Draco Malfoy. November.
"What do you want from me Draco? My forgiveness? Because you won't get it. You're just wasting your time." Elle's voice had lowered as well, it sounded shaky.
"I- ah you're not worth my time" said Malfoy quietly.
Draco was furious, how dare she that Half Blood! He thought to himself. She had no right to speak about his Father like that. Ever since the moment they met he knew who she was and what she knew, his father had never talked about it with Draco, but his mother had. She had warned Draco of certain people, of what they knew about his family and how it was Draco's job to make sure that none of it ever came out.
The words Elle spoke kept ringing in his head, he was not ignorant, he had to be strong a true Malfoy that's what he had to be. He couldn't let some no body's stupid words get the best of him. But was it what he wanted? Did he want to be a typical Malfoy? He had a chance now to prove himself but he was never quite sure what the right thing to do was. It always played on his mind, he knew the difference between wrong and right. But it was just so much easier to live the life he was already living.
With a sigh he walked towards his common room, he walked in through his portrait still with his mind buzzing, the fire was blazing. He decided to remove his tie and shoes, he sat down on the lounge in front of the fire and let the warmth cover his body he was starring into it letting his thoughts consume him. He was so uncertain and it bothered him, he knew that one day he would have to make a choice, a choice that would define him for the rest of his life. Seeing Elle's face every day was a constant reminder of what one of his choices would make him become. A Death Eater, a loyal servant to the Dark Lord, like his father. A murderer, a feared wizard with a power far greater than he deserved, it was tempting. To have anything at his disposal. On the other hand there was the other choice, to live a normal life. Refuse a life of the dark arts and live freely, be whatever he wanted to be. It seemed perfect to him, but it wasn't that easy. He couldn't run from this, it was how he was raised; he didn't know life to be any different. He couldn't just suddenly switch off the darker side to him, no matter how hard he tried. It was who he was.
It had felt like only minutes that he'd been sitting in front of the fire. It was then when Crabbe had brought him back to reality, he had noticed it had gotten very dark in the common room.
"Oi, Draco, you coming to dinner?" he said, he was standing with Goyle and Pansy they were looking at him strangely.
Draco looked up at them, "Soon" they all nodded and walked off out the portrait, Pansy not taking her eyes of Draco as she walked out, a look of concern on her face. Draco sighed. He looked up at the roof. He could hear Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy laughing loudly as the portrait re-opened.
"Oh sod off" he heard her voice, his head snapped around to the entrance he wanted to say something but his throat was dry he could hear her mumbling to herself, he smiled slightly he noticed she did that a lot. He heard her sigh. She walked in, the light from the fire lighting up her pale skin, she looked at Draco and he looked back he had never seen her with her hair down before. Her long curls were sweeping down to her waist she had a slight pink colour in her cheeks and her eyes. Her most predominant feature, the ice blue eyes were piercing Draco's grey ones. He finally found his voice.
"Elle" he said quietly, not straying from her gaze. She just looked at him; he stood up to walk towards her but she began to move on.
"Elle, wait please I'm" he followed her, she turned swiftly on the spot.
"You're what? Pathetic? Well I already knew that" she said her face harsh, Draco felt rage fill up inside of him.
"Excuse me?" he said becoming more furious.
"Didn't you hear me properly?" her eyes getting smaller, Draco could tell she was getting angry to.
"I heard you right and to think I was going to apologize" he said turning his back and walking back towards the fire.
"You? Apologize, oh please. Don't make me laugh." She said walking to the stairs.
"It's true, you know. I didn't mean to say those things. But sometimes you give me no choice" he said as he sat down on the chair in front of the fire. He could feel Elle's eye burning into the back of his head.
"Hmmph" he heard Elle mutter to herself. "I do suppose I sometimes say some pretty terrible things to you too Draco." she paused, "I guess, I'm sorry too." He turned to look at her but she was already gone. Draco looked back at the fire and fell back into his thoughts.
Elinore Collins. November.
"Thanks Harry" said Elle giving him a large smile, her ice blue eyes sparkling with joy.
"Thank you Elle" he said smiling back at her.
Elle and Harry had started walking down the corridor talking, although spending time with Harry made her happy she still felt overwhelmingly sad, she couldn't stop thinking about Draco. She didn't think it was possible for him to hurt her anymore than him and his family already had, but he just kept on doing it. She wanted to believe that he was different, that he wouldn't become like his father one day, but he was a Malfoy, they were dark wizards and this was known by most of the wizarding world. That was never going to change. Elle and Harry kept on walking down the corridors lost in their own world.
