Belinda
"NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO!" he yells, flailing his arms about.
"Draco, PLEASE!" I exclaim, fully annoyed.
"I won't! She won't! He won't!"
"Okay, okay, I get the picture," I say, sitting him down forcefully onto the grass outside the Forbidden Forest. Apparently he 'overheard' Lucius' scream-fest. The idea of Kyla marrying Theo is not on his agenda.
"It's not fair!" he exclaims exasperated, falling backwards.
"Look Dray, we need a plan. I don't want to marry whoever they're setting me up with either. Kyla's not going to want to Theo. If we go in this together, we can get out of it!" I explain.
"No, Belle. I really wish it was that simple. I can't get out."
"What do you mean?"
"Voldemort's got me under his watch. I thought that this whole Death Eater's thing was going to be the perfect opportunity. But it's not. Belle, I can't get out of it anymore. He'll kill me."
"Dray-"
"Belle," he says seriously, placing his hand on my arm. "Listen to me. I can't get out of this. And I don't want to be in it anymore. But you can. You haven't begun yet. Take this opportunity and run with it. You are the only one out of this family that has any sort of option at the given time. Don't let them do it. Don't let them force you into something that you can't get out of."
"Draco, I don't know what to do."
"Belinda I didn't understand the Harry thing at first, okay? But as I got deeper into this I realized that it doesn't matter what everyone else wants. It's you and yourself only. Don't make it for them."
"I'm scared."
"So am I." We sat in silence for another indeterminable amount of time.
"We have to tell Kyla," I say quietly.
"We can't," he replies, even quieter than I was.
"Why not?"
"My father. The Dark Lord. Belinda, I'm in so much trouble already."
"Wait, how on earth did you get in trouble!"
"My father...he's so angry about you and me and Kyla."
"Don't let me get you in trouble, Draco. Please don't risk yourself for me."
"Belinda, I'd risk myself for you at any time, anywhere."
"Drac-"
"No, Belinda. You are my cousin."
"Please don't get yourself killed over me."
"Then do this for me. Don't let them choose for you, Belle. Make your own decision. Whether it's with or against me. Don't. Let. Them. Choose."
It has been three weeks since my conversation with Draco. Kyla doesn't knot about Theodore Nott yet. Draco is too heartbroken to tell her. I have been attending all of my classes. Defendoatrum has become quite interesting.
The magic Snape is teaching me is magic that should never be used in the corridors of Hogwarts. I am in danger, and I am being taught magic that no 17 year-old witch should ever be taught. And that fact is quite frightening.
Harry and I have grown insanely close. I don't know if it's too close. Especially in my circumstances. And his circumstances for that matter.
And I wonder...is it a crime to be in love with "The Boy Who Lived"?
"Belle!" I hear someone call my name as I head into the common room. It's late, I want to go to bed, leave me alone. I turn around and it's Harry. Okay, he can bother me.
"Are you going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" he asks as we walk into the empty, dimly lit Common Room.
"No, my bitch of a mother can't find it within herself to sign the permission slip," I reply, sitting on the couch. He sits next to me and puts his arm around my shoulders.
"Me neither," he replies. We sit in silence. My skin feels tingly. And then, Kyla bursts into the Common room.
"THEODORE NOTT!" she shrieks. Harry looks frightened in confused. I get up and drag Kyla into the hallway.
"I'm sorry, honey," I say, hugging her. She sobs into my shoulder.
"I don't want to marry him, I want to marry Draco!" she wails.
"I know, sweetheart," I say.
"Theodore doesn't want to marry me either, he wants to marry Parkinson who is set to marry Draco. WHY CAN'T WE TRADE!"
"I wish you could, dear."
"I won't, Belle, I won't!"
"Kyla, calm down. We'll figure this out."
"We're all purebloods, we can just negotiate!"
"If only life was that simple..."