The Afflicted Pretty Boy ~ Book 3 of the Pretty Boy trilogy

Chapter 7

After Astronomy, I walk towards DADA and stand in the balcony, just outside, to smoke a cigarette.

As I do, I hear a familiar "Those things are bad for you, don't you know?" A smile covers my face as he steps up next to me.

I take in a deep drag, before looking to him "Shouldn't you be teaching a class, Severus?"

He cocks an eyebrow to me, yet his lips curl up in amusement "Shouldn't you be attending a class, Draco?"

I scoff, before taking a long drag "Last time we saw each other, you were trying to convince me not to come back to Hogwarts."

He nods, before looking me over "I still stand by that. You look a mess." I give him an amused smirk and he declares "Harry is here, so are Parkinson, Crabbe, and Goyle! You're not even close to understanding yourself, and you're a danger to yourself and others!"

I shrug, before insisting "I haven't killed anyone, quite yet. Give me just a little credit."

We're silent for a moment, until I take a long drag. He asks "How many of those to you have a day?"

I release the drag, before telling him "About a pack a day." He cocks an eyebrow to me and I remind "I've been raped by three people. Saw my mum and my mate die. And have had Voldemort breathing down my neck."

He furrows his brow and asks "You realize that I could make you draught of peace?"

I scoff, before telling him "I'll try it, if it'll untwist your panties. I can't promise that I'll work."

He scoff, before checking his watch "Come along. Don't make me give you a detention."

After I take a deep drag, I ask "Who am I sitting with?"

He takes the cigarette and flip it off the balcony "You'll be sitting with Luna Lovegood."

As he walks off, I furrow my brow "You just wasted 4p!"

He tosses a five pence coin over his shoulder and declares "Your lungs will thank me for the four minutes of your life I just saved!"

~

When I walk into the greenhouses, I put my bag in a cubby, before looking for Professor Sprout.

In greenhouse three, I find her messing with dragon funk compost "Professor?" I ask.

As she looks to me, she give a wide smile "Hello, Mister Malfoy! Are you ready to get to work?"

Her smile makes me smile "Yes, Professor." I chuckle, before telling him "You're the first professor to not look to me in pity."

She furrows her brow "Why would I?" She asks and I get a feeling she doesn't know, but then she tells me "As long as you take your potion, you'll be fine! It's a manageable affliction!"

I scoff, before she gives me a sideways hug "What will we be doing today?" I ask as she releases me.

She thinks for a moment "We need to harvest dittany, for Professor Slughorn, for starters. I'll do that while you report and fertilize the Venomous Tentacula with the dragon dung compost."

I give a short nod, before asking "Let me guess, you want me to do it, because the venom won't hurt me?"

She smirks at me and I nod, before stepping towards the storage room to retrieve bigger pots.

About an hour later, all twenty plants are repotted and fertilized, when she tells me "You can go change."

When I return from getting changed, a couple of students sit at the work bench. After I put on an apron, I find my seat next to Blaise and he hands over a few sandwiches.

While I eat them, he sniffs me "What's that smell?" He continues smelling me "Is that ginger?"

I nod, before explaining "The self-fertilzing shrubs fart a lot, and the ginger plants are in between the shrubs and the tentacula. The farts just wave the ginger smell over." I give a surprised look "Dragon dung compost, doesn't smell of anything. I was pleasantly surprised."

He scoffs, before declaring "So, I heard from Oliver." I give an interest gasp and he states "It wasn't pretty."

He hands over the note and I read it over. It reads: "Over the past few months, we've grown apart. We need to face the facts that a long distance relationship wouldn't work for us. You must understand that I love you, but we can't communicate everything in letters that take days to travel. Yes, I was upset, and we said things that we didn't mean, but that's not the reason I'm saying this. I do wish you the best, but it's simply not going to work anymore. Oli"

I hand it back and ask "Are you alright?" He scoffs and I give him a weak smile.

He takes a moment, before telling me "I'm still processing it..." he furrows his brow "Can we still drink tonight?"

I nod, before continuing on with my sandwiches.

~

It wasn't much of a shocker that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in Advanced Potions.

Because it was the first day of term, we had all of our classes. Normally, Charms is only on Tuesday. Astronomy is on Wednesday evening. DADA is only on Monday. Herbology is only on Tuesday. Potions is only on Monday. Transfiguration is only on Friday.

Astronomy shouldn't become a problem, because the moon cycle lands on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The next morning, the alarm goes off at five o'clock, sharp. My head rips in pain as I reach over to turn it off.

My jumper is drench in sweat and I groan in confusion, until the memories of last night flood my mind.

I look to the opposite side of my bed to find a very naked Blaise. I sigh, before sitting up, pulling on some pants, and trying to stand up.

As I do, soreness rakes through my body and I grab onto the bed post for support. In that instant, I know I won't be working out this morning.

I quickly write a little letter to Hooch that reads: "Sorry to cancel, but I've got a migraine. I'll spend extra time running, later, but I just couldn't, right now. Draco"

I crumble it in hand and it catches flame, before disappearing entirely.

When I move to my trunk, I quietly move the liquor bottles aside. I sigh as I pick up an open bottle of Jagermeister. Under my breath, I curse "Fucking Jager!"

After picking out a black suit, I step towards the lavatory.

I get a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and I've never loathed myself more. My jumper, which I was wearing while getting fucked by Blaise, doggie-style, is my red 'Potter 07' jumper.

What makes it even worse, Harry walked in on us, and we didn't even stop.

I look mad. My hair is a mess. My eyes look like I haven't slept in a month. My lips are cracked, because I'm dehydrated from drinking.

With a sigh, I step out to grab a bottle of Jameson and my pack of smokes. When I return, I lock the door, turn on the shower, get undressed, and step into the shower, smoking my cigarettes and drinking straight from the bottle.

I can still see his face, when he saw us. It was a mix of betrayal, shock, anger, and disgust.

As tears start to fall from my lashes, I rest my forehead to the stone shower wall. My body starts to tremble in self loathing.

The hot steam catches in my lung as I turn around and slide down the stone wall.

As sobs slip out of my lips, I ask myself "What am I doing? Why am I destined to lived a life of self hatred and cruelty?"

And then my eyes catch on something. On the floor of the shower, is my straight blade.

My lips hold my cigarette as I reach over to grab it. As I take it, I feel almost content.