Angel In My Eyes

Chapter 2 "They've broken me dear"

Weasley arrived at the Ministry some minutes later, after an owl that he had gotten from Harry explaining only the basics of the case.

The Golden Trio had asked Draco to remain outside while they were having a private conversation.It didn't take long, after 10 or 15 minutes they were all outside of the Ministry ready to leave.

Harry and Ron would go to the Manor as planned and Draco would go to the Order with Hermione.

The two boys operated first, leaving the others alone in the empty street.

Hermione glanced at the blond, he hadn't changed since the last time she had seen him.Maybe he was a bit paler but nothing more.He was the same Draco Malfoy and that scared her a bit.

She stretched out her arm for him to take it so they could operate to Siriu's house.

He gazed at her, then at her hand and finally placed his palm on the top of her left arm.

In less than a second they were standing in a small, empty living room.There were two windows, letting some morning light enter the room, then two dark blue sofas on each side of a big fireplace.

On the right wall there was a huge book case and on the left some paintings and photos, Draco couldn't really see the faces on the photos from were he was standing.

"Come." The witch said, walking out of the living room and down a narrow corridor.

Draco followed her, observing the strange house as he went.

They went up one staircase passing by his mother's family tree tapestry, his heart skipped a beat as his eyes caught his mother's moving image right next to his aunt's.

Granger must noticed it as she stopped walking and just looked at the blond.

"Malfoy?"

He shook his head, leaving his thoughts behind. "Yeah?"

"Shall we?"

He nodded.

They continued walking for some time until they were on an other corridor, this time a large, light one with one door on its side.

"This is the library.", she pointed the left door.

"And this" She opened the right door and entered.

Draco followed her into the room.

"Is the guest room."

The room was small, just a simple bed, a window, a desk, a chair and a closet.Nothing fancy.

"Me, Harry and Ron all stay upstairs."

He just nodded, not too sure what he had to know this.

"If you need anything you'll find us there."

"I'm a big boy Granger, I can take care of myself."

"I have no doubts."

He glared at her.

"Breakfast will be ready soon, I guess you don't want to join the others in the dining room?"

He smirked. "Good guess."

"I'll bring you something then."

He turned his back and moved to sit on the bed.

"You're welcome." The witch said and exited the room slamming the door behind her.

Draco sighed, placing his face on his cold palms.

Everything was happening too fast.The previous night he was at a bar with his friends and now, he was at the fucking Order, Draco Malfoy of all people.

His mother was dead, he had seen her some hours ago laying on the floor he had once played with his toys as a kid.

When he was looking at that floor memories of his childhood were filling his mind but now, blood.All he could see was blood, blood on the floor, blood all over his cold mother, blood on his clothes and skin, blood, blood, blood.

He knew a panic attack was coming, he had been having them ever since the battle.

He was trying hard to avoid it, to act like he was fine but he wasn't.He didn't know how to be fine.

A single tear rolled down his cheek, he felt the hot liquid as it reached his palm.

"Fuck it." He murmured to himself. "Fuck all of it."

There was a knock at the door but Draco didn't hear it, only when the door opened and the brunette came in he raised his head to look at her.

She was standing at the door frame, holding a small wooden disk in her hands.There was a moment of awkward silence between the two.

Hermione moved to the desk and put the disk down.

She then turned to look at the boy again, yeah she had noticed his tear, she had noticed his red eyes, she had noticed.

She cleared her voice."Are you gonna be okay?"

"I am okay Granger." He assured her, never taking his eyes of hers.

"You can act like the tough guy as much as you want but you can't hide everything."

"I'm not trying to hide anything."

"Is that what you're saying to yourself?Or is a just a lie that you say to others?" She took a step toward him, eyes narrowed and hands on her thighs."Let your mask fall Malfoy, for your own good."

"You don't know what it's good for me Mud-" He stopped himself.No, no, no this word was no longer a part of him and even if the witch in front of him was acting like a bitch, he wouldn't allow himself to use it, not now, not ever.

"Say it, I'm not affected by it any longer, you see, I look at it every single day thanks to your aunt, it's right here, on my hand.So say it, humiliate me, if that makes you feel stronger."

He could see the argue in her brown eyes, they were ready to explode."I'm not using this word anymore." He decided.

"You were about to."

"I know." He paused. "I am sorry."

Her face fell, she turned white and the argue left her eyes in a second.

She took a step backwards, still gazing at him.

Did he?

She couldn't believe it, she couldn't believe it even though it happened in front of her very eyes, she couldn't.

"I.." She tried but no words came out.

"I have to go." Was the best she could do.

She turned around and left the room as fast as she could, too dizzy and confused to close the door behind her.

And it was then that he saw it, saw himself in someone else's eyes.
The girl couldn't believe it, she couldn't believe that he was capable to say those simple words, was he really that cruel?That evil?That heartless?

"You are heartless though."

Her words, some hours before.He thought he had changed, he believed he had.But her reaction was enough to understand that he obviously, hadn't.

He was the person that Granger had seen just a moment before, he was the person that couldn't apologise, he was that person and he hated that person.

He let his tired body fall on the bed, and he stayed there for hours, looking at the empty ceiling.

And when it finally got dark outside, he stayed there, looking at the endless black, how that colour reminded him of his soul.

Empty, endless black.Could he really feel anything?Maybe he was a psycopath, that would explain a lot, it would even be a relief.

But unfortunately, he wasn't.He could feel, he just chose not to.

Granger was right, he was after all, heartless.

~~~~

So, what do you think? Are we moving okay? Let me know!

-Dimitra