Let it be • Draco Malfoy

5

I lay staring at the ceiling, wishing I knew what was going on in my mind. Today was usually one of my favourite days, I loved going into Hogsmeade, it was always such a comforting feeling being there. But this year, I wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball and die. It'd been like this for a month now, I felt like more of a robot than a person and I no longer felt positive in the Hufflepuff environment. People questioned me every day on why I looked so ill, and I didn't know what to say. Draco seemed to be getting meaner, but it only got to when I lay awake in bed thinking about what he said. Helios wanted to beat him up, but I told him not to. I rolled over in my bed and checked the time, deciding it was a fitting time to get out of bed. I climbed out from under my warm covers into the cool air, shivering slightly. I wore jeans and one of George's oversized jumpers. Cuddling my body tightly. Oscar watched me in confusion and I chuckled silently to myself, gently stared placing a kiss into the cat's forehead.

"Good morning you grump," I whispered and he just purred as he got cosy in the warm place where I had been laying. When I walked into the common room, George was sat on the sofa staring at a letter on the coffee table. I walked over to him and sat down.

"It's got your name on it." He said and I stared at the unfamiliar handwriting on the small letter. It was obviously from someone within the walls of Hogwarts, which made me extremely curious. I picked up the note and scanned the handwriting again, trying to identify it. George looked away as I opened it, not wanting to read the note that could possibly be a secret.

'Dear Eurydice
Please meet me in my classroom as soon as possible
Professor Lupin'

"It's from Lupin, he wants me to meet him in his class," I said standing up.

"What do you think it could be about?" George asked and I shrugged.

"Me failing the class?" I asked and he shook his head, knowing it probably wasn't that. I made my way to Lupins classroom, knocking on the door before I entered.

"Professor Lupin, you wanted to see me?" I asked as I walked into the classroom. He was staring down at a book while sitting on a desk and he smiled, motioning for me to sit on the desk across from him.

"Harry has been telling me about how you are feeling." He was gentle with his words but I could tell he was concerned. "Everyone's started to notice a difference in you, Eurydice and I can't help to think it was after the boggart." He said and I took a breathe and nodded.

"There's always been something different about my father. My mother is a Hufflepuff, but dad never told us what he was. We assumed he was a Hufflepuff also since in our house the Hufflepuff crest stayed on the walls even after mum left. He's a horrible man my dad, always has been since we were young. When Helios got sorted into Slytherin, it only got worse. He used to shout rich mean things at Helios, he used to punch him and hit him, until one day he couldn't handle it anymore and he left." I stared at the floor, blinking quickly for a few moments to get rid of the tears in my eyes before I continued. "When my dad walked out of that cupboard, I didn't expect him. I don't have many feelings towards him, not even hate. But, I've started to wonder, why did Helios get sorted into Slytherin? Why did I have to beg the hat to sort me into Hufflepuff?" I whispered, looking up at Remus who looked at me sadly. Tears welled in my eyes, but before the conversation could continue. Professor McGonagall entered the classroom.

"Oh well, I am sorry to interrupt." She said looking between Lupin and I. I wiped my eyes with my jumper and stood up, smiling at her gently.

"It's okay, I was just leaving. Thanks for listening to Professor Lupin." I said with a half-hearted smile and he just nodded. I left the room with a lump in my throat, when the door shut behind me I let the tears flow again.

"What's wrong with you?" Draco questioned as he walked passed me, stopping to stare and me and I looked at him coldly.

"None of your business." I snapped before quickly walking off. I joined my friends out on the courtyard, George held my letter of consent out to me as I approached him.

"You okay?" He asked eyeing me up and I just simply nodded. We handed over our letters and George and I made our way to Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione, Harry unable to attend since he didn't have a signed letter of consent.

"You look awful," Ron said after staring at me for like 3 minutes while we walked. Hermione hit him over the back of his head. "What? Someone has to say it." He said and I smirked and rolled my eyes.

"You could've said it a bit less harsh," Hermione whispered loudly and George stifled his laughter.

"I'm okay, trust me. Just got a lot going on in my mind, hopefully after Christmas I'll be back to my old self again." I said and Ron nodded. Helios was throwing snowballs in the middle of Hogsmeade and just causing a ruckus.

"We're going fo check out the shrieking shack, care to join?" Hermione asked and George nodded while I was more focused on Helios who had a black eye.

"I'll catch up with you guys," I assured them and they all nodded before making their way where they could see the shrieking shack from a distance.

"Eurydice." Helios approached with a smile while I just raised my eyebrow with curiosity as I stared at his eye. "Oh this?" He questioned and I nodded. "Didn't Georgie tell you?" He asked and I shook my head. He smirked and nodded, backing up. "Ask your best friend." He said and then turned back to his friends. I sighed and shook my head, going to find my friends.