Monsoon Wings

That night, Juno couldn’t sleep at all, mainly because just before she went to bed, a sharp thought attacked her mind.

Jayden.

He did not know anything about her joining the audition.

Jolly good, he’ll be mad as a thunder. He was the one knowing her biggest secret. He had grown up with her. He knew the nights she slipped into the kitchen to steal some food, he knew the pages she copied from Hermione, he knew her favourite ice cream toppings, he knew she washed her hair every 2 days, and every Saturday morning. But this time, a very big thing involving her decision was made, but she did not tell him.

She was distracted by some faint jingling.

She lazily stood up, finding the source of the clatter.

It was the bell necklace from Draco.

You can hang this necklace near the window if you want to. If it jingles, that means I miss you.

Juno closed her eyes, inhaling deep.

The necklace jingled again.

Are you missing me, or are you missing Olivia?

She slowly walked to the window, tip toeing to avoid the cracking of the wooden floor. The necklace jingled again. She reached out a hand and pulled it away at a snail's pace, carefully, slowly.

She couldn’t bear to hear it jingle. Both ways, she couldn’t bear it. If it had jingled because of herself, she did not want to judge that Draco was missing her. If it had jingled for Olivia’s sake, she did not desire to hear it because it hurt her.

She walked back and put it inside her robes pocket. Tomorrow, she would give this to Draco. She didn’t think she would have the time. Not to mention she had to give it secretly. She couldn’t just shout “Hey Malfoy, this is your necklace!” across the classroom. Well, she could give it on Saturday.

Or should she give it directly to Olivia?

No.

It would be sweeter if Draco gives it to his girlfriend with his own hands.

*

That Friday evening, Snape actually called Draco into his office. So after dinner, he immediately retreated out of the Great Hall to the dungeons, kissing his new girlfriend Olivia good bye.

He knocked only twice, and the Potions master had opened the door right at his face, his slimy black hair patted. He asked Draco to sit down infront of his desk and curled his lips before he began his speech.

‘You know the reason I call you?’ Snape started.

‘No,’ Draco replied peacefully, straightening his trousers.

‘Because your father was maddeningly mad at you for the mad things you have done recently.’

‘Okay.’

‘Mainly when he saw the bill you made.’

‘Which bill?’

‘The one from Grylock’s dress shop,’ Snape said smartly. Draco, meanwhile, was growing restless. Snape clicked his tongue and continued, ‘Almost 1000 Galleons for a gown. That’s the first point.’

Draco looked down. True, his father had been mad at him. The letters his huge eagle owl brings every morning during breakfast for the last one week was the proof. Draco supposed his Mom was involved in the bargaining and pleading session—cause his father hadn’t sent him a Howler.

‘Second, the big, pretentious, flamboyant, theatrical piece of wonderful essay concerning your sex life which was proudly fastened in the bill board on the ground floor,’ Snape uttered.

‘I did not write that,’ Draco snapped defensively. ‘That was a counterfeit, anyway.’

‘Third, the great articles written about you and that poor Emily girl in the Daily Prophet.’

Yeah, keep on dictating phony things about me. Good job. Keep it up, Snape.

‘The last one, you have spent most of your time recently giving attractions to Gryffindors.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘I mean, Draco, the things occurring between you and the Gryffindor girls. Draco, your father wouldn’t want you like this. Stop blending with blood traitors. Or else the fool Dumbledore will find out about our plans. Now, you have to gear yourself up for whatever the Dark Lord is planning—’

‘Wait, the Dark Lord?’ Draco straight away shot, knitting his brows. ‘Something about him? You mean, he’s back?’

Snape curled his lips importantly.

‘Is he coming back?’ Draco demanded, standing up.

‘He is not back,’ Snape said quietly. ‘But you should now; one of his followers is inside this castle right at this second.’

‘Who?’

‘Disguised.’

‘Yeah, who?’ Draco leaned closer on the table.

Snape twitched the corner of his lips, a gesture announcing that the discussion is closed.