Silver and Gold (currently paused)

13 - Calm and Storm

My mind is racing as I hold onto my robes, fidgeting anxiously with the black cloth in my hands. I sit outside of the Great Hall, watching student after student passing by to get dinner. My breath hitches every time I see a group of Slytherin students turn around the corner.

I've been sitting here for quite some time, no appetite while I wait for Draco. I didn't sleep much last night, and Francine's tail is flicking with displeasure when my bouncing leg makes it impossible for her to find a comfortable spot on my lap.

"I'm sorry, princess" I mumble lost in my own thoughts, "I'm sorry your mum is a mess right now."

Draco didn't do anything wrong, and I don't want to believe that the Ministry would punish him for something he didn't choose to begin with. Surely they would have asked me about the events of yesterday before expelling him, or worse, throwing him into Azkaban. Rumors circulated through the school all day long, and it makes me wonder who spread them in the first place. Harry and Hermione don't seem like they would spread gossip.

My heart skips a beat when I see Blaise and Pansy walking down the stairs towards the Great Hall. Draco isn't with them, and my worries grow further by the second. I had started to convince myself he was just exhausted from his meeting with the Minister of Magic after what happened last night. Now I'm afraid something else is going on. He didn't attend a single class all day. It was almost unsettling to not have him standing next to me making snarky comments in Herbology.

I exhale a shaky breath when Blaise meets my eyes from across the room. Francine meows loudly, jumping up on the bench next to me now until she successfully hides in between my robe and thigh, purring once my leg stops shaking.

He smiles softly, his white teeth sparkle from afar, and I try to replicate his gesture. I take my eyes off him to look at Pansy who doesn't seem too excited to see me. Maybe it's because Blaise stopped paying attention to her when he caught sight of me.

She even rolls her eyes when he leans over to her, his lips brushing her cheek in a fleeting motion. He whispers something to her, then she walks off alone into the Great Hall without looking at me again. Blaise, on the other hand, decides to keep me company.

"Now what's happened to my Wicked Witch?! I can tell something's on your mind...so, how can I be of service?" He asks, blowing kisses towards Francine who is freeing herself out of my robes again. He seems so carefree; it can't be thatbad. Where in Merlin's beard is he?

"Is he okay?" I ask quietly, not sure if I should've shown him how worried I am about his friend. I'm sure Draco wouldn't like it, but I couldn't care less right now.

A deep chuckle escapes his chest, and he looks me up and down for a while before he shrugs his shoulders. "You never know with Malfoy."

His eyes shoot down to my leg when it starts bouncing again, I just can't suppress the reaction to a new, much bigger wave of anxiety flooding my veins.

"He'll be alright." He adds.

I cross my legs to keep the bouncing to a minimum, hoping it will fade slowly, "Is he not coming down for dinner?"

He shakes his head in astonishment, "Why is it that someone like you cares so much about people likes us?"

"Someone like me?" I repeat, still remembering what Draco said to me the first time we spoke. 'Someone so... cheerful. It's irritating and exhausting.'

"Don't get me wrong, I really like you," He smiles at me again, "It's just... you're a bright witch, popular and well-liked by most of the students. You're quite the opposite of Malfoy, and if we're being honest, Pansy and myself."