Toujours Pur

Never-ending Nightmare

Winter had finally come, or at least was coming. The lake started freezing over and the mountains surrounding the school had started collecting snow. Even the grounds started frosting over and yet the school decided to wait until it got cold to start the Quidditch season. 

Obviously it makes sense to start an outdoor sport when it is snowing and not sunny and warm. What idiots. Potter was playing today in the first game of the season: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. It was all people could talk about, Draco would go on and on about how Potter got special treatment to be able to play. First years were not allowed to bring their own brooms to school, let alone play Quidditch; however Potter got special treatment and was allowed. It was wholly unfair, but that is how Hogwarts is. 

That morning the entire Great Hall was animatedly chatting about the match, I tuned them out and went to the library the first chance I got. I decided to tackle my studies in a new way - I went through the first year textbooks and took notes on all the chapters. It took me a few weeks to get everything copied down, but it was worth it. I was still having trouble with Herbology, but that class is a waste of time anyway. 

Gryffindor won and Draco, again, would not stop talking about it, every other word out of his mouth is Potter. My solution was to avoid him, I ate at the Gryffindor table and stayed in the library most of the time. Unfortunately, Pansy and I still had to go on our walks, but I just tuned her out. How she manages to talk so much is beyond me.  

Besides the sweets sent every morning I had not heard from my parent much. My mother sent a short letter telling me about the annual Christmas ball we were hosting and how she had found me a dress. She mentioned that I need to keep talking with Pansy - Pansy mother had been around for tea and had told my mother all about our walks - and to "uphold the Family name". I would have to put up with Pansy's chattiness until we graduate, lovely.  

Now that it was December, Mother stopped sending sweets every morning. With the constant fall of snow it was too cold for the Owls to fly back and forth. Several Owls already had to be nursed back to health. I spent more time in the library than ever, any chance the other students had they were outside playing in the snow. Some of them even brought snowballs back into the castle. 

Draco, however, had found another thing to talk about regarding Potter. Potter, along with a few others, had singed up to stay at the castle over the holidays instead of going home. Which made me space myself even more from Draco, his obsession with Potter was becoming a nuisance. 

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It was the day before we left for the holidays and I was getting some more work done in the library. I had all the notes down for my books, however I was still trying to memorize everything. The incantations and wand movements for spells was easy. I was having a harder time with History of Magic and Herbology. 

I had just polished off a chocolate frog that Mother had sent last week when I noticed Potter and his loser friends pulling off several books and replacing them over and over. They were loudly whispering to each other and the Weasel kept slamming the books down on the table and loudly flipping through pages. I rolled my eyes and packed up my things, there is no way I will be getting anything done with those filthy imbeciles around. 

Reaching for my chocolate frog card I marched over to their table. Before Weasel had a chance to open his mouth, I slammed my hand down onto their table. "Not that you selfish bastards care, but people are trying to study. While you are in here, you should look up what the word 'quiet' means, might help in the future. Also you are a bunch of moronic dunces, Nicholas Flamel is on the back of a chocolate frog card." I pick up my hand and underneath was Albus Dumbledore's chocolate frog card. I left it there and walked away from the shocked trio. Honestly, how dim-witted can someone be? And she is supposed to be the brightest witch of our year - what a load of rubbish!

I wandered around the school and was on the sixth floor when I spotted two red-headed twins headed my way. I quickly looked around and ran behind a tapestry. I was not in the mood to deal with them or any pranks they might want to pull. I heard them pass and noticed that there was a door behind me. Shrugging my shoulders, I opened the door and walked up the spiral staircase. 

The stairs led to a corridor, I am guessing on the seventh floor, I walked towards the end. Right in the middle was a bench that was made into the wall, a window was behind the bench and a sliver of sunshine peeked out from the clouds and shone through. It was the perfect spot.

I could see that at the end of the corridor was another door. I am assuming that it leads to the actual seventh floor, this must be a hidden corridor. A real smile filled my face, I could come here and study interrupted and be able to escape all my problems. A spot that, hopefully, I only know about. I dropped my bag on the floor and sat on the bench. I turned sideways and leaned my back against the wall and threw my legs across the bench. Through the window, I had a spectacular view of the lake and the mountains beyond it. I stayed there until the sun had set and the moon was out. I took the time to go over my astronomy book, even though I did not have my telescope I could see a few stars. So peaceful...

I barely made it to the common room on time and collapsed into bed right away. 

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My hand glided over the banister as I descended the staircase, the red dress I was wearing trailed behind me. I reached the ballroom and found my family standing there. My father and brother were wearing matching dark green wizarding robes, while my mother had on a dark green, floor-length dress. They turned to me, "You do not belong here." Draco sneered. 

"How did I get such a worthless, blood-traitor daughter?" My Father glared down at me. I felt my heart drop and my eyes water. I forced them back, Malfoys do not show emotions. 

"You are a disappointment to me, a Gryffindor, you are not worthy of the Malfoy name." My mother sniffed.

"Blood-traitor."

"Good-for-nothing, useless, waste of space."

"You were never supposed to be born."

"We never wanted you."

"Burden."

My family circled me and were talking one after the other, I spun in circles trying to find an escape. The air started getting hot and I could not get out. 

"I wish you were dead."

"Disgrace."

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" My Father shouted. A green light shot towards me and my heart stopped...

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With a gasp I sat up in bed. Sweat dripped from my forehead, it was hard to breathe. Tearing the blankets off of me, I launched myself into the bathroom. I dry heaved over the toilet, since I skipped dinner nothing came up. I slowed down my breathing and was able to stop dry heaving. 

I took a shower then stumbled back to the dorm, I threw on my school uniform and quietly made sure that everything I needed was packed up before exiting the dorms. It must of been about Five in the morning. Nobody was awake and the halls were silent. I made my way the sixth floor and went behind the tapestry to get to my spot. The sun rose over the lake and I let out a sigh. 

I was terrified to go back to my house. My parents were being cordial when it came to the letter, however I knew that they would not be so forgiving in person. I just really hope they will not disown me. I just want my family back. I felt a tear escape and roll down my cheek, I angrily wiped it away. Malfoys do not show emotions. 

I leisurely made my way to the Great Hall where I had some toast and oatmeal. After breakfast, I walked with Draco and his cronies down to the carriages, they drove us to the train station in Hogsmeade. As soon as got into our compartment, I laid down on the bench and tried to get some more sleep. Hopefully this time I will not have any nightmares, I am already living one.