Shattered and Broken

>4<

I had just finished getting my nightclothes on when a knock came at my door. I looked beside me and saw all the girls asleep so they probably weren't expecting anyone. When I opened the door I was suspecting I'd see Rain because she won't leave me alone but I was met with someone else.

Draco Malfoy was standing in my doorway and when he saw that everyone else was asleep he grabbed my arm and led my arm to the common room. On our way there he finally let go of me and let out an annoyed huff.

"How could you leave me with such a horrible person!?" He hissed as I made my way to one of the couches. I laughed and doubled over, clutching my stomach for support. "It was not funny."

"I can't believe you couldn't get rid of her," I said and wiped my eyes from fake tears of happiness. "Out of all the people, Draco Malfoy couldn't get Rain Fox off his shoulder. You know, you could've gone to your dorm like I did." This time he laughed.

"Trust me, I tried. I couldn't get into my dorm room so I walked around, tried to shake her off, I tried everything I could! So while you were having a nice hot shower, I was being tortured by a girl who wouldn't stop talking about how great her parents are and how her father is a professor at Ilvermorny!"

"Oh yeah? At least you didn't have to deal with it all day like I had to! Finally, someone walked in and they got stuck with her. I am so happy it was you," I laughed again and let out an amused sigh. 

"I swear, Storms-"

"You swear what?" I asked innocently.

"Your personality does not fit that of someone with the name Isabelle."

"Don't call me Isabelle!" I hate it so much when people call me that. "People call me Belle, Izzy, or Storms! You can call me Storms!"

"Alright, Isabelle."

"I will-"

"You will what?" He asked innocently, mocking what I had said before.

"Ugh!" I was actually frustrated now, not really enjoying our banters as I normally do. Especially because I'm the only person who can win these banters against Draco. "Malfoy, you're getting on my nerves more than Rain did!"

"At least we can both agree that Rain gets on our nerves and that's all I came here to talk to you about! Otherwise, I wouldn't be talking to you at all. Leave me with her again and you won't be happy." He ran his fingers through his hair and then chuckled. "Getting on your nerves tonight was just a lucky bonus." That's it. I got up off the couch and went to stand right in front of him. He is a couple of inches taller than me so he should seem to tower over me but I'm not letting height determine anything.

"First of all, I'm never happy when I'm around you," unless I'm winning. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed before you come up with a clever idea that gets me stuck with Rain! Or worse, with you."

"Hah! Good luck with that," he said with a wink and left before I could say anything else. Not that I wanted to, I really did just want to go to bed.

When I went back to bed I walked over our conversation. I couldn't figure out who won that one. Sure, Malfoy got the last word, but his snarky remark was not nearly as good as mine. Why was I so obsessed with being right? With being the winner?

"Listen," a voice sighed and snapped me out of my thoughts.  I sat up and turned on my lamp. I was surprised for the second time tonight to see Pansy Parkinson trying to talk to me.

"Um, yes?" I asked. Why wouldn't anyone let me sleep tonight?

"Can I-?" She gestured towards my bed and I shrugged. She came and sat down at the end of my bed.

"Aren't you worried about waking the others?" I asked when she got comfortable.

"Millicent and Daphne are heavy sleepers and I don't care if I wake up Tracey," she said her name with venom and I couldn't help but snicker.

"Fair. What do you want?" I was too tired to sound annoyed and then I realized that I wasn't annoyed. Which is odd because I'm always annoyed around Pansy.

"I just," she sighed and wiped her hands across her face. "Honestly I don't know why I'm talking to you, really, I just need to talk to someone who wouldn't care."

"Well perfect, I never care." She laughed and I smiled. Was I making a friend? I sure hope not! Actually... maybe it wouldn't be too bad?

"Well first I just wanted to ask you something that doesn't really matter," she laughed nervously so obviously it was about a boy. Not only was it about a boy but I knew which one.

"Go ahead."

"What did you and Draco talk about?"

"Bwah! I left him to deal with Rain Fox, the most annoying person at Hogwarts. He just wanted to yell at me. Why?"

"I don't know, just... Draco," she sighed and raked her fingers through her short hair. "Tracey keeps trying to find a way to seduce him and I just can't believe she'd be so... UGH!" 

"Okay, okay, yes, Tracey is weird and sucks. Anything else?"

"Yes," she turned and looked me in my eyes. "You are the only person who can win a banter with Draco, so I know you're good. I want your help to get that good. Not saying that I can't be cunning that's literally the definition of being a Slytherin, I just want to be better. Rub it in dumb Tracey's dumb face."

"Okay," I nodded and laughed. "Deal."

"And I know you don't do the whole friend thing but I promise, it's fun. Just because you're a Slytherin doesn't mean you can't have friends."

"Fine, I'll try the 'friend thing,'" I said as I rolled my eyes. She smiled and got back up to lay down in bed. 

"Thank you," she pointed to the light. "You can turn it off now. Goodnight."

Well, this year is going to be different for sure.