Everything Has Changed

Everything Has Changed ~ Chapter 23

            “They plan to keep her prisoner, to use her as a hostage against her dad so that he won’t print more stuff about Potter.”

            “Why should I believe you?”

            “I…” Draco faltered, finally noticing the hostility in my voice. “But on the train at the start of the holidays…I thought we were good?”

            “Good?” I said harshly. “Good? Are you forgetting that I’m in Dumbledore’s Army, while you’re a Death Eater?”

            “You accepted my apology. You said it yourself. Doesn’t that make us good?”

            “I accepted your apology then,” I admitted grudgingly. “But now I un-accept it.”

            “What?” Draco demanded. “Eleanor…”

            Tears sprang to my eyes as I unwillingly thought of my grandmother. She had still been in a bad state when I left. I fought them back. “Just leave, Malfoy.”

            Draco was about to protest when a loud shout from outside interrupted him. “Terry, wait a se-” Emilia’s familiar voice shouted as the compartment door slid open. Terry stood there, stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes swivelling between me and Malfoy.

            “What’s going on?” He noticed my tears. “Eleanor, what’s wrong?”

            “Malfoy’s harassing me,” I said, forcing pure hate out of my eyes at the Slytherin, just to let him know where we stood.

            Draco’s eyes widened as Terry’s jaw clenched. “No, we-”

            Terry grabbed a fistful of Malfoy’s robes and dragged him up off the seat. “Listen up, you ferret. Eleanor’s been through enough today without you causing more trouble. You had better leave and not come anywhere near her again. Whether you have a murderous aunt or not, I will destroy you if you bother her again, got it?”

            “Whatever, Boot,” Draco snapped, pushing past Emilia out of the compartment. Terry turned to me.

            “Are you okay?” He asked me, concerned.

            “I will be,” I said weakly as he pulled me into a hug. Emilia caught my eyes over his shoulder. The question in her eyes was clear. What happened?

            I looked away and buried my face in Terry’s shoulder.

~~~~~~~

            Emilia knew something was up. All through dinner she stared at me, touching her food almost as little as me. Finally, she couldn’t help it. “Eleanor, you need to tell me what’s wrong.”

            “Nothing’s wrong.”

            “I’m your best friend; you know you can’t lie to me.” She lowered her voice as she continued. “I know it’s something about one Draco Malfoy.”

            “You seem pretty sure about that,” I sneered.

            “Why did you tell Terry he was harassing you? I know he wasn’t.”

            “And how would you know that?” I snapped.

            “After the Death Eaters left, he tried to come to see you. Everyone thought he was just coming to stir up trouble and sent him off, but I talked to him. He was really genuinely so worried about you.”