An Old Friend

Aftermath Part 1

            It had been a month since the incident at the quiditch finals and Draco still had not apologized to either Ron or Morgan. Since he was no longer hanging around with Draco people were starting to pick on Morgan, most people may not like Draco but he was known as the Slytherin Prince for a reason, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Carley were getting really worried as they watched their friend slowly retreat into a protective shell and become more and more depressed and defeated looking, Carley had seen Morgan glancing forlornly at the Slytherin table occasionally before he turned back around and faked a smile for his friends trying to have them think he’s ok when he’s really not.

            That morning is Saturday and Morgan stares at his food without eating it and Carley gently pokes her friend on the shoulder “Hey Morgan? You ok?” Morgan turns to look at his friend faking a smile “Yeah Carley I’m fine.” Carley frowns “You sure? We haven’t seen you each much besides toast or crackers for the past month and you haven’t eaten anything in three days that we know of.” Morgan’s smile falters a little and he looks at the table before looking back at Carley his fake smile in place again “I just remembered I have some research to do in the library. I’ll see you guys later yeah?” Morgan tells his friends bye and walks slowly to the library not noticing Faust slither out of his robes and up onto the table in front of his friends and Carley looks at the snake “He’s hurting badly isn’t he Faust?” Faust nods looking sad and Harry looks at the snake “What can we do?” Faust looks at all of them and points his tail toward Draco and Ron looks hopeful “Beat up Malfoy?” Faust, Hermione, Harry, and Carley all look at Ron like he’s an idiot and Hermione slaps him on the back of the head whispering “No you idiot! Can’t you see that Morgan really likes Draco and that he feels betrayed? That’s why he’s hurting. We need to talk to Draco.” Ron frowns “I’m not talking to that git until he apologizes.” The red head gets up and stalks to the Gryffindor common room while Hermione escorts Faust to the library so he won’t get stepped on before heading to the room of requirement to wait for her friends and Carley gets up and walks over to the Slytherin table, being small and quiet had its advantages sometimes, and whispered to Draco “We need to talk. Meet us in the room of requirement after breakfast. We promise you won’t get hurt physically.” Carley slips away back to the Gryffindor table before any of the other Slytherins notice her and leaves Draco to decide whether he wants to meet them or not. Draco sits pondering his choices 1) he could ignore them like he had been doing, but he was curious and missed his friends 2) he could go to the room of requirement and risk getting hurt, but Carley said he wouldn’t be harmed, at least not physically, and she didn’t lie that Draco knew of. The Slytherin decided to take the second option.

            After breakfast Draco waits a few minutes before heading to the room of requirement and meeting Hermione, Harry, and Carley looking hesitant “Hi… what was it you guys wanted to talk about?” Hermione motions for Draco to take a seat at the table the room had conjured up for them and waits to start speaking until Draco sits down “it’s about Morgan…” Hermione is suddenly interrupted by questions from Draco “Is he ok? Is he still mad at me? I don’t know how to fix this what do I do?” Hermione blinks shocked and it’s Carley that answers the blond “is he ok?! No he isn’t ok! He’s barely eaten for a month and hasn’t eaten anything in the past three days! He’s also depressed on top of it all! And it’s all because of you and that stupid song! But mostly you!” Draco flinches at Carley’s glare and words and Harry pulls Carley away from the table to calm her down while Hermione talks to Draco “Well I was going to be a little gentler with the information, but what Carley said is true Draco. Morgan is upset and hurting because of what you did and how you’ve been ignoring him. We have tried everything but he just gets worse and worse. Draco you’re the only one that has any chance of cheering him up. He’s in the library now if you want to try.” Draco nods standing up and walking toward the door when Harry calls out to him “Draco. We’ve all forgiven you for what happened. Ron just wants an apology. The only one were worried about is Morgan. Please try your hardest to help him.” Draco nods looking at them and saying truthfully “It’s taken me a long time to pull my head out of my arse, which is pretty much what I’ve been doing for the past month, it was a long process, and I’ve finally realized that I… I really like him. As more than just a friend. And I’m ashamed that I hurt him like this. I’m going to do everything I can to cheer him up and make him happy. Even if it’s the last thing I do since he’s probably going to punch me hard enough to kill me.” Hermione hugs Draco “Good luck. Now hurry on to the library before he goes somewhere else and you can’t find him.” Draco hugs Hermione back and nods pulling away and jogging to the library going as fast as he can without getting in trouble from any uptight professors. Hermione turns and looks at Carley, who is still getting calmed down by Harry, and sighs collapsing down onto the couch that is in the room “Guys I really hope this works. Because if Draco can’t cheer Morgan up we’re going to have to take to at least McGonagall and Snape if not Dumbledore himself. Because his behavior is self-destructive. If he gets much worse he’ll really start deteriorating and end up dead.” Carley sighs and nods “I know. That’s why I got so upset and yelled.” Harry sits down with Carley and Hermione gently nudging Carley’s shoulder “That was some impressive yelling by the way. I gave me chills and you weren’t even yelling at me.” Carley blushes shyly wishing Harry would take a cue from Draco and pull his head out of his arse as well. But that was a conversation for another day.

(Wow. Another cliffhanger... I'm sorry guys but it is no joke 2:20 in the morning and I have to sleep. I will try to write the rest tomorrow.)