Jealousy 

Chapter 18

                After her performance with the choir on Dumbledore’s birthday, things changed for Anna. Suddenly, she was the new craze at Hogwarts and no one cared anymore that her father was a werewolf. Well, no one but the Slytherins’, who still gave her a hard time.

                It was during choir practice Anna noticed a Hufflepuff named Chase Middleby watching her a lot. Anna felt a little uncomfortable. He was really cute, with dark brown hair that had a few light streaks in it and bright blue eyes. But Anna didn’t feel the same thrill looking at him; she was always haunted by platinum blond hair and ice blue eyes.

                After practice one night Anna was headed out to go to her dorm when someone called her name.

                “Annabelle, wait up,” it was Chase. When he finally caught up with her he asked, “Can I walk you back to your dorm?”

                Anna was surprised, “I am sure I will have no problems finding my way back to my dorm,” she said a little sarcastically

                Chase laughed, “I know, but still, do you mind if I walk with you.”

                “Sure, whatever. It’s a free country,” she didn’t need this right now. She was trying her best to get over Draco Malfoy.

                “I’m jealous you know,” Chase looked over at her as they walked along, a smile on his lips.

                “Jealous of what,” she looked over at his smiling face.

                “Of you, of course. I have been in the choir since my first year here at Hogwarts and have tried for a solo with Prof. Flitwick forever. Then you come along with absolutely no experience and your perfect,” he said without malice.

                “I’m sorry,” Anna said sympathetically, “and I am far from perfect.”

                “Yes, you are,” he said, his blue eyes smiling, “but don’t worry, I don’t hold it against you. I just enjoy being in choir with you.”

                Anna blushed a little. He really was cute and charming. All the things she didn’t want right now as she tried to mend the hurt that Malfoy had left on her heart. Chase would probably be a better choice for her than Draco. He was cute, friendly and good at everything. He not only in the choir, but was also the Hufflepuff goal keeper and was in several other clubs.

                “I have something to ask you,” Chase began awkwardly, as if not sure how to put it, “Would you like to come with me on our trip to Hogsmeade this weekend? As friends of course,” he quickly added.

                Anna couldn’t believe he was asking, “I don’t know,” she hesitated, “I’m sure I have homework or something to do this weekend.”

                “Oh, come on Annabelle,” he pleaded, “It will be fun. You need to get out more,” he said seriously. I’ve seen you moping around this place the past couple of months. It will do you some good to have a little fun.”

                Chase was right about that. If it wasn’t school work or choir practice then she didn’t do it. Maybe he was right. Maybe the only way she could get over Draco Malfoy was to try and spread her wings a bit. It had been so long since she’d had a good time.

                “”It’s Anna,” she said, “My friends call me Anna. Okay, I will go with you to Hogsmeade on Saturday, as friends only.”

                “Great,” Chase grabbed her hand, his blue eyes twinkling, “I will see you out front on Saturday at 10:00. Make sure you wear something warm,” he called out as he left her standing at her Ravenclaw house.

Draco pov

                Draco had been wandering the halls of Hogwarts when he heard voices coming down the corridor. He quickly hid behind a nearby statue. He watched as his girl walked by with that stupid Hufflepuff git, Chase Middleby. Jealousy like he’d never felt before hit him like a brick. Draco couldn’t help but follow them from a distance, listening to their conversation. Chase asked Anna to go to Hogsmeade with him this Saturday. Draco was hoping she’d say no, but she accepted. A choking feeling came over him and then the anger. And when Middleby had taken her hand before walking away, Draco had wanted to jump from his hiding place and pound his smiling face, imagining how he would look with a few teeth missing.

                It was then that Draco decided that if he couldn’t have Anna, no one else could either. Draco watched as Anna entered the Ravenclaw house, the door closing behind her. He hadn’t planned on it, but it looked like he would be making the trip to Hogsmeade this weekend after all.

