Chapter 6: Confessions


Previously...
“Astoria, the professors wanted me to give you the homework we’re doing. Here’s the list” Hermione Granger handed her a parchment.
“Thanks” Astoria looked paler than the usual. She was sniffing and coughing.
“When are you coming out?” Hermione asked.
“Madame Pomfrey told me I could be discharge out when the week is finished.”
“That long? What happened? Is it about Malfoy?”
Astoria nodded.
Hermione thought it was completely stupid for her to risk her life over a guy.
“That’s stupid” Hermione murmured and she heard Astoria giggled.
“I avoided him too much that I ended up getting myself sick.” She coughed. “I couldn’t stand them. Draco and his friends I mean, especially Parkinson.” Astoria expressed.
“Then why—“
“Why date him?” Astoria looked down. “He’s different when he’s with me, Granger. He’s normal when he’s with me. The Draco you see is different from the Draco that I see.” She started to cry. “Pansy was right. Draco would always take her side no matter what.” Astoria laid down and covered herself with the sheets. Hermione knew she didn’t want to be asked anymore so she didn’t say a word and left.
...end flashback...


Draco was indeed an arrogant child. Even when Hermione made sure he would hear their conversation he still didn’t visit Astoria. The following day when she went to visit the hospital, she asked Astoria if Draco visited. Astoria shook her head. Hermione got irritated about the situation. In the afternoon while Hermione was on her way to the library, he saw Draco approaching. Draco was giving him a terrible look when they both passed each other Hermione couldn’t help it but say his name.
“Malfoy…” she shouted. She heard him stop. “You’re vile.”
Draco gave him a smirk and walked away but Hermione caught up.
“She needs you. She told me.” She lied. “Astoria has been badly ill because of you and you act like you don’t even care. She’s not just a classmate Malfoy.”
Draco never said anything. It was odd for Draco not to come up with any remark from Hermione. He actually listened to her for once.
“You can’t be stupid enough to know how much she likes you.” Hermione said. “if you don’t believe me why don’t you go ask her.”
Her heart was beating fast. “Man up, Malfoy. You’ll loose her forever if you don’t” She walked away.

Draco was just there standing. His thoughts running like wildfire. And then he started walking towards the hospital.

Astoria was still reading the book her father gave her. Madame Pomfrey went to see Dumbledore for a moment and left Astoria alone. She drank the pumpkin juice that Hermione gave her the other day. Suddenly, on her left she saw a reflection, for a second she thought it was a ghost roaming around the palace. As she turned her head, she saw Draco staring at her.

“Don’t come near, Draco. I’m sick.” Astoria uttered but Draco didn’t listen. He walked towards her and sat on her bed.
“Really don’t” she covered her mouth.
“I’m sorry” Draco didn’t know what else to say. Astoria was surprised to hear him say that. “How did this happen?”
“I guess my body wasn’t build for the cold weather.” Astoria answered.
“I was worried you know. I kept wondering where you were or how you were doing.” Draco sat next to her.
“Then why just visit me now?”
“A little bird told me that you were in need of my services right now.” Draco smiled. Astoria knew that Hermione was the bird he was talking about. She was the only person who visited Astoria often. Astoria pinched his cheeks.

Draco wasn’t allowed by Madame Pomfrey to stay in the hospital so he went back to the Slytherin’s common room. He sat in one of the couches.
“Draco, where have you been?” Pansy asked.
“Went to see Astoria at the hospital” Draco replied. Pansy refused to talk about Astoria but since no one was around the common room Pansy decided to talk about it.
“Ever since you dated her, you’ve become weaker.” Pansy started
“What do you mean?” Draco looked at her.
“You’re not the same Draco from before. You’re a bit nicer nowadays. You tend to smile a lot and the only ones you’ve bullied are Potter and his friends.”
“And that’s a bad thing because?”
“Because we used to bully everyone” Pansy emphasized. “Astoria is killing you!”
“What?” Draco raised his voice.
“She turning you into a—“
“Stop it! There are no other girls out there for me.”
“But you have me, Draco!” Pansy confessed. “I have liked you since the day I first met you. And unlike her, I would never change you into something you are not. I’m completely happy with who you are.”
Draco stood up and looked down to her “She never changed me one bit. She never even scolds me if I was mean to others. I decided on my own. I changed because I wanted to” Draco left Pansy in the common room.

Astoria was finally out of the hospital and was feeling better.