Chapter II
It´s been a week since the last time I talked with Granger. We still see each other during classes, or in the halls, and that`s it. I don`t talk with anyone, and even if I wanted to, people don`t even come close to me. I have to say that it was good at the beginning, all the silence, no one to disturb me, but it gets a little annoying after some time.
The problem with too much peace, is that you have too much time to think, and considering that the majority of the things I have done, I regret, silence is pissing me off. Today the school is almost empty, the students are gone, too excited doing things in Hogsmead.
And if my humor wasn`t good before, now it`s even worst. When Hogwarts is full of people is more easy not to think about the war, or not to think too much. There is always someone you could look at for some fun, that is, if they don`t see me doing it, because if they do, they go away.
Back to the first year I would like people to don`t be in my way, but now it`s one hell of a annoyance. The only good think about the empty school, is that I can fly. It`s been a long time since I used a broom. The Quidditch field was cold and silent. The whole school has been reconstructed, and here I finally could fell like before, at easy.
I was there for one hour, it`s not every day that I can fly since I didn`t dare put my name for the team. When I finely could stand in the broom, the sound of someone clapping made me lost balance and go straight to the ground. That`s when I heard footsteps in the snow and looked up to see the smiling face of Granger.
-That was one hell of a fall.
-What do you want?
This is just my luck to have that bibliophilia here. And here goes my relaxing time flying.
-The headmistress want to see you.
-Why?
-Don`t know.
-Uow! That`s a first!
-Very funny.
So I got my broom and we headed to the castle, in silence. I still don`t understand how she can talk so easily with me, but after just having teachers speaking with you for two months, I am not complaining. We were now at the door and Granger said the password.
-Dumbledore.
There was a little creak and it opened. The headmistress was sitting in her chair, and one of the first things I noticed when we entered in the room, was a big frame of Dumbledore just behind McGonagall. He was smiling, and his eyes were giving that irritant felling that he knew something you did not.
Granger greeted the two, and then another frame in the right. That`s when I noticed Snape glancing at me. I didn`t speak. I did not wanted to be there, not in the same place that this two were. I was felling even more guilty than ever. And that was the time the headmistress choose to speak.
-Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy. I think that the both of you are wondering what you`re doing here. I was just having a little talk with Professor Dumbledore and Snape about some of the school affairs, and the three of us come to a conclusion. I think that you two have notice that we don`t have Heads yet, and it`s about it that I called the both of you.
She gave me a pointed look and that`s when it clicked. She is not seriously expecting this, is she? I know that gryffindors are a little crazy and all, but this is too much. Granger was quiet the whole time, and Dumbledore was looking like a kid watching a play. I was beginning to get really annoyed.
-You are not seriously expecting me to be Head Boy, are you? Because that is not possible. I was expecting something like that to occur with Granger, but me? You are not on your right mind.
-Draco!
-Draco!
Granger and Snape spoke at the same time. It`s still strange to see she speaking my name, but I was more focused in the witch in front of me. She leaned against the chair and took a breath, before slowly talking again.
-Mr. Malfoy that was a decision made by the three of us. Because of the reconstruction and all we still don`t have chosen anyone, but it`s time. .We all know that you did some bad things in the past, quite a lot actually, but we think that you can do a good job. And I know that Miss Granger will help with anything that she can, am I right Miss Granger?
-Yes.
Granger`s response was so slow that you could clearly hear every letter of the word, and she was now looking at McGonagall like she had gone crazy. Something that I myself was wondering. Snape made a sound, like he wanted some attention and we all looked in his direction.
-It is quite simple Draco. You had good grades before everything happened. I am not saying that this is the only thing we considered to choose you, but because we know that things can be difficult. But if you put some effort you can change things. Besides it`s better you than some Hufflepuff.
-Professor Snape…
-It`s just the truth McGonagall.
The head mistress gave Snape a look, and after returned her glance to me and Granger.
-So…. What the two of you think?
Granger slowly expired, glanced at me one time and then with a calm voice responded:
-I don`t fully understand what you three are trying to do, but if I can help I will. There are some things that will never be forgotten, but if we want to make this place a better one, we have to let the past be in the past. If you could excuse me…
She looked one more time at the professors and then to the headmistress, before stopping and extending a hand to me. I was taken aback by that and looked to her hand, and then her face, before slowly grabbing her offer of peace. After that she turned and got out. I was still looking at the door when suddenly Dumbledore talked for the first time, and that`s why I almost jumped of fright.
