Walking the Halls

Chapter Seven

"What's the plan?" Draco asks. 

Harry sighs. "We go through the trap door," he says.

Draco groans. "Let's go prep. If we try now, we'll get caught," he says, "McGonagall is on the lookout." He nods toward the professor watching them.

Fred, George, Lara, Blaise, Pansy, and Millicent sit in the courtyard. 

"Did you find anything out?" Pansy asks. 

"It'll be fine though. Thanks for all the help," he says.

"You don't need any more help?" Fred asks. 

Draco shakes his head and glares at the others.

"I cannot wait for the summer. I need a break from this place," Millicent says. 

Draco nods.

"I prefer it here," Harry says. 

Draco rubs his temple and nods. He doesn't want to be here or at home. 

Father punches my stomach. He falls to the floor. 

"Why did you try to befriend him?" he asks.

Draco sobs. "I didn't know it was him," he says. 

He punches his stomach. "You did. I know you did. Don't lie to me again and do not talk to that boy," he says.

Draco nods.

He leaves Draco on the floor of his study. 

He wraps his arms around his stomach and falls over. Tears fall down his face.

His father didn't do this last time. He encouraged Draco to talk to him.

Fred says, "This year has been more interesting than before."

Draco nods. This year has been very interesting. 

Reggie nips his ear. 

"When did you get back?" he asks.

He clicks and rubs against his cheek. 

"Feed well?" he asks.

He coos.

Draco scratches his head and leans against Harry's side. 

"Tired?" Harry asks.

Draco nods. He did not sleep well on that stupid couch.

"Sleep then," he says. 

Draco's eyes droop closed. 

Draco wished he could do better. He seemed to be failing at every turn. Voldemort came to them because his family should be able to do this, but Draco keeps embarrassing them. 

He tripped on his way to giving tea to the Death Eaters and spilled it everywhere. He broke the cups and saucers too. Voldemort looked disappointed but not surprised. 

His father put the Cruciatus Curse on him again. 

"The boy is basically useless," Voldemort says. 

His father sighed. "I know. I am sorry," he says. 

Voldemort sighs. "He will have another chance," he says. 

Draco would almost believe that he's hallucinating. He gets another chance. The spell falls from his body and the pain ripples through even after. He's surprised it still has such an effect on him. 

"Don't disappoint us, Draco," his father says. 

Draco nods. He pushes himself up and pulls himself to his room to ride out the rest of the pulses through his muscles.