RIDDLE ME THIS

6

Draco and i hung back as Pansy, Blaise and Matteo strolled ahead.

Tom had gone off alone and Crabbe and Goyle disappeared together after lunch.

Matteo kept glancing back at me, reminding he had his eye on us.

we walked through a hallway with no glass in the windows, overlooking a patch of grassy earth with a tall tree in the centre.

"come on," Draco grabbed my hand, pulling me into a stony alcove.

i knew Matteo had seen where we went, but he didn't turn back.

Draco's chest was pressed up against mine and i felt his breath on my face.

"are they gone?" i didn't dare peep around the corner.

Draco waited a moment before nodding and leaving the alcove.

"now will you tell me where we're going?"

"we're here," he spread his arms, showing me the grass and tree.

"wow," i said drily. "i love it."

Draco rolled his eyes. "can you climb trees?"

"probably," i'd seen my brothers do it enough times.

"what do you mean probably? you've never climbed a tree?"

"'too dangerous'," i mimicked my brothers.

Draco frowned, a confused smile on his face before he turned and began pulling himself up the tree.

"come on, it's easy!" his hand dangled down from the leaves for me.

i took it and he pulled me up.

"sit there," he pointed to a fork in the branches and i did as he said, stretching me legs out along the branch. "so you can climb trees."

"i can be pulled up trees," i countered, looking at the ground below.

"don't look down," he put a hand on my face, averting my eyes. "you might fall."

"you'd catch me," his hands were cool against my skin.

"maybe," he tilted his head.

we stared at each other for a long time, neither of us moving.

"why did you really come here," Draco asked, his voice soft.

i was silent for a long time. i didn't know how to answer him.

"i can't tell you yet."

"yet?"

i nodded. "if... when my father is ready, you will know."

"so it's to do with your father?"

i leaned back, moving my head so his hand no longer grazed my cheek.

"it's to do with a lot of things." i said with finality in my tone.

"like your Father?"

"you're not getting anything out of me, Malfoy." i snapped.

he smirked at me. "but i already did."

in a sudden fit of rage i kicked him hard in the leg, watching as he fell to the ground.

he still managed to land on his feet, albeit a bit wobbly.

for some unfathomable reason he looked triumphant. "i knew you weren't some sweet obedient girl!"

"what the fuck is that meant to mean?!"

"you have a temper too, just like your brothers!"

"ten points to Slytherin." i folded my arms.