Author's note: Finally I managed to write this out in an acceptable (for me) form. Draco angst, like I said. More Draco angst next chapter.
Someone wanted to know if Parseltounge counted for an Etmod: A very interesting question, but no, it doesn't count, since I don't think Parseltounge works on lizards too, and besides this creature isn't even an actual lizard.
Disclaimer: The characters and world of Harry Potter belong to J. K. Rowling. The idea is Severitus' and whatever remains is, I suppose, mine.
Changes-Chapter 4
A Defense against the Dark Arts class was identical for all four houses; and so the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin forth-years were greeted, adressed and dismissed in the same way. The uniformity was indeed so great that it reached the students as well. At first, they were surprised by the sudden manner the teacher had; then the excitement dimmed through the class, but only to rise again at the end, when they were told that the next class was to be held near the Forbidden Forest and that it could consist of a real confrontation with an Etmod; at this point, all pupils were bursting with curiosity and/or anticipation.
It went so for each and every student... except one. Who instead of being excited, felt terror seep into his very bones.
~ ~ ~
Draco Malfoy made his way to his dormitory, head held high and a look of superiority on his face. Those who saw him immediatly drew the conclusion that Malfoy was just being his born usual obnoxious self; they had no way of knowing it was a part of the way he had been brought up, a screen behind which he could hide his true thoughts. By this point in time, it had almost become part and parcel of him... impossible to escape and far too useful to even want such a thing.
Once safe behind the dark green curtains of his poster bed, Draco let a part of his mask drop, fear now showing on his pale face and allowed a forgotten memory to rise from the back of his mind.
~FLASHBACK~
Draco was dreaming. Or rather, Draco was 'dreaming'.
It looked like a Care of Magical Creatures class under a warm sun. He saw himself and his colleagues, all slightly older-looking, standing to a side, while a solid man was facing a small dinosaur. 'It's probably going to be just another boring preview of a stupid class. At least if I got to see the exam subjects, this wouldn't be such a waste,' Draco thought. By now, the man was fighting the dinosaur, without causing him any impression. That was what a teacher did anyway. The only feeling he had was one of smugness for having a new professor instead of that stupid half-giant Hagrid. Boredly Draco watched the solid man avoid a ray of magic from the dinosaur and turn back to the class. The Slytherins were cleary impressed, he noted. The man walked towards his students, probably intent on explaining the lesson. He didn't see the other beam of magic the creature shot at his person and didn't even have time to open his mouth when it pierced him.
~END FLASHBACK~
'It *was* him,' the young Slytherin thought in shock.
Foreshadowing someone's death had been like being thrown in freezing waters: the sudden, terrible cold, the limitation of movement, the constrictive lack of air, and the fear. Dark, overwhelming fear. And after the first terrible moment... it got worse. Drowning at least was physical and immediate, but this was in his mind, swarming like a whirlpool, a constant torment to his fragile mental health. It was too much to bear and he'd tried to deny it -every way he could- because that was the only way he could deal with it. Eventually he'd convinced himself that it had only been a nightmare and everything had been forgotten. But now, drawn by Marsch' arrival, the memories resurfaced. There was no way around it - he had seen the professor's death.
'So? It's not my responsability!' Once that had been established, the boy took his time to secure the knowledge. 'Even if I were to try to save him, how could I possibly do that without being in danger of revealing my secret or any other kind of danger?' One of the first lessons Draco had ever learned, was that saving your skin came first; other matters of finesse such as being noble or honest when doing so took second place. 'And why exactly should I bother? If he dies, he dies, not my bussiness! I couldn't risk my safety for someone I don't even know!'
Once that one and only choice had been reached, Draco got up, carefully re-placing his mask and left the Slytherin dormitory for lunch.
~ ~ ~
Throughout the day, it was easy to pretend nothing was going to happen... Even if your yearmates only talked about next DADA class... or if Professor Marsch' presence was undeniably felt during both lunch and dinner...
However, the calmness Draco displayed and which, to an extent was real, coming from having made a decision, dissipated the second he climbed into bed and said 'I'm going to sleep now' to himself. Instantly his sleepiness flew out the window, together with his calm. In the dead of the night, the burden of having a man's life in his hands did weigh rather hard. 'There's nothing I can do,' Draco repeated in his mind, resolving to fall asleep at once.
Sleep that night could have been in Antarctica, for how close he came to it.
End Chapter 4
If you enjoyed this, you'd make my day by telling me so. If you didn't, I still want to know (along with why, if possible). So please, please review?
