The next few weeks, Malfoy seemed to have trouble keeping his word. He gave her no scathing remarks, hardly played any pranks on her. The most he ever did was bump her shoulder, hard, when they passed in the hall. Though she expected nothing less, and in fact expected more, she couldn't help but feel a little hurt when he gave such unkind gestures. She felt maybe they could be a sort of masked greeting - however, she knew they were probably just a reminder that her life would be a living hell if she were ever to reveal to anyone what she'd witnessed in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Despite this subtle hostility, Abby couldn't help but notice that her affection for him was starting to grow. She knew it was strange - he was nothing but unkind to her - but perhaps that was what was so alluring. He was untouchable, and could in fact loathe her, but they'd spent that tender time together and she'd seen a side of him few had before, if any. The fact that sharing a moment like that again was probably impossible just made her want it more. She never disliked Draco when he did anything to her - just felt a tiny pang of disappointment.
One day, she was headed by Myrtle's bathroom again and Draco was coming down the corridor the opposite way. She diverted her eyes and stared at her feet as she walked. They were bound to cross paths. This was the first time they were in the same corridor without anyone else. Perhaps this time she would know whether the bumping was just a show or his honest feelings. If he bumped her, she would know nothing had really changed between them. If he didn't. . . . Perhaps he'd take this opportunity to be friendly. . . .
They finally approached each other. Abby glanced up at him, but he was as intent on his feet as she had been earlier. Just as they were inches away from each other, Abby felt a hard, sharp shoulder make contact with her collarbone.
Her shoulder was wrenched back and she nearly fell over from the weight shift. The books clutched in her arms toppled to the ground.
She couldn't stop herself - she glanced back at him for any sign of. . . . Well, anything. She didn't want to believe he'd still be hostile when they were alone.
The face he made as he turned back confirmed her fears. He scowled at her like she was a squashed bug on the bottom of his neatly polished shoes, then turned on his heel and continued on his way, Abby watching his footsteps fade into the distance.
Abby bent down to pick up her things. She fought to hold back tears. Why are you so surprised? She asked scathingly to herself. Why would a rich, handsome pureblood boy bother with someone like you?
She knew there was only one comforting place to be at that moment. She turned towards the door to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and a sob escaped her throat just as she entered.
She leaned against a stall and began to let the tears flow. That was when Myrtle's grey, shadowy form sidled towards her.
"Oh, Abby dear," she cooed, looking teary-eyed herself. "What's the matter?"
She smiled at the ghost girl, hoping to make her next statement gentle enough. "Don't worry, Myrtle," she began. "It's nothing anyone can really help with. I'm not supposed to tell."
Myrtle grimaced and crossed her arms. She scoffed. "That's what he always says." She began to float away, and Abby hoped she was leaving.
She analyzed what she'd said.
No one can help. . . . Can't tell anyone. . . .
Her sobs returned in full-force as she realized Myrtle was talking about Draco. He must've come in here quite a lot.
As if in sync with her thoughts, the door swung open, revealing Draco Malfoy standing in the doorway.
Abby's breath seemed to rush out of her lungs. She sucked in enough air to speak, frantically wiping at her eyes.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
"I. . . ." he began, looking at her, then looking at the floor, as if trying to find his next words etched into the concrete. His eyes flicked back up to her, looking pained. "Look, I wanted to, I don't know. . . ."
"I think the word you're looking for is 'apologize,'" she said through clenched teeth. "I doubt it's something you've done before."
"In all honesty, it's not," he replied, stepping toward her. "I know this is hard-"
Abby laughed darkly, interrupting him. "What is 'this'?" she exclaimed, exasperated.
"This! Me! Me pretending I can't stand you!"
"'Pretending'? Please. You don't have to pretend at all. I saw it in your eyes five minutes ago." a few more tears started to fall. "I just don't know why you're bothering to come in here and spare my feelings."
"Abby," he started. Her heart jolted. He'd never called her by her first name before. "I don't think you understand. I've had to do a lot of pretending. My entire life. I've had to convince my father I give a rat's arse about blood purity since I was born. I've had to make teachers believe I'm a golden child that can do no wrong. And I've had to hide, from everyone. . . ." He stopped, seeming lost for words, or perhaps stopping himself before he said too much. "Pretending I hate you is a piece of cake. Or. . . . It should be."
Her breathing started to come a bit easier as she took in his words. False hope, she thought. Don't fall for it.
"The corridor was empty. We were alone. Why would you have to pretend when we were alone?"
He sighed. He looked altogether disappointed with himself. "Because you're one of the people I knew I had to convince. The most important one, in fact. I just. . . . Couldn't do it. Not once I realized I'd made you cry. . . ."
She scoffed, though her heart seemed to flutter at the concern he'd just confessed to having for her. "What's the point of convincing me? You could save me a hell of a lot of heartbreak." She wanted to swallow her words as soon as they escaped her lips. She actually used the word heartbreak. . . .
Draco was obviously effected by the word too, as his eyes flicked up to hers, washed with a bit of shock. . . . And maybe even hope.
"But that was my exact intention," he said softly. "You'll get hurt being close to me. If not by me, by someone else. . . ."
He grimaced at his last two words. Fear flashed across his eyes at the "someone else" he must have been thinking of.
"You'll be the first person. . . . If . . . If I fail. . . ."
He stopped himself abruptly, shaking his head. "But. . . . I guess that's all out in the open, now. . . . I don't have to be cruel to you anymore. At least not when we're alone. . . ."
Abby couldn't find any words. She just stared at the floor. She didn't want to give anything away by looking at him. A tear streaked down her cheek. They had stopped flowing, but that tear had been hanging onto her eyelid for a few minutes.
Draco took another step toward her. They were only a foot or two apart now. He reached up to her cheek and brushed away the tear. She couldn't fight the urge to look at him anymore. The butterflies in her stomach began to riot at his touch.
His eyes were the brightest crystal blue Abby had ever seen, practically glowing in the piercing golden sunlight beaming through the window. He was golden, and looking at her with such adoration. . . .
They leaned in at just the same time. Their lips pressed together and Abby felt as if they would never part. Her lips moved with his like they'd rehearsed it. Draco's fingers wove into her raven curls and she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing his torso onto hers.
All of her feelings for Draco rushed to the surface. Every defense she'd built, every wall to keep them in seemed to gradually crumble until this moment when they disappeared entirely. Until now, she had even denied the possibility to herself. She didn't have to hide from herself anymore, and better yet, she didn't have to hide from Draco.
When it seemed an eternity had passed, they parted. Draco rested his forehead onto hers and closed his eyes. He took both of her hands in his. After a few moments with a glowing, elated smile, his face shifted in such a way that he looked near tears.
"This has to be the end of it. Do you understand?" He looked her in the eyes seriously, but affectionately. Abby gave a tiny nod, not wanting to ever leave him, but she knew their parting would be for the best. "It will be hard, but we know how we feel now. . . . No big mystery anymore. . . . Just promise me, whatever happens, whatever I do, you don't forget this. Don't forget how I feel. It won't change. Understood?" She nodded faintly again and smiled.
He gave her one small peck on the lips, squeezed her hand, and left the bathroom.