Herbology class smelled of flora and, faintly, death. A sickly-sweet scent hung in the air as the purple Noxocia flowers withered. Unfortunately, we’d have to endure it for another week. Why? Because we needed their fruits, and the smell would only get worse.
Professor Sprout moved potted plants as she spoke. Dirt caked her gloves, and she occasionally removed them to write something on the board. She’d just returned from writing when she paused beside a pot.
“Which reminds me. I need some people to harvest Noxocia at the end of the week. Volunteers?” Sprout asked.
Groans erupted around the room.
I tried not to make eye contact. This was the part where she selected someone, and looking her way only made things worse.
“Great, I’ll choose.” She gave a little clap.
“Potter and hmm…” Sprout looked around the class.
My heart hammered.
I imagined her selecting another girl. Perhaps he’d spend time with her, and then their fingers would brush against each other.
I heard her say a name, but I couldn’t hear it.
I imagined him laughing with this imaginary, faceless girl. I imagined them chatting. I imagined her getting closer to him, and…
I heard a name.
I couldn’t focus. I imagined him kissing another girl. I gripped my pen so hard it snapped.
“Miss Malfoid! Are you paying attention?” Sprout snapped.
“Y… yeah.” I looked at her.
“I said you’re on collection duty. Understand?”
“Yeah… Yes!” I nodded.
She slipped on her gloves.
“Now, regarding how to change the soil, ensure the roots are…” She continued talking.
I couldn’t hear her.
My heart raced. I’d be helping with… Harry… POTTER! EEEEEE!
My heart raced, and my cheeks burned. I smiled for the rest of the class.
After the lesson, we filed out, and I felt a hand slip into mine. No sooner had I felt it than Harry pulled away, leaving a folded piece of paper behind.
I chatted with my friends as we left the classroom. Once I’d ducked into a washroom, I checked the note. I’d barely finished reading it when Victetta craned her neck.
“Old bridge, lunch?” she asked.
“Stupid secret admirer. I’ll set him straight.” I tapped the note with my wand.
“I could help.” Her face lit up.
“Ah… how about you hang out with Bulstrode for lunch? I’ve got this.” I patted her arm.
Meanwhile, Georgia emerged from a stall. She eyed me in the mirror as she washed her hands.
I bit my lower lip and shrugged.
She rolled her eyes, shook her head, and walked away.
At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the old bridge had collapsed long ago. Grass surrounded it on one side. I found Harry watching the grass with his hands behind his back.
“Oh, hello,” he said to… nothing.
He reached out and patted the air.
He smiled.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He jumped back.
“It’s, ah… not what you think.” He shook his head.
“Is this… like an imaginary-friend situation?” I smirked.
“No, they’re called Thestrals.”
“Death horses?”
“You know them?” His face lit up.
Ah, so cute.
“I know of them. People can’t see them, and the few who can say they’re super creepy and totally weird.” I nodded.
He looked at the field and nodded.
“You’re wrong.” He nodded again.
I looked at the field but saw nothing.
Wait, were those hoofprints in the grass?
I saw the grass move, then settle.
“Is it eating?” I asked.
“Yeah, that bush.” He pointed to a spot where chunks of foliage were disappearing.
“I see. So, what did you want to meet up for? I’m starved, so make it quick.”
What are you doing, girl?! You’ve wanted privacy with him all day! Milk this moment! MILK IT!!!
“Going out, together?” he asked.
“What!” I gasped.
He wants… to… go out… TOGETHER!!!
Like a date. Is he asking me out?!
Yes! I say yes, right?
Ahh, reader, help me out! I’m totally having a panic attack! What do I say?
No, shut up! I can choose for myself.
“Ahhh!” I stared blankly.
Reader! HELP ME!! I’m literally freaking out right now! Like, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go! He’s asking me out!
All right, calm down. Breathe! Calm down.
Oh, what are you looking at, reader?! Go away! You’re no help. I’ve got this, without you.
