Chosen

Quidditch

As September deepened, the trees shed their amber leaves and the cold seeped under the doors of Hogwarts. The cold air whipped around the Quidditch pitch for the first game of the year; Gryffindor vs. Slitherine. Seasmus' voice rang out over the chatter and cheer, replacing Lee Jordan who had left the year before.

Harry hovered above the rest of his team, awaiting the whistle and for the snitch to be released. His leather gloved hands were clamped tightly around his broom, and from the corner of his eye he could see Ginny. He offered her an encouraging smile and she grinned back.  He turned around to catch a glimpse of Ron in front of the goal. He had beaten McLaggen by one point. He knew it was something to do with Hermione who had been watching in the stands.

Suddenly, the whistle echoed around the pitch and the game began. Hermione watched eagerly from the stands, but had a ball of discomfort in her stomach that tightened every time Ron missed a quaffle. 

"Hey." A deep voice came from beside her, his minty breath fanning her face as she turned to look at him.

"Draco," She breathed in suprise, "Why aren't you playing?"

He looked uncomfortable as he looked out to the game, his jaw clenching and unclenching, making him look even more incredibly. Why did he mess with her mind so much?

"Something came up." He finally responded, but he still didn't look to happy.

He was being aggravating and as Hermione realised she was being far too nice to Malfoy, she said something to make up for it, "Well they seem to be doing a good job without you." Her eyes were on the scoreboard.

When she looked back to Draco, he was staring at her and she could've sworn his eyes were glossy with tears. Maybe it was just the cold.
"Yeah. They do, don't they?" And with that, he turned on his heel and headed back into the crowds of people on the stands.

Good, Hermione thought, it's better off this way.

Draco stormed back up the path to the castle. He was used to being alone these days. The sky was darkening, the only light coming from the Quidditch pitch. The whole school would be up in those stands, so he was guaranteed some alone time. He blinked big the angry tears that stung his eyes and clenched his jaw to stop himself from doing something stupid. Hermione was right. They were all better off without him. She'd be happy with Ron, Harry would have Ginny, even Sirius would be better off with Draco dragging him down.
Suddenly, two strong arms wrapped around Draco and a sharp pain shot through his side as he collapsed to the ground.

Draco sat in the dark. That much he could tell. He was strapped to a chair, his wrists and ankles bonded. He could hear voices too.

"I haven't seen him in over a year." A woman's voice said, desperation cracking her voice, "please, Lucius." At the mention of his father's name, a shiver ran down Draco's spine. He needed to get out of there.

Suddenly, there was a sound of a creaky door and light flooded the room, making Draco squint.

Slowly, his eyes adjusted and he instantly recognised the room. It was one of the dungeons under Malfoy Manor. No, he couldn't be here. He was supposed to be at Hogwarts, he was supposed to be safe.

"Draco?" Then woman's voice croaked and suddenly his mother threw her arms around him, hugging him as if she would never let go.

"Hello mother." He stiffened, unsure of what to do. He had missed his mother, but she stood alongside his father; in extension, alongside Voldemort.

She drew away, tears tracking down her sharp cheeks and her eyes full of worry and sadness. "My boy." She whispered, stroking his hair.

"Narcissa." A deep, commanding voice warned and she reluctantly drew away.

And there he stood. The man who Draco defied and declared would never see again. His father.

"What do you want?" Draco spat, his jaw clenched and eyes hard.

"We need to have a little chat."

Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table for dinner, Ron beside her and Harry and Ginny the other side.  This was how it was supposed to be. She noted the absence of Malfoy but was thankful for it. Whenever he was around, she vest like there was a vice clamped around her throat, suffocating beneath his intensity and unable to do anything about it because he was practically a brother to Harry. Any thoughts including Malfoy were thrust out of her mind as she turned her attention on Ron. He needed some comfort.

"It was the first game of the season Ron, of course you're going to be a little rusty." She sympathised.

He had cost them the game. And everyone knew it. Slytherines sung "Weasley is our King" whenever they encountered him in the corridors and she felt incredibly sad for him.

"So I guess you three have your slug Club this weekend." Ron commented bitterly to Hermione, overhearing Harry and Ginny.

"Yes. Slughorn said we'd be able to invite someone."

"Oh yeah? S'pose you'll be inviting McLaggen."

She frowned at him, "No actually. I was thinking of inviting you."

"Oh." He grunted continuing to pick at his food.

She sighed. Sometimes he was so damn difficult.

Okay so I hope you all liked this part. Draco's moods have been leading up to this point and next chapter you will see how Ron and Hermione are affecting him ;)

Again a huge thank you to everyone commenting and voting and for just reading this!! If you have time please check out my other two books in progress; Not That Simple and Love And Hate: A Jily Fanfic.

Thank you all so so much and please continue to read and vote and remember to comment!