XX
Bitter, snowy chills blew over the Scottish Highlands now. January has always been my favourite month of the year. There's something about the crisp, coldness of the air; and the way hot breath fogs in front of your face, much like the way smoke was now billowing from the Express as it docked up beside the castle grounds.
Loving and loathing this place at the same time is such a complex feeling, one that no words in the English language would be able to describe. Because even as I walked toward the castle, hanging back from the crowd, knowing that I would be returning to the cabinet.. I still felt kind of safe.
My eyes searched for her, but it would be futile regardless. There was simply too many bodies, cases, elves and teachers alike all bustling their way around. The corridors packed shoulder to shoulder with people who were excited to see each other again after the holidays.
It was much the same in the Great Hall as we were seated ready to be welcomed back and have our evening meal after a long journey.
"I would like to start by saying that I hope everyone enjoyed their Holidays, time well spent with loved ones.."
I would absolutely agree, my Christmas Day and New Years Eve were among some of the best I've ever had.
Dumbledore continued on. "But I cannot reinforce this enough, as was explained to you when the school year began.. dark forces are still at work beyond this castle, every hour, every minute, perhaps even right this second.."
Not just beyond this castle, but inside of it too. Only that they'll realise that far too late.
"And their greatest weapon still remains you. Now, I do not wish to sound patronising when I tell you that you are safe here quite to the contrary of any wild rumours and stories you might pass between yourselves; so don't let it distract you to the point that your studies begin to suffer. Just remain aware and cautious and follow the rules that have been set out for you...
That aside, I would like to announce that as the first school term has come to it's conclusion... Those of you who are working towards your NEWT's are encouraged to reassess if the classes that you chose before summer are the same ones you now wish to continue with after your taster sessions...
And if you wish to swap out for a different subject then you can take your concerns to deputy head McGonagall and request a change. This does not apply to OWL students, or year 7 and 8 NEWT participants. Now, enjoy your meals and settle back in."
The other Professor's took their turns making announcements before filtering out as the food spread was cast out on to the tables. I'd still barely spoken a word to any of the others, just small talk and friendly nods. So just as McGonagall breezed past our section of the table I stood up and beckoned her to me, inviting her to a quieter corner to speak.
"Can I swap my advanced Arithmancy classes for Herbology please?"
"Oh," she queered with a deeply unenthusiastic tone. "What a strange request. Might I ask why? You've never shown a real interest in Herbology before, yet have always exceeded in Arithmancy Mr Malfoy?"
"My goals for the future have changed is all, all of the weird stuff that's been going on lately has made me reconsider what I want to do when I finish with my studies here. Is it possible or not?"
The Professor eyed me up and down suspiciously, not that it was uncommon of her. Especially toward Slytherins. And she mulled on the thought, humming lightly.
"Come and see me tomorrow, I'll see what I can do. Although I cannot make any promises, it depends solely on the fact that any Herbology students will want to swap out should there be no additional space for you."
"Okay, thank you."
"Dinner, then off to your dormitories Mr Malfoy," Replied McGonagall with a meek nod.
Now I don't know what in the world possessed me to make such a drastic change to my life plans without consulting my parents first. They'd probably bust a nerve. We always make those kind of big decisions together as a family.
But it was too late now. Besides we had the whole death eater thing to consider now too.
Even if we're not all slaughtered, it would be highly unlikely I'll be able to hold down a real, honest job on the outside anymore.
Coming to spin on my heel and return to the table my gaze was met from across the huge space full of people and chatter.
Y/n was sat amongst her friends although her attention had wandered briefly. She had her hair clipped up tightly and her oversized hoodie drowned her.
Lips pursed with the corner of her mouth curled in a wicked manner, the energy oozed from her. But after a few short seconds she turned away to return to conversation, as if she had simply swept by like a ghost. As if she barely even saw me at all.
Perhaps that's all I get, is what she's already given me of herself and now I get no more. That was until a shadow skipped over my vision as it floated to behind her. Y/n greeted Higgs with a smile and a laugh not even aware of my presence anymore.
My blood felt like it had managed to reach boiling point in under a second, especially when he looked up and smiled at me before pressing his palm to the table and leaning himself over y/n like an infuriating leach. "I'm going back to the dorms okay guys, see you in a bit?"
"Draco?" Pansy whined, accompanied by an enquiring Theo childishly copying her voice. "Oi are you constipated or something, you're looking a little uncomfortable there mate huh?"
