Chapter 1
Draco Malfoy sauntered towards the dungeons for his first lesson of the day, Potions. It was only the second week of the new school year but already everyone had settled into the monotony of lessons and so the halls were empty as the bell had rung over ten minutes ago. Draco was late because of a letter that he had recieved at breakfast. It was from his father so Draco had gone back to his room to read it alone. He was glad to have been made a prefect if only to have the privacy of his own room. Thinking about the letter made his stomach churn and his hands clammy. His father had written to say that his time was coming and to be ready for orders at any moment.
"The initiation will begin soon. I will owl again with more instructions nearer the time. Be ready."
Draco was meant to feel excited and honoured by this news but instead he felt trapped and confused. He knew it was inevitable that he would become a Death Eater whether he wanted to or not. It was expected of him and anyway Lucius would not give him a choice.
Draco picked up his pace, trying to banish the thoughts from his pounding head. As he quickly rounded a corner, something rammed into him at such speed it knocked him flat on his back. Draco groaned. His head was pounding worse than ever, his stomach was whirling and now his back was in pain as well. He leaned up on his elbows and slowly opened his eyes trying to keep the room from spinning. He tried to focus on what had knocked him over in the first place but could only see a blur of red.
Then a female voice said, "Are you OK?"
"Do I look OK?" he replied trying to sit up properly and failing miserably.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you Malfoy, I'm late for Transfiguration so I was rushing."
"Well, watch where you're going next time." He growled.
"I said I'm sorry. Anyway, you weren't watching where you were going either, so don't snap at me!"
The sharp tone of her voice flicked on a light bulb in his head. He should have known from the reed hair. Ginny Weasley - member of the Harry Potter fan club and a regular target for Draco's sarcastic comments. He tried to think of one now but it was difficult with the room spinning. All he could do was groan.
"Are you sure you're OK? Maybe you should go to Madame Pomfrey." Ginny said unsure of what to do.
She had never seen Malfoy look so sick and vulnerable.
"I'm fine. Just go away and.."
Thud!
With that Draco hit the floor. Ginny rushed over to him, calling his name urgently, but getting no response. Biting her bottom lip, she looked up and down the deserted corridor but it was completely empty. She couldn't just leave him, even if he was a Malfoy.
She took out her wand, mumbled "Wingardium Leviosa" and guided him gently to the hospital wing.
Draco Malfoy sauntered towards the dungeons for his first lesson of the day, Potions. It was only the second week of the new school year but already everyone had settled into the monotony of lessons and so the halls were empty as the bell had rung over ten minutes ago. Draco was late because of a letter that he had recieved at breakfast. It was from his father so Draco had gone back to his room to read it alone. He was glad to have been made a prefect if only to have the privacy of his own room. Thinking about the letter made his stomach churn and his hands clammy. His father had written to say that his time was coming and to be ready for orders at any moment.
"The initiation will begin soon. I will owl again with more instructions nearer the time. Be ready."
Draco was meant to feel excited and honoured by this news but instead he felt trapped and confused. He knew it was inevitable that he would become a Death Eater whether he wanted to or not. It was expected of him and anyway Lucius would not give him a choice.
Draco picked up his pace, trying to banish the thoughts from his pounding head. As he quickly rounded a corner, something rammed into him at such speed it knocked him flat on his back. Draco groaned. His head was pounding worse than ever, his stomach was whirling and now his back was in pain as well. He leaned up on his elbows and slowly opened his eyes trying to keep the room from spinning. He tried to focus on what had knocked him over in the first place but could only see a blur of red.
Then a female voice said, "Are you OK?"
"Do I look OK?" he replied trying to sit up properly and failing miserably.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you Malfoy, I'm late for Transfiguration so I was rushing."
"Well, watch where you're going next time." He growled.
"I said I'm sorry. Anyway, you weren't watching where you were going either, so don't snap at me!"
The sharp tone of her voice flicked on a light bulb in his head. He should have known from the reed hair. Ginny Weasley - member of the Harry Potter fan club and a regular target for Draco's sarcastic comments. He tried to think of one now but it was difficult with the room spinning. All he could do was groan.
"Are you sure you're OK? Maybe you should go to Madame Pomfrey." Ginny said unsure of what to do.
She had never seen Malfoy look so sick and vulnerable.
"I'm fine. Just go away and.."
Thud!
With that Draco hit the floor. Ginny rushed over to him, calling his name urgently, but getting no response. Biting her bottom lip, she looked up and down the deserted corridor but it was completely empty. She couldn't just leave him, even if he was a Malfoy.
She took out her wand, mumbled "Wingardium Leviosa" and guided him gently to the hospital wing.