Acidic Sugar

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Chapter Six: Curiosity Kills

"Can't we just take a break?"

"No, not until you can recite all the planets and what they stand for."

"Damn you," Draco muttered as he pulled forward a book called A Look From Planet to Planet by Goshawk Bering.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing," Draco said immediately as he flipped opened the book and scurried from page to page to look up the meaning of Jupiter. From the corner of his eye he saw Cho roll hers and then looked down into her own book. Cho and Draco had been studying all day while the other students were out flying on their broomsticks or walking amongst the grounds. It'd been the first day they hadn't had rain and Draco, as much to Cho's disapproval, wanted to go outside and be a kid.

Draco, ignoring what Cho was saying, slammed his book shut and then banged it onto the library table. Madam Pince hissed at him from just around the corner. He turned and muttered a small "Sorry," and then looked back at Cho's shocked expression.

"Sorry, did I startle you? Because if I did I didn't mean to, I was just sick of reading and it was getting too quiet."

Cho shut her own book firmly and then set it on the table. She turned and looked to Draco and shrugged her shoulders. He nodded. He turned and looked outside the window, seeing the sunlight shine into his eyes. He flinched a small bit and then turned back and looked at Cho. She was looking through her bag for something and Draco didn't want to disrupt her search so he kept quiet and watched.

"Um, Draco, I'll...have you see you later," she started, while not taking her eyes off her bag. Her voice came off as quite worried and Draco watched her with concern.

"Are you all right?"

"Just dandy," she began again, an air of worry coming over her. She began to get up and out of her seat but Draco stepped up just as quickly and walked around the table just as fast to block her path. The no touching rule was in effect so there was no way he'd break it.

"You don't sound like it."

"Really, I'm great."

"Let me help, you sound rather worried."

"I'm not, I'm perfectly fine," she started, with one hand still scrimmaging through her bag. "I have...I have to go. Excuse me."

Draco stepped aside and let her pass. She didn't even turn around to say goodbye to him or thank him. She hurried off and quickly stepped out of the library. Draco could hear the pitter-pattering of her feet lessening to sorrow sounds of silence. He turned around and headed back to their table. When he'd reached there and sat himself down he heard the quiet murmuring of voices from just behind him. Turning around, he found Scarhead and his gang of gimps. They glared at him, Scarhead particular the hardest as they walked closer. Draco sat in his chair, feeling smug and looking it, too.

"What did you do to Cho?" His voice was so stern that Draco found it hard not to smile. He was caught in between wonderment and curiosity at that point.

"What's it to you, Potter?"

"She's my friend and I demand to know what made her leave the library looking like someone or something had just petrified her." Draco paused for a moment due to confusion and concern. What was wrong with Cho? Why was Potter getting defensive? Weasley and the Mudblood stood at the Scarhead's side and glared at Draco with eyes full of nothing but hate.

"Whatever it is, I didn't do it," Draco scoffed. Harry crossed his arms and glowered at Draco with hate.

"Who else was it then?" Harry began, deepening his voice. "There's no one else in this library except you."

"What do you, Potter? Stalk the girl?"

"No," he murmured while looking strikingly hurt and appalled.

"Yeah...right," laughed Draco with an eye roll.

With that, Harry and the rest just turned around and left. Draco watched as they walked out of the library with distrust. His thoughts suddenly came unto Cho. If Harry was telling the truth about her looking like she'd just gotten petrified then that wasn't a good sign at all. Draco turned around and picked up all the books on the table, getting ready to leave. As he lifted the book Cho had been reading, his hand slipped and the book fell out of his grasp. As he set the other books in his hands down, he bent over and picked up the book he'd dropped. On the floor, beside the book, which had fallen open, was a small crumpled up envelope. It was tattered and old looking. Draco, looking both ways, picked it up and noticed it'd already been open.

His first thoughts were of what he should do. He knew this belonged to Cho and he knew it was wrong if he'd opened it and read it but his curiosity was killing him. Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes softly, slip the envelope open and pulled out the parchment that was folded neatly inside. Opening his eyes, he looked down at the folded parchment concealed within his hands. The paper was smooth against this touch. As he unfolded it, worry came upon his heart and he was having second thoughts. But it was too late when the whole of the parchment was open and his eyes read across the page at the scribbled handwriting.

My love,

Of all the people in this world, how lucky I am to have found you. You've brought me bliss and pure joy - laughter and tears - the idea of giving and not expecting - the hope of forwards and returns...

Draco stopped reading as he felt a shadow being cast over his eyes. Turning his head and looking up, he could do nothing but gulp at the striking brown eyes that loomed back at him.