Falling Star

Malfoy Manor

We arrive back home in an instant.

So many emotions swirl through me in that instant. I am well aware of my father's past as a Death Eater. He had told the Ministry that he was under the Imperious Curse during the First Wizarding War, but I knew he had lied. He wanted a world where Purebloods ruled more than anyone. This thought comes to the forefront of my mind and sickens me. I say the next words without thinking.

"That was an attack, wasn't it? There were Death Eaters there all around weren't there? Did you know about this?"

I'm thrown off balance and my face burns where his hand connected with my cheek. I quickly steady myself and cover my cheek with my own hand in an attempt to ease the sting.

My father towers over me and grabs my arm. I flinch by instinct. He does not take being disrespected well.

He leans forward until he is inches from my face and tightens his grip on my arm. As much as I don't want to, I cower. "How dare you talk to your father like that? Disgraceful." Father practically spits the last word at me. "Go to your room and out of my sight," he yells as he shoves me backward.

I hurriedly turn away, still holding my stinging cheek. Draco is still standing stoically nearby. I rush past him to the stairs and up to my room, trying my best to hold in my tears until I am out of sight.

The tears escape as I enter my room and throw myself onto my bed. I barely have time to relax before my door creaks open.

"Well that was foolish," my brother says coldly.

Without looking at him, I bitterly reply, "Draco, if you have come to lecture me, save your breath. I am in no mood for that tonight."

There is silence for several moments. I still refuse to look at the door; instead I trace the embroidered pattern on my pillowcase. I can feel Draco's eyes burning a hole in my back. This isn't the first time this scene has played out. I have the tendency to speak my mind while rarely thinking of the consequences: a trait of mine that wears on my brother's nerves.

"Are you going to just stand there all night? Leave me alone," I sigh.

After a moment of hesitation, Draco walks over to me. I resign myself to roll over and look at him.

"What do you want, Draco?"

"When will you learn to keep your mouth shut when you need to?" Draco asks exasperatedly.

I have to laugh. "Probably never." I have never been one to bite my tongue; likely a trait that helped land me in Gryffindor.

Draco sighs and rolls his eyes. "Could you at least try to not anger Father anymore? At least this summer?"

"You think I try to make him angry?" I yell.

Draco looks toward the door, likely afraid that my yelling will earn a visit from our parents. "Lower your voice will you? You know that's not what I meant."

I glare at him but force my voice to a more suitable volume. "Really? How could I not say something after tonight? There was a bloody attack at the World Cup! And I know you saw the Dark Mark in the sky as clear as I did." I lower my voice to nearly a whisper. "I'm sure you can guess what that means."

Draco pales in response. I know the thought of the Dark Lord returning scares him as much as it scares me, but he will never let it show. He simply replies, "It is none of our business what happened tonight. Mother and Father would never involve us in whatever is going on."

I scoff. "You sound like Mother. Do you truly believe that we can just sit idly by if Vol-he does return?"

"Yes," Draco deadpans.

"Well you go right ahead." I stand up and move to the door. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed."

"Dahlia..."

He only uses my full name when lecturing me, which only pisses me off more.

"I'm serious, Draco. Out of my room!" I punctuate my statement by pointing out the door like I did when we were children and he was annoying me.

He stands for a beat before huffing and stomping out of the room, closing my door behind him with a bang.

I loose a breath and put my back against the door, sliding down. The tears begin to fall once more, and I make no move to stop them. I weep knowing that my life is about to change forever.