Chapter 27
Prompt: I Choose Granger
One choice can change everything. They had watched from the sidelines as their friend slowly faded to a shadow of the boy they knew. He refused to share anything with them, but they knew. Knew he had the mark, knew he needed something, anything to give him a chance at redemption. It was Pansy who had the idea to spike his pumpkin juice; three drops of Veritaserum would be enough to force him to open up. All they needed was an opening so they could help him, help their childhood friend see the light in so much darkness.
“I just can’t do it anymore guys, I can’t be who they want me to be!” Draco’s voice reverberated throughout the Slytherin common room as he hung his head defeated.
The Slytherins shared knowing looks, finally confirmation of what they’d assumed. Theo broke the silence.
“We know mate,” Theo whispered, squeezing Draco’s shoulder, “If you could choose anything right now, what would it be? We’ll do everything we can to help you get it.”
Draco lifted his head and saw the sincerity in his friend’s faces. With a resigned sigh, Draco opened his mouth as the truth poured out, “I fucked everything up in my entire fucking life, you know that? I’ve never got to make my own choices, never stood up to my fucking father. You know how exhausting that has been? Then this summer, I did it, I made one choice, and it was mine, all mine to make. And then it ruined absolutely everything.” Draco paused, clearly fighting the veritaserum, choking back words that were threatening to spill from his mouth.
Pansy sat next to him, holding his hand in her own, “Draco, we know you’re a death eater, it’s ok you don’t need to hide it from us.”
Draco bit back a laugh, “You think that’s the choice I made?!” Draco was laughing now, though tears were running down his face.
“I was such a fucking idiot, thinking I was some Gryffindor,” he paused again, at war with continuing but unable to resist the serum.
“I told my father, ‘I choose Granger’ and you know what he did? He crucio’ed me and summoned the Dark Lord to mark me. That’s what my own father did.” Draco trailed off, chest heaving and eyes wet from his confession.
A heavy silence blanketed the room as the truth settled amongst the friends, a secret relationship with Hermione Granger was not what anyone had expected. Blaise stood, stared Draco straight in the eyes and said, “We will always help you Draco, let’s go get you your lioness.”