Battle Scars {Draco Malfoy}

Chapter Twenty Eight

There wasn't a lot of women that Draco feared in his life, the main one had been his Aunt Bellatrix, but there were full grown men that had feared that woman. Even his mother had admitted several times that she feared her own sister. Bellatrix had been one woman that was driven forward by her own wants and desires and her wants and desires had been Voldemort. She was obsessed with him on an unhealthy level by far. Whatever the Dark Lord had asked her to do she was ready and willing, not once questioning him. And she had done terrible, terrible things to people. Ruining the lives of many without even a care.

But the second woman that Draco feared would be Professor McGonagall, and it wasn't because she reminded him of his aunt. She was completely different from Bellatrix, a brilliant professor with a sharp mind and a powerful sense of loyalty and bravery. However, just one look from the woman was enough to get Draco feeling nervous as she had yet to say a word to him in the Hospital Wing. McGongall held an authority like air about her, one that Draco didn't ever really dare to mess with during his time at school before.

"Mr. Malfoy."

Draco hated being called by his last name, because all he could think of was his father when people addressed him as such, and it was just a further reminded that people probably just saw him as a smaller version of his father.

He briefly made eye contact with Professor McGonagall before he looked away from her stern gaze.

"Yes, Professor?" he muttered out.

"I don't know where to begin when it comes to processing the events of last night. Not only did you put yourself in a dangerous situation, you also had another student involved which all could have ended horribly if Miss Easton did not know what to do in the situation. You're very fortunate she had known the spells she did to heal you, because even Madam Pomfrey discussed the condition you came in last night wasn't a good one at all. "

"I know, Professor."

"On top of this, I'm not sure if you're in the right state of mind to continue going here, Mr. Malfoy. The events of last night have me considering that perhaps you need to take some time and go home to sort things out-"

"No!" Draco nearly shouted stopping her from going any further. "Please, don't send me home. I'm trying...I really. I'm trying to be different...different who I was during those years. And I can't do that if you send me home. I can't change who I am if I'm surrounded by that family. Even my own mother who's normally on my side, she's still in her old ways about blood purity and such. I don't want to be around that. I came back because I want something different. I want to do something different with my life. I don't want to follow the ways of Toujours pur anymore. That's why I cam back here. I'm trying. Last night...I had a moment where I didn't think I could actually change, at least not in the eyes of my peers, but I was wrong. You have to believe me."

Professor McGonagall was quiet for a couple of minutes, unsure of how to respond to Draco in that moment.

"Clara has been helping me the most since I've arrived here. She's been the only one to offer the support I actually need. But she needs support too and I've been trying to help her. I can't help her if you send me home. We're helping each other. Please don't take that away from me."

Clara was confused whether to wait outside the Hospital Wing for McGonagall or head back to the dorms and wait to be called upon. Rather than trekking back only be summoned once more, Clara sat on the steps leading up to the Hospital Wing to wait. It was several minutes later that she heard the sounds of labored breathing coming up the steps.

She smiled when she saw Abby holding onto the wall as she guided herself up the steps.

"Abby, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? Clara, the whole school is talking about some insane stuff that went down last night. I heard it involved you and Draco and he's in the hospital wing, what happened?"

"A lot." Clara said, not wanting to go into details over the matter, especially with Abby.

"Well, is he okay? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine and he's doing okay."

"What are you doing out here, how come you're not with him?"

"I was with him, but Professor McGonagall wanted to have a word with him in private and she wants to talk to me afterwards so I have to stay here for the time being."

"So are you and Draco friends again? Please say yes." Abby clasped her hands together in a begging motion.

"Yes, we're friends again, Abby." Clara smiled. " I overreacted the other day in Hogsmeade and I said things I shouldn't have said, and I already apologized to him about it. I'm hoping we can just let it go and not worry about that specific moment anymore. It was just a messy scenario."

"Sounds like it. Well, I'm glad you two are friends again. Because it would have been awkward going back and forth between you two to talk. Like I would have to spend some weekends with you and then other weekends with him."

Clara laughed. "No, Abby, we wouldn't put you through such things."

"Thank goodness, because I really like you two much better when you're together."