SCREAM | DRACO MALFOY

chapter one

The train ride to Hogwarts, strangely enough, was actually one of my favorite parts of the year. I have always loved long walks through nature or long bus rides through the streets of London but more than anything the ride to Hogwarts was one full of anticipation and relief.

The past year had actually been filled with anticipation, relief, and fear as well. Dementors had stopped the train and performed a search amongst all of the compartments in search of Sirius Black. The dementor that stopped in my empty compartment didn't stay for longer than two seconds, not finding what it needed but it was long enough for me to feel emotionally drained and cold for the rest of the trip.

This year I was hoping my train ride would be quiet and peaceful aside from the occasional visits from my friends. Cedric stopped by the most, always taking the time away from joking and speaking with his friends to sit with me and speak of our summers. I loved talking to Cedric, he was always so understanding.

My best friend Penny was a fifth year who was chosen to be a prefect so she wasn't able to join me in my compartment again this year. Last year she was helping out some first years who were very frightened of the prospect of going to Hogwarts. She helped them dry their tears and told them stories of how great and magical the school actually is.

For some reason I heard more chatter and excitement roaming the corridor than usual. Cedric said something of an announcement that was rumored to be taking place at the welcome feast tonight. I immediately figured it must be about our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher since Professor Lupin quit at the end of last year, but I felt like this was something different.

I felt my stomach start to knot once more and my hands started to feel clammy. I couldn't help but feel like this announcement wouldn't be a good one. I struggled to get my stomach to settle and my hands to still by breathing in and out slowly and focusing on the fields rolling by as the sun was setting over the horizon.

It's just you being paranoid, I told myself. Stop worrying over nothing.

"So...how was the prefect meeting?" I asked, stepping onto the carriage.

She responded by giving me a look filled with frustration and annoyance before plopping down beside me.

"So, good?" I giggled.

"I swear this year is going to be one of the hardest." She sighed, rubbing a hand over her face.

"You always say that."

"Yes but this year I mean it." She said. "O.W.Ls, being a prefect, harder classes...ugh, I wish I was you." As she said the last sentence she leaned over and laid her head on my shoulder. "Your life is so calm and peaceful mine is filled with things to do." Penny's head was bobbing back and forth on my shoulder from the bumpiness of the carriage as it rolled through the woods. I sighed in response. She had no idea how mentally exhausted I was.

Penny stayed quiet pretty much the rest of the journey to the castle. I could tell by the bags hanging under her eyes that she was tired. Penny always puts so much pressure on herself. Hopefully this year she can remember to relax more but I wasn't counting on it. Penny always has to be working on something. Even as we were approaching the school it was almost as if I could hear the cogs turning in her head. I never can guess what she's thinking about.

We reached the castle and followed the other heard of students to the Great Hall for dinner. My stomach started to growl and I felt myself picking up the pace as we entered the room, eager to eat dinner but knowing that the sorting will have to come first.

I sat with Penny up towards the front of the room like we usually do. I spotted Cedric out of the corner of my eye as I was sitting down and wasn't surprised to see that he had already gathered the attention of his house. I watched as he smiled and laughed, hugging and greeting all the people he failed to see on the train. I was lucky to have a best friend like him.

The sorting went by just as slow as it usually did with no hat stalls, which I was incredibly thankful for, and a few new additions to each house. I smiled at the small little Ravenclaws bouncing in joy over to their new seats. A little girl sat next to me and I shook her hand and congratulated her.

As all the new students got acquainted with their house members I was eagerly staring up towards the professors' table, the growling in my stomach almost enough to make me go mad. I felt a small smile form on my face as I saw Professor Dumbledore approach and hold up his hand to silence everyone.

The chatter calmed down as we all prepared to hear the usually welcome and rule lecture. "Silence!" The chatter in the hall now was completely nonexistent as everyone anxiously awaited to hear the professor's next words. "This year...this castle will not only be your home, but home to some very special guests as well." It was as if all the excitement and and anticipation was radiating off of everyone and bouncing around the room. I felt myself holding my breath. "Hogwarts has been chosen, to host a legendary event. The Triwizard Tournament." The chattering started to pick up once again but Dumbledore continued to speak. "Now for those of you who don't know, the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. For each school a single student is selected to compete. Let me be clear, if chosen you stand alone. And trust me when I say that these contests are not for the faint-hearted."

While everyone else seemed to be filling with more and more excitement as he continued to speak, I felt my excitement start to dwindle and it was instead replaced with a feeling of unease. A competition sounds fun and all but his last words bugged me. What does he mean not for the faint-hearted? Maybe I am just being paranoid but those words seemed to insinuate the meaning of danger to me.

I was shaken out of my thoughts by the sound of a loud bang from the back of the hall. I turned my head to look as the gasps from the students filled my ears. A group of students dressed in maroon uniforms with various forms of fur lining were lined up at the back of the hall. I couldn't see very well but I could tell that they all had very intense looks on their faces.

They were introduced by Dumbledore as the eligible students from Durmstrang. They all made their way to the Slytherin table to sit for the feast while the other school made their way inside. The students from Beauxbatons seemed to be the opposite of the former. They all wore uniforms of light blue and held happy, if not, dreamy looks on their faces. I wasn't surprised that they started to take their seats at the Ravenclaw table. We all had to move around slightly to make room and I was actually a little disappointed that none of them chose to sit at my end of the table.

I heard Dumbledore start to speak more of the rules of the tournament and how the way to enter was to put your name in the goblet of fire and that participants have to be at least seventeen years old. The second rule seemed to get a reaction out of the crowd. I could hear the complaints of those too young and the excited whispers of those who are eligible, but my focus was on something else completely.

Cedric's eyes seemed to light up. I could see him smiling and saw his friends slap him on the arm, laughing. They were excited for him. They wanted him to enter, and I could tell from the look on his face that he did as well. My heart seemed to drop to the bottom of my stomach. I could feel a cold chill roll down my back as I pondered the thought of Cedric being chosen. I should be happy for him. He is a very talented wizard, intelligent, generous, and the best friend I've ever had. But for some reason I felt like all of this was going to go horribly wrong.

"Isoblel..." I tried to shake my paranoia away as I turned to look over at Penny. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concern. "Are you okay?" I hadn't noticed, but the food had appeared on the tables and everyone around me was digging in.

I nodded and gave her a convincing smile. "Yeah...yeah." She smiled back before she reached out for her goblet. I took a glance back over at Cedric. He was beaming. I could practically feel his excitement from where I sat. My stomach turned as I reached out for my drink. I suddenly didn't feel so hungry anymore.