Reflections

So I can ask myself, really what is going wrong
with this world that we living in, people keep on giving in
making wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
not respecting each other, deny thy brother
a war is going on but the reason's under cover
the truth is kept secret, and swept under the rug
if you never know truth, then you never know love

- Black Eyed Peas "Where is the love"

Draco walked around the school. Things had seemed to settle down finally. But yet, his mind was in a whirlwind. His father, the ever-powerful Lucius Malfoy, was in Azkaban. He didn't want to believe it but the writing on the parchment was undeniably Narcissa's.

He couldn't deny that he saw it coming. Harry still possessed that crazy Gryffindor streak in him to try to save everyone and ultimately, land those in cahoots with the Dark Lord in Azkaban. He didn't think it would be that soon though. Hatred was seething in him but it struggled with relief and confusion. He was relieved that his father was in Azkaban. Not that it was good news but he could still remember nights of waking up in cold sweat, wondering whether the Dementors were going to get his father. Relief that old fears were finally over only gave way to new fears. What was he to do now?

The confusion in him, though, was stronger than even the hatred. Sure, he hated Harry for putting Lucius in Azkaban, but something in him wanted to thank Harry for everything at the same time. Surely he didn't want his own father in Azkaban, did he? His head throbbed horribly and his feet were walking without a destination in mind. But soon, he found himself standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the Astronomy Tower. Without thinking, he walked up the stairs, still buried in his thoughts.

Then he saw her. She didn't see him though, her eyes still lingering on the distant sky. She looked almost sad, sitting on the floor and hugging her legs to her chest. Draco felt the anger burn in him for the fiery hair girl and was about to turn down the stairs but something stopped him. Did he want to insult her? Maybe he did. Still unsure of what he really wanted to do, he walked towards her.

"Still pinning for the affections and wealth of Potty? I thought better of you, Weasel. Oh wait, that's how I've always pictured you to be... nothing but a gold digger-" Draco stopped. Ginny turned her head slightly and he saw that her eyes were red and slightly puffy. The thing that stopped him from going back down was now smacking him across the head. Sighing, Draco found himself sitting down next to her.

"Crying 'cos Potter didn't save you? Or are your tears those of happiness that he didn't die again under the hand of my father's Lord?" Draco bit his lower lip. But then, everyone in school already knew his father was a Death Eater. No use denying it. There was silence for a while then Ginny spoke.

"What makes you think my tears are for the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"Then what? Tears of pity for me, Weasel?" Draco turned bitter. Ginny scowled at him.

"I'm no fool. My tears are well spent. So how can they be for someone as low life as you are? Bet you wet your pants now, knowing well you can no longer turn to daddy for protection."

Draco ignored her last comment but eyed her with interest. "Your tears are not for Potty nor me? Who are they for? Your brother?"

"That git? No."

Another pause lingered before Ginny spoke again. "Did you know Sirius Black?"

"How can I not?" Draco muttered.

"I mean... did you know what Sirius was like personally? I don't need to know what he was like from the media's point of view. I want to know if anyone else sees the Sirius I see."

"What do you see?"

"I asked first," Ginny insisted. Draco, for the first time, compelled and launched into what he thought of Sirius.

He knew that Sirius was Narcissa's cousin and as well as the black sheep of the family. Sirius wasn't a follower of Voldermort as well. Instead, it was his younger brother, Regulus. Sirius had in fact ran away from the family when he was younger. Framed and wrongfully accused, Sirius was dumped into Azkaban to wilt away. Once Sirius escaped, Voldermort had a feeling that he would try to communicate with Potter. True enough, Sirius did. Harry knew the truth about the Marauders' lives after Hogwarts and the Order was restored to overthrow Voldermort and finish him off finally.

"So I think he's just a regular goody-two-shoes just like your whole bunch was," Draco concluded. Tears started to well up in Ginny's eyes again and she blinked them away, furiously. Then she shook her head.

"That's not Sirius."

"Really? Then what's he like?" Draco challenged. Ginny took a deep breath.

"Sirius is reckless and absolutely impulsive. He's arrogant and selfish, normally putting himself in front of others. In fact, he hates the rules. Put him behind bars and all he'd think of would be how to get out-"

"And you're crying over him?" Draco's eyes narrowed. Ginny frowned.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you manners? Never interrupt a girl, unless she's Pansy."

Draco felt a smile tug at the corners of his lips but he suppressed it. Seeing no answer from Draco, Ginny continued. She spoke of Sirius telling her, Fred and George all that the Marauders had done in school, even all the teasing and taunting they put Snape through. All in all, she made Sirius sound almost evil. Then she paused and took a deep breath.

"His death wasn't fair."

"After all he's done?" Draco said incredulously. Ginny nodded.

