This Town ⇢ Draco Malfoy

TEN

T E N

*Trigger Warning for talk of weight issues brought on by abuse and thoughts of self harm. No self harm within the chapter.*

The footsteps continued to the boys bathroom, the door swinging open with a loud creak. Draco held his breath, doing his best not to pass out. His heart pounded in his chest, two pairs of of black shoes nearing the stall he was in.

"Your scores are failing, Draco." A deep voice stated, recognized immediately as Professor Snape. Draco sighed as the stall door opened, the professor standing over him. Blaise leaned against a pillar behind him, smirking slightly.

"You're not my mother and if you were, you'd be jumping with joy." Draco remarked, knowing the older Slytherin knew what he was referencing. Snape sighed, grabbing Draco by the bicep and pulling him up to his feet. Luckily it was his numb arm or it would have hurt.

"Quietly follow Mr Zabini and I down to the dungeons. I will explain more there." Snape told him, pushing Draco on to walk. Having just thrown up, he felt gross and sweaty already.

"Draco! Draco! Where are you going? Are you okay?" Zinnia asked, running from the windowsill she was sitting in. Draco swallowed a lump in his throat, keeping himself from crying. 

"I'm fine, Professor Snape just needs me for a bit, I'll see you later, right?" Draco asked, cursing himself for sounding like a scared little boy. Zinnia nodded, clearly not believing him, but knowing better than to question. 

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Draco sat in a chair at the Malfoy Manor, his father and mother staring at him. Narcissa couldn't help but feel guilty for what was happening to her son. He was losing weight rapidly, his strong stature fading. Now, he would receive his worst nightmare. 

With a howl in pain, the animated dark mark burned its way into his flesh. Lord Voldemort chuckled in pleasure, enjoying the young boys pain. "You know what you must do?"

"Yes my Lord." Draco gasped, willing his left arm to turn as numb as his right. His numb leg rattled uncontrollably, causing all the death eaters around him to glare.

"Then do not disappoint like your father. If you're anything like him and your mother.." Voldemort began, laughing as he trailed off. Draco nodded, understanding completely. "Leave me."

"Yes my Lord." Draco answered, pushing himself to his feet. His arm ached, his legs wobbled under his thin frame. He managed to get out of the room, stumbling to the port key back to Hogwarts. He needed Zinnia and he needed her now.

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Draco dragged his way through the halls, Professor Snape trailing behind. His body wanted to quit, his mind wanted to shut down. The dark mark was possessing him, making him want to claw it off. 

"I know you will tell your girlfriend about this, so there is no use in telling you to stay quiet. But, if she says anything, I will have to get rid of her." Professor Snape spoke under his breath, just loudly enough for Draco to hear. 

"Professor, what happens if I get a cut over it?" Draco asked, hoping the older man didn't understand his reference. He seemed not to.

"The mark would be under intense stress. You would feel nearly unbearable pain and it would hurt you exponentially, possibly to death. I recommend being very careful." Snape told him, stopping outside the Slytherin dorm entrance. "You know what you must do."

"Yes sir." Draco muttered, speaking the password to enter his dorm. Zinnia sat up, immediately locking eyes with him as he came in. 

"Draco.." She muttered, slowly getting up from her position on the couch. Draco took one step forward, collapsing to the ground. She ran forward, pulling his upper torso onto her laps. She held him in a sitting position, keeping her lips pressed to his forehead. 

"I.." He mumbled, suppressing the urge to cry so much it physically hurt. 

"Room of Requirement, let's go. I'll help." Zinnia commanded, helping him up to his feet. They left the Slytherin common room, both thinking of what they wanted in the Room. 

After what felt like ages, they finally made it to the makeshift door. Opening it, they both expected one thing. Draco expected a bed and something else, but he didn't want to admit it and he didn't truly wish for it. 

Inside the room, a bed was placed in the middle. Surrounding the bed were knives, itching for Draco to hold. 

"Draco, you tell me right now why there is knives here." Zinnia commanded harshly, angrily shoving him onto the bed. She had been planning to cuddle him and read while he slept, keeping him as safe as she could. 

"I.. I.. Zinnia.. I.." Draco stuttered, crossing his arms in shame. He wanted to dark mark gone, no matter what it took. Even if he died. 

"Okay, you know, you'll tell me later. But for now, come here." She softened, pulling him close on the bed. They laid down, his head resting between her shoulder and chin. His arms wrapped around her, one of his hands resting on her waist, the other on her back. 

"I was given the mark." Draco whispered, waiting for her to throw him away. He waited for the hit to come, the begging him to use the knives on himself as he deserved. He waited for the yelling, the pure hatred and anger, but it never came.

"I knew it would happen sometime. I don't care." Zinnia replied, causing Draco to break down in tears. He held Zinnia so close he mildly worried he would break her bones, but she held him the same way. Their tears mingled together as their lips pressed, both of them unsure how to show emotion to this. 

"Please, don't leave me." Draco begged through sobs and kisses, pulling her into long kiss before she could answer.

"I know the real you, so I won't. I won't leave you." Zinnia told him, kissing him again. Soon after that kiss, his lips faded and his eyes drifted closed. She continued to hold him close, unable to sleep herself. Nightmares ridiculed his sleep, but she continued to hold him. The knives suddenly made sense, this was darker than they ever could have thought.

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Sorry this seemed rushed, but I wanted to get it out. I'm fighting some writers block for this story at the moment, so apologies this isn't the best. Dedicated to KobayashiMarue . Thanks for reading!