The Dark Mark
People began filing out of the stands, and Mizuki followed the Malfoys down. She was grinning from ear to ear, replaying the moment Krum caught the Snitch in her mind repeatedly. As she walked, she looked at Draco's back, noting that he was only eight inches taller than she was, his back straight, his white-blond hair cropped short at the nape of his neck, longer at the top which shone at the top in the light from the stadium, making it look like he had a halo.
She couldn't help but wonder if she would see him again before school officially started and had been about to ask him when a group of people from the row in front of her separated them. A tall man with red hair, obviously his children: two twins, and a younger boy and girl all with red hair, then there was a girl with bushy hair and a boy with glasses and bright green eyes.
"That was brilliant, wasn't it, Harry?" Ron asked. Mizuki was looking at the boy with glasses, his fringe askew to reveal a lightning bolt-shaped scar. Holy mother of Merlin, it was Harry Potter! She was from Japan, but everyone over there knew who Harry Potter was, no doubt about it. She had heard that Harry Potter went to Hogwarts, but she never thought that she would see him at the Quidditch World Cup, too. She wanted to speak to him, but her nerves got the better of her, and she quickly lost the chance once they arrived back at the campground and the crowd dispersed back to their own tents.
Draco turned around to ask the girl where she was staying, but she was no longer there. Instead, he saw Potter and his friends. He scowled and turned forward again, stalking off to his tent with his father. He knew full well what Lucius was planning, but he carried that information deep within him, never to see the light of day just like all the characteristics that made up who Draco Malfoy truly was.
Multifaceted like a diamond. He scoffed at the thought.
Once at his tent, it was only a matter of time before his father would head out with the other Death Eaters, and it was before then that Draco was supposed to make himself scarce so as not to draw attention to the fact that he was hanging around, which could implicate Lucius. Draco grabbed a green apple from their fridge, holding it in his hands as he turned it around. He replayed the moment he had turned around expecting to find the girl only to find Potter there instead. Draco took an angry chomp out of the apple, munching on it, and with each bite he envisioned cursing Potter into oblivion just like he had during second year's Dueling Club. Ah, that feeling of power he had when he sent Potter hurtling in the air. His fingers itched to pick up his wand and do it again.
"Draco, it's time," Lucius said, snapping him out of his thoughts. Draco nodded his head.
"Yes, father." Draco took the apple with him, eating it as he walked on the pathway, heading into the forest past all the Ireland supporters who were celebrating Ireland's win all the while keeping an eye out for Saito.
The noise from the crowd was loud, and there was no way that Mizuki would be able to sleep. She was reclined on her futon with Kuro-chan in her arms. He was sleeping and purring in her arms while she stared at the roof of the tent, replaying the events of the World Cup in her mind. Krum feinting, catching the Snitch, the sound of the crowd, and she saw Draco smiling at her. It was too bad that they had gotten separated, she thought, she wanted to spend a little more time with him to get to know him better. Oh well, she sighed. She supposed that she would see him at school anyway, they could always talk then, right? All the excitement and stress over the past couple of months caught up with her, and Mizuki found herself slowly falling asleep.
Loud screaming woke her. Mizuki sat up, listening intently. She thought she was mistaken, but she could hear the screams plainly, hear the sound of footsteps as people rushed by her tent. Something was happening. She got up and walked toward the tent door, opening it. People were rushing about, looking fearfully behind them as they ran into the forest for cover. Some people were disapparating. What? Mizuki looked in the opposite direction. She couldn't see what was going on over all the tents, but the panic was contagious. Mizuki went back inside the tent and got Kuro-chan inside her bag. She fastened the cover, slung her backpack on, and headed out into the night, running with everyone else.
She didn't stop until she came to a little clearing where she heard voices. Someone with a drawling voice was talking, but she could only catch brief snippets of what he was saying until she got closer.
"They're just having a bit of fun with the muggles," he said, "and if you aren't careful, they'll be coming after her next. After all, you're just a filthy little Mudblood, aren't you, Granger?"
Mizuki felt her body go cold at the term. She was a pureblood, but she hated hearing that word being thrown about so casually, it made her blood boil.
"Ugh, let's go," the girl said. Mizuki could hear scuffling as the girl and her friends left, the light of the girl's wand fading in the distance. Mizuki had her own wand stowed in her bag, so she couldn't see where she was going as she moved forward, stumbling over the same root as Hermione had just moments before. Mizuki felt something inside her ankle being stretched apart like an accordion. She cried out in pain as she stumbled and fell to the ground, landing on her hands and knees, the rocks scraping her hands.
"Tsk, how thick can you be to not use your damn wand?" the boy snapped as he took his out. "Lumos!" Light burst from the tip of his wand allowing her to see the boy who had called the girl a Mudblood was. She saw black pants and a black blazer before she stared into the pale face and grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. He looked just as surprised as she was.
Shit. It's her! Why did it have to be her?
But, he noticed, he was glad—yes, glad that it was.
He looked around him to make sure that no one he knew was watching and went over to her, kneeling on the ground.
