Falling for the Facade (Draco Malfoy Fan fiction)

Chapter 12

The next day, I headed to Potions class, arriving early enough to make room for Draco beside me, just in case he decided to sit there again. As everyone filed into the classroom, I kept glancing at the door, but Draco was nowhere to be seen. It was unusual for him to be late, and I found myself growing anxious. The lesson began with Snape droning on about the dangers of our upcoming potion, but I barely heard him; my attention was fixated on the empty seat next to me.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud bang, causing everyone to jump. Draco entered, his movements hurried and uncharacteristically disheveled. He slipped into the seat next to me without a word, his face set in a grim expression. I glanced over and noticed a fresh cut on his cheek—was that there before? His pant leg was torn and soaked with a dark, unidentifiable liquid that pooled on the floor beneath his chair.

Snape, pausing mid-sentence, fixed Draco with a sharp glare. "Draco, if you are going to show up late to class, at least keep it clean," he said, his voice dripping with disdain as his eyes flicked to the cut and the small puddle on the floor. "You, girl," he pointed at me, "accompany Mr. Malfoy and his mess to the infirmary at once." Without waiting for a response, Snape turned back to the front of the class, dismissing us with a wave of his hand.

I quickly gathered my things and led the way out of the classroom, Draco trailing behind me. As we walked through the dimly lit corridors, the silence between us grew more oppressive with each step. The soft echo of our footsteps was the only sound breaking the stillness.

"Draco, what happened?" I finally asked, trying to pierce through the tension. His face was drawn, and he seemed even paler than usual.

"God, you ask so many questions," he snapped, licking his fingers where small cuts marred his skin. "Can you just mind your own business for once? Please."

"I was just trying—" I began, but he cut me off sharply.

"Well, don't. I don't need you," he hissed, brushing past me and speeding up towards the infirmary. I stood there, stunned, watching him disappear around the corner. 

I slowly made my way back to potions as I didn't even do my task properly. 

I slumped back into my seat, Dracos books in a perfect pile on the corner of my desk. Snape continued on with his lesson. The more he talked the more I drowned him out until he was a muffle. 

The lesson thankfully ended soon I started grabbing Dracos things to bring back to the dorms and Snape approached me. "You can leave his belongings." 

I stopped in my tracks, I glanced up at Snape towering over me, I slowly released his belongings and stood there. "Go." He said sternly. 

Snapes wand tapped Dracos books and they were gone. I looked at the desk and back at Snape, silently I walked out of the room. 

I didnt feel like going to Transfiguration today and just slumped my way back to my dorm, Draco had no right talking to me like that, even after I tried to help. That was the last I saw of Draco that day.  

I was shocked to see Sienna laying on the floor reading with Cedric on her bed. They both were supposed to be in a class too. 

"woah miss rebel, skipping class?" She asked closing her book and rolling onto her stomach to watch me. 

I threw my bag on our love seat and slowly sat on the ground. 

I recounted the strange encounter to Sienna, who listened with a frown. "I overheard some people talking in the hall," she said, her voice low and serious. "They think Draco's dad might be beating him. I mean, where else would all these injuries be coming from?"

"I don't know," I replied hesitantly, thinking of Lucius Malfoy's cold demeanor. "Lucius doesn't seem like the type."

"I agree Sienna, I mean we are all at the feasts, how many owls come in with treats for that brat. More than I can count thats for sure." Cedric added to the conversations, "And his father bought the Slytherin team Nimbus 2001 just a year or so ago." 

Sienna snorted, her mouth full of whatever she had conjured up for lunch. "Not the type? Come on, A, are you kidding me? Don't tell me you're defending that rude creature. He could buy him all those things as an apology, I mean we never hear about his mom either."

I took a bite of her food and handed the plate back with a playful smile. "Never defending him."

But as I glanced around our room, a sense of unease settled in my chest. Everything that had been happening recently felt off. 

. . .

Cedric sprawled comfortably on one of the large, cushioned chairs, his feet propped up on a footstool. He was engrossed in a game of wizard chess, the pieces moving with a life of their own as he strategized his next move. Sienna and I were seated on the floor, a blanket draped over their laps as they chatted quietly.

"So, Cedric," Sienna asked, glancing at the chessboard with a playful smirk, "how's the game going? Winning, I hope?"

Cedric grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, definitely. My knights are about to make a grand move, and I don't think your pieces will see it coming."

I chuckled,  "You know, you're quite the strategist. I wouldn't stand a chance against you."

Sienna nudged I with her elbow. "You say that now, but you've got a lot of potential. We should have a rematch sometime."

As Cedric made his move, the chess pieces clattered on the board, and Sienna let out a mock groan of frustration. "Alright, I concede. Your knights are definitely winning this round."

The room fell into a contemplative silence as the trio pondered the gravity of what they had discussed tonight.  Sienna stood up to go curl up in Cedrics lap. I spun my wand around to create an infinite fire that would float in-between the room. The warmth of the fire and the comfort of each other's company offered a brief respite from the worries of the day.

After a while, Sienna broke the silence with a sigh of relief. "Well, at least we have each other." Her head rested on Cedrics shoulder, his head moved as close to hers without breaking it. 

Cedric and I exchanged smiles, their hearts lightened by the reassuring presence of Sienna. The three of them spent the rest of the evening in quiet conversation, the flickering firelight casting gentle shadows as they enjoyed each other's company, finding solace in their shared camaraderie.