In The Eyes of Us [DRACO MALFOY]

V

MATURE CONTENT: Drgus, Abuse, Blood

December 1997

Annika.

The sound of snow.

The absence of sound, the eerie silence of the snow. Maybe that's why I've always been drawn to it.

Snow reminds me of him, its cold embrace a chilling reminder of the way—

You crushed him beneath the weight of your indifference.

My legs sink deeper into the unforgiving snow, and it's biting, like a thousand icy needles piercing my skin. I almost stumble, but I never wear anything but these stupid ballerina shoes.

It's pathetic, really, but I love the sound they make when I walk—the soft, delicate taps against the frozen ground. But now, each step is agony, as if every movement sends bolts of pain shooting up my legs.

I shouldn't have worn them.

But my stupid, drugged self thought it'd be smart. Though they're only three inches long, they're still pretty, and my toes feel numb within seconds. At least I'm wearing socks, but they offer little relief against the relentless cold. The straps dig into my skin, rubbing against raw blisters that have formed from hours of walking.

Just moments ago, my whole body was radiating heat, a side effect of the drugs coursing through my veins. But now, as their effects wear off, reality begins to seep back in. The throbbing ache in my feet intensifies with each passing second, but I press on, because I need to go back to the castle.

Bloody Dumbledore and his infernal rules.

I've never grasped why we're forbidden from apparating within the castle, mere miles from our destination. Yet, in the Forbidden Forest, where danger lurks in every shadow—a menagerie of wolves, acromantula, and serpents—it suddenly clicks. We're barred because it's forbidden, because the risk outweighs the reward.

And anyways I don't have my wand.

But have I lost my wits? Have I become daft?

Perhaps.

Taking a moment to rest, I sink down onto the cold ground, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in my bones. My mind drifts to the familiar routine of self-restraint, binding myself with spells and swallowing the pills that offer solace from everything.

I wish I could stop.

The light of the castle looms tantalizingly close, offering respite for my weary feet. There, the safety of stone walls and familiar faces, I can never find a moment of peace. But as my feet carry me closer, a nagging question lingers in the recesses of my mind—was I drawn to this path by some subconscious desperate for attention?