Draco Malfoy and the Yule Ball Disaster

One-Sided Conversation

The first sign something happened was when Blaise Zabini came blaring into the Slytherin common room after dinner, gasping that Draco Malfoy was in a duel and Snape had to drag his bleeding body to the Hospital Wing. Moaning Myrtle kept screaming and wailing, getting everyone's attention about the newest murder in the bathroom where she died. 

You remember raising your head, staring at him in shock as he told the whole common room about it. Crabbe and Goyle had immediately lurched to their goon feet, and along with Pansy Parkinson, made a mad dash for the infirmary.

It was the feeling when Blaise said those words, the way your heart stopped for a few moments, the cold chill in your chest --- it had scared you. You'd been so afraid that something had happened to Draco it took your breath away, and you found yourself striding for the infirmary before you even knew what you were doing.

At first it was chaos, Pansy wouldn't leave his side, just kept sneering and taunting you for even showing up. It was a relief when Madam Pomfrey chased them all away, you included, although you did linger worriedly in the hallway.

What happened to Draco?

Someone said there was a lot of blood in the abandoned bathroom, sinks busted and water everywhere. Moaning Myrtle was nowhere to be found, but you know that's where she haunts, she would have to know what happened! You don't know why she had disappeared, but who would do something like this?

Who hurt Draco?

You chew your lip nervously as you stand outside the infirmary, twisting the end of your hair over and over between your fingers. You want to pace back and forth, you're antsy, you want to know how he's doing! Is he going to be alright? Have his parents been alerted?

How did Snape find him? What the hell was going on?

You know he's been stressed, even more so since Katie Bell returned from St. Mungo's finally. You've only spoken in passing since that night in the commons room, he's definitely been avoiding you to the best of his ability. He leaves classes immediately whereas he used to linger by the door, he sits as far away from you as he can in the Great Hall, he doesn't even intervene anymore when you and Pansy are at each other's throats --- but she always starts it!

You exhale heavily, turning when you hear the soft murmur of voices approaching. You should leave, you know that, you can't do anything for Draco, but --- you just want to make sure he's okay. You take a few steps back from the large wooden doors barring you from the infirmary beds, pressing your back against the cold stone wall.

You look down at your feet, tapping your scuffed shoe against the stones beneath you. You try to be as unnoticeable as possible, but you can't help but look as you recognize Dumbledore's voice. The headmaster has been incredibly absent this year, only appearing at random times but not interacting much.

He's a tall, thin man, which such a long silver beard you imagine he could tuck it into his belt. His nose is crooked, and he wears little the typical school robes, his aged hands at his sides as he speaks with Professor Snape, the younger, black haired man talking quickly but quietly.

They both hush as they notice you leaning against the wall. Snape frowns at you, and you sort of shrivel beneath his severe gaze --- his robes are still soaked at the bottom, you notice, dragging behind him against the floor. 

"What are you doing out of the common room, Miss (Y/L/N)?" Snape inquires darkly, and you hesitate, pushing away from the wall.

"I --- I wanted to make sure Draco was okay." You admit, clearing your throat as your eyes flick between the two men, seeing Dumbledore's thick brows rise above his glasses. "I heard about what happened."