Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Sixty

Draco's POV

Former friend of Harry Potter turned dark!

I roll my eyes at the headline, sinking back into my desk chair. People love their drama. If they knew the first thing about Elizabeth, they'd know she's incapable of turning "dark."

The night of Albus Dumbledore's death came as quite a shock to the students of Hogwarts as well as the entire wizarding community. Young Draco's confirmation as a death eater, the reappearance of escaped followers of You-Know-Who, destruction of the beloved Hogwarts castle. However, when we previously imagined these dark minions, we most certainly did not imagine anyone who could ever be close to the famous trio, let alone a Gryffindor.

Elizabeth Medlor has made her mark in the papers since her very first encounters with the Chosen One. Her appearance as one of the three Hogwarts champions in our last Triwizard Tournament displayed this quiet girl as just that; while not denying her clear strength, it would be impossible to describe the young woman as anything but kindhearted, sweet, and just plain good. Her moves to help others in the tournament despite them setting her back certainly did not clue us into her darker past, her father a death eater only caught last year.

Reports showed that despite her unfortunate family connection, Elizabeth fought bravely alongside Harry and her fellow students the night of Voldemort's confirmed return at the ministry. It was after her secret was revealed that others began to notice her drift from the trio; perhaps this is when it all changed, her father's escape from prison leading to her initiation in the death eaters' ranks.

At the end of the year, Elizabeth was caught speaking to Draco Malfoy in a way suggesting something far different than a typical house-rivalry argument; whatever it was prompted the waiting death eaters to force her up with their youngest recruit, disappearing with her shortly after the fight. If she was not by their side at the news of her father's escape, she is now, rumors suggesting she is being held at the Malfoy Manor.

This young witch is the first Gryffindor to turn against the pride of her house to willingly engage with You-Know-Who's supporters. We've seen glimpses of the danger she can hold in her performance in the Triwizard Tournament, encountering dragons, mermaids, and competitive champions. In the end, this turn makes sense, her father's role and her own intelligence and talent providing a new weapon for the rising death eaters.

I stop reading there, unable to take any more of the bullshit. Yes, the death eaters want to exploit her abilities, but this journalist isn't suggesting her innocence like they should be. They say she's kind, yet dangerous. Dangerous. Elizabeth is strong, but she'd never use that to hurt anyone.

Willingly, at least.

"She's not going to listen, is she?"

I flinch at the voice, twisting around in my seat. Elizabeth's father.

I shake my head, watching his brow furrow. His eyes are so similar to hers; dark, so dark the color is almost undistinguishable from black, and the corners wrinkle in the same way hers does when she's upset. "No. I don't think so."

He sighs a little, eying the newspaper as he passes by. "Talk to her again. She seems to listen to you over me."

He leaves the room. I take a breath, looking back down to the rather serious picture they used of her. It doesn't matter what I say; she'll never fully join the death eaters. And as much as I hate to admit it, I can't blame her.

I just hope she lets me in soon. God knows it's the only somewhat peaceful time we'll have with each other before my father inevitably changes his mind.