"So you said that your father was betrayed by a man that was like a brother to him. So your dad and Lucious were?" he said looking at her seriously.
"Friends, yeah I know right hard to believe. They came here together and they were the best of friends. My Gran said she didn't remember much of Lucious, but only that when he used to come over he was completely arrogant and she could tell that he was into the dark arts. Not anything like my father of course. He strayed here or there sometimes but my mother always made sure that he came to his senses." She said
"So he was pretty close with your family?" he asked, Elle supposed he was trying to understand why it was that her parents were involved with someone like him.
"Yeah, my father adored Lucious. My Gran said before he killed them they started spending less time together. He used to bring Draco over to play with me, and he and my father would go for walks. My Gran suspected that something was wrong because my father would always come back looking rather stressed. She supposes it's because he was pressuring him into becoming a Death Eater. Anyway a couple of nights before the murder he came over and as usual he dropped Draco off and went for a walk with my father. They had a falling out of sorts; they started yelling at each other and Lucious stormed out and left. He came back two days later and revealed what his was and what he wanted my parents to become, they refused him and he killed them, spared me and left me on the doorstep of my Grandmother's house." She said looking at Harry, remembering everything her Gran had told her hurt her in ways she could not explain.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Said Harry, concern on his face.
"Don't pity me Harry, I'm okay honestly" she said smiling.
It was starting to get dark and they had both decided that they would go their separate ways.
"Well it was good talking to you Harry as always, I'll see you around okay" she said smiling at him, he smiled back. She was so glad she had met Harry, he was everything a person ought to be. Honest, strong, caring. She knew he would become a very dear friend to her.
As she was walking down the long dark hall down towards her common room she could see Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy coming towards her. She sighed loudly and pretended not to notice them; she detested the idiocy of Crabbe and Goyle. To her and almost the whole of Hogwarts they were known for having brain IQ that of a troll and as for Pansy Parkinson there was only one word to describe her vulgar. Elle despised them and she made it her personal mission to make that quite clear every time they had an encounter. But not today, she could not handle them today.
"HELLO ELEPHANT COLLINS" bellowed Goyle as they walked towards her, they all began to laugh. Elle sighed, the anger rising in her.
"Oh how original Goyle, did you hurt yourself thinking up that one? Must have been a big effort for your brain, that is of course if you had one" she said her eyes piercing his she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.
"Why don't you go back to the library Collins, stick that big nose of yours into a book" said Pansy sneering at her, they all started laughing loudly again and Elle pushed past them.
"Oh sod off" she said opening the portrait not looking back at them once she got in she paused.
"Bloody idiotic, self absorbed tossers" she said mumbling to herself. "Wouldn't know what a library book was if it hit them in the face."
She sighed and let down her hair. She looked up at the roof the fire was alight and burning, she could feel the heat covering her body, and she could see a shadow sitting by the fire. She walked out looking towards the fire, regretting that decision instantly. Draco Malfoy was glaring at her, suddenly all the emotions she had felt hours ago came flooding back to her. He sat there for moments that felt like hours looking into her eyes, she felt as though he was searching for something. The look in his eye was different from the one she had seen just hours ago. He seemed lost and she was unable to look away, her emotions were overpowering her.
"Elle" he said, he stood up and moved towards her. She broke away from his gaze unable to hold it all in, she walked away as quickly as she could she needed to escape. She could not look at him; she could not bear to hear his voice. For it was too overwhelming, the pain, the emotions were too strong for her to handle she needed to get away from him.
"Elle, wait please I'm" he said. She couldn't fight it, all her emotions came up all at once and she turned instantly on the spot.
"You're what? Pathetic? Well I already knew that" she said furious as ever, how dare he speak to her after what he had said.
"Excuse me?" he replied, she could tell he was getting angry too.
"Didn't you hear me properly?" she snapped.
"I heard you right and to think I was going to apologize" he said turning his back to her and making his way back the fire, Elle moved on towards the stairs.
"You? Apologize, oh please. Don't make me laugh." Taking a few steps, Draco sat himself down slowly.
"It's true, you know. I didn't mean to say those things. But sometimes you give me no choice" she stared at the back of his head watching him.
