What Does This Feeling Mean

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Six - Lions and Snakes and Draco, Oh My!

Lunch had finally come, and I was starving. I walked down to the hall, and was greeted by Hermione, Ron, and Harry at the entrance.

"We waited for you!" Harry smiled as I approached.

"Well, thanks! You guys didn't have to."

"We wanted to. Let's go, I'm so hungry, I could eat five full plates," Ron proclaimed, quickening his pace to get a seat.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ronald, you always eat five full plates. Honestly."

I stammered in a giggle. They sounded like my parents. It was beyond obvious that they fancied each other.

We sat and began the shoveling.

"So Jewel," Ron started, finishing what he had in his mouth. "These readings. They're not going to hurt are they?"

"Not physically, but if something has hurt you emotionally, and still dwells within you, then it might."

Ron and Hermione started searching their minds to see if that applied to them. Harry, however, began dreading the thought.

"Harry, it's okay." I put my gloved hand on his back. "You've done more self searching than anyone in this school, and have done quite well. You follow your heart. That's all you need to overcome anything that might be in that head of yours."

We finished our meal, and took a little stroll around the school.

"Here comes Malfoy," Ron announced, glaring up the corridor we occupied.

Draco and a brunette girl, were casually walking in our direction. She was gleefully clasped against the blond with her arm around his. The three I was with stopped and braced themselves for whatever Malfoy's mouth decided to say when he saw them. Draco finally looked up at our group, and gave a peculiar look at me. In that second, he relinquished his arm back from the girl, and turning a little red, sped off right passed us. A clearly confused woman looked at us, and then took off after him. We could hear her attempts to slow him down as she disappeared from sight.

Harry and Ron exchanged befuddled glances. "What was that all about?" Ron asked.

Hermione looked down the corridor, and gave me a look of complete shock. "He likes you!"

I glanced at Hermione, only realizing then that a quiet smile had shown on my face.

Her eyes widened even more. "And you like him!"

"Sure," I said, soon feeling the severity of this prospect to the hanging mouths before me.

"Oh Merlin!" Hermione sighed, searching for some logical meaning.

Then Ron interjected. "But he's a Slytherin! He's annoying, arrogant, mean, and has not been the least bit pleasant to any of us in all our years here. How could you like him?"

I had gotten the point. They overpowered me with the images of Draco being no less than nasty to each one of them.

I really didn't know what to say. "Well, not condoning his actions or anything, but he seems to be just wanting attention. He gets a reaction out of you guys, so he feeds into that. He's been nice to me," I looked down at my heavy hands. "Nothing can ever come of it though."

A softer expression overcame Hermione's face. "You don't know that Jewel. You're a catch, something could happen."

"Thanks Hermione."

As much as she didn't agree with the idea, it felt good that she was trying to cheer me up. After a few good hugs, I left them, and returned to my classroom.

My last class finally arrived, and among them were Draco and Pansy. Both were curiously quiet, but highly enjoyed my power within spell. Slytherins, as I found out, were an excitable bunch. They pointed their rainbow sparklers at each other, and the men of the group, got a rise out of who's color display was the biggest. Then in my fancy, I showed them all who had the biggest. That class was becoming my favorite by far.

Class was soon dismissed and I was beat. Saying the same thing many times a day can wear on you. As the classroom thinned out, I walked to my desk and started arranging my things for the next day. Before I knew it, my hair had company.

"Hello Draco," I said, never turning around.

"I didn't recognize you with your hair down. I didn't think you could become even more beautiful than you already were."

I had to smile. I wondered how many girls got caught from that line. I turned around with him still stroking my hair. "You know, your girlfriend's out there waiting for you."

He turned around to a closed door, and then back around to my smile.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Draco, it's okay. Whether she's your girlfriend or not is your business. Really, it's fine."

"Yeah, but then you might..."

"Draco." I had to stop him. This was becoming difficult again, but for some reason, it felt different. "You may not believe this, but the sight of you with someone else is, well, normal to me. I don't want you to worry about something you can not control. It's difficult to explain. It becomes hard for me when I like someone, especially with you."

"So, you do like me," Draco confirmed.

"Sure I do." I became saddened, looking into his mesmerizing, almost silver eyes. "I don't want to push you away."

"I don't think you can push me away," Draco replied. He raised his hand to face, and gently cradled my cheek. I fought my painful images, now racing in my head, going faster than usual. He brushed my lips with his thumb, and brought his mouth to my ear and whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

He smiled at me, as though he was telling me he was serious. He removed his hand with light pinch on my chin, and left the room.

I put my hands to my face and battled my tears. I wanted this so bad, but it hurts so much! Why do I do this?! I took a deep breath and shook my head. As much as it hurts, I'm not going to let him go.

The lingering demand for his presence uncovered a new sensation I had never felt before. I couldn't push him away; I needed him somehow.

I finished in the classroom and headed straight for my room. I had become more tired than hungry. Passing the noisy hall, I went up to the tower, and finally to my room. After changing, I plopped down hard on my bed. I pictured Draco as I had last seen him, and watched as his father came into my mind. I puzzled at this for a moment, but before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.


TBC...