Bravery
This is the sequel to Cowardice. Read that one first, please.
There was the sound of sobbing coming from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Someone really needs to take care of that ghost. She really is quite a nuisance.
Hermione opened the door and peered inside. Her first thoughts when she saw the source of the sobbing had nothing to do with said ghost. In fact, the one who was crying was human, and not even a girl, to boot. Hermione's first thoughts, in fact, were, Draco Malfoy is such a hypocrite.
There he was, bent over a sink and sobbing to himself in front of a mirror as Moaning Myrtle just sat around and watched him. She had a defeated look on her face. Perhaps she had tried to stop him from crying, but it obviously didn't work. He didn't see Hermione at all.
Talk about déjà vu.
Hermione cautiously walked up behind him, careful not to be able to be seen in the mirror. As soon as she was close enough, she whispered in his ear.
"Crying isn't cowardice, Malfoy. If you can cry and admit your weaknesses, then I believe you're truly brave," she said softly. Draco whirled around and had his wand at her throat faster than she could blink.
"What are you doing here and why, Granger?" he half croaked, half growled, glaring at her through his puffy, bloodshot eyes.
"I heard crying and I thought I'd investigate," she replied, shrugging nonchalantly.
"Well mind your own business," he commanded furiously through clenched teeth. "You tell anyone, anyone at all, about this, and I'll personally see to it that you are finished," he threatened almost desperately.
"I won't tell anyone about this, Malfoy," Hermione said soothingly. "When I saw you crying, it really made me think. I think you're brave, Malfoy. You're not a coward."
"You really think so?" he asked, his eyes holding the tiniest spark of hopefulness.
Hermione nodded. "It takes true bravery to admit weakness and cry, Malfoy," she repeated to him, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting hug. She whispered softly in his ear. "You are brave.
I am so tempted to write another sequel, a multi chapter... I think I might, if I can find the time. Are You Trippin? is going to be rather long, so I'll have to see if I have time. And life is rather crazy, too.