[Wattys '13 FINALIST] How Can I Love You When I Hate You So Much? (Draco Malfoy)

How Can I Love You When I Hate You So Much? (Draco Malfoy) Chapter 23

Chapter 23 God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs

I kept to my room as much as Sirius, Tonks and Mrs. Weasley would let me. The tension only grew thicker when it got around that I was a Black. That apparently made me more of a traitor in their eyes. I was hiding in my room on Christmas Eve contemplating everything and banging my head against the wall behind me when Sirius came down the hall singing 'God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs' at the top of his voice, obviously unaware of the invisible line that was drawn between me and the rest of the full house he seemed ecstatic about. He walked through my open door and scowled.

"Jez, what in Merlin's name are you doing?" He asked, one eyebrow raised. He flinched when I threw my head back against the wall again.

"Looking for studs in the wall. In case I want to hang a picture later, you know." I said, then thump. "See, that's a stud there." Sirius sighed and closed the door.

"What's wrong, love?" He asked, sitting down on my royal purple bed. "You are being incredibly anti-social, and I know that's not like you. What's going on?" He said, watching me. He put a hand on top of my head, keeping me from dropping ny head back against the wall again. I raised my left hand, which held my wand, and muttered "Muffliato." I sighed loudly and stood.

"They all hate me, Sirius! All of them." I shouted, my hair turning a vibrant shade of red from the soiling anger. "Why did that stupid hat put me in Slytherin anyway?! It was hard enough getting then to trust me for that simple fact, and then Malfoy had to go and-"

"Malfoy?" Sirius interjected. I stopped pacing and turned to face him. "What about a Malfoy?"

"Draco Malfoy. He's in our year and he's the Seeker for my house." I told him all about the game between the two houses and how I had pulled Harry off of Malfoy.

"So that's why the three of them are banned from Quidditch..." He said.

"WHAT?!" I shouted. "Great! Just fucking PEACHY!" My grip tightened on my wand, which was emitting red embers from its tip, scorching the ancient carpet. Sirius stomped the smoking fabric and pulled my wand from my hand, throwing it on my bed. He took my hands and pulled me in front of him.

"It is not your fault the boys attacked Malfoy. They will come to see that soon enough. I doubt this little fight is going to hinder you from stopping Voldemort. Calm down, the lights are flickering." He said suddenly. I looked at the lights on the wall. The light was in fact flickering, and the window was vibrating. I inhaled deeply, letting it out in a huff that ruffled Sirius' hair lightly. The lights returned to normal, and the rattle in the window stopped. He chuckled and crinkled his nose.

"Your breath smells." He said with a chuckle. I giggled and stuck my tongue out before blowing in his face deliberately. "You have a lot of power and potential. You just need to learn to harness it. And one of your powers, I hear, is getting people to like you. The Sorting hat put you in Slytherin for good reason. Not every wizard that was in Slytherin was bad. And I know you aren't. We all have faith in you, Jez. You are a strong, bright witch. You can do this." He pulled me into a hug then, and I noticed his shirt was damp. Wait, I was crying? I sniffled and laughed at myself.

"Are all Slytherins this emotional? Hogwarts has me all hormonal. I think it's the pumpkin juice." I said with another shaky laugh. Sirius gave me a crooked smile and took my hand again.

"Come on. Molly's made supper. Go down there and force your company on those boys. Show them how awesome you are, what they're missing." I couldn't help but laugh at Sirius.

"Isn't it your job to keep me AWAY from boys?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. He laughed his bark-like laugh.

"No, that's a father's job. It's an uncle's job to be a bad influence." He wiggled his eyebrows and I couldn't help but laugh.

"All right. I suppose that my company is a lovely Christmas present, too." I said with a wave of my hand. Sirius walked out, me on his heels. I almost tripped over a small person that was outside my door. Or what I thought I was a person at first. It turned out to be a house elf.

Except for the filthy rag tied like a loincloth around its middle, it was completely naked. It looked very old. Its skin seemed to be several times too big for it and, though it was bald like all house-elves, there was a quantity of white hair growing out of its large, batlike ears. Its eyes were a bloodshot and watery grey and its fleshy nose was large and rather snoutlike.

"House full of blood traitors, mudbloods, and now another morphing freak. What would Mistress think if she knew Kreacher was taking orders from this filth..." The elf muttered audibly.

"Kreacher! I don't want to hear your insults! Get out of the way!" Sirius said, shoving the small creature out of the way. I made a noise and shoved my uncle.

"Sirius, don't. Kreacher, are you all right?" I asked, squatting down to his level. Kreacher looked at me, obviously apprehensive.

"She looks so much like Miss Helene... She is kind like Kreacher's young Mistress..." He bowed slightly at me and spoke again in a louder voice. "Kreacher is fine, young Mistress." He eyed me, and I smiled widely at him.

"That's wonderful, Kreacher! Merry Christmas!" I patted his knobby, leathery head before walking down the stairs. Sirius rolled his eyes and followed.

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Sorry about my lax updating. A lot had been going on in my life lately, and it is thoroughly distracting. New chappy soon, and don't forget to comment and vote! Love you oodles, babe!