BANALITY : Draco Malfoy

38

I ask Hermione to stay until Draco comes back. I tell her that after our first session, I am feeling particularly awful, and I say Ginny and Harry could probably use the time to work on removing anti-muggle magic upstairs. She agrees and sends an owl to Ron. He ends up coming through the floo as well for dinner. I hadn't hoped a confrontation would turn this large.

I don't help prepare the meal tonight. It is Ginny's turn, but I am seething so much that I am sure she would notice the way I would slam the cupboards and stab rather than slice the vegetables. I try my best to avoid talking to any of them altogether. They know. I cannot imagine how they wouldn't know that the crack in my memory is not from a single moment stolen by Goyle or the Order. My memory was entirely altered altogether. I must have been at Malfoy Manor for long enough that they couldn't just create a gap in my mind. More than a couple hours, as Draco explained after he cast the charm on my friends.

I must've been there at least over Easter.

Ginny and Hermione cook together, while Ron and Harry play wizard's chess in the living room next to me. I wait, staring at Hermione's bookbag. The book that I know proves she knows is in there. If I thought no one would notice, I'd sneak it upstairs and try to read at least the first paragraph.

I understand Latin though. I never took it in school. Enough time was altered that I don't have any recollection of learning Latin. I am not in the habit of learning languages over Easter weekend.

A small pop sound lifts my attention forward. Draco appears with the sound. The other two are not disturbed from their game.

"How are the Millers?" Ron asks, and though he addresses Draco his eyes are on the chess board.

"Warded," Draco answers. He looks over at me but only briefly.

I get up, crossing the room. I get to Hermione's bag and reach inside. There are more folders and files than I thought there would be, but there is only one book.

"Hey," Harry is talking to me, surely. "That's Hermione's."

"I know," I say. I pull out the book, my fingers pressed against the spine so tightly that my hands would ache from the pressure if I wasn't feeling so much adrenaline.

Ron and Harry are both on their feet, abandoning the chess game. I can hear the pieces grumbling and complaining. Harry tries to grab me.

"Don't touch me," I say, pulling free from his grasp.

Ron steps out of my way.

Draco is looking at me. Staring, unfaltering.

I whip the book as hard as I can at him. He is holding his wand. Surely, he could block it with magic if he wanted to stop me. Instead, the book hits him in the chest and then slams against the ground. He does wince, and he looks away.

"Tell me," I shake my head. "I don't want to hear any of your nonsense about my fragile mind. Tell me."

"I don't know what you-"

"Tell me!" I screech.

I go over and pick up the book, before smacking him with it once more. When I go to hit him a second time, Harry grabs me from behind and pulls me away.

"You're going to damage that book," Draco says, rubbing the spot where it hit his chest.

"What has been changed?" I ask, glaring at him. Harry lets me go but snatches the book. "What was changed in my head?"