Draco Malfoy and the Yule Ball Disaster

Hopeless Situation

Something is terribly wrong this year.

You're not sure how to describe it, but it's as if the very air is different, like it's heavy and thick, weighing on everyone. Your parents almost didn't want you returning to Hogwarts this year with the rumors, but you scoffed at them and came back anyway.

Now you kind of wish you hadn't.

You'd noticed your mother hasn't been speaking with Narcissa Malfoy, you've heard her whispering to your father that she doesn't dare get involved. You're not exactly sure what that means, they refuse to ever tell you anything, or just wave you off when you ask.

According to Harry, however, You-Know-Who is back, but he's also been claiming that for years. You've always been skeptical, someone just doesn't come back from the dead, but after the end of last year, with his godfather dying and everyone suddenly saying they saw the Dark Lord --- well, you're just uncertain now.

It's kind of frightening, actually. You're worried for your parents, you know that Voldemort actually targeted the pure blood families to recruit them into his Death Eaters, Lucius Malfoy being one of them; you're not sure how your parents managed to wiggle out of it, but you're glad they didn't get involved.

You wonder how Draco is fairing, what's going on at Malfoy manor. Is it really true that his family is part of the Death Eaters that are supporting the Dark Lord's return? Is that why he was so weird last year, joining that horrid toad-like woman, stating that he was trying to keep you safe, that you didn't know everything that was happening?

Maybe you didn't.

You feel almost foolish now, like someone has lifted a veil from in front of your eyes and you suddenly realize that you've been ignoring obvious signs. Now the papers are even talking about the random attacks on muggle born wizards, the gatherings, and it's very concerning.

Fred and George don't seem bothered, their joke shop is flourishing, just like Fred said it would. You saw him many times over the summer, you actually really like his shop, but it's not the same between either one of you now. You thought maybe it could be once you got out of school, but... it's not. He's basically independent, he and his brother, and he's loving it.

You just... wish things didn't have to end the way they did last year.

You're both writing letters to each other, more so now than before actually, especially over the summer. Your owl has been constantly going back and forth much to your mother's consternation, sometimes she needs to use the owl sometimes and you shouldn't be so greedy, apparently.

It's not like it matters, most of her friends are high society gossip queens, it's not like she has anything actually important to talk about. Your father has been gone a lot though, but you don't really think he's been at the Ministry like he claims; he's up to something, him and your mother both, but you're not sure what.

No one will talk to you.

It's so frustrating!

Even if they avoid telling you about it, you hear about it at school. The dark vibe is intense, and Dumbledore has been so absent this year, although he's still miraculously the headmaster despite that circus last semester. You're not sure how he managed that, but you noticed that he isn't looking like he feels that well, either.

Neither is Draco.

He's not acting his usual haughty self, he's very pale, and you've noticed the black rings beneath his eyes. He has his underlings following him around of course, and he still has his boastful appearance and looks down his nose at others, but it just... well, it seems like it's a facade, it's not genuine like before.