I'd Follow You (a Draco Malfoy story)

Chapter Sixteen

No, this can't be happening. He's not one of them. He just can't be.

Angelina woke up in her bed, her hair clinging to her neck as she pulled her knees into her chest, rocking back and forth. It was three in the morning, she would have to wake up in a few hours to catch the train back to school. The thought filled her with dread. Tears leaked from her eyes as she bit hard on her lip, she needed to stop crying, needed to stop feeling like this.

It'd been eight days since she'd spoken to Draco, his mother had invited the Parkinsons over for family dinner like each year, but after Angelina saw the Dark Mark on Draco's skin she ran from the mansion. Her parents demanded what happened because she'd kept everyone waiting but she told them she got violently ill and felt like she should leave. Which was partly true.

Angelina closed her eyes, pushing her palms hard against her eyelids, her body shaking against her pillows. A soft rustling caught Angelina's attention and she noticed that Marie's letter to her had fallen to the ground. Angelina still hadn't written back, how could she? There was no possible way Angelina could tell her friend the news.

Just a few more hours, Angelina reminded herself as she tried to calm down, the ceiling was covered in cracks as Angelina studied each one. Hoping that would drift her to sleep.

"Oi! You have a lot of explaining!"

Angelina turned around, seeing the spiky pink hair before Marie was even close to her, "I'm sorry," she whispered when Marie stopped in front of her with her trunk.

"I thought we were going to hang out," Marie said slightly saddened that they hadn't.

"I know, I got....busy."

"You look sick," Marie stopped.

"I feel sick," Angelina muttered back, she headed toward the train to find a compartment. Not even giving a glance to the platinum blonde who began shouting her name.

"We have a lot to talk about it seems," Marie whispered with raised eyebrows.

***

Draco sighed as the brunette walked off with a determined step and a blank expression, her pink haired friend watching Angelina with surprise. Its for the best that she hates me, she can't get hurt this way, she's safe. That's what Draco reminded himself as he slowly got on the train. She would be safer keeping her distance. But Draco didn't want her to keep her distance, he wanted Angelina to hug him again, he wanted to see her smile and feel that tiny fire that started in the pit of his stomach when she laughed. Now he felt cold.

"How was break?" Theodore knott asked as he took a seat across from Draco.

"It was....." Draco shrugged, "quiet."

"Parkinson didn't look too good," Theodore commented as the girl passed their compartment door.

"No....she really doesn't," Draco whispered.

Theodore frowned slightly, "but you don't care." Draco remained silent, "I understand that you're going through something, mate. But that girl doesn't deserve pain."

Draco frowned, "leave me alone, Knott."

Theodore's frown only deepend, "you're an arse, Malfoy. You know that?"

"And you know, I don't appreciate someone snooping around in my personal affairs!" Draco shouted.

The compartment fell quiet between the two, Theodore frowned, "what happened?"

Draco set his face in a scowl before shaking his head, "just leave it alone."

"Does this mean you're done with Parkinson?"

"There was never anything there to begin with," at this Draco felt his chest tighten. He wished there had been something. In the back of his mind. He wished there was something.

The remainder of the trip was spent in silence until Theodore left the compartment, leaving Draco with his thoughts.

"LET ME GO THIS INSTANT!"

Draco was brought from him nap as he looked around in a daze, groggily watching the compartment door open up and a struggling Angelina was tossed inside before the door was sealed again. On the other side of the door he made out the shadows of Blaise and Theodore. Angelina let out a frustrated noise before pounding on the door, the two boys shaking their heads at her futile attempts. 

"What's going on?" Draco asked quietly.

Angelina stopped her pounding, slowly turning to stared at Draco, in her eyes he could tell how afraid she was.

"I got ambushed on my way to the bathroom and forced in here," Angelina spoke slowly.

Draco nodded, "I'll stay away from you if that's-"

"It was you." Angelina cut him off, she was frowning slightly as she regarded him with curiosity. "You hurt that Gryffindor girl."

Draco sighed, its not like he could deny it, "why did you lie to me? About a stupid bag? Why did you hide this? Why....." Angelina stopped talking and sighed, "is it because he would kill your family?"

Draco gave a single nod. "I'm sorry."

Angelina scuffed her shoes and shook her head, frowning while shifting her gaze. "I....I am as well. For fancying you. For ever thinking....but it doesn't matter." She turned, putting her hand on the door.

"Im scared," his voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm going to fail and I'll be dead by Spring.....Angelina. I fancy you. I didn't want to admit it because I need to focus. But I'm going to fail and I at least want you to know my feelings." Especially since I'll most likely be dead soon, the remaining of his sentence hanging in the air as he waited for Angelina to respond.

Angelina wordlessly opened the compartment door and stepped into the hall, but she turned around as if to speak. Draco waited but words never left Angelina, she left without a word. Draco sighed, running his hands through his hair and nodding, this is what he wanted. If she hates him, she'll stay away. She'll be safe.

*****

Draco stared down at the small pamphlet in his hands, apparition lessons. seemed so trivial to him, what was the point? He needed to get back to that room, back to the cabinet, back to his goal. But here he was, in a room of sixth years, looking at the pamphlet that explained the dangers of apparition. As the instructors had students space out before wooden hoops on the ground Draco rolled his eyes, was this really important? 

But Draco felt that maybe apparaition could be important. If he passed, then he would be able to escape danger. Or at least evade it for as long as possible. 

"So how are the lessons going?" Draco looked up to see Angelina looking at the pamphlet next to his dinner plate. 

Draco merely shrugged slightly, Angelina gave a disgruntled noise before walking away, "it's harder than you'd expect." 

Angelina stopped, Draco couldn't help but notice the simple beauty her face held: her cheeks were dusted with a red coloring and her lips were a brighter pink than usual, and her eyes were shining with curiosity. "Well, I can imagine that trying not to cut yourself in pieces is hard," Angelina responded. 

"Angie! Let's get going!" Draco felt a pang in his chest as the pink haired girl appeared besides Angelina and grabbed her arm, the girl's eyes fell on Draco and her lips formed a line. "We're going to be late!" 

"Oh....right," Angelina nodded sluggishly, not giving another glance toward Draco. The two left with quick steps, leaving Draco to push his fork into a chicken breast and scrap against the plate underneath. 

You don't want her. 

Then stop this feeling in my chest. 

Draco let out a growl as he gritted his teeth, he hated himself more than ever. The longer Draco sat staring at his impailed chicken he realized how so much was ruined and how he drastically wanted to go back in time and rewrite everything. Starting with waiting so long to realize that he did want Angelina.