Deception

The next few days were a bit of a blur for Amara, if not a bit amusing.

Malfoy had ended up going to the hospital wing that night. Parkinson had found him and immediately alerted Professor Snape. The story about that whole ordeal was mixed and twisted that Amara (and probably many of their classmates) didn’t believe them.

The story Malfoy was weaving was simple enough, at the beginning. He explained that he was blindsided, didn’t see the attack coming. But somehow the story began to develop.

His attacker became twice his size, twice as strong, and by the end of the night this “attacker” hardly even seemed human.

Amara perhaps would have been insulted if she hadn’t found the whole thing amusing. She knew Malfoy was scared, and that’s all that she really needed. She had let out her anger, without causing any serious injuries to him.

Malfoy milked the whole thing, of course. The blond haired Slytherin loved the attention bestowed on him. This meant that he was constantly surrounded by people; their fake concern and sucking up making Amara want to gag.

But it was a good thing she didn’t spend a moment alone with Malfoy, or else she’d probably smack him again for acting like a prick.

“O.W.L.’s is approaching,” Fran sighed, her usual large smile, turned into a frown. “I don’t think I’ve studied nearly enough.”

“Don’t stress over it,” Amara said with a shrug. Though, if she were being truthful, she’d admit that she was a bit stressed over the upcoming examination all the fifth years had to endure. “You’ll do fine, you’re brilliant.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Fran’s lips, but she still looked crestfallen. “Not as smart as Granger, I’m afraid.”

Amara couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “While Granger is brilliant, there is no denying that, you are capable of being just as smart.”

Fran furrowed her brow and gave Amara a strange look. “What is wrong with you, Jane? You’re handing out compliments as if it were Christmas.”

Amara rolled her eyes again, but a smile appeared on her face. She tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged, looking away from Fran’s curious eyes. “I’ve been in a good mood.”

“So I’ve noticed.” Fran said, trying not chuckle with amusement. “You’re downright chipper. What in Merlin’s name is going on with you?”

“Let’s just say that it’s always great to see someone get exactly what they deserve.” Amara replied, just thinking about Malfoy’s arrogant smirk falling from his face cheered her up. She tried to push away the guilt that constantly tried to make its way forward in her head.

“Now you’re just scaring me.” Fran snorted, clutching her books tightly to her chest. “You know, I’m beginning to wonder why you and Malfoy haven’t been spending much time together. You’d think after his accident you’d be all over him.”

“He has Parkinson for that.” Amara answered, her brown eyes narrowing slightly.

“Is that jealousy I hear?” Fran teased.

“Not at all,” Amara was quick to reply. She caught Fran’s gaze before quickly looking away. “You only hear the utter distaste I have for that wretched girl. Honestly, how can anyone stand to be around her? She’s such a bore, and what a spoiled brat.”

“So you’re jealous?” Fran chirped cheerfully.

Amara shoved her friend playfully, causing Fran to laugh loudly. A few students walking about in the corridor turned to stare at them, but most continued about their business, completely ignoring them.

“You shouldn’t be jealous of Pug Face. She’s annoying over half the time. And the other half you’d wish she’d just develop a brain already.”

“I think Parkinson is smart enough,” Amara shrugged, pursing her lips together in thought. “She just also irritating and comes off airheaded.”

“Whatever you say, Hart.” Fran shrugged, before sighing rather loudly. “Your Malfoy is beckoning you.”

Amara glanced towards the end of the corridor and spotted Malfoy that look. The look that signified that he’s annoyed and wants her next to him pronto so that he could whine and complain about whatever it was that he wanted to whine and complain about it.

“Sorry,” Amara shrugged, giving her friend a lopsided smile. “But my love is waiting for me, and I just can’t keep him waiting.”

Fran let out a snort; her cheeks flushing red embarrassed that a sixth years looked over when she did so. “Yeah, yeah. Go on and listen to him drone on about himself.”

Amara gave Fran one last smile before taking off toward Draco. In all honesty, she was curious on what exactly Malfoy could possibly want. And though she’d never truly admit it, she thought that perhaps she missed being around him.

“There you are,” Malfoy greeted as she stopped in front of him. “Have you been avoiding me?”

The look in his eye told her that he already knew the truth. That she was, indeed, avoiding her. But she could also see that he expected her to lie. So she did.

“Not at all,” Amara answered, cocking her head to the side. “I wanted to spend time around you and make sure you are okay, after everything that happened. But it seems you may have replaced me with a certain Pansy Parkinson.”

Draco shrugged, not seeming to feel guilty, even though Amara was hoping he would. “You can’t blame her for taking an opportunity that was left open.”

Amara let out a grunt of annoyance. “Well I can’t help it if I can’t get to you because she’s the way constantly kissing your ass.”

Malfoy’s brows raised in shock, a smile tugging that the corner of his lips. Instead, he smirked that smirk of his. The one that both agitated Amara, and made her heart skip a beat.

“Someone is in a snippy mood today.”

“On the contrary,” Amara replied and couldn’t help but grin. “I’ve been told I’m quite chipper today.”

“Says who?” Malfoy asked, sliding his arm over her shoulders and pulling her closer to him.

Amara breathed in his scent and tried to ignore the fluttering going on in her stomach. She knew how she was feeling was dangerous. But it was a new feeling, something she hadn’t quite experienced before. It was a feeling she didn’t mind much.

“Says everyone,” She replied with a shrug. “It must be because I haven’t been around you.”

Malfoy chuckled then, and Amara couldn’t help but join in.