It's just about you and me

Chapter-2

Draco

Time crawls like a snail in Azkaban.

The cell is about ten feet tall and ten feet wide. It has a barred steel door and a small barred window that allows a bit of light to trickle in. The walls of his cell are concrete brick walls painted a cream color, covered in grime and dirt of pencil and pen graffiti, dried spit and blood. An auror comes twice a day to bring his meals and take him to the bathroom.

He spends most of his time staring at the dirty walls, wondering if he will even be sane by the time his sentence ends. Surprisingly enough, even after Potter's testimony, he was sentenced to four months.

He avoids eating whatever they bring. Mostly it's just some stale bread and cold tea. It always smells funny. Draco is gradually getting used to the smell. Initially, he was disgusted and had wondered if they ever even cleaned these cells. There is a small cot in the cell that has a dirty thin blanket. At times Draco hears moans and screams of his inmates. As such, he is not allowed to meet them or talk to them. Not that he wants to. Most of them seem insane considering the way they scream. The aurors don't talk to him. As such, they are not allowed to talk to the prisoners but then they detest him.

Being a Malfoy as well as an ex-death eater is not the only reason although it is one of the major ones. The dark lord forced their family to commit horrible sins. So Draco doesn't begrudge them for detesting Draco or father. However, those who knew his grandfather Abraxas Malfoy have other reasons to despise him. While the former is justified, the latter is not.

Although, a bit too aggressive and outspoken and influential and generally a jolly good fellow, grandfather was still a very powerful man, both in terms of money and magic. He had his own thoughts about the Veela community and their rights and fought for them while he was alive and father supported grandfather. He did but father was never a very brave man so he decided to back off after grandfather's death. With no support, the entire Veela community was banished from Britain. Unspeakable horrors were inflicted on those who couldn't flee away on time. Draco never witnessed anything but father and mother often told him about it. They wanted him to watch their memories. Draco had kindly declined.

As it is, very less people are alive who know that grandfather fought for the race with everything he had. Father tried to bury the issue after grandfather's demise. Draco doesn't blame father. He doesn't because father is not really a brave man. Nor is Draco. But the fact remains that the wizard kind detests Veelakind and they hate everyone who supports them. So there are still some who hate Draco for being Abraxas Malfoy's grandson.

Solitude is dangerous. Draco resents Potter for being braver than him. He hates Potter for having the courage to follow her heart, notwithstanding the consequences her actions might have. As far as Draco remembers, his fear always played a very big role in choices. He knows that people are angry and he did hurt others. As such, he didn't kill anyone directly, but he watched them getting murdered and did nothing to help. But -

A sudden noise breaks into his musings and he almost jumps in surprise. When he hears rapid footsteps nearing him, he shoots up and walks towards the bars. His knees are hurting and his lips are chapped. He is so thirsty that his throat is burning. He takes a long breath and swallows bile before wrapping his fingers around the bars.

"Who's it?" He whispers in the darkness because suddenly the footsteps have stopped but there is no-one around.

"Hello." He asks and abruptly someone appears in front of him. His heart pounds fiercely and he ends up falling on the hard floor.

However, when he finally looks at his visitor, his mouth falls open in utter shock.

Maybe he is dreaming. He must be if Potter is standing in front of him.

He stares in utter shock for a few moments and stands up again. He wraps his hands around the bars and stares at her before blinking his eyes and shaking his head. She stays quiet.

Just when Draco decides that he is probably hallucinating, Potter mutters, "I have brought some food for you."

"What?" His startled voice echoes in the darkness.

"Shhhhhh. Keep quiet." She whispers urgently, "I have brought food for you. Eat it. We are trying to request a retrial for you."

He stares at her and keeps on staring. She doesn't move. How is it possible. She had tried her best and the wizengamot had not budged even an inch. Most importantly, why is she trying so hard? What does she get out of it? They despise each other and it's not just because of the unending and age-old rivalry between Malfoys and Potters. Draco has zero percent tolerance for this girl. Same could be said about her too. She simply can't bear his presence or words.

Warily, he hisses in a low voice, "I don't need your favors. What do you get out of this? Why are you helping me?"

She hisses right back at him, "Expecting a 'thank you' from you was too much, eh? You are just so intolerable Malfoy that it astounds me. Just eat so that I can leave this wretched place before someone comes and catches us. I don't have all night." and his eyes fall upon a wrapped package in her hand. Hungrily, he grabs it and opens it. Inside are a few sandwiches. He starts eating. She watches him silently. It's very dark so maybe he is imagining it but her green eyes are shining in something akin to concern and relief. He finishes the rest and she hands over a napkin to him. He wipes his face off and she takes the foil and napkin from him.

"If-" She starts and right then they hear a guard yell, "Stop it. I am trying to sleep over here."

Draco's heart pounds furiously in his chest.

"Listen- I am not sure when the retrial will be but unless, then I'll come daily as long as you are here. I have water too. Snape said th-"

"I SAID SHUT UP."

Draco jumps in terror and she hands over a water bottle to him. He opens it and finishes it in one go. Never has water tasted so delicious in his entire life. He hands over the bottle back to her and she disappears just a second later.

A few minutes later when he hears the snores of the guard and lays down on his small cot, he realizes that he didn't thank her. Nor did he ask her as to why she came. Azkaban is unplottable. All that is known to common man is that it's located on an island somewhere in the middle of the north sea. But knowing her, she probably used her influences and the 'savior' card to get the information. However, why she did so is beyond him. How did she get here? She must be having Weasley and Granger with her.

He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. For the first time in several nights, his stomach is at peace and he sleeps peacefully.

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