It is Over

Chapter 9

                Things were changing at Hogwarts in a short amount of time in their 5th year. Umbridge, acting as High Inquisitor and the Ministry of Magic’s stooge, made yet another decree banning all student activities, organizations and clubs not approved by her. Harry and the others suspected that she had found out about their plans to form the D.A., but that wasn’t stopping them. As soon as they found a place to meet they would start their practices.

                In the meantime, Annabelle continued to meet Draco on Tuesdays and Fridays in the Astronomy tower and the two of them were getting closer. They would just sit on the sofa and talk about all kinds of things, but they both avoided any thing that had to do with the subject of purebloods, half-bloods and muggles when it pertained to magic. Both of them knew how the other felt about it so there was no use in arguing over it. Sometimes Anna would read books she brought and she thought Draco was enjoying their time together.

                And then it happened. Harry found a place for the D.A. to meet. It was the Room of Requirement. They were all surprised no one had thought of it already, especially Hermione, who was well read on the History of Hogwarts. They had their first meeting on a Thursday and everything went well. Everyone worked on their disarming spell, Expelliarmus. Harry was impressed; Anna didn’t need much tutoring because she was pretty much an expert at it. Her mother had taught her defensive spells very well. Harry again stressed to everyone that they must be careful and keep their meetings secret.

                The very next morning Umbridge announced that anyone caught in an illegal organization or club would face severe punishment and possible expulsion. She also had begun her own organization, the Inquisitorial Squad. She was asking students to join to help find out about any illegal activities among the students, especially illegal clubs. Anyone who joined received a special badge and extra credit in her classes.

                During breakfast Anna started noticing a lot of Slytherin wearing Umbridge’s badge marking them as an informer. Please, she thought, don’t let Draco be one of her thugs. Anna had started feeling sick that morning, just like she had a month ago, when she’d been taken to the Hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey had warned her that if she felt sick like that again she needed to come to her office as soon as possible to take more of the potion that had helped her last time.

                Anna went to her first class which was Umbridge. She already felt bad but having to look at that woman made her feel like vomiting. Anna scanned the room, trying not to make it obvious, looking for Draco. Her heart sank, because there, on one of the back rows, sat Draco next to Pansy Parkinson. Both of them were sporting Umbridge’s badge. Anna quickly turned back around but not before Draco had seen her. Why, Anna thought? Why would Draco want to join that disgusting woman’s group of rats? Well, she knew the answer to that, to please his Slytherin friends and his pureblood father. Maybe she’d miss judged that he couldn’t be so bad, that there was something good about him that he kept hidden from most others. ‘Maybe you’re a fool Annabelle Blackburn to start falling for a snake from Slytherin. He is probably only using you to see how far he can get with you.’ Anna’s thoughts were making her already racing heart speed up, and she could feel herself trembling slightly, breaking out in to a cold sweat.

                Umbridge’s class was finally over and Anna raced out the door and down the hallway and stairs to Snape’s potions. She made it after bumping into several people, mumbling apologies as she went. When she burst through Snape’s door she found him at his desk. He looked up bored, but then his face became alarmed.

                “Professor, I need…,” but Anna never finished, he did.

                “You need to get to Madame Pomfrey’s at the hospital wing now. You are excused from class for today,” Snape drawled out.

                “Thank you, Professor,” Anna rasped out kindly.

                “Just go Blackburn,” Snape waved her out the door, “and try to slow down, running is not helping you at all.”

                Anna made it to the hospital and not a moment too soon. Madame Pomfrey quickly had her lie down, if she hadn’t Anna had been about to hit the floor. She gave Anna the potion and told her to stay in bed until she felt better. Anna started drifting off to sleep, thoughts of how she could never be with Draco Malfoy again filtering through her mind.

                Anna’s eyes slowly opened. She didn’t know how long she had slept but it was late and she was still in the hospital bed. She looked around having felt like someone had been nearby, but she saw no one. She slowly got up and started out the door. She knew she would have to start coming for the potion again every night for several days until she felt better. Anna went out through the double doors.

                “You are sick again, aren’t you?” the voice Anna dreamed about spoke up from behind her.

                Anna jumped slightly, grabbing the rail of the stairs she’d been about to go down. She was still shaky and weak. “Merlin’s beard,” she rasped out, “Did you have to scare me to death?”

                “Sorry,” Draco said sincerely, he took her other arm, “Come on, I’ll help you.”

                They made their way slowly down the stairs. ‘Why was it he could be so nice when he wanted to’ Anna asked herself that question? And why did it hurt so bad knowing that she must never be with him again. She could not let Draco find out about the D.A., there was too much at stake for her to continue seeing him.

                They finally made it down to one of the landings leading up to the Ravenclaw dorm.

                “Draco, there is something I need to tell you,” she said not looking in his eyes, “I will not be meeting with you to read my books.”

                “I know,” he said disappointed.

                “You know?” she asked surprised, wondering if he understood her correctly.

                “I realize you are sick right now. As soon as your better, we can take up where we left off,” he was being considerate. It only made Anna feel worse about what she had to do.

                “No,” Anna said slowly, “I don’t think you understand,” she said softly, “we will not be meeting at all, ever again. I am done with it.”

                The look of hurt that came over his face was brief, but Anna saw it, and it hurt her too. It was quickly replaced by anger.

                “What do you mean?” he sneered. Now Anna was getting a full dose of the Draco Malfoy that all her friends despised, “I don’t think you understand your situation. I told you that if you didn’t meet me on Tuesdays and Fridays with those books of yours that I would turn you in to Umbridge. That order still stands,” he spat.

                “I’m sorry,” Anna knew she had hurt him, and his defense was harsh, “you will just have to turn me in to the toad.”

                Draco grabbed her arms harshly, forcing her to look up at him, “Why are you doing this?”

                Anna was finding it hard to look in his icy blue-gray eyes. She could see the hurt mixed with anger there. “It has to end Draco. We are not meant for each other. We are two entirely different people. And besides, I’m tired of meeting with you,” she lied, but it had to stop.

                “I don’t believe you,” he hissed, “What is the real reason you don’t want to see me anymore?” and then a knowing look came over his face, “You are in that secret group of Potters that Umbridge is trying to find out about, aren’t you?”

                Anna looked into his eyes, trying her best to be convincing, “What on earth are you talking about?”

                “Oh, don’t act so naïve. Umbridge knows Potter has started an illegal club to make a stand against the Ministry. Why do you think I joined her little club?” he smirked.

                It was all Anna could do not to defend their group, but he must not know she was part of it. Anna pulled herself away from him, “I don’t know about any club with Harry, but I do know we are over,” she pulled away and started up the stairs.

                “We are over when I say we are over,” Draco grabbed her arm as she went, causing her to turn and stumble into him, his arms around her. He started kissing her, roughly at first, but then the kiss softened. Anna realized how impossible it was going to be to resisting him, because she melted into his arms, kissing him back passionately. Draco broke the kiss off, pushing her away from him, “See, you will never be finished with me,” he laughed scornfully, leaving Anna standing on the steps. She watched him go with longing that soon turned to anger at him and her. Anna quickly went up the stairs to Ravenclaw before someone saw her or Draco decided to come back.