Chapter 2- Patrols

I was lounging in the Head's Common Room, reading my favorite muggle book- Pride and Prejudice. Many people thought i was weird that I enjoyed Muggle books when I was a witch. I didn't care what people thought. I loved Muggle books. This one was my favorite as I loved the idea of true love breaking the boundaries of society image.

If only that was possible in real life.

But I knew it never would be.

One example of that impossibility lived just opposite me.

As I embarked on chapter 24, I heard the portrait swing open and loud footsteps marching into the room.

"Get off your lazy ass Granger. We have patrols now." Malfoy snarled in his usual cold voice.

"Well, Malfoy, maybe you aren't aware, but patrols do not start in another hour." I snapped back.

"How dare you use that tone with me? I would hex you right now if we weren't in Hogwarts. But I have better control than that. Any matter, McGonagall has changed the timings. Patrols are now. And she insisted that I call you along to join me. Stupid old cat." He muttered.

"Fine, Malfoy. I'm coming." I sighed, setting down my book and getting off the couch.

It had been two weeks since Malfoy and I moved in together as Heads. Our routine was always the same. We would try as hard as possible to avoid each other. If we ever crossed paths, he would just mutter stupid Gryffindor and I would just retort twitchy Ferret-face. We learnt to gain lots of self control from resisting the temptation of just hexing one another. I learnt to just ignore Malfoy's usual nasty comments. Surprisingly, he rarely called me 'Mudblood' any more. Mostly because he never had the chance to since we rarely spoke to each other. Or maybe he just grew out of it. Either way, I was pleased. I hated that name. After 6 years, I did become immune to that term. But then, in 7th year, it managed to crawl back into my life and found a way to permanently etch itself into me, literally. I still cringed whenever i glanced at my left fore-arm. No concealing or healing spell could ever get rid of the nasty scars. Still, I made sure no one ever saw it, not even Harry or Ron. I was too ashamed. I always restricted myself to baggy robes and long-sleeved tops. It was not so much the word itself that haunted me, but the memories. I did go through a lot during my years in Hogwarts, even a war! After all my dangerous, life-threatening encounters, I did become emotionally stronger and more mature. But that one memory of that grim night when I received those scars still tortured me in my nightmares. I would never forget how much pain I bore, how much I screamed and cried.

"Oi! Granger! Hurry up!" Malfoy called out from the portrait door, pulling me out of my trance.

I sighed as I rolled down the sleeve of my robe to cover up the nasty scars and trudged out of the room.

Patrols were really boring as there was no mischief or trouble going on, but we still had to do it. The hallways were dimly-lit and there was an eerie silence. At first, i was scared to be roaming around the school grounds at such late hours. But eventually, after the third or fourth day, i got used to it. Malfoy and I neither talked nor looked at each other. Either he would walk in front or I would. We didn't want to be anywhere near each other. There was an uncomfortable silence as we walked on. I mean, it was always quiet when we patrolled together, but tonight was different. There something about Malfoy's presence that was just so...tense. I risked a glance at him and noticed that he was lost in deep thought. His eyes were jumping around the ground and he didn't even notice me observing him. I furrowed my brows in confusion. He never looked so…serious and nervous. The last time I saw him with that far-off look and dark eyes was during 6th year.

When he was contemplating how to murder Dumbledore.

I swallowed hard as I thought about whether the same thing was going on now. Sure, he ultimately didn't murder Dumbledore, but he was going to. He had the capacity to do so. But he couldn't possibly be thinking of those type of things. Voldemort was gone…wasn't he?

"If you don't stop staring at me, I will hex you."

I blushed and looked down, ashamed of being caught staring at Malfoy, by Malfoy of all people. For a second, the thought of asking him what was wrong crossed my mind. But I immediately shook it off.

Why should I care about Malfoy's problems?

I hate him.

Ha there was no confusion in that.

The only reason I was concerned was because I didn't want the events of 6th Year to repeat themselves.

I saw him scowl at me with such a cold look in his eyes before walking ahead.

I breathed in deeply and sighed.

And to think for a second I was actually concerned for him.

No.

I am not going to waste my precious last year in Hogwarts worrying about stupid Malfoy.

Let him deal with his problems himself.

I couldn't really care less.