You Are Not Who I Thought You Were

- Chapter 1 -

Draco Malfoy

My left hand scrambles to grasp the bathroom stall door knob. I take in a shaky breath as I lean my head against the door.

Trying to calm my thoughts I focus on the sounds of Moaning Myrtle wailing.  After a few seconds, I roll my shoulders back with my head held high as I leave the bathroom stall, acting as if my recurring meltdown never happened.

"Oh Draco" Myrtle spoke loud but strangely had a strange sense of calming to it. "What happened Draco, is it your family again?" she asked with pity laced into her voice.

My shoulders hunch over as if I could shield myself from the words that were spoken. "It's nothing Myrtle" my voice waivers.

"Talk to me Draco you can tell me what's wrong..." she wails as she floats over closer to me, I shiver as she gets closer, the cold radiating off her as she gets more emotional

"I can't..." I whisper through a pained voice "I can't" I state louder as my voice shakes as an uncontrollable wave of anger washes through me, powering my words, but with the anger comes an equal amount of pain.

"I can't" I scream once more, as if I'm talking about everything and nothing at once. All the emotions that I held in for the past few months finally come crashing down, knocking me into the wall as I lean on it for support. I sense a feeling of cold to my left as I see Myrtle trying her best to just be there. She doesn't try talking to me because she knows that there is no use. She knows not to say it will be okay because she knows it won't. She is the only one who understands me, she is the only one who knows the real me.

I stay there sobbing until I can't. Once I can calm my pounding heart I walk up to the sink. I grasp at the water so I can wash my face of the view of what had just happened.

"You got this Draco" I murmured to myself, needing this statement to be true. I grapple with my hair and tug as if this could be my way to release the pain and sadness I have to endure for something I do not agree with, something I was forced into. 

Once the evidence of the breakdown I just had was gone, I rolled my shoulders back and put on the stoic face I normally have as if it could protect me from the horrors of this world that we all live in. I pause at the doorway, allowing me to look back to see Myrtle looking at me with an expression that can only be viewed as pity, I wave not trusting my voice to be void of all possible emotions.

I grab my bag from under the sink and cast the spell 'Scourgify', tossing it over my shoulder as I head to my next class, potions with Professor Slughorn. I pause for a second in the doorway as I scan for the best choice in seating. I narrow my eyes as I notice the only seat available is one next to Saint Potter I huff under my breath, stroll to the empty seat and swiftly sit down in a single graceful motion.

As I bring out my items for my favorite class with a pathetic excuse of a professor I notice a certain Gryffindor looking at me. I sneer as I bring my eyes to lock with his emerald green eyes, neither of us wanting to back down and lose.

"Good afternoon" Professor Slughorn's voice slices through to tension between me and Potter, causing us both to give him our attention as he states what we will be doing today. "For today's lesson we will be concocting Draught of Living Death" he pauses as his eyes roam over the students "Your partner will be the one sitting next to you"

I hear Potter scoff then raise his hand "Yes Harry?" he asks tentatively. "Can I have a different partner, Professor? Anyone but him" he points at me as I roll my eyes.

He shakes his head "I'm sorry but that just won't work. He will be your partner, end of the conversation." Potter grunts and tugs on his hair.

I sigh "Honestly Potter? Can you be of any use and get the ingredients?"