A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #6

Bioscience: Zoology Task 2 Write about an internal contradiction.

Word Count: 541

He studied himself in the mirror. He'd lost weight this year, he wasn't surprised. His father had threatened him about his grades again, threatened to disown him if he didn't improve, didn't beat that little...no, he refused to even think of her that way.

"Draco? Are you alright?" He turned and nodded. Daphne was safe, someone he could talk to.

"Yes, I'm fine, Daphne. Father sent me an owl about my grades, that's all."

"Still wants you to be top of the class?"

"Yes," he answered. "Maybe if I do it, maybe he'll finally be proud of me?" Daphne shook her head slowly.

"Draco, nothing you do will ever make that man proud of you, short of taking the dark mark and following in his footsteps. We both know that can't, won't, happen. Just give up on the man, Draco."

"He's my father."

"Yes, yes he is, and what would happen if he knew about what, or should I say who, think about at nigh, whose name is on your lips in your darkest secret dreams?" He turned from her.

"I thought so, Draco, you need to make a choice, you can't keep living like this, this internal contradiction of her verses him. You need to pick, you can't love her and have him be proud of you. He'll never change! You can, you still have a chance. If you love her, he'll never be proud of you, never accept you for who you are. If you join him, take the mark, she'll never love you. She'll never even consider loving you, you will be choosing to be her enemy, Draco."

"There has to be a way, I could hide the mark, Daphne."

"And hide the hatred you should have for little mudbloods?" Daphne whispered.

"Don't say that word!"

"He'll expect it, you know, that's how he thinks of them. She's just another little dirty witch who is beneath us, beneath you, according to him. Do you really think you can embrace that idealogy? Embrace thinking of her like that? He's a murderer. Your father is the same, Draco. Do you really want him to be proud of you, knowing he'll never, never be proud of you if you don't share his ideals?"
She watched as her words sunk into his head. He looked at the floor.

"Thank you, Daphne, I needed that. Now, please leave." She slid from the chair and stalked out of the room. Not for the first time, Draco couldn't help but agree her nickname as the Ice Queen of Slytherin fit her perfectly. She was cold, hard, and didn't spare his feelings. She was right. He couldn't have both of them, couldn't have his father be proud if he chose love. Who would believe a pure-blooded Malfoy would love a girl like Granger?

He sank against the back of the chair, still trying to wrap his mind around the fact he'd have to make a choice. For now, he could love her from a distance, for now, he would work hard, get the best grades possible, and hope, maybe it would be enough and he'd never have to become like his father, never have to take the mark which would condemn him in her beautiful eyes.