A/N: Inspired by a scene in the Half-Blood Prince film.
He stands as if paralyzed by a strong-spoken Petrificus Totalus. Across the dining hall, protected by a phalanx of Gryffindors, is her. The unsure steps, the shaky smile, the darting eyes-he caused this. That fear and insecurity could haunt her for a lifetime, and it was his fault. At first, he tried to blame her. (If she was foolish enough to touch it, then she deserved her fate.) He soon could not ignore the devastating consequences of his actions. The disaster, the heartache, that lay in the wake of her tragedy; it bothered him. At last, he could admit it. As he watches her now, he feels regret. He feels, too, a need for atonement.
From across the room, Katie Bell locks eyes with Draco Malfoy. Now all he can do is run.