Let it be • Draco Malfoy

10

I stared at Umbridge with a burning hatred, the scar on Harry's hand was awful and I still didn't understand why he hadn't said anything. Draco sat next to me, he always did. For the past 3 and a half years he'd been my partner, and an annoying one-two. He always bounced his knee when he was listening, which didn't bother me as much since George did that also. But he also trapped his pen when he was thinking, which really bothered me. When I sat close to him, I could see the fading bruises on his arms and hands, it made me ponder. His father was a cruel man, maybe one of the cruellest I'd met so far. But would he sink as low as to hurt his own son? Sometimes his hands shook and I just wanted to reach out and hold them. I shook my head slightly, moving my attention from Malfoys hands to the front of the class.

I looked over at Harry who was studying with his head down. The scar on his hand made my stomach turn. The bell rang and everyone packed up, leaving the classroom to escape the terror of Umbridge. As I walked alone to my next class, I could feel someone following me. Of course, people walked behind you, but I could feel someone staring at me. I stopped abruptly and the person behind me crashed into the back of me, making us both stumble. I turned to see Malfoy wearing an annoyed face.

"Why are you following me? We don't have the same class?" I asked and he looked at me like I've as crazy.

"I wasn't following you, my class is in the same direction as yours. Get your head out of you ass, Watson." He said and I took a deep breath.

"Sorry, I felt like someone was following me," I said as I began walking, Draco walking beside me but keeping a distance between him.

"What's wrong with you anyway, you're all crazy and sad." He sounded like he actually cared. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders.

"There's a lot going on. It scares me." I said and he stopped and laughed, shaking his head at me as I stopped and looked up at him.

"You can't honestly believe this whole Potter thing." He laughed as he said it, as if the whole thing was funny. The corridor was empty as I stared up at him with tears in my eyes, he stopped laughing and the smile dropped from his face.

"You can't stand there and tell me you can't feel the darkness in the air, it's everywhere. Somethings going to happen, Draco." I whispered and he just stared at me in shock. I held my books to my chest as I walked off, wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my robes as I entered my class, apologising for being late.

***

Oscar was curled up in my lap as I sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace. The common room was pretty empty, everyone was off doing their own things out of school time and spending time with friends, but I was content with reading my book. My conversation with Malfoy had been playing in my mind on repeat, but I chose not to let it bother me. The silence of the room was broken when George emerged with a letter in hand, holding it out for me to take. I looked at him confused and he just shoved it further towards me. I sighed and took the letter from his hand, he jumped over the back of the sofa, sitting next to me as I opened the letter. The handwriting was Remus's, I knew automatically.

'Dead Eurydice,
I hope you are well, it's been lonely not having you drink tea with me at 3 in the morning while we both sit in silence reading our books. Harry has written to Sirius about Umbridge, I can tell you are already plotting a way to diminish her, but please resist, the last thing we want if for you to be hurt. Your brother wrote to me telling me that you weren't looking very well, so I'm writing to remind you to eat your meals. I feel like your father saying that, but I do think you should look after yourself more, we all care about you. Sirius and I miss you already, please do keep in touch. See you at Christmas.

Forever
Remus'

I smiled at how he signed the letter, we both signed it that way. I tucked the letter back into the envelope and opened my book to the last page, placing it in between the pages and shutting the book. I looked at George who was staring at me.

"You really should start taking care of yourself, Eurydice. We all are worried about you." He said and I rolled my eyes standing up. "Why won't you let people care about you?" He asked and I stopped and then turned to him.

"Because there's too much going on right now for people to be worrying about me. I'm okay, a lot is happening and I have a right to be upset or sad at the world. I'm okay." I whispered the last part and George just stared at me. I sighed and nodded at him before making my way to my room, Oscar following behind as I walked into the dorm room. I sat on my bed and stared at the floor. Oscar bumped his forehead against my temple and I smiled at him sadly.

"Good boy," I said gently as I petted him. I pulled out my notebook and quill and wrote back to Remus, telling him about what had been happening in the past few days. I didn't have much to say, I hadn't been doing anything but reading and school. But I made sure to rant about Umbridge, as I sealed the letter. My thoughts fell on Draco again. I stared at the bruise on my arm and thought about his bruises, how no matter what holiday he came back from, he was always littered with them. I swallowed harshly and I faced the facts.