His Hidden Side - Draco Malfoy

5- Viaduct

I'm standing outside of the Great Hall, thinking whether I should just stop waiting, it has been 20 minutes and no sign of Malfoy. Also my new acquaintance - Hermione has given me a fair warning about him in Herbology.

***

I follow Malfoy and his friends to Herbology from a few steps behind. I needed to know where to go, even if it meant I had to subtly stare at his back. You don't need to see someone's face to know how they act. Malfoy rude behavior is as clear as day.

Most students back away from him immediately, those who don't, are shoved by his friends - mainly Gryffindors get shoved, some daring to speak out, they are the brave ones after all.

I am the last one to enter Herbology - better than being late I suppose. The classroom is in a see through greenhouse just outside the castle confines.
Cream coloured beams and arches hold up the small building and a wall of leaves covers one of the walls. There are long tables full of clay pots and strange looking plants. It felt very homely for some weird reason.

The students all wear brown protective coats, I don't have one... Odd one out again.
A slightly chubby woman with grey curls wearing brown shabby clothes approaches me. A warm smile spreads across he red face.

"You must be the new girl I'm having. Welcome to Herbology where you learn everything you need for caring for and using plants and fungi. I am Pomona Sprout, your teacher." She turns around behind her. "Hermione dear, could you fetch this young lady a coat please."

"Of course." answers a polite, brown wavy haired girl. She leaves her friends and goes to the far end of the room where a line of coats hang. She takes one and brings it back. Miss Sprout walks away.

"Thanks." I say as I wrap the coat around myself. "Great to see that someone is helpful around here."

Hermione laughs uncertainly. "Bad experience?"

"The Malfoy boy makes me grind my teeth."

She nods with an empathetic look on her face. "I'd stay as far away from him as possible if I were you." She grabs a spare plant pot and fills it hallways up with soil. Hermione was listening to Miss Sprout who I didn't realise was talking. I copy her.

"That won't really be possible. He's to give me a tour of Hogwarts today." I spill some soil accidentally on the floor. It won't make a difference the floor is dirty enough as it is.

"And he agreed?" She asks shocked and then looks across the room where Malfoy fills his pot oblivious to our conversation.

"Professor Snape insisted."

"Well that is not good. I can only advise you to stay safe and don't take anything he says to heart..." She smiles weakly, giving me upper arm a quick stroke and then continues to listen to Sprout's instructions, as do I.

***

The day flew by, and before I knew it, it was five o clock. Well it's 5:20 now. I lean against the stone wall, eyes on the floor. I don't want to make eye contact to any of the teachers or students who would probably stare at me in confusion.

I grow impatient and annoyed, why did I bother waiting? I stand up straight to leave and head to the common room. As I begin to walk.

"My, my you are impatient."

"Excuse me?! You made me wait for 20 minutes!"

"Can you just not speak..?" He groans.

I open my mouth to retaliate, but no words come out. He has silenced me. Professor Snape briskly passes up down the corridor, he glances at us and as he does, Malfoy's complaining face turns into a smile.

He motions me to come inside the Great Hall with him. It looks the same as yesterday, just a lot quieter with less people.

Malfoy sighs and points to each table. "High table, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and... Gryffindor."
There's a hint of dislike when he calls out Gryffindor.

"You don't like Gryffindor?"

"What's there to like?" He scoffs.

"I know that Harry-"

"Pottah, the pathetic hero, famous because of a scar. He's a pathetic excuse for a celebrity."

"That's not entirely true..."

"What have I told you about not talking?!" He turns on his heels and exists the hall, I scurry after him.

"Why do you hate talking to people so much?!" I shout after him. He ignores my question with ease.

"Just so you know, I'm only showing you up to the Ravenclaw tower. Do not expect me to show you the whole bloody school. In case you screw this up, tell Snape I gave you the full tour." He pauses. "Okay??"

"I thought you didn't want me to talk."

"Well then speak when spoken to. Honestly you'd expect a Ravenclaw to understand. Ohh wait, you're just a magic-less mudblood just as pathetic as the rest of them."

I have met many people in my life. From the kindest to the cruelest. But Malfoy, he is just another breed. A real piece of work. I could see no kindness in him, that vile, stuck up, spoil boy.

"What makes you think you're better than everyone  else?!"

We have stepped outside now, through the entrance courtyard and out onto a long arched viaduct above a deep chasm. For a second I forget about our fight. I've passed through here yesterday in the dark. But in the day, the schools beauty is showcased in a picturesque way.

I run to the railing to peer down. Its exhilarating to see how high I am. At the very bottom there's a swirling mist of white above the clear water. I stay at still as a tree, taking it the surroundings. Away from the water, green hills stretch to the horizon and beyond.

The cool wind caresses me, making me feel alive. I want to shout, free my lungs, but what would Malfoy think. Malfoy... I forgot about him.

I turn to see him on the opposite side of the viaduct.. sitting on the railing.

"Honestly, for  a second there, I thought you were going to fall through."

He's one to speak, sitting at the very edge, my heart rate fastens and I feel a hint of fear. I couldn't let him know that. I cautiously approach him.

I ask my question again. "What makes you think you're... better than everyone else?" I ask it calmly and softly this time.

He sighs and drums his finger on the railing.
"Because I have a reputation to uphold. I have to be better than everyone else, I want to be, and I am better than everyone else. Simple."

I feel like there's more that he's keeping secret. But I got some sort of answer, and it's not like I care what he's on about. He swings back and then forward, jumping off the railing to safety. My heart jumps.

"Well come on, we've wasted enough time." This time he waits for me to catch up. I take one last quick look around and join him.

We silently walk across the viaduct to the other side, where the Slytherin rooms apparently are. By them stands Draco's friends. The two boys, who aren't any better than their master. Draco picks up his pace and joins them. They move quicker, meeting him half way.

"Goyle, Crabbe. I'm done with the stupid tour finally. Wait till my father hears that they're making me be a pathetic tour guide at this school."

"Touring mudbloods is now a thing?" One of them laughs. They laugh together. They do get on my nerve, calling me a mudblood! I don't even know what that is. They're just bullies, I have to remember that, for my own sake. My blood boils enough already.

Draco remembers I'm still here and turns around. "Umm, Ravenclaw tower that way!" He points to its direction mockingly. I get the hint and leave. Behind me I hear whispers, a bit too loudly.

"Finally done with her. She was the most annoying clueless girl I've met."

"Worse than Potter?"

"No ones worse than him."

Surprisingly I felt relief, I wasn't his worst enemy, but he certainly was mine, at this school at least.