"Hmmp, I can't believe I'm saying this" she muttered to herself. "I do suppose I sometimes say some pretty terrible things to you too Draco." she paused, "I guess I'm sorry too." She watched for a reaction from him, just something. But he did not respond, Elle took a few more steps and made her way up to her Dormitory.
Closing the door quietly and leaning back against the door she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. She did not want to feel anymore, she wanted to be numb. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
Draco Malfoy. December.
It was the day before the Hogwarts Express headed back to platform nine and three quarters. Draco was busy packing his things away into his trunk when Crabbe and Goyle came bursting into the Dorm laughing loudly. Draco turned sharply on the spot and they both stopped immediately looking very seriously at him.
"What's so funny you two?" he asked abruptly.
"We errr... uhhh" stuttered Goyle
"We got into a bit of a fight with that Collins kid, you know the one? Elephant." said Crabbe chuckling to himself.
"You what!" Draco said trying not to sound too shocked.
"Yeah" said Goyle "gave her a bit of a beatin'" he continued, Draco was speechless.
"And we found this..." Crabbe held out a book to Draco it was locked; he assumed it was a diary. He looked up at the pair.
"Thanks, I'll be keeping this" he said and he put it into his trunk. "You know you two should be careful with Collins, she's a good witch. Next time you might not be so lucky.
Elinore Collins. December.
Elle was walking back from the Library, as she had just returned some books that she had borrowed. Walking down towards the Great Hall she decided to take a short cut, which she instantly regretted. There at the end of the hall was Crabbe and Goyle they were talking to each other but stopped once they took notice of Elle standing frozen in the door frame.
"Hi there Elephant" called Goyle, him and Crabbe started moving slowly towards her. She couldn't move, she felt cornered.
As they got closer Elle slowly drew out her wand. "Stay away from me" she said loudly.
"We aren't scared of you Collins" said Crabbe
"You should be" she said intimidated slightly.
Goyle grabbed her shoulders and pinned her against the wall, knocking her wand out of her hands.
"Not so big without your wand now, are you Collins" said Crabbe, she could feel her heart pumping the fear must have been clear in her eyes because the pair slowly started grinning. She couldn't let them win this, she had to fight back. She threw her books to the floor and pushed Goyle away from her. She reached for her wand but Crabbe kicked it away, she looked up the door to the main hall was just down this corridor. She began to run but was hit in the back by something hard.
Elle could see stars in her eyes and it went very dark for a moment, falling to her knees she heard the pair chuckle to themselves.
"You're such a loser Collins" said Goyle.
"Look at this Goyle, I think this is a diary. Well take that. Thanks Collins, this was fun." They began laughing loudly; Elle could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't speak, she could do nothing.
It had taken a few minutes for the curse that Crabbe had put on Elle to wear off but she continued to lay there. It was only until she heard the door open that she moved.
"Elle?" she looked over at the figures standing in the door frame, it was Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
"Harry" she said softly, he came rushing over followed by his friends
"What the bloody hell happened here?" said Ron
"Crabbe and Goyle" she said, she heard Hermione gasp. "My stuff is it still there?" she pointed near the door. "I think they might have taken something, my wand maybe." She saw Hermione and Ron rush back over to the door.
"There's a few books and your wand, it's okay it's here" she heard Hermione say. Harry helped Elle sit up slowly, Hermione and Ron brought all her possessions over.
"Thank you" she said softly not meeting any of their gazes.
"We should tell someone about this, this is wrong" said Hermione very firmly.
"No!" said Elle at once, "its okay, I'll make sure that they get what they deserve. Thanks again" she gathered up all her things and stood up slowly. She smiled at them all "You have wonderful friends Harry, truly." And she slowly walked off towards the door leading to the Great Hall.
Elle made her way over to the Slytherin table; she sat in her usual spot and waited for the Hall to fill up; Draco Malfoy and his friends sat not far from her. She looked over in their direction and noticed that Draco was looking at her; he quickly looked away avoiding her gaze, she kept looking. He was so hard to figure out and it frustrated her.
"What you looking at Elephant?" said Goyle, all the people surrounding him looked in her direction and started laughing loudly, Elle looked away quickly her cheeks turning red with anger. She wanted to leave, like she had many times before to avoid the embarrassment.
