A/N: This Chapter's pretty short. I will be updating soon though so have no fear! Thanks to GREEN rox my sockx, writingcat730, darkgryphonmage, and sexymofo for the reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot of the story!
I Write For Me
Draco didn't know what he was doing; he didn't know where he was going. He just knew that he was running. He was running far, across the grounds of Malfoy Manor. It didn't matter that his muscles were screaming for him to stop. It didn't matter that he'd lost his shoes on the way up the hill, it just mattered that he reached the stables.
He could see it now and he hurried on, reaching out for the heavy wooden door. He yanked it open and hurried in, greeted by the smell of hay. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, but sensing he didn't have a lot of time, he pushed himself further to reach the black winged stallions. He had his journal in one hand, afraid that his father would be able to open it, and his cloak in the other, not knowing when he'd arrive back at school.
He pulled out his wand and uttered a small spell to unchain his stallion, named Dante. He then put a saddle on him and quickly hopped onto his back. He then urged him to walk out of the barn. When he reached the outside he found his father running up the hill and he let out a yell. At this, Dante took off, flying into the air. Draco flew over the Manor gates and he disappeared into the sky.
Lucius watched him go with his eyes narrowed. "That boy is dead to me," he growled, and he stormed down the hill.
The memory of what happened in Voldemort's octagonal room was still fresh in Draco's mind. Not a bit foggy as most of his memories were. After he'd been given the dark mark and told that if he committed treason he'd be killed, Draco had cried. He had sobbed and ran from the room. Not only did he feel like less of a man he felt useless. He had been so looking forward to his initiation a few months ago, so why was it that he hated the idea of it now? Draco figured it's because he had no desire to kill anybody any time soon, and his arm still hurt. He hated his father for making him do it before he was prepared, and for springing it on him.
"That man is dead to me," he grumbled. He urged Dante to fly faster, wanting to get farther away from the Manor quicker. He silently vowed that he'd never return back to his father's house. Never again. Although he was afraid for his mother, he would never return there, where that evil door lurked at the end of the hall.
So, I guess it was safe to say that Draco had been thoroughly traumatized. Plus Voldemort was scarier than he could've ever imagined. He had no nose, colorless lips, red slitted snake eyes, and a forked tongue. His teeth were yellow and he smelled like old people. And on top of that he wasn't even a pureblood. Snape looked like the sexiest man on Earth next to the Dark Lord.
Draco shivered and pulled his cloak around him tighter than before.
And he'd made a fool of himself in front of about sixty Death Eaters. He hadn't known there were so many and that just proved his father didn't tell him anything.
It was past nightfall by the time Draco landed on the grounds of Hogwarts. He only had one place in mind to keep Dante. He walked over the grass soundlessly, Dante walking behind him slightly. Every once and a while the winged stallion would snort and rustle it's wings. He was tired from the journey he'd made, but he'd achieved what was expected of him and carried his master where he needed to go. He was hoping he'd be allowed to rest.
They made their way up to a small hut that looked pitifully run down. Draco cringed, when he knocked on the door and about twelve cockroaches skittered away from his hand, one being crushed slightly under his knuckles. He let out a yell of disgust and wiped his hands on his robes.
"Who's out there?" Hagrid asked, but before Draco could answer a huge man had opened the door and was peering down at him. Draco sighed.
"Hello Professor," he said. It only took Hagrid a glance to realize Draco wasn't quite himself. The boy looked shaken and tired and quite untidy, his usual Malfoy manner gone from him.
"Ay!" Hagrid said. "Wha' can I do for you, young Mr. Malfoy?"
"I was wondering if you could look after my winged stallion," Draco said. He motioned behind him to Dante who was pawing the ground with his hooves. Immediately, Draco saw Hagrid's beady eyes cloud over.
"Oh Mr. Malfoy! Tha' there's a beauty if I' ever seen one!" Hagrid cried with delight.
"His name's Dante," Draco said handing Hagrid the reigns. "He'll eat anything. I'll come by in the morning to check up on him."
"I won' let you down!" Hagrid said happily. He then took Dante around the corner of the hut and tethered him. Draco sighed and turned around to walk up to Hogwarts when Hagrid called him back.
"Yes Professor?" Draco asked slightly snappy.
"Is there somethin' botherin' you Mr. Malfoy?" Hagrid asked. "Did somethin' happen?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Draco said. He then turned and walked off before Hagrid could say another word. The boy looked tired and drawn.
When Draco entered the Great Hall it fell quiet. The people looked at him then went back to their conversations. None of them seemed to notice that he was wind blown and his robes were crooked. He sat and he ate quickly, desperate to get to his room when Severus Snape came to talk to him.
"Back so early Mr. Malfoy?" he asked looking puzzled. "I thought that funeral for your grandfather would have you gone at least a few days."
"You sound almost as if you wanted me gone Professor," Draco said making a poor effort to tidy himself up.
"No, it's just strange," Snape said slowly, turning to leave him to himself.
" I'm sure," Draco snapped. Snape wheeled around to look at his favorite student.
"May I ask why you are so cheeky this evening?" Snape snapped.
"Because I had a run in with my bloody father," Draco snapped. He then stood up and left the Great Hall. Snape merely looked after him, suddenly understanding. What he didn't realize was that Dumbledore had noticed as well.
A/N: Sorry so short. Will get on with the story quickly though. Review to tell me what you think: )
