hellenic
December 25th, 1995.
Draco straightened the black buttons of his dress robes, sneering at his reflection. He hated his hair gelled back, but his mother had insisted he look like a proper pureblood heir tonight, and so, he stood in front of his bathroom mirror, examining his appearance. Vanity, it seemed, was a Black family trait he had unfortunately inherited.
His salt white hair was pushed back and slicked with gel the way he used to wear it in his early years at Hogwarts, although it seemed more voluminous and messy now- there were a few renegade strands falling into his eyes, but he liked that at least one thing was a bit out of place. His fine-pressed dress robes were immaculately tailored, all black and lined in thin silver that matched the color of his eyes. His mother had made him take out the tiny steel hoop earring that normally hung out of his left ear. He put on the simple black mask that covered his brow and nose bridge. Draco straightened his back, puffing out his chest and relaxing his shoulders.
He looked like a pretentious prick.
When he was little, Draco loved these parties- he usually spent them ducking under tables and causing mischief with Blaise and Theo, secretly pranking the adults or bothering Pansy until she got so irritated she broke her cool, decidedly ladylike facade and screamed bloody murder at the three boys. At least back then he could withstand the stuffy suits and boring music and even more boring conversation, because he had his friends with him. But that was then, of course.
Now they were all older and taller, and had no choice but to tolerate the parties and participate in them in order to make their families look good. Now, he hated these parties- they were always filled to the brim with pureblood families that had permanent sticks up their arses, “conversation” that was really thinly veiled gossip and insults, and him being forced to sit in a tight suit all evening, putting on a nice show for his mother and father.
At only 15, Draco was very, very tired of putting on shows.
He stared into his own eyes hatefully, scoffing before walking to his dressing table and grabbing the small silver hoop, looping it through his ear. His mother had not been happy about the piercing Theo had given him over the summer, and his father had hexed him senseless, but it was worth the new scars to him. Draco straightened his collar once more, sighing and walking out of his bedroom. He made his way to the third floor passages, down the back staircase, and through the kitchen and out the door, where he landed on the edge of the Malfoy Manor grand hall.
Draco knew his mother would scold him for not using the main staircase and making a dramatic entrance, but he was in no position to face 300 pairs of eyes on him. He inched towards the entrance, making his way around the finely dressed purebloods that crowded the largest hall in his home, most holding champagne glasses and sporting elaborate masks on their faces. His mother had truly gone all out this year- masquerade, a theme that appeared to be black and gold, with elegant drapes of onyx and champagne lining the halls of the ballroom, floating lanterns casting a warm, intimate light over everything. Above, the domed ceiling glittered with golden stars and bronze meteors flying across an inky, magically created sky. He continued weaving through the crowd before he felt a delicate hand on his shoulder and turned around in surprise, sighing when he found it was only his mum.
“Draco,” She said, smiling beautifully. Narcissa Malfoy was dressed to kill, wearing a long black dress that pooled around her ankles, hugging her lithe figure, sleeves stretching to her knuckles. Her elaborate dress robes were clasped tightly over the dress, cinched at the waist with gold accents and bunching around her shoulders like the dress she had on underneath. She wore a black mask with gold lining the edges, only covering her eyes and nose bridge. Her hair twirled elegantly atop her head, eyes bright. That is, until she noticed he was wearing his earring, and she pursed her lips into a frown, tutting before moving her eyes back to him. “You look so handsome, darling,” She said, cupping his chin.
“Thank you, Mum,” Draco said through gritted teeth as Narcissa smoothed his hair back, flicking his earlobe with her finger once.
“Your friends are all in the parlor,” She said.
“Thanks Mum,” Draco said again, gently taking her hand off his face and kissing her on the cheek once before moving back through the crowd to the end of the room where the parlor was. He pushed through the loud conversations of men and the giggling air of women around him. People were dancing extravagantly, a sort of waltz happening. He spotted Adrian Pucey stepping out from an alcove under the stairs, straightening his hair and robes, wiping a hand over his mouth before he quickly jumped into conversation with Marcus Flint and Cassius Warrington.
