Author's Note: I want to thank you all for having the patience to read up to chapter 8. The story has taken a path of its own and turned out a lot different than I originally planned it. I just read over my "storyline" and I'm like Wow, it's so different now. I hope all of you enjoy my story! Have a great day and don't forget to read, review and recommend!
++ Chapter Eight: A Change of Heart++
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It was a moonless night. The stars were shining like diamonds in the sky, more brightly than ever. It might have been because of the absence of the moon that it looked like the whole sky was glittering.
Somewhere in his dormitory Draco lay on his bed. He wasn't asleep, nor was he faking sleep. He didn't feel like doing anything and sleep just seemed a waste of time. He closed his eyes and imagined swirls of colours, playing mind games with his own thoughts.
The cold breeze filled with the dry smell of autumn leaves flew past the open dormitory window; Draco opened his eyes wearily and looked around the room, the clock hanging on the wall said that it was 9:15 already. He wondered where the rest of his company where, they should have been back from dinner by now (even for them that is).
Actually he quite preferred being secluded in a room, it gave him time to think. Well if that's what you call it. In his mind all he can think about is his pure hatred for his father, how could he not? The more he thought about it the more he wanted to scream. All he wanted was him out of his life!
Draco didn't get how his brain worked. Every night he lay half asleep in bed and then suddenly he had this memory, it filled his whole body with this shivering feeling and he felt like he could do it again, like he could take out the knife…
Maybe he was mentally ill. Draco laughed to himself at that. Were mental people meant to know they're mental? But the more he thought about it the more lonelier he felt, no one probably ever experienced things the way he did. If only…
An owl flew through the window swiftly, its coat as dark as the night itself, like a figment of the sky fallen into his room. The owl dropped the piece of parchment in its claw and started its journey off again.
Draco knew very well who the owl was from, who else was scared of people uncovering their letters? He was actually quite sick of his father's foolish ideas Draco didn't bother getting up or looking at the letter.
But he was restless, the more he tried not to think about the letter the more he wanted to read it. It was like his whole life was a trap. He swore and got up and grabbed the envelope. He pulled the letter out and read:
Draco. I have been hearing things from Professor Snape that you are not doing well in school. Go to the Slytherin common room at midnight and we will discuss your future. Don't let anyone see you.
It was an unsigned note. Draco tossed the letter out of the window, then regretted it as he thought about someone picking it up. It was a while since midnight and he wasn't so sure if he even wanted to go to the "meeting". He knew what Lucius was going to say and he certainly did not want to go through that again. Wouldn't he love to hear what Draco had been up to in the last few days?
Draco laughed at his own personal joke. Then when he realized what he was doing stopped. It was embarrassing to laugh at oneself.
He felt his stomach rumble and he knew he shouldn't have skipped dinner, no matter how much he wanted to avoid seeing the mudblood he needed glucose. And fast. Dinner would have been over already, he calculated, so that only leaves the option of sneaking down to the kitchens.
Yes the awesome threesome. You weren't the only ones who knew how to steal food.
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Draco's feet took him corridor down corridor down corridor. He was particularly lucky that night as it seemed that Filch and his deadly feline were nowhere to be seen. The paintings on the walls waved at him and some girls even winked. Draco smiled smugly until a middle aged man in a painting winked at him too.
Shuffling quickly down the corridor he thought back to when he first came down to the kitchens to steal some food. He actually had to thank the Weasleys for introducing him to the secret of getting in. For as anyone knows getting in was the hard part because as soon as you're in you have no problems whatsoever. The twins had been closely followed that day by him, in hopes of getting them in trouble. He had this pure loathe for the Weasleys which he couldn't explain. He hid behind a corner while he watched them go into the kitchen, unaware of what was happening he was taken by surprise when the twins came out with a bundle of food in their arms eating some puff pastries.
Draco stood in front of the ever so famous painting of the fruit bowl. He tickled the pear in just the right place. The pear giggled and turned into a handle. Draco grabbed the handle and walked in.
As soon as he walked in he could feel all eyes on him, it wasn't long before tens upon tens of house elves were rushing up to him offering him savories, sweets and beverages. Draco grabbed as many chicken legs as he could in one hand and some bread and turned to depart.
He was quite astonished when he saw a familiar figure standing there.
"Master…" Dobby's voice was as squeaky as ever, and upon realizing what he said he quickly covered his mouth and banged his head on a plate, indenting his face print on the base.
Draco was quite sick with Dobby's self-inflicting pain procedure. He wondered if all house elves were like that. Thinking about house elves reminded him of S.P.E.W, which then reminded him of Hermione, which then reminded him of…
Draco quickly shook the image out of his head and was preparing to leave when he noticed Dobby still standing there, his big blue eyes looking up at him like those of a puppy's. Of course the rest of the body… well… didn't look anything like a cute puppy's.
"Yeah okay," Draco quickly brushed past him and exited the busy kitchens. He felt a little bit sorry for Dobby but did nothing about his feelings; he quickly climbed the stairs up to his dormitory.
