poison ✞ dramione

part twenty three

_
"it's one or the other, draco."

"draco—its fine, you don't have to do—"

"draco, just fucking do it. i don't care."

"you kill him, and we'll spare the other. do it. you don't want to be responsible for your best friends death, do you?"

"draco—don't do this. it's okay. i'll be fine. don't kill him, let him go."

"just fucking kill me, malfoy!"

"it's an unregistered wand—no one can trace it back to you—"

"fine then, since you're not going to kill him. bella?"

"avada kedavra!"

draco awoke with a start, panting heavily. he hadn't had a nightmare in a while now and—fuck, potter was standing at the door.

"draco?" potter called, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "are you okay?"

draco scowled at potter and conjured a glass of water. he took a gulp to soothe his parched throat then sat the glass on the nightstand. "fuck off, potter. i'm trying to sleep."

potter flicked the light on and it took draco a minute to adjust, and when he did potter was rolling his eyes. "so we're really going to act as if you weren't having a nightmare?"

draco played ignorant. "what the fuck do you mean, potter?"

potter sighed heavily and dropped onto draco's favourite armchair. "wow, you sure as hell like to keep those walls of yours up every second of every day, don't you?"

"surprised you don't," draco said, glaring harshly at potter. "and take the goddamn hint. you know where the fucking door is."

"believe it or not, draco, but i'm your friend," potter stated, pushing back his hair. "you can trust me—"

"fuck off!" draco snapped, very tempted to punch potters face. "just because you couldn't save the people you loved doesn't mean you can save me!"

potter stiffened. it was a low blow, sure, but why get defensive when offence works so much better? draco could have potter out of his room in the next ten seconds if he really tried but he was still a little shook over the nightmare.

"you couldn't save poor mummy and daddy," draco started, sneering, "couldn't save poor old uncle sirius, remus the werewolf, that weasley twin, mad-eye, chang and who else? doesn't matter, anyway. wherever you go death and pain follows and you can't do anything to change it. i'm a little fucked up, but aren't we all? if you couldn't save your own parents how can you possibly save me?"

draco smiled cruelly at potter, who had gotten considerably paler than usual. "you don't mean that," potter whispered, standing up.

draco's cruel smirk widened, making him look a little manic. "why, of course i do! i speak nothing but the truth and it bothers you, doesn't it? they're all dead because you can't stop being a fucking nuisance and you know it. if you hadn't had been so needy... or greedy, maybe they'd still be alive. their deaths are on no one but you."

draco's words had the desired effect and potter was storming out the room moments later, the door slamming shut behind him. draco should feel bad but he didn't—he can't help if potter went off pitying himself, not when draco had his very own demons to deal with.

draco downed his glass then lay back on the bed but he didn't sleep. he just thought back to that night—it was before sixth year and the death eaters were trying to recruit him. draco did turn down more than once but they wouldn't take no for an answer and soon enough they had taken matters into their own hands.