THE PINK UMBRELLA
A/N: Next chapter...
Disclaimer: I don't own HP.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: INVITED BY GRYFFINDORS
Draco's POV:
Granger left me and Blaise to talk alone, following her best friends, Potty and Weasel. Before vanishing, I saw the two bastards giving me death glares. Of course, I frowned at them back. Sometimes, I didn't really know why they hated me so much to glare at me though I hadn't done anything. I didn't know what was wrong with them anymore. Maybe, they were insecure of me because Granger finally got a very handsome friend by the name of Draco Malfoy. She didn't have to be surrounded only by weird red-headed, freckly face and an exaggeratingly important scar head.
"You got my present, Draco? The sneakoscope?" Blaise asked me.
I nodded, remembering the said present. "Thanks, by the way."
"It's nothing. I just wonder what took my owl so long in coming back. Usually, it only takes him at least an hour in delivering packages to the Manor. Did you keep him for something?" He asked, looking at me contemplatively.
"Uh..." I didn't know what to say. Of course, I shouldn't tell him the truth. That his owl didn't deliver his present in the Manor, but in Number 12 Grimmauld Place in London...the Muggle London. I guess I had to make things up.
"Maybe, your owl stopped by somewhere for a cup of tea?" I mentally slapped my head. A cup of tea?! Really Draco Malfoy?! An owl stopping by for a bloody cup of tea?! Shit, I think I left my brain in Grimmauld Place!
Blaise looked at me, dumbfounded, his mouth gaping and his eyes, slightly narrow in disbelief.
"An owl? Cup of tea? Are you ill?"
I shook my head instantly. "No, no I'm not. It was just a 'maybe' Blaise. We don't know. Maybe owls these days do that." I reasoned, hoping to sound sane this time.
He nodded slowly although still looking at me in confusion. He smiled, changing the subject to my pleasure.
"So, how was your Christmas, Draco?"
I shrugged, "Fine."
His brows furrowed, "Fine?"
"Well," I paused then scratched the side of my head. "It was a bit more than fine really."
"Okay." He nodded. "So, what did you do?"
I gulped. I wouldn't dare tell him I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with Potter and Weasley for 14 days and I played Quidditch with them, the twins, Granger, Lovegood and Weaslette. It'd be a very long explanation. And I wouldn't tell him I called Weaslette by her name. And I wouldn't tell him I received gifts from my supposed enemy. And I wouldn't tell him that I learned a muggle song from Granger. And I wouldn't tell him that I enjoyed spending my time with them...Ever...I would never admit that to anybody. I hardly even admitted it to myself.
The train signaled it was leaving. Zabini shifted expression from amusement to hurry. "See ya, Draco. I have to say goodbye to mummy."
I nodded, "Okay. Send my regards to Mrs. Zabini."
"Sure thing," He ran away without looking back and I climbed inside the train too.
...
I walked straight to the Slytherin compartment. It was, after all, my home here in the train. But the sad thing now was, the little light of the dark compartment was missing...currently losing her own brightness while fighting for survival in St. Mungo's.
I sighed sadly.
I wished Pansy was fine...I wished...I wished she'd come back... I wished all this misery ended...I promised, even if I had to stop bullying, I'd do that; just send her back to me.
I slid the compartment door open and found a very chaotic hell of a home. All Slytherins were gathered in the middle, watching something 'interesting'. I stretched my neck to see what the ruckus was all about.
It wasn't hard to see through the heads since I was proudly tall. But I wish I wasn't...what I saw was another wreck in my life. Once again, Crabbe and Goyle were in a physical fight. And I couldn't bear seeing them crush all the possibilities of returning back to being friends. The bricks of my so called home had given up, too.
No light. No bricks. Could I still call it a home?
I guess not anymore. I sighed in pain and slowly slid the door close once again.
This was not the place I used to love. It was washed away by a very strong storm. And I couldn't rebuild it...I don't know how.
I turned around and was surprised to see a short brunette girl standing close behind me. I recognized her immediately, having a little resemblance of her sister, Daphne, which were my classmate and one of Pansy's close friends.
She smiled at me. "Hi, Draco," Astoria Greengrass greeted me. She was 2 years younger than me and was in her 4th year.
Well, to be honest, she was more attractive than Daphne. She looked a bit of the shy type unlike Daphne who was a talkative bitch who annoyed me to the highest level most of the time.
"Hey," I replied simply.
"Aren't you going inside?" she asked me, while giving out the best and sweetest smile she could give.
I shook my head, hopelessly.
"Why?" she asked, her expression turning into a questioning stare.
"Well..." I started. I looked up to her and saw a hint of concern on her face. Why was she this caring? I sighed. I thought nothing was wrong with telling her anyway, she was a Slytherin too. "With Crabbe and Goyle wrestling and trying to kill each other, I'd rather not."
Her face shifted into an apologetic one. She looked so naive and young...at least she was luckier than me... she was not going into some huge problem in her life. She was carefree and the world seemed to be on her side.
"Where are you staying, then?" she asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know." I said truthfully.
"Just stay here, Draco. You belong here with us." she said, reaching and patting my shoulder encouragingly.