-It`s been a long time Draco. I hope you`re good. How`s Narcissa?
-Still trying to adapt, after the whole thing with my father.
-I see. And you?
-I`m not quite sure yet.
He paused at that, and then his face changed. It was like he was trying to think about something to say, but decided against it. After that he looked in my eyes, it was so intense that I was beginning to be uncomfortable, or more uncomfortable than I already was.
-It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities, Draco. Keep that in mind.
-I will.
McGonagall got up and came to my left. She was expecting an answer, an idiot could see that just for her face, and she wanted a "yes". I was already going to say "no", but the fact that the three were looking directly at me, and I was alone, made me think of not being so blunt.
-Sorry headmistress, but I can´t answer right now. Can I come tomorrow? I need some time to think.
-Of course.
-Thank you. I should go now.
When I was going to the stairs, I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn`t notice Granger sitting there. I was in the middle of the way when she called.
-What have they talked to you that made you so thoughtful? And thanks for ignoring me.
-Nothing. Sorry about that.
She stopped smirking and a surprised look came into her face.
-That is the first time I hear that from you. Are you sure that you`re fine?
She was beginning to get on my nerves. Here am I trying to be civil with her and apologizing and she is like that? I know that I was an idiot with her my wholly life, but I am not in the mood to listen to her sarcasm. She might have noticed that my face wasn`t the more friendly and stopped. We were in the middle of the stairs standing, glancing at one another.
-So…. What have you answered?
-Nothing at the moment, told McGonagall that I was going to talk to her tomorrow. But don`t worry, I am going to say "no".
-Why?
That took me by surprise. Why? How can she ask me something like that? Have she gone dumb or something?
-Are you crazy too? Of course I can`t say "yes".
-No I am not crazy jerk, I just want to know why would you say "no". I already said that I would help, and that I agreed. You are the kind of guy that likes attention, so I don`t see why not.
-Yes, I was the kind of guy that liked attention. But if you already don`t know, everybody is afraid of me, plus they fear me. People can`t even look me in the eyes for more than two seconds, and before you say something about the fact that in the past I liked it, know that I don`t anymore. I just want to be away from that house and all the memories that it brings back and try to forget them. I just want to be normal and go out again without scarring anyone.
It wasn`t meant to be so long, and I certainly didn`t want to tell her that all, but I was so tired of people judging me that it just came. She was looking at me with a face that I don't know how to describe, she wasn't angry, it was more like if she was thinking.
-I have then too.
-What?
-The memories. Your house, the war, you.
That is one of the worst's. I still hear her screaming in the floor while Bellatrix was cutting her. I couldn`t sleep for days. What am I doing? It`s pathetic, that girl had gone far worse than me and look at her, she`s going, doing her things while I am here rehashing the past. I am pathetic.
-I know what you went through. I am not saying that it wasn`t terrible, and that I am the victim, because I am not. My father made me do it, yes. But I could have done something, anything. And it`s because of that that I can`t do this, cause I am a coward. I know it won`t change anything, but I am really sorry for what I have done to you and-
That was the moment she resolved that would be good to punch me in the face, again.
-What the hell was that for?!
-Now I accept your apology.
My nose was bleeding, and it hurts like hell. She really has to stop doing that, I don't think the spells will fix this after too many times. Dammit, this girl sure can punch! I was leaning in the wall with my hands in my nose trying to stop the bleeding, but it wasn`t working too much.
-Stop saying that you could have done something. The past is in the past, are you going to be living your wholly life just thinking what could have been if you had not listened to your father? Please, that won`t change anything. If you want to be normal, not like you were before, cause that wasn`t normal, but a good person, change things now. Stop running away of the trouble. You say you`re coward, and I have to agree, but if you don`t want to be like this anymore, change. Everyone can change. And that is the first step you have to take.
-It´s easy for you to say Granger, everyone likes you.
-Hermione.
-What?
-Hermione. That`s my name, stop calling me Granger, it gets on my nerves. Now let`s bring you to Madam Pomfrey so she can fix this, I am not with my wand right now.
I was still trying to understand everything that was going on, so I let her drag me to the infirmary. That was quite the day for all the peace that I was having.