Even at Our Worst

Chapter Twenty-Three

"And you truly think you can get Patil to stop causing a fuss?" He says skeptically, scuffing his heel against the wooden floor. "I didn't know you two were that close."

Daphne laughs and turns back to us, her hands flat on the door behind her. "Seriously?" She raises a brow, and Draco shrugs. Daphne looks at me with a baffled smile. "You didn't tell him?"

I grin, "You told us not to tell anyone! Of course, I didn't."

"Well, that's different. Draco isn't just anyone to you," Daphne gestures loosely in his direction, "I assumed he knew."

"Assumed I knew what?" Draco cuts in, suddenly by my side. His hand creeps behind me on the desk, his arm pressed against my back as he leans against it.

Daphne and I meet eyes and we both dissolve into a fit of laughter. I lean my head back on his shoulder, shutting my eyes as I try to catch my breath between gasps of air.

"Greengrass—"

"Oh, don't get your knickers in a twist, Malfoy," Daphne swats a hand at him, pouting as she recovers with a final chuckle. "Padma's my girlfriend."

Still laughing softly, I feel Draco tense behind me, and look up to him to find his brow furrowed. "Girlfriend?"

"Yes, girlfriend." Daphne nods. "For quite some time now."

Despite this daunting confession, Daphne holds Draco's eyes without a hint of fear, daring him to protest. She quirks a brow, "Is that a problem?"

Draco quickly shakes his head, "No— no, of course not." He says hastily, sad eyes conveying his sincerity. Draco clears his throat, straightening up off the table, his next words softer. "You could have told me."

"Just did."

"Greengrass—"

There's a series of knocks on the door, making Daphne turn away from the conversation, leaving Draco frowning at her back. I lay my hand over his and he looks at me, flashing a small smile before drawing away just as the door opens.

Padma shuts the door quickly and wraps herself in Daphne's arms, eyes shut as she lets out a relieved breath. "Christ, Daph, I'm sorry I'm late— Longbottom got tangled up in—" She pauses on her way to plant a kiss on Daphne's cheek, her eyes landing on Draco and me.

She jumps away from Daphne as though she's on fire, heat rising to her cheeks. "Oh! Violet— hi!" She waves awkwardly, panic flooding her eyes as her gaze shifts onto Draco. "And— Malfoy, um—"

"He's alright," Daphne says, touching Padma's arm lightly as her gaze slowly drifts down to Draco's Mark. Hesitation colors her face, but when she looks back at Daphne, she simply nods.

"Okay," she says softly, letting Daphne take her hand and bring her further into the room. "What are they...?"

"You're in deep shit, Patil," Draco says sharply (too sharply), moving to my other side and tucking his marked arm behind my back.

"I'm sorry?" She scoffs, sinking into her hip and looking up at him with narrowed eyes.

"You and your Gryffindor friends can have whatever secret club you'd like, but now you've got Burke covering for you— and that's where I've begun to have an issue."

"Malfoy, seriously?" Daphne sighs. "We talked about playing nice."

Padma looks over at me, and I clear my throat. "The Carrows think I know something. They made Draco use crucio on me a few nights ago."

"What?" Padma's face drops, looking at me with a slack jaw. The words seem to sink in further, and then she's taking a step towards Draco, her hands searching for a grip on his collar. "And you fucking did that—?!"