The ghost that floated around him was not enough. He wondered if she knew it. Though Draco could not have possibly known Moaning Myrtle during her own life, he knew this vision was no more than a shadow of bitterness. Nevertheless, the anxiety regarding his pending task was mounting; Myrtle would have to do for now.
He never saw the real girl approach, though her leather soles slushed through the puddles.
He was alone today in the corner. He sat low, clutching and scratching at the back of his neck in anticipation. His once gleaming hair had become dull with stress and undernourishment. She closed in and sat crisscross next to him. She began to pat his back and before he could dart away, she caught him with certain, soft hands and whispered to him. "It will be alright, I promise."
He never saw her leave. She stayed far longer than necessary and rubbed his back and ran her fingers through his hair while he shut his eyes and relaxed. When she whispered that she must be going, he didn't say a word, simply moved out of her way.
Draco avoided the bathroom for weeks, but soon, his burden was crippling and his most recent attempt at success had failed miserably. His parents' lives were on the line and he just kept ruining things. Damn it, Draco. The last thing the boy needed was a professor breathing down his back as well.
So on that cold winter's evening, he was whimpered in the bathroom once more, this time over the fractured bones in his hand that his terrified rage had left him with. He heard her over the leaking faucet, as he hoped he would. Her stockings looked so clean and neat as she walked up to him through the candlelight. They didn't speak. She simply cupped his hand in hers and cooed over it as she murmured sweet incantations over her wand. Her wand was pretty and elegant like her. When she was done, she held his newly healed hand in hers smiling for a moment. Briefly, she looked into his eyes and hazel met silver. Draco would never forget them; they seemed to radiate sunlight.
She drew one hand close to his face and sighed. "Another day, then," and just before she stood to leave, she gave him one tiny kiss on his lips, one kiss of love and reassurance that left him dazed as he watched waved locks follow her figure out the door.
Author's Note: Haven't written fanfiction in quite some time and I have missed it! I don't imagine this story will be much longer, maybe just a chapter or two more. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy, because otherwise, what on earth is the point?