I stared at her hand on my shoulder. I was taken aback by her action. Was she this feely-touchy...? If she wasn't a Slytherin, I would've slapped her on the face for touching me when we were nothing near to close companions and threw her out the train.
I awkwardly smiled, "I don't think I'm going to like to stay on a compartment with two wild trolls trying to murder each other." I glanced at the compartment and back to her. "I belong here, yes. But I'm going to come back here, only if they come back too."
She considered this for a moment and nodded in defeat. "So where are you staying, then?" she asked again.
I stopped shortly at her question. Yeah, where was I supposed to stay now? 'Oh, I think I found the perfect place.' I spent my ride in the prefect compartment the last time...it wouldn't be bad to stay there again.
"In the prefect's compartment." I said.
Her forehead creased, "It's closed, Draco."
Now, it was my forehead's turn to crease. "Why?" I asked in surprise.
"Because there will be no need to do prefect's duties." she answered.
So where was I to stay then? Ugh. I knew it. The world just hated me so much.
"Well, then. I'm going to find for an empty compartment." I said, though I didn't really think there was still any compartment free. But, I had to try looking for some, because I really don't plan on staying here in the cursed compartment of the Slytherins.
She opened her mouth to say something but I smiled and walked passed her before she could say anything more. I don't like to be rude to her since all she showed me was concern. But she really was starting to get irritating. Asking me questions she had no business with...and looking at me with...twinkling eyes? Well, looking at me a little scary, that was it. She seemed to have motive...I just couldn't figure out what.
Well, she was just as mysterious and bothering as her sister. She really was a Greengrass, no denying the fact.
I walked and walked not really knowing where to stay. I kept on glancing at each compartment I passed, looking for a place to stay. But, I always ended up dismayed. Every compartment was full. Seemed like students really liked occupying every room.
I was losing hope in finding for a place to stay as I was nearing the front part of the train. Could I just sit with the driver? I was going to try that, then...no other choice. Wait, did this thing have a driver, in the first place?
I saw the trolley of sweets stopping on a compartment. Someone slid the door open and to my disgust, Weasley came running out, bringing a handful of Knuts -he was that poor? No galleons at all? Or even just Sickles?- and stared at the trolley, awestricken, with bulging eyes and mouth wide open you could almost see every single part of his nauseating mouth. And he was practically drooling over the food in front of him.
"One box of Every Flavor Beans, and Chocolate frogs, and Éclairs, and Bursting Gums, and Mallows, and Exploding Chewy Toffees and-and the..." he trailed off, noticing I was watching every single move he was doing.
He glared at me. "And what are you doing here, ferret?"
I frowned at him, "The last time I checked, there was no law stating a certain Draco Malfoy cannot step on this part of the train where the great freckle-face, sweets-on-the-trolley addict stays. So, whether you like it or not, I can go wherever I want, Weasley." I drawled. "You don't own this hallway so stop acting like you do."
He growled. "Shut up, Malfoy."
"Did you say 'Malfoy'?" I heard Granger's voice and not so long after, saw her head popping out of the compartment. She looked at my direction and beamed. She went out of their compartment and ran to me.
"Hi, Draco!" she said, grinning.
"Hi." I smiled.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, still grinning.
"I-" I was cut-off by Weaslette's greeting.
"Hi, Malfoy!" she said, running to Granger's side.
"Hey," I nodded at her.
Potter emerged out of the compartment too, and stood beside his still glaring friend, Weasel.
"Are you gonna buy, young man, or are you cancelling your orders?" the old witch who was still waiting for Weasley, finally spoke with a hint of irritation.
"No. I lost my appetite." he said, glaring daggers at me. "Thanks to a ferret here."
"Welcome." I said dryly.
The old witch pushed her trolley away, muttering something under her breath.
"So, which monsoon brought you here, Malfoy?" Weaslette asked me, no hint of malice at all. I think she might have grown some friendly feelings towards me since we were on the same team when we played Quidditch.
I shrugged, "Looking for a place to stay."
"Oh, so you need a map to locate which gate of hell you belong?" Weasley asked, bitterly.
Weaslette and Granger both looked at him warningly. "Shut up, Ron." they said in unison.
I smirked at him and Potter. Seemed like the ladies were on my side...tsk tsk tsk. At least there was a little something good happening to me. Boo, Potter. Boo, Weasley.
They glared at me more and I couldn't help but grin at the two girls, wanting to annoy the other two much more.
"You can stay with us." Granger said, smiling sweetly again.
"We're full." Potter and Weasley said in unison.
Weaslette turned her head towards her brother and boyfriend. "Oh, please, we're not full. And even with Malfoy around, we're still not. So, sod off."
Weasley and Potter were taken aback by Weaslette's remark. They huffed and crossed their arms angrily. They stomped inside the compartment, both cursing loudly.
"I don't think that's a good idea. In case it isn't obvious, I'm clearly not welcome." I said.
"Oh, come on, Malfoy. You don't want to be standing the whole time, do you?" Granger asked me.
I thought of it for a moment but before I could even agree, Granger was already grabbing me inside with Weaslette tailing behind us.
A/N: so, how was it? Please REVIEW?