BANALITY : Draco Malfoy

57

By the time Draco comes upstairs to go to sleep, I have the door locked. I can see the shadow of his feet outside the door. If he wanted to, he could unlock the door. Even I know the spell. He turns to leave, but I call through the door.

"I need to use the bathroom," my voice is dry. "You're stupid barrier is still up."

He pauses, and then there is a flash of light and the magic barrier around the room lights up. It drains from the walls, seeping into the ground. The light dissipates into the wooden floor. I can hear him stepping away.

I do use the bathroom and take the opportunity to get ready for bed, but that was not my goal. While I don't like being trapped, I have things to do around the house tonight. They are going to make me leave on Monday, and I do not intend to be here then. In fact, I do not intend to be anywhere that they could find me.

There isn't enough time to plan to leave tonight. They will be most suspicious on Sunday evening, I think, which means I have twenty-four hours to make a plan.

If I knew how to use a broom, that might be my best bet. I could steal one and fly as far as I could while coated with a disillusionment charm. We are in London, and I'm sure I could find my way to King's Cross. They might find me though. While I disappeared once, I might not be good at it again.

I remember the telephone number my parents had when I was eleven, but I do not know if it is the same, or if the person that picked up the line would drop dead upon hearing my voice. Also, I don't really know my family. Draco will think that I would go there.

I will get nowhere on foot. So, my best bet is to steal a broom and hide it in my luggage so that they think I've gone somewhere local. Anywhere in London is too close. I've watched them use the floo network a hundred times. I know exactly what to hold and how to say it. They tuck their arms in close to their chests every time they use the floo.

The issue is where should I go? If I reveal myself to the public, the others will take the opportunity to have Draco arrested. If I am missing, unable to be found, he will not go to Azkaban. If I am hiding, I have more time to find out who did it and force them to return my memory.

I might tell them now that it wasn't Theo. Draco would be so upset. The others might not believe me at all. Besides, there is no guarantee that the person who did alter my memory even made it through the war. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that I do not trust these people. Not Ginny, who hates Draco. Not Hermione, who is the keenest to lie. Not Harry, who wants to please the others more than help me. Not even Ron, who has always been the most honest with me.

Certainly not Draco, the first of them all to lie.

I spend the next bit enlarging my bag. It takes a few attempts, but soon enough I am able to shove not just the clothes and toiletries that I brought here, but also the new books I've acquired. I place the ear on the string in as well because I could never be entirely sure if it will be useful. There is still enough room for me to bring the cello and the oil pastels, but I decide that the cello isn't worth the trouble. Besides, it will help the case that I've left on the broom anyway. Cellos are a bit delicate for such transport.

Eventually, I cast another disillusionment charm on myself, as well as the ear on the string. With it, I sneak down the hallway. I place the ear outside of the door to Harry's office and head inside.

The room is dark without any light. I don't dare illuminate the tip of my wand. Instead, I open the curtains so moonlight can stream in. While it is risky, I might be able to get away with the behaviour.