There's a window

that lets out light

but hides the shadows

of an empty room

then it breaks

and the shattered glass doesn't hurt

anyone

but the one window

but the greatest

sin committed

is when that window is

closed.

permanently.

I sighed. My unoccupied hand unconsciously stroked the chain that held the lion pendant. It had been a tough two days evading questions about my necklace, and I wasn't looking foward to a certain meeting session that was scheduled for tonight. It was even worse sitting at the table with a silent, fuming, snappish Ron, strained Harry, an overwrought Ginny, and a silent Alexandra. I knew it was bad when Alexandra, a chatterbox, was silent. I had finally broken the silence with,

"Boys." I spat all the disgust I could into that word. Harry was startled, and Ron, as taciturn as he was, fell off the bench (later he claimed that I had startled him out of his 'reverie'). Alexandra gasped, wide eyed, and Ginny merely grinned. "Guys, bloody hell just get over it. You act like Malfoy is the most evil git in the world. That's old news you gits. Grow up and act like the sixteen year olds you are. Better than this. Think about it." Getting up, and gathering my books, I shot a disdainful look over my shoulder. "And maybe Malfoy is a better git than you guys think he is." At their gaping fish faces, I turned on my heel, running out of the great hall into...speak of the devil. Before I could think of a nasty remark, he started without his usual sneer and malice,

"I heard that. I don't whether to be insulted, or flattered." I felt the blood rush to my cheeks as the memory flared. Malfoy drew a deep breath and as emotions ran in circles on his face, he looked away. He looked so vulnerable at the moment, doubt entered my mind if he was really an evil git. He looked just like a lost little boy. An overwhelming desire came over me just to hug him. Instead, I patted him on the arm and as a tingling flashed up my hand, he looked up startled.

"Well, Malfoy, let's hope that you don't prove me wrong." His eyes flashed, looking remarkable like Harry at that moment before he grinned (what???) and said,

"I can't get predictable Granger...." He turned walked away, replacing that gorgeous grin with his usual almost-bored look. Oh bloody badgers...I was falling for Malfoy. I knew it from my still-tingling hand. Immediately, his looks of hatred, his spat, "Mudblood!", and that perfected arrogant look flashed through my head. Was it possible that I could give him a chance? I thought of what I had written earlier. Was I pushing away all I cared about, even people, and emotions? Was I slowly turning into a wooden doll...devoid of emotion. Almost like a robot in my motions and decisions.

I DON'T WANT THAT!

I almost reeled from the certainty of that thought. The faces of the people I cared about whirled in my head. Alexandra, with all her mischievous looks, long black Asian hair, but the English freckles on her face. How her face lit up when someone said something funny, and her laugh that made it sound like that was the first time she'd heard it. Her remarkable patience, her chattering, her originality. Unbidden, Malfoy's face came into my mind.

He had the silky blonde hair, the je ne sais quoi look, pain deep in those deep grey eyes, arrogant facade, his teasing tone from only a few minutes before, and those emotions...one had almost been regret. Did he deserve this?

Then what Harry had said only a year ago, "People who are evil are rotten throughout. Like a rotten apple. But the most ugly apple could be the one that makes you drool when it's cut open and you see the perfect fruit. 'Mione, if people judged people by their looks, their facades, if books were judged by covers, then nothing, nothing, would ever bind them to their destiny. And chance. And, the gift of Mercy. Everyone, (excepting Voldemort) deserves mercy. But that's what my mother thought. She gave her life for me....mercy. No one can take away your hopes and dreams...." Harry's green eyes, his giving heart, his consciousness, his love for his friends (and Alexandra), his passion, and determination buoyed me up the stairs leading to the Gryffindor common room.

As I stepped through the portrait, Ginny, with her fiery temper, and sense to protect the smallest came flashing into my mind. She was so like her compassionate, older brothers, and her family, who protected each other with love and justice. Ron and his temper had made him rash, but his courage and loyalty would never waver when the toughest time came. For a true moment, I loved my friends so much, it hurt to see their gaping fish faces in my mind now.

