Chapter 7

"Signore Malfoy, I can see you're recovering rather quickly," Marie noted as she walked inside the Manor.

"Jinx got me some Strengthening Potions, they really work wonders. Now, I've only got time for a hour, because I've got a meeting with the head of the Magical Creatures Control department to send out a team to help with your hippogriff problem for now," Draco explained as he led her down the hallway.

Marie was astonished at his call action, immediately expressing her gratitude, "Thank you so much! I didn't think you would move on this so quickly!"

"It's my job."

"It's more than that. You care."

"I care about keeping my job."

"That's not what I mean." Draco spun around, glaring at her.

He spoke with a barbed tongue, "If you think for one moment that I seriously care about pleasing you, or saving these hippogriffs, you are sadly mistaken, Ms. Benedetti." Marie's eyebrows furrowed, taken back by the tone that was laced with bitterness.

"Why so aspro? You've always been very sarcastic and almost playful with me…why the sudden change?" Marie wondered aloud.

Draco shook his head, hissing, "I was never playful, and as I told you, this is a professional relationship only. I was mistaken to think we can be friends." Marie grabbed his hand, stopping him from walking to the room with the Pensieve.

"That's not why. You're upset about something, I can sense it. Why are you treating me this way?"

"Don't touch me, halfblood!" Draco snarled, retracting his hand from her grip. Marie's mouth was open wide, truly shocked by his change in attitude towards her.

"If you think for one second that I will stand here and let you treat me harshly-"

"I know, you'll leave. But I can't let you do that."

"And why not?"

"Just, please, look inside the Pensieve, tell me what you see, and you can be on your way. If you leave, I won't give you the help you need," Draco threatened, his eyes narrowing on her.

Marie gulped and gave him a mere nod, before shuffling into the glowing room. With a moment of hesitation, Marie dunked her head inside the Pensieve, the world swirling around her. When the images cleared, it showed Abraxas, a bit older, probably around 12 years of age. He was in a group of other boys, all dressed in their robes, with a hint of green on their clothing.

"Abraxas! Abraxas!" Someone squealed from behind the boy, causing the whole group to turn. It was Sarah, grinning widely at him. Her robes were covering a different uniform, a yellow one.

"Do you know that girl?" One of the kids asked Abraxas, speaking as if he had a bad taste on the back of his tongue.

Abraxas turned back towards Sarah, his eyes clouding as he chuckled, "Of course not, Sebastian. Why would I be in association with a Mudblood?" Sarah's expression was a picture of pure confusion, unsure of what was happening.

"Abraxas, what are you talking about? We're friends!" Sarah reminded him, her eyes wide.

Abraxas sneered at her, "Slytherins' aren't friends with Mudbloods, especially the pure-blooded ones. I suggest you get lost."

"Yeah, we don't want to be dirtied by being around your air," Sebastian joined in, spitting at her feet. Marie stepped back in shock at the scene, wanting to help Sarah so badly, but stopped in her tracks as she watched the next minute unfold.

Sarah leaped forward, grabbing Abraxas' hand and begging, "Abraxas, please! You're upset, aren't you? I can tell, why are you doing this to me?"

Abraxas stared at her for a moment, then yanked his hand away and growled, "Don't touch me, Mudblood!"

It was the exact same moment that Marie had just shared with Draco. Sarah had Marie's same expression, truly hurt by what her best friend had just done to her. "Fine, do not ever talk to me ever again Abraxas Malfoy!" Sarah screamed, before running in the opposite direction.

Another one of the boys yelled after her, "Good riddance, you dirty witch!" Abraxas seemed extremely hurt, like he wanted to chase after her, but he couldn't. Not after what he had done. The scene blurred, and soon cleared to another one, revealing Sarah, curled up in a ball behind one of the pillars, sobbing. It broke Marie's heart to see the little girl so sad, but that's when she noticed another figure walking towards her. It was Abraxas, his eyes red, his expression blank.

