Chapter Seven
I'll Explain Everything
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Liquid crystals filled up Star's blue eyes as she listened to Draco's chastizment. How could anyone be so cruel to their own child? A strange roaring filled her ears, her anger was at it's highest peak...a dangerous place for Star to be. All she could make out was Draco hadn't fulfilled a promise to someone of importance and his father was paying for it until Draco did whatever needed to be done. Only when the younger Malfoy cried out in pain did she move from her hiding spot on the stairway to his side. She caught him right before he fell over in pain. The sudden silence told her Mr.Malfoy was no longer in the fireplace.
Draco's angry, ice cold eyes locked with her's, "What're you doing here?"
"......I was worried about you," her quiet answer shocked him but his face remained impassive.
"Don't." That was his only reply as he removed his large frame off the floor and out of her small embrace.
He barely noticed her smaller frame standing behind him while he moved away from her ready to go back to bed. Star stood there confused with herself; all she wanted to do was cry for him, for what happened to him. Which only infuriated her more; she wasn't one of these girls that couldn't tie their shoes with some hunk of man offering their help. If he didn't want her to worry about him she wouldn't. It was as simple as that...but her heart told her different. Almost involuntarily she found herself reaching for him as he made his way up the steps, her voice hinting to a pleading sound, "....Draco?"
"...What?" He had stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of her quiet voice but he made no movements to face her. He already felt humiliated at her hearing him being yelled at and attacked by his own father...he didn't want her pity too. Her soft footfalls informed him she was walking towards him, but he kept his control and didn't face her. He did, however, find himself falling face first on to the stair well. Draco made no attempt to hide the anger from his eyes as he regained his footing and faced her.
"It's what friends do, Draco. They worry about each other. Just like I worry about you. So deal with it," Star had meant to make her voice sound with reprimand, but her statement came out quieter and more pleading that she had wanted. With her books in hand once more, she turned and forced herself to keep walking to her dorm, it was difficult when all she wanted to do was hug him, to show him someone cared. Ice blue eyes watched her ascent up the stairs to the girls' dorms. Slowly he made his way to his bed seeking the refuge to hide under the quilt. He could've handled it if it had been anyone but her. If anyone but her had seen or heard what had happened...he could've handled it.
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FLASHBACK You idiotic-pathetic excuse for a son!!
"But father-"
"Did you even realize how long it's been since he'd given his command?!"
"Yes! But-"
"No excuses! You're mother and I are the ones suffering for you incompetance!"
Draco's eyes widened at the thought of his mother suffering because of him, "I haven't had the-"
Mr. Malfoy's rage grew with each time his son tried to defend himself, "You told me you wanted to follow in my footsteps, that you wanted to be just like me; his lordship is ready to take you up on that, he wants you to stand besdies me as his second-in-command....and....you-can't-do-the-simplest-of-tasks-for-him...."each word was spoken through clenched teeth. Draco had always had a sense of fear instilled into of his father...but this went beyond anything he had ever feared, "You finish your task....you've been granted until the Yuletide holidays to fulfill your order."
Draco looked down mometarily murmuring a yes beneath his breath; he realized he shoudln't have looked down. His father had brought out his wand and said some of the few words Draco had both become familiar with and feared. Doubling over in pain, the Crutacius curse echoed in his mind, over and over until it seemed to take over.
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Star pushed her potatoes around on her plate her mind clearly occupied. Her raven haired friend looked at her with a slight touch of worry. She'd been like this for two weeks now; even the promised trip to Hogsmeade hadn't cheered her up. Rabekuh was determined to either find out what was bothering her or to cheer her friend up somehow.
"Sta'hr?"
Sky blue met sea gren when Star blinked and focused in on her friend, "Sorry Rabekuh, did you say something?"
"Oui, of course I did. I wanted to kno' if you 'ad decided whether or not to come to 'Ogsmeade with me?"
"Oh....um..." Star's thoughts strayed. Draco still hadn't talked to her since that night, he would obviously be going to Hogsmeade to get his mind off of school and other things. She didn't want to intrude.
"Sta'hr?"
"No, Rabekuh...I don't think so. I have to...." she tried to think of a good excuse, "I have to....work on my potions project....It's due soon."
".....Our projec's ar' not due for fou' weeks, Sta'hr."
A tinge of color swept into her cheeks at being caught, stupidly, she decided to run with it, "So? That's still...it's still soon."
"Your project 'as to steep for two of those weeks."
Sighing knowing she was caught with no way out, Star kept her gaze rivited on her plate, "Yes, I'll go."
"Wonderful! If I don' see you before then, I'll meet you in the Great 'All."
Star couldn't to stop a small smile from gracing her sorrowed face as Rabekuh ran to get to class. Unfortunately, she wasn't as enthused as Rabkeuh and made her way leisurely through the halls to class not caring if she was late.
You idiotic-pathetic excuse for a son!!
Why wouldn't Draco talk to her? Was he so angry with her for finding out that he no longer wnated to be around her? Or did he feel humiliate that she had found out? Maybe it wasn't about her at all....she didn't know. She just wanted him to talk to her.
"Ms.Trivius?"
Star whirled around hoping beyond hope that is was Draco (she didn't notice that her name had been formalized and the person had a much harsher voice), "P-p-proffesor McGonagall...."
"Is there a reason you're wandering the hallways?"
She suddeny realized she was on the other side of the school from her first class; her shoulders slumped, "I'm sorry, Professor...I guess I got lost. I haven't been feeling well and sort of dazed while I was walking."
Eyein the student carefully, compassion filled Minerva for the girl, but she kept her face impassive. She couldn't let her like for this girl ruin her standing reputation at the school, "Alright then. Go ahead and get to class."
"Yes, ma'am." Star hurried off in the opposite direction trying to get as quickly as possible to Care of Magical Creatures. Her breath suddenly caught in her throat when she realized Griffyndor was doubling with Slytherins today. Standing at the back of the group with Vincent and Greg was Draco. She tried to move slowly as to catch his eye, but to seemingly no avail as he didn't budge from his conversation.
"Ah, so ye decided to com' after all Sta'?"
Draco's head shot up at the mention of her name, he watched a sheepish smile cross her lip as she looked up at Hagrid, "Yes....I'm sorry I'm late. I wasn't feeling well."
"Tha's alright. I'm sure on' o' the others will let you borrow the beginnings of their no'ts."
She wasn't feeling well? Concern crossed the young blonde's face. What was wrong? Was she sick? He certainly wouldn't know, he'd been very rude to her the past few weeks and she'd politely taken all his nasty comments and kept her space. Shushing his two friends, informing them they'd finish their conversation later, Draco casually made his way next to Star and sat down. Shocked expressions wacthed the Slytherin sit next to the Griffyndor at the front of the class.
Star kept her face solemn and didn't face him. But she felt her heart wrench painfully, so painfully Rabekuh jumped as if being scorched by her Star's pain. Draco leaned over ever so slowly, his cheek brushing against her hair. Tears threatened to form in her eyes while a blush crept up her throat. Her heart stopped momentarily when he whispered next to her ear, "I want to talk to you at Hogsmeade tonight. I'll explain everything. Meet me at The Hog's Head at 6 all right?"
All she could do was manage a nod.
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HA: How rude of Draco to treat her that way!! Hmm..I wonder why Rabkeuh can feel Star's emotions so strongly? Or better yet I wonder why Star's emotions are broadcasted so strongly?? And what is it Draco has to explain??