The Lullaby of Fear | Draco Malfoy

Chapter Eight

Malfoy had thrown a "private party" the following day, on Saturday. He had apparently kissed a girl, he had brought her to his dorm.

At least that is what everyone was saying on Sunday morning.

He was not on the Slytherin table for breakfast that morning, but I did not want him to be either. I could say I had not even bothered to check if he was there, but I would be lying. I had.

I did not bother to ask for the girl's name, that being something I do not care enough to know. Before coming back to Hogwarts, I was living a miserable life, but now, I could not dare and try to make it even more difficult. I simply need to learn to coexist with the idea that pain is always going to be there, however, I cannot let it grow.

Now, I am going to focus on the classes, and the fact that our headmistress is using violence as a punishment, which is enough stress, and much more concerning than my love life.

It has been two weeks since I have used the Pensieve with Draco's memories. Or maybe three, I cannot recall.

During this time, more and more rules have been added in the hallways, more tension has grown, more homework has been assigned...

As for Malfoy and I's situation...It is somewhat over, I have been avoiding him completely, and he has been too. I was only seeing him in class, and I was grateful that I was not meeting his eyes in any moment. He seemed too preoccupied all the time, if he was not busy with Umbridge's advantages, he was doing prefects' duties. When he was free, he had Pansy Parkinson all over him.

Anyway.

Currently, I am focused on other things rather than Malfoy, who I could not care less about...Today was Sunday, and doing homework in the library on Sundays is not my favorite thing.

Sundays at the library tend to get really crowded, and while there is enough space, the shushes and hushes voices are what make me stand up and leave, I could not concentrate on my Arithmancy homework at all.

Lately the library has been my refuge, I would spend all my free time there. If I was not doing homework or studying, I was reading something to get my mind off. Being busy allows you not to think too much.

Before exiting the library, I make sure I am wearing my clothes right, my shoes are well laced, and my hair is up just fine. Just in case.

I keep my head low as I walk back to the dungeons, where I would try and sit in one of the common room's desks. When I got downstairs, I passed by Snape's office, I noticed the door was half way open, not very usual for weekends.

Curiously, I stop in front of it and peek my head inside just the tiniest bit, enough to hear a conversation between Snape and...

Bloody hell.

Snape had his back to the door while I could see Malfoy's profile, his sharp jaw tensed. They were both standing next to Snape's desk at the end of the room, in a deep conversation.

"Your father..." I hear Snape say with his usual cold voice, "Is in a difficult...position." I could not hear very well since I was so far away but I could make out some things.

I see Malfoy nodding, looking at the floor, "The Ministry denying it...why?"

"This is no place to talk, Mr. Malfoy," Snape says, "However, no, Umbridge does not have anything to do. Just to get Dumbledore out."

I was not understanding a single thing.

Somehow, Draco understood him, "When?"

"Not now," Snape replies, "You must not know when."