"Shut the fuck up you goon, I'm just knackered.." I flung a spoonful of peas across their laps with a forced laugh, playing it off until it was safe enough to slip away. "Okay go warm up the bed for me sexy, and put on a nice maid outfit I wanna play dress up!"
"What?" Mind your business trout face!" She then shouted at a girl on the opposite table who had heard her crudeness and peered over to investigate.
Parkinson's depravity has always been misdirected, and sometimes I thank Merlin that she's gayer than a tree full of monkeys. Because without a doubt, having to dorm share with a straight Parkinson would of been like a game of Russian roulette for us boys on who was going to draw the short, horny, straw first.
Probably would of been me. Let's face it, I was always going to be a bit of a whore regardless of anyone's sexual or otherwise orientation.
The dorm was pretty empty when I got there, our cases stacked and waiting. But when I knelt down beside my bed to begin unpacking my stuff, the case slammed shut again revealing Terence.
I'm going to have to deal with this prick, because he needs to get the hell out of my way.
"How can I help you tonight then.. cunt?"
"Stay away from her."
"Who?"
"Are you an owl? You know I'm talking about y/n so don't play stupid with me."
I pinched the bridge of my nose sharply, trying to breathe away the anger but there's just something about Terence Higgs that riles me up the wrong way. "And what makes you think I'm even interested anymore?"
"Because I know you wrote to her, she told me. Because you see I was writing to her as well mate.. I think next time maybe I should bring her up to speed on what kind of family she's dealing with. It is your old man that's banged up for war crimes isn't it? Or am I getting you confused with someone a bit less lacking?"
Terence's stance sloped backwards as I stood, towering over him by at least half a foot. His confidence was still far too high for my liking though.
And the last thing I need is him sabotaging one of the only things keeping me sane right now.
"Listen here you little string of piss," I spat, grabbing his face painfully hard and driving him up against the wall. "I don't know what type of threat you think I am but I can assure you it's ten times worse than you could ever imagine."
"You? Nah Malfoy, just a hindrance."
I released Higgs from the wall as he laughed breathily to himself. "Just so you know, you made this an issue, so now I'm going to fuck her and then let every single person in this school know what kind of silly little tart she is."
"Oh you are, are you?"
"Might even film it, make a couple galleons."
He turned to exit but I caught his collar, spinning him back to me before elbowing him in the face so hard it took his breath from his lungs and he fell down to the floor. And leaning over I felt the poison brewing beneath my skin. I'd like to tear his face off.
Instead, I took the sleeve of my shirt and began turning it upwards slowly as he dabbled away the nodules of blood that had began to drip from his nose.
When his gaze fell to my arm he tried to scamper backwards against the floor, eventually giving up as I leant closer. "See what that is?"
He nodded, eyes glazed over and beads of sweat on his forehead from the fear that had caught him so off guard.
"Good, now let me make a few things pristinely clear to you.. so fucking clear in fact that you'd be suicidal to even try and open your mouth to anyone."
"What?" He whimpered, backed in to a corner in which he was trapped.
"Mention me out of turn again, and I will come for you. And I won't be alone. Speak my family's name again and the same goes but most important of all you so much as cough in y/n's direction again and I will wait until you are least expecting it, and I will beat you so badly that you pass out. And when you wake up you will be tied up in a room full of death eaters so the Dark Lord can torture you to death for my personal entertainment. --- Don't even get me started on what we'll do to your family... I know you were writing to her, because I'm the one she spent New Years with so do me a favour and hop off this high pedestal you've put yourself on."
He was wordless, panicking in muffled breaths. "You stay the fuck away from me and you stay the fuck away from her, or me and my friends on the other side will brutalise you; limb by limb. I swear it on everything I own. Got it?"
"Y-yeah, honestly. I understand it's sorted, I'll stay out of your w- way."
"Good," I smirked, lightly patting his face and moving back so he could scurry to the door. "I'm glad we could come to an amicable resolution. Off you go then, Higgs."
I'd never seen the guy move so fast and he'd pretty much evaporated, slamming the door shut behind him. Only then could I let the masquerade falter and sink back down to beside my case, tugging my sleeves back down to hide the evil lurking beneath them.
It was a wild card to play, because if he takes this anywhere else then I'm finished, done for.
But my ego would have me rather die than be disrespected so ridiculously and on top of that, have to face the prospect that he was likely going to play y/n in to doing something she might deeply regret, against her own knowing will and see her have to suffer the repercussions of something like that.
She deserves better, even if I don't, even if she never gets to know what weird and fucked up stuff he had planned for her just to shame me.