Broken Glass

Part 4

She was sitting right beside me. I had a strange mix of emotions in me. She somehow still reminded me of the days when things were not that complicated. When I could happily tease her and laugh seeing her nostrils swell in anger. I chuckled a little remembering her face. She turned to me sharply.

“What are you laughing about?” she asked looking at me with a similar frown that played in my imagination.

“That..” I said pointing at her face.

She started rubbing looking away thinking she has something on her face that needs to be cleaned.

“No.. I meant that frown.. the way you used to get angry when I would tease you..” I said chuckling.

“Don’t you think tease is a little too tame a word for how you treated me..?” she asked frowning again.

“Nah.. I don’t.. it was fun..” I said shrugging.

She rolled her eyes at that. “For you..”

“That’s what was important” I said as a matter of fact.

“Ohh Malfoy, you are starting to get on my nerves again!” she said annoyed.

“Its fun to get on your nerves.. you should try it sometime”

She rolled her eyes but decided to let that one go.

“I had a question for you..”

“I am listening” I said looking ahead. I have to admit I was somewhat scared. There was too much I didn't want to talk about even when my inner self was dying to get it out.

“Why did you look at me when smelling your potion?” she asked with a teasing glint in her eyes. Did she know? Was I that obvious?

“because you were looking at me..” I said still looking away. I was not ready to tell her that I smelled her. It's not like I hadn't expected to smell her. I had known it for quite sometime but I wasn’t ready to accept it, that too in front of her just yet. But when I had smelled it, it just got too real. It was like a confirmation to what I was suspecting since long.

“Oh really?” she asked pressing me more.

“Yeah. What else could it be? Or rather what else do you want it to be?” I said looking at her this time, teasing her.

“Ohh let it be.. you are evil.. I know you won't tell me anyways..” she said getting irritated but she was rather caught off guard. “okay I will let that one go, but you have to tell me this..”

“You have too many questions, Granger” I said looking bored.

“Maybe I do.. well.. where do you go after dinner.. you don't go to your common room, I have seen that” she asked as if it was her right to know. I grew rather dark. Did she think I was still up to something?

“Why do you want to know?” I asked rather agitated.

She took a deep breath. “Don't get me wrong.. I am just curious.. it’s not what you think”

So she understood what it sounded like. I took a deep breath. I didn't want to fight with her. Even though that may mean peace for a few days but I was too tired of being alone now. And it was only her that I wanted to have around.

“I have talked to McGonagall about it.. I don't want to stay in Slytherin common room..” I said looking away.

“I don't understand” she looked at me confused.

I couldn't help but smile at her innocence. “You see Granger, while you retire to your dormitory, you remember your friends maybe planning their course of action for the greater good. Celebrating together. Helping each other out.” I said looking at her. And I could see the slight smile playing on her lips as if remembering it. For some reason, it hurt me. Her smile told that what I had thought and gotten jealous of was actually true. Oh how jealous I had been of them during the sixth year.