She gave me a small, sad smile as she reached for my arm. She clasped her hand to my arm and led me out of the room and down the hall. She peered into another classroom and then glanced down the hall in both directions before gently pulling me inside.
"Sit. It's not an order, more of a harsh request. I'm not going to put up with your antics so don't even think about trying anything on me."
She stood in front of me, hand on her hip, an eyebrow raised and sheer determination in her eyes—you'd be a fool to cross her. I merely nodded and sat atop the table closest to me.
"She never blamed you. She knew what was going to happen. She was proud to have met the end that she did. She died for the only person she ever loved."
I could see a sheen of tears in her eyes as she spoke to me in a tone so gentle; it must be a woman thing, having such soft voices at times. I fidgeted with my hands—nervous habit.
"Do you honestly think she wants to see you like this? All morose and afraid to live?"
I hardened my stare at her.
"I am not afraid to live."
She merely smirked at me; her gentle side was gone now. She had touched a nerve—exactly what she had wanted.
"I am not a project, Granger. Don't even think of it."
She laughed, laughed a bitter laugh in my face.
"I don't see you as one, Malfoy, merely a person who has a rather massive dispute with life. You're not the only person to lose a parent, a loved one. I haven't seen my parents in two years; I'm not even sure if they're still alive. Or if they want anything to do with me, their memories were restored so they know what I did to them. But that's besides the point, I'm not here for me, I'm here for you."
She was not going to get through my barriers; they were there for a reason.
"I don't want your pity."
"You never had it."
That stung more than it should have.
"What do you want then?"
She smiled a genuine smile. One she offered to Weasley and Potter.
"Your mother asked me to do something for her, a last request if you will."
"You never knew my mother, why would she ask you of all people to fulfill a last request?"
I could feel my chest tightening—I couldn't break down in front of her, I just couldn't. She took a step closer to me, her hand reaching out towards my face, a gentle caress to my cheek.
"She had someone trail me one summer. She was intrigued how such a young girl, with muggle parents, could be so talented, so intelligent. Her interest changed when she gained knowledge of how I treated Harry and Ron. She was fascinated in the relationship the three of us held. She wrote to me, quite a lot actually."
I let out a choked gasp.
"She, she told me she cared a great deal about you and that she knew, she knew what was to come. She wanted someone on the other side to care for you. Severus, he can only do so much. They made an Unbreakable Vow to protect you. She knew the pride your father held and passed on to you would hinder both of you. She also knew you wanted no part in the war, she didn't want you to have a part either."
She climbed atop the table across from me.
"What did she ask you to do?"
She smiled again.
"You have her patience."
I couldn't help the small twitch of my lips, an almost smile.
"She wants me to care for you, look after you. I've tried all semester to approach you, yet you let no one near you. No one deserves to be that lonely, no one."
"Why would she ask that of you? She knew our history, she knew who you were."
She merely rolled her eyes, most often how she did with her two friends.
"Honestly, she loved you, she still loves you, she wants you to be happy. You deserve to be happy."
"What do you have to do with my being happy?"
She hopped down and stared at me. She walked over to the door and glanced back at me.
"I know what your mother saw in you, she wants me to help you see it too. I'm going to lunch; do you want to sit with me? No one will question it; no one will hurt you either. You don't even have to speak."
I merely nodded and got up to follow her. She didn't speak to me on the walk down to the Great Hall, merely a companionable silence. She walked with an air of self-assurance. I glanced ahead of her to the two men who mattered most to her. Blue hardened as they took in my appearance at her side while green, those green eyes merely stared. Weasley merely continued to eat as Granger and I sat down. Potter offered her a smile—it didn't reach his eyes.
Granger began to prattle about her day, leaving out why I was with her, though when Weasley questioned it she merely glared at him and he backed down. Potter said nothing, barely eating, just merely existing. His eyes would glance up to me every now and then, he'd offer a small smile or an empty laugh as his friends would joke about things. A set of black robes appeared behind him. Severus bent down and whispered something in Potter's ear and left after Potter gave him a small nod. He left not too long after that.