Fiercely Stubborn Hearts

Chapter 5

Hermione was truly uneasy the next week when on Monday Malfoy didn't speak to her, and then Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday. She was terrified as to what he may have planned for Friday or the weekend. 

"I don't know, Pansy, it doesn't seem like a Malfoy thing to do to just give up on something that he wants," she said on Thursday, as they walked through the grounds to sit by the beech trees near the water.

Pansy pursed her lips, "In all the years I've known him, he's only done something similar to this twice. Once, because he grew distracted with something else, and the other time, well... The problem is, Hermione, that he is patient. Almost ridiculously so. I wish I could give you some assurance that he wasn't going to come after you at some point in time, but I'd wager to bet that he's trying to let you think he's given up, so that you'll let your guard down."

Hermione snorted, "As if that could ever happen. And he hasn't told you anything of what he may be planning?"

Pansy shook her head, "I wish I knew what he might be thinking, but he hasn't told me much of anything since the war. He's always so closed off from everyone."

"Hadn't he always been that way?" Hermione slid down the trunk of a tree and crossed her legs, watching a small butterfly fly past as Pansy took her spot next to her.

"He used to be open with a choice few people. Blaise and I heard many of his ideas and plots for those he considered to be his sworn enemies. And sometimes, on a rare occasion, he would tell me his feelings of people around him and his emotions, but hardly ever. Now, he nearly refuses to tell us anything about what he might be planning, and, Merlin, I haven't heard him talk to me about his personal life in years."

"So he's closed himself off, then?"

"It appears that way. I wish I could say you were wrong. I know you don't like him, Hermione, but I still worry for him. He's been my best friend since I can remember."

Hermione herself couldn't help feeling a small pang of worry for the blonde, but she pushed it away quickly, "Was he always like this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, was he always so manipulative and conniving? Was he always so arrogant and unkind?"

Pansy was silent for a moment, before a small smile came to her face, "Once, when we were young, he was nearly the most friendly boy I knew. Sure, he had the same qualities that he does now, but he used them for fun, as a child would. Lucius allowed this for some time, until he was around the age of eight. Then, he began to change him and mold him into someone that he needed to take over the Malfoy house. But he saw even more potential in Draco, I believe, when the Dark Lord returned because of his close proximity to Harry, and, since then, he's been like this. It only grew worse after fifth year.

"Hermione, he never asked for any of what he was made to be. He's only ever looked up to his father, and when his father was wrong, in the end... I don't think he knows what to do with himself any longer. He was raised to believe that the Dark Lord was the good side, that what his father was doing was good. He was raised to use his wealth as power. If you had asked that little eight year old boy if he would ever walk up to another little girl his age, and call her a foul word because she was a muggleborn, he would've been horrified."

Hermione bit her lip and huffed, "Do you think, maybe, eventually, he could become... better, in a way?"

Pansy shrugged, "It would take a lot of effort, and even then, he might not. He's very stubborn, in some ways more so than you. It would take someone who is willing to accept every part of him. And I hardly think anyone is willing to do that, at least, not anyone who's at school. Unless..."