The next morning when I got down to the common room, there was a huge group of people over at the bulletin board just making a racket. I stopped right in my tracks and stared at them all. I smirked as I imagined them all as a school of fish with their eyes on one thing. That’s actually how they were all the time now that I think about it. Kam broke off from the group and rushed over to me.

“Guess what?” she squealed.

I shrugged. “A man has came and hypnotized the whole Gryffindor population, and we’re the only sane ones left?” I said, laughing at the still huge crowd at the board.

She shook her head. “No, silly! The Ministry is going to come here and teach sixth and seventh years how to apperate. Can you believe that? I don’t think they’ve ever done this before. My dad told me before that you had to go into the Ministry and learn there, but we’re having the class brought to us! I’m so excited! Sign up for the same class as me, alright?” she then pulled me towards the group of people, where we were swallowed whole and pushed to the front. “I think we should go for Saturday nights. What do you think?”

I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me.”

All I could think about was how Snape was actually able to get the Ministry to do this. I really wasn’t worth all of this fuss. He was going above and beyond to keep me safe at his own accord. It really wasn’t fair to him, and I was going to make that known the first chance that I got.

“Saturday it is!” she smirked, writing our names down on the slots for Saturday. “Don’t forget to bring your five galleons to the first meeting because that’s how much it costs.”

I nodded. “I won’t. Hey, I’ll see you at breakfast. I have to be somewhere beforehand.”

She waved me off as I exited through the portrait hole. I was headed straight for the dungeons where I figured Snape would be in his office this early in the morning before trotting off to breakfast. I didn’t make it there though. I had been pulled from behind with a hand covering my mouth because I was about to scream. With what had been going on the week before, I wasn’t about to let something else bad happen to me. When I was pulled behind a set of stairs, I was starting to freak out, so I bit the hand that was covering my mouth.

“Bloody hell, Courtney!” screamed an all too familiar voice. “What was that for?”

I turned to him and put my arms around his neck. “Draco, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you. Besides, why would you grab me like that? That’s grounds for sexual harassment. You know that?”

“Look, I’m sorry, but I needed to see you,” he sighed. “I’m becoming a complete head case because we’re not together.”

I crossed my arms over my chest after pulling away from him. “What about the first time? You didn’t look like a complete nutter to me when I saw you at that Christmas party.”

“I couldn’t look like a complete nutter in front of all those people, now could I? I mean, for Merlin’s Sake, He was watching me. I can’t let him onto who you are, Courtney. If he knew, then I wouldn’t know I would do,” he paused, softening his tone, “if I lost you.”

I sighed because he might’ve already knew right at that moment, but I couldn’t tell Draco that. It would be the final push to him becoming a basket case, and I couldn’t let that happen to him. “I love you,” I whispered, giving him a peck on the lips. “We’ll get through this. Don’t worry.”

He nodded. “I sure hope that you’re right.”

I smirked. “I’m always right.”

“Since when might I ask?” he smirked, putting his arms around me.

“Since always,” I smirked back, wiggling out of his grip. “I have to go. See you later.” I hoped.

I then made my way to the Great Hall, seeing as how breakfast had started, which mean that Snape probably would’ve made his way up from his office. There he was sitting up at the faculty table, starring down at his bowl. I smiled to myself as I walked up to him and cleared my throat.

“Yes, Miss Flint?” he asked, looking up.

I leaned in to whisper. “You didn’t have to do it.”

“Do what?” he smirked.

“I’m not worth all this trouble, sir.”

He nodded. “Oh, but you are.”

“Really, sir. I’m not.”

“Don’t argue with me and report to your table at once before I reinstate that detention from yesterday.”

I nodded, still smiling like an idiot. Who would’ve known that Snape would’ve been that nice? It was a crime for him to be so mean when he really wasn’t. I had been on the border of hating him, especially around Christmas when I blamed him for Draco distancing himself away from me, but I regret that now. He was the only one that believed in us, besides Kam of course. I went and sat by her at the Gryffindor table. She was humming to herself as she poured herself some pumpkin juice. I smiled at how cute she was, which was just about all the time.

“Hey,” I asked, the thought just popping in my head. “When do the Apperation classes start?”

She shrugged. “The second week of March, I think.”

I nodded. “That sounds good, not for our N.E.W.Ts though.”

“Who cares about those when we know we’re gonna ace them?” she laughed, taking a sip of her juice. “I mean, we passed the O.W.Ls with flying colors, so why not those too?”

I shook my head at her. “Because they’re way more important than the O.W.Ls because they help us get the classes that we want for next year.”

“Didn’t the O.W.Ls do that for us last year?”

I went to say something but then realized that she was right. “I guess we don’t really have anything to worry about. At least not right now.”

 “That’s the spirit!” she squealed before taking a dramatic bite out of her toast. “Alright, what are we going to do this lovely Sunday?”

I shrugged. “What is there for us to do?”

“I dunno,” she shrugged as well.

“You could go spend it with Blaise,” I suggested.

“And leave you hanging? Nah,” she smiled at me.

I shook my head. “Go, I’ll be fine. I’m sure I’ll find something to do to pass the time. Don’t worry, honestly.”

“Okay, if you say so,” she gave me a hug and headed off to the Slytherin table.

I felt like a walk outside. I know that it was freezing outside, but at least I could try to think of something else besides Draco and me freezing to death just might have done the trick. I say might have because I wasn’t the only one with the same idea. Draco was outside as well. I saw him when I neared the Quidditch pitch. He was sitting on the bleachers just staring off into space. I looked around and didn’t see anyone around, so I took the risk and sat down beside him.

“Hey, you,” he smiled.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?” I asked with a smile of my own.

His grey eyes peered straight into mine. “You.”

“What a coincidence, all I can think about is you as well.”

He lifted his hand to caress my cheek, but I pulled away. “I know. We can’t be seen together like that.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Courtney. None of this is your fault,” he sighed and looked away from me. “It’s all my fault.”

“Draco,” I raised an eyebrow up at him.

He sighed. “I mean, it’s not my fault. It’s my parents’ fault.”

I nodded. “That’s better.”

“You know,” he smirked, looking back at me. “There’s the broom cupboard over there,” he pointed out in the distance. “I’m sure it’s not filled completely with brooms. There’d probably be enough room for both of us.”

“That’s very tempting, Draco.” You have no idea how tempting it was. “I just can’t do it. I’m sorry, Draco.”

He nodded. “I understand. I just wanted some extra time with you is all.”

“I understand that. I truly do, Draco, but I can’t lose you. I have to protect you, and the less memories you have of me the better. What if he can break through to you, Draco? The thought frightens me, and I don’t want you to be in any more danger than you already are.” I leaned my head against his shoulder. “I’m not strong enough to take it.”

He kissed the top of my head. “I’m not either. So, we agree? No more seeing each other at all?”

I nodded and sat up. “Agreed.”

“I’m going to miss the hell out of you,” he weakly smiled at me.

“I’ll miss you just as much,” I went to get up. “I love you, Draco Malfoy.”

“Not as much as I love you,” he called after me.

A/N: Dedicated to tomfeltonlush because she is one hell of a story writer! :D This story inspired her to write the story ‘The Little Rumor’, which is fabulous if I might add. Maddie has a crush on Tom, who used to be her best friend. He seems to hate her, but is that really the case? Check it out! The link is her story. It’s actually an original and not a fanfiction, which makes it entirely different. Well, I think so at least. Haha. Nine more chapters! :D

http://www.wattpad.com/2545272-the-little-rumor