opposites attract (druna)

03. izzie

"Hi guys!" A Huffepuff girl I've seen around in the halls before peeked her head into Draco & I's compartment. "Less than a half hour til we arrive at Hogwarts. You guys might want to change." I gave her a small smile & thanked her. Draco did the same.

The whole train ride was weird and fascinating at the same time. Draco had been.. nicer than I had ever expected him to be. Not one sassy, rude comment was made about me. Even when I spoke of the crumpled-horned snorkack's I had looked for on my trip to Sweden a few years back, all he did was nod politely and looked intrigued, even though he probably wasn't.

Although he wasn't making fun of me, it got awkward at times. I accidentally slipped up and spoke of Dobby, the Malfoy's old house elf who coincidentally rescued me from Malfoy Manor and was killed by Draco's aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange. After that, there was a long silence and we just shifted in our seats uncomfortably.

Once we ran out of topics to talk about (after all, we didn't have much in common), I began reading a new book my father had given me as a beginning of school year present. It was about the different type of dragons and their auras.

I occasionally looked up from my book to watch what Draco was doing- which was not much. I'm guessing he didn't plan for the train ride, because he mostly just played with Bax.

There was a weird moment where I caught him staring at me. He blushed and shyly looked away. It made me smile a little. I didn't know why he was getting nervous, but it was cute and new on him, considering all my life I knew him as a heartless, horrible person.

I slowly got up and gathered my robes to change into. I gave a small friendly nod to Draco before exiting the compartment and making my way to the bathrooms.

Luckily, I was so late changing that no one was in the bathroom at the time. I scurried into the first stall, and quickly slipped on my Ravenclaw attire. I walked out of the stall, slowly making my way to the front of the mirrors.

My reflection looked nothing like myself.

I mean sure, I had the same hair. Straggly, waist length, dirty blonde. Same thin lips. Same pale, bleached eyebrows. Same light skin.

But my eyes were different.

My eyes were once happy & hopeful. They were filled with radiance & light. But now they were were dull, and dim. They no longer glowed with curiosity.

Even my clothes were different. At once, I would've worn my special Butterbeer cork necklace on the first day of school. But today I decided to sport no jewelry. After everything that happened, I just found no use in items like that.

The door swung open, and two young 3rd year Gryffindor girls walked in. Once they saw me, their smile washed away and they immediately quieted down. I quickly washed my hands, not even bothering to dry them, before rushing out into the train corridors.

As I made my way back to the compartment, I thought more of my old self. Before, I wouldn't have had the same reaction to those girls. I wouldn't just have walked away out of embarrassment. I probably wouldn't even mind them, giving them a brief hi and a smile before walking out. However, that's no longer me.

I shook it off, remembering that I should be happy. I'm back at Hogwarts, one of my favorite places to be. The first day of school should be exciting. I should be excited to learn and see my friends.

I slide open the screen door of the compartment revealing a shirtless Draco Malfoy.

He whips around, looking me straight in the eye. I instantly shut it as fast as I could, squeezing my eyes closed in horror. I stand still for a moment, shocked.