Barty shook his head. "Elias is my middle name," he lamely offered as consolation for his silence.
Why was this suddenly so difficult? Didn't he want to put an end to this? Didn't he want to be free of his past?
He looked about the bookshop, glad to see they were alone. He withdrew his hands from Padma's and wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers.
"I - I've done something terrible," he stammered. "Except, it wasn't me. It was the old me. But the old me keeps taking over!" He dropped his head into his hands, raking his fingers through his hair in his frustration.
She is a blood traitor... She knew that bitch was a mudblood but was still friends with her...
"Shut up!" Barty yelled, jumping to his feet, hands still making fists in his hair. "Shut up and leave me alone!"