House: Hufflepuff
Category: Drabble
Prompt: "Mirror of Erised [object]"
Word Count: 452
Title: Erised Backwards Doesn't Hurt Less
Disclaimer: I didn't write Harry Potter, guys. That would be JK Rowling you're looking for.
~Blue Rose
Draco couldn't sleep. He had been staring at the ceiling for the past hour, his eyes refusing to close. After another fifteen minutes, Draco sighed and sat up, deeming his quest for sleep pointless; he obviously wasn't going to get any sleep. His father's latest letter left him feeling angry and upset.
He pushed the covers back from his bed, glancing around at the other first years in the room. No one stirred when Draco stepped lightly out of bed and put on his slippers. He was just learning how to cast a warming charm, and the floors were freezing.
He lit his wand with a whispered lumos before silently creeping out of the dorm room and the common room. He walked along the halls, clad in his silk silver and green pajamas.
He shivered, drawing his arms around him. He didn't have a destination in mind, but just walked, letting Hogwarts take him where she would.
Forty-five minutes, seven moving staircases, three wrong turns that led to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and a close call with Filch later, Draco came to a door. There was nothing special about it, but he could hear quiet sobs echoing from the other side.
Draco hesitantly stepped forward and pushed the door open, and thankfully it didn't creak.
He went inside the room, where a large mirror stood in the center. The cries were louder, but Draco didn't see anything.
"Hello?" His voice echoed into the moonlit room and the weeping stopped immediately. He warily observed his surroundings. A flash in the mirror caught his attention.
He walked up to it, hearing a scuffling to his left, but he was too distracted by what he saw in the mirror.
It was him, standing with his father. Lucius had his hand rested proudly on Draco's shoulder. Narcissa stood beside the pair, smiling lovingly down at Draco. He was older, wearing a prefect badge and holding the Quidditch Cup, smirking.
Draco knelt before the mirror, at a loss for words. He gaped, his father's words echoing in his head.
You were only ever a Malfoy in blood.
You disappoint me.
You are a disgrace.
I can't stand to look at you.
Were you even thinking?
Draco felt the tears start to fall. He brought up his hand and touched the prefect badge on mirror-Draco's robes.
"I'm so sorry, Father," Draco whispered thickly.
He looked up to read the words "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi." He stared blankly for a second before realizing, "Erised is desire spelled backwards. Of course." It didn't make it hurt any less, though.
He didn't notice the person next to him, hidden under an invisibility cloak, start to cry again.