Suddenly he heard a meow from behind him, he turned around hoping it wasn't Mrs. Filch but little did he realize he was walking straight at someone.
"Hey watch it derbrain," Draco rubbed his head where he had collided with the stranger, he looked up at the person and surprise surprise he found Harry standing there.
"What the hell are you doing Malfoy?" Harry asked, fully aware of the situation judging by the amount of food in Draco's arms.
"It's none of your beeswax," Draco pushed past him and proceeded to his dorm, breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn't Filch.
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Midnight came all too soon, Draco tumbled around in his bed but he couldn't manage sleep. He sat up sharply. If he didn't go now his father was going to keep on pestering him, he better just go quickly now and get it over and done with. He hated having to always obey his father but there was nothing else to it.
The fireplace had been rekindled earlier that night by the prefects and Draco hurried down from his room and sat in front of the fire, staring into the deep colours of red, yellow and orange.
Suddenly the fireplace turned green and the all too familiar face of Lucius appeared.
"Ahh… Draco, you are on time," Lucius said, "for once."
"What do you want father, hurry it up," Draco tried to sound as respectful as possible.
"Watch with the attitude boy, that is the attitude that could destroy the Malfoy empire," Lucius snapped back at him.
Draco constrained a laugh. Malfoy "empire". He made it sound like the Malfoys were some international drug dealers or something.
"Well… SORRY father."
"Don't you use sarcasm with me!" Lucius was now fuming.
Draco said nothing and looked straight at Lucius' eyes.
"I heard that your grades have dropped, is that right?" Lucius continued.
"Yes father, but this years course-"
"NO EXCUSES!" Lucius yelled, "you are now in your senior years, all your school marks now account for your future, no more fooling around!"
Draco mumbled. What career choices? Lucius was the one who made all the decisions. Like the decision that he was going to be a Deatheater.
"But father, I told you. This year's courses are a lot harder."
"Really now? I am sure that Granger girl is coping well…" Lucius said, "despite the fact that she should not even be in Hogwarts."
"Don't compare me to that Mudblood!" if Lucius wasn't engulfed in flames, Draco would have punched him.
"Draco I am helping you! You wouldn't get anywhere in life without me!"
"I'm so sick of you controlling my life, let me make my own decisions!" Draco stood up, ready to go.
"Let me assure you, if you chose to make your own decisions, I have no reason to keep you." Lucius said.
Keep me? Draco thought, he means he's going to kick me out and disclaim me? Is that possible?
"Just leave me alone," Draco said.
And with that Draco left the room, the rage rising inside him.
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Draco hurried around the school. His mind still on the previous night's conversation. He was so mad he could just yell! How dare Lucius threaten him, as if he cares! He just made him so mad! Draco wanted to punch him so bad…
There must be something he could do! He was so sick of being pushed around. Any normal father would have realized the pain inside him and even cared. For once in his life he blamed his mother. Why did she marry such a arse?!
That's it. Draco thought. No more Mr. Nice Guy, no more perfect son. He was going to break the rules… but how??
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"Where's Ron?" Harry asked Hermione as they walked out onto the grass towards Hagrid's hut.
"3 points for whoever guesses first," Hermione muttered.
"Man he is so…" Harry said.
"Useless? Stupid? Shallow? You choose," Hermione didn't care what she was saying, she just felt like she could explode.
Suddenly she felt a hand grab her arm and she turned around, "Oi what's your problem.." She stopped when she saw who it was.
"Hey Malfoy, get your filthy hands off her!" Harry stepped forward.
"Oh for heaven's sake! I don't have germs," Draco said, he then turned to Hermione, "come with me if you still want to do it."
"WHAT THE HELL?" Harry yelled.
"Huh… do it with you? You sick perverted loser!" Hermione shook her hands off him and walked off.
Draco chased after her, "No! I would never give you the time of the day. I mean the whole… thing that we discussed the other day in the broom closet."
Harry's face had now turned a beetroot red, "Stop lying! You and Hermione. WHAT?"
Hermione turned back to Harry, "Umm… Harry… could you leave for a sec?"
"WHAT SO IT'S ACTUALLY TRUE?"
"NO! Just… I'll explain later okay?"
Harry walked off, uncertainly looking back. Shaking his head in confusion.
"What do you want, forget about what I said the other day," Hermione said sternly, "don't come back to laugh in my face."
"No…"
"Then what? If you don't want to go along with it just go and annoy someone else!" Hermione turned her back to him and walked towards where Harry was standing.
"Granger WAIT!"
Hermione stopped in her tracks.
"About that proposal, Draco continued, "I'll go along with it."
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A/N I didn't get this chapter beta read coz I am going to leave to go to China in one day and since I finished this chapter today I had to quickly post it. Sorry this took so long to upload. Oh and sorry it's so short too…
So after this chapter once again no chapter in a long time (due to holidays)
Anyways merry Christmas everyone!!!