I went flying down the stairs, straight into the arms of Malfoy. I struggled to free myself, pushing away at him, exclaiming,

"Honestly Malfoy! I'm in a hurry."

"Really? Where? To beg your prat friends for forgiveness? Tough for them. They have to live with their decisions, just as everyone else does. Maybe, just maybe, I may not be who I am. Did you or any others think of that before labeling me as the rich, self-absorbed, git?" His face, angular and flushed, resumed its disdainful look. "What would I want to do with the opinions of mudbloods and muggle lovers though? Isn't it enough I have to breathe the same air as them?" As he was turning away, my blood built, and I grabbed his shoulder. When he turned around startled, I released the clip that was holding back my anger, and more importantly, my clenched fist. And for the third time in my life, I punched Malfoy.

"Mudbloods may not be pure....but we have pride too!" I whirled, and stalked down the hall. I heard him mutter almost intelligibly,

"And can pack a punch too." Louder, he said, "See you tonight Granger!" Oh hell. Where did the day go. I merely gave him one last look over my shoulder before slamming the Gryffindor portrait.

Two hours before the meeting

What had I been thinking? This is the most important meeting for Malfoy and I to settle our differences. Then it was a minute, then two, then He stepped through the library door scanning the room for me. As his eyes settled on me, triumphantly, I gave him my most haughty look. What was that prat thinking when he had insulted me to my face? Striding towards me, he gestured to the room in the back. I shook my head. He gave a shrug and continued.

When I slammed the door open of that room, my eyes widened in surprise.

"Dinner awaits you my fair lady." What? Malfoy bowed me into the room. The candles that had first captured my attention were sparkling off the silverware and champagne glasses that occupied the table. On the table were white ceramic plates with gold filigree, and dishes upon dishes of delicacies. The tablecloth was an ornate woven gold, and the fireplace crackled merrily in the fireplace. As Malfoy pulled out the chair for me he glanced at my expression, chuckled, and said, "Surprise." He was totally surprised when I walked up to him and stabbed him in the chest with my finger.

"What the hell is going on Malfoy?" He answered nonchalantly,

"Dinner."

"What do you think you're doing? WHO do you think you are?" My anger was back now. He retorted somewhat heatedly,

"I'm Draco, if you would kindly call me that. And I'm giving you a present. Like all the other one's." His hand gestured to the necklace. I stood stock still that that. Hidden pieces of snatched bits of looks, conversations, the parchment scrap, the note. They all crumbled up into the serious face of Malfoy. Was it possible. Could he care?

"Why?" I whispered. "All those years, and time, and injuries..." He winced at that. I said more softly, "When?"

Looking totally uncomfortable, and unbelievably like an anxious, gawky, shy boy who just asked a girl out, he answered,

"I....when you first punched me, it felt like I actually deserved that. That's when I asked what the hell I was doing. What had you done to me? I couldn't stop thinking about it. But now, I guess that I'm different." He looked up. Almost shyly, he said, "You know, your going to start collecting things in your mouth if it keeps hanging open like that." I snapped it shut. Sighing, I slumped into the nearest chair (the one he had pulled out earlier) and smiled.

"Well, what's done is done. No point in wasting the food." Grinning, he pushed his hair out of his eyes and said,

"What first? The pheasant or salad?" Pointing to the salad, we started our meal.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" A flying stool flew past Wormtail as he shuffled quickly out of the room. "Where in the hell is Malfoy???? His son is promised to me now!!!! I Despise tardiness." From the quickly retreating back of Wormtail came the thought,

'I guess even the most powerful wizards go through tantrums...' An owl flew in through the almost invisible fissure. Wormtail glanced up, released the letter, took the owl back to the entrance and tethered it to the perch. He called,

"Milord a message: 'It is harder to release Draco from the one who controls Hogwarts. I will come with my boy as soon as I can. However, there is good news. -Lucius' A newspaper clipping fluttered out of the envelope. Wormtail picked it up and started to smile.

To the definitely empty auditorium:

And the plot thickens.....Somewhat. It's about time that Draco admitted it...

-whereintheworldaremyshoes

Next to come: What do they do next? And Peeves discovers a rat.