Chapter 19.2- Doom Days

I made my way out of the room under a disillusionment charm and waited till I was on the third floor to disable it. After that, I made my way to the Great Hall just like everyone else. Except that my presence caused a barrage of stares and whispers to be directed my way. As I hated being late for things, I was scheduled to arrive at the entrance to the great hall just a few minutes before the event was scheduled to begin. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, there were still dozens of students milling about the entrance hall and meeting their dates and the like. I was the first champion to arrive, I noted, as I took my place next to Mcgonagall in a special area designated for the triwizard champions.

Thankfully, the situation in the entrance hall was different from that in the upper regions. Here, people were meeting their dates and escorting them into the hall so far less attention was being sent my way. Still it didn’t prevent the odd stare or whisper. I could get used to this, I thought for a second, before a person that I had been more or less avoiding made his way into the entrance hall. On Draco Malfoy’s arm was the ever pug-faced Pansy Parkinson.

I wondered why he had not picked someone else for a second before I tore my mind away to more worthwhile subjects. This was not any of my business.

“Going stag, Potter? Of course no one would want to go with the likes of you”, he began, sneer in top-form. I silently chuckled. Absence did make the heart grow fonder indeed. The Draco Malfoy of earlier would never have dared pull anything so close to the Gryffindor Head. Of course, Mcgonagall was barely paying us any attention now, but that was no guarantee that her attention would not stray our way with time.

“What? Cat’s got your tongue?” The Malfoy heir continued as I responded to his initial dig with silence.

“Nothing of the sort, Draco” I said, pulling on my inner Tom Riddle to respond with what I’d come to refer to as casual malice. It was an easy tone, but one that promised future violence.

“Don’t call me by my first name, Potter. Don’t be weird. But that’s a tall ask considering you’re so weird that no one would even want to go with you.”

“Surely you were present in the Great Hall when I asked the delectable Miss Delacour?” I asked with a raised eyebrow, honestly wondering where he was coming from.

“That half-breed? After the letter I’ve written her, I’ll be surprised if she even comes within miles of you” he said with a scoff that had his date whirling to look at him.

“I don’t think admitting to sending love letters to a Veela is the best way to start your date” I said with a chuckle and Malfoy suddenly froze.

“Of course I didn’t send a blasted love letter-“ He began but Parkinson had already begun pulling him aside. I smirked as I felt Mcgonagall’s eyes on me.

“You’ve changed, Potter” She said.