Make Me Fall

11. The Note

I have another Charms essay due today. I've just finished writing it and Fred and George are looking over it. I hope they say it's okay. They've been so helpful! I want to make them proud.

Draco gave me a note yesterday asking me if we could talk tomorrow. By the lake after breakfast. I haven't replied to it. Pansy has been noticably happier recently, so I think he might be telling me he's calling everything off. I'm a little nervous, but I think I'm okay with it. I need to focus on my studies, anyway. Professor McGonagall told me after class yesterday my work has slipped. She wanted to know if anything was wrong. I told her about Charms and how I'd been trying to get it up to scratch. She understood and told me to make sure not to let all my other subjects slip. She suggested making a study timetable so that I spend time on each subject. That's a pretty good idea, I think. I'm getting good makes in Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures and Transfiguration. I just need to work on my Charms and Potions. I got an E in my last Potions essay, though. I guess the work paid off.

I look up at Fred and George. They've just finished reading.

"Better," George says.

"Much better," Fred agrees, handing it back, "you've still got a way to go if you want an O-"

"But that should get you a pass," George finishes.

"Thank you!" I cry, flinging my arms around them. They laugh and ruffle my hair.

"You'd better go and hand it in," Fred says.

"I will," I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder and picking up my essay, "thank you again!"

I hurry down towards professor Flitwick's office. I knock and wait, hopping from foot to foot. I knock again. There's no answer. Panic surges through me. What if I'm too late?!

I run up to the staff room and knock desperately. Professor McGonagall answers.

"Is Professor Flitwick here?" I cry. She looks a little shocked.

"Filius," she says, turning from the door. Flitwick walks over and I hold my essay out.

"I'm not late am I?" I ask desperately, "you said by dinner!"

"It's not late," he says, taking it, "thank you, Miss Turner."

He walks back into the room and I breathe a sigh of relief. McGonagall raises her eyebrows at me.

"I worked really hard on that," I tell her.

"I know you did," she says, "Madame Pince told me how the Weasley twins have been helping you."

I nod.

"They've been great," I tell her. She smiles slightly.

"I'm sure they have," she says, "now, don't you have a Transfiguration essay to be working on? It's due tomorrow morning and-"

I search through my bag and hold it out to her. She takes it and nods.

"Well, I'm sure you have something to work on," she says, "if not, I can always set you extra work."

"That's okay," I say quickly, "I have plenty of Potions and Ancient Runes homework to get done. Thanks, professor!"

I hurry off towards Gryffindor tower. I pass the Quidditch on the fifth floor. Fred and George shoot me a grin and a thumbs up.

***

I yawn and stretch. The other three girls are still asleep, so I get dressed quitely and sneak out. It's still early to be up on a Saturday, but I like being up early. I decide to go for a run before breakfast. The grounds are so vast I could probably run for half an hour in any direction, but I decide to run north, up hill.

I quickly realise how very unfit I am.

I reach the top of the hill, which is behind the castle and collapse on the ground, puffing. I'm hot, sweaty and gross. The sun is surprisingly hot for this time of year. I check my watch. It's about half an hour until breakfast. I try to stand up, but my legs aren't ready yet, so I just fall back on the grass and wait until my breathing evens out. I can feel the sun burning my skin. It's a curse of being ginger, we can burn at night.

I struggle to my feet and start jogging down the long slope. By the time I reach the Entrance Hall, which is wonderfully cool, breakfast is under way. I'm starving, but I smell awful, so I start climbing the stairs to have a shower, ignoring the delicious smells coming from the hall. I pass people on the stairs, hoping they don't notice my smell. Or sweaty-ness.

After a shower I head downstairs and make it to breakfast just in time. I have to hold my toast as the food disappears. Hermione is sitting opposite me, her nose stuck in a book. I consider starting a conversation with her, but decide not to. She looks pretty into that book. I finish my toast and sigh. What to do today? Hermione glances up at me.

"Are you meeting Draco?" she asks.

"Huh?"

"By the lake," she says patiently, "his note?"

"Oh..." I blush, "I don't know. I don't think so."

"I think you should," she says, matter-of-factly. I frown.

"Why? You hate him."

"I'm not meeting him," she retorts, "besides, it might give you some closure."

"Closure," I test the word, "well, I don't know. I need to finish my Ancient Runes essay."

"How long does it take to break up with someone?" Hermione asks.

"I'm not breaking up with- Oh," I bite my lip, blushing. Does everyone in the castle know he's dumping me? I feel the backs of my eyes tingle and hold my breath so I won't cry. Hermione looks at her watch.

"Well, come and see me after," she says, "we can check each other's essays."

I walk out side, feeling like there are dementors around. The dread sits in the bottom of my stomach like a lead balloon. I can see Draco waiting by the lake and have to force myself not to bolt. As I approach him he turns around and smiles a completely dazling smile at me.

"I thought you wouldn't come," he says, pulling me into his arms. I'm a bit shocked. I've never been dumped before, but I didn't think it would go like this.

"What's wrong?" he asks, looking down at me.

"Aren't you breaking up with me?" I ask hesitantly. Draco scowls.

"That's just a stupid rumour that Pansy started when she saw me writing the note," he says.

"So... Why am I here?" I ask. His scowl changes into a smooth smirk.

"Because you like me," he says. I roll my eyes at him.

"You wouldn't have been worried about me breaking up with you if you didn't," he points out and I realise he's right. He runs his nose down the side of my face and I shiver.

"You're still an ass, though," I tell him.

"I know," he says, kissing me softly on the cheek.

"I mean it," I tell him, "I don't want to be with you, find out my parents aren't pure blood and then be left high and dry!"

"You won't be," he says, "I know I care about blood status, but not when it comes to you. You could be a muggle for all I care. Now, can I kiss you or no-"

Forget everything I said about kissing. It's lovely. Wonderful. Just... Wow.

I wanted to spend the whole day with Draco, but we both have homework that we need to get done. He suggested we do it together in the library, but I knew neither of us would get anything done if we did that. We'd just end up talking and distracting each other, then eventually get kicked out. We decided to have lunch together, though. I can't wait to see Pansy's face when I walk into the hall holding Draco's hand!