𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆 - 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲 (𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟑)

8 - Hot Water

Two weeks later...

I was done. "Draco?" I knocked on his dormitory door. It was nearly midnight. Quiet sniffling came from his room. "Please let me in," I pleaded. "Draco Malfoy, I will bust this door down right now if you don't-" the door opened. His eyes were tear stained. Now that I'd gotten a better look at him he hadn't been eating. His eye bags were purple from lack of sleep. "What do you want," he snarled, a sob in his throat.

"Can we talk, please?" I asked quietly. "There's nothing to bloody talk about," he slammed the door in my face, making me flinch. "Alohomora," I whispered, unlocking the door. He was sitting on his bed, his hands in his hair. "What's going on?" I sat next to him. "It's none of your business," he tugged at his sleeve. "What's wrong with your arm-" "Get out," he hissed. "Draco, I'm trying to help-" "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM," he screamed, choking out sobs.

I stood stunned, my eyes beginning to water. He'd never yelled at me like that before. A single tear fell from my eyes as I ran out, my feet carrying me as fast as I could go without making any noise. "I'm sorry, wait," he cried, running after me. "Draco just go back to your room," I whimpered. "Please, I didn't mean to yell at you, please," he cried. My heart told me to help him but my head told me to run. "You're scaring me Draco," I looked into his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I just- I'm sorry for pushing you away," he cried. "I can't be with you anymore if you're going to act this way, I'm sorry," I whimpered. "Please don't leave me," he cried. "I won't let you treat me like this," I said. I wiped my tears as I left him in the hallway, running as quickly as possible back to the Gryffindor dormitories. "What happened?" Hermione asked, looking at me as I entered our room. "I went to see Draco," I sobbed. "What did that son of a bitch do?" Ginny snarled. "He started screaming at me, then crying, I just- I don't know how much more of this I can take," I lied down on my bed.

"Don't let him treat you poorly just because you love him," Hermione walked over, rubbing my back. "He's going through so much, and I feel like it's my job to fix it, fix him," I cried. "He is not your responsibility, you are your own person," Ginny sat next to me. "You deserve the love you keep trying to give to everyone else. Try keeping it for a change," Hermione exclaimed.

I knew they were right, but part of me knew Draco would go off the deep end if I wasn't there for him. I didn't want to see him in a dark place, but I was already knee deep in one myself. It would only take a matter of time before I was completely submerged in it, drowning as I tried to pull myself out.

The next morning...

Harry, Ron, Hermione and I all walked into potions class. Draco and I locked eyes as I entered, sitting at my seat. We didn't say a word. "Today, we will be creating amortentia," Slughorn said. Great, just great. Just what I needed right now. "Open your books to page forty seven," he motioned.

"Let's begin," I took out my book, flipping to page forty seven. Draco sat with Pansy, Blaise and Venus, but he didn't say a word. No snarky comments, no teasing. I almost missed his attitude. I plopped one ashwinder egg into my cauldron, adding a handful of rose thorns. I poured the peppermint oil over them, adding the piece of moonstone. I stirred slowly until steam began to spiral from out of the cauldron. "Amazing work, Caroline," Slughorn applauded.

"Thank you sir," I smiled quietly. Harry and I got it perfectly, so Slughorn used our two potions as the pass arounds. "Each of you will describe the scent you smell. After I will explain what will be on your test next Friday," he said. "We will start at the first table," he handed the potion to Neville. "I smell wildflowers, honey, and fresh newspaper," he smiled softly. I could've sworn I saw Luna's face flush. "How about you, Lavender?" Slughorn handed it to her. "Cinnamon, firewood, fresh grass," she blushed, flustered. It was definitely Ron.

Eventually, the potion reached our table. "You're up Harry," Slughorn handed it to him. "I smell citrus, books, and um, baked goods," Harry stuttered. I'm pretty sure that was Ginny, she had citrus perfume. "You're turn Mr. Weasley," he said, telling Harry to pass the potion. "Butterbeer, mint, and um, that's- it," Ron said.

Hermione passed me the potion. I glanced at Draco, who was looking at me softly. "I smell, um," my voice trailed off. I really didn't want to say this aloud, it hurt my heart too much. "Cologne." I said quietly. "Anything else?" Slughorn asked. "Croissant.. Rain.. The Hogwarts gardens.." home, I almost said aloud. Everyone was staring at me. "Thank you very much," Slughorn took the potion, now moving to Draco's table.

I looked down at my books in embarrassment as Venus, Blaise and Pansy went. Lastly, was Draco. "Do I have to?" he mumbled. "For a full participation grade, yes," Slughorn coaxed him. "Fine," Draco took the bottle from out of his hands. I couldn't help but turn to look at him as he spoke. "Cherry chapstick, vanilla perfume... Pumpkin pasties..."

his gaze met mine.

"White roses."