The Truth About Draco {Edits Coming Soon}

Part Two: The Art of Being Alone

    There was a thick layer of snow covering the icy grounds and the December chill swirled around Astoria as she crossed the courtyard to the Great Hall. It was the last day of term before the winter break and classes, as a result, had been cut short. She and her sister, Daphne, were to take the train home for the holiday, but Astoria didn't want to go. Draco was to be staying and she felt awful to leave him all alone at the school for so long. She had tried in vain to convince her parents into letting her stay, but they wouldn't have it. She hated the outcome, but she didn't have a choice.

    She entered the Great Hall to see Draco sitting by himself as normal if she wasn't there. Ever since the two of them had been hanging around each other, the rest of his so called "friends" had started attaching themselves to him less. Not that he cared, anyway. But apparently, getting acquainted with the younger class was frowned upon in Slytherin. Draco knew that had he not become a Death Eater, he would have probably had the same feelings on the matter, but that was certainly not the case now.

    As Astoria made her way toward him, she caught sight of Ginny Weasley, whom she knew from her mixed year Potions class. Ginny smiled and waved as Astoria did the same. She could feel Draco's eyes on her as she did so, so she hurried to the table. When she met Draco's eyes, he cocked an eyebrow, questioning her.

    "Ginny's in my Potions class," Astoria explained, "She's always been quite nice to me, so I don't understand why most of us Slytherin folk don't like her."

    Draco considered her comment and then shook his head, "How is it you think so much differently than the way the rest of 'us Slytherin folk' think? I think they put you in the wrong house."

    "I don't think I was put in the wrong house," she said, starting fill up her plate. She avoided eye contact with him for as long as possible.

    Draco set his fork down and looked at her, "And why is that?" he whispered, waiting for a response. Astoria lifted her head and looked him straight in the eyes, "Because if I was in a different house, I wouldn't have met you."

    The directness of her comment and stare alarmed Draco. He felt a burning in his cheeks—a sensation that he wasn't accustomed to.

    "Well then I guess you are here for a reason."

    The words slipped out of his mouth before he even had time to preview them in his head. Now it was Astoria's turn to be surprised. They held each other's gaze for only seconds until Draco looked away to study the wood of the table. He felt something inside of him that he had never felt before and it scared him more that he was willing to admit.

    Quick to change the subject and mask this new and unwelcome feeling, Draco asked her about her travel plans for the following day.

    "So what time are you and Daphne leaving tomorrow?"

    "Around 9:00 in the morning. My mother is intent that we get home as soon as possible. She arranged for us to take the first train out."

    There was a large weight placed on Draco's chest as he thought about how he would be alone for the entire holiday. He was tired of being alone. Now that he had Astoria to keep him company, and keep him a little more sane then last year, he didn't like the feeling of being alone as much as he did before. Being alone meant that he had more than enough time to always remember those things that horrified him most. He liked being alone sometimes because he rarely ever had enough energy to associate with people, but it was different when the entire castle was empty. Astoria seemed to read into his very thoughts because she reached out to place her warm hand on his. He absolutely loved the feel of her touch—it seemed to rejuvenate him.