                Draco scanned the Three Broomsticks Pub, looking everywhere for Anna. He had already been to some other places with no luck. Finally he spotted her sitting in a huge corner booth with Chase Middleby. They were sitting with three of those pathetic Gryffindors Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom, and that wacky Ravenclaw Luna Lovegood was also there. Anna was smiling and having a good time. Draco saw a group of from Slytherin sitting nearby so he went and sat down with Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and some others. Their table was right near Anna’s so he was able to listen in some to their conversation.

                Anna and the others started talking about Quidditch and Ginny was bragging on how great Anna’s mom had been when she was a Gryffindor at Hogwarts. Anna thanked her laughing as she revealed that she had none of her mom’s flying skills and could barely fly. Anna made a joke about it which had them all laughing and then Middleby spoke up and said he would be glad to work with Anna on her flying. Draco waited for Anna to tell Chase no thanks; after all, it was Draco who had told her over the summer that he would work on her flying with her. But he was shocked when Anna agreed to let that stupid git give her flying lessons. Who did that Hufflepuff think he was?

                Draco listened in on their conversation some more and heard Anna agreed to meet him next Friday on the quidditch pitch after dinner. Anger rolled over Draco unlike anything he’d ever felt. How could she do that, but real deep he knew the answer. It was because of him; if he had treated her better like he wanted to she would be here at Hogsmeade with him instead of that git. But that thought did nothing to curb his anger as he watched them all laughing at some silliness. And then Chase put his hand on Anna’s arm. That did it and Draco snapped. He brought out his wand and kept it hidden under the table so no one saw. Draco watched as the huge tankard of butterbeer sitting on the table slowly moved in front of Middleby, and then Draco sent it flying from the tankard as he used his magic to dump it over and it went flying on Chase. Draco got some small satisfaction as Chase jumped up and hollered. What Draco hadn’t counted on was getting it all over Anna as well, because she had been sitting beside him. His plan to humiliate Chase Middleby and get rid of him backfired as both Anna and Chase burst out laughing at themselves. Draco sat there fuming as he watched them both get up to leave, needing to go back to Hogwarts to change. Draco may have failed at that, but he swore he wouldn’t fail at keeping Chase Middleby from giving Anna flying lessons next Friday night.

 It was Friday and Anna waited on Chase at the Quidditch pitch. She didn’t know why she had agreed to take lessons on flying from him. She liked Chase well enough as a friend, but he wasn’t Draco. Anna didn’t feel those same feelings for him as she did Draco and probably never would with anyone else. It had been Draco who was supposed to be working with her on her flying, just like he’d promised over the summer. But Draco no longer wanted her or anything else to do with her, so she had to move on, whether she liked it or not. Anna couldn’t continue to mope over him. Chase was only a good friend and that’s exactly the way she wanted to keep it.

                Anna was getting tired of waiting and wondered if maybe Chase forgot. But that couldn’t be it since he had just reminded her of it yesterday. Well, she wasn’t waiting any longer and it was getting very dark, with barely any lights lit around the pitch. Anna started heading for the exit when suddenly she was scooped up on a broom, landing in someone’s lap. At first she thought it was Chase.

                “Real funny Chase,” she shouted over the wind blowing around them. He didn’t respond. And then Anna caught a whiff of the person’s cologne. There was only one person she knew of with that wonderful scent.

                “Draco,” she gasped out, turning her head to look at him.

                “Hello Anna,” he said smugly.

                “Let me down know!” she shouted angrily, starting to struggle in his arms. She almost messed up because then she started slipping out of his arms.

                “For heaven’s sake, Anna, do you want to hit the ground!? ” Draco shouted angrily, pulling her up to him, and she wrapped her arms tightly around him in terror, realizing what she had almost done, “That’s better,” he sighed.

                “Take me down now,” she hissed in his ear.

                “I don’t think so,” he countered, “not yet.”

                Draco flew around with her some more, enjoying having Anna in his arms again. He finally flew them down to a secluded spot by the Black Lake. Anna quickly jumped from his lap, “What’s the meaning of this and where is Chase?” she asked in a shout.

                “Well, if I had to guess, I would say he is currently in the Hospital Wing being treated by Madame Pomfrey,” he said smugly.

                “What did you do to him?” Anna hissed in disgust.

                “Oh, he will be alright, it’s nothing serious,” Draco shrugged.

