Chapter 7: Walls

For the next one month, Malfoy and I kept our distance. Thank Merlin we never had to work as partners again for any class. I rarely saw him after that, besides in classes.

He was never in the Heads Common Room.

He was rarely present for meals in the Great Hall.

He even stopped hanging out with his posse of brainless followers.

He was always just cooped up in his room, doing Marlin knows what.

Even when we went to Hogsmeade, I saw him separate himself from his clan and apparate somewhere.

I felt an urge to just run to Harry or Professor McGonagall and tell them that Malfoy was acting really weirdly, but I didn't want to blow things out of proportions. I decided to just continue observing him and waiting until I was sure he really was up to no good.

I was sitting in the Heads Common Room, working on a piece of homework. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Suddenly, the silence was broken with three loud knocks on the door. I swung open the portrait door to find two people I least expected.

Blaise and Pansy were staring at me arrogantly, almost condescendingly. I felt like shutting the door in their faces as their smug looks were really starting to annoy me, but I was above that, and above them.

"Can I help you with something?" I casually asked.

Pansy quirked an eyebrow as she looked at me haughtily while Blaise took in a deep breath.

"Where's Draco? We're here to see him." He replied curtly.

Of course they're here to see Malfoy.

Duh.

Come in. He's in the room on the left. Do not expect me to call him out for you though." I answered as I opened the door wider to let the two Malfoy-Followers in.

"We weren't planning to ask you anyway, Mud-"

"Pansy! Just leave it. We're not here for her. We're here for Draco." Blaise cut her off before she could complete that stupid word.

I resisted the urge of wringing her neck there and then and just sat back on the couch, continuing on with my homework.

"Draco! Open up. It's us!" Blaise called out through Malfoy's door as he knocked on it.

There was shuffling inside the room before the door swung open.

"How did you get in?" he questioned them in a bit of anger.

Blaise nodded his head in my direction. Malfoy glanced at me and sneered.

"Damn Granger." He muttered under his breath, but loud enough for me to catch it.

I rolled my eyes and focused back on my homework.

Do not react. Just let it go.

"Well, what do you want?" he asked Blaise.

"We just want to talk to you, Draco." Blaise replied with a hint of frustration.

"Well then talk." Malfoy replied.

From the corner of my eye, I could see him casually lean against the doorframe.

"In private, Draco." Pansy spoke softly.

Malfoy took in a deep breath and let it out in frustration before replying.

"Come in then." He said to the two before heading back into his room.

Pansy was the last to enter and closed the door, but it still creaked open a bit, which allowed me to hear bits of their conversation.

"Draco, you can't keep going on like this. Please talk to us."

"I told you guys. I just need to be left alone for a while."

"We understand, Draco. But it's not good for you to keep yourself locked up away from us."

"How do you know what's good for me, Pansy? You have no idea what I'm going through."

"We know that. We know we can never truly understand what you're going though. And we don't plan to try. We're all worried for you. Draco, all we're asking is that you don't shut us away. We're your friends."

"Just forget it. I need to handle this myself. I don't need your help or sympathy or pity."

"But Draco…"

"This conversation is over. You can leave now."

There was a moment of silence before the door opened up again and Blaise and Pansy reappeared. I quickly turned back to my homework and pretended to not have the slightest clue what was going on.

I heard the portrait door open and close before Malfoy walked out of his room. I looked up at him and he simply glared at me.

"Why did you let them in?" he hissed.

"Well, Malfoy, I assumed they were your friends so I thought…"

"Well then next time, don't assume. If someone comes asking for me, just tell them to get lost. Clear?" he snarled before stomping back into his room and slamming his door.

I turned my gaze to the floor as I thought about what had just happened.

What was Malfoy going through?

And why wouldn't he let his own friends help him?

Many things were a mystery and simply did not add up, but one thing was for sure.

Malfoy was building walls.

And he was not willing to let anyone in.