"If you love me, let me gOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Brendon Urie screamed in my ear. I sighed, and turned off the alarm on my iPhone, groaning as I got out of bed. Well, I say get out, but I really mean flopping like an obese walrus from my bed to my floor. Ouch. Well, that's one way to wake up, I guess.
I grabbed my school uniform from where I left it yesterday on the floor and put it on. I have an amazing method for making your old clothes look fine. Slightly crumpled shirt? Oh well, better undo another button to draw attention away from that. Food-stained skirt? Give it a roll, and no one with notice. Hole in your tights? Make a few more, so that it looks intentional. Eyeliner still on from when you forgot to take it off yesterday? Just add some on top, reinforces the hardcore look. Chipped nails? Bite a few to show you're not perfect. Black lipstick looking a little, well, grey? Rub it off and apply a fresh coat. Only one combat boot? Um... that might be a problem. I turned my room upside down, and finally found it behind my guitar. I ran my fingers through my knotty brown hair, separating the green stripes from the natural. Hey, house pride, am I right? I pull my Slytherin robe on, the only part of my uniform I hadn't managed to somehow customise. Yet.
Ok, and I know what you're probably thinking right now. S-L-U-T. Whatever. I've been called worse, and besides, I'm not a slut. Hermione has more experience than me! I've never even kissed a guy let alone- Um... Anyway... Where was I?
I walked down the stairs into the great hall, and plop down next to Hermione, opposite to Ron and Harry. And I know it's the Gryffindor table and whatever, but let me explain a few things to you.
First off, I am literally the only muggle-born kid in the entire house of Slytherin. Also the first. Which basically means... they all hate me. Bullying was a massive part of my life, until the beginning of my fifth year in which I made a friend over my acting summer courses and she introduced me to My Chemical Romance. Ripped skinny jeans, dyed hair, black lipstick and eyeliner were not too far behind. People didn't recognise me, and I actually felt confident in my own skin for once. It definitely paid off to see Hermione's face. I think she was more mad than my Mom! Those three are the only reason I stay sane. That and my Aunt. She's always had a not-so-secret soft spot for me, protecting me against Snape, and letting me sit at her house's table and hang out in their common room for as long as I like. Have I told you that the Slytherin common room is so cold?
Everyone's kind of grown to accept me over the past few years, everyone, that is, apart from him.
"Too immersed in your girlfriend to come and sit at your own house table, Burns?" Malfoy yelled from across the room, "Should we all turn away while you kiss?"
Titters and whispering filled the hall as Hermione turned red.
"You wish, Malfoy! It's the only thing close to action you're getting all year!" I shouted back, giving him the finger.
"Caia, you don't have to do that!" Hermione hissed "Now people will think we're together!"
"Oh shush, 'Mione, he's been using that line for years, and just because you two act like a married couple, doesn't mean anyone thinks you actually are." Ron grunted, tucking into his bacon.
"I thought it was pretty funny." Harry added, ducking his head to avoid Hermione's scowl.
I chuckled, "C'mon idiots, let's go to our last Christmas Term sixth year class!" Consulting my timetable, I groaned. "History of Magic."
---
Since it was the last day of term, everyone was going home this evening for the Christmas Holidays, and lessons ended early.
"Are you sure you don't want to come to the Burrow?" Ron pleaded, "My Mum is practically in love with you, and we're all going!"
"I'll be fine, Mother." I chuckled. "Besides, I have the entire castle all to myself, and who could pass up an offer like that? Channukah's already passed, you guys know I don't celebrate Christmas, and I want to spend some time with Auntie Minerva! We've been over this a thousand times. I'm staying, and there's nothing you can do about it!"
I hugged Hermione, who promised to send an owl, every day, and loads of Christmas presents from the three of them.
"I don't even know why you bother, Hermione." Harry butted in, "She already had Channukah, and I've never seen more presents in my life!"
"I know!" Ron exclaimed, "A present every day, for eight days, from each individual family member?! Muggles have the best holidays."
"Christmas is a muggle tradition too, Ronald." Hermione chided. "I'm not sure how... maybe... hmmm... Caia, check in the library to see if there are any books on Muggle/Wizard Christmas will you for me darling?"
"Sure..." I grinned halfheartedly, and sent them on their way.
A few hours later, all the students had gone, and night was beginning to fall, a beautiful sunset over the castle. I decided to throw on some sweatpants, a Fall Out Boy t-shirt and a sweater, and head up to the Astronomy Tower, to re-read the Percy Jackson series, and wrap myself in the blanket I grabbed, last minute.
I walked up the stairs, and got to the top, out of breath, and was about to find a comfy spot when I realised suddenly I was not alone.
A boy stood there, slender and tall, his figure broken and bent, his white-blonde hair whipping around in the strong wind. He was standing on the window ledge just across the room from me. He looked strangely familiar, but before I could figure out who it was, I suddenly knew he was about to jump.
"Don't do it!" I yelled. "You have so much to live for!"
"Do I?" the boy turned his head, and my stuff clattered to the floor.
"D-Draco? Draco Malfoy?"
He nodded bitterly, having turned his head back towards the setting sun, he took a deep breath, and in my panic, I tried to talk as fast as I could.
"Malfoy, don't do this! There are so many people out there who love and care for you, more than you'll ever know, that is if you jump. There's no going back!"
"I can't go back, my past-" His voice broke, and I found tears spilling silently out of my eyes. My tormentor, my bully, my arch-nemesis, my mortal enemy for six years, the person I was trying desperately to save.
"Malfoy, look. How do you know if you don't give yourself a second chance?"
"Too many mistakes." He groaned.
"You can always fix them!" Realising he wouldn't listen to reason, I begged him, the tears streaming down my face.
"Draco, please. For me."
He turned around, his eyes actually focusing on me for the first time. He took in my scattered belongings, my tense, panicked state, and my wet cheeks. He nodded silently and I breathed out the air I didn't know I was holding in.
He took one foot off the ledge to get down, and lost his balance.
Then he fell.
I ran forwards, breaking out of my frozen state, and grabbed his flailing arm as quickly as I could. He jerked back fast, and I winced, as I saw his body being hit against the stone tower, and his arm bleeding from the scars already on it being stretched to the limit.
I pulled him up feverishly, scrambling to check his temperature, while he lay on the floor, moaning. I leant over him to try and find a pulse, when I heard him mutter.
"I'm fine, Burns." To which he promptly passed out.
I sighed, wondering how I was going to get myself out of the tricky situation this time.
