"Hey Draco, it looks like you've bee--" started Nott.
"I'd advise you to refrain from speaking with me." Draco growled. He collapsed onto the sleek coach in front of the fireplace; propping his elbows on his knees. Unless you want to be seriously injured.
Obviously, that's exactly what Nott wanted. He was doing a wonderful job at achieving that end. "What's the matter? Can't stand your little boyfriend kissing up to another Slytherin?"
"SHUT THE HELL UP, NOTT!" Draco fumed.
"Well, wel--"
But before Nott could even finish the last bit of 'well', that slipped so sickeningly off of his tongue, Draco had stood up, fuming with secreted fury, and drawn his wand out against Nott's throat. "I told you to not talk to me." Draco warned.
That's when all the attention was drawn back on him. It was no longer detestation or abhorrence, like he had seen on his way inside, but it was apprehension and surprise. And he didn't mind one bit at all. If Nott wanted to get hurt, Draco would have no trouble in fulfilling his desire. Stepping forward, Nott followed by taking a step back. Other Slytherins moved out of the way, not knowing if they should help or just watch from the sidelines.
"You know, Draco… I was just kidding…" Nott laughed nervously.
"Kidding. I'm sure you were." Draco responded darkly.
"What's gotten into you? I mean… why are you caring about what's been--"
"BECAUSE I'M INVOLVED, YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Draco yelled. The wand pressed deeper into Nott's throat, which made the smaller boy choke.
"He doesn't like you… Draco…" Nott whispered.
"Would you like to bet your life on that?" The pale Slytherin questioned angrily.
Nott closed his eyes, starting to mutter softly under his breath, as if praying to some imaginary god to strike down upon the offending Slytherin. Draco merely rolled his eyes and remained where he was standing.
"I'd like to thank you for making my life a living hell, for making Harry's life a living hell, and for continuing to bloody bring it up," Draco hissed, "When we've done nothing to you."
"You've done plenty," Nott finally choked out. His eyes were still closed. To be honest, Draco was stunned that this boy was still courageous enough to speak to him like this.
"Like what?" Draco spat.
"Treating me, or well, more like the rest of us, like you do. Always bossing us around like you're better than everyone else."
Draco glared. However, the skill to find some sort of smart remark to defend himself had failed him. It was true, he had to admit. But what in the bloody hell did this have to do with Harry? And why did they even bother to bring this up now out of all the countless times they could have?
"You think you can get away with everything because of your father. But I don't even think your father cares about you anymore. After all, he is lo--"
"My father has nothing to do with Harry," Draco hissed, "You doing things to him won't make me stop doing these things to everyone else."
"But you've stopped doing them ever since the beginning of this year! And that's when you were acting weird!"
"SO WHAT!" Draco shouted. "YOU ALL HAVE BLOODY PROBLEMS!"
Then, Draco muttered a quick hex and Nott was seen sprawling across the floor, hitting his back against the opposite wall. The consequences of his actions weren't even thought of at that moment, and he went marching forward, where Nott was lying, whimpering, on the floor.
"Get away from me, Draco," Nott muttered desolately.
But Draco didn't listen. He stopped a foot away from the boy lying on the floor, glaring icily down on him. By now, the group in the common room had scattered. Most of them went up to their dorms, others went running out of the common room to get help from Snape, or someone of the like. Draco didn't pay any heed to that.
"Why should I get away from you? You think it's fun to ruin someone else's life just because they happen to have a personality different from yours!"
"Get away," Nott cautioned, "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"You've gotten yourself into this!"
"No."
"NO WHAT!"
Draco stepped forward, his temper clearly moving ahead of him. He pointed his wand straight at Nott's chest, and muttered a spell that sent him crushing back into the wall again. The other's boys head drooped, and a loud groan of pain was heard.
"Your mother won't be too happy to hear about this, Draco." Nott managed to mutter; his voice was hardly perceptible.
"My mother?" Draco asked dangerously, his eyes narrowing. "What are you saying?"
"Someone had to let her know what was going on with you."
Draco was quiet for a few seconds, before he wavered and took a step backwards. "You're the one who contacted my mother?" He asked softly.
Nott lifted his head, a bit of blood dripping down from somewhere near his ear. He grimaced as he attempted a smirk. Draco was staring at him in disbelief. So Nott was the one that had informed his mother of what was going on with him. And now this malevolent little prick was going to go off and tell her about this too.
"Yes," Nott replied complacently.
"You realize that I'm probably going to bloody DIE THIS CHRISTMAS BREAK!" Draco roared, furious with himself and the other boy. The idea of what was most likely going to happen to him soon was rising within him, when he didn't even want to think of it. He knew the letter was a very obvious clue as to what awaited him at home. Either a very serious punishment… or…
"You'll be killed?" Nott asked, almost looking the same amount of smug as he did before. But he also looked a bit wary; he hadn't known that small fact.
Draco didn't answer. His eyes were starting to burn again, and his hands were shaking terribly. With one swift swipe of his wand, he sent a heavy schoolbook that was resting on the table nearby, flying across the room, striking Nott in the chest. There was a brief 'oof' where the air had been knocked out of the Slytherin, and Draco rushed out of the common room without another second to waste on watching.
His life felt like it had been shattered in a matter of minutes.