My Enigmatic Enemy

I was unsuccessful.

I couldn’t think of an alternative story to tell them, so I decided to try to pass it off as too traumatic an experience to talk about. They might believe it, but I knew someone would eventually try to wheedle the story from me. I couldn’t exactly let that happen, what with being friends with a few Weasleys and all. I was afraid that Ginny would sneak in some Weasley’s
Wizard Wheezes merchandise and murder Draco. No joke.

“What is it at this time of night?” Madam Pomfrey said strictly, opening the door. It was only ten, geez. But then she caught sight of me, “Oh, my! Do come in.”

Katie snorted and we were ushered in.

“Now, what happened?” Madam Pomfrey looked around, and this time it was Ginny who snorted.

“Wouldn’t we all like to know.” she grumbled.

So they all looked at me.

“I ran into some Slytherins,” I said easily, surprising myself. “I decided to go back up to the dorms and get you,” I looked at Hermione, “to patch me up. But you insisted I come here.”

“Which Slytherins?” Madam Pomfrey tittered.

My easy reply was, “I don’t know, they caught me from behind.”

Ginny and Katie cursed and Hermione scowled. It was a scowl that would make Viktor proud, if I did say so myself.

“Well, there you are. Take this salve, for your bruises, and apply it in the morning. It’s better to let the bruise be for a bit before putting the salve on.”

“Thanks,” I said softly.

“Yes, thank you,” Hermione said, and she, Ginny, and Katie escorted me back to the tower.

“Don’t go anywhere,” Katie warned as we got nearer to the Fat Lady’s portrait. “Without someone close.”

“I’m not a baby, I can take care of myself,” I snapped at her, just as the portrait swung open because Ginny had said the password. I swept by the people who had stayed up, not paying any attention to their questions or stares, and went up to my dorm.

The nerve! I wasn’t a first year or anything, why was it that Katie still thought she needed to protect me? Because I’m the shy girl, the one who won’t open up, the one who can’t tell her friends who she is infatuated with? Not that Katie knew she was infatuated with someone, but that was beside the point. Who was Katie to tell her what to do? Other than a cousin who was seven months older, that is. Other than that, she had no authority over my actions, except writing my father - which she couldn’t very well do unless she gave it to her mother and had her floo it there. Now that I think on it, Katie might do that, but Dad knows very well that I can take care of myself.

After all, I did jinx a Death Eater that got too close to our house. Even though it got me a warning from the ministry. But it allowed Dad enough time to get there and see enough to know who the Death Eater was and inform the Order. I suppose Katie wouldn’t know that, though, seeing as her parents were just trying to stay out of the spotlight so that they didn’t get targeted next. Katie knew that the Death Eater she jinxed had seen her real face, but he had a memory charm cast on him as well (getting her yet another Ministry warning) so he wouldn’t remember. Ami Carson was no pushover.

Of course I wasn’t…but…somehow people always seemed to find out things I didn’t want them to know. Except for, of course, my miniature Dark Mark.

But maybe my understanding of it is unclear…I don’t know. But I think Lucius unintentionally gave me the ability to know when Voldemort summoned his Death Eaters, because it would burn fiercely for at least five seconds before growing cold. I don’t believe this was done purposely. After all, I’m no Death Eater, and if Voldemort had expected me to show up and I didn’t, I would be dead.

I groaned. Of all times, I had to choose this time. I had to choose this time to think of things like these.

I rolled over, and an hour later, sleep finally embraced me.

I stumbled into a secret passageway and stayed silent.

No, Crabbe and Goyle weren’t attacking me. Yet. But I had heard them around the next corner, and I heard Goyle distinctly say, “Somehow she got away. Next time that won’t happen.” and I knew it wouldn’t be good for me if I got caught by them.

“What’re you doing?” a mildly surprised voice asked, and I jumped, letting out a squeak before covering my mouth with my hands. But it was too late, the voices had stopped.

“Shit,” I said, backing away from the measly little tapestry that protected me from them.

But then I felt a sharp rap on the top of my head and a strange tingling sensation went through my body.

“Stay still,” Draco hissed, stepping to the side of me closer to Crabbe and Goyle and leaning against the wall. “Disillusionment charm. If you make any sudden movements, it’ll cause a blur that even those idiots might notice.”

I looked up at him, gaining new respect for him, and then I felt his hand groping. Then it found mine and grasped it tightly. I gave a gentle squeeze back just as the tapestry flew aside. Draco managed to look over in a bored manner.

“Oi, aren’t you lot supposed to be in class?” he said airily.

“Y…Yeah.” Crabbe grunted.

“Then go.” Draco said, waving his free hand in a dismissive manner. “I’m in no mood for you right now.”

“R-right,” Goyle nodded, and they left with all haste.

“Right then,” Draco muttered, softly. Taking out his wand, he rapped the top of my head with it again, and the tingling briefly came again. “There you are!” He grinned at me.

“Thank you,” I murmured, examining my shoes.

“Hey, don’t look down,” he whispered in my ear, causing me to jump.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because then I can’t do this,” he used two fingers to tilt my chin up and he pressed his lips to mine again. I didn’t waste any time in letting my hands fall around his neck with one running through his hair, and at my reaction, he immediately dropped a hand to my waist with the other now cradling my cheek.

I couldn’t help myself. Every time his lips touched mine, a fire raced through my veins and I wanted as much as I could get before he was ripped from me, either by my friends or by his bonds. So I, wanting as much out of these short moments as I could get, took initiative and ran my tongue across Draco’s bottom lip. He seemed shocked for just a second, and then I felt his trademark smirk grace his perfect lips, and he allowed entry.

Breaking apart moments later, we were both choking air into our lungs, but it couldn’t last for long as we simultaneously went back in for more. Draco Malfoy…the so-called Prince of Slytherin, and Ami Carson, the resident shy-girl of Gryffindor tower, snogging like their lives depended on it in a not-so-secret passageway from the fourth floor to the fifth. But neither one of us cared at the moment, and all the other students were at lunch anyway.

I got away with this confrontation, and three others throughout the first month of term, and these were the best moments of my life, if the shortest. I considered them my blessings.