Draco could almost see the hallway leading to the parlor before he was suddenly pulled back onto the ballroom floor, and found himself in the arms of Celeste Grant, a girl in her sixth year of Hogwarts. Draco groaned inwardly. She pulled him into a crushing hug, her scarlet red hair suffocating him- it smelled disgustingly of overripe strawberries. He could feel her pressing her breasts against his chest. She pulled back, still keeping her hands on his shoulders.
“Draco, darling, I almost didn’t recognize you with that mask covering your handsome face,” Celeste said. She ran her eyes over his body hungrily, and Draco fought the urge to squirm. “You look ravishing.” Her emerald eyes met his, pupils blown so wide they almost looked black. She curled her red lips into a saccharine smile. Draco smiled back tightly.
“Thank you, Celeste,” He said.
She pouted her lips out, widening her eyes for the puppy dog effect. “Aren’t you going to tell me how stunning I look?” She asked, giving him a twirl.
Draco ran his eyes up and down her body. Although he would never admit it, she did look nice, he supposed, but far too flashy for his taste. Flashy and overly-sweet and utterly fake.
She wore a gold, sparkling dress that hugged her generous curves, strapless and low cut, pushing her breasts all the way up to her chin. The back dipped low, almost to her tailbone, a thigh high slit exposing her long legs in the front, her heels at least six inches high. Draco knew his mother would never approve. Her gold and white mask covered her entire face, although it was attached to a stand that she had to hold up. She turned back to him, raising a brow.
Draco quickly remembered the manners his mother so often instilled in him, pulling out his most monotone voice. “You look beautiful as always, Celeste,” He said insincerely. The girl smiled triumphantly, eyes alight as she gripped his arm looking to the crowd of dancing couples. A song came on, slow and sultry, and more couples went towards the dancefloor, a romantic waltz ensuing.
"You aren’t going to ask me to dance, Draco?” Celeste said, brazenly running her hand over his chest and neck, stepping closer to him, enveloping him in her gross strawberry scent. He grimaced. No, No, Fuck no, Never, and absolutely not.
He pulled back slightly, getting a bit desperate to get her hands off him.
“Celeste-”
“Draco!” He heard Pansy’s voice call behind him, and fought the urge to rejoice. Thank you gods above, He thought to himself. He turned to find Pansy and Theo walking towards him. Pansy was wearing a silken black dress that clung to her long figure, thin straps sitting delicately on her shoulders. She wore black silk elbow gloves and a black lace mask, a sort of stringy fur shawl draped across her arms. Her raven hair was piled atop her head in elegant curls, lips painted nude. Theo walked calmly beside her, wearing dark blue dress robes with a white shirt inside, a blue half mask covering his face.
They reached him and Pansy laced her arm through his, paying no mind to Celeste, who was staring daggers at her. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere, you git, your mum told me you were heading to the parlor. Come now, everyone is waiting.” She tried to tug him away, but Celeste cleared her throat loudly, and Pansy tightened her mouth, eyes looking to the ceiling in annoyance. She turned around, facing Celeste.
“Hello, Celia,” Pansy said, pasting a bland smile on her face
“It’s Celeste,” the red haired girl said through gritted teeth. “And actually, Draco and I were just about to dance. Isn’t that right, Draco?” Celeste asked, keeping her eyes on Pansy.
“Actually,” Pansy imitated, and Draco clamped his lips together in an effort not to laugh, seeing Theo do the same behind them, covering his mouth with his hand and looking away, shoulders shaking. “He’s got plans. Goodnight, Celine,” She said.
“It’s Celeste!” But the three of them were already walking away, ignoring her completely. As soon as they got far enough, Theo burst into laughter, holding his stomach as he still tried to walk. Pansy watched him annoyedly, rolling her eyes.
“I hate that stupid tramp,” She said, and Theo laughed even harder.
“It never gets old,” Theo said, wiping his eyes. Pansy smacked him upside the head.
“We were looking for you everywhere,” She said, turning to Draco. “Blaise came with us too, but I think we lost him somewhere.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry,” Draco said. “He’s probably off snogging someone somewhere.” Pansy frowned a bit, and they made their way down the hall towards the parlor, large oak doors nestled into a corner that was hard to spot. Inside, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass were sitting together on a lounge chair, chatting and giggling together. Blaise was also back on the large chaise couch in front of the fire, rolling his eyes and snickering under his breath as he watched Crabbe and Goyle argue animatedly about something.
