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This was written from one of the forum topics, 'Daily Prompts From the Mods' (-thiswebsiteurl-/topic/44309/27689014/1/)
Please R&R! :) Thanks a lot.
Prompt, 2nd August: "I'll believe it when I see it."
Draco sits in a dark corner of The Leaky Cauldron, alone at his table.
He looks out the window, slightly fogged up from the cold weather, watches everyone as they celebrate the victory over Voldemort, and almost feels like celebrating except he knows he wouldn't exactly be welcomed in the celebrations.
He really does…almost feel like celebrating. except, he is just so tired. Too much has happened.
However, it hasn't exactly been a couple weeks or so since Voldemort was defeated.
It's actually been quite a while, and yet people still celebrate like it was yesterday.
"Good for them."He mutters to his butterbeer glass.
"Yes, it actually is."
Draco looks up sharply at the statement, and finds himself looking at a young woman around his age with curly brown hair.
It is unmistakably, Hermione Granger.
She continues, "It's nice that people can live their lives now isn't it. They celebrate every year, to remind themselves as well as each other how grateful they are, how lucky and happy they feel just to be alive. Even more so to be living they way they do -To be living without that fear."
Draco ignores her statement.
"Why are you here? And how did you know I was here?"
Hermione looks into his eyes for a few moments, studying him almost, and answers.
"Neville told me. He notices you you know, every year you come in. And well, you don't exactly seem to be feeling very… festive."
He smirks down at the bottom of his mug before looking back up.
"You think?"
"I'd think after this long you would've…" she trails off with a shrug, leaving her sentence unfinished.
Memories of the battle and the years after run through his mind. Draco notices her trying to read the emotions in his eyes the same time he tries to read hers. He sees a flash of confusion, sympathy, pain, and then he sees something he can't quite name. But suddenly realizes:
They feel the same way.
She understands him, if only this aspect of him, and it scares him.
Draco rises abruptly.
"Would've what? Become oblivious to the people who glare at me as they recognize me, or how quiet it gets when i enter a room, and how my memories haunt me. every. single. day. Or maybe the fact that I'm not able to do anything about any of it? You think after all this time, i would've been welcomed in the celebrations? Well not everyone has made all the right choices in life. I certainly didn't, and now I'm paying for it."
"Draco, it doesn't have to be like this."
"Not for you."
"Not for you either. People can be accepting, trusting, and loving. You just have to give them a chance." Hermione pauses and speaks so quietly Draco almost doesn't hear her. "Give me a chance"
Draco's features soften slightly and he opens his mouth, about to say something before he stops abruptly.
His voice has hardened as he speaks again. "Acceptance? Trust? Love?"
He scoffs, and says as he leaves,
"I'll believe it when i see it."