Bittersweet Tragedy | | Draco Malfoy

The Pain That Makes Us

The ground crunched below me as I raced through the forest, I could hear them gaining on me

"you can't run forever!" They yelled

I turned around for a split second and tripped on a tree branch, I hit the ground hard. I looked up and saw them running towards me then

I woke up, sweat covering my trembling body as my heart tried to escape my chest. These nightmares felt so real, almost as if I was experiencing the horrors they contained.

The worse part is, I had no outlet to take out this fear. When I felt like this Malfoy had always created a fight with me and I was able to release my emotions the way I was taught to. I hadn't spoken to or seen him since the fight at the dorm.

Lee and I had been dating for more than a month at this point and he sat at my table most days, but today was different. After charms, I went into the Great Hall for lunch and excitedly waited for Lee to show up.

But he never did, instead, he talked to Alicia Spinnet. I know I shouldn't worry but she was so much prettier than me and also an amazing person. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about these things so I decided to be alone.

Quietly walking out, I went into an empty classroom. My thoughts were racing. Am I overreacting? I mean what if they are just friends? Are they? 

I made counterpoints to all of these and convinced myself that I was overreacting. Or I did convince myself until I walked out of the classroom and ran into Lee.

"Hey, Lee!" I said happily

"oh..hey," he said, not looking in my eyes

"What's wrong? I saw you talking to Alicia and" I began

"I have to go to. We'll talk later L/N " he interrupted me

I stepped back, confused, and nodded "Okay then..." I walked past him, shoving his shoulder

He opened his mouth to say something but stopped. My fist clenched and I walked into charms, avoiding Snape's stare.

I slammed my book down, which made Cho quickly grab my hand and force me to look at her

"What's wrong " I could tell she was worried but she

I looked up, clenching my hand against the edge of the desk "Lee, he's being a complete arse, he's acting so different."

"What do you mean different"

I explained what happened, even though it was hard to keep a calm voice as I was angry. Snape looked up.

"This is not a therapy session. Cho, L/N leave my classroom. 10 points each from Ravenclaw."

My eyes widen. "Seriously," I said angrily, Cho looked at me and shook her head but I continued "Why are you such an insensitive arsehole, Snape? I mean you can't even have a little human decency when someone is upset?"

The whole class went silent, I wasn't sure if it was me, or if they were even silent. I just knew I was pissed "I will not be disrespected in my classroom L/N, ten more points, and detention with Umbridge.

I groaned and walked out with Cho, slamming the door behind us. I popped my head back in for a second, I yelled "I meant to do that Professor " I slammed the door again

Cho laughed a little"You so shouldn't have done that! You lost us 30 points!" she tried to be stern but ended up laughing.

I groaned as we talked in the common room. "Not like Ravenclaw is ever going to win. It's either Gryffindor or Slytherin every year. We're just in the background you know" Cho sighed sadly and nodded

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That night I was walking down the hall, I know I should've regretted backtalking Snape but I didn't. I knocked on the Umbridge's door and it opened on its own. It was painfully pink, that's coming from someone who likes pink, the meowing of cats was already giving me a headache. I sat down and looked at her desk

"Today, you will be doing lines," Umbridge said, apparently she had gotten a free pass from hell to come back up to earth 

Well, at least it's not cleaning out bedpans, I thought to myself as I reached down to grab a quill from my bag

"No no, you'll be using a quill of mine, no need to get out your own" she smiled as if she was sucking every ounce of happiness out of her

"Um..okay?" I said and grabbed the quill

"Write down I shall respect my superiors"

"How many times Miss," I said feigning sweetness

"Until it sinks in." she smiled

I nodded, confused as this isn't how lines usually went. I started to write and winced at a sharp pain as if someone was cutting my hand.  I looked down at my hand and saw I shall respect my superiors being edged into my hand, the pain was unbearable.

"Anything wrong, Miss L/N," Umbridge said from behind me

"No miss," I said quietly and kept writing. After about 3 hours she stood up.

"Well, it seems that time has passed us. Be back tomorrow at 7," she said, escorted me out. I walked down the hall staring at my hand. the pain only increased every time I moved my hand.

"Crying over you pathetic Gryffindork  boyfriend are we?" Draco said behind me

I looked at him and sighed "Just leave me alone." I yelled, crying

His face softened ever so slightly and he looked at my hand. "Did he do that to you" he grabbed my hand

I was surprised by his touch and winced "Lee? No, he would never...it was Umbridge" His face contorted in anger but stopped. I looked at his badge, he was one of her people

"You work for her " I ripped my hand away from his "The message is what you both think of me, and now it will always be on me." He looked back down at my hand, his body tensing up every word he read

"I.." He began

"Just don't okay? Leave, Umbridge..." I flicked his badge "might need you."

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The next day wasn't any better, all I could hear were people whispering around me

"Poor girl"

"I heard he didn't even tell her"

"I mean she's just too young" That one hurt the most, we were only two years apart, I wasn't some immature child.

I walked into the Great Hall and sat down next to Cho. I smiled at her "what's going on?" she hugged me tightly

"Oh Y/N I am so sorry." I tilted my head

I laughed "Sorry about what?" I looked at the Gryffindor table and saw Lee. He avoided my glance.

"You haven't heard?" Cho said quietly

"Haven't heard what?" I said, confused

"Lee asked Alica out"

Word Count 1144