Rendezvous ⤖ Draco Malfoy

𝐓𝐖𝐎

Stepping into the Slytherin carriage was definitely a bad idea. As soon as Hope did, glares were sent her way. And the biggest was coming from the Prince of Slytherin himself, Draco Malfoy.

Actually, no it wasn't. Pansy Parkinson had the meanest glare. Hope doesn't know what she ever did to her, but since first year, Pansy has always had it out for her.

"Piss off mudblood. You're ruining the atmosphere in here." Pansy said, standing up from her seat and blocking the aisle.

Magnolia had already gone past and was sitting in her seat with an apologetic look on her face.

"Hello to you too, Pansy." Hope replied with a bored expression. It was always the same with this witch. "How was your summer? Oh, how fun you followed Malfoy around like a lap dog." If possible, Pansy's scowl deepened even further. "Woof." Hope taunted.

"No one wants you here." Pansy sneered, taking a step too close for comfort.

"I forgot the world revolves around your wants and wishes. My apologies, how silly of me." Hope shoved her way past Pansy and took the empty seat that Magnolia had saved.

To her utter horror, it was diagonally opposite Malfoy on the other side of the aisle. He was just a pompous prat that got everything he wanted.

He still hadn't turned away and she sent her own cold glare at him. But it only seemed to spur him on. He refused to stop and it was maddening.

A quick cruico would do the trick.

Hope flinched. "What did you just say?" Her wide eyes turned to Magnolia.

"I didn't say anything." Her eyebrows furrowed. "You're looking a little pale, are you okay?"

Hope looked down to find black veins appearing on her wrists. Thin black little strips travelling from her wrist towards her elbow.

The Hollow.

Not only was she hearing things, but now angry black veins were starting to appear. Fuck. This wouldn't be easy to hide.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She pulled down the sleeves of her cardigan to hide the evidence. "How was your summer?"

Hope changed the subject as best as she knew how. Magnolia loved talking about herself. And Hope liked that about her. Magnolia was the loud one and she was the quiet one. She could talk for days, and Hope would sit there happily and listen.

It distracted Magnolia from asking the questions that she couldn't answer. And Hope would never answer those questions if they were asked. She had confided in one person and would like to keep it that way.

They sat there for hours discussing everything, who they thought would hook up this year – Magnolia wanted to get with Theo Nott – who the new DADA professor would be and trying to predict what would go wrong this year.

Something always went wrong and mostly to do with a certain trio. Trouble always seems to find them no matter what.

-

Hope had been drifting off to sleep when she heard Malfoy speak.

"Well, who cares what he's interested in? What is he, when you come down to it? Just some stupid teacher." All he ever does is complain. "I mean, I might not even be at Hogwarts next year, what's it matter to me if some fat old has-been likes me or not?"

Hope shuffled slightly, feigning her nap. Why wouldn't Malfoy be at Hogwarts next year? She briefly opened her eyes to see who he was talking to. Parkinson, Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle.

"What do you mean, you might not be at Hogwarts next year?" Pansy questioned, her stroking of Malfoy's shoulder ceasing.

"Well, you never know." A ghost of a smirk appeared. "I might have – er – moved on to bigger and better things."

"Do you mean – him?"

Malfoy shrugged. "Mother wants me to complete my education, but personally, I don't see it as that important these days. I mean think about it...when the Dark Lord does take over, is he going to care how many O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s anyone's got? Of course, he isn't...It'll be all about the kind of service he received, the level of devotion he was shown."

Is he for real? He's signing himself up for death sentence. Now that it was out there that Voldemort was back, everyone was keeping to themselves. Hope had even been sat down as she returned home for the summer.

Her mum had stressed the importance of keeping her real identity a secret. They did not need him finding out who she was. Otherwise, she'd be hunted down until she joined his side. And no way in hell was she going to let that happen. This year – like every other year – she was going to stay under the radar.

"And you think you'll be able to do something for him?" Zabini said. "Sixteen years old and not even fully qualified yet?"

"I've just said haven't I? Maybe he doesn't care if I'm qualified. Maybe the job he wants me to do isn't something that you need to be qualified for." Malfoy explained. "I can see Hogwarts. We better get our robes on."

The group dispersed to get up and put their robes on. Hope nudged Magnolia's shoulder until she awoke from the nap she had also taken.