"It's really not that funny Goyle" she heard a voice break the laughter, his sly, arrogant voice. Everyone fell silent; Elle looked out of the corner of her eye at the group. Draco wasn't looking at anyone but they were all looking at him, confusion on their faces they all started whispering to each other.
He was extremely hard to figure out, Elle felt the corners of her mouth move up she was smiling. But why?
Draco Malfoy. February.
Draco had come back to Hogwarts after his break and spent his days the same way he had for the last two years, walking around in his arrogant bliss. He had it all. He was surrounded by people that worshiped him and for what? His name? His power? He wasn't sure but at this point he didn't care.
As he was walking through the Transfiguration Courtyard escorted by his usual bodyguards and loyal followers Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy his good mood had suddenly turned sour. Across the courtyard Draco spotted Elle, she was accompanied by Potter. Draco suddenly felt rage surge inside of him, he stared at them his eyes narrowing.
"Is that Elephant Collins and Potter?" said Pansy, she started laughing to herself. "Oh how sad" she continued laughing. Draco wasn't listening he was watching them both carefully, they were laughing together. They hugged and went separate ways waving to each other. That fool, she's just asking for trouble, he thought to himself.
Elle began walking towards them, she looked at Draco, and her eyes were so piercing he looked away.
"What you doing hanging 'round Potter, Elephant?" yelled Goyle loudly, Draco looked over at her. Her face was becoming red and she looked down at the ground, she was coming towards them. Crabbe and Goyle started walking forward and stopped her in her tracks.
"What's the matter Elephant? Got no friends" said Crabbe, they both started laughing together getting closer and closer to her. Draco wasn't sure what he should do he was just standing there watching as they bullied her.
"Get out of my way" she said looking up at Crabbe her eyes looked as though there was fire behind them, she looked almost frightful and Draco's mouth pulled up a little at the sides it amused him seeing her like this. She was much stronger than anyone thought. "I warned you boys, you were lucky last time." She said not breaking her gaze she was ready to fight, Draco could tell.
"Is that right?" said Goyle, bending down towards Elle and she took a step back. Draco thought he should intervene, but also knew the consequences of what that might bring. He looked at Elle he had never seen her so angry, not ever. She finally spoke.
"Yeah that's right, so if you don't get out of my way I'll send you and your little boyfriend here into the hospital wing for a week. So let me pass, you pathetic troll." Her voice was sharp and strong, Draco was smiling and he didn't know why. She looked out of the corner of her eye at Draco and saw him smiling, he suddenly stopped.
"What are you looking at" he said reflexively.
"Your all talk Collins, you couldn't charm your way out of a paper bag" said Pansy laughing to herself, Crabbe and Goyle began laughing as well. She looked at all of them.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY" she screamed and she pushed Crabbe, all the books she was carrying fell to the ground. Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy began laughing hysterically. Crabbe and Goyle began kicking her books around and pieces of parchment went flying in every direction. She got to her knees and started picking them up, her face completely red. She looked as though she might cry. Draco felt a horrible sharp pain in his stomach, he wanted to help her. He needed to get away before he ruined everything.
"Crabbe, Goyle. Let's go, we've better things to do." He said coolly, he looked down at Elle she was looking up at him her eyes with tears in them he felt the sharp pain again and looked away as quickly as he could.
They all began to walk away still laughing to themselves, obviously quite pleased with what they had achieved. Draco looked behind at her kneeling there she got out her wand and started summoning all the pieces of parchment that were still flying around everywhere. There was a moment of silence and then suddenly he heard it.
"Stupefy!" and Crabbe went flying ten feet backwards, he looked over to where the spell had come from and Elle was standing on her feet pointing the wand at Draco and his friends.
"Expelliarmus" she knocked the wand out of Goyle's hand, he stepped back and looked at Draco who was still in shock. Elle flicked her wand and sent Goyle flying through the air; Crabbe got to his feet and sent a hex her way.
"Protego" she yelled "Confundo" Crabbe stopped dead in his tracks and began looking to the sky. Draco looked around they had gathered an audience, Elle's wand then pointed at Goyle.
"Diffindo" she said waving her wand, Goyle's pants quickly ripped off revealing boxers with red stripes, the crowd surrounding began to laugh, Goyle covered himself and began running away. A hex then hit Elle, Draco looked beside him. It was Pansy she was pointing her wand at Elle.
