Broken Glass

Part 5

"So how was your little date?" Ginny smiled cheekily at me as I approached the table.

"It wasn't a date.. we just talked" I said trying to control my blush.

"Oh come on 'Mione.. the two of you were up there for an hour.. Don't tell me nothing happened" she said getting annoyed.

"Yes.. That's what I am going to tell you" I said while putting food on my plate.

"Oh when the hell will you loosen up?" she said getting further annoyed.

I grinned at her while taking a mouthful.

When we got out of the Great hall, I looked at him go to the seventh floor again. It's so strange. I couldn't imagine what he must be going through. Not being able to go to your own common room. The place you called home for 6 years. How terrible it must be to lose it?

"So did you find out where he goes after dinner?" Ginny asked looking in the direction I was.

"Yes he goes to the room of requirements.. McGonagall has allowed him to set up a bedroom in whatever remains of it" I said as I started to walk in the direction of our own tower.

"Really? Why? Are Slytherins not taking him back?" She asked thoroughly confused.

"He says there are too many bad memories attached to that place." I said pursuing my lips. "can't blame him"

"Hmmm.. who would have thought Malfoy would be so sensitive" she said shaking her head.

I remembered something of that. He was sensitive, only he never showed it to anyone. Well, I saw that. I have experienced that side of his. Such simpler times those were. We had reached our room by now. I laid on my bed and couldn't help but remember.

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3rd year Hogwarts

"Hey Granger" I heard a not so pleasant familiar voice.

I rolled my eyes and looked up. There he stood with his infamous smirk, arms tied at his chest and leaning against the wall.

"What do you want now, Malfoy?" I asked annoyed at his presence.

"I hoped maybe I could see you bawl your eyes out again today.." he said drawling.

"Well, unfortunately I have much better things to do today" I said burying my head back in potions book.

"And that's because your boyfriend has abandoned you?" he smirked harder with that.

That actually stung. Ron had been a jerk to me with his stupid rat Scabbers disappearing. He believed Crookshanks ate him. We had been fighting over it since a month now but yesterday he had been very rude to me which had made me run away crying. That's when Malfoy saw me. He had come to annoy me more but at the end of it, I had rather felt lighter.

"Ooooo.. looks like I hit the right chord.. Cat finally got your tongue Granger.." he said when I didn't look up from the book. He pulled back a chair and sat in front of me.

"You should learn to understand when you're not welcome" I said looking at him.

"Oh never mind.." he said as if I had complimented him. "So.. Are you planning on some kind of revenge with those two oafs?" he asked with a rather excited glint.

"Why would I do that? And why would I tell you?!" I exclaimed thoroughly offended now.

He shrugged at that. "For charity.. you know I would really enjoy seeing their arses growing out tails or something.. Specially that Weasel"

I couldn't help but let out a slight laugh. Not because I hated my friends but because I actually was very annoyed with Ron acting like a prat and Harry taking his side. But I controlled myself before it turned into a proper laugh.

"Loosen up Granger.. it's not like you are cheating on your boyfriend if you smile at that picture" he said rolling his eyes.

"I told you none of them is my boyfriend" I said shaking my head.

"You mean Weasley.. you have the hots for him though" he said shrugging.

"Why are you here again?"

"Just thought to check on you" he suddenly realized what he had said. He didn't do anything UnMalfoy like in that realization but I could see his eyes going a little wider and I could bet all the treasures of Gringotts that he was mentally smacking himself for saying that.

I couldn't help but smile at that. "Don't worry Malfoy. I am not crying today" I said acting genuine but it was more to highlight his embarrassment that he had actually worried about me.

"Worry, who said worry" he said rather defensively.

"I won't tell anyone" I said smirking at him.

"There's nothing to tell.." he said trying to make a menacing face.

"Yes.. Got you" I replied as though sharing a secret with him. It was fun actually.

Finally he got up and walked off annoyed at himself.

Present

After a few more interactions with him I realized that he, in fact had come to check up on me. He was worried that I had been crying so bitterly and he came to cheer me up.

So, he was sensitive. I remembered the sixth year when he was beyond miserable. He wasn't very compassionate but he also wasn't the one to knowingly harm someone.

I didn't know when I slept off.