The Other Side

TOLERANCE II

Draco Malfoy sat at the end of the dining table, room to himself until the door was aggressively pushed ajar. He looked up at the sound and saw his mother, and his face softened.

Narcissa was a well-kept women, who had a hard exterior but also a soft side for her son. He was her world with no questions asked and everyone who knew of Narcissa were well aware of it. It was the last thing she wanted for her son but knew from the moment that he was born that it would happen. She had been dreading the scene before her for years and what made her feel worse, was that she couldn't do anything do stop it.

Narcissa walked over, her blonde and black hair swooshing around with hurry, face filled with worry and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay, dear?"

He glanced up and smiled lightly as to not worry his mother any further. "I'm alright, mother"

"Are you sure? How abo-"

The moment between the mother and son was short-lived as they were interrupted by a person Draco loathed.

"Narcissa." Lucius, Draco's father, interrupted as they both turned towards the older blonde haired man "Can you give Draco and I a moment to speak privately?"

Narcissa hesitated "Just a moment de-"

"Now" he demanded quietly.

Draco didn't like the rudeness towards his mother but knew he couldn't say or do anything against his father.

Narcissa nodded towards her husband and gave a squeeze to Draco's shoulder to reassure him and left the room. Draco kept his head high and looked at his father who stared into his silver blue hues. They both stayed silent until Lucius spoke.

"There's a reputation to uphold now son. You shall complete the task set at hand for you by the Dark Lord with no distractions or hesitation. Do you understand?"

"Yes Father." he replied.

Lucius nodded and walked out but not before standing still and turning back around to face Draco.

"Well done, Draco"

Draco just stared ahead as the man left the room not wanting to break the character he now set. The heartless and defiant person he had to become due to his new role as a Death Eater. He wasn't that person.

In that moment he was just a scared and fearful teenage boy. But he knew he couldn't be that person anymore, himself. As he dared to not look down at his now marked arm, he thought to himself. Unable to stop the scenarios that raced through his mind to distract himself from the pain coursing through his body. Am I going to die? What about my friends, are they going to die? Are they feeling the same as I? What about mother?

He felt a brush against his trousers pocket and looked down. There, sat his German Shepard, Silas, whining at the sight of his owner on the verge of tears. Draco smiled as he took the dogs face into his hands and lent to be face level with hm.

"Hey boy, as he ruffled the dogs fur. The gesture providing Draco with a sense of comfort as he calmed and felt relief. As the dog stayed by his side, he eventually gathered enough courage to glance at his forearm and shedding a tear while doing so.

He never wanted it.