"Are you alright?" he asked her.
Mizuki stared at him incredulously. She didn't know what to think as they stared at each other, but he was looking at her like he was concerned, his hand out to help her up. Kuro-chan meowed from inside her bag, snapping her out of her reverie. She took his hand, and he pulled her up. Mizuki flinched as she tried to put weight on her foot, he helped her toward the tree he had been leaning against, helping her to sit down. She took off her backpack and held it in her arms protectively because of Kuro-chan who was shaking inside. Mizuki didn't want to open the bag in case he tried running away, knowing that she wouldn't be able to chase him with her ankle.
"I think I've twisted my ankle," she said. He looked at her with wide eyes, still holding onto his wand so that they could see in the darkness.
She heard more screaming from ahead, and when she looked, she saw people in masks parading around. The muggle family that owned the campground were floating in the air, including the man's two children. His wife's nightgown hung over her head, revealing her undergarments. Mizuki clasped a hand over her mouth, watching in horror. Who were the people wearing the masks?
Draco was internally panicking. His eyes flitted about the forest as he looked anywhere but at her or the sight before them. He felt like he was on the verge of having a panic attack or something, his breaths coming in short gasps.
I didn't raise you to be weak, Draco, his father's voice echoed in his head.
I'm not weak! Draco looked at Saito.
"You'll be safe here," he tried assuring her. At least, that was what he believed. "Nox," he whispered. The light from his wand faded, leaving them blanketed in darkness. She heard him sit down next to her, and they remained quiet as the screams continued. Mizuki didn't feel safe sitting here, but Draco didn't seem worried otherwise he wouldn't have sat down next to her, right?
The people in masks disappeared, but the screams ensued. She felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for something—what, she didn't know. Draco remained still next to her, holding his own breath as he listened to the sounds around him.
If she knew that my father was out there, she would look at me like I was a monster. I knew the plan, too. I didn't do anything to stop this. She heard me call Granger a Mudblood! What must she think of me right now?
"I think it's safe for—" but his words were drowned out by more screams as a large skull appeared in the sky, a snake coming out of its mouth. Mizuki had never known true terror until that night. It was the Dark Mark, the mark of Lord Voldemort. They both stared at it. Draco was glad that it was too dark for her to see his face because he felt utterly petrified, and he was sure that he wouldn't have been able to conceal it.
The sound of the Ministry shouting spells echoed in the night. The two of them remained silent, listening. Their hearts were beating in their chests in the darkness, so loudly that they were afraid that the other might be able to hear it. Saito was trembling, he could feel it against his arm since they were sitting so close together. She was afraid, and so was he. He hated this perpetual darkness. It reminded him too much of his nightmares that plagued him. Being left alone. Faceless people turning their backs on him, his parents too.
Breathe, Draco. Breathe. If you lose your shit out here, she will leave you too—even with that injured ankle.
After a while of sitting in silence, Draco felt like it was safe to return. He needed to help her back, and he would gladly do it—but he was afraid that his father might see him helping her. What would Lucius think? Draco didn't know anything about her other than her name, that she liked Quidditch, and that she smelled good—
Damnit, Draco! Focus!
And that she went to Mahoutokoro, he amended. There weren't many purebloods left in England or the world, so for all he knew, she could be a half-blood or be exactly like Granger. He decided not to think about that just now. His father should be preoccupied with hiding to protect himself from being accused, there was no way that he would see Draco, right?
"I think it's safe to go back now," he said. Draco stood up and lit his wand again so that he could see her. He pulled her up and without thinking, wrapped an arm around her waist to help her move back toward the campsite.
Once they were out, he looked around carefully, slowly moving forward as he kept a lookout. Mizuki assumed that he was looking for the people wearing masks—Death Eaters she had deduced because of the Dark Mark, but he was really looking out for someone that knew him. He didn't want to run into anyone from school nor did he want his father to see him. What would Lucius Malfoy say to Draco if he saw him helping this girl?
You've grown soft, Draco. I will show you what happens when you grow soft. Draco flinched as he heard the stray cat he had found crying as his father tortured him. He repressed a shudder.
"Where's your tent?" Draco asked.
"I…" Mizuki paused, eyeing him as she held onto her backpack. "I can manage from here," she told him. Draco looked at her feeling a mixture of surprise and disappointment that he was only just able to hide from his face.
"I don't want to be a burden to you, and I'm sure your father is worried about you," she said softly as she moved away from him. She gave him a small smile. "Thank you for helping me." She turned, and Draco stood on the pathway watching her hobble away from him.
It was a sight that he was familiar with, one that seemed to like to repeat itself. His father, incensed with Draco's failures, Potter, shunning the friendship that Draco had tried to offer, and now Saito, the one person who didn't seem to want anything from him or to hate him—until now.
She heard you call Hermione a Mudblood, of course she hates you. Everyone does. You're weak. You're pathetic. You're not good enough. You'll never be good enough.
"Draco, you bloody prat," he mumbled under his breath, kicking angrily at a rock and sending it flying in the air.