I couldn't smile Chapter 1, a harry potter fanfic

I'm not the greatest writer as you'll see. Hopefully it'll be okay...

The castle greeted us as the carriages pulled themselves up the long winding path. I couldn't smile as I always had done when we arrived. I couldn't smile because I knew what was waiting on the other side of the doors. I knew who was waiting. And no one could smile when they had that knowledge.

Xxxxx

"Madison, you have to go back. There's nothing for you here anymore."

"There's nothing for me in that place either! There's nothing there at all!"

"Madison we have no choice. Please don't make this harder than it is. I don't want you to get hurt."

"You think I'm going to be safe at Hogwarts? You heard them. You know who he's got working with Snape. He doesn't want the students to be safe. He wants us to be scared mum. Don't you get it? It's the perfect reason not to go back."

"You'll be safer there then you will be at home. Within five minutes he'll ship you off with the other students. He's forcing them to return. Blaise and Draco have been given a choice. Yours isn't exactly a choice either is it? You have to go!"

I'd lost the argument and I knew it. Whether I chose to stay or go wouldn't matter. I would be walking through the front doors on the first of September without a doubt. That was the next day, tomorrow.

Mum left the room and closed the door behind her. My empty trunk lay at the foot of my bed and I begrudgingly started to pack. My clothes were just piled in, I didn't even look at what I was packing, my books were flung in without care and everything else was only a second thought as I closed the trunk.

Tomorrow I would be on the train with my friends cruising through the English countryside but I wouldn't enjoy it. I couldn't.

Xxxxx

The morning arrived and I reluctantly crawled out of bed. I pulled on the clothes I had laid out the night before, black tights, denim shorts and a black vest top, and called Dizzy, our house elf for breakfast. She brought in a tray full of food but I nibbled and ate hardly anything.

"Madison, are you dressed? Draco and Blaise will be arriving shortly." Mum called from her room across the landing.

"Yes I am and I've eaten. What about Pansy? She said she was coming with Draco."

"Change of plan. Didn't she tell you? She's going in with Alecto and Amycus."

"She's going in with them? Why couldn't I? They are my aunt and uncle not Pansy's!"

Mum didn't reply. I waited but the next sound to come was a faint pop from behind me.

"Miss Madison, Master Draco and Master Blaise have arrived. They are in the entrance hall waiting for you." Dizzy informed me.

"Thank you Dizzy, you are no longer needed this morning. Take my bags downstairs then get yourself some breakfast." Dizzy nodded and then disappeared taking my trunk and bags with her.

I took once last glance around the room, slipped my feet into my converse and pulled on my zip up hoodie. Making my way to the living room to greet my friends, I thought about the upcoming year, about Harry and where he might be, about Voldemort and his rise to power. I worried about the fate of the people I know and those I love.

The walk downstairs felt incredibly long. I reached the living room and was immediately jumped by Blaise.

"Madison! It feels like forever since I've seen you. Where have you been? Oh yes, hiding at home!" he laughed and hugged me till I thought I would stop breathing.

"Alright my turn, mate" I heard Draco mock. Blaise let go of me and stepped out of the way. Draco was stood in the middle of the room and I hurled myself at him. He wrapped his arms around my waist as I pressed my lips to his. When we broke apart I rested my head on his shoulder and smiled.

"I've missed you." I whispered loud enough for only Draco to hear. I felt his lips smile against the top of my head.

On the wall the clock sounded. I pulled away from Draco slightly and twisted myself to look at the time. 10:30. I sighed and moved out of Draco's grip. Mum entered the room followed by dad. I embraced them and said my goodbye.

"Be careful darling and I'll see you at Christmas." Mum was the last thing I heard as I took Draco and Blaise's hands then we apparated to Kings Cross.

The familiar smell of smoke greeted us as well as the usual hustle of parents rushing their children towards the train. This time however there were more tears, and the fear was as obvious as Hagrid at Gringotts. Parents were holding onto their children as long as they could. Students were pleading with their parents to take them home. The news about Snape becoming headmaster was all that they had been told and there was already this fear. Letters would be arriving home on the first night when they discover the two new staff members that are awaiting them.

I climbed aboard the train and we found our usual compartment to be occupied by a small group of Gryffindors. Among them were Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom. They looked at us stood in the doorway and smirked.

