Fractured Hearts | Draco Malfoy

2 ~ Have I struck a nerve?

FRACTURED HEARTS

have I struck a nerve?

"Thanks for having us stay, Mrs. Weasley," I said, poking my head out of the compartment window. Mrs. Weasley was standing on the platform with Bill and Charlie.

"Yeah, thanks for everything," Hermione added, and Harry gave a nod.

"Oh, it was my pleasure, dears," Mrs. Weasley said, her smile warm and motherly. "I'd invite you all for Christmas, but I'm sure you'll want to stay at Hogwarts with everything that's happening. I must say, I'm very glad they changed the rules—"

"What rules?" Ron, Harry, Fred, and George asked in chorus.

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough, probably later today—"

Just then, a loud hiss split the air as the train started to pull away.

"No, Mum, why can't you—"

"Off we go then. Goodbye, everyone. Have a fantastic school year!"

Before Ron or the twins could get another word out, their mother and two of their oldest brothers Disapparated, vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Fred, George, and Ginny slipped out of the compartment, and Ron sighed as he plopped into his seat next to me.

"Anyone have a clue what Ron's mum was on about?" I asked, glancing around. Everyone, including Hermione, shook their heads.

"At the World Cup, Bagman was supposed to fill us in," Ron said, sounding particularly put out, "but apparently my own mother's got other plans."

I excused myself to use the loo. But as I made my way back through the narrow corridor, the last thing I expected was to almost collide headfirst into someone bursting out of a nearby compartment.

I stumbled back, barely catching myself before I fell.

"Watch it!" I snapped, instinctively bracing for an apology.

Instead, I found myself glaring into the cold, grey eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy, his lips already twisting into that familiar, condescending smirk.

"Well, well, Davis," he drawled, looking me over as if I were some sort of unpleasant insect. "We're back to bumping into each other, are we? Starting to think it's your signature move."

I narrowed my eyes at him, biting back the impulse to let loose the insults bubbling up. "You practically barreled into me, Malfoy. I'd appreciate it if you could watch where you're going for once."

He chuckled, a low, arrogant sound that made my skin crawl. "Oh, please. Don't pretend you're capable of standing up to me. You might be in Gryffindor, but you're hardly cut from the same cloth as Potter. I'd have expected better from someone of your... lineage."

I stiffened at the mention of my heritage—half Muggle-born from my mum's side and half descended from an old, prestigious wizarding family on my dad's. It was a combination that seemed to confuse and irritate Malfoy in equal measure, as if he couldn't decide whether to look down on me or begrudgingly respect my bloodline.

I wanted nothing more than to shove him out of the way. My face flushed with anger as I took in his smug expression, noticing he'd grown a bit taller since last year.

Draco seemed to sense my frustration and stepped closer, his face an unsettling mix of amusement and coldness. "Oh? Have I struck a nerve? You're looking a bit hysterical, and I wouldn't want to accidentally make you cry."