Behind Enemy Lines (D.M.)

(Years of Goblet of Fire)

The sky was gloomy while the campus buzzed with all the visiting students. As I walked to class with Millicent and Daphne, I noticed the looming dark clouds rolling in. What a way to start the new year with something ominous brewing on the horizon.

"I've got bloody Quidditch after potions," I groaned as we stopped to go our separate ways. Millicent was headed to herbology while Daphne mentioned she had divination.

"Weren't you supposed to have taken that in your first year?"

"It was full at the time, but Professor Gooch let me watch. There weren't enough brooms," I sighed. "Besides, I hate flying." One of us didn't get that gene. "I'm not very good at it."

"Safe to say they won't recruit you for Quidditch then," Daphne giggled. "We know how much you'd love to have Draco as a captain." I rolled my eyes at his name. "What did he even do to piss in your tea this time?"

"Don't even start, Daphne," Millicent stepped in for me. "They just don't vibe with each other. It's the weirdest thing to watch. The tension drives me insane. I stopped trying to figure out the two of you years ago." Before I could rattle off reasons why Draco was to blame, Daphne was adding her two sense.

"All I know is Pansy hates it. She thinks you two are in love and are sneaking behind everyones back.." Daphne commented with raised eyebrows. I burst out laughing. Pansy must be nuts.

"That's absolutely bonkers. I would rather eat slugs." I finally forced out between laughs- what a ridiculous thing to say.

"That can be arranged," a deep voice behind me added as their arm slung around my shoulders. Daphne's eyes looked like they were ready to pop out of her head and Millicent's jaw dropped. "For such sweet girls, you sure do gossip rather loudly. Though, please keep talking about me." I didn't dare look at him, instead just focused on Millicent. I felt like a frozen statue even though all I wanted to do was knock his arm off my shoulder. He's dead to you, I tried to remind myself. I just couldn't shake the sudden change in my body temperature. I felt... warmer.

"Maybe we just need quality time for Topert and I's bond to really stick. Then we could be like bunnies, right, Bunny?" I felt my nose scrunch at the horrid nickname. The way he wiggled his eyebrows, I knew he was trying to make a joke about bunnies but I didn't get it.

"Bunny? You don't make any sense," I mumbled. "I have to go." Draco's eyebrows shot up and I watched his lips form a snicker. I rolled my shoulder to try to shrug his arm off but he wouldn't budge.

"Not so fast. We'll catch up with you ladies after," Draco caught my arm as I tried to pull away. Daphne and Millicent quickly ran off within apologetic expressions. He practically excused them- I opened my mouth in protest but they were already gone.

"I'm going to be late for class."

"To advanced potions? We'll walk together, Bunny," he smirked. I finally slithered out of his grasp and took a large step away from him. I ignored the drop in temperature from our bodies touching. I looked up at him as he shook out his hair.

"I'm able to walk on my own, thank you." What was his game? Why was he suddenly talking to me?

"It wasn't an offer." Draco's eyebrow raised. This was just some sick game of cat and mouse that he was up to.. He loved the banter and I was tired of it.

"Wouldn't want the wrong rumors circling around since I'm apparently dating Potter, according to Crabbe." At the mention of Harry, Draco instantly starts to grin.

"That would only bother your boyfriend," he chuckled.

"You are infuriating." I huffed and turned to head to Snape's class. "Not my boyfriend," I added. His hand caught my elbow.

"I see you went with another hair change." His eyes drifted to the stripe in my hair.

"I see you're still obsessed about what I chose to do." Pointedly, I removed my elbow from his grasp and began to walk towards potions.

"Maybe I'm just very observant."

"Maybe you need a new hobby."

"Well with all these new students, I'm sure I could find one," he kept my pace as we passed a couple of Beauxbatons.

"That's disgusting." I bit my tongue and shook my head as we walked. Why did I continue the conversation with him? We were just about to reach the door when he grabbed my arm again. I turned around and sighed. "What now, Malfoy?"

"Just remember that I am observant. I remember everything and I hope you didn't forget our conversation last year, Bunny." I tried to push down the butterflies as I thought about the Astronomy tower. He had gotten so close to me and acted like he was going to... I shook the memory out of my head. That fleeting moment was replaced by an uneasy feeling, alarm bells going off in my head. "I will find out what's going on with you." Malfoy was toying with me.

"I think you'll come to find that you have an unhealthy obsession with me," I kept my voice flat. "And maybe you should just leave me alone."

"But where's the fun in that, Topert? I like getting under your skin." His thumb brushed against my arm, where my robe had been pushed back. I thought back to when Blaise had apologized on behalf of him in the common room about all his teasing. There was no sincereity with Draco Malfoy. It was all just a sick game to him. I looked into his intense eyes for a second before deciding that no response would rile him up more, extinguishing his verbal fire by not adding more fuel. With a jab, I pulled my elbow away once more and stepped inside quickly, taking a seat next to a random Ravenclaw before he had the chance to react.

I refuse to be his play toy.