“Draconia?” he asked. Get faster updates on g.com.
I looked at him, and realisation dawned.
He’s a Potter. I’m a Malfoid! A Gryffindor and a snake. Yellow and green. Self-righteousness and nobility.
No, this can’t work.
“I… I can’t go out with you,” I said.
“But we need to…”
“I said NO! I’m not going out with you!” I snapped.
He looked shocked and genuinely confused.
I looked away and sniffed.
“Draconia…” He stopped.
“You have no right to call me by my given name. It’s Malfoid to you, got that! POTTER!” I snapped.
I turned on my heel and walked away, my fists clenched.
He can never know.
He might have the feels, but he can never know. He can never find out how much I love him.
No! Never, EVER!
I reached an unused room and pulled my Harry plushie from my bag. I squatted down and buried my face in him. I fought back the tears and sniffed.
It can’t happen. Never, ever!
I’ll get over this. I will survive this.
Even when it hurts soooo much!
Days later, we were leaving Transfiguration when Harry brushed against me. I felt a note slip into my hand.
“Pot-head!” I snapped.
He turned and adjusted his glasses.
Eeeee! He’s sooo cute when he does that.
No! Calm down, girl. Get a grip. It will pass.
“Yeah?” he asked.
I held up his note and tapped it with my wand. The paper combusted, turned black, and crumbled.
Owey, ow, OWE! That hurts!
I didn’t let him see.
Oooh, no! I blew the ash from my fingers, raised my chin, and walked away.
Later, I was walking down the corridor towards the Slytherin dormitories when Harry’s head appeared in front of me.
I let out a shriek and covered my mouth.
“Potter!” I hissed.
“We need to talk,” he hissed back.
Footsteps approached. People were coming out of the dormitory, so he covered himself, turning invisible.
“Come on, meet me in the…” He stopped whispering when I turned on my heel and ran.
“Malfoid?” a student called.
I ran down the corridors and hid in that weird staircase place where the stairs shift and portraits watch.
Reader, forgive me, for I’ve quite forgotten the name of this inane location whilst being chased by an invisible cutie.
I hid there like a total loser for twenty minutes.
Then I spotted Victetta down below and rushed to her.
“Crabb, I need you!” I snapped.
I hurried over, intertwined my arm with hers, and yanked her away from her boyfriend. We made it back to the dormitory safely, and I must have looked like a total weirdo, casting about for an invisible Harry whilst practically attached to my friend’s side.
Oddly, Victetta seemed highly pleased with the arrangement. She genuinely looked hurt when I dismissed her upon reaching my room.
“Thank you. Good job.” I waved her away.
“Ah… yeah.” She blinked and walked away.
Wow, I should really be nicer to her.
Wait, gotta get into my room quickly before anyone notices.
The next day, Harry cornered me as I tied my shoelaces just before Potions class.
“We need to talk,” he hissed.
“I’m not going out with you!” I drew my wand and pointed it at him.
He looked confused.
“Just stay there, and leave… me… ALONE!” I snapped.
I backed away, one shoelace dangling.
At a safe distance, I turned to run when…
You guessed it, dear reader.
I tripped on my shoelace.
I fell face-first and lay there groaning. I sat up, and blood dripped from my nose. I pressed a handkerchief to it just as he ran over.
“Do you need help?” he asked.
My toy! He might see it!
I clamped my bag shut.
“AWAY!” I hissed.
I walked away with a handkerchief stuffed up my nose.
Of course, comedic timing was inbound, because freaking Georgia of all people rounded the corner.
“I was looking for yo—”
She looked at me, then at my bloody nose, and then at Harry.
“HEY! I’ll report you for what you did!” She whipped out her wand.
“Leave it. It’s my fault.” I pushed her wand aside.
“Is he bullying you? Is that why you won’t…” She stopped. Get faster updates on g.com.
“What!” he gasped.
I looked at him, then at her.
