Repeat After Me

Chapter 7- Giving In

Hey all. I wasn't going to say this because it is very personal, but I think you all need to know. With a heavy heart, I want to let you know that my mom lost her battle with cancer and passed away on Monday, July 15th. We held her funeral on Thursday and ever since I have been feeling empty. Writing this story has helped me stay distracted but I want to apologize to each and every one of you if I don't post a chapter on time. It's touch and go at the moment, however I will do my best to stay up to date with this story. It helps to know that you all love this story so much and that I have something to look forward to at the end of the week. All I ask is that you stay patient with me as I go through this difficult time. I am posting chapter 7 early for my mom. She was a very creative person and always inspired her 7 children to reach for the impossible. Chapter 8 should still be posted on time but in case it's not, I am truly sorry. I do plan to continue Repeat after Me, until it is finished and I promise I will not abandon this story or slack on the writing. My beta and I are also working on another Time Travel story called The Paths We Take, a multi-era story. I was going to wait until much later to announce it, once I had more chapters done, but I wanted to let you all know that I am not giving up on writing; just taking my time. The story will have strong content and a warning for various concepts such as racism, classism, sexism, and language, but it is necessary for the time period. It will be a while before it is released and I will to do another announcement with the posting date in the coming weeks. So stay tuned and please raise your wands up for my mom. Love you all XOXO.

Chapter 7- Giving In

Friday October 29th, 1999 07:22am

Draco sniffed the air in confusion as he awoke in his bed and slowly opened his eyes to see his shirt smoking in front of him. Quickly sitting up straight, he frantically patted at his chest to put out the burning embers while falling out of bed in a panic. Crashing hard onto floor, he ripped off his white t-shirt as fast as he could and threw it off to the side as Theo began knocking at his door.

Scrambling to his feet, Draco threw open the entry way, startling his friend slightly.

"Uh, you okay, mate?" Theo asked confused as he looked down at the blackened mark on Draco's bare sternum. "Who hexed you?" he questioned curiously while raising a hand to touch the imprint that looked very similar to a tree fern tattoo running up his chest and wrapping slightly around the base of Draco's neck.

Draco swatted his friends' hand away and quickly rushed out of his room. He didn't even bother to put on a new shirt as he began pounding hard on Hermione's door.

"What's going on?" Theo inquired as the blonde continued to try and get Hermione to open up, but Draco just ignored him.

'Open the fucking door already!'

Hermione swiftly opened her door but the anger residing on her face quickly fell when Draco grabbed her wrist and began dragging her out of the room. Without saying a word, he grabbed Theo as well and began shoving both of them into his dorm.

"Oi Malfoy! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Ron yelled from the bottom of the stairs as he and Harry watched the Slytherin man-handle their best friend.

"Shut-it, Weasel!" Draco replied callously. "The adults need to have a little chat..."

Before Ron could get in another word, Draco stepped into the room and slammed his door closed.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Theo questioned as he looked to Draco with a mix of anger and worry.

"What happened to you?" Hermione asked intriguingly while taking a step forward to study Draco's chest. "Is...is this what I think it is? Is this from lightning?"