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Chapter Two: Rapid Hope Loss
After the initiation the Death Eaters and The Dark Lord left the Malfoy Manor, leaving Draco alone in the dungeons with Lucius. Lucius turned to Draco, looking at him with pure disgust and hatred. Her raised his fist-the one wearing the ring engraved with the Slytherin crest- and punched Draco square in his jaw. Blood trickled down Draco's face and neck, but he didn't dare wipe it away then, for that was what the weak did. Just as Draco steadied himself, he fell to the cold, earthy floor in excruciating pain. His father had put him, not for the first time, under crucio. He fought back tears, and as fast as it started.. the stabbing pain was gone. He slowly got up to his feet, not saying a word.
"You are an EMBARRASSMENT to the Malfoy name! You fucked up big time Draco! Not even able to kill an owl! For the Dark Lord no less! You should be deeply ashamed! Your stupidity is unreal! To have feelings for a pitiful bird! Malfoys don't have feelings! Death Eaters don't have feelings! Where did I go wrong!" Lucius yelled.
"Father, Sir, I am sorry that I have wronged you. I am sorry I have disappointed you. There was nothing I could do. If I could have I would have killed Medina. When I lunged at her she flew away, sensing danger. And I am very thankful, and grateful that the Dark Lord has forgiven me." Draco replied, his voice cold, but polite.
"CRUCIO!" For the second time that night, Draco fell to the floor. When it was over, Lucius spoke again. "Don't you DARE lie to me Draco! I am not thick! I saw you shove that harebrained owl out your bedroom window!" he huffed, and puffed for a moment, then dragged on. "I do NOT want to see you until the next meeting. Get out of my sight at once!"
Draco got to his feet slowly, his body sore, and staggered to his room. His room was large and over-furnished. It was decorated in green and silver, Slytherin colors of course. The linens were made of fine velvet and silk. Draco flopped down on his bed and chucked a green pillow with embroidered serpents around the trim at thin air.
Damn it! I wish I wasn't a Malfoy! He withdrew his wand from the inner pockets of his cloak, before taking the cloak off and throwing it carelessly on the floor. He twirled his long black, shiny wand in his hands mindlessly before pointing it at his wrist. "Rettucio!" A long slender scratch appeared and slowly a thick line of crimson blood began to trickle down his arm.
Now that is pain! That's what hurts! Who gives a fuck about him! He'll die anyway, just like Dormiens did. He'll die when that half-blooded lousy excuse of a dark lord dies, he thought angrily. Just as blood began to trickle onto his cloak he brought his wrist up to his mouth. He stuck out his pink velvet tongue and licked the blood off of his arm. One more week..and I'll be back at Hogwar- Oh damn! I have to "befriend" Scarhead. Great! Just fucking bloody brilliant! I'll just march up to Potter and say "Oi! Potter! What's up? Had a good summer? Fancy a race around the castle on our brooms? Or a game of Exploding Snap out by the lake? What? Yes, I'm Malfoy..No I'm not mad...No my father didn't drop me on my head! Pardon? You would much rather brush your teeth with Stinksap then meddle with me? Haha thats a good one! So..are you coming?" Yeah...this year will be just great. I'll be murdered by the end of this year by either my father, the Dark Lord, Potter, or myself. As his thoughts drifted on, he fell asleep.
---One Week Later- King's Cross Train Station-
Harry had just leaned through the barrier of Platform 9 3/4. The steam of the Hogwart's Express billowed out of the steam-stack and students hustled and bustled about, saying good-bye to parents, and hello to friends and classmates. He looked around for Ron and Hermione, when finally he saw a spot of red hair. He strode over to Ron and Hermione, and he grinned for the first time in months. He was going back to Hogwarts.
-
Draco stood with his mother Narcissa, Lucius was back at the Manor, taking care of some business. He looked about, seeing no other Slytherins. They must be aboard the train, he thought.
"Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything?" Narcissa asked, not a trace of mother-ness in her voice.
"Yes Mother, I'm sure." Draco replied.
"Okay then, off you go." She ordered, waving her hand. And with a pop she disapparated. Draco boarded the train and strolled through the compartments. Every girls mouth dropped- Draco was beyond handsome. He stood at 5'8, his body lean and muscular. He hadn't tanned over the summer, since he stayed in his dark, gloomy Manor. If anything he looked paler. His silky blonde hair wasn't slicked back but left down, tickling his ears. In the next compartment sat Pansy, Millicent, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle. He seated himself in between Millicent and Pansy. Pansy put her arms around him instantly and he pushed her away while rolling his eyes. Blaise, knowing his fellow Slytherin well, sensed that something was up and ordered the girls out of the compartment.
"We just have some guy things to discuss." he told them, and they sauntered out to taunt some first years. Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Spill." Blaise demanded.
"Spill what?" Draco asked.
"I have known you for 5 years Draco. Even though you despise Pansy, you never turn down her attempts to smother you. Now tell me what's going on." Draco glared at his best friend for being so smart before slowly rolling up his right sleeve, revealing the scabbed Dark Mark.
"Wow." Blaise said, as Crabbe and Goyle stared dumbfounded.
"What do you mean 'Wow'? It hurts like a bitch." Draco spat.
"Well I've never seen it up close before. My father always has his covered. Did you see...him?" "Yes, I'm surprised I even still alive." Draco snorted.
"What do you mean?" Blaise asked, confused.
"I had this "mission" to kill Medina. But I didn't."
"Why did you have to kill her? And why didn't you?"
"It was a test to see if I was useful. To make sure I wouldn't back out of orders for the Dark Lord. I couldn't kill her. I don't know what came over me. I....shoved her out the window and she flew off." Draco confessed.
"What?! Draco are you some kind of spineless fool?!" Blaise yelled angrily.
Draco jumped, surprised. This was not the reaction he expected, or wanted. "What?"
"You couldn't kill a fucking measly owl! Are you joking!"
"Blaise-" Draco began, but stopped as he saw Crabbe and Goyles death glares, they were making fists.
"Get out Draco! You don't fucking deserve to be here!" Blaise yelled, scowling.
Draco stood up and made his way to the last compartment, luckily it was empty. He sat down and put his head in his hands.
---
"TOOOOT! TOOOOT!" The Hogwart's Express whistled, calling the students aboard. Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way to their usual compartment, only to find it occupied. They stepped inside anyway and sat down across from its occupant, looking at each other questioningly. Their question was answered when Draco lifted his head up out of his hands. His face was bruised, Blaise had Crabbe and Goyle give Draco a preview of what would happen if he ever went near them again. Hermione gasped. Ron scowled. And Harry was confused. Why is he by himself? Why is his face all bruised. What was he doing with his head in his hands? Why do I care? He probably deserves more than a few bruises. Harry thought. Ron looked like he was about to say something cruel to Draco. Harry, not wanting to spoil the first day back, spoke before Ron could get a word out. "Ron, want to play chess?"
"Sure!" Ron replied, not wanting to miss the chance to beat yet another person.
No one spoke to Draco as the train journeyed to Hogwarts, and Draco was grateful for that. He was humiliated to be in the same compartment with the "Golden Trio".
The train came to a halt at Hogsmeade Station. Hagrids familiar voice was heard bellowing throughout the crowd of students. "Firs' years this way! Firs' years follow meh!" The elder students hopped into the carriages and made their way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
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A/N: Rewritten, and improved. Review!