The Feather In the Fangs | Draco Malfoy

5. SIXTH YEAR

September 1, 1996

/ | \

    The Ravenclaw table was buzzing with chatter and I was not indulging. My eyelids were still drooping and my nap on the train did no help. My friends did not seem to notice, though, as they continued discussing the year's password to the Ravenclaw Tower. Normally Rolf was one of the first to figure out the clue to the riddle and wasted no time in informing me of the answer.

     I glanced up in search of my brother and met his dark blue eyes, which nearly matched the curtains that had surrounded my four-poster-bed since First Year. He smiled at me and waved to which I returned gladly. Draco's promise echoed in my head and my smile faltered somewhat. I looked back down at my plate with my half-eaten food.

     Kaitlyn reached over and tapped my hand, "What do you think of all the talk?"

     I chuckled, "Which talk? You know there's always new talk when the year starts."

     Damariaus scoffed, "Not that kind of talk, talk about You-Know-Who of course."

     Marsha grabbed his hand and shook her head, whispering something to him. I sat up straighter in my chair and looked back to Kaitlyn who shrugged at me, "It's all he's been talking about today."

     "Very cheerful, Damariaus!" I exclaimed down the table.

     He glared up at me, "I'm serious, Fay."

     My heart was already pounding with these thoughts so I let out a nervous laugh, "I'm sure you are, Dar."

     "What do you think of it, then?" he asked, raising a brow, "His return?"

     I gulped because it was all I had been thinking about the past two days. My head swarmed with horrible visions and Draco's steely glare. I had no doubt in my heart that he would erase my memory, torture me, or kill me if anyone found out.

     "Haven't thought about it much, really," I said quietly, poking at my food.

     Damariaus nodded, "Good because it's rubbish if you ask me."

     Marsha leaned over, "You seem really tired, Fay."

     My younger friend was the most observant of us all so I wasn't surprised by her concern. I looked up at her and smiled as best as I could, not trying to hide my obvious tiredness. She smiled back at me and nodded, seeming to understand that I didn't want to talk about it. By now my head was in pain and I couldn't stand to think about anything anymore.

     My heart did lift at the sight of dessert appearing before my eyes. I scooped up some of the orange jell-o that made everyone else gag. Kaitlyn eyed me with disgust as I scooped up more than enough spoonfuls for myself, "You're mad."

     "No, I have a good sense in desserts. There's a difference, Diggory," I responded with my mouth full of the orange delight, sending her a wink. She shook her head and laughed, scooping up some ice cream.

     The laughter surrounding me made my head hurt less and I settled into my seat properly. Ever since we had arrived at the castle I had been throwing my head over my shoulder constantly. Come to think of it, my neck was a little sore after all.

"Be brave and strong in times like these, students of Hogwarts. Troubled times call for the courage of all."

     The words of the Sorting Hat echoed in my mind and had caused frowns on all the students' faces. The Sorting Hat always left us with wise words, but this seemed a bit daunting and surely scared the wits out of the newly-sorted First Years. It left the Great Hall in a moment of still silence as the Hat was carried away.