Looking out onto the ruins of Hogwarts I wondered, how was I going to move away from this, how was i going to carry on with my life? Everyone around me despised me, they looked at me with disgust. I knew what they called me behind my back, a coward. I was a coward. My family ran at the end battle, we left before the fight ended. I left my friends. Not that I had any true friends, I controlled them with my power I gained from my father. I threatened them, I told them, 'Wait until my father hears about this.' Thinking that my father was someone great, but how wrong I was. He was cruel and vile man, following the orders of a monster, afraid if he didn't he would be punished; which is probably true.However having him as my father figure corrupted my younger years at Hogwarts. I was cruel and vile just like him, thinking it was the correct way to act. I thought I was superior to everyone around me, so I treated everyone like dirt. How could they ever forgive me? Leaving them, betraying them. It was my fault Professor Snape had to kill his dear friend Professor Dumbledore...
...I can remember that night so well up in the astronomy tower. I watched as the life from Dumbledore's eyes slowly died as he fell. The guilt I feel for his life is sometimes unbearable, thinking of his wise words and happy stature no longer filling Hogwarts walls, it brings me to tears. So consumed by his thoughts, Draco did not notice the presence of another wizard slowly coming towards him until he heard the familiar voice of the Mudblood speak his name.
"Draco..Are you alright?" Hermione asked timidly, she did not want to aggravate Draco Malfoy from previous experiences of insults he had spat at her every time she tried to have a polite word with him, but he said nothing. He stood on the edge of the balcony where Dumbledore had fallen to his death, looking out over the desolate destruction of rocks and stones that was Hogwarts; sadness gloomed in his eyes. Hermione thought she had seen a tear gently cascading its way down his cheek, but before she could be sure he quickly wiped it away. As Draco was not willing to respond to her question, she thought this would be a good time to leave. Turning around to go as she needed to find Ron anyway, she felt a hand lightly grip her shoulder. Startled, she looked back to see Draco was now facing her and it was his hand on her shoulder. "who else is up here to put their hand on your shoulder, he is the only person here Hermione"
Looking down at the floor, embarassed at what Hermione might think Drace whispered "Hermione, can you ever forgive me for what I have done?"
Unprepared for the question and still in shock of the fact Draco Malfoy had touched her, the mudblood. The mudblood who he could hardly look at let alone speak to most days! She could only look at him astonishment. Draco slowly looked up to see what Hermione was dithering on with and why she wasn't answering his question, until he noticed the complete bewilderment on her face. "Oh bollocks..." is all Draco could think, as he quickly removed his hand off her shoulder.
He walked back over to where he was standing and regained the same position he was in before. Staring out into the night sky, the full moon shining in all its glory beaming a harsh white light onto the wreck that was Hogwarts. It created shadows that danced below the stars, maybe trying to entertain them to some extent.He knew it would be back to normal in a few weeks, but he still felt responsible for its destruction, in his own strange way of thinking. He then heard Hermione scuffling about behind him. What was that witch doing he thought. But before he could turn around he heard something, a small whisper in his ear.
"Yes..."
He froze, he didn't know how to feel, his emotions twisted violently in his stomach as the thought of someone actually forgiving him...