The parlor was, in essence, a safe place for Draco and his friends during these types of parties- although he wouldn’t really consider anyone except Pansy Blaise and Theo his “friend.” Acquaintances, perhaps. The room was not small enough to be cramped, but definitely not big enough to be uncomfortable. Floor to ceiling bookshelves lined the back wall, where in the center sat a large black stone fireplace and a portrait of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy with Draco as a baby. One of the few portraits in the house that weren’t magical. A large persian rug covered most of the stone floor, a plush dark green sofa, lounge chair, and loveseat situated around a coffee table in the middle of the room. No two pieces matched, but they all seemed to go together in a way. A small bay window sat at the front of the room, letting in the moonlight.
It was Draco’s favorite place in the manor, besides the gardens and his various hiding spots. It was the only place the teens could hide from the suffocating pureblood parties, drinking and smoking together in peace. Here, they could all relax for a bit.
Pansy and Theo went to sit down with Blaise, and Draco stood behind the couch, sliding his hands in his pockets after ruffling his hair a bit and unlacing his mask. Astoria straightened a bit when she spotted them, doe eyes landing on Draco. She leaned her arms over the back of the lounge chair her and her sister were sharing, smiling dreamily up at him.
“Hello, Draco,” She said in a clumsy, light voice. “You look divine-” Daphne quickly elbowed her sister in the ribs, knocking her over so her body was sprawled on the plush cushions. The blond girl rolled her eyes, picking up her sister by the waist and propping her up, straightening her black dress.
“Okay, no more fire whiskey for you,” She said. Daphne glanced up at Draco apologetically. “Sorry.”
He smiled a bit. “It’s alright,” He said, moving to sit down beside Theo. Pansy went over to Daphne, admiring a ring on her finger.
“Oh, it’s beautiful, Daph. Is it real?” She asked
Daphne scoffed. “I should hope so,” She said. Her eyes softened a bit. “I’m obsessed with it. I mean, how romantic, right?” Pansy nodded, smiling.
“Immensely,” She said. “Graham never did nice things for me like this.” Daphne frowned.
“Graham was a piece of shit, Pans.”
“I second that,” Blaise said, saluting with his drink. Pansy sighed.
“I know, I’m only saying.” Daphne touched her hand. Theo got up, scoffing, going to sit at the bay window and lighting a fag. Pansy’s eyes followed him, eyebrows knitting together and a look passing her eyes before she glanced back to Draco, smiling.
“Draco, have you seen Daphne’s ring?” She asked.
“No,” He said, and he honestly didn’t care, but knew that Pansy would show him anyway, so he leaned over to look at Daphne’s hand. On her right ring finger sat a twined silver band, diamonds and sapphires set between the folds of the metal. It was beautiful, and delicate, and looked a lot like an engagement ring. “It’s nice Daphne.”
Daphne smiled, gazing at it. “Ugh, I know, right? I wish my next boyfriend would do something so sweet for me,” Pansy said.
Across the room, Theo snorted. “Aren’t you a little young to be getting engaged, Daph?”
“Shut up, Theo,” Pansy said venomously. “It’s a promise ring, and it’s meant to show real love, and commitment. Something you would know nothing of, of course.” Theo took a long drag out of his cigarette, blowing the smoke out the window.
“I would, actually,” Theo said. “I just don’t care. They can preach all they want about love and promises, but it won’t last.” Daphne darted her gaze between the two of them confusingly. The whole room was quiet, everyone watching their exchange. Theo locked onto Pansy’s gaze from across the room, something passing between the two of them.
“Yes, Theodore, we are all well aware everything is meaningless to you.” Pansy narrowed her eyes, raising her chin defiantly.
“Yea, and what the hell do you care about what’s meaningful to me, Pansy?” He asked, eyes burning into hers. She blinked a few times, catching herself, leaning backward nonchalantly, folding her hands in her lap.
“I don’t,” She said in a cold voice. Theo scoffed, pushing off the bay window to mirror Pansy’s position, folding his arms. He laughed drily.
“Of course you don’t,” He murmured, grabbing his jacket and walking out of the room. “I’m getting more fire whiskey,” He called.
