ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Whispers from the Past, ch. 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"Draco!" Snape exclaimed in surprise when he saw the young Malfoy enter the tent.

With a sigh, he collapsed onto the wooden bench across from them. His pale eyes ran over Harmony dismissively. "So you're still alive, are you?"

While Harmony glared at him, Snape asked, "Draco, what are you doing here? Where are your parents?"

"Mother's just outside the tent. But I don't think she's in the mood for talk. She's stressed enough having to be at this place."

"What are you doing here?" Harmony asked.

"That's none of your bloody business, Granger."

"What are you doing here, Draco?" Snape repeated.

Draco looked away, pursing his lips. After a hesitation, he said reluctantly, "We need the money." He quickly added to Harmony, "But it's nothing serious, alright? Everybody needs a few extra galleons these days."

"You said Narcissa was here," Snape said. "Where is your father?"

He bit his lip and Harmony knew he was reluctant to speak. "He's working overtime at his new job. We're just trying to start over, what with the Dark Lord gone."

"He's not dead yet," Harmony snapped.

"Starting over is wise," Snape said, ignoring Harmony's outburst. "Are you and your family still at the Malfoy Manor?"

Draco shook his head. "They thought it would be a good idea to sell it. We have a place maybe twenty miles in a forest near Father's new work." His face soured. "It's tiny as hell, in my opinion, a shack compared to the Manor."

Without a word, Snape was on his feet and swept out of the tent, leaving Harmony and Draco alone.

An awkward silence settled on the dueler's tent. Unspoken words rallied back and forth between the two that might as well have been a heated argument. They cast each other glares, provoking the other to speak first.

"I hate you," Harmony said at last, feeling relief at finally getting it out in the open.

"Tell me something I don't know, Mudblood."

Harmony flinched at the insult and she hissed, "Do you know why I hate you?"

He gave a small shrug.

"Because you tried to kill me!" Harmony shouted, jumping to her feet. The other competitors spun their heads in her direction at her outburst.

"W-what?" he said. His well-groomed platinum blond hair seemed to deflate.

"You practically sent me to my death!" She pointed an accusing finger under his nose and his eyes went cross-eyed looking at it.

"What're you talking about, you nutter?"

She dropped her arm. "Last time I saw you, you tattled on me to Voldemort like a little rat," Harmony said. "You knew he wouldn't take the news that I was Muggle-born well. You left me there alone with him because you knew he would kill me for it, didn't you?"

Draco's Adams apple bobbed as he swallowed, and Harmony knew he understood what she was talking about. She glared down at him with as much hatred as she could muster. "I've always thought low of you, Draco Malfoy, but that was lower than low. That was unforgivable."

He stared at the clasps of her cloak, not able to meet her eyes; his cheeks were flaming red with what Harmony took to be shame, but when he looked at her she saw not one guilty speck in his cold pale eyes.