To Be So Lonely

11

1 9 9 3, October 31st

"You're late."

Draco said tapping his foot with one of his arms crossed over his chest. The other one was resting on that ridiculous arm sling.

"And you're still wearing that ridiculous thing," she stated walking up to him. He was totally faking his hippogriff injury and she knew it. Madame Pomfrey could heal bones in minutes, everybody knew that. He was just doing this to get Hagrid's hippogriff executed and make the man miserable.

It wasn't fair.

Nel wasn't wrong when she had assumed that Malfoy being the pompous peacock that he was, was going to be extremely well dressed for their trip to Hogsmeade. He wore a black turtleneck sweater; matching dress pants and his brand leather shoes. He also accessorized with a ring on each hand.
Not wanting to be underdressed she wore that black sweater she had received for Christmas last year over an old white turtleneck sweater and a brown glen check skirt that reached above her knee.

"Fifteen minutes," he said without looking down at his watch.

"Excuse me," she drawled out sarcastically. "I was busy dragging my feet here."

She'd never let him know she was busy throwing the little clothes she had over her shoulders being unsure of what to wear. She wouldn't put it past him to judge her choice in fashion. He took in her appearance yet to her surprise said nothing.

"We'll have to wait for the next carriage," he said shoving his hands into his pockets. She eyed him carefully from the side of her peripheral vision as she reached his side. She swatted his injured arm and instinctively he flinched and grabbed onto her lower arm stopping the attack.

"I knew it," She said triumphantly. "You're such a phony," she pulled her arm back to her person. "You're not even hurt!"

"It was a reflex," he argued back. "You try getting hurt by that beast and live to tell the tale. I almost saw my life flash before my eyes," he said dramatically. She couldn't help but laugh at his theatrics.

"You're so dramatic. Have you ever considered doing theater?" He had an irritated look on his face. "No, I'm serious. I'd love to see your rendition of Hamlet," She teased poking his arm. He shrugged off her touch not bothering to ask just what Hamlet was.

"Where are Crabbe and Goyle anyway?" She asked casually, fidgeting slightly looking over her shoulder seeing if they were coming up any moment now.

"It's just us two," she heard him say.

Nel didn't want to look at him. There was something awkward about the whole situation. She said nothing in response and stood next to him. She noted there were no other students around, probably because they had already left to Hogsmeade.

The carriage pulled up and she froze in the spot. It was being pulled by therstals. Those filthy creatures that terrified her. He seemed oblivious to this considering he probably couldn't see them.

"Come on," He said walking forward.

It took him a moment to realize she wasn't following. He stopped and looked back realizing her eyes were fixed on the blank spot in front of the carriage. Malfoy shot her an irritated look before grabbing her by the wrist and leading her to the black carriage. He opened the door for her and help her up. She couldn't help but feel disconcerted by his uncharacteristic polite manners. He looked at her shaken expression and how her eyes continued to be fixed on that blank spot in front of the carriage.

"Is this really so terrible for you?" He asked making her snap out of her trance. She shot him a look and elbowed his 'injured' arm again. She turned away from the horses of death instead turning her attention to him. Between the two evils maybe Draco wasn't the worse one.
"Believe it or not there are worse things than you Malfoy."