People don't like it when the flames becomes a wildfire. Fuck them, burn anyway.
- Erwin Van Vuren
I had delayed going to Diagon Alley as long as I could, for multiple reasons really. The biggest reason was to avoid the stares. I usually got a couple looks when I was spotted in a public place, just because everyone knew the Sacred Twenty-Eight and therefore knew of my existence, but these looks were different. People knew.
A couple days into the summer vacation, the Daily Prophet had released a list of the Death Eaters that had been captured and sent to Azkaban. My father's name was among them, so everyone knew for sure that he was one of them, meaning that I would be on their side too.
In Slytherin house this wouldn't be a big deal, as most of the house favoured the dark side. It would probably even amplify my status. But every time I made eye contact with a Hogwarts student of another house, all I could see in their eyes was fear, and I hated it. Sure, I wanted to be respected and I liked the superior status I had acquired over the years, but I didn't want people to be scared of me. I had no intentions to hurt any of them.
I only had one hour to gather my books before the train would leave, so I quickened my pace and made my way to Flourish and Blotts.
My mother had decided not to bring me to the station. She had started talking to me again after I told her about the little task Lord Voldemort had given me, but she still thought I was being stupid by not being honest about my relationship with Draco. I explained to her that I did that to not risk my life, but she simply responded with If you're not ready to risk your life for such an important cause, you're not worthy of it. So she did speak to me again, but that was as far as she would go.
It didn't matter. I had to survive this school year and then my father would be back, so she had someone else to complain to.
I grabbed the books I needed and went over to the register. It was quite busy, I suppose there were a lot of last-minute shoppers. Most people didn't dare to visit Diagon Alley with the recent events in mind. Ollivanders had been destroyed, many shops had closed and Knockturn Alley was more alive than ever.
I noticed a tall boy with messy dark-blonde hair in front of me, sporting a new set of Gryffindor robes.
"Well, if it isn't Benjamin Evans. Long time no see", I said. Benjamin turned around surprised and smiled shortly. He was accompanied by his sister and her boyfriend, Oliver Wood. He was captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team a couple years ago. They didn't smile.
"Come on, Benji, we're up", Wood said and pulled him with them to the register. I took a deep breath and forced the usual Selwyn mask on my face.
Benjamin looked around once more, an apologetic look on his face, but I knew that I had just lost a friend. I was blaming my parents in my head, but I was no different. I had spoken to the Dark Lord, called him "my lord" and tried to be in his good graces. I was on that side and Benjamin wasn't. Opposites attract to some level, but a wall had been built and there was no way to break through it.
I checked out and put the books in my bag. My father had given it to me for Christmas two years ago. It was charmed with an undetectable-extension charm, allowing me to fit as much into it as I wanted without it growing in size or weight.
I walked towards Borgin and Burkes, where I could take the floo network to Kings Cross Station, and passed the most successful shop in town: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. It had only opened a couple months ago, but it had been an astounding success. I had always admired the twins for their creativity and bravery, but I had never expected them to pull off something as extraordinary as this. It radiated happiness in the streets laced with doom.
I kept the same neutral look on my face, but I smiled internally when thinking about the pranks they had pulled on Pucey last year. It seemed like years ago. I couldn't be seen in such a place though, so I simply walked past it.
I arrived in Knockturn Alley, where the shop was located. I felt like I didn't fit in here, but no one looked at me weirdly. They weren't scared, they just moved out of the way when I passed and looked at me with interest in their eyes, not fear.
I felt like a drop of water in the desert. I had no place here. The best choice was to try to be a grain of sand, to fit in, because water drops would simply evaporate.
I pushed open the door and coughed at the unpleasant smell that I was met with.
"It's still in perfect condition, Mr Malfoy, like you asked", I heard. I looked to the side to see Draco on the other side of the shop, talking to the owner of the shop next to a large object that was covered with a veil. The two looked up at the sound of the doorbell and our eyes met quickly. He looked different, slightly unwell. A bit paler and skinnier.
It took me all the effort in the world not to smile at him, but I couldn't, especially not here. There were eyes everywhere and it was a known fact that Mr Burke wouldn't hesitate to snitch if it meant getting into Lord Voldemort's good graces.
So I averted my eyes from the blonde boy and looked at Mr Burke.
"I'd like to use the Floo network, please", I said. The bell rang again and the simple waft of sickly-sweet perfume told me who had entered before I could see the pink attire.
"Ah, Eleanor Selwyn", Dolores Umbridge said as she entered the shop. "Long time no see."
"Hardly long enough", I sported my best fake smile, wiping hers off her face.
"You should watch your language, young lady. You're talking to the Senior Under-Secretary of the Ministry."
"Of course, I'm frightened. I'm sure there's a lot you can do to me if I step out of line", I rolled my eyes. I hoped that one day, I'd have the chance to wipe this woman off the face of the Earth.
"What can I do for you?" Mr Burke asked me as he walked my way.
"I'd like to know the worth of this locket", Umbridge cut in rudely.
"And I'd like for you to wait your turn, thank you very much", I bit back, not wanting to spare her a look. She didn't reply. She just put the locket she was talking about on the counter. It was quite beautiful, gold with an emerald S in the center, but still she'd have to wait her turn.
I threw Mr Burke a warning look. He knew just as well that a sixteen-year-old Selwyn had more influence on the Dark Lord than this pink toad, no matter her position at the Ministry.
"Right this way, Miss Selwyn", he said and guided me to the back of the shop.
"Thank you", I said and handed him some sickles to pay for the Floo Powder. He handed me the tub and opened the gate in front of the fireplace.
