The Ultimate Sacrifice (Draco Malfoy One Shot)

The Ultimate Sacrifice

A/N: This is posted on Fanfiction.net under my other user name so there's that. ya might need a tissue box near by. 

Draco Malfoy was many things, Cunning, Ambitious, Snobby, and typically an asshole in the eyes of most of his peers. But what they did not know was behind that mask, and Snobbish up brining, was a boy who just wanted to make his dad proud. Draco had done everything he could to be in the top rank of students at Hogwarts but it was never enough for his dad. His dad wanted him to be number one, or else he was nothing- if you're not first, you're last, He'd always say. That stupid Hermione Granger had to be top of everything- except potions, making Draco nothing in his father's eyes. That was the main reason he had been so awful to the girl. It was easier to pretend that he was above everyone else when in fact, his father actually noticed them. Draco had always said, "wait until my father hears about this." but it was typically an empty threat, just the name Malfoy had carried the weight and he got what he had wanted.

He had never wanted the dark mark or to follow Voldermort, He only did it because his father said, "You must do it, and you must do whatever the Lord asks of you, do not bring disgrace to the name Malfoy- You have disgraced the name in Hogwarts already."

After taking the mark, Draco realized he'd made a grave mistake but there was nothing he could do. He turned to Snape, his godfather but Snape could do nothing for the boy. When the mudblood Granger had been tortured in the manor, Draco realized he was on the wrong side of the war, and his mistake was never going to be fixable. It was then that he began to inflict pain on himself, he deserved it in his eyes, he had hurt so many people and intended to hurt so many more because he was a death eater.

As the war progressed, Draco had stopped turning up to dinner with the rest of his house. He'd be seen at breakfast but that was it. The young man also spent long hours in the library studying, as well as many hours on the qudditch field, trying to be good enough. He pushed himself to the limit of what his body could take daily, and over time it showed. He was thinner than before, more tired and very pale. Snape, was worried in a sense, but did not know how to go about things, he did not want to push Draco away.

Hermione hadn't realized it but when Luna pointed it out, she realized how right Luna was. Draco Malfoy had not bothered her in nearly two years. He had barely even looked her way, and when he did, his look was very absent, almost as if he did not see her. Luna also pointed out how he didn't look the same as the last time they remembered him looking. He was taller, thinner, his hair fell to his face, not slicked up. He had matured it seemed, though something still seemed off.

"Harry, I know we have been busy with things, but Luna pointed it out, when was the last time Draco harassed us and made fun of me, or picked a fight with us?" Hermione had asked Harry and Ron while in the common Room.

"quite a long time, why?" Harry asked.

"I found it odd, a boy who harassed me on the daily, calling me names, doesn't anymore, and when he looks at me, he isn't looking at me, its as if he isn't even there."

"odd. perhaps its a new kind of mind game. Like get you to care before the mocks you publicly for showing him of all people kindness."

"Give him the benefit of the doubt Harry. Maybe he's going through something."

"Yeah like withdrawal from Daddy not giving him all he ever wanted because He is a failure of a wizard and a man. Its pathetic Hermione. How can you feel pity for him? not when he's treated you so horribly. It'd be quite the shame if he got in the way during a battle. The world would be so much better off with one less prat around, especially if he is a death eater." Ron cut in.