Little Miss Mudblood

Chapter 21: Deatheaters

  Hogwarts is dark and gloomy this year. Still better than no home. The Golden Trio are trying to figure out how to take down Voldemort, as word got around that he was making more Deatheaters.

  They are nasty, vile purebloods who hated anyone with Muggle lineage, especially those who are first generation witches and wizards; meaning, I am high on the list of hate. Most of the Slytherin's students' parents were rumored to be following Voldemort, so they were exceptionally infuriating lately.

  Draco is no exception. It was like last year never happened. I gag every time I see Pansy throwing herself all over him. The good thing is he just seems to tolerate it, he never really engages back with her. With the rise of Dark Magic, he struts around even more, like he is untouchable. On the rare occasion I do catch his eye, he either mutters Mudblood at me, or completely ignores me. The latter is worse.

  At least I know he can see me when he mutters at me. I honestly just want to talk to him. The uncertainty and confusion we both left each other with just keeps growing. I just need to get him away from the other Slytherins.

  I decide to send him an owl two months after school started, that says, "You know where. Ten P.M."

  I just hope he will understand.
  I hope he will come.

  ***

  I'm not sure what to wear, my normal clothes don't seem to do me justice. I decide on a simple pair of jeans, and a green knitted sweater that Mrs. Weasley made me last Christmas. I make sure to wear my apple ring, and bracelet. I tell the others I'll be back soon and just need to get some air. They seem hesitant, but they let me go with little questions. I take one last look, and head off.

***

I open the door not knowing what to expect. Two chairs in front of the fireplace, two hot cocoas, pumpkin pasties, and the bowl of green apples greet me. I can see his white hair above the back of the chair. He looks up at I take my seat.

"Artemis." "Draco." We say together.

I smile slightly, I think he does to before his face turns back to stone once more.

"I didn't think you would show," I begin, knowing it's I who have to open up first. He nods and waits for me to continue. "I'm glad you did. I just need answers. I can't keep up this façade that nothing happened between us. Especially after you never wrote me back during summer, and when you father visited..."

"What about my father?" He interrupts.

I stop, of course he didn't know. I knew it. "He wrote me, pretending to be you, to meet at a coffee shop. He told me I had no right to be friendly with a Pureblood." I trail off seeing his fists clench and jaw tighten.

"I never knew you wrote me," he starts off in barely a whisper. "My father never told me. I've been so busy with Volde..." he stops abruptly.

I stare shocked. I know his father is a Deatheater, but I can't imagine Draco being roped in too.

"Voldemort?" I question.

His jaw tightens even more as he nods. I must look distraught, because he moves to get up and leave.

"Draco! Stop running from me!" I stand up and face his way, upset that he is easily leaving me again. I fight back the tears trying to escape.

He stops just short of the door, turning back, and listening to me.

"I just want to be there for you, like you were for me last year. That's why I wanted to meet here, where we became friends, and where you kissed me." I stare down at my hands, tangling them around each other. "I know we didn't end things well, or at all, but I know now I was just afraid to give myself to someone else, I'm ready now. And I want you."

I feel the air move as he strides over and stands directly in front of me. He grasps my hands in his, putting them on his cheeks, forcing me to look into those icy, grey eyes. But as I look into them, I see they have some warmth around the edges.

My breath hitches as his mouth moves closer to mine.

"If they find out you will be killed," he says pulling away.

I know what I need to do. I pull his head close so our foreheads touch, "I want you to kiss me, Draco."