“It’s nothing. Let it go.” I ushered her away.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
I entered Herbology with a peg over my nose.
I looked totally amazing in a pink wool scarf, pink gloves, and pink boots, all complementing my black clothes and cloak. I wore red lipstick and eyeliner, and I’d spent a full hour perfecting my hair, which flowed over one shoulder.
Yep, today I slay.
I strode into Herbology, saw Harry and Professor Sprout, and… immediately realised I’d overdressed.
Yep, he wore a shirt with slacks and the sleeves rolled up. Sprout, well, she looked like her typical plebeian gardener self.
I suddenly felt very stupid.
Why did I dress like this was a date? I’d gotten sooo excited, too. I’m literally the world’s biggest idiot.
Reader, forget you heard that, or I will curse you!
“Erm… Miss Malfoid, that attire is not quite… appropriate. Get some gloves and an apron.” She gestured towards a bin in the corner.
I gulped and nodded.
Within minutes, I looked utterly plebeian in my T-shirt, skirt, apron, and, of course, gardening gloves one size too large.
Yay me!
Noxocia flowers were strange. They started out as ordinary snapping flowers, with tiny fangs along the edges of their petals. They had a mildly poisonous bite that caused numbness if they bit you.
Upon fertilisation, their leaves curled inward and transformed into skulls. As the flowers ripened into berries, they seemed to gain flesh until they resembled ogre heads with sharp fangs, snapping at anyone who got too close.
Of course, every time they breathed, they released puffs of grey mist that stank of death.
I gingerly gripped the plant while clipping the Noxocia fruit, letting the heads fall into a bowl.
As I worked, Harry sidled up beside me, and my cheeks burned.
“Psst, can we talk?” he whispered.
I stuck up my nose and sidled away from him.
He came closer.
“We really need to talk,” he hissed.
“Oh, my clippers broke. Let me get a new pair!” I announced.
I walked to the other side of the classroom and resumed clipping.
Moments later, he appeared beside me.
Couldn’t he understand how hard this was? How much his presence hurt me? How much I needed him and hated him? How much I longed for him to smile at me, to adjust his glasses? How his deodorant made me giddy, and how much—
“No!” I said when he went to speak.
“But we need to…” He stopped when I simply walked away.
He hung his head and fell silent.
Professor Sprout hummed under her breath as she worked. After twenty minutes, she paused to stretch her back.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be a minute or ten. Oh, and remember, children: if they bite, stop working immediately and go straight to the nurse.” She pointed at each of us.
“Yes, Professor,” Harry and I said in unison.
She nodded and left.
He waited for the door to click shut.
“We need to talk!” he snapped.
“NO!” I spun around.
He grabbed my shoulder and whipped me around.
“We need to…”
He stopped.
“I’m not going on a date with you!” I yelled.
He stared at me in shocked silence.
Then a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He snorted and laughed.
“What?” I put my hands on my hips.
“I was talking about the Phantom Sceptre… remember?” He gestured towards my purse.
“Oh…”
I suddenly felt very stupid.
“Well? This weekend? The original plan?”
“Ah… yeah.”
“You thought I wanted to…? Ha ha ha!” He doubled over, laughing.
“Hey!”
“Riiight, that clears things up, but…”
He stopped and cocked his head.
His expression shifted from confused to concerned.
He lunged at me, slapped the bowl from my hand, and sent it smashing against the floor. Noxocia berries rolled everywhere, their little mouths snapping.
He grabbed my hand and pulled the Noxocia head away from my middle finger. Apparently, it had been chewing on the digit, and I hadn’t felt a thing.
Dozens of tiny bite marks appeared, each producing another droplet of blood.
“Oh…” My vision blurred.
The world tilted sideways.
“Draconia!” he shouted.
Moments later, he caught me. My vision clouded, and my body began to convulse. My mind went blank as foam came from my mouth and I slipped into a seizure.
“DRACONIA!” he howled.