Behind the mask
Authors Note
Hi a guy, just to make it clear, this story is Dramione. I don't ship Drarry and tbh Drapple just makes me laugh, . I know it doesn't seem it but, as the story advances, you'll see. The students are all about 16-17 in this story.
Ch.2 An arrangement is made
Draco's POV
Oh flip, flip and flipper. Harry potter stood in front of me, the boy who wouldn't die. Stood here, right now, bloody fantastic… About 1,000 thoughts passed my head within the next three seconds. Would he grass me up? Should I threaten him so he doesn't grass me up? What will he think of me standing in front of the Gryffindor portrait? Why hasn't he said anything? Why haven't I said anything? Goddamn it Malfoy say something!
You first…
I'm you, you utter donk!
Oh, right, yeah. I knew that…
Of course you did. You do realise that you are having a fully-fledged conversation with yourself.
Shut up!
I'm you! You can shut me up!
Go back to your cardboard box in the corner of my mind somewhere then, if you don't mind!
"Malfoy, what are you doing, out here, at the Gryffindor portrait, at 11.45?" I struggled to come up with a plausible answer that wouldn't leave me either in the hospital wing or in Azkaban. "Erm, I had to go for a walk, clear my head. I was on my way back to the Slytherin dorms but the staircase changed, and I ended up here…" My voice trailed off and Potter raised his eyebrows at me. "Alright, well, bye." He stepped past me and climbed the remaining few steps to the portrait, muttering the password quietly so I wouldn't hear, not that I wanted to. When would I ever need to go in there? I sighed loudly in relief when the portrait swung shut and sat down on the step. With my head resting on my knees, I realised something. I'd just had a conversation with Potter, without insulting him once, wow… What was wrong with me? I was scared, that's what, absolutely bloody terrified. I had to stop using that word, I was turning into Weasley. I shuddered at the thought. I rubbed by eyes with my hands, seeing a moment of lights before my eyes readjusted and I saw…Nothing. I stood up and walked down the staircase, I was going to have to find another way to Slytherin, I wasn't going to wait all night for them stupid stairs to change again, who knows, I'd probably end up at Hufflepuff! After what seemed like hours of going the wrong way, I finally found the Slytherin dungeons, walking past the portrait of Elizabeth Burke, who immediately started shouting 'Be nasty to mudbloods boy, they're not worth the time it takes to spit at them!" I sighed and kept walking, going up the left stairs to the boy's dorms. I slumped down on the bed, not even bothering to change; I pulled off my cloak and crawled under the covers. Too tired to do anything but lie there. My dreams weren't pleasant; they were filled with my Father and Voldemort, 'Stupid boy!' 'Liar!' 'Traitor!' I woke up with a start, Goyle was sat up in his bed, staring at me "What are you looking at!" I was tired and cranky, now was not the time to be caught staring at me. "N-nothing Draco, y-you, erm, you were whimpering, you kept saying no. I don't know what your nightmare was, but I'm glad it was yours and not mine, it seemed scary." Goyle kept looking away from me then back then away again, and I had the feeling I'd said more than he was letting on. Perhaps I'd mentioned Voldemort, or worse, my Father. I cleared my throat and looked at the clock 5.30, no point in going back to sleep now to wake up in an hour or so. I stood up and grabbed my cloak, "I'm going for a walk, if anyone asks, you don't know where I am, okay?" It was more of a statement than a question, and I didn't wait around for the answer. Stepping out into the cold air of the empty Quidditch pitch, I clenched my fists then opened them and wiggled my fingers, they had begun to go numb and tingle. I walked over and sat in the corner of the pitch, shivering, a movement from the other side of the pitch made me stand up; I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wand, pointing it in the direction of the movement. Slowly, a figure emerged from the mist that blanketed the pitch. "It's ok." Granger stood with her hands by her sides. "I'm just out for a walk." She continued stepping forward and I dropped my hand, pocketing my wand. She smiled slightly and I started walking away. "Wait! You don't have to go just because I'm here you know." I stopped and turned my head slightly. "It's fine, I was leaving anyway." She nodded, accepting my excuse. "I'll walk indoors with you then." She suggested jogging slightly to catch up with me. "So," she started a conversation, "what are you doing in the holdidays." Since when did you care?
Oh, you're back, I thought I told you to stay in your box.
Well, there are certain situations when you need my advice on what to say.
Now isn't one of them, so get stuffed.
Huh, you try to help a guy and this is the thanks you get.
The voice faded off and I realised I hadn't given Granger an answer yet. "I'm staying here, Dumbledore requested it, I'm behind on a few subjects…" The lie rolled out of my mouth so easily and sounded pretty believable to, I was proud of that. She nodded again, "Me to, staying that is, not behind." Granger was staying? Dumbledore hadn't mentioned that.
Why would he?
Well, he mentioned Potter.
So…
I guess you're right, this time.
Ha-ha, success.
Get lost.
In my own head? Impossible.
Find a way then!
Eugh, I was insane, it was official. "Well, I'll be seeing you." Granger's voice brought me back to reality and I noticed we were at the grand staircase, oh, that was quick. "Yeah, bye." She walked off in the direction of Gryffindor and I walked in the direction of Slytherin. Again, another conversation I'd had with my enemies that didn't involve me insulting them. Fabulous, I got changed into an all-black suit and headed down to my first lesson, potions. I groaned, Snape will probably lecture me about what I did yesterday and I really wasn't in the mood. I walked in about 10 minutes early and scanned the room, Snape wasn't here but Granger was, sat at her desk with her book and quill in front of her, I smirked, always here early. I took my usual seat at the back; she was in the row in front of me and one seat to the left. She turned as I sat down and offered me a thin smile which I returned. You're smiling at a mudblood, what's wrong with you boy?
She smiled first, besides Dumbledore said to be nice.
So! Not to her, to Potter!
Yes but she's staying to, and she hangs out with Potter.
Yeah but, I know but, Oh fine!
I smiled, victorious. "So, is this one of the subjects you're behind in?" Granger's voice drifted back to me. "Erm, no. I'm quite good at potions. I'm behind in Herbology and Muggle Studies…" This was true enough, I sucked at them both. "Oh, well, since we're both staying over the holidays I could, you know, tutor you or something." Granger, Hermione Granger was actually offering to help me? "Yeah, yeah ok." I smiled and she smiled back. The door burst open…