“But, there’s a full bottle right here-”
“Shut up, Crabbe,” Daphne and Draco said at the same time. Everyone glanced awkwardly at each other, Pansy’s eyes on her hands in her lap.
Blaise was the first one to break the silence. “Well that was sexually charged,” He said.
Draco threw a pillow at him, laughing, before he looked to Pansy, catching her eyes. She pursed her lips and shook her head minutely. Then she got up, smoothing her dress and pulling Daphne up with her.
“Let’s go dance, Daph,” Pansy said. “I’m sure Cassius will drop dead when he sees you in that dress.” Daphne smiled at Pansy and looked down to her sister who was half asleep on the couch.
“Come, Rory,” She said. “And you have to stand straight, no talking.” Astoria looked up at her sister, giggling.
“Yay we’re dancing!” She slurred.
Daphne rolled her eyes and sat her sister down again, taking a heavy velvet blanket that was thrown over the sofa and draping it over her shoulders. “Okay, no dancing for you, but stay put, Astoria, I mean it. I won’t have you embarrassing yourself in front of mother.”
Astoria raised a weak arm to the air, mumbling before she went back to snoring quietly. Daphne kissed her sister’s forehead and linked arms with Pansy, the two of them turning to Draco and Blaise. Pansy turned to Draco and Blaise.
“Boys, are you coming?” She asked. Draco looked to Blaise, who shrugged, getting up and sliding his arms through his dress robes. Everyone put their masks on, and walked out the doors. Ahead of them, Daphne gasped sharply and started to walk faster, pulling Pansy along with her. The dark haired girl made a noise of confusion and walked backwards. Draco watched her face steel itself into a cold mask, and she folded her arms.
From an alcove in the wall, Theo stepped out, lips red and swollen, hair mussed, shirt and trouser buttons undone. He righted his clothes, picking up his robes off the floor and running a hand through his hair. Behind him, Ravenna Selwyn stepped out sheepishly, clad in a ruffled dress of muted gold chiffon that was cinched at the waist and billowed out, flowing past her ankles. She tucked a stray braid behind her ear and a faint blush graced her dark skin. Ravenna smiled at all of them, winking at Theo before she walked past, her heels clacking down the hall. Theo grinned with mischief as Pansy kept her eyes on him, face emotionless.
“Everything alright, lads?” He asked, swaggering to the back of their group with the rest of the boys.
“What,” Pansy immediately answered through gritted teeth, “were you doing.”
Theo turned to Pansy, buttoning the top buttons of his dress shirt and clasping his robes together. “Oh, I was just having a bit of fun, Pans. You know, nothing with any meaning to it.”
Pansy huffed a breath, walking towards them and linking arms with Blaise, placing a hand on his chest. “Blaise, darling, would you like to dance?” She said sweetly. Blaise gave her a dazzling smile.
“Of course, Pansy.” They walked off together, and as the group turned the corner and continued forward they could spot Blaise sweeping Pansy into his arms. Theo clenched his jaw tightly, and turned to Daphne, opening his mouth, but she held up a hand
“No, no, and no.” The blonde girl said. “I am not getting in between whatever that is. I am spoken for, and no offense Theo, you know I love you, but you’re vile, and I’m sure you’ve contracted a number of diseases from your various… endeavors.”
Theo laughed coldly and stalked off, surely to find a drink or another girl to snog. Draco laughed, and Daphne watched Pansy and Blaise dancing worriedly. The two seemed to be in deep conversation.
“I worry for them,” She said. “Pansy is a mother hen, but when it comes to relationships, when it comes to herself… Well, we all know how destructive she and Theo both are.” Draco smirked a bit, swirling around the drink in his hand.
“I know Theo better than anyone,” Draco said. “He’s only ever loved Pansy. I don’t think he could tolerate truly being with anyone else- in a real way, that is.”
Daphne smiled at that. “Do you suppose that’s why he’s such a whore?”
Draco barked a laugh, and as the song changed, Cassius Warrington approached them, a glass of sparkling wine in hand. He kissed Daphne’s hand and smiled at her warmly, nodding to Draco.
Soon, the couple whisked each other off to dance, and Draco was left alone standing at the edges of the dance floor. He moved to the drinks, about to swipe another bottle of fire whiskey when he spotted Celeste’s fiery head turning about the room, no doubt looking for him. He quickly grabbed the bottle and dashed outside, leaning against one of the many archways in the garden of Malfoy Manor.
