Reviews, anyone? Kthxbye :P

CHAPTER 2

It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and most of the students were in their classes. Draco decided to spend his vacant period at the new Slytherin common rooms, which was located on the floor below the Gryffindor common rooms. He has spent most of his time in the common rooms since the year has started, for very obvious reasons, so to speak. He was almost afraid of Granger. One moment, she would look at him with pity and solace, then the next, she was almost killing him with the looks she'd been giving. It's not like he'd done anything that wouldn't please her! He'd been all but avoiding her presence—her friends included, ok, so maybe everyone who's not Slytherin— since he'd set foot in the school. He barely stayed in their quarters; he only came there to bathe and sleep, and well, that's everything about it. He has not actually enjoyed the telltale leisure and perks of living in the Head's quarters. There's something to pout about.

For years Draco had been the blatant bully of Hogwarts, but now, it seems, he'd been the one being bullied. Where had McGonagall's talk about house unity and change gone? He had barely seen anything with the likes of what she had promised! He felt so alone and lonely; it was madness. He was very much isolated from everyone. He was just so grateful that Blaise and Pansy were hanging out with him most of the time, as if nothing was amiss. A few students were still afraid of him though, not because of the bully matter, but because he'd been some kind of pet of Voldemort's. That saddened him severely. If only everyone knew how much he regret everything he'd done last year…

So when he entered the common room after his Potion's class, he was welcomed by an annoying remark from Theodore Nott. "Can't believe you're still alive and breathing." Draco gritted his teeth. Theo's been all but civil, but not friendly towards him. Git, his father was a death eater. Why wasn't he given the attention people had been giving him? Right. Because he wasn't handpicked by Voldemort as one of his minions, and Draco was. "Leave him alone, Theo." Thank Merlin for Blaise.

Draco sat beside Blaise, who seem to have a conversation with Theo before he joined in. "What are you two talking about?" He asked, feigning interest.

"Theo heard Granger having a love spat with Weasley," Blaise answered, as Theo pointedly ignored him.

Draco raised his brows in mock amusement, "and you're talking about this, why?" He looked over at Theo, who was effectively avoiding his gaze, but still looking quite smug.

"He's been eyeing Granger for quite some time now. He denies it, but he fancies her. I just know it," Blaise offered, earning a glare from Theo.

Draco could only snort in response. Was Theo losing his mind? Fancying someone who was far beneath him? "By Granger, you mean, Mudbl—"

"Tell me, Draco. Is it because of that attitude that the Dark Lord picked you himself? I mean, the prejudice about blood status…what good has it done you? Was it why daddy got promoted?" Theo effectively cut in. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned leisurely while watching Draco clench his fists in anger. When Draco did not respond, he continued. "I don't know why you even do that, Malfoy. Haven't you learned anything?"

"Nott, enough," Blaise interjected, quite forcefully. He knew how screwed up Draco was, but… eventually he'll learn on his own ways, and on the right time. Being cornered like this was torture in itself. He felt sympathy for his friend. He could almost watch his mate drown in sorrow and regret. Theo didn't know that. He wasn't in any position to judge Draco.

Theo never broke eye contact with Draco. "Every single person in this school loathes you, Draco. You are a bad person, you have a nasty attitude, yet you still walk around like you own the place, well in fact you're just a piece of filth that no one can get rid of. You're pathetic. You're just like Him—"

Draco lunged forward, towards Theo and punched him right on the nose, on the mouth, and on both cheeks; again and again. For a moment, Blaise stayed glued on his place, but after realizing that a brawl was about to happen, he got up quickly and pulled Draco's robes. "Shit, Draco! You're going to get us in trouble! Stop it! He's just annoying you!" He let himself be pulled by Blaise, who positioned himself between Theo and Draco. "Fuck," Theo hissed, spitting blood on the floor. "I'll get you for this, Malfoy!"

Draco inhaled sharply and sneered lividly at Theo. Without saying a word, he turned his back and left the room.

ooo

Draco was furious. He was mad, but he definitely felt sadder. It has only been a month and a half since the school year has started, and he felt like he had been living in the school for a lifetime already. He wanted to go home and lock himself in his room, the only place where he felt safe. He laughed snidely as he remembered that he was homeless. Since the capture of his father four months ago, the Malfoy Manor has been up for bidding. Everything inside the manor was confiscated by the Ministry. Shacklebolt saw to it that the Malfoy family would expiate for their treachery. Only, just like Draco himself, Narcissa was not given the same gravity of punishment as what was given to Lucius. She was exonerated, and thus allowed to live with Andromeda for the time being. Well, at least she was well pampered and safe.

Draco sighed heavily. He would just have to endure the grief he has been feeling.

"Draco, I know you're pissed off but listen to me. I—" Startled at the panting and heavy voice that suddenly spoke, Draco turned around swiftly.

"What the fuck, Zabini! Were you following me?" Draco asked, distressed.

Blaise bent to rest his hands on his knees while panting heavily. "Yeah, well, you looked, well, yeah but Pans saw you running along the corridors."

Draco looked annoyed. If people actually had the slightest interest on him, they probably assumed that he was having a bromance with his friend. Bugger. "I'm fine," he mumbled. But he did feel better.

"That's good mate. Theo felt quite… contrite after you walked out."

Draco snorted. He doubted it. He turned back once again to face the large pane. "So he's really serious with Granger then? I mean, he fancies her? Since when?"

"I don't know. Why are you suddenly interested?"

Draco shrugged. "It's just weird. It's all." He stole a glance at Blaise who was looking at him curiously.

"MacLaggen has been spreading stories about her, or rumors, I really don't know. I've been told he has snogged her many times. Or did more than snogging, I don't know. Several blokes in the school claim the same story as well. It's weird," Blaise said.

"But that's her business, isn't it?" Draco did not understand why this was such a big deal.

Blaise hesitated for a moment. "It's just really weird, y'know? I mean, unless you live to tell the tale…"

Draco spun around to face Blaise, who looked at him with raised brows and a smirk playing around his lips.