Words Could Never Say It

Chapter Four - The Problem

Unfortunately for Draco Malfoy, Potions class was not the last lesson he saw Emily Matthews in that day. He saw her again in Transfiguration, and again in Care of Magical Creatures with Mrs. Grubbily-Plank, and the teacher seemed very intrigued to talk to her. Well, she talked and Emily wrote back on her parchment. The Golden Trio was at her back, also talking to the teacher, Hermione translating some words of that language they used with their hands... Sign Language or whatever it was. Draco sneered and turned away, looking out into the pin where two large kittens were in a small wooden cage, each the size of a medium dog, with blue striped fur and paws the size of his hands.

He barely listened all throughout the class, glowering out of the corner of his eye at Emily and his three least favorite people, which seemed to be getting on with each other very well, indeed. Another bolt of anger stabbed him. He'd seen her first; he'd wanted her to be in Slytherin. Potter and his little friends never would have wanted to be friends with her if she had been in his house. That idea made him smirk a bit, and settled his quivering stomach just enough to be even more angry at the fact that she wasn't a Slytherin, and he fell into deep thought.

Why did he care what house she belonged to? If she wasn't a Slytherin friend or a Gryffindor foe, she wasn't worth his time worrying about being friends with or trying to hurt. He looked at her again as Professor Grubbily-Plank began to describe the adaptation methods of the Blue Tiger and their native habitats, and other things he wasn't particularly interested it. It was Emily that interested him... but why?

Well, for obvious reason, really. She came from a predominant and pureblooded family, she was very smart and outgoing, despite what had happened to her (perhaps even because of it), she was very beautiful, and bless her, she wasn't a Gryffindor! He smirked a little, and let himself slightly admit that she hadn't meant to embarrass him - on the contrary, he knew she had meant to help him get a better grade in potions. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all... Maybe she just needed a little direction away from Potter and his group of idiots and Mudbloods. Still, he couldn't bring himself (or find the proper opportunity) to talk to her for the rest of the day, and resolved to talk to her next potions class.

That night, at dinner, he saw her at the Hufflepuff table, teaching several of the other students some simple hand signs and laughing silently with them as they tried and failed to mimic her. He arched his shoulders as he swallowed his mouthful of food. Maybe he should learn this Sign Language... He quickly shook his head of that idea. Why bother if you have a wand or parchment nearby? There wouldn't be much of a point, would there?

The Great Hall suddenly fell silent as Headmaster Dumbledore stood up, clearing his throat to gather attention. Dr. Matthews was seated at the head table near Professor Snape, who was asking him questions, presumably about Emily, but they too quieted as Dumbledore stood up. "I have an announcement to make," Dumbledore said, smiling and his eyes glittering beneath his half-moon spectacles at his students.

"This year, on Halloween, we will be holding a masquerade ball in celebration of our guests. Dr. Matthews was just telling me yesterday about the Halloween parties they have in America and I believe it is something we would all enjoy. In essence, the ball will be a party more than a dance, though dancing and music of course will be available, and full costume dress is required for attendance. I expect all costumes to be in good taste and appropriate for the occasion. Full details of the ball will be available from your Head of Houses, and the Head Boy and Girl. There will be a prize for the best costume for each house, and a best couple's costumes. That is all."

Draco normally would have been a little put off by the idea of another ball (he hadn't particularly enjoyed the one the year before, but that might have been because Pansy had clung to his side like a lap dog), but Emily seemed ecstatic at the idea, and Draco softened a little. He didn't necessarily HAVE to go with Pansy Parkinson to this Halloween party thing... but the way she suddenly clung to his arm and whispering about matching costumes sent his spirits plummeting on that idea...

All the rest of the next few days, Draco only found Emily in the dining hall, and once he spotted her in the library just before curfew, but he had no classes with her until the next Thursday - double Potions. This time, however, he couldn't pair with her, for a Gryffindor had already snagged up the seat beside her, and to his dismay, he saw it was Hermione Granger. He growled angrily. That bushy-haired Mudblood was going to take away his chances of asking Emily before Pansy officially asked him.

However, as Potions progressed, Draco's mood lightened more and more. Stuffy little know-it-all didn't seem to appreciate the flair for potions Emily had, and they kept arguing silently about what to do. Granger, bossy as ever, finally sighed out sharply and verbally, turning her nose up at Emily and turning away. Emily was red faced, and Draco was rather pleased. Maybe from now on, the little Mudblood would stay away from his quarry.

After Potions, Draco swept down the hall toward the dining hall, and he saw someone who he very much liked to abuse standing alone near the hall that lead to the Divination class - the Mudblood, Hermione Granger. Draco paused, smirking, and glanced back at Crabbe and Goyle at his sides. It wasn't often he met Granger alone without her little friends, Potter and Weasely, but now was a perfect opportunity to do some more, well deserved damage.

"Well, well," Malfoy snarled, startling Hermione out of her reading and sent her glaring at him. "Look at what we have here. The little Mudblood's all alone, without her precious Potter or the traitor Weasel to defend her." Crabbe and Goyle sniggered to each other as Draco came closer to Hermione.

"Go away, Malfoy," she growled angrily, one hand falling to her side near her wand pocket.

"Or what? You'll bleed on me?" He smirked darkly, his pale blue eyes glittering with malice and daring.

"I won't hesitate to defend-"

But Malfoy cut her off, grabbing her by the front of the robes and slamming her back into the wall. This shocked a lot of people who had stopped to watch, but especially Hermione, who dropped her book and gapped at Malfoy. "A wand is a beautiful thing, but so is a black eye. Normally, I wouldn't stand to touch you, you filthy little Mudblood, but for this, I'll make an exception!" He pulled his hand back, and there was a sudden rush of voices and calls for a teacher.

Malfoy was suddenly aware of a strong hand around his wrist, and enraged, he turned about to face who had interrupted. "Who-!" But he never got the words out. A stinging hot pain slammed into the side of his face, and he staggered back, tripping over his robes and falling onto the hard stone floor. His face throbbed... It'd bruise for sure if he didn't charm it. Dazed, he looked up, and saw a whirl of bronze and yellow with black robes step over him as it helped Hermione to her feet. He blinked, Emily Rose Matthews coming fully into view as she glowered down at him. She began to sign, and Hermione stammered to keep up.

"S-She says... What's the matter with you? How could you be so short-sighted to worry about blood at a time like this? I used to think you were all right, even after you tried to get me in trouble in Potions... Now I see... it's just like everyone says. You're a spoiled little prat who can't see past the end of his nose. Don't even talk to me again. ..." She had made another gesture Draco didn't recognize and took Hermione's arm quickly, turning her nose up at Draco and walking away with her in arm. Hermione stared at her, not translating the lasts symbol for Draco.

"HEY!" Draco growled angrily as he clambered for his feet. Emily whirled around and made a gesture that he didn't need translated, and continued on with Hermione in tow. He turned to the others standing around him, a few of which were Hufflepuffs, gapping at him. "What does this mean?" he demanded, making the same motion she had. But the crowd began to quickly dissipate when whispers that Professor McGonagall was coming to investigate began to come about. Draco grabbed one of the Hufflepuff girls by the arm. "What does it mean?!" he demanded louder.

The girl looked at him in a bit of shock and more than a little fright. "... It means... asshole." She quickly tugged free of him, and ran off with her classmates, leaving Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle standing dumbfounded in the hall as Professor McGonagall descended upon them.