Draco had every intention of getting well and truly sloshed; that, after all, was what he and his friends had been doing at every one of these parties since they were 13. Well, more like him and Theo. Pansy and Blaise could hold alcohol just as well, but they had a bit more self-control than the other two had ever possessed. He gazed at the stars, taking a fourth, a fifth, a sixth shot of whiskey, tipping his head back.
Sometimes Draco wondered if this was all there was for him; cold, mindless parties. Perfect appearances that must be kept. Secrets and loyalties and alliances and gossip and endless, endless darkness. More than anything, he dreaded his graduation from Hogwarts. Then, he truly knew, all pretense of safety would completely disappear.
At the very least now, he could escape his father’s hand and the pressure of his family at Hogwarts; he could put his mind to Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, on his OWLs and quidditch games and whatever party would be held in Slytherin or that he and Blaise could sneak off to in Ravenclaw. Draco knew his entire future as soon as he graduated: Some sort of Cushy, influential ministry job; his parent’s would arrange a marriage to another pureblood, and be expected to pop out a few heirs. More parties, and meetings, and appearances and the same mindless bullshit over, and over, and over again.
He gulped down another shot of whiskey, pouring another before he heard clacking footsteps and a feminine voice calling his name, and he quickly poured out the alcohol and threw the glass into the distance, and the bottle in the other direction. He straightened his collar, and only relaxed when he saw that it was Pansy who stopped in front of him.
“Draco?” She asked. “What’s wrong with you, you look shocked out of your skin?”
“I thought you were my bloody mother,” he said, catching his breath. Pansy laughed and leaned back on the column opposite him, looking up to the skies and smiling a bit sadly. He raised a brow at her. “Pans?”
“Hm?” She looked at him.
“What’s wrong, Pansy?”
She smiled and looked away, and was silent for a long time. Draco watched her carefully. If he knew anyone, he knew Pansy, and she was not one to stay quiet. Especially for the difficult questions.
“Have you ever been in love, Draco?” This was a question he was definitely not expecting, of all things.
He thought about it, and for a moment an image flashed through his mind, and he swore he could hear a certain voice in his ear-
He immediately shut the thought down. “No, I can’t say I have.”
Pansy turned her glimmering blue-green eyes to his questioningly. “Are you sure? I thought-”
“No,” He interrupted. “No.”
“Alright.” Draco paused for a moment, not sure what to say.
“Have you, Pans? I mean, I know you were with Montague for a long time, but-”
“I don’t think I loved Graham,” She said. “Not truly. If anything, I was obsessed with him. I mean, in the way that everyone is with their first love, it wasn’t real. It was a fantasy I had created in my head, and throughout our relationship I convinced myself I had to be perfect, and I had to be everything and give him everything just so he would love me even a little bit as much as I loved him. And for the longest time, he let me believe that. I don’t want to believe that’s what love is.”
Draco felt a sudden surge of protectiveness for his friend, and anger at fucking Montague; the stupid bastard had broken her heart, and if there was anyone who didn’t deserve that, it was Pansy Parkinson. “It’s not,” He said. Pansy smiled again, looking down at her fidgeting fingers.
“You’re lucky you have the example of your parents to look up to. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as in love as they are. Even after being married for so long, your father still looks at your mother like she’s the only girl in the whole world. I would kill for someone to look at me like that.”
“My parents relationship is… complicated, to say the least.” Pansy sighed, and Draco walked over to her, slinging an arm around her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest and sniffled a little bit. Draco awkwardly patted her back, not quite sure if he should get Daphne, or remain there, or say something comforting. He pulled back a bit.
“Pansy… He loves you, you know. Truly.” Pansy’s eyes widened a bit, and she opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She sighed and pulled away, offering Draco her hand.
“C’mon, let’s go dance,” She said. Draco laughed and took her arm gallantly, leading her into the ballroom. They danced for two songs, and Draco swept Pansy about the room, twirling her as she laughed, whispering crude things about the older purebloods and making up stories together.
