adored by him | *under editing*

sixth year × 74

"Quibbler? Quibbler?" Luna called in her dreamy voice as Nadia ducked into the trio's compartment.

"Don't you see, it was a ceremony. An initiation." Harry whispered to a nonchalant Hermione who had her head buried in an Ancient Runes book.

"What was?" Nadia asked, plopping down beside him.

"The thing we saw back in Diagon Alley. At Borgin and Burkes."

"Stop, Harry. I know where you're going with this." Hermione scolded, not looking up from her book.

Harry ignored her. "It's happened. He's one of them."

"Who's one of what?" Ron spoke up.

Hermione scoffed, placing her book down. "Harry is under the impression that Draco Malfoy is now a Death Eater."

Nadia's head snapped to Harry so fast that she swore she gained whiplash. Ron just chuckled. "You're barking. What would You-Know-Who want with a sod like Malfoy?"

Nadia glared at the red-head before crossing her arms over her chest. "He wouldn't."

"So what's he doing in Borgin and Burkes? Browsing for furniture?" Harry snapped. "You were there! You saw it!"

"You're delusional." Nadia hissed and stormed out of the compartment.

She mindlessly wandered the train until she reached the Slytherin section of the train. When she got there, she was immediately wrapped in a hug. "Nadia!"

"Pansy." Nadia smiled, melting into the hug.

"I feel like we haven't talked in ages." Pansy mumbled into her hair but Nadia could practically see her pout.

"I know. I'm sorry. A lot's happened." Pansy broke away with a sympathetic look.

"I'm really sorry about your mother, Nadia." The girls shared a breath before Pansy pulled her to a table.

Draco and Blaise were seated there but Draco seemed different. There was no cocky smirk but instead blank eyes that seemed to stare off into nowhere. Bags took sanctuary below his eyes, much like hers. And he was paler than usual. It worried Nadia.

Suddenly, black dust crowded the carriage, causing Draco to stand and push Nadia behind him protectively.

"What's going on?" He hissed as the dust started to dissipate.

"Draco, it's fine." Nadia whispered, placing a hand on his forearm. He calmed almost immediately. "It's probably someone's idea of a joke."

They slipped into the seat, hands interlaced beneath the table but the scowl never left his face.

"We'll be back at Hogwarts soon." Pansy said to try and relieve the tension.

Draco scoffed. "Hogwarts. What a pathetic excuse for a school. I think I'd pitch myself off the top of the Astronomy Tower if I thought I'd have to continue on for another two years." Nadia was shocked by his attitude.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Let's just say I don't think you'll be seeing me wasting my time in Charms class next year." He sneered. Blaise sniggered under his breath.

Draco's eyes snapped to him. "Amused, Blaise? We'll see just who's laughing at the end."

Blaise's laughter stopped immediately but he continued to smile as he looked out the window into the darkness of the setting sun.

But something caught both Draco and Nadia's attention. The bag moved as though someone had hit it and Nadia had a sneaking feeling that she knew who it was.