JUST A MUDBLOOD, draco malfoy

thirty-six

Y/n's POV

Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turned into hours. Hours rolled into days. Days to weeks. And weeks to a month.

One month had passed since I last spoke to Aiden, not that I didn't try to converse with him, but it wasn't that simple. I'd show up to the Hufflepuff common room, only to be sent away by Linda. It was never just a simple, 'please leave,' or 'he's busy.' It was more of a 'he doesn't care,' and 'he doesn't want to see you.'

And I believed it every time. I didn't want to, but I did.

The Weasley twins got me through most of it, making me laugh, even letting me join them with a few pranks. They were simple ones like sneaking into the laundry and dying the Slytherin's robes pink, and bewitching peoples quills while they were studying.

I enjoyed the time spent with them, but I miss having Aiden by my side every day. I miss studying with him in the library. I miss the way he'd force me to let him play with my hair. I even missed the way he'd try and fight my owl, not that I condoned his behaviour towards Arwen, but it was funny to watch.

Elaborating on the topic of boys, Draco and I hadn't spoken since we kissed. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I wished he'd take second glances at me when he walks past. But every time I thought of such things, Aiden's word would continuously echo through my head.

'So me spending time with someone in my own house gives you the right to make out with someone whose been bullying you since the first year?'

He was right. He is right. In his eyes, I was his best friend. In Draco's:

I'm just a mudblood.

"Y/n." Hermione taps my shoulder, snapping me out of my daydream. I hadn't realised it, but my eyes drifted to Aiden, who was sat at a booth with Linda hugging onto him for dear life. She was like the Hufflepuff version of Pansy, and Aiden was her 'Draco.' The worst part was, he didn't push her away.

Both Hermione and Ron follow my gaze, looking over to the two who were comfortable with each other, too comfortable with each other. I sink into my chair, not moving my gaze from the two Hufflepuff's.

My heart race picks up as Linda makes eye-contact with me, sending me the most devilish smirk I've ever seen. I clench my glass of pumpkin juice tightly with my gloved hand.

"How about we go somewhere else, like the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione breaks the overwhelming silence, looking at both Ron and me for an answer.

"I don't really care, let's just get out of here." I stand up out of my seat, placing money under my empty drink and swinging my bag over my shoulder, before walking to the exit of the shop.

I exit the shop, letting the cold winter air hit my face and tightly cross my arms over my chest in an attempt to reduce my shivering. Hermione and Ron follow out behind me, and the three of us begin making our way towards the Shrieking Shack, which was unfortunately on the outskirts of Hogsmeade; I didn't mind the walk, it was just freezing.

It had taken us roughly ten minutes till the old building came into view. Ron and Hermione decided to get a closer look whilst I slump back onto a rock. I look up at my two awkward friends, smiling like an idiot as they try to hold a conversation with each other. My smile ultimately falters as a group of three walks up to them—Malfoy along with two of his goons, Crabbe and Pike.