                “How dare you!” Anna reached in her coat pocket for her wand but it was gone.

                “Looking for something?” Draco asked, laughing, pulling her wand from his own pocket.

                “Give it back,” she ground out.

                “Why don’t you come and get it?” he challenged her, smirking. He tucked it into an inside jacket pocket.

                Anna went to him, grabbing his coat and began to search, starting to feel around for her wand. This caused her to have her arms wrapped somewhat around Draco. Anna could feel his arms coming around her, “Anna,” he said softly, forcing her to look into those cool icy blue-gray eyes, her own hazel green eyes were fiery with anger. Draco looked at her soft pink lips in the soft moonlight and couldn’t resist; he had wanted this for so long. He captured her lips in a kiss that started out harsh, but Anna soon melted in his arms. He could feel her fingers caressing his back as she clung tighter to him, returning his kiss desperately. ‘She is made for me,’ Draco thought, as he brought his hands up to her face, deepening the kiss; running his hands through her dark silky hair.

                Anna clung to Draco; afraid if she didn’t she would melt into the ground. She couldn’t resist him. He was like an addiction to her, and no matter how bad he was for her; she would always come back for more. He finally broke the kiss, hugging her to him tightly. Softly against his neck, she could feel his soft ivory skin and his pounding heart beat on her lips. Draco was irresistible.

                “Why did you do it?” Anna whispered.

                “Because I told you I would work with you on your flying. Do you remember?” he asked harshly.

                “Oh, I’m not the one who forgot,” she sighed angrily, moving out of his arms to look up at him.

                “I didn’t forget,” Draco sighed, running his hand back through his hair, then his look changed to anger, “How could you agree to let that stupid Hufflepuff help you?”

                “You tell me how you could treat me so badly since we’ve been back to Hogwarts? And yet you turn around and act like some jealous boyfriend as if you have the right too!” she shouted back angrily, trying her best to force down the tears that were threatening, “What have I done to you? Am I not good enough for the Slytherin Prince, yet I am not allowed to spend time with another guy?” she angrily spat out.

                Draco knew she was hurting, despite her angry façade. He ran his hands through his hair again in frustration. How could he tell her that she was better off without him? But that was the problem; he couldn’t afford to be with Anna right now, not with all that was going on with him, but he would be damned if anyone else could have her.

                “It’s not that,” Draco sighed heavily.

                “Then what is it, Draco?” she pleaded with him.

                “I have things going on that you couldn’t begin to understand,” he said turning away.

                “I would if you let me in,” Anna said softly coming right up to him to look up into his eyes. Anna took his face in her hands softly, “I’m here for you, Draco.”

                Draco looked at her deeply, his ice blue eyes melting slightly, feeling a little bit of tears. How could he tell her about his horrible summer under the dark lord and his death eaters influence or all the things they expected of him here at Hogwarts. The fact was he couldn’t and he didn’t want her to know. If she ever found out she would be so disgusted that Draco knew he would lose her forever. No, it was best that he continue to treat her coldly. “Sure you are,” Draco sneered, jerking away from her, “that’s why you’ve hooked up with Chase Middleby, huh?”

                “You know that’s not true,” Anna rasped out, “He is just a friend!”

                “Well, whatever he is, if he tries to give you flying lessons again, he’s going to end up with something worse than a stomach ache,” he spat out, starting to walk towards Hogwarts, “Here,” he called out, tossing her wand back to her, as he headed back.

                Anna watched in a daze as her wand hit the ground. What had just happened? Don’t cry, Anna, don’t cry, she kept telling herself. And then she started to feel the anger. What was he doing to her? Something was going on with him, and Anna was becoming determined to find out. He was pushing her away on purpose and it didn’t make sense, unless he had something to hide. And then she remembered a conversation with Hermoine and how she’d said that Harry believed that Draco was now a death eater. Anna could feel chills run through her at the thought of it. Was that why he had changed so? She didn’t want to accept that. Anna knew Draco wasn’t all bad like his reputation seemed to be.

                Anna started back for the castle. She made up her mind that she was going to find out what was going on with Draco, no matter how much he fought it.