Gah! I don't know if I like this chapter. I think it's more of a filler, and me wanting to get Draco in the story some more. I mean, I am writing a Draco fanfic, he needs to be in it.
I think I might start posting chapters for my story on Saturdays weekly, that way I have a week to write a chapter, and a day to post it. It just seems easier. Plus, I might actually post longer chapters. Short chapters bother me, I need to write longer chapters. Just an idea.
wisegirl2772- yeah, she'll be fine, tough as nails! :)
Sassasaurus- thank you, although sometimes I get writers block and stare at the computer screen for hours, and it's terrible! Luckily that hasn't happened for awhile. Here's another funny thing, I started writing this chapter right after I posted the previous one, and then I got your review. Great minds think alike!
ember505- awesome! I guess I've really come a long way from when I first started writing, those early days make me shudder . . . O.o
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- yeah, I seem to have a knack for punishing my characters. I feel bad about it, but then again, it makes for a great story. My characters love me.
CHAPTER TWELVE: Alive!
Draco stayed where he was, trying not to move as he watched the Carrows stalk the halls. It was his first week here at Hogwarts, under the command of Severus Snape, Headmaster. Already, he was wishing that it was last year he was doing.
He half expected to find Evangeline in some random part of the castle, turning to smile at him as he walked up to her. He would give anything to see her smile. No. He was left with the image of her, bleeding to death on the school grounds as he was dragged away. The muscles in his jaw clenched as he tried to banish the image.
Amycus Carrow, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor rounded the corner and disappeared out of sight. He breathed in relief. Already they had punished several of the students, involving unforgivable curses and cruel punishment. Defense Against the Dark Arts, was a joke. The new name for the class was the Dark Arts. And as a Death Eater he was expected to practice Dark Arts.
Draco crept down the hall, continuing to the dungeons to get to the Slytherin Common room. No longer did warm fires fill the halls, or wait in the Great Hall. It was cold, dark and discouraging. Just like the Headmaster.
The sound of feet hitting stone reached his ears, and Draco ducked into a broom cupboard, snapping the door shut behind him. As the sound of feet neared he shut his eyes and held his breath. Not even he was allowed out after curfew.
The feet passed, fading into the echoing corridors. He sighed and slumped to the floor, drawing his knees up to his chest. How miserable he felt, how pathetic. Evangeline would laugh at him if she saw him now. He held onto the glimmer of hope that she was alive.
Voldemort believed she was.
Her wanted posters had been plastered all over Platform 9 ¾. He had avoided looking at them like the plague. He didn't want to see her, at least until she was flesh and blood before him. She still could be dead. Voldemort could be wrong, misled.
It was another week before an odd brown owl delivered a small white envelope to him. It had pecked against the window in the library as he studied, trying to make use of his extra time. Confused he stood and opened the window, as the little owl hopped in and held out the letter in its beak.
It was odd because, mail had been banned from the school. Except maybe for the subscription of the Daily Prophet. He took the letter and the little owl hopped out the window and flew away. Draco watched it disappear into the distance, before focusing on the envelope. It was unaddressed. Slowly he slid his forefinger under the flap, breaking the stamped seal. Inside was a cream colored paper folded in half.
He pulled it from the white envelope and unfolded it. His eyes quickly reading the penned message:
"Draco,
Against my fathers strict instructions, I believe you have the right to know
what happened to my little sister. Eva, woke in the Hogwarts Hospital wing
a few days after Dumbledore's death. My father saw fit to take her home with-
out informing her friends. Eva, missed you all very much and recovered quickly.
Now I must tell you, she left home to help her friends, with my help. No doubt
she has already caused some commotion. If not, then she understands the
seriousness of the events taking place. If you ever come across her, you must
protect her, and let nothing harm her. Man-to-man Draco, she is someone very
much loved.
Now I don't have much time, I can never stay in one place very long. You are
being watched. Be careful. And if Eva contacts you, you must NOT reply
out of respect for her safety. No matter how much you want to. Burn this."
Draco stared at the letter, dumbfounded. His thoughts, muddled and confused. Obviously it was sent by one of her brothers, Evangeline had told him about them on enough occasions. Though he had only met the youngest.
Evangeline was alive? The news was almost too good to be true. Hope swelled in him and the world didn't seem so dark anymore. If she was alive then he would see her again. Quickly he re-read the letter, noting the threat that was implied when he was expected to protect her. Her brothers would hold him responsible if anything happened to her, at the hands of the Death Eaters.
He swallowed and pulled out his wand, lighting the letter on fire and watching as it crumbled into dust.
Evangeline was alive!
"Draco? What are you doing?" asked a voice from behind him. Draco froze, turning slowly trying to look casual.
"None of your business, Pansy," he muttered. Pansy Parkinson, tall, dark haired and annoying, smiled at him. Clueless as ever.
"That's alright Draco," she said, "Want to study with me?"
He sighed and picked up his books. As he walked past her, he shot her a glare. Ever since he had returned Pansy had tried everything to get close to him, especially since Evangeline was gone.
"I'd rather not," he told her and left the library.
I don't like this chapter as much. But it will have to do.
As always, Review! I hope you all enjoyed it!
~CHAO