"He was a teenage. Sure, I would have smacked him across the head or even hexed him a couple of times if we went to school together. But he was young and arrogant. You are young and arrogant as well. But Sirius... He was put into Azkaban for a murder he did not commit. A folly on his part, I have to admit, for he was too trusting of his friends. He did not see the course of actions Voldermort would have taken. He thought he knew Voldermort but he failed. Failed to see that Voldermort was a lot smarter than others thought he was-"

"You said Voldermort," Draco mused. Ginny glared at him and he realized that he had interrupted her again.

"Sirius still tried to break rules but he's supposed to be older, therefore more mature. He tried to be... tried his very best to stay obedient for Harry... for his own friends. That's one thing I see in Sirius, his unwavering loyalty to his friends. He was a very pleasant pure blood unlike his mother. He would risk his life for others, and he did. He gave his life for Harry. I admire Sirius for all he's done for others. He became selfless amidst his selfishness. He knew it meant death but he didn't step down and cave in. He treaded on, knowing that his life was on the line. His courage, his bravery..."

Tears started to flow down her cheeks again. Draco groaned. He hated crying girls. They would whimper like a hurt puppy and would try to seek solace and comfort. But he halted. Ginny's eyes were flashing with more anger than usual.

"He didn't deserve to die! He was saving Harry, not asking to be killed in the process I'm sure! I hardly think that Sirius would have gotten to his knees and beg for death to set Harry free. No, Sirius would have fought back. I didn't see it... but I know Sirius fought bravely. His death was in vain! He didn't even clear his name! All because... just because..." Ginny burst into fresh tears, this time hiding her face in her robes. Draco knew what she wanted to say. Sirius was unable to be declared innocent all because he gave his life to help Harry Potter.

The two sat in silence, the sobs of Ginny echoed throughout the tower. When she finally softened, she didn't look Draco in the eye, her head turned away. Draco felt something sink in him. It was as if he wanted Ginny to look at him with her hazel eyes. Then he did something his father would have flogged him for.

Without a word, Draco turned Ginny to face him and held her tightly in his embrace. He took a deep breath and felt her warmth through their robes. Ginny buried her head in his collar and wept bitterly. When her tears were finally dried, he let her go gently. Ginny then stared at him in puzzlement.

"You do know that purebloods are an exclusive few. You are my cousin, whether I like it or not, Virginia."

"But should any word of this leak out, Draco, I will hex you to the end of the world," Ginny glared, some of her spunk flowing back to her hazel eyes. Draco's gray eyes turned cold again and he nodded with a smirk.

"Funny how you read my mind."

"But you know what this means, don't you?"

"Our conversation?" Draco asked. Ginny shook her head.

"Your father's in Azkaban. Sirius is dead. Voldermort has risen once again-"

"A war is coming." Draco ended for her. Ginny merely nodded and bit her lower lip, uncertainty clouding her eyes. "What do you expect?"

"I expect the school to remain united. But I doubt that's reality. Maybe you're already a Death Eater, maybe not. But we cannot deny that everyone has different views and reactions about Voldermort's return. Do you think we can stick together and fight together? Or will I be pitted against you, my very own cousin?"

"We are distant cousins," Draco corrected Ginny. Ginny pouted, as if urging Draco to answer her question. Draco thought for a while, then replied, "We'll know when the time comes. But you're correct. We do have a war coming up. Whatever the outcome, we won't know until the time comes, would we?"

The next day in school, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle had managed to corner Harry. He wanted Harry to pay for what he had done to Lucius. Even though slightly grateful, Draco's pride was clearly shattered, his ego bruised to the greatest level. Furthermore, he had a reputation to uphold, as a "baddie" in school. Strangely, Harry had seemingly changed. There was much more fight in Harry than Draco had ever seen, and it only made him madder than ever.

"The Dementors have left Azkaban. Dad and the others'll be out in no time..."

"Yeah, I expect they will. Still, at least everyone knows what scumbags they are now-"

Draco's hand hadn't even entered his pocket for his wand and Harry was already pointing his at Draco. Snape appeared just as quickly as the wand had and questioned Harry's wand. Harry glanced over at Snape and answered fiercely, "I'm trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir."

It was Draco's turn to be amused. He eyed Harry with a new interest, knowing that the next two years in school were definitely worth looking forward to suddenly. The usual routine then happened just as it did almost every year. Gryffindor would get so many points that the ten points Snape had taken away mean nothing. Then McGonagall dismissed both of them. Malfoy watched as Harry headed straight for the front doors.

After Snape and McGonagall had left, Draco turned and saw Ginny looking at him from behind a corner. She then looked down, hair covering her face, and retreated. A wave of emotions hit Draco hard and he leaned weakly on the wall, sliding down to sit, his knees propped up. Tiredly, he sighed.