Darkness Within||Draco Malfoy Fanfiction

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Confronting Draco and trauma

At lunch, Roxy and her friends sat down to eat. She was already planning on making her own gang. Daph had already told her that Draco was the Slytherin Prince. Well, she was planning on being the Slytherin Princess.

Actually, Slytherin Queen sounded much better.

"Right, girls, here's the plan. We will be the A-list clique. Malfoy is going down. Naturally, you're all already in it, so that makes four of us," Roxy explained, "and we will rule this school." Daphne raised her eyebrows.

"That sounds great, Roxy, but this really is a new you."

"She's right," said a horribly familiar voice, "you've changed so much, Roxy. You used to hate large groups, and you were a kind, vibrant girl back then, all mild and loving." Draco's piercing silver eyes stared at her.

"Well, Draco dear, if you prefer the old me, you shouldn't have been so heartless and careless. I trusted you with my heart, something I deeply regret now. But I've learnt from my mistakes. I'm a new person now. The past me is dead. You want her back? Go search under piles of pieces of broken, neglected heart," Roxy said coldly yet sweetly, before swiftly rising to her feet and walking out of the Great Hall. Draco looked at her retreating figure sadly.

"I did that to her?"

"Yes, you did," snapped Daphne venomously, "and you don't know how devastated she was after that. Starved herself for weeks. Shut herself up. Granger told me she could hear her sobbing every night. And when she came to tell me she was leaving, I could hear the sadness and relief in her face. She did well to mask her pain and heartache, but she was a broken girl inside. Roxy's never been the same. She sent me a few letters, but only because I kept on sending her letters.

After a few weeks, I never heard a word from her. It was like she was trying to throw away anything that was linked to her old life. Then this summer, she sent a simple letter saying she was coming back. I wondered why. I knew she had moved on, but I doubted she could forget and bear to even come back. Only now do I realise that it was because she'd thought you were gone.

Roxy did miss Hogwarts terribly. She often said it was her second home. But she was forced to leave, and it was all your fault, Malfoy. So I hate you. I hate you for doing that to my best friend, and for ruining her innocent life in every way. You're a heartless, messed-up bastard, nothing more, nothing less."

"I know, I know I messed up real bad. But some of it was her fault too."

"That's not how girls work," Jade said,"and you're still refusing blame." Daphne shot him a look of pure disgust before she too walked away, quickly followed by the others.

Draco was left feeling depressed and thoroughly guilty.  Nobody had told him about Roxy's trauma after their breakup. But then again, he supposed that they wouldn't tell him, since he was the cause of it. He'd seen people giving him dirty looks as he passed them, and lots of whispering. Roxy had been a much-loved girl. And Draco had been deeply worried about her, after she hadn't shown up to lessons, and hadn't been present at meals. But his stupid ego and dignity had gotten in the way of him ever asking anyone if she was alright. And Draco despised himself.

Roxy sighed. Maybe she should transfer back to Ilvermorny. But she knew that that was impossible. Her parents were needed here and no, she was a different girl now. She would face it all and not back down. She was tough. She was strong. And she most definitely was not going to be broken again.

The memories slammed back into her, hard, causing a fresh wave of pain to sear through her heart. Roxy remembered how awful the post-breakup was. But she had had real support too, and from-

"Hello, Roxy," Hermione smiled, though a bit warily. Roxy knew why. Hermione was a smart witch, one of the smartest, and she knew how much the breakup had affected Roxy. And she knew that something had seriously changed in her for the Sorting Hat to have put her in Slytherin instead.

"Hello, Hermione," Roxy sat down beside her. The library was quiet, with most of the students having lunch.

"So, how are you?" Hermione asked gently. Roxy groaned.

"Well, I've been recovering. It doesn't feel that bad now, I guess. I've gotten over it all. But being back here -it brings back hard times."

"Sometimes we just have to let the past go," Hermione sympathized.

"Yes. Shouldn't you be at lunch?"

"Actually, I've been doing some research into You-Know-Who, and ways to defend yourself. We're in dark times again, Roxy."

"I know. I believe Harry."

"That's good to hear." This came from Harry himself, who came up to them, Ron by his side.

"Hey, Roxy," they greeted.

"Hi." They both sat down.

"Oh, and since you're all conveniently here, there's something I need to tell you. I want to say thank you. To all of you. For being there for me when I was broken. I know we were never particularly close, but you became firm friends with me, and my best support. You were always there to help me, to comfort me. Thank you. I wanted to shut myself away forever, but you gave my life some meaning, and remained loyal throughout it all. And I'm really sorry I left with a simple goodbye and seemingly no gratitude. I just wanted to leave it all behind, and my mind was in total disarray. But thank you. And sorry."

"Roxy, it's perfectly fine. We weren't angry with you. We knew that you needed time to recover. And you're welcome," reassured Harry.

"We'll still be with you, Roxy. You may be a Slytherin, but you're still our friend. And I don't mean to offend you, but you look like you may still need some support," smiled Hermione.

"Yes, we'll be here for you, Roxy. I mean, why dwell on the past? There are things in life that make it worthwhile," grinned Ron.

"Aw, thanks guys. You're all so good to me." Roxy smiled blissfully.

"And it probably is tough, having to see Malfoy and deal with all those painful memories once again," added Ron. Roxy nodded.

"Oh! We need to head to our next lessons!" She exclaimed.

"Yes, we do! We have DADA next," Said Hermione.

"So do I!"

"Then let's go together," suggested Harry, and Roxy gladly accepted. They were a minute early for DADA.

"Oh, it's Umbridge teaching us. She works for the Ministry. Dad says she's a fat, pink pain," Ron grumbled. They all laughed as they walked into the classroom. This Umbridge woman didn't sound nice at all. Harry had said she had been at his hearing. As Roxy entered, she saw Draco's head snap towards them, and his eyes narrow upon seeing Roxy laughing with Potter, Granger and Weasley. How come she was her old self around them? Her laugh was contagious, and it seemed to light up the whole room.

Roxy sat down next to Jade, with Harry sitting a seat away at the table right next to Roxy. Just then, Umbridge tottered in, and Roxy restrained a laugh. She was toad-like, with a squat, pudgy face and body, like a toad, and short, stubby legs. There was a pink bow in her hair, and she was dressed entirely in pink.

"O.W.Ls," She said in a shrill, annoying voice, each letter appearing on the board as she said it, "or most commonly known as OWLs. They stand for Ordinary Wizarding Levels, which you will be taking this year. You will be required to work extra hard. Let us begin." Everyone picked up their wands.

"Wands away, please!" They all froze, unsure if they had heard correctly.

"You heard me," She smiled, "Wands away." There was a firm tone to her voice, and they all sullenly put their wands away, confused.

"Take out your books," She commanded, and they all did so. Then Roxy raised her hand.