Always You

CHAPTER 6

After a month, things were the same. Dean and I were getting closer. Hermione and Ginny were right, he was very kind and romantic. We went out few times and it really went well. He organised a picnic on the quidditch field one night, and we had dinner there. The atmosphere was perfect, but I wasn't sure if he was perfect to me. I tried to get to know him better, anyway. He had always been kind to me, and I wanted to be like that too.

I was also getting closer to the group. Hermione, Ginny and I were inseparable, but unfortunately Ginny weren't in the same class as Hermione and I, because she was a fourth year student.

Harry and Ron were very kind, and I had a great relationship with both of them. I kept knowing them more and more every day. They were so nice.

With Malfoy it was going well, I mean, we didn't talk so much, only during potions class because we were partners. Fortunately, I haven't been alone with him anymore and nothing happened.

It was October and Halloween was coming. The weather was starting to get colder. The air was getting icier and we all started to wear warmer clothes. It was Monday.

I was going to my potion class and as I entered the class, I saw some student who arrived earlier and was waiting for the class to begin. I sit in my place and when the last students arrived, professor Snape began to talk.

"today you will work with your partner on this new potion. Get your ingredients and look at page 79. You have this hour to finish it. Get to work"

I turned myself and I saw Malfoy smiling at me. He didn't stop looking at me until I sit next to him

"What?" I said smiling. In this month he didn't do anything bad and mean to me, so I decided that I didn't have to be mean either. We could be friend, right?

"Nothing, let's work" I smiled shaking my head.

We worked until the end of the lessons and we managed to finish the potion.

Shortly before the bell to ring professor Snape gave us homework for the next day

"You have to work with your partner and do a research about the Amortentia potion. It will be the next potions we will do in class. You can go now".

What? I had to study with Malfoy that afternoon? I was a little scared of how it could have gone. We weren't that close, and I was afraid that he would have been mean to me. yes, it was just homework, but I had never talked to Malfoy outside the classes, he could be anything but nice to me.

"we can meet in the library, if you want obviously" I said uncertainly.

"yes, I want Nolan, meet me there at 4. See you later Hannah" as he said it, I nodded, and I went to the next class.

During the entire morning I couldn't focus at all, all I could think was that stupid homework I had to do with Malfoy. But why? I knew it was just homework, why was I so nervous about something so stupid?

At lunch Hermione was talking about some extra test she wanted to take to have higher grades, but I didn't listen very carefully. All I did was nodding at her and sometime smiling.

"is there something that bother you Hannah? Hannah? Are you even listening?" Harry seemed worried

"Mmh? Oh yes sorry, I was thinking about, uhm, homework and study, you know, Snape doesn't leave us free" I tried to smile and eat something to hide my preoccupation but harry didn't seem very convinced. I didn't look at him, I tried to focus and eat something, but I couldn't

"Are you sure it is everything ok?" Ron stopped eating a started looking at me

"Yes, sorry I have to go, I have to study, if you need me, I'm in the library" I smiled, and I started going out of the Great Hall.

I had a look to the Slytherin table, and I saw Malfoy, looking at me in a worried way. He lifted from the chair without taking his eyes off me and started walking in my way. I didn't stop and I tried to walk faster; I wanted to stay alone for a bit. In that moment I didn't want to talk with him, that was sure.

I didn't know and I couldn't understand why a simple homework was making me feel in that way. Yes, it was with Malfoy, but it wasn't the first time I worked with him during potion class. I was thinking when I hit someone. I looked up seeing Dean who probably was going to have lunch.

"Oh, hi Hannah" he said smiling

"Hi Dean" I was worried, I wanted to go away, but I didn't want to be mean to Dean, he didn't do anything

"have you already eaten? If you want, you can eat with me, if you want obviously"

"I'm sorry Dean but I can't right now" I said looking around

"Why? Did I say something wrong?" he was starting to get worried and I felt sorry for him

I was going to answer when someone spoke for me

"She doesn't want Thomas, leave her alone" it was Malfoy.

On the one hand I was relieved he was helping me but on the other hand I wanted to get by on my own. I sighed closing my eyes. I didn't have a good feeling about that situation.

"I don't remember I asked your opinion Malfoy" Dean was starting to get upset. Since the beginning of the term I had never seen him so upset.

"I just think Hannah doesn't want your company now" I was looking first to one and then to the other and I didn't know what to do. Words weren't going to exit my mouth.

"Is that it, Hannah?" ask Dean, I could see he was nervous and afraid to hear my answer

"uhm, it's just." I hesitated to speak "it's just, I can't stay here, Dean, I have to go right now, I'm sorry" I looked at him and then to Malfoy and I started to go without looking back, but if I looked back, I would have seen Dean being disappointed and sad.