Summer Holiday

Chapter 34

Sophie, Draco, and Cho sat at the pier eagerly awaiting for Theo and Bronson.

"They're not usually late." Sophie looked back in the direction of the castle.

"Usually it's Sophie who's late." Cho teased.

"Oh shut it." Sophie nudged Cho.

Draco hadn't spoken many words since they arrived at the pier.

"Nervous?" Sophie asked.

Draco looked at her. "No." He lied. He wasn't sure what it would be like to interact with Bronson again. Last time they spoke Bronson called him a murderer.

"He's just a big teddy bear once you get to know him." Cho reassured Draco.

"I've never liked teddy bears." Draco spoke.

"Alright then." Cho looked away awkwardly.

In the distance Theo and Bronson made their way over to the pier to join the rest of the group. They walked along the old wooden planks and stopped in front of the other three.

"Hi." Bronson spoke.

Draco gave a nod.

"Glad you could make it." Theo said to Draco with a genuine grin.

"Could I speak to you privately Malfoy?" Bronson asked Draco, still standing.

Draco looked to Sophie and she gave him an encouraging smile. He nodded and took a deep breath. He stood up and followed Bronson. They walked until the group could no longer see them or eavesdrop.

Bronson stopped walking and stood directly across from Draco. Bronson cleared his throat. "Look, I uh.....I just want to apologize for what I said."

"Don't worry about it." Draco offered. He didn't know Bronson and felt uneasy for the conversation to come. He'd rather forget it all together.

"No look, I don't know if you knew Quigley, but he was practically my brother. I grew up with him and we did everything together." Bronson shifted uncomfortably. "Losing him took a toll on me, and I never meant to take that out on you." Bronson put his hands in his pockets and focused on not crying. "What I'm trying to say is, I blamed you for something your family did and that was unfair. You are not defined by your family and I should've realized that sooner. I'm sorry." Bronson stopped speaking and waited for Draco to say something.

Draco felt his throat growing raw and his eyes tingling. He swallowed, but nothing changed. All his life he had been defined by his family. Everyone judged him for the way his father behaved. He looked to his left and stared, trying to force the tears to stay in his eye sockets. He avoided Bronson's eyes and continued staring to the left.

"You alright?" Bronson asked trying to get a better look at Draco's face. As soon as the words left Bronson's mouth Draco felt the tears spill over. He dropped his head into his hands and began to sob.

Bronson's breath hitched as Draco began to weep in front of him. He placed a hand on Draco's back and let the boy in front of him cry as he realized Draco needed to hear his words more than Bronson needed to say it.

All this time Bronson had pictured Draco as a cold hearted killer who would follow Voldemort blindly. For the first time, Draco was humanized. Bronson realized Draco had been through as much pain as the rest of them.

The two boys would return to the group and act as if they had a lovely chat and had made up. Bronson would never mention what happened or what they discussed that night and Draco would always be secretly grateful.

The next day Draco headed down to the pier. When he arrived Cho was the only one there, and he thought about turning back and waiting for Theo. Before he could turn around Cho glanced up from a book she was reading and waved to Draco. He knew now he couldn't turn back. He pushed forward and approached Cho sitting alone.