A Forbidden Love

Year 4 - Chapter 42: The Dark Mark

I love Quidditch!

It is one of my altime favorite things. It is probably the only thing I get extremely excited over, except Harry.

In my room at Goyle's, I have posters of the Wiltshire Werewolves, the first ever team I rooted for, and the Appleby Arrows, the team of my current village. Unfortunately, because it's not a wizarding town, the Wiltshire Werewolves are not that well known. That doesn't stop me for rooting my butt off for them. After all, I grew up going to their games.

A few weeks ago, Harry asked me if I wanted to join him to see the Quidditch World Cup Final. If it wasn't through a note, I would have looked at him like he was crazy. Do I want to go to a Quidditch match, with the person I love most of all? What kind of question is that? I sent back a letter almost immediately agreeing.

Today is that day. It is the day of the Quidditch Cup. I am so excited, I barely remember to breath. I inhale a small breakfast and run outside.

Yesterday, community portkeys were set up for anyone wanting to go to the game. A spell was cast turning every apple into a portkey until 6pm, the start of the game. It was cool to see the spell cast. I didn't know there was one that powerful.

Goyle has an apple tree in his backyard, which he shares with his neighbors, so he and I run out to the tree and grab an apple. When we place our hand on the apple, we are transported into a place between time and space. It's the coolest feeling ever. I've only traveled by portkey once before, but I swear it gets you more high than drugs do. Not that I've had drugs. It's just a comparison, you know.

Once arrived, we land on the ground, still trippy from our trip. Before I can get up, Hedwig lands on me.

"Hey, girl," I say, noticing the note in her beak. "Is that for me?"

She drops it on my chest in response. I open it. It's a note from Harry telling me that he's the only purple tent in a sea of green. Goyle and I start our search.

After about ten minutes, we find their tent. There's nobody outside, so we let ourselves in. My jaw drops walking in. Sure, I know magic exist, but the outside looks so small, and yet, they fit an entire house in here.

Harry hears us come in. "You made it," he says, adding a kiss.

"Of course I did. I wouldn't miss it!"

"I missed you."

"I missed you, too."

We hear an exaggerated cough from behind. We turn to look at Goyle.

"Please cut the sap. There are others in this tent."

"Of course," we say with a laugh, landing one last kiss. I hear Goyle groan.

"Okay, okay, we're done," Harry explains. "My room is over here on the left. Feel free to crash in there, Draco. Goyle, we saved you a room over on the right."

I walk down the hall to our room and almost barf at the sight. "Ew! What is this!"

"What is it babe? Is there a weird bug?"

He scoots up next to me. "No. This," I say, gesturing to the Irish team decorations.

"What do you mean? Are you not rooting for Ireland?"

"Are you kidding!" I look at him like he's crazy. "Ireland has been caught cheating in two of the four world cups they've made it to!" I say aggressively. Then, more timidly, I add, "Plus, my third cousin plays for Bulgaria."

"Really? Who's your third cousin?"

"Viktor Krum. He's the seeker."

"Woah, woah, woah," Ron says, barging in. "You're related to Krum? He's only one of the best seekers ever!"

"I know. Must be where I get it from."

"Yeah right." Harry laughs and I elbow him with a glare.

After a long day of waiting around the tent, it's time for the game. I'm decked out in my Bulgaria merch, walking in with a bunch of Ireland geeks. Up in our seats, Mr. Weasley got us box seats, I take a look around. We have a perfect view of everything. That includes the box in which I see my parents.

Crap! I forgot they come to these games. I try to avoid eye contact, but I think they notice me. I just turn away and talk to Harry.

The game starts and Ive heard nothing from my parents. This is a good sign. I'm not sure how much of the game I actually watched, but most of the game was spent watching and talking to Harry or sneaking nervous glances at my parents. I do tune in just in time to see Krum catch the snitch. I jump up extatically. The Bulgaria fans are giving me weird looks because we lost. I shoot a glare at them as if they can tell it means That's my third cousin who caught the snitch. Leave me alone.

On the way out, I'm feeling pretty good. Krum got the snitch and my parents left without a word. Or so I thought, until I feel a hand grab my arm.

"I thought you might be here," says my dad's raspy voice.

"What do you want!" I scream. He throws a hand over my mouth.

"Shut up! You'll give us away. Follow me." He doesn't give me a choice as he guides me away from the crowd, his hand still over my mouth.

When we arrive somewhere in the middle of the woods, he releases me. I look around and see a bunch of black cloaks moving toward me.

"What are we doing here?" I ask.

"This is the year the Dark One makes his return. I can feel it. We need to warn the public, and you're going to be the son I wish I had and do it."

"And how are we doing that?"

"By summoning the Dark Mark."

My knees buckle. "No! I won't!"

"I will cast the Imperius Curse. Don't test me."

I know he isn't kidding so I say, "Fine. How do I do it."

"Just trust your gut. You'll see you've always been one of us."

I close my eyes, knowing I have no other choice. At least I'm not harming anyone. I concentrate real hard on the picture of the Dark Mark I have seen so many times on my parents arms, and draw it in the sky. I finish it off with two swishes back and forth and a violent flick. I accompany the flick with a word that burns my eyelids. "Trahere!" I shout.

The wand shakes vigorously, shaking my entire arm. I hear my shoulder pop, and pain shoots up my entire arm. I feel myself getting dizzy so I run. The other Death Eaters try to grab me, but I force my way through. I run until my legs hurt worse than my shoulder. When I can't move anymore, I stop running. Within seconds, everything goes black.