The Dragon in The Ice Fortress- Draco Malfoy

38

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the Slytherin dungeon. I leaned against the cool stone wall, trying to steady my racing heart. Tonight was one of those nights when the shadows felt alive, whispering secrets I was desperate to ignore. I had come to meet Draco, but the familiar thrill of our secret encounters was now tangled with an unsettling dread.

He emerged from the depths of the vanishing cabinet, a smirk playing on his lips. But there was something behind his eyes—an intensity that made my stomach churn. "You're late," he remarked, arms crossed, the playful tone undermined by a chill in his voice.

"I was thinking," I replied, trying to match his casual demeanor. "About everything."

"Thinking about what? The Golden Trio and their pathetic attempts to save the world?" His tone was dismissive, but I caught the flicker of curiosity beneath the surface.

"About us," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "About what you're becoming."

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

I took a breath, choosing my words carefully. "I can feel the darkness pulling at you, Draco. Every time we meet, it's like a part of you slips further away, and I don't recognize the person standing in front of me anymore."

He stepped closer, his expression shifting from annoyance to something more vulnerable. "I'm doing what I have to do. It's a lot of pressure."

"Pressure? Or a choice?" I countered, feeling a flicker of defiance ignite within me. "You're choosing this path. You don't have to."

Draco's gaze darkened, and for a moment, the façade cracked. "You think it's easy for me? That I want this?" His voice rose, echoing in the cavernous space. "I'm doing this for my family—for my future."

"And what about your future with me?" I pressed, my heart pounding. "You're pulling away, Draco. It's like you're afraid of something—of me."

He looked at me, and for a fleeting moment, I saw the boy I once knew—the boy who would laugh with me, who would share dreams of a life beyond Hogwarts. But that boy was slipping through my fingers like sand.

"I don't want you to get hurt," he said, his voice lowering. "This world isn't safe. You think playing nice with Potter and his friends will protect you? You're fooling yourself."

A swell of anger surged within me. "I'm not afraid of Voldemort, Draco! I'm afraid of losing you to this darkness! You're becoming someone else."

He stepped back, a defensive barrier forming between us. "Maybe you should think about where you stand. This isn't just about you anymore."

My heart ached at his words, the weight of my choices pressing down like a heavy cloak. "I've been thinking about it, and that's why I need to tell them—Harry, Ron, Hermione. They deserve to know about the vanishing cabinet. They deserve to know what you're involved in."

His eyes flared with anger, the coldness returning. "You can't! You have no idea what you're risking! They'll turn on you the moment they know. You'll be a target."

I felt the pull of his words, the dark seduction of his logic. "But you're a target too! You're playing a dangerous game, and I'm terrified that one day you won't come back from it."

Draco's expression shifted, and for a heartbeat, hope sparked in his eyes. "What if you joined me instead? What if you embraced this power? Together, we could be unstoppable."

I shook my head, a shiver racing down my spine. "You think I'd want that? To walk the same path that's taking you away from me? You don't see it, do you? You're losing yourself, and I'm terrified of what that means for us."