"King's Cross Station", I said and threw the dust at my feet. I was enveloped in green flames, and when I opened my eyes again, I was in a back alley of the station.
The stupid toad cost me a few valuable minutes, so I made my way over to the Platform, grabbing my trunk that I had put in storage on the way there.
DRACO'S POV
I felt the eyes on me as I walked into the train. Everybody knew. They knew about my father and there were rumours about Malfoy Manor too. I put up a straight face and kept walking. I spotted Potter and his two sidekicks in a compartment and rolled my eyes. It would only be a matter of time before he started prying into my business, something that he should keep his nose out of.
He always did that, thinking that he had the right to judge everyone, just because he was The Boy Who Lived. He had to mind his own business.
I spotted her in the Slytherin carriage, sitting opposite Daphne. She looked as pretty as ever, maybe a little more mature than the last time I had seen her. I hadn't seen her for two straight weeks. As much as I wanted to, I had to stay away from her in public settings like these. Although she had done what she needed to do, what I had asked from her, she didn't make our lives easier by telling the Dark Lord that she hated me. There were enough snitches around who'd like to tell him the truth if they had any kind of proof.
My eyes immediately landed on Pansy Parkinson at that thought. She'd do anything to sell Ellie out and I'd like for that not to happen. I needed to keep this act up longer. I had an important task to focus on anyway.
Unfortunately, the only empty spots were next to Pansy and Ellie. I hated myself for doing this, but I couldn't sit next to Ellie. It would be too obvious since she was sitting in a booth with Tracey and Daphne.
"Hello Draco, how has your summer been?" Pansy chimed as I sat down next to her. It took all my willpower not to roll my eyes.
"Terrific", I mumbled, taking out a book so I wouldn't have to listen to her for the whole train ride.
ELEANOR'S POV
I knew why he had decided to sit next to Pansy bloody Parkinson, but I couldn't help but glance at the two every couple minutes. He didn't seem the least interested in her, but that didn't stop her from leaning against him, putting a hand on his leg whilst talking and batting her eyelashes every chance she got. She was disgusting.
I wanted to rip her hair out, pitch her off the Astronomy tower and feed her to the Giant Squid, but I couldn't. No one could know.
I was staring at them yet again when the carriage suddenly got pitch black.
"What the bloody hell?" Crabbe shouted behind me, standing up and knocking his knee against the table. I rolled my eyes. Peruvian Darkness Powder, who had smuggled that into the train, and why?
"It's probably some first year thinking it's cool to play a prank", Daphne complained.
Things settled down after the darkness cleared, but I could see Draco's attentive look scanning the compartment. He was suspicious, always.
"Why is he sitting next to the tramp?" Tracey asked quietly as she noticed me eyeing Draco. I almost unnoticeably shook my head. I'd have to update them tonight on the situation, or at least some of it. They could not know about the task Draco was given.
By the time we had arrived at Hogwarts, we had caught up on the most rudimentary parts of our summers. My birthday gifts, Daphne's trip to Sweden and the boys Tracey had scored. Now that she was back at Hogwarts, she had her arrows pointed at Blaise again, who was sitting opposite of Draco, but they hadn't talked all summer.
Draco was acting strangely. When everyone stood up to leave, he stayed put, announcing to his little clique that he had to check something. I couldn't do anything, so I left the train with Daphne and Tracey.
"So, what the hell is going on between you and Malfoy?" Tracey asked as soon as our carriage had set off and we were out of hearing range.
"It's a long story", I sighed, rubbing my eyes. I had gotten tired from the long train ride.
"Well we won't stop asking until you tell us, so spit it out", Daphne said, crossing her arms. I did want to tell them, because they were the only people I could trust after Benjamin clearly wasn't allowed to hang out with me anymore. I just didn't know exactly what to tell them.
"Look, we know about the Dark Lord and that he's staying at Malfoy Manor", Daphne announced. "My mother told me and I told Tracey." I wasn't surprised that she knew. Her family was part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight too and supporters of Lord Voldemort.
"Good", I sighed. "That's why Draco and I can't be seen together. We're both too involved in the situation and if the Dark Lord finds out, he has one more thing to hold over our heads."
"What do you mean, too involved?" Tracey asked slowly.
"Well, you've undoubtedly heard about what happened to our fathers", I said, looking down at my hands. He had spent two full months already in that place.
"Yes, I'm really sorry, Lea", Daphne said, taking my hands in hers.
"It's fine", I smiled. "But since they're ... Death Eaters", I said, struggling to say it out loud. "Our families are a bit more involved, so it's dangerous to have things that you cherish." The words were so heavy, but I had to get used to them. Draco was one too, a Death Eater.
"So what are you going to do? Did you break up?" Tracey asked.
"Not really. We can still be together when we're alone. We just can't have people like Pansy Parkinson snitch."
"But Pansy would never go to the Dark Lord personally to talk about you and Draco's relationship, that's just ridiculous", Daphne chuckled. It really was, but they didn't know about the task. If he found out I had lied to him ...
"No, I get it", Tracey said. "Ridiculous or not, it's your life on the line. If Draco or you ever do something to offend him, the first thing he will do to punish you is take away your loved ones. It's cruel, but I suppose it works."
I nodded, that was the problem. The Dark Lord had chosen Draco for the task simply to punish Lucius for failing. Lucius had been the leader of the prophecy organisation and he hadn't succeeded. He expected Draco to fail and that's why he chose him. To punish Lucius.
But that wouldn't happen on my watch. I couldn't tell Draco about this because it would shatter his confidence and hope, but I'd be damned if I didn't do anything in my power to help him succeed. Even though I admired Albus Dumbledore, I'd rather have him dead than Draco.