Redamancy (dramione)

16- Confrontation

It had been a few days, Draco ignored Hermione, avoided her, skipped potions, and didn't show up to eat.

Today, potions was after lunch. Hermione noticed Draco didn't show up for breakfast and now lunch, again. She looked behind her and she saw Ron close with the girl. It didn't bother her. Theo and Blaise seemed much happier, talking to Pansy and Ginny.

Theo and Blaise had been happy at what Ginny and Pansy had said in the library. They'd been trying to force Draco to get out of his bed for the past few days but he didn't budge. Hermione wouldn't admit it but she'd been slightly worried, but why would she tell her friends that after she told them she hated him? She felt like she lied to herself, that she didn't hate him.

"Theo, why isn't Malfoy showing up to eat?" Hermione asked suddenly and they quieted down. They mentally smiled.

"Well Hermione, he's going through something." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice. In all seriousness, every time he blinked he looked back to when he'd last seen his best friend. He had exited the bathroom two days ago, and he looked horrid. There were blood stains on his left pyjama sleeve, and Draco refused to look his friends in the eyes, for he felt ashamed. It wasn't only all about Hermione and how she had talked about him, it all circled back to his family and the Death Eaters. Draco hated his family for putting him in such situations where he couldn't be himself.

He had dark circles, and sat up in bed once or twice looking into space, his eyes looked dead. He slept late so he could sleep during the day, and at night he went out in his state, out in the Forbidden Forest or around the lake, he smoked a few times but didn't drink, ever. Theo shivered at the sight of him, he looked dead.

"Are you at least making sure he eats?" She asked raising her eyebrow, she was concerned. Blaise looked down at his hands that were clasped together.

"He wont eat, we've tried every thing." Blaise said sadly. They had really tried every thing. They had tried tying him up, binding him, and even if they got food into his mouth he'd spit it out or vomit. This morning they had gotten him break fast and left it at the bottom of his bed but like always, it would remain untouched.

"I'll go see him. He has potions homework, anyway." Hermione said standing up. "I- Uh Hermione! It's nearly time for potions anyway, and-" Theo said hurriedly. "-and I don't think it's a good idea for you to see him." Blaise finished calmly.

Ginny and Pansy listened on quietly.

"Why?" Hermione asked sitting down.

"He'll hurt you if he sees you, you just don't know when it comes to him. It's safer to meet outside of our dorm." Blaise said getting up and getting his bag. "Come on then, it's potions now." Blaise said. They all got up and walked. It was only writing and copying today, no partner work which was good, she didn't think she could do it without him.

Blaise and Theo walked beside the three girls when blond pale hair caught the boys' eyes. "L-Listen, you guys go in we'll be just there, if we're late cover for us!" Theo said hurriedly pushing them in. "-But!" Pansy said but Theo had pushed them in, Blaise closing the door. The girls thought it was weird but left it at that, and went to their assigned desks shared with their partners.

"Draco, what are you doing here?" Blaise asked quietly looking around the empty corridor.

"What do you think? I go here." He said irritated, glaring at the potions classroom door.

"Don't be sassy. Look at you, you look sick. You can go and take time for yourself-" Theo said but Draco interrupted. "-Don't tell me to take time for myself! I can spend my time however I like." He whispered in a slow anger to him. He tried pushing past them but Blaise shoved him back. He was frail and weak, Draco didn't look the best.

"Draco, you're scaring me, please just come back to us." Theo told him and Draco looked to the floor shaking his head.

"Ah boys! What are you doing outside of class?" The kind professor was late again, greeting them kindly. Blaise and Theo moved out the way so he could see Draco.

"Draco?" He said surprised. "Please boys, go inside, Draco, stay." And they nodded, going inside. He approached Draco slowly, he didn't raise his head to look at the professor.

"Tell me what's wrong, and what's happened. I care about you." The professor said kindly putting a hand on his shoulder. Draco huffed trying to hold in tears. This man was kind too him, and he didn't know any of the things Draco was made to do.

The potions door slammed open and closed again. "Malfoy!" Hermione said worriedly going up to them. The professor smiled kindly at her. Draco looked up at her, glaring. He didn't know what to say and couldn't form the words to say 'screw off'.

"It's okay professor, go teach the class." Hermione said.

"I'm always here for you, Mr Malfoy." And with that he left. "-and so is she." He said to himself as he entered and greeted the class with a smile.

Draco and Hermione looked at each other. He frowned at her and turned around, rushing away. She followed him almost immediately. "Malfoy!" She kept calling out tiredly to him. She had a burst of energy and caught up to him, pushing him sideways into a classroom, unlocking the door with wordless magic. She made sure to lock it after. She turned to him, he was on the floor wiping the blood from his nose. He bled much more easier since he wasn't taking care of himself. He got up and made his way towards her. She got scared and backed away, but crashed into a shelf, knocking over empty vials.

"What do you want from me?" He demanded.

"I-I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

"Shut up!" He yelled to the ceiling, clutching his hair in his fist.

"Malfoy, I can help just tell me what the problem is-"

"-You're my problem! You ARE the problem!" He said to her loudly and she flinched back. He mumbled to himself crazily.

"What?-" She said, confused.

"-the moment he started bullying people, he became lonely, sad and miserable!" He interrupted her, and her mouth opened slightly, her eyes widening. He shook his head at her clenching his teeth. She put her arms out in front of her shaking them, trying to tell him he got it wrong, she regretted it, but he continued.

"-he's horrible, despicable, and rude.." He continued in a low voice.

"Hey.. hey that's not what I meant-"

"-Shut up." He said rubbing his face.

"Look at me, look how disgusting, dead, and shameful I look! I was so ashamed, your words hurt me, made me realise that I should of been more ashamed of myself. How can I look into your eyes again without feeling shame, and embarrassment!" He took a step towards her and she stayed silent.

"Sure I may have been a bully, but take a look at what you were." He said.

She clutched her head. The pain went as fast as it came, only a second. But the memories, the memories that lasted for hours, turned into a second, and she felt like she was experiencing it all again. Hermione collapsed on the side of a table, trying to breath.

Bellatrix had been on top of her, and she was giving her one last chance to tell her what really happened. She'd called his name many times and it would repeat in her head over and over. She cried while calling out for him, to help her. He never did.

All the memories overlapped each other. The first time she was called a Mudblood, by Malfoy, when she'd been bullied for her looks, and Malfoy enlarged her teeth. She re-felt the sadness she had felt on those days.

She looked up at him helplessly and he looked down at her, his face cold and still.