The Usual Suspects

Yes, you really needed to know all that. And yes, I'm getting to Draco. Have a little patience.

I'd boarded the Hogwarts Express, ready for Year 6 at Hogwarts. I was thrilled. Soon I'd be learning to apparate. I'd get to see Cho again, after having nothing more than letters for months. I had just finished a chat with a group of fellow Hufflepuffs near the front of the train and turned to leave the compartment when I heard a somewhat high-pitched voice, smooth and commanding. I turned to look, and recognized him. My heart stopped for a second. He was taller than I remembered, his hair combed back perfectly, robes crisp and new. He was standing at the door to a compartment nearby, talking with someone inside. He leaned casually against the wall with one arm, as if he owned the space around him. He looked up at me.

I must have looked like an idiot. I'm sure my mouth was agape, and he'd seen me staring. He smirked, cocking one eyebrow, and I turned to flee.

Oh, like you'd have just stood there and kept staring! Well, I suppose I could have smiled back. I could have waved. I could have died on the spot. Bloody teenage hormones.

So I found Cho and I did not tell her what had happened in the hallway. She might have understood the randomness of having a 'moment' with Draco Malfoy, but I wasn't willing to risk it.
My first class of the year was Defence Against the Dark Arts. I wasn't exactly thrilled, but I was determined to make the best of it. Defence was a tremendous step toward my goal of becoming a healer.

As I waited in the queue to get into class, I heard Draco's voice. My neck tingled. For some unexplainable reason, I turned around. He appeared to be entertaining a small group nearby with a story I didn't bother listening to the words to. The melody and bottled strength of his voice was enough. And yet I couldn't help noticing the gleam of his hair or his pale skin against the black of his robes.

He began to move, and I watched the cloth press against his body as he shifted toward the edge of the group. I clutched my book close, his voice fading away. Suddenly he turned and looked directly at me. I dropped my book with a loud thud, jarring me out of my thoughts, or rather, lack thereof.

My cheeks flamed, and I squatted to pick up the book, but my hand brushed something cool and soft. There was a spark, and I pulled my hand back quickly, looking up to see that Draco had bent to pick my book up as well. His lips bent into a smirk again, and he stood, tucking my book under his arm.

I stood hastily, brushing off the seat of my robes, as if I had sat rather than knelt. "My book," I said, holding out my hand toward it.
"What's your name?" he asked.

I struggled to think for a moment. "Mary. What's yours?" I could have smacked myself for that one, but I swear it was a reflex!

"Draco Malfoy," he answered, and his eyes sparkled with something like laughter. Just then, the door opened and Professor Snape ordered us inside. I had started to walk automatically to the door when a sudden heat shot through my shoulder. I stopped.

"Your book," Draco said, and I turned, half smiling, taking it quickly, while trying to sneak a peek at him from beneath my lashes.
"Thanks," I mumbled, and walked into the class.

Defence class began as might be expected. Professor Snape worked to impress upon us the importance of Defence Against the Dark Arts, and we listened, or in some cases, gave the pretence of listening.

Though I sat near the front of the class, I had a difficult time paying attention. For some reason, I was distracted by the feeling of someone watching me. I didn't dare turn to look, though.

Professor Snape told us to pair up so we could practice nonverbal spells. The class was a mishmash of students from various houses, but I knew few of them, and didn't catch any of their eyes. Brownie points if you can figure out whose eye I did manage to catch.

I glanced at the corner of the room and Draco was smiling. The classroom was too warm. He gave a half nod, more a jerk of the head, though it looked strikingly graceful--why hadn't I noticed him before? I took a deep breath and picked up my book, holding it in front of myself as a shield of sorts, then crossed the room.

Draco's feet rested on the back of the chair in front of him. He swung them to the floor and my eyes followed slender ankles to the folds of his robes, then squeezed shut, refusing to stare again. I made a quick vow to learn some control.

When I opened my eyes again, I took another deep breath and pulled the chair around to face Draco. "Have you ever tried nonverbals before?" I asked by way of conversation. It had sounded like a perfect icebreaker in my head, but rather stupid coming out of my mouth.

Surprisingly, Draco nodded. "My father doesn't object to my using magic at home," he said. "The more practice the better."
I nodded.

"Are you ready, then?" he asked.

I nodded again, gulping down a small lump lodged in my throat. "You first," I said. He cocked his eyebrow at me.

"Very well."

It seemed like minutes that we sat there, just staring at each other. I kept waiting to be stunned, but it didn't happen. Somewhere nearby, I heard a whisper and the thud of a student falling to the floor. My eyes didn't leave Draco, though.

I waited for him to stun me, watching for any sign that he was about to be successful, and occasionally remembering to concentrate on the shield spell I was supposed to be using.

Soon there was whispering everywhere. Professor Snape circled the classroom, instructing and now and then offering criticism in the most blunt way possible.

"Are you sure you've done this before?" I asked. I closed my eyes. Stupid stupid stupid. I opened them again. Draco was leaning back slightly in his chair, arms folded rather than on his wand. He leaned forward, resting his elbows against the desk.

"Have we met before?" he asked, and I felt hot under his eyes.

"No," I answered quickly. I suddenly remembered the train. "Well, not really."

"Have we or haven't we?" he asked.

"We haven't," I said. "I saw you on the train."

Draco's eyes brightened, and he smiled broadly. The heat faded a bit, and I couldn't help smiling back. "That was you," he said.

"Yeah." I didn't feel so stupid anymore. Maybe I hadn't gawked at him after all.

"Next time instead of staring just ask me out."

I know I stopped breathing then. "What?"

Draco sat straight. "You heard me."

"You? Me?" I was in shock. There had to be a rational explanation for my stupidity.

"Saturday by the large greenhouse."

I was still gawking, I know. I heard Professor Snape over my shoulder. "Draco, why don't you demonstrate nonverbals as you were instructed?"

I looked back at Draco, whose lips were pressed tightly together in annoyance. He pointed his wand at me, and I froze.

"Excellent, Draco," Professor Snape drawled. He turned to me. I could just see him in my peripheral vision. "Work on your defence, MarySue."
I'd have cringed if I hadn't been stunned. I hated my given name. Snape turned away and I felt my muscles relax again. Draco's lips hadn't moved as he performed the counterjinx.

"You're good," I said, and he gave me a smile of superiority. "You could have done that before, couldn't you?" Draco cocked his eyebrow. "Why?"

Draco leaned forward again. "You just needed to relax."

"Protego!" There was a huge crash, and my head whipped around. Professor Snape was pushing away from a desk, where it appeared he had landed. I could tell by the look in his eyes that Harry Potter was his mark.

I felt heat on my hand and turned back to Draco. He had reached across the desk and taken my hand in his. My skin was so aware of his that I was sure he must feel it too. I looked into his eyes, and he let me go, the cool air waking me up.

"Saturday noon," Draco said.

I nodded, wondering what had possessed me.