Opposites Attract

Want To Forgive, But Shouldn't Forget

Chapter ten: Want To Forgive, But Shouldn't Forget

[Y/N]'S POV:

I was a little embarrassed I ended up in the hospital wing twice within a matter of days. Once for a broken bone, which healed straight away after some magic, and the other time for being tied up underwater for over an hour. I was starting to wonder if being sent to Hogwarts really was safer for me than staying in America. But I was okay now, walking around just fine and attending my classes normally. Although Snape was still clearly worried about me, even though he tried to pretend he wasn't. But I saw right through him.

It was our lunch break currently, and I was reading an advanced potions book I had found in a cabinet of Snap's classroom. Sitting on my soft bed I flipped through the pages, reading intensely. Now, I wasn't in advance potions class, but I had taken the advanced course back in America so I knew all the potions and how to brew them. So why was it I was reading about something I already know about? Simple, because apparently I actually don't know much about what I had thought. Hell, it seems professional's didn't know either, for it wasn't the actual text of the book I was reading, but the notes sketched inside.

The copy which I was currently holding belonged to a 'Half-Blood Prince' who knew the real way of making potions. My mind was boggled by most of it, all things I would have never have thought of on my own. And potions is my best subject so that's saying something! 'I wonder who the Half-Blood Prince really was. Judging by the age of this book I'm assuming it was around the time Snape went to school here. Maybe I should ask him about it later when I return it.' That seemed like a good idea to me. Plus, it would give us more to talk about and possibly bond over which is needed since he's technically my parent and everything. 'Wait a minute... Is he married? Do I have a mother who I just don't know about? It's entirely possible he just never told me, considering he actually doesn't talk much. That's another thing I could ask him about too!' I was glad that I was coming up with things to speak with him about, after everything that's happened to me recently I was a little desperate for a father daughter connection.

Turning the page of the textbook, thoughts slowly diverging from the scribbled words on the page, a tapping on the window across the room was heard. Knowing that it was lunchtime and all of my roommates were in the grand hall had made the tapping all the more suspicious. My eyes drifted from the ink to the small window, my eyebrows furrowed when I saw an owl perched just outside.

I stood from my cozy bed and tossed the book into my mattress before making way toward the window and letting the feathered creature in. It was a rather large eagle owl. Tufted and fierce looking. But polite enough to stay perched on the windowsill and not fly in and invade my space. It was certainly too well mannered to be the Weasely's owl and I didn't recognize it as Cedric's. My fingers danced along his soft feathers, which he seemed to appreciate, before they traveled down to retrieve the note which was tied to his leg. He stayed still and watched me read its contents.

'Dear [y/n],

I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd meet me outside the entrance to your common room before the end of lunch. It's a matter of urgency. I expect you won't keep me waiting.'

My head tilted to the side when I saw no one had signed it. 'Just who was this from?' I glanced back at the owl and gave him a quick nod, confirming he had permission to leave. After flying off I closed the window behind him and headed downstairs to exit my common room and meet whoever this person may be. But the second I had stepped out into the dungeon I was filled with immediate regret. 'Of course it was from Draco.' Our eyes locked for a second and I waited a moment for him to say something before deciding to leave, because perhaps it actually was urgent like he had said.

"Finally able to walk on your own two feet I see, pathetic Hufflepuff!" He basically sneered. 'Asshole! I'm not about to put up with his bullshit!' Huffing and rolling my eyes I turned around without saying another word to retreat back into my common room. "No, wait!" I heard the blonde shout out but I didn't listen, keeping up my fast pace, silently hoping the doors would close behind me fast enough for him to not follow. But he somehow managed to slip in anyways.

"Get out of my common room Malfoy!" I barked at him without turning around and hastily running up the stairs to get to the safety of my room.

"Can't you give me two minutes [y/n]!" His voice came along with the sound of his shoes tapping up the steps. At the top of the stairs I turned around angrily just in time to see the steps flatten and send him sliding down. 'Seems he's already forgotten about the wards.' "Bloody ridiculous things!" He snapped, eyeing the stars loathsomely as he stood up. A chuckle coming from the portrait beside him had made me crack a small smile. "And just who do you think you are?"

finishing up with his laughter the old man in the portrait responded. "Eldritch. Eldritch Diggory. And I think I'm going to be the one to tell you to leave the poor girl alone!" Malfoy scoffed at his words with fury.

"Diggory! It seems that bloody name has littered this entire school recently! It's annoying, honestly."

"Probably because my descendant is an excellent person!"

"Well I beg to disagree!"

"Why of course the blasted Slytherin has to disagree!"

"You say that as if Slytherin isn't the best house!"

"Because Hufflepuff is clearly the best house and Cedric proves it!" My [e/c] eyes rolled to the back of my head at their bickering. 'At this rate they'll go on all day.'

Sighing heavily I forced myself to intervene. "Enough! Please! Just- just stop both of you!" I was quite surprised when they both did. Draco looked up at me like a sad puppy, icy eyes begging me to let him either speak with me or tell off a portrait. It's too bad I'm actually a sucker for those damn eyes of his. "Malfoy... You've got two minutes. Make it quick." I said sternly as I folded my arms defensively to make it clear although I gave him air to speak I wasn't happy about it.

Malfoy then took a deep breath, looking up at me earnestly. A look which I had never thought I'd possibly see him wear. It was almost perplexing.

"I-I wanted to apologize." He said, gaze locked on mine. "For everything. For the way I treated you since the Yule Ball." My eyebrows furrowed in confusion at his words. 'Is the Draco Malfoy actually apologizing?'

"Malfoy, what are you talking about?" I watched him shift uncomfortably at my cautious tone.

"I've been thinking a lot lately. About how I have been treating people... about you. I mean, how I've treated you, and I was wrong I suppose. I hurt you, which is bloody terrible and I'm sorry."

I was taken aback by this. I had never heard him speak like this before. It was almost like he was a different person. Then he said something which made my heart skip a beat.

"And there's something else," he continued, his voice softening. "Something I've wanted to tell you for a while now."

I let my mouth fall agape, feeling a flutter of excitement. 'Is he about to confess his feelings?' But then he faltered, his expression pained.

"I can't do this." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I'll see you around [y/n]." And with that he turned and hurried out of the Hufflepuff common room, leaving me bewildered and a bit more than a little heartbroken. 'What is going on with Draco Malfoy? And why did he have to leave before he was even finished with what he was saying?' Although hesitantly curious over the matter, I suppose it was for the best this way. After all, I had felt so quick to forgive him as if he hadn't publicly embarrassed me and sent me to the hospital wing. A simple private apology shouldn't make up for such actions, but I couldn't help but want to, which is bad. I need to keep my boundaries, no matter how pretty the person is who wishes to cross them is.