.
You're Not Alone
Draco watched as Ginny walked down tha corridor, joking and laughing with Harry and Ron, he couldn't believe the girl was so oblivious to what was going on around her. After all she was supposed to be Hermione's best friend, she claimed to be at the least and Ron and Harry did the same. Yet when she was hurt and depressed it hadn't been Ginny, Harry or Ron she had turned to. It had been Draco....Draco Malfoy...hated enemy of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, branded evil by Ginny yet the only person Hermione could confide in. Not that it was simply one way, he trusted her entirely and often spilt out his heart to her about what had happened to him. They helped each other.
"So where's Hermione got to?", Harry asked, coming within earshot of Draco.
"Dunno, probably stressing over some boy in her class that fancies her but isn't quite in the top 90% of the class", Ron joked heartlessly. Draco scowled, she didn't need that kind of treatment now, she need herfriends around her.
"Oh you mean he only got 89.9%...it's appalling isn't it?", Harry laughed, Draco felt anger pound in his head as he watched these people who called themselves Hermione's 'friends' laugh at her expense. He had to say something...he couldn't let them talk about her like this. He stepped out from where he was standing and stood in front of the trio.
"Oh great, what do you want Malfoy...you seem to follow us everywhere", Harry sneered, Draco stood his ground, trying to formulate in his head what he wanted to say but for once he was tongue tied.
"If you've got something to say then say it.....oh are you looking for Hermione cos she ain't interested mate.....you're not a genius yet", Ron jeered. The three laughed again and Draco was thrown out of his stupor.
"Shut your mouth Weasley", he growled, "She deserves more respect than that".
"Oooh....I think Malfoy's got a crush", Ron mocked.
"Aw what a cute couple", Ginny joined in for the first time in the conversation and Draco turned on her.
"You're as pathetic as them...you call yourselves her friends? You couldn't care less how she felt...you know she should be able to confide in you...not come to me everytime she needs to talk but I can see why she wouldn't want to be anywhere near you", Draco snarled. Harry stepped forward and invaded Draco's personal space.
"What did you say? Hermione would never talk to you...she thinks you're scum like we do", he spat. Draco held his head high.
"Then how come you don't know where she is?", Draco demanded, he turned his eyes to Ginny and continued, "She's down at the old boathouse, you really need to talk to her". Harry didn't take to kindly to this and roughly pushed Draco's shoulder. Draco stumbled a few steps to regain his footing.
"Watch your mouth Malfoy...you can't tell us how to deal with our friends you know", Harry threatened, stepping closer to Draco and pushing him again, this time harder. Draco let his anger take control and his fist pounded into Harry's face drawing blood. Harry gingerly touched his bleeding nose and let his fist fly as well, it caught Draco across the side of his head and sent him tumbling off balance. Ron took that moment to join in and pushed Draco backwards. Everything suddenly ran in slow motion as Draco hit the bannister and began to fall backwards..a few Slitherins dived to try and grab their friend but no-one could reach him. He toppled backwards over the creamy railings and plummeted headfirst to the concrete below. Everyone crowded around the railings and stared in horror at the unmoving form of Draco beneath them in a pool of swirling blood.
"What's going on her?", McGonagall demanded, pushing her way through the crowd and peering over the edge, her eyes flared in anger and she screamed,
"Someone run and get the nurse, and call a doctor out". She quickly dispersed the group, all the while telling them she was going to get to the bottom of this and someone was going to pay.
"Oh my God Ron", Ginny hissed as soon as they were out of earshot, "What have you done? What I he dies?". Ron tried his best to look casual and calm but he fidgeted nervously with his sleeve.
"What have I done? What about Harry? He was pushing Draco around as well", Ron mumbled.
"The git deserved it", Harry mumbled, "He should have kept his mouth shut". Ginny suddenyl remembered what Draco had said to her. That Hermione was down by the boathouse. She made her excuses and ran down to the lakeside, Hermione was sat just inside the doorway, idly throwing twigs into the lake.
"Hermione...", Ginny started, hoping her voice wasn't shaking too much. Hermione looked up and Ginny knew that her friend could read the fear in Ginny's eyes.
"What's happened?", Hermione demanded. Ginny shook her head.
"It's nothing...I mean there was a scuffle and Draco got pushed off the balcony but...", Hermione was on her feet in an instant.
"Draco got pushed off the balcony...by who", she demanded, the fear flashing in her eyes could not be disguised. Ginny couldn't form words, Hermione looked at her for a second before running up to the school with speed Ginny had never seen her display before.