An Easy Path

Date: January 18th, 2005
Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter. Obviously.
Pairing(s): none
Summary: Draco Malfoy contemplates his new mark.

Draco knew that he was a coward. He'd always been. He was a selfish kid with a fancy last name and harsh words. He didn't really have much to back it up.

Now, as he stood in front of this beady eyed monster he knew that his threats would have meaning. And, for some reason, he was not comforted.

When he was twelve the Chamber of Secrets was open by his father and the Thing in front of him. He remembered it clearly. Ginny Weasley was killing people and Granger was petrified. He remembered when he saw her and he remembered that he no longer wished her dead. He was, of course, afraid of death.

"Go on, son." Lucius pushed him half-heartedly a step further.

Damn his father. He was supposed to be out of this mess - whisked away with his mother to some island locale until this all went away. However, nothing went according to plan because Voldemort decided, on a whim, that Monday sounded like a good Initiation Day. Arse.

Draco had always been a coward. That was one thing he was not afraid of: his own cowardice. He was not afraid to say that yes, he believed that mudbloods should not be allowed in their world. He was also not afraid to admit to himself that he didn't think that they should be killed. He never liked death, after all. When he was five he saw his Aunt Bernice die, tumbling down the grand staircase to a rather grizzly end. and Draco Malfoy decided that death was not something he wanted to be involved in.

Now, he supposed, it wasn't up to him. Death, in a few minutes, after the Thing finished reciting whatever ridiculous incantation he'd made up, would, in fact, be his business. It was part of the title.

He'd heard how it worked and he knew that after the mark was imprinted on his arm he'd receive the dubious honor of a mission. He'd have the Thing-given right to kill other beings. Draco, for one, knew who he'd be sent to kill and he wasn't very happy about it.

He'd be told to wipe out one of Potter's little gang. Now, he didn't like them and he wouldn't mind if the whole lot mysteriously disappeared, but he didn't want to kill them. He was a coward. Cowards don't kill.

It would be easy enough to get rid of any of them. The Weasley girl was always looking at him, looking for a path to that Thing he supposed. He never really believed that she got over her first year. Granger was just looking. She needed more than two friends in her life, friends who she hadn't befriended only because they saved her life. She was so vulnerable, always looking for someone to trust. The Weasel King, however, would be the easiest of all. He'd just insult Granger in any way possible, without her being there, and Weasley would rise up to her defense. He'd suggest that he and the Weasel King meet, at night, to duel it out. They'd swear a Wizard's Oath of confidentiality. Weasley would be gone before morning.

No, it'd be very easy to wipe out any of them.

However, he didn't want to.

He supposed that it would be very easy to say no, right now, to the Thing.

However, he'd be killed.

Everyone assumed that cowardice was the easy route. As Draco closed his eyes and felt the searing pain shoot up his arm and into his elbow... As he heard the Thing intone, "Bring me the head of Ronald Weasley"... As he considered ways to leave... He knew one thing:

Cowardice was, perhaps, the hardest route of all.