More Malfoy

CHAPTER 11

After Denna walked away, Ron exploded in a fit of rage.

“ARE YOU MAD?” he screamed. Almost everyone at the Gryffindor table had turned in their seat to look at the fuming Weasley.

“Ron, hush. I’m going to meet with Denna at lunch and that’s final. And you are not to follow me,” Harry said firmly.

Harry could hear Hermione draw in a sharp breath and he then saw her look away from him.

Harry stood up and walked away from the table without saying goodbye to his two best friends.

Harry sat nervously through his morning classes. He still wasn’t speaking to Ron or Hermione, so he added a feeling of loneliness to his nervousness. He thought that Denna was harmless, but he still had to remind himself that she was a Malfoy, and that there was a possibility for her to be just like her brother, only better at hiding the evilness.

At the end of Harry’s last class before lunch, he stood up to walk out, only to see Ron and Hermione staring at him. Harry looked away and walked quickly out of the room.

Harry’s heart began to race as he got closer to the library. At one point, he considered not going to meet Denna and going to apologize to Ron and Hermione. He pushed that thought aside and kept going. Denna was a new friend, and he didn’t want to throw that away.

Harry walked into the library only to see that it was completely empty. He sat down at a large table in the back and pulled out a roll of parchment and a quill.

Dear Ron and Hermione~ Harry began to write, but that was as far as he could go. He sat and stared at the parchment and tapped his quill until he heard footsteps and he looked up. He quickly put the parchment and quill back into his bag.

“Hi, Harry,” Denna said with a smile. She pulled out the chair in front of Harry and sat down.

Harry felt like he had swallowed a Quaffle. He took a few deep breaths and tried to answer, but all he could manage was a small squeak.

“Harry? Are you feeling alright?” Denna asked.

Harry cleared his throat and again attempted to speak. This time he was able to get out a few words.

“Sorry, I’m fine,” Harry said hoarsely. In reality, he wasn’t fine. His scar was beginning to burn and he felt rather sick from all his nerves.

“That’s good,” Denna replied, again flashing a brilliantly white smile.

“So, why did you want to talk to me alone? Why couldn’t we have talked in a group?” Harry spurted off quickly. His face began to redden.

Denna laughed. “I just felt like talking to you alone, that’s all. According to Draco, this coming weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend. Is that correct?”

Harry nodded.

“Well, I was wondering if you would like to show me around,” Denna asked.

“Me?!” Harry squealed. “Why can’t Draco show you around?”

“I guess he could, but I really want you to show me around,” Denna replied.

“Oh,” Harry said quietly. “I guess I could.”

“Really, Harry? Thank you!” Denna said as she leapt up from the table, walked around to where Harry was sitting, and gave him a hug.

At Denna’s touch, Harry’s body felt as if it had turned to ice. His scar was searing and his stomach began to churn.

“Excuse me, Denna, I have to go,” Harry said quickly. Leaving his bag, He jumped up from the table, and ran out of the library.

Harry ran down the hall to the nearest bathroom, where he bent over a sink and got sick. His scar was burning so badly that tears were streaming down his face.

What is going on? Harry asked himself.

**********

Denna still sat in the library, staring at Harry’s bag.

“Well?” A voice from behind her asked.

Denna looked up to see Draco sitting at the table in front of hers.

“I asked him if he could show me around Hogsmeade this weekend. He agreed, and then ran out of the library, leaving his bag here. It was rather strange,” Denna replied.

Draco was beginning to reply as a very pale Harry walked back into the library.

“Sorry,” Harry said quietly. “I forgot my bag.”

Denna looked at Draco to make sure that he wasn’t going to say anything.

“It’s alright, Harry. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Denna asked.

“Fine. I’m fine,” Harry answered quietly.

“Okay! I guess we can just meet up in the Great Hall before we leave for Hogsmeade, alright?”

“Okay,” Harry said, and then he walked out of the library.

“I think that was the first time that I’ve been around Potter and haven’t said anything mean and nasty to him,” Draco said with a small chuckle.

“And with the way things are going, that probably won’t be the last time,” Denna replied.