Last chapter was kind of short, so hopefully a longer one now, please review!
Chapter Six: Alone Together
Draco walked down the dimly lit corridors, his head down. Silently, he slipped into the bathroom, quickly looking behind him to make sure no one saw.
He had gone there only a couple of times before, but this was strange for him- because this was a girls toilet.
However, it was uncommon knowledge that this bathroom in question had been ultimately abandoned. No one went in there unless they could help it, for fear of passing Moaning Myrtle, the moping school girl-ghost who hid in one of the cubicles. Draco knew for a fact that she had gone to visit Nearly Headless Nick for some thing or other, so he was alone.
The sun was still streaming in from the windows, but he wanted to shut this all out. He could not have dealt with the shame of anyone witnessing him cry, because he was a Malfoy, they were omnipotent, they were the best family...
He wasn't even sure that this was true, anymore. Since his father had had his place revoked as the governor for the school a few years back, people treated Draco like dirt. At first it wasn't that big of a deal to him, after all, the Slytherins still listened. But he had felt the isolation wrapping around him, making a protective blanket for all of these years, for his loneliness.
He splashed water over his face to conceal the tears. It was cold. He shuddered, and then poured more, over his head and then his hair. Suddenly, his body was wracked with sobs, shaking his body with sadness. He couldn't take this anymore, this- this- not knowing, this pain- it was so horrid.
Draco rolled up his sleeves and grasped his wand from his back pocket, holding it up to his chin. He could hurt himself, right now. He could kill himself, effectively, and no one would ever know. Because no one would care.
Not even Potter. Once, they had been mortal enemies, once... but even know he had better things to do. Because he had Voldemort to think about more often that not.
He dropped his wand. It fell with a loud clatter to the ground. He didn't need it. He could hurt himself without it.
Without thinking, he quickly brought his head forward to the mirror and headbutted it. He could feel it smash at the contact, hundreds of tiny pieces shattered on the ground. Draco slipped under the sink, his head swimming. He put a hesitant finger to his forehead, vaguely feeling his skin until he felt the wet patch. It went from his left eyebrow to the crown of his head. Strangely, he couldn't feel the pain. He only felt numb.
He shut his eyes. He wished, in that moment, he could just die. Get it all over with. Then, at least he wouldn't have to deal with the godforsaken Unbreakable Vow.
He would be the second person to die in this bathroom, he thought darkly. Maybe he could share a cubicle with Myrtle.
He could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness, his hand slipping back to his side, his eyes closing involuntarily.
This isn't so bad, Draco thought. Whatever this is...
'Hello?' called a nervous, yet familiar voice. 'I- I heard a crash... who's in there?'
This was the sole factor that prevented Draco from falling into the unconscious. He groaned, and then recognized the voice- it was Hermione Granger.
'Go away!' He said. He tried to make it into a sneer, but it was too difficult for him.
He heard footsteps coming towards him, and then a gasp. 'Malfoy!'
He closed his eyes again. 'Leave me alone, Granger.'
She was closer now, kneeling down beside him. Hesitantly, she put his head in her lap.
'Didn't you hear me? Leave me alone.'
Hermione shook her head. The ends of her curly brown hair tickled his face. 'You'll kill yourself. I know you will, Malfoy, so don't bother arguing.'
Draco rolled his eyes, with difficulty. 'What's it to you?'
She chose to ignore this. Instead, she produced a wand, and was muttering under her breath. She worked silently and efficiently, until all of his wounds were closed up. While he sat up slowly, trying to ignore his headache, she got some toilet paper from one of the cubicles and sat down beside him, mopping up the blood.
'So- are you going to tell me what happened?' She asked. Her brown eyes looked at him imploringly, and he wanted more that anything in that moment to tell her about everything that had happened.
He shook his head. 'Doesn't matter, Granger.'
'Of course it matters. And call me Hermione.' She added quickly.
He almost smiled then. 'You wouldn't care. Hermione.'
'I do. Please tell me.'
Draco sighed; there was a pause. He wanted to tell her so badly, he felt that if he did then she could help him maybe, and it would be okay...
And she was so close. He could've kissed her, right then and there. Her face was only inches from his.
His thoughts wandered to this morning. Ron.
He couldn't be with her.
He got up quickly, wobbling in his haste. He drew himself up importantly, remembering who he was. 'I'm not going to tell you. Why don't you just go and hang out with Weasley anyway, I'm sure he'd prefer your company more than me,' he sneered. He turned away. 'Goodbye, Granger.'
He closed the bathroom door with a bang, and headed up to the hospital wing. He didn't feel any more important, or pleased with himself. He just felt sad; he'd turned away a girl who was more that willing to help him. For the sake of pride.
And he'd ignored the clear expression of hurt on her face as he looked back through the mirror before leaving.