Summary: It's been several years after the war and Draco is passing a corridor at the Ministry, when strange things begin to happen. Is it reality or just a horrible dream?
A/N I wrote four endings for this short story, but I thought I would post only one. Now, I've changed my mind and here you can read all of them. Please, tell me which one you like the most :).
Oh, I do not own Harry Potter.
Silence, which had sticky smell of darkness and secrets, stood on his trembling shoulders and small shudders were running through his back. Still, he kept going deeper into the corridor leaving dull thuds and feeling as unvoiced whispers of invisible or non-existent person were getting into his head and telling him to come closer near the darkest room. They wanted him to enter it and made him want that too.
Suddenly, wind came out of nowhere (the corridor had no windows, all doors were closed tight), it was mild as feather would be and chilly like fingers after the morning walk, the wind touched his neck and lightly ruffled white-blond hair. It was uncomfortable feeling, thus he shut his deep grey eyes for a moment, took a breath and continued to walk. Someone or something needed him to get in there. It was an unknown force, power taking over his mind.
As Draco Malfoy finally reached the door he held many feelings fluttering (nothing like butterflies in the stomach) inside, it was curiosity, desire, need… and yet fear, some bad emotions which he did not know how to name, it was more like a sense. Everything was an indelible sense. Draco thought he could not ever forget what was happening, but also he found it hard to believe at the very moment since it seemed so surreal. He might have been dreaming, though why when he could feel that cold spreading on his palm as he touched the handle?
Young man hesitated only a second to open the door and soon was greeted by the Darkness itself. Doors shut harshly behind him, leaving no way out, no fresh wind, just pressing darkness. He could hardly move his chest trying to catch some air – something was holding him, trapping… The heart of his was beating faster and faster, seeming to cause pain with every beat as if needles pierced into his body. Panic struck him and brought the worst memory to life, the worst screams and images which had been haunting him occasionally. It was the night when Snatchers had caught the Golden Trio and brought them to the Manor.
"What have YOU done? You let her die, you let her die in your very eyes! You did nothing, you just stood there…" he didn't assume he was shouting in his head whilst numbly looking at her fragile and yet lifeless body on the marble floor, about which he used to think as precious, it was one of the marks of their wealth and some days he wondered how many things it witnessed through all this time. But now he noticed its coldness… It was dirty, it did not deserve to touch her, it never deserved her… how could he have been so stupid? So blind and did not see who she truly was? A human being, living, dreaming… brilliant human being, as good as he would never manage to be. Why realisation hit him only when the life was ripped out of her? His childhood rival wouldn't ever compete with him at school, they wouldn't ever argue… she wouldn't ever look at him with fierce in those warm brown eyes. He lost all the opportunities to beg her forgiveness, his cowardice ruined everything. It cost her life.
He hated her at times, didn't he? Draco was jealous, he was taught to be prejudiced to her kind, but he always fancied her in some way, she was so clever and brave. He respected Hermione Granger though very deep inside. And he hoped he would have a chance to admit that after the war. He hoped Potter would win and things would get better. But he was too scared to help them, do something – that was the biggest mistake and he lost all chances to put things right.
The guilt was killing him, slowly tearing piece by piece. It was impossible to stand, bear the pain and Draco fell on the knees firmly shutting tearful eyes.
It took a moment to realise someone…