Behind Enemy Lines (D.M.)

Chapter 7: Shadows

"Yes Professor Snape."

"And Potter-" Severus looked at me but hesitated. I noticed how he didn't say my name- an eerie mimic of Draco's disdain. He mulled over his own thoughts before just looking at the door. I breathed deeply and took it as my cue to leave.

I was on high alert the rest of the year. Every time I passed a mirror, I was checking it discreetly to make sure the rest of my hair didn't turn to its natural brown. I still had my fake freckles and mud colored eyes. I wish I had Harry's- I mean our eyes. It's just not fair I had to lose my own identity.

Speaking of Harry, he was definitely up to something. I knew he was trying to save Buckbeak. Malfoy wouldn't stop bragging about how his father was taking care of the 'problem' at lunch.

"Man, I'm trying to eat," Goyle frowned at the chicken leg in front of him. I stifled a laugh at how pitiful he looked just frowning at the chicken. Draco carried on with the gruesome details of how his father planned on sending the executioner today.

Later, I had been walking past the bridge when I saw the golden trio up ahead. I wanted to stop by and try to console Hagrid-I knew just how attached he was to animals. It was evident in his class, but when I was little, Hagrid would point out all the wildlife we found on our walks around Hogwarts. However my plan to visit stopped when I heard other voices besides the echo of Ron, Hermione, and Harry's. Blending in with the vines, I peered around to see Draco and part of his posse peering over the large boulders.

Ron said something which caused Hermione to walk away first, hurriedly walking down the steps and towards them.

"Look who is here," Crabbe elbowed Draco. Draco turned, opening his hands out with a menacing smile. He had changed from his school robes to an all black outfit. I tried not to focus on how form fitting it was but that he made a choice to wear all black. How fitting indeed for an absolute arse.

"Ah, come to see the show?" Draco taunted Hermione.

"You!" Hermione was furious. "You fowl, evil, little loathsome-" Her hands thrashing upwards.

Draco stepped back when he realized how close she was getting. His eyes closed and she pressed her wand against his throat. I felt myself move forward in defense but had to force myself to stop. Who was I even trying to defend?

"Hermione," Harry warned.

"No, he's not worth it," Ron reminded her. Hermione hesitated for a moment as Draco wiggled against her wand. She slowly lowered it and he opened his eyes, looking back and forth at his friends. As Hermione turned away, he started to laugh.

In a flash, Hermione spun on her heel and punched him straight in the nose. His hands flew to his face while Blaise and Vincent rushed to his side.

"Malfoy, are you okay?" Crabbe grabbed his arm as he staggered forward. "Let's go, she's crazy." They were quickly trying to put distance between themselves and were running back towards my direction. Shit. I tried backing up quickly and making it seem like I didn't see any of these events, that I was just staring out at the water mindlessly.

"Quick, run!" Vincent said as they ran up my way. As they clammered back up the small steps to the large bridge, Draco was mumbling between grunts of pain.

"That filthy little mudblood," Draco cursed as he wiped his nose. The sounds of running stopped instantly as it was evident we were all in the same place. I slowly turned my head from the view of the bridge and tried to have a shocked face.

"Malfoy, are you okay? You look like you saw a ghost." Draco's frown grew deeper and he narrowed his eyebrows.

"You," he hissed.

"Draco, we have to go to the infirmary," Vincent huffed. Draco raised his hand and pointed.

"I need to talk to Topert alone." Guess we were back to the last name basis. Vincent and Crabbe paused before looking at each other and shrugging. Draco waited until they were off the other side of the bridge and out of earshot. "You better warn your filthy, mudblood friend to watch her back."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play games with me," Draco hissed as he stepped closer. I automatically stepped backwards. "You're always in the library with her." How did he know that? When did he start watching me? "You're a traitor."

"Excuse me?" How dare he call me a traitor. "How the hell am I a traitor?"

"Are you even a real Slytherin?" When he took another step this time, I refused to step back. I will not sit and have him push me around. I felt my shoulders fall back as I tried to puff up my chest. Draco looked me up and down and smirked- I felt my confidence instantly fall. "What the hell kind of last name is Topert?"

"Watch your mouth, Malfoy."

"Make me." Draco took another step, tilting his head to look down on me. His eyes glinted and his lips were pulled into a big smirk. This was all just a power play for him. I wanted to punch him in the face too.

"You're obsessed."

"Says the one who followed me."

"I didn't follow you." I snapped.

"Oh, so were you following your boyfriend?" I felt my face contort into confusion.

"My boyfriend?"

"Potter," he growled.

"No." I narrowed my eyes.

"You never seem too far away from him. Just his little shadow," Draco leaned down each word, getting right into my face. If only he knew how true his words really were and the cuts they had. "It's pathetic really. You're..." He trailed off with his ice cold gaze cutting through me. "You're pathetic." Ouch. I tried to keep my lip from trembling. I looked away from him, trying to focus on the greenery but it was all blurred from my tears. Don't cry in front of him. Don't cry, I repeated to myself.

Looking away must have been the reaction he was looking for. He let out a snicker and stood up straight. As he walked past me, his shoulder knocked into mine. It took me by surprise and I stumbled back a moment. As Draco walked away, I didn't turn to look at him. I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks as I bit my bottom lip.

Just a pathetic shadow.