"Expelliarmus" Elle said before Pansy had time to react she was disarmed and helpless.
"Tempt me Pansy, oh please give me an excuse to curse you, because I wouldn't hesitate" she said her face was still red but her eyes were more fierce then they had ever been. Pansy took a step backward.
"Come on Draco, let's go." She said not taking her eyes off Elle for a second. Draco had never seen her use magic but he had heard she was powerful. He watched her as she slowly gathered up the rest of her things quickly and began to walk away; she looked back at Draco he was still standing there.
"Crabbe" he said finally, beginning to move on.
"Can you believe the nerve of that girl, she'll get hers" said Pansy
"NO!" Draco yelled, "No more, you saw what she did to those two"
"Yeah but Crabbe and Goyle are idiots, she's no match for the two of us"
"I said enough Pansy, I don't want to end up in the Hospital Wing. Do you understand me? Leave Elinore Collins alone." he moved on quickly, leaving Pansy behind with Crabbe.
Elinore Collins. February.
Elle could feel the anger, the pain raging inside of her. She found herself walking towards the Library it was her own personal refuge, she greeted Madam Pince but barely. She was in such a state she couldn't think straight. Making her way to her usual spot she could feel her hands trembling she was so furious; she sat down in her chair and started to cry.
How could they be so cruel? How could Draco just stand by and watch as they tortured her. Draco. That boy, he made her so confused. One minute he was apologizing the next he's letting his friends jinx her from here to next week. She felt like confronting him, she wanted to know so desperately what his game was. A wave of emotion rushed over her. How could one boy affect so much? She had never been like this before, never so angry. She felt so weak.
"Elle" a voice broke her from her state a voice she recognised all too clear, she slowly started turning her head to look at Draco Malfoy; she looked up at him he had spoken so softly his face was shocking it was hard, emotionless the way it had been every time they had confronted each other. But something was different, his eyes. His usually expressionless grey eyes were filled with anguish, Elle had to look away.
"Elle, I'm sorry." He said breaking the deafening silence between them.
"How many times do you want to say it Draco?" she said not looking at him still, "you know eventually it begins to lose its meaning." She could feel his eyes boring into her skin.
"I know, it's just-"he began.
"It's just what Draco? How long is this going to go on for?" she said looking at him, he flinched but kept looking at her in the eyes. He frustrated her; he stood there and said nothing.
"What they did, it was wrong. It won't happen again." he said, his tone was formal something she had never heard before
"Thanks, but I can look after myself" she said looking at him unable to figure out exactly where this was going.
"I can see that. But still..." he paused watching her carefully, she stared at him becoming even more confused. "Look, I found this" he pulled a book out of his bag, Elle recognized it at once it was her diary.
"My diary, Crabbe and Goyle... they took it. How did you?-"
"Like I said, what they did was wrong." He threw the book onto the table in front of Elle, she picked it up and looked at him. Draco stood there for a while, Elle wanted to look at him to try and read his face it had never been this tense before.
"I should stop them, but I can't. I'm just so confused and I-" he sighed "never mind. Just stay away from us okay. I don't want any trouble."
"Stay away.." she said quietly. "If anything you should stay away from me Draco, I don't exactly go looking for trouble." She gathered up her things, stood up and pushed past him.
He grabbed her wrist; she gasped, his skin was so cold like ice that it sent shivers down her spine; she turned to look at him. His face was sad, twisted almost; she couldn't understand why he looked like this. But it hurt her.
"Please" he said quietly, pleading with her almost. "Just stay away" his eyes blazing with pain. They stood there together like that for minutes neither one not knowing what to say. Elle felt like she couldn't breathe, since when did Draco Malfoy beg.
"Okay" she whispered quietly, it was the only word she could conjure up.
Looking down at his cold white hand on her fragile wrist, she pulled away from his grasp and looked up at him his eyes were hard and piercing into hers. She backed away from him still looking in his eyes; she knew she couldn't do this anymore it was too much for her. She turned and walked away from him with tears appearing in her eyes, she could still feel the cold icy grip of his hand wrapped around her wrist, and she didn't turn around to look at him.
Why did she feel like this? Why was it so easy to hate Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy but so very hard to hate him? After all he had done she still didn't hate him. She cared for him, in some very strange and ridiculous way she cared for Draco Malfoy, the son of the man that murdered her parents. She couldn't justify her reasons for feeling this way, she just did.
