My mind was mercifully blank as I hurtled through the trees. Screams, crashes and yells could be heard as I ran, wand out, robes flying behind me. Panting, I dashed into a clearing, skidding to a halt when I saw Draco Malfoy leaning against a tree. Although we'd grown up around each other, we'd never really interacted; something that continued into our Hogwarts years.
"What's going on? What's happening?" I gasped out, bending over a bit and putting my hands on my waist.
"You mean to tell me you don't know?" He said, smirking ever-so-pretentiously. "I obviously was kept in the loop. I thought your parents would have told you... but then again, you are quite a black sheep,"
"Black sheep? Malfoy, get real. Were those robes I saw-"
"Death Eater robes? Yes. You shouldn't have anything to worry about, though. Some of your friends, on the other hand..."
"You're sick, Malfoy." I muttered, shaking my head. Turning my head to properly see what was going on, I stared at the scene in disgust and horror before rounding on him. "I'd like to see you being dangled in the air, your undergarments visible to all, for something as trivial as your blood status."
Jaw clenched, I started walking away when he called out, "You chose wrong, you know. Picked the losing side"
I paid him no heed.
—
September first saw me in a cabin on the Hogwarts express with Parvati, Lavender, Dean and Seamus.
"My parents told me about something big going in this year." I proclaimed to the cabin at large.
"And what's that?" Asked Dean, sliding the compartment door shut after the trolley lady and chucking a few chocolate frogs around at random.
One of them hit Lavender in the face; squealing, she threw it back at him. Suffice it to say, Lavender Brown was not a chaser for a reason. Sailing right past Dean, the sweet clocked Seamus in the nose. A scuffle broke out at that. Rolling our eyes, Parvati and I continued the conversation.
"What's happening this year?"
"I can't say. You'll find out soon enough. I can, however say that it's going to be big. A competition and a ball are sure to happen."
While mentioning the ball, I looked pointedly at Lavender, who took a break from the tussle to exclaim, "You're kidding!"
"I'm not surprised," mused Parvati, pulling a Bertie Bott's out of the brunnete's hair. "Dress robes were on the list this year. I just assumed some stodgy formal affair."
The boys looked decidedly less pleased with this than the girls, grimacing and shrugging their shoulders in defeat.
Laughing, I got up and headed out, telling my friends that I needed to use the loo. On my way back from there, I spotted Malfoy sitting alone in a cabin, and, on a whim, decided to go in. He was reading a book which he hastily put away when he saw me, but not before I caught the name of the title: Moste Darke Venunum. A book about poison. Raising my eyebrows at it, I decided to ignore the highly questionable study matter.
"What, exactly, do you want?" He sneered.
"What is going on? About -" And here I hesitated- "stuff that happened at the match? My parents aren't saying anything, and you made it pretty clear that you are in the loop."
"Can't go around telling you stuff like that now, can I?"
"What was the point of that display? Is there something bigger going on here? What?"
"Look, even if I did know this stuff, I wouldn't tell you. All I can say is, you've clearly picked the wrong side. Everyone in our circles knows about you, they call you a blood traitor. Even your parents are facing a bucketload of accusations. You'd better watch your back."
"Go to hell, Malfoy"
"You came and spoke to me! You think I want to hang around with the likes of you?"
Livid now, I hissed, "You are nothing but a bigoted hypocrite, you know that?"
"At least I picked a side. Who knows where your loyalties lie?"
Huffing, I left and slammed the door shut behind me, the clanging noise reverberating down the train.
—
I'm back! It's been a few years now, I think! Anyway, this story is now no longer on hold; I intend to finish it! Reviews are very welcome.