If there was anyone who Draco would consider to be his sister, it was Pansy. she had been one of his closest friends since they were babies, and above all else he hated seeing her hurt. Without Pansy, there was no doubt that him, Blaise and Theo would not have survived very long. She had been their glue, the only logical head on all of their shoulders, and kept them together in their darkest hour.
Soon, the dance ended, and Draco and Pansy went to the edge of the ballroom to find their friends. He noticed some families leaving, and Theo and Blaise quickly found them, pulling Daphne and Astoria along. They gathered in a small circle, and Theo pulled Draco’s collar, leaning forward to whisper in his ear.
“He’s coming,” he said. Draco’s insides dropped, his heart pounding and ears fizzing. Shit, he thought. Shit. Theo pulled Pansy to him, talking to her in a low voice, their faces close together. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
“Take Daph and Rory, go find Millicent and go upstairs to D’s room,” Theo said. Pansy shook her head, raising her chin and grasping his arm.
“I’m not leaving you here alone-”
“I won’t be alone, I’ll have these two idiots, and I’m sure Crabbe and Goyle’s useless arses are around here somewhere.” Theo tried for one of his usual dimpled grins, but it came out strained.
“You know what I mean, Theo I’m not leaving. You don’t need to protect me.” Theo dropped his smile and looked around, clutching Pansy desperately.
“Pansy, yes I do,” He said in a serious tone, and then softened his voice a bit. “You know I do. Please.”
Pansy shook her head, eyes hard. She placed her hands on either side of his face. “I need to protect you just as much as you need to protect me, Theo, I’m not leaving you. All of you.”
Theo’s eyes searched her face, and he sighed, taking her hands from his cheeks. Pansy blushed scarlet and tried to step back, but he held her hand tightly and didn’t let go.
Draco and Blaise exchanged a look with each other, and Theo glared at them menacingly. Blaise raised his hands in the air with a faint smile on his face, but it faded quickly. Daphne clutched Astoria to her.
“Cass and his family already left,” She said. “He wanted to take me with him, but my mother interrupted us and ushered them out-” Her voice broke, and Pansy clutched her hand.
“Who’s left?” Astoria asked, now looking very sober.
“Besides all of our families,” Blaise said, motioning to the circle of them with one hand, “The Crabbes, Goyles, Lestranges, Bulstrodes, Barty Crouch Jr, Carrow siblings, Rowle, Yaxley, Avery, Gibbon, Macnair, and Mulciber.”
“Should we try to go back to the Parlor?” Daphne asked worriedly, and Draco shook his head.
“No,” He said. “If we move now it will be too noticeable, and our parents could try to pull us forward. It’s best if we just stay out of sight, out of mind. Try not to attract too much attention to ourselves.”
The six of them stood together in a huddled group at the back of the ballroom, watching as the music became a low pulse in the background and the lights dimmed all around them. Then, much like the grand hall in Hogwarts, candles appeared floating all around the ceiling. The light was warm and low, but the temperature of the room dropped all at once. It was suddenly impossibly cold, and Draco swore he could feel frost creeping up the high corners of the ceiling. Shit. Shit. Daphne and Astoria huddled closer together, Daphne pushing her younger sister behind her.. Blaise held his arm around Daphne’s shoulders. Theo kept one arm around Pansy, who stood between them, her other hand gripping Draco’s shoulder. Draco kept his hand on Blaise’s shoulder, steadying him. They all stood, connected.
The doors and windows closed, heavy curtains of the archways dropping, enclosing them. A few people in dark robes appeared in the center of the room, large hoods thrown over their heads, plain black masks covering their entire faces. Draco could recognize his father’s gait anywhere, though. Together, they chanted in low voices, almost a whisper- but it resonated through him like a scream. He could feel Pansy shivering, and Blaise shuddered.
“Morsmordre,” They said.
Overhead, a large symbol appeared floating in green wisps, washing the room in an emerald glow. A skull with its maw dropped, a snake slithering out of it. One of the dark figures walked to the center of the circle, taking off his mask and dropping his hood.
It was his father.
Draco didn’t dare take his eyes off Lucius, watching as the Death Eaters around him stood, chanting morsmordre over and over again. His father tipped his head back, smiling maniacally. Then, the dark mark floating in the air began to swirl around like a funnel, slowly at first, but quickening speed until it suddenly shot down and into Lucius Malfoy.
