Inferno | Draco Malfoy

070 | Down the Rabbit Hole

Memories are made at this train station every year. New first-years hug their families, some run eagerly onto the train and some don't want to plummet into the foreign experience. That's understandable due to the strong ambiguous mist of uncertainty that hangs in the air, despite that, the magic of Hogwarts is palpable and transcendent, keeping innocence alive.

As we arrive on the platform, my parents lean down and kiss my head. I give Camden an unordinary long hug, but judging from his smile, I know he knows how I feel. He won't be here anymore, not at Hogwarts, and I'm left alone once again like I was at Ilvermorny. Saying my farewells, I depart from my family and board the Express early.

Just a few compartments down is the prefect carriage, but that's not where I intend to be. Truthfully, if I said I'm not trying to look for him then I'd be a liar. His one distinctive feature that I always used to make fun of, captures my eyes, and the closer I walk, the more uneasy I feel. I calm myself and take a deep breath before placing my bag in the overhead compartment.

"Malfoy."

My voice is gentle, like the premature Autumn breeze, pulling him out of his deep thoughts. He only looks at me for a moment before getting up. I take this as a gesture to tell me to 'Get lost'. But then, he motions his head to the side, arm stretching out to the seat.

I wonder if he knows I prefer window seats, or perhaps he's just trying to welcome me by indirectly saying 'ladies first'. Nonetheless, I nod, muttering a quiet 'Thank you' as I take the seat. He sits down again, beside me.

Malfoy's never been the exuberant and gregarious sort of person, especially now. He's dead silent, not one insult, tease or taunt comes from his mouth. And I couldn't resist asking the question that clouded my mind like an unpleasant fog.

"May I see it?" My voice was nothing but a mere hush, yet, he turned to me with wide eyes, almost startled like he knew what I was asking for, and at that moment, it felt as if I had asked for a death wish. My eyes pointed to his arm for clarification and he furrowed his eyebrows as his fingers started to tremble, regaining memories from the past.

"No." His voice is harsh, and I don't have an issue with that. It's a sensitive topic. I can't imagine the pain he had to endure to be branded with this tattoo. They say it burns on the flesh like hell and the itching sensation that comes with it afterwards is unbearable.

It's no secret that Malfoy is now a Death Eater among our friends. When Tracey, Milly and I met up at Daphne's house this summer, we had all known that the lad was to become a Death Eater. Mainly due to the fact we're all trusted members of the pureblood society. I know that Daphne's parents absolutely despise Muggle-borns and all of the 'imperfections' in the world. Daphne had said that Blaise knew about it since he was one of the first people Malfoy consulted with. Pansy overheard about it from her parents — she was pretty much locked up over the summer, having to hear every dispute made in her house. She wrote letters to us, making silly jokes about how she sleeps to the calm sound of glass breaking (humour is her coping mechanism). And from what I was informed, Theo and Goyle were there for Malfoy's ceremony.

My thoughts continued, though it was short-lasted when a whistle blew. The noise outside grew as more parents could be heard sending their kids onto the Express, some fussing, some crying out of joy and cheering as if it were a celebration.

"Merlin's beard." Blaise comes walking into the empty carriage, our friends behind him. "It's like this carriage had been deserted. It's so quiet."

"Wow, you don't say." Tracey comments with sarcasm as he rolls his eyes.

Milly and Goyle hold hands, laughing about something with each other as they walk past and head to the other side of the carriage. Tracey follows them, snapping off a bit of chocolate from Crabbe's bar as he follows them too.