Acidic Sugar

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Chapter Five: On One Condition

"Muggle Studies."

Draco bit his tongue after he'd said that. He watched as Cho raised an eyebrow and then looked at him, trying to catch him in his lie. Deep down inside Draco was cursing himself. Why had she have to have that book of all books? He wanted to run away but his feet felt as though they were full of lead.

"Muggle Studies?" her voice tone came off as surprised and questioning. Draco looked at her, not sure if he should come straight out and admit that he lied. Then again, he was a Malfoy and he frankly didn't care. He just stood there before her as she searched him for the real answer. "You're kidding me, right?"

Draco couldn't even move. He watched as every hair on Cho's head flow with her every movement. He watched her every curve bend perfectly as she narrowed her eyes and moved forward towards him. Suddenly he had the courage to move and what he did was something he wasn't quite expecting. He moved back.

"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" she started. "The man who despises all Muggles and Muggle related things? The Deatheater? Wouldn't daddy be quite surprised to find out that his son is taking a Muggle course?"

He couldn't even think at that point. Why did he have to say Muggle Studies? Why couldn't she have been reading a book about Divination or Potions even? Draco faltered for a moment as his voice got caught in his throat. He swallowed hard and then parted his lips. Cho waited, seeming to have thought she'd won in embarrassing him. Draco could see it written all over her eyes.

"Maybe I'm just taking the course so I'll know every little detail about them," Draco began. His sly grin appeared back along his lips now that he knew just how to play her game. "You know. Their weaknesses, the easiest way to harm them, the best way to torture them."

Cho gasped, loudly. She took several steps back and that was when Draco knew he'd said the wrong thing. He couldn't go back on it now. He knew it'd be too late for a cover up. Right?

"You're sick."

Draco stuttered for a moment trying to think of a way to make it better, to mend his mistake. He walked forward, outstretching his hand but then pulled it back immediately once he'd figured out what he was doing. Cho watched him her eyes growing with unshed tears.

"My father came from a Muggle family."

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered, making sure no one around them could hear. If anyone had heard him apologizing, his reputation would have been ruined. "I didn't know."

Cho stared at him for a moment and then shook her head. She gathered her things and shoved them into her bag. Draco watched her, paralyzed with regret and mourn. He'd really had said the wrong thing. Now how could things ever start between them? Draco reached out his hand to stop her from picking up the last of her books and putting them into her bag. She pulled her hand away quickly and looked at him, sending him eyes that told him she'd felt quite sullied.

"Don't touch me."

"Please. I'm sorry," Draco muttered. Cho stopped and looked at him sincerely with glaring eyes. She clutched her hand close to her body. "I...I don't even take Muggle Studies...but...I...I need your help...in..."

Draco's eyes wandered for a moment, searching for a title of any book he could see that she'd shoved into her band. Bingo. He'd found one that he couldn't go wrong with. He looked back up to Cho's eyes and found her waiting for him. He began to part her lips.

"Divination."

There was a moment of oppressive silence where neither of them talked. Draco wouldn't even look Cho in the eyes because he knew what he'd see wouldn't be what he wanted to see. He didn't want to look into her eyes of suspicion. They just gave him a feeling of sorrow. Within a moments time he heard her mumble something. He hadn't catch anything of what she'd just said. Looking up, he found himself leveled with her chocolate brown eyes.

"Pardon?"

"I said," Cho started, softly. "If you needed help in Divination, why didn't you just say so?"

Draco faltered. Then the answer came to him.

"I was embarrassed."

Cho laughed suddenly, making Draco rather mad. His cheeks flushed a pink and his eyes narrowed. He shoved his hands into his pockets and muttered something incoherent. Cho's laughter stopped and she reached down and lifted her last book to put into her bag. Once finished she looked up to Draco and then smiled. That smile had done it. Draco's heart leapt and he was no longer feeling angry about anything. He actually felt rather warm and light.

"Are you sure you're Draco Malfoy? Son and only heir of Lucius Malfoy, the crazed Deatheater?" Draco nodded with a sheepish smile growing along his thin lips. She laughed again, suddenly and to Draco's surprise he found his ears tendering to the sound of her voice. "Yeah, I'll help you."

Draco couldn't hide his joy but he really tried his hardest to as he thanked her for her daring offer and acceptance.

"On one condition," she said in a very serious tone. It sounded like she was rather uncomfortable in even bringing it up because she shuffled with her feet and held onto her elbow.

"What would that be?" Draco asked, trying to sound smug.

"No touching."