"Sarah? Sarah!" Abraxas said in a hushed voice, running over to her. She glanced up at him, and then continued to sob. "Please, don't ignore me. I'm so sorry, I just, I didn't want them to think-"

"You didn't want them to think you'd be friends with my kind. I get it." Sarah sniffled angrily, placing her head on her knees.

"Sarah, you know I didn't m-"

"But you said it, Abraxas! I see where your loyalty lies, to yourself. Whatever makes you look better is the right choice. That's why you never showed me to your parents, that's why you put on that show for your 'pals'. I see where I stand, and that's why I think we shouldn't continue this anymore." Sarah concluded, standing up, allowing Abraxas to take in the full view of her puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

"You can't be serious." Abraxas uttered, completely appalled by her choice.

"I'm completely serious. Stay away from me. Leave me alone!" She shouted, turning away from him. Sarah expected him to say something, some sort of last words to her, but when she turned back towards him, he was gone. Falling to her knees, she began to let out another wail, and with that, the memory faded, and Marie pulled her head from the Pensieve.

Draco jumped from his position leaning against the wall, instantly berating her with questions, "What did you see? Was it of Abraxas? How old was he?"

Marie felt a tear slip out of her eye, remembering the memory in full detail. Draco stepped closer, puzzled. "Are you…crying?"

"He was 12, and at Hogwarts. His friend, Sarah, tried to talk to him, but he yelled at her and called her a Mudblood to impress his friends! They all just laughed at her, and made her cry, and when Abraxas went to apologize for the things he did…she said to never talk to him ever again!" Marie exclaimed, wanting to get it all out of her system.

"That's it?"

"What do you mean? It was more than enough, it was terrible!"

"I'm not allowed to see memories like that?" Draco roared, hitting his fist against the wall. "That's what you're hiding from me? Common pureblood knowledge?" Draco continued, seeming to be talking to the ceiling.

"Y-y-you…c-can't use the Pensieve?" Marie stuttered, cocking her head at the peculiar situation. Draco didn't answer her, his back turned to her as he grasped the wall. "That's why you're treating me like this? Because I can do something you can't? Because you're geloso?"

"I'm not jealous of you!" Draco bellowed, spinning around furiously.

Marie decided to test the waters, and continued to go on, stepping closer to him, "You're jealous that someone that isn't a Malfoy, a pathetic halfblood has access to hundreds of years of your family history. You're-"

"Shut up!" Draco wailed, striking Marie across the face with such ferocity that she crumpled almost on impact. She clutched her face, letting out a wrenching cry, tears streaming down her face. Draco's eyes widened as he grasped his hand in complete horror. His Dark Mark tingled, and he could almost hear the Dark Lord laughing at him. Draco fell to his knees, babbling, "Marie, I, I don't, that, don't, I didn't mean to-"

"You're exactly like him, you uomo cattivo! You're exactly like Abraxas!" Marie shrieked, a tiny streak of blood coming from her left nostril. Draco shook his head, his face twisted his pain at what he had just done.

He spoke with such little conviction, almost as if he wasn't even sure if he was right, "Marie, please, don't say that. I'm not like that."

"You treat me like spazzatura because of my bloodline!"

"No, that's not true."

"You know it's true, you bastard!" Marie cursed, her brown eyes bloodshot. Draco's lip trembled, on the brink of crying himself. He had never hit someone like that, especially someone he didn't dislike.

He pleaded, "Marie, please, I don't know what came over me."

Marie managed to stand from her spot, and gave him one last disgusted look before walking out the door with her final words being, "Ciao, Signore Malfoy."

And there you have it, yet another chapter. Sorry it was short, it was mostly dialogue, but I think we fit enough, erm, emotion into that one. I hope you guys liked it, and I'll try and update soon. Don't forget to review, it helps me make the story better and more enjoyable for you guys! As always, stay awesome, Gotham!

-April