Someone wanted to know if Parseltounge counted for an Etmod: A very interesting question, but no, it doesn't count, since I don't think Parseltounge works on lizards too, and besides this creature isn't even an actual lizard.
Disclaimer: The characters and world of Harry Potter belong to J. K. Rowling. The idea is Severitus' and whatever remains is, I suppose, mine.
Changes-Chapter 4
A Defense against the Dark Arts class was identical for all four houses; and so the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin forth-years were greeted, adressed and dismissed in the same way. The uniformity was indeed so great that it reached the students as well. At first, they were surprised by the sudden manner the teacher had; then the excitement dimmed through the class, but only to rise again at the end, when they were told that the next class was to be held near the Forbidden Forest and that it could consist of a real confrontation with an Etmod; at this point, all pupils were bursting with curiosity and/or anticipation.
It went so for each and every student... except one. Who instead of being excited, felt terror seep into his very bones.
~ ~ ~
Draco Malfoy made his way to his dormitory, head held high and a look of superiority on his face. Those who saw him immediatly drew the conclusion that Malfoy was just being his born usual obnoxious self; they had no way of knowing it was a part of the way he had been brought up, a screen behind which he could hide his true thoughts. By this point in time, it had almost become part and parcel of him... impossible to escape and far too useful to even want such a thing.
Once safe behind the dark green curtains of his poster bed, Draco let a part of his mask drop, fear now showing on his pale face and allowed a forgotten memory to rise from the back of his mind.
~FLASHBACK~
Draco was dreaming. Or rather, Draco was 'dreaming'.
It looked like a Care of Magical Creatures class under a warm sun. He saw himself and his colleagues, all slightly older-looking, standing to a side, while a solid man was facing a small dinosaur. 'It's probably going to be just another boring preview of a stupid class. At least if I got to see the exam subjects, this wouldn't be such a waste,' Draco thought. By now, the man was fighting the dinosaur, without causing him any impression. That was what a teacher did anyway. The only feeling he had was one of smugness for having a new professor instead of that stupid half-giant Hagrid. Boredly Draco watched the solid man avoid a ray of magic from the dinosaur and turn back to the class. The Slytherins were cleary impressed, he noted. The man walked towards his students, probably intent on explaining the lesson. He didn't see the other beam of magic the creature shot at his person and didn't even have time to open his mouth when it pierced him.
~END FLASHBACK~
'It *was* him,' the young Slytherin thought in shock.
Foreshadowing someone's death had been like being thrown in freezing waters: the sudden, terrible cold, the limitation of movement, the constrictive lack of air, and the fear. Dark, overwhelming fear. And after the first terrible moment... it got worse. Drowning at least was physical and immediate, but this was in his mind, swarming like a whirlpool, a constant torment to his fragile mental health. It was too much to bear and he'd tried to deny it -every way he could- because that was the only way he could deal with it. Eventually he'd convinced himself that it had only been a nightmare and everything had been forgotten. But now, drawn by Marsch' arrival, the memories resurfaced. There was no way around it - he had seen the professor's death.
'So? It's not my responsability!' Once that had been established, the boy took his time to secure the knowledge. 'Even if I were to try to save him, how could I possibly do that without being in danger of revealing my secret or any other kind of danger?' One of the first lessons Draco had ever learned, was that saving your skin came first; other matters of finesse such as being noble or honest when doing so took second place. 'And why exactly should I bother? If he dies, he dies, not my bussiness! I couldn't risk my safety for someone I don't even know!'
Once that one and only choice had been reached, Draco got up, carefully re-placing his mask and left the Slytherin dormitory for lunch.
~ ~ ~
Throughout the day, it was easy to pretend nothing was going to happen... Even if your yearmates only talked about next DADA class... or if Professor Marsch' presence was undeniably felt during both lunch and dinner...
However, the calmness Draco displayed and which, to an extent was real, coming from having made a decision, dissipated the second he climbed into bed and said 'I'm going to sleep now' to himself. Instantly his sleepiness flew out the window, together with his calm. In the dead of the night, the burden of having a man's life in his hands did weigh rather hard. 'There's nothing I can do,' Draco repeated in his mind, resolving to fall asleep at once.
Sleep that night could have been in Antarctica, for how close he came to it.
End Chapter 4
If you enjoyed this, you'd make my day by telling me so. If you didn't, I still want to know (along with why, if possible). So please, please review?