"Sorry did you want something?" Ginny sneered.

"Well you're in our compartment so it's obviously the other way around." I replied just as spitefully.

"Does it have your name on it?" she replied. This is where it became my turn to smirk.

"Actually yes it does." I pushed my way over to the corner where I found, scratched into the wood, my name. I pointed at it and turned to see Ginny looking at me in disbelief. Without saying another word, she got up and beckoned to the others to follow her.

Triumphantly, we took our seats in the compartment. I snuggled into Draco and rested my head on his chest as he talked to the others. I fell asleep for the majority of the journey and woke with my head in Draco's lap.

"Hello sleepy head." He laughed as he kissed my forehead. I sat up slowly and looked out the window. The clouds had turned dark and felt like they were closing in on the already gloomy train.

I checked my watch and decided I should change into my robes. I went down to the toilets to change. I pulled on my uniform, white blouse, black skirt, green Slytherin tie and black and green Slytherin robes. I was constantly in trouble about my uniform over the years. My tie was too fat and too short, my skirt was too short, my heels too high etc. This year was no different. I had a pair of cute, black, suede heels on and a tight, black short skirt. I smirked and shook my hair out of the plait so that it fell in loose curls down my back. Then I went back to the compartment where the others were all changed.

For the rest of the journey we sat in mostly silence, occasionally someone would start a conversation but it wouldn't last long and then it was back to the quiet.

When the train pulled into Hogsmeade station the rain was threatening to fall. We quickly ran to the carriages and forced our way to the front and onto and empty carriage. I took a glance at the Thestrals I could see pulling the carriage. I wish I couldn't see them. But I can't change that now. Soon the carriages started to move up the road to the castle.

I took a deep breath before walking into the warmth of the entrance hall and even warmer Great hall. At the head of the teachers table sat Snape. He wore an even more grumpy expression than usual.

When the hall was full, the doors opened again and the first years filed in led by none other than Amycus and Alecto, my death-eater relatives. As they passed me they nodded slightly then continued down to the stool.

As each student was sorted into their house, they were met only by a quiet applause except for Slytherin's who cheered without fear of being silenced. Each Slytherin to be sorted made a large smirk appear on the faces of Amycus, Alecto and, just, Snape.

The feast was just as incredible as ever but the conversation was more like a dull humming rather than full loud conversation. The absence of the Golden Trio was noticeable on the Gryffindor table. The youngest Weasley looked lost and troubled as she sat with Longbottom eating slowly.

Draco would stop every now and then and ask me if I was okay. I nodded and he turned back to Pansy to continue their conversation. I barely touched my food and felt distant from everyone in the hall. When Snape announced that it was time to go to the dormitories, it felt like a blessing until,

"Seventh year Slytherins stay behind please." Alecto called.

I sat back down and sighed. Draco put his arm around me and rubbed his thumb along my arm.

"Welcome back. As you can see there is a slight difference this year," Amycus started.

"I'll say," I mumbled.

"Madison! Watch it. We may be related but I expect respect from you missy. Anyway as I was saying, we would like to start up the inquisitorial squad again and want you to all be a part of it. You get all the privileges of prefects. Well?"

The others all quickly agreed and then turned to me. "Well it's not like a have a choice is it, Uncle?" I emphasised the last word and smirked.

"Well you're definitely a Carrow and you're right, you don't have a choice." They dismissed us and we went down to the dungeons together. I went straight to my bed and collapsed onto it. I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it. I quickly changed into a pair of shorts and strappy top before I went down to say goodnight to Draco.

I got to the bottom of the stairs and it was deserted in the common room apart from two people sitting very close on the couch by the fire. I recognised the both straight away. Draco and Pansy.

"No Pansy. I'm going up now. I shouldn't have to remind you I have a girlfriend. Your best friend! Doesn't that matter to you?" He stood up and turned to the stairs where he saw me standing listening with hurt and confusion etched on my face. Hesitantly he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my cheek. I held onto him and pressed my lips to his.

"Goodnight baby." I said and then ran up the stairs to my bed where I pulled the drapes shut and crawled under the covers.

Maybe I misinterpreted that scene. I hope I did.

Well there's the first chapter. Hope you liked it. Please review and let me know what you think.

Thanks :)
I-H3ART-1D