His father’s eyes glowed red and skin crackled green, like veins of poison shooting throughout his body. Arms thrown back, he began to lift into the air. The Death Eaters continued their chanting. Then the green venom flew out of Lucius and rained down like snow. He landed back on the ground, and everyone paused for a moment. It was so, so cold.
Then, Lucius got up suddenly, and walked to the stairs. He walked purposefully, like he was in a trance, and only stopped when he got to the top. When he turned around, Draco could see even from across the room, that his eyes were red. Scarlet, blood red.
He had never hated a color more.
His father smiled a cold, sinister grin, and raised the champagne glass that had appeared in his hand.
“My friends,” He said in a voice that did not belong to him, and Draco’s stomach dropped. “I have waited long to see you all. I assure you, our meeting during the Summer was not our final encounter.” Draco knew he was talking about the Triwizard Tournament. Where Cedric Diggory had died at Voldemort’s hands. No doubt a fate he would soon become familiar with. “My brothers!” The monster inside his father called out, adorning an unnatural, face splitting grin. Lucius’s veins were bulging, a green so dark it almost appeared black, eyes fully red now. He looked as if he were about to burst. Draco stepped forward, almost subconsciously, but Theo’s hand shot out, and he held him back, shaking his head. Draco kept his eyes trained on his father- on the Dark Lord.
“Our time has come,” He said. Then, a hurricane of black, screaming smoke flew out of Lucius’s mouth. Draco resisted the urge to cover his ears against the piercing sound. His father collapsed to the ground, and Draco saw his mother rush to the stairs, but Lucius held a hand out, stopping her with a hard look. He stood up on shaking legs, and held out his glass.
“A toast,” Lucius said grimly, sweat plastering his hair to his head. He smiled weakly. “To the Dark Lord.”
Everyone in the room held up their glasses, drinking. The Dark Mark remained on the ceiling. Everyone toasted to Voldemort, except him and his friends. Draco’s heart was beating out of his chest. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. He tried to calm himself; he tried to compartmentalize, like Severus had taught him. Tried, of course, and failed. He clutched his hand to his neck, looking around, trying to loosen his tie. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Pansy nudging Theo, and feel Blaise putting his arm around his shoulders. He knew his friends were guiding him to the Parlor, sitting him down on the couch. Pansy handed him a glass of water, rubbing his back. His jacket had been discarded, somewhere. He heard Daphne and Astoria bid their goodbyes, and he was left alone with his friends, who sat around him with concerned looks on their faces. He took a deep breath and rubbed at his chest, trying to calm himself.
“I’m sorry,” He gasped. “I don’t- I can’t, I just- I don’t know why I-”
“Shhh, Draco,” Pansy murmured, taking his hands in hers and squeezing them together tightly. “It’s alright. You’re safe. We’re all safe.”
Draco looked down at his hands in hers, focusing on the almost painful pressure. He zeroed in all his attention onto that, breathing in deeply. He took three deep breaths and relaxed into the couch; Blaise rubbed his shoulder reassuringly, and Theo handed him a fag. He took a long drag from it, and Pansy wrinkled her nose, but he smiled at her and handed it to Blaise.
“I’m sorry,” Draco said. “I don’t know what came over me, I just-”
“Don’t apologize, Draco. It’s hard to see your father like that, to be in… his presence. It was hard for all of us. You’re not alone.” Draco looked to Pansy, whose eyes were on Theo leaning over the couch. They were doing that thing the two of them often did nowadays, communicating with their eyes.
Theo looked to Draco, taking the fag from Blaise. “Yea, mate, don’t worry about it.” Draco nodded silently, staring at the fire in front of them.
“Everything’s gonna change now.”
His friends all looked to him. “He’s coming. He’s here, in my house. And he could be at Hogwarts too, in any of our homes, our dorms, our minds. He’s fucking everywhere.”
“Hogwarts is safer than anywhere, mate-”
“No, it’s not,” Theo said, looking to Blaise. “He killed Cedric Diggory. We all know he did. It might’ve been during the Tournament, in another location, but still. Nowhere is safe,” Theo whispered, looking down at Pansy. “Nowhere.”
“We have to stick together,” Pansy said suddenly. She looked up at all of them and stood up, hands on her hips in that authoritative way that she did when she was scolding the three boys. “We have to swear to stick together through this, no matter what.”
