Malicious: Book Two (Draco Malfoy)

Chapter 2

Draco's POV

I had been here three days, and I was already exhausted. I had an extreme lack of sleep, and it felt like I'd already been in the Room of Requirement for hours, days, months, years.

This goddamn Vanishing Cabinet would be the death of me. And if it wasn't, and I didn't get it finished, Voldemort would be the one to deliver the final blow.

I sighed and got up. I decided that that would be it for that night.

I knew Evelyn had seen me going there on my first day back at Hogwarts. But I also knew that she was trustworthy enough not to tell anyone or ask me about it.

Being sixteen, nearing seventeen, I knew I was in love with that girl. She meant the world to me. Maybe it was for the best that we weren't together at that time because it was too dangerous, with me working for the Dark Lord at last and Death Eaters planning to arrive here as soon as I fixed the cabinet.

I sincerely wanted the best for her, and if it meant not being with her until I could finally be her boyfriend whole-heartedly, without the lies and secrets, I would do it.

Not that I was completely sure she'd take me back ever again, because what I said was cruel. It was malicious and out of order, no matter whether I was just trying to protect her or my own identity against Crabbe and Goyle, close followers of the Dark Lord. If they'd have found out, they definitely would've ratted me out, and I would have been dead. As would Evelyn have been.

To be honest, I was surprised that they hadn't sacrificed themselves to tell Voldemort that Evelyn was a squib. It was lucky that Snape thought to make us perform the Unbreakable Vow.

I didn't really care about blood status. As Evelyn said once, it was all a front and I just wanted my mother and father to get off my back. If I rebelled against them, they'd undoubtedly let the Dark Lord kill me.

Speaking of death, that new idiot Muse obviously had some sort of ulterior motive with Evelyn. He was hanging around her constantly, flirting with her, the casual touches coming out here and there. It was driving me insane to see another man's hands on my Eve.

And I was certain I'd end up in a fight with that guy later in the year.

No distractions, I remembered my mother saying. You don't wish to end up like your father, I know that.

She was right, I didn't. I knew my father had barely any good in him, but I did, and I knew that about myself. It was about the only thing I was sure about, other than loving Evelyn. That was something I'd be tied up with for the rest of my life.

And I sure as hell wanted it to be.