CHAPTER 2
THE MIRROR.
Draco was crying, his shoulders were raising up and down rapidly and he couldn't stop it. He was in the abandoned girls' bathroom, hiding from curious looks. He finally lifted his head and looked up at the reflection in the mirror. White, almost as a paper skin, with a tone of a corpse, shuddering lips, platinum hair messed up and wet from water, and finally the pale grey eyes full of unbearable pain, fear and guilt. Draco couldn't recognize himself anymore. He had been going through so many things, that he didn't bother to look at the mirrors lately, and all he could see now was a hurt, scared boy. He hated it, and raised his fist to break the stupid glass in agony, when he suddenly saw something else in it. Taken a back by this, Draco turned instantly raising his wand, ready to blast a torchurous spell at anyone who dared to see him at this state. Yet after seeing properly who it was, he dropped his hand and turned away, burning with shame and disdain.
Granger.., - he couldn't really think of anything better to say, he was certainly not in the right mood for mockery.
Draco, I…, - Hermione was embarrassed, exposed like this, she didn't want him to think that she was spying, - I was just passing by..i had to go to, -
Sure you were, - Draco knew she was lying, the bathroom was in the corner of nowhere, you could only get there if that exactly was your goal.
Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spy on you, - she was now actually worried about the situation, - are you…what happened?
Draco stood silent, he suddenly stopped crying and the last tear dropped of his cheek and landed on the wet floor with a soft splash. All this time he was standing with his back on Hermione not wanting her to see his messed-up face. He felt like a little boy, scolded for crying. Draco quickly pushed down his sleeves before finally turning around. She changed so much.. when was the last time that he saw her? Pushing these disturbing thoughts away, Draco contemplated Hermione's last question. How was he supposed to answer to that? Tell her the truth? Merlin beard, no she would totally start a fight against him along with Ron and Harry. Lie? What could he possibly make up? He failed a test? He never really cared about bad marks. He had an emotional breakdown? Well, that's simply girly, plus he would still have to tell her the truth. Yet…. maybe he could trust her? She was the only one who actually seemed to ask him about his well-being, but why? 'How stupid I am', he thought, how could SHE possibly care? She probably just wanted to make sure that he wasn't planning on some evil-slytherin plan. Oh God, how childish and innocent it all seems now, compared to his real problems.
Why are you here?
I heard this noise, and I decided to see what's wrong, - Hermione's face was red, she suddenly realized that she made a big mistake. She shouldn't have come at all. Why is she still here in first place? – Anyways, I have a lesson now so I should go.
It's the end of the day, Granger, - now Draco forgot about his problems for a while, amusing himself.,- Are you scared that I'll do something BAD?, - He pulled the word in a mocking way, knowing it would annoy her.
Yeah, well, I don't have time for this, Malfoy, - she turned away making her way out. Feeling completely confused she picked up a backpack that she dropped earlier. This was all a joke of course, proving her naïveté. What else could she expect from Malfoy? He was always this whiny actor, dragging all of the attention to himself.
Granger, - Draco called, not really knowing why had he called her and now, cursing himself internally, thinking of something to say, - I'm surprised that you came without your pathetic friends, - the words dropped of his tongue before he could think. Now, he completely ruined everything. He himself was shocked at this sudden change of mood. Was he doing the same thing as years ago? Covering up his misery with bullying? And suddenly, everything that he was crying about crushed on him with new force. Draco broke the glass finally, letting out a quiet sight.
Hermione ignored his last remark, not surprised by it, thanks to Malfoy himself, she got used to it as years past. She was outside, heading to the stairs when she heard a sound of breaking glass in the old bathroom. It was strange, all of his mood swings, and mockery. Or was it just a façade? Hermione didn't know, but she certainly wasn't returning back in there.