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Draco's choice

Chapter 1

Draco

My whole body was on fire, I was sweating, could feel it drip down my face in rivers of salty water. My breath was shallow and I tried to gulp in as much oxygen as I could, I was hiding, like a coward, as per usual.

I was in Hogwarts and as far as I was concerned, this wasn't the safest place for me to be. People feared me, well the younger ones did, but the ones in my year started to stand up to me, especially those stupid Gryffindor's. Pathetic.

I was hiding behind a suit of armour, Filch and Mrs. Norris had just stalked past but I was on a mission. I needed to get out and meet with him.

This mark on my arm wasn't just for show, I actually had to get up and do things. Errands and jobs that I didn't want to remember anymore. I was a second pair of eyes and ears for him. I was the sneak, the snitch, the yellow-bellied worm that told on people. I told on my fellow students, and after I did it, sometimes I never saw any of them again.

But in the grand scheme of things it was either them or me. I had ambition, I have drive, I wasn't sorted into Slytherin for nothing. I needed to get ahead in life, follow in my father's footstep or shame him. I cant bear the look in his eyes when I do something wrong. Plus his cane hurts.

I needed to get out fast. I peered round the armour and when the coast was clear, sprinted to the end of the hall, heart hammering, and the mark on my arm pulsing. I skidded round the corner and smacked into a warm, solid body.

And it hurt.

Viola

Honestly, all I wanted was a glass of milk. I couldn't sleep. Things haven't been right for a while here at Hogwarts. There were whispers of He Who Should Not Be Named, and his followers. Some Slytherins even claimed they followed him. Although no one believed them, after all, why would you voluntarily plead guilty?

I had awoken from my bed with a start; I had had a dream again. Of him. I'm not a voyeur or anything, but sometimes I watch him and feel sorry. He had it all, the popularity, people feared him. He was handsome, obviously. But recently his pallor had become even paler. His complexion was often sweaty, and his normally twinkly grey eyes seemed flat and dark, like a sharks.

I don't often dream of him, but when I do I always seem restless. It's not like dreaming of a handsome film star, who is out of your reach and is just a silly little daydream. He was touchable, tangible. He goes to Hogwarts! In fact, he was sleeping, right now in the Slytherin dungeons. I, however, was holed up in Gryffindor tower, like a stupid little princess from the fairytales my father used to read to me before he died.

I would not be a silly little damsel in distress. I threw on my robe and my bunny slippers and went to get my glass of milk.

My mind was still on Draco as I slinked down that Gryffindor steps and out to the corridors. It was silent, and very dark. But I snuck out so often for midnight snacks and drinks that I knew my way well enough. I was rounding the corner to the kitchens when something hit me at full force.

At first I thought it was a spell or a ball, but then I fell an elbow crunch into my face and a knee jerk into my stomach as I tumbled to the ground.

Could someone have sent them to beat me up? How did they know I was awake?

These were my last thoughts before I blacked out.

Draco

THUD! That was the exact sound of me hitting the person as I rounded the corner. I fell on top of them, my elbow snapping into something hard, my knee crunching something of theirs and my head knocking on the stone floor with a resounding CRACK!

I heard a whimper that determined the other person was a girl, and from the sound of it, I had hurt her. My eyes adjusted and I could see that my elbow had hit her cheek, and my knee had thumped one of her ribs. It sounds quite extreme for a small collision, but I was running at quite a speed.

I rolled off the girl, careful not to hurt anymore of her. Normally I wouldn't care but that whimper stirred something in me. I don't like to harm girls, especially girls that whimper. Unless it's Granger, she could suck on a flobberworm for all I care.

I sat up, shaking away the dizzy feeling in my head, and knelt beside the girl. I lit my wand with a silent 'Lumos' and surveyed her form lying motionless of the floor. A bruise was blossoming on her cheekbone and her nose was bleeding slightly. Her pajama top had ridden up and I could see more bruising near her ribs. I shuddered at the damage I had caused. Quickly, I performed some healing spells, once satisfied I rose to leave.

"Malfoy?" The girl croaked from the floor.

I peered down and saw her propped up on her elbows in confusion gazing up at me. She was frowning and I noticed a small crease from between her eyebrows.

"Excuse me, Malfoy? Why am I on the floor?"

Hello! This is my first Draco story and it takes place in his final year. I will definitely be changing some events and if you don't like that then I suggest you don't read any further chapters.

I really hope you enjoy this story.

Annabelle

xxx