Blaise laughed a bit. “Didn’t we all make a blood pact for this exact same thing like, ten years ago?”
Pansy rolled her eyes and folded her arms. Theo watched her with such an obvious expression of adoration it made Draco want to gag. “Well, we’re renewing the pact,” She said, and then her tone turned somber. “We could die.” The boys looked up to her. “At any moment, any of us could be forced into some kind of battle or fight, or be forced to take the Mark or let the Dark Lord rummage through our heads or Draco’s crazy-ass aunt torture us.” Pansy looked to Draco sympathetically. “No offense, love.”
“None taken,” He laughed. Pansy took a deep breath, and sat back down.
“It might not be now, but soon. Soon this war will be in full swing, and Merlin knows our parents won’t do anything to protect us. We have to protect each other, as we always have. We have to be there for each other, no letting go, no running off.” She turned to look to Theo, who was holding onto the rim of the couch above her. “That means you, Theodore.”
Theo looked at her with wide eyes. “What the bloody hell do you mean, me?! When have I abandoned anyone?”
“I’m not saying you did, I’m only saying we are all too familiar with your tendency to isolate yourself and forget about the rest of the world when you’re in trouble. Out of all of us, you are the most likely to run off and do something stupid that’ll get you killed without telling anyone, and you can’t deny it.”
Theo laughed and held his hands up, defeated. Blaise smirked, “I swear you should’ve been a bloody Gryffindor, Nott.”
Theo gasped dramatically, bringing a hand to his chest, and Draco laughed. “Don’t you dare say such foul things Blaise Penelope Zabini!”
Blaise hissed with equal theatrics, “How dare you use my full name Theodore Alessandro Nott the Third!”
Draco rolled over laughing, trying to catch his breath. He had tears in his eyes. “Blaise I’ve known you since birth and never have I had the wonderful knowledge that your middle name is Penelope-”
“That’s because it is private information that Theo only got out of me with a non-consensual use of veritaserum!”
Draco fell to the floor wheezing and clutching at his stomach. Pansy shaded her eyes with a gloved hand, leaning back and sighing in exasperation. “Are you boys quite done?” She asked. Theo and Draco looked to each other and burst out laughing even harder, and couldn’t calm themselves for a solid three minutes.
Pansy sighed again, rolling her eyes. “Can I get back to my point now?”
The three boys straightened and looked to her apologetically. “Yes, sorry, Pans,” Theo said.
“Can you all just promise me? Promise we’ll have no secrets. Promise we won’t leave each other behind, and we’ll protect each other, as we always have done? Please. I need you all alive.”
They all nodded, Blaise reaching over to place a comforting hand on Pansy’s knee, Draco holding her shoulder. Theo didn’t make any physical contact with her, as always.
The doors to the parlor opened, and the four Slytherins turned around to see Lucius Malfoy in the doorway. Pansy and Blaise stood, the dark haired girl wiping at her eyes and straightening her back. Theo not-so-subtly moved in front of Pansy, blocking her from his Father’s view.
“Hello,” Lucius said. “If I could have a moment with my son.” He turned to the side, holding his arm out for the three of them to leave. Blaise looked apologetically to Draco once, and nodded, turning and going out of the room. Pansy’s gaze lingered for a moment, and he saw the words she wanted to say in her eyes: don’t do anything stupid. Remember our promise.
She turned away from him, walking around the couch to link arms with Theo, who looked as if he had no intention of moving. Pansy tugged his arm, and placed a hand on his cheek to turn him to her. She nodded to him once, and he nodded back. They walked forward and stopped in front of Draco’s father.
“We’ll be going now, I expect my father to be waiting for me, but please tell Mrs. Malfoy I thank her for the invitation, and her hospitality. We all had a wonderful evening,” Pansy said, smiling warmly. Lucius took her hand and kissed her knuckles, a small smirk on his face. Theo tensed visibly, and Lucius took notice.
“Of course, Pansy. It’s a pleasure to see you, as always.” Lucius turned to Theo, still smiling. “Theodore,” he said.
Theo’s face remained placid. “Lucius.” Then he turned and walked out of the room, taking Pansy with him, leaving Draco alone with his father.