dark side • draco malfoy

24 | Confession

"Let me get this straight; Ron ate a bunch of love potion chocolates last night?" Ginny asked Harry skeptically.

We were sitting in the Gryffindor common room on Sunday morning, casually doing homework and gossiping.

I struggled to pay attention to anything my two friends were saying though, because I was unable to stop thinking about Malfoy and what he had done; about the monster he had become.

Betrayal hurt like a bitch.

"Yes, of course Ginny. Why would I make this up?" Harry frowned at the ginger girl.

"It's just, who would send Ron a love potion? Besides Lavender of course." She grimaced at the mention of Ron's obnoxious ex-girlfriend.

"Well, er... it was actually meant for me." He coughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh. Right, yeah. That uh, that makes sense. You're a popular bloke - why wouldn't a girl try to sneak you a love potion? It's not like you're taken or anything." Ginny stuttered, furrowing her brows slightly.

Sensing her discomfort, I decided to speak up for the first time this morning.

"Let me guess, Romilda Vane?" I sighed and shot a small smirk at Harry.

"Yeah, how did you know? Real powerful one, according to Slughorn. I - I'm not interested in Romilda though." He answered, continuing to flip through the Prince's copy of the sixth year potions textbook.

"Oh, good. Uh... I mean, okay. She's real annoying anyways, probably best that you don't fancy her." Ginny nodded at her raven-haired crush with a smug look of relief on her face.

"Right, well I think I'm gonna take a walk outside. I could use some fresh air." I spoke up and slammed my Defence Against the Dark Arts book shut.

"I'll come too. I need a break from this Charms essay." Ginny decided, giving me a look that I wasn't able to decipher.

"Sure. See you later Harry." I mumbled, before running up to the girls' dormitory to put my books away and grab a jacket.

***********************************

The Hogwarts grounds never ceased to amaze me with its beauty. Even as the sky remained a dark mass of grey clouds and snow blanketed everything in sight, it still managed to take my breath away.

"So..." Ginny started, falling into step beside me as I made my way across the courtyard.

"I'm surprised you left Harry for me. Normally, you would jump at the chance to have some alone time with The Boy Who Lived." I raised my brows and glanced at her.

"He's not my biggest concern right now, Ivy. You are." She spoke, tucking a stray piece of red hair behind her ear, "What's going on? You came back to the common room on Friday night looking like you'd just seen a ghost, and you've barely spoken a word since. I watched you at dinner last night; you didn't even touch your food. What happened, Ivy?"

"It's nothing, Ginny... really."

"Oh please, I'm not stupid. I can tell when you're lying, and I can see how upset you are. What's bothering you? You know you can tell me anything." She continued.

"I... alright. But you have to promise not to tell anyone - not a single soul. Promise?" She nodded in response, and I took deep breath in before speaking.

"Friday night, I met up with Malfoy in the Room of Requirement. I asked him why he had been avoiding me. He... he said he felt guilty. He played a role in my parents' murder, and he told me that he tried to stop it - their death."

"But why was he there? Why was he with them?" Ginny asked quietly. We had reached the lake and now stood side by side, staring out across the murky surface.

"He's one of them, Ginny. He's a... a Death Eater. He works for You-Know-Who, as one of his filthy servants. He's even got the mark, I saw it." I croaked and felt a tear escape my eye and begin to roll down my cheek while I watched the water lap up against the rocks beside me.

"Oh my god. Are you sure?" She gasped at the information I had revealed. I could only manage to nod my head in response, before breaking down into the sobs I had held back for two days.

"I really liked him, Ginny. Probably more than I should have. We even kissed! And - and I thought that he liked me too. I trusted him and he betrayed me! He killed..." I struggled to get the words out between the wails getting caught in my throat and choking me in my own petty sorrow, "He killed my parents!"

"I can't believe it. I mean, I know Harry's had his suspicions for awhile, but it's actually true? Draco Malfoy works for Voldemort!" She shook her head, not seeming to believe the words coming out of her mouth.

"Shh, not so loud! If anyone hears you-"

"Merlin, Ivy! Why should it matter if anyone hears me or not? He works for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! He even has the bloody tattoo to prove it! Why shouldn't we run straight to Dumbledore?" She snapped at me.

"Because I, I-"

"Because what, Ivy? Do you hear yourself? He works for Him!"

"Because I still care about him." I whispered, before bursting into sobs again as my whole body shook.

Ginny stood frozen beside me for several moments, looking at me like I was a wild animal and unsure what to do. Finally, her hard expression softened and she took a few cautious steps toward me.

"Oh Ivy. I... I'm sorry. I know how much he meant - means, to you. Do you think that he had much of a choice?" She breathed, moving closer and rubbing soothing circles on my lower back.

"What do you mean?" I furrowed my brows in confusion and continued to stare at my worn-out brown boots.

"Well, you know the Malfoys. They're crazy; all those pureblood extremists are. If he's as kind and good as you say he is, surely he wouldn't just willingly sign up to be part of You-Know-Who's fan club. What if he was forced to?" She suggested, and I froze. That thought had never even occurred to me.

All this time, I had been assuming that Malfoy had willingly stuck out his arm for the Dark Mark. But what if he had really been telling the truth on Friday night?

"What do I do, Gin? He's a bloody Death Eater, but yet my heartbeat still speeds up whenever I picture his smile. I still care about him deeply." I bit my lip worriedly. Why in the name of Godric Gryffindor did I have to fall so hard for Draco Malfoy of all people?

"Well, if you really care about him that much, then I think you should give him a chance. Show him that love always wins, and that it doesn't have to all be darkness and death. Show him love and kindness, and forgiveness. Don't let something this special get away from you. Give him a chance, Ivy." She smiled at me.

"But he's a Death Eater, Gin. He's on the evil side. How can you say that? Just a minute ago you thought he was the scum of the Earth." I frowned at my ginger friend.

"Because even though Malfoy can be a foul git most of the time and the biggest, most pompous prat I've ever had the misfortune of meeting, I don't believe he's evil, Ivy. I promise I won't tell anyone what you told me today. Just think about it. Besides, your guys' kids would be gorgeous! How could you pass up that opportunity?" She joked, causing me to giggle and wipe away the last remaining tears on my face.

"You're amazing, Ginny - truly. I don't know what I did to deserve you." I grinned at her, before pulling her into a hug and glancing up at the castle. This was going to be a tough decision.