MARKED • ❨ draco malfoy. ❩

" prologue: their history "

yeet the cover is temporary, ignore my crappy work.

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"MALFOY," THE BLONDE BOY SAID, hand stuck out expectantly. "Draco Malfoy."

Taryn had seen him before, she was sure. Whether it was at a family party, or even just on the train that very day, the girl completely recognized the white-blonde hair, pale skin, and stormy gray-blue eyes. Anyway, his personality was not one anyone could forget easily.

Taryn had to make a decision right there; accept his offer and possibly make a good friend, or turn it down and make friends on her own.

She eyed his hand and then shook it. He looked pleased, but she quickly rolled her eyes. "Taryn Alexander. But believe me, this doesn't make us friends."

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Taryn, now in her second year, was wandering the halls of Hogwarts alone not too long after the Chamber of Secrets had supposedly opened. She wasn't the least bit nervous or anxious, as she was a pureblood and, according to rumors that passed threw her house - the Slytherin house - that the so-called 'monster' that escaped the Chamber was only attacking muggle-borns and the occasional half-blood, so Taryn was just about as safe as she could get.

But she could not deny that when a pair of arms reached out of an empty classroom and pulled her inside, she was slightly scared.

"You can't be wandering around this late," a voice whispered. "It's not safe."

"Malfoy?"

"Just, don't be wandering around," Draco said, and Taryn caught a glimpse of his platinum hair in the light of the classroom. "Can't have you dying on me, now can I?"

"Why would you care?" Taryn said, rolling her eyes. Draco Malfoy, showing a shred of care for anyone? She didn't believe the moment was even sort of real.

"Slytherin won't be able to deal with having one of our members petrified, alright? Come on, let's just get to the common room."

Taryn walked out of the room, feeling off about everything about Draco Malfoy.

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It was the beginning of Taryn Alexander's third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and she was wandering the Hogwarts Express cold and alone. She had left her friends back in their compartment to go change into her robes, and now, making her way back, she could not find their compartment. She had this creeping feeling of the drain of happiness creeping up on her, although she had no reason to be feeling down.

She felt the train come to a stop and saw frost rise up on the windows. Frost, in September? Something was off.

Right then, a hand reached out of the compartment that Taryn was walking past, snatching her inside.

Of course, it was Draco Malfoy.

Taryn laughed, but there wasn't really any humor in it. "You have a thing for snatching me into dark rooms, don't you?"

Draco shook his head, pure fear in his eyes. He pointed at the window, hand shaking.

Outside of the frost-covered door was a dark, shadowy figure that looked like it was slowly decaying with black fabric floating off. It had these old, withered hands that looked like they could've belonged to someone who had seen better days. And the face was this horrible face that was so withered and decayed that for a second Taryn had wondered if it belonged to a living thing or a floating corpse. Of course, that thought was wiped out of her mind when she realized that she knew exactly what it was: a dementor.

The dementor started to make its way around the door, and then the door slid open, bringing a freezing temperature into the room. The little amount of happiness that Taryn had felt like it was being sucked out of her, making her feel like that she would never be happy ever again.

Then, as soon as it had come, the dementor left, taking all of its horrible feelings with it.

"I-" Taryn started, but then sighed. "Let's just never mention this, ever, alright?"

"Obviously," Draco said, opening the door for Taryn, gesturing for her to walk out. "This never happened."

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"I wouldn't even try putting my name in there," Draco said with a smirk, sliding into the seat next to Taryn, who was staring at the Triwizard Cup, attempting to figure out how she could get her name in there without the line having any effect on her. "As much as I hate to admit it, Dumbledore is one of the smartest wizards to exist. Do you think he would really be as stupid as to let some random fourteen-year-old make it past him? It's almost ridiculous."

"B-" Taryn looked at him and rolled her eyes again. "Fine. Whatever. I guess you're right."

Draco smirked, but it was almost a smile. "I'm always right."

"You wish, loser."

"Oh, shut up."

The two sat there, watching the Weasley twins attempt to get their names into the Cup with an aging potion, only to get long, gray beards like Dumbledores. Draco laughed and nudged Taryn, "Looks like I'm right, once again."

"Shut up, Malfoy," Taryn said, getting up and grabbing her bag, the ghost of a smile on her face.

"Is that almost a smile I see? On Taryn Alexander's face? I must be dreaming," Draco laughed, watching as Taryn's smile grew slightly wider. "I'll see you again soon, I presume?"

"Awe, look at little Draco Malfoy, using words that rhyme!" Taryn mocked, pinching the pale boy's cheeks. Draco's face flushed. "Yeah, of course, I'll see you around, Malfoy."

"Never pinch my cheeks again!"

"We'll see about that."

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thanks for reading this! i'm really excited to write this tbh, be ready for loads of updates (hopefully). feel free to comment any (not too incredibly mean) feedback and have a nice day! <3