Let it be • Draco Malfoy

6

Christmas had gone and passed and yet I still couldn't shift the awful feeling that weighed over me. George and I sat in the library in silence, he was tapping his foot while I had my eyes closed. It was getting in my nerves but I knew it kept him focused so I didn't point it out. I could feel someone staring at me, yet when I looked around the room there was no one there. Harry, Ron, George and I had planned to meet up to go down to the lake to see Hagrid. Today was Buckbeaks sentencing. I stared at my hands before I looked over to George as he sipped his tea, suddenly I remembered Helios black eye. I cleared my throat quietly before speaking.

"How did Helios get his black eye?" I asked abruptly, making George choke on his tea and then look at me in shock. "He told me to ask you," I said with a slight smirk.

"I...uh.." he stuttered and I rolled my eyes. "He tried to kiss me and I got freaked out, so my first reaction was to punch him." He said and I did my best not to bust out into laughter in the library.

"So you're first thought was to punch him?" I asked in disbelief and he just nodded. I smirked and shook my head. George gazed up at the clock and then looked back at me. I nodded to him and we made our way down to the lake where Harry, Ron and Hermione already were. I sat next to Harry on the rock as Hagrid began to speak.

"Well, I got up an' said my bit - you know, how Buckbeak was a good Hippogriff an' as long as yeh treated 'im with respect, he'd treat you the same. Then Lucius Malfoy got up an' said his bit - you know, how Buckbeak was a deadly dangerous beast that no teacher in their righ' mind would expose their students too..." Hagrid trailed off.

"And...?" Hermione asked with dread in her voice. We watched as Hagrid slung another rock into the water, we all swallowed our emotions. " you mustn't blame yourself, Hagrid." Hermione comforted the man and I nodded.

"Draco. It's him the committee should punish. It's him they should send off to the forest, not Buckbeak." Ron said and we all agreed.

"Buckbeaks not going back to the forest..." Hagrid said and I closed my eyes.

"Wheres he going?" I asked sadly and Hagrid stopped, still staring out at the lake.

"He asked fer the worse, yeh see, Lucius Malfoy did. An' the committee granted it. Buckbeak's bin sentenced ter death." Hagrid wailed and we all looked at each in pain. It was horrible seeing Hagrid so upset and of course we felt awful for Buckbeak, the poor creature was just protecting itself. Hagrid asked to be left alone and we all left after hugging him.

"This is terrible, absolutely awful," George said and I nodded, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. We walked silently up to the castle, our hearts heavy as we made our way to lunch. I decided to excuse myself from lunch since I had forgotten my bag in the library and didn't have much of an appetite anyway. As I walked to the library, I noticed one of the classroom doors were wide open which enticed me in. When I walked in the classroom was silent, until the door slammed shut. I turned to see Draco standing, no emotion on his face.

"What're you doing, Malfoy?" I asked backing up slightly and holding my wand tightly in my hand.

"I want you to face the truth, I know it, we all know it. You have to know it by now, surely, with all you've felt with Sirius Black running wild around the castle. The pull by the dementors. You know." He said and I shook my head.

"Let me out Malfoy," I said as I walked towards the door. He went to grab my arm and I quickly whipped out my wand, pointing it towards him and pressing it against his throat just under his chin. He looked at me in fear. But when I finally looked him in the eye, my hand began to shake and my nerves took over. My anger turned into shock as I quickly pulled my wand from his neck. "I'm sorry," I said so quietly I wasn't sure if he'd hear me.

"It's okay." He whispered back, breaking the silence in the room. I looked at him for a second more before quickly making my way out of the room. I rushed down the halls, navigating my way to Dumbledore.

"Miss Watson. Shouldn't you be in the great hall?" McGonagall asked when she spotted me outside of the entrance to the headmaster's office. I turned to her, startling her slightly.

"I need to speak to Dumbledore. Please." I pleaded with her and she nodded. I made my way up the steps, her following behind me. She knocked on Dumbledore door before entering.

"A child would like to speak with you," McGonagall said, stepping out of the way to reveal me. Dumbledore smiled and nodded.

"I'd been waiting for you, Eurydice." He said and I walked up to his desk and looked him in the eye.

"Please sir, please tell me it's not true," I said with tears in my eyes. He looked at McGonagall before looking back to me. He knew my father would never tell me what he was about to tell me.

"Sit Miss Watson," Dumbledore said as he brought our a chair for me. I nodded and sat down, looking back to him as he sat down.

"You've feel the darkness, haven't you?" He asked and I nodded. "Are you sure you'd like to know this, Eurydice?" Dumbledore asked.

"Please," I said and he sighed and nodded.

"When you were a baby, both you and your brother were baby's born to different wizard parents. Your blood father being a Hufflepuff and your mother being a Slytherin. They were both killed at the hands of a man who hated your father, but he spared you and Helios. Your non-blood mother and father adopted you when you were still only babies, they were to Wizarding parents. Your mother being a Hufflepuff and your father a Slytherin." Dumbledore revealed to me and I stared at him in shock, my whole life had been a lie.

"Does Helios know?" I whispered, my brain in overdrive as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"I told him the same thing I told you but in his second year instead. He has been feeling the same way that you had been." He said and I closed my eyes.

"That's why he left," I whispered, standing up from the chair. I quickly left the room, Dumbledore stopping McGonagall from stopping me. I stormed out to the Quidditch field where Helios and the rest of the team were practising. There were on the ground, goofing around at that moment.

"Why didn't you tell me!" I yelled as I walked up to him, he turned to me in confusion as I pushed him back. " I lived with him for 2 years after you left! Two fucking years, full of neglect and abuse and you left me with a man who wasn't even our father. Why didn't you tell me!" I yelled, beating on his chest. He grabbed my wrists and looked at me in the eyes, tears in his own.

"I didn't tell you because I knew how much it would kill you." He said and I just sobbed. I fell into his chest and he held me as I fell to the ground, him falling with me. I could see Draco staring at me, his eyes full of remorse.