Enchanted By The Thought

TWENTY ONE: HISS HISS SNAKES

I don't want someone like you. I want you.

Bright, green eyes stared at the ugly mark marring the pale skin. Draco yelled and ripped his arm away from her grasp, panic in his eyes. "What was that for?" He snapped, looking ready to bolt. Her other hand held his tightly, refusing to let him go. Her heart was pounding loudly; he was a death eater. Her brother had been right, Draco was on the wrong side. Although she waited for the revulsion and disgust to hit, nothing but acceptance came. She knew that even though he wasn't on her side, she didn't care. 

"Draco." Beth stated, feeling his hand slip from hers. She was prepared to run after him but instead, Draco paced back and forth, his hands in his hair. He obviously hadn't heard her. "Draco." She said, louder this time. His gaze snapped to hers and he looked torn. "Come here." She held her hands out and he shuffled closer, watching her warily. "I'm not going to run." Her soft voice and her gentle hands seemed to calm him a little.

"Why not? I would, if I were you. I'm a death eater, I'm apart of the group that's supposed to kill you and your brother. You should be screaming for the hills. You don't even know all of it, what I'm supposed to do. What's expected of me. What I've agreed to do." He muttered bitterly and her heart broke for him. She placed her hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her. His eyes looked tortured and she felt his sorrow. But she couldn't blame him.

"Draco Malfoy, I love you." She declared and she watched as the panic cleared from his eyes. "I love you and nothing will change that. That mark means nothing to me anymore than my brother's scar does." She searched his eyes for something, anything and she was not prepared for her feet to leave the ground.

Draco spun her around in a circle, his eyes shining. Then he kissed her full on the mouth and she could've taken off into the sky. "Elizabeth Potter, I love you." She heard him whisper and she grinned at him. Maybe she did know what love was.

~

Draco

The boy felt like he was soaring in the clouds. Beth's claim had made him intoxicated with emotion. Good and bad. He hadn't meant to fall in love with her; that hadn't been apart of his plan. But he had and now he knew there would be consequences. From his friends and family. It was constant stress placed on him and he knew that if she found out... all that love that she had for him would vanish out the door. Why was he still doing the stupid bet? She'd hate him if he found out. She would turn against him like her brother had and he would lose her forever.

For some reason, just the thought of Beth hating him, it made him sick. Draco knew, he knew, that something was wrong with him the moment he accepted that stupid bet that Blaise had issued.

He sat at the Slytherin table, eating the roasted beef on his plate. He was lost in thought, wondering how he would fix the vanishing cabinet. He already knew the plan but he couldn't figure out how to set it into action. He knew his parents were relying on him and he also knew how much faith Bellatrix had in him, even if she didn't show it. Even though his aunt was a bit deranged, he loved her. And he knew that she loved him, in her own twisted way. "Draco, are you even listening?" Blaise's annoying voice entered his thoughts and he looked up from mid-bite, seeing his friends all looking at him.

"Er, what?" He answered, taking a bite. Pansy let out a giggle and he wanted to smack her but refrained himself. If there was one good thing his mother had taught him, it was to never hit a female. Blaise rolled his eyes and jabbed his thumb  past Goyle's shoulder. He followed his friend's finger and saw Elizabeth Potter, The Girl Who Lived. He squinted, wondering if his friend was talking about someone else.

"Bet she's a virgin." Blaise told them and Goyle snorted, an ugly sound that made Draco want to bang his head against the table. "Bet I could get into her pants." He added and Draco almost spit out his mashed potatoes.

He looked up sharply and Blaise's smirk got on his nerves. "No way, she wouldn't even give you the time of day." He protested and Blaise glanced at him, annoyed. "She has better taste in men too. Remember she went out with that Drumstrang bloke back in fifth year?"

Blaise put an offended hand on his chest, leaning back. "The real challenge would be for you, Draco, sworn enemy of her brother." His sneer caused Pansy to giggle again and Draco gritted his teeth. Blaise leaned in closely, his eyes glinting with challenge. "You up for a bet?"

Draco licked his lips, feeling the tension in the air. He knew that everyone around them was listening due to how quiet his table had gone. "What sort of challenge?"

Blaise turned his head and Draco followed his gaze; Elizabeth was talking to her friends, oblivious to the Slytherin's staring at her. "Her. I bet you couldn't take her virginity."

Draco knew right away that it was wrong; his mother had warned him to not mess with girls. But the challenge in the air was taunting him; if he backed down, it would make him look cowardly. "How much?"

Blaise glanced around the table and people began to put their money in for the bet. Once it was all counted up, Draco knew there was no chance of him backing out. "One hundred galleons for if you get Beth's virginity."

"Deal."