Cheers, Potter.

Welcome back, Malfoy.

Draco's POV

The library had become my usual haunt as of late. I could barely bring myself to show my face in the Great Hall, let alone in such close quarters as the common room and the dorms... besides, studying had always been a comfort to me. The pages of a book didn't ridicule me, and judge me, and hate me.

I flicked through my battered and bashed copy of Advanced Potions that I had reread at least half a dozen times, I didn't need or particularly want to read it again; I had memorised every potion recipe in there, I just had to keep busy. I didn't absorb the information on the pages, but it killed time and at least kept my mind off of things.

I did try to keep away from it all; the hatred and abhorrence my fellow students met me with but I was beginning to realise that I was a fool to think I could escape it. The taunting and the glares would never end.

"You know," an unfamiliar voice drawled from the other side of the highly stacked shelves, "It's his fault that she's dead."

I immediately knew they were talking about me – only I could draw such raw, unbridled venom from someone's voice. I tried my best not to listen, but in all honesty, I was glad of the pain it brought me to hear that people held me responsible. I deserved nothing less.

"I can't believe they let him back into the school after everything he's done."

As painful as it was to face them, I felt the irrevocable need to apologise to whoever I'd caused this pain to. I had to own my past, not cower from responsibility as my family had done.

I was horribly aware that no number of apologies would ever be enough to make amends for my horrendous behaviour in the war and my treatment of others before it. Though I felt, at least, it was a start. I just hoped that others saw it that way.

I began to round the corner to face my accusers when my feet were swept from under me by a book flying at my shins with immense force. I fell, and heard a resounding crack as my head hit the desk I'd been sitting at moments before.

This had been happening a lot. At first I'd put it down to misfortune, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, standing on the wrong stair as they began to shift and falling half a flight, or forgetting my way and foolishly opening the wrong doors. That thought then evolved to an idea that it might be a few first-years playing pranks on the older students. But it had been happening too often and going on too long for that. No. Students were getting their revenge for the part I had to play in the deaths of their friends, the Castle itself was getting its pound of flesh from the traitorous Death Eater. Who was I to hold that against them?

I scrambled to my feet, keeping my head down as I did, remaining as small as possible; a difficult thing for a six foot, plainly Malfoy-looking wizard to do. The last thing I needed was to make eye contact with anyone right now; I still had what was left of my pride.

My head was spinning and my vision started to cloud from the blow to my head, I did my best to mask it by sitting back to my desk and keeping my eyes trained to the wood, my overgrown, unbrushed hair falling into my eyes.

I'd thrown caution to the wind when it came to personal grooming since returning to Hogwarts, much to Blaise's distaste. I just didn't seem to have the energy or the motivation to maintain my vanity anymore and favoured skulking around the castle with the spare time I now had.

No change there then, Potter's voice echoed in my head. I was too hazy to snipe back at the imaginary voice.

Once the library had firmly returned to its upright and unmoving self again I resolved to head back to the common room where to, no doubt, a colourful array of curse words and insulting comments awaited me.

I shoved my few supplies into my bag and threw it over my shoulder heading for the library exit as quickly as humanly possible. It was a short walk to the Slytherin common room from the library but unfortunately there was no shortage of people around. I walked quickly and quietly trying to avoid as many people as possible but I was abruptly halted when someone actually spat at my feet.

I didn't look up to see who it was, I didn't have the courage, but I heard a voice I thought I knew sneer three words as I walked away:

"Welcome back, Malfoy."