myself to look away. Like Hell I would chase after him. All these weeks, I tried convincing myself that I was better off without him.

It never worked.

I tried to move my attention back to my novel, but I felt his eyes on me. Merlin I wanted to get out of this Slytherin hellhole, but Dumbledore and the ministry still hadn't figured out what was "wrong with my dorm" or who was behind the attacks. My feeling of hope had dissipated with each day that went by with no news. 

Each minute that passed felt like an eternity with him so near. Finally, I began to rise from the couch when Shea and Alexandra came running over to me in a buzz of excitement.

"Grier Grier Grier," chimed Shea in a cloud of giddiness, "It's December, which means the Yule Ball, which means that you need a date..."

"And a dress and some heels," added Alexandra with a quick thumbs up.

I knew a look of confusion had past over my face as I watched Shea's face turn beet red. I was unsure as to where this was going until Shea blurted out, "Cedric is going to ask youuuuu," she said in the sing-song voice she always used when giving good news.

I felt like I should have been more excited, but the boy across from me, who was listening to our every word, was in the forefront of my mind. I couldn't shake his presence from my skin, let alone my imaginative head.

"Oh, well that's nice hah," I painted the most genuine smile on my face I could muster until I heard Pansy's shrill voice pierce my ears.

"Well that's too bad for Cedric. He could do much MUCH better than a half-blood," she said as she wiggled her pale finger in my direction. Her black hair wavered with each word as if her own self detested her as much as I did.

I wasn't in the mood for this crap, especially from her, "Watch it Parkinson," I said, my teeth gritting at each word.

"Or what Langston? At least Draco here has already asked me. Too bad he's not into you huh?" I wanted to rip her head off, very literally. Biting my lip, I stood from my spot on the couch, approaching her with a face that stole the rest of her words.

I lifted her chin with my index finger like a mother would do to their whining child, forcing her to look at me as I said, "Eat shit Pansy."

Blaise bursted into uncontrollable laughter as I turned to "peacefully" remove myself from the dreadful situation. I even saw Draco muster a smile, which set my heart into overdrive.

Every cell in my body thumbed against my skin with adrenaline and silent pleasure at my comeback to Pansy. I needed to get out of here. Picking up my book, I quickly headed out of the common room and headed to the place I hadn't been to in months.

****************

I walked out into the chilled air. A feeling of overwhelming sadness engraving its painful reminder of all I had lost into my body.

Approaching our once usual oak tree, I sat against its aged base feeling empty. I had so many amazing people surrounding me, so why did I feel like I was withering away, waiting for emptiness to consume me?

My own father didn't even want me.

A heavily buried memory clouded my busy head. "We can't let them find out, Caspian," my mom whispered in quick breaths. "She would be exploited to all that is evil. Him." A shiver ran down my spine as my mind ran wild at the cryptic words. 

As quickly as the visions appeared, they were fleeting as if shrouded in mystery and a conversation I felt could destroy me. Hot tears slowly ran down my reddened cheeks, but I wiped them away like death capturing a soul in its inevitable grasp.

"Grier?" My head whirled around in stunned silence as he approached me, dead leaves crunching beneath his feet.

"What do you want Draco?" I said in an attempt to hide my sudden rush of glee. Damn those eyes, his very presence, and honey laced voice.

I could see the turmoil in his eyes, "To tell you a secret."

Narrowing my eyes, I turned away to, once again, face the gleaming lake, "I'm serious Grier. You can obviously keep one, and you're the only person I feel like I can come to."

I laughed, a hysterical one, because I couldn't believe those words, strung together, so easily escaping his mouth, "Not Pansy huh? Or your little daddy? What about Lord Voldemort?"

I rested my head on the sharpened bark of the tree, waiting for his next words. My hair grazed upon the moist moss that coated the chilled roughness, forcing my expression into indifference.

"I have to kill Dumbledore."

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter! It was kind of a filler to add a lil *character development*

And don't worry, some smut shall be coming soon (;