the chase (draco malfoy)

chapter one

The chilled morning air travelling through my open window causes a shiver to run through my body. So much for sleeping in.

    I'm not too angry though. Really I'm not angry at all, not the slightest bit irritated that my slumber was cut short. I'm going home today.

    Well, technically I'm already home. If home, to you, is the place where you grew up. Where you took your first steps, uttered your first words, where you ate meals and went to sleep every night for eleven years. This place stopped being my home three years ago, to the day.

    My parents were furious when they heard the news that I was not sorted into slytherin. The entire line of pureblood witches and wizards that came before me in my family tree had been slytherin. My older brother, Alexander, was also a slytherin. My parents might have lost it if their golden boy had disappointed them.

    No, the role of family disappointment fell solely to me, the stupid hufflepuff.

    At first I was mortified. Absolutely devastated, at thirteen years old, when the battered and beaten hat had exclaimed the words. The shock must have been easily read on my face as I walked past my older brother sitting proudly at the slytherin table. He looked just as disappointed as I knew my parents would. But after the pleading to our headmaster, Dumbledore, that this must be a mistake and he had to switch my house proved to be useless, I found my way.

    I am never happier than I am at Hogwarts. I have wonderful friends, people I consider family. Hufflepuffs are known for their kindness, but I never knew to what extent until I saw it firsthand. The seventh years took me under their wing, treated me like their little sister. I made a new family to replace the one who had practically disowned me. I came to accept the fact that they would never love me the same way again, but my fellow hufflepuffs always would.

    So today, the first of September, I get to go home. To my real home. With my real family.

    I jump out of bed. My trunk has been packed for days now, the anticipation overwhelming. A smile spreads across my face, one of a solemn few this long summer. I intend for my fourth year at Hogwarts to be the best yet. My friends had written all summer, counting down the days until we could be reunited. Today is finally that day.

    Our house elf, Milly, enters the room. She is always so kind to me over the summers, and I always return the same kindness. My parents can be real assholes. I can't imagine what she endures while I'm away at school.

    "Good morning, Milly!" I chirp. She greets me with a small smile and hands me a plate of breakfast. I always have breakfast in my room to avoid the awkward small talk at the dining table.

    "Is Miss Annabelle excited to return to Hogwarts?" Milly asks. I nod excitedly and sit down on the floor, gesturing for her to sit with me. Milly has been with us since before I was born, and for a long time, she has been my only friend in my parents' house. I've offered countless times to set her free with a simple piece of clothing, but she refuses. The small voice inside my head reminds me that she only endures my parents because she won't leave me here alone.

    Milly and I chat for a while, and before I know it, it's time to leave. My eyes begin to water.

    "I'll miss you, Milly." I tell her. She nods with a knowing smile. She bounces up and uses her magic to lift my trunk up, and out the door. She exits the room with one last glance and a small wave.

    I tread quietly down the stairs of our large home. My family came from wealth, and they were more than happy to show it. The marble staircase makes no noise as I pad down the stairs. My mother stands in the grand entrance of our home, squishing my brother's face with tears in her eyes.

    "My boy," she cries, "off to his last year at Hogwarts." She starts to sob, and my father places a hand on her shoulder. The sight of their perfect family of three makes me want to vomit.

    Mother spots me and regains her composure. "Annabelle," she says, plainly, "I trust you're ready to leave?" She raises an annoyingly perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

    I nod and find my place at the bottom of the stairs. She slowly circles me, checking for imperfections in my appearance. Wouldn't want me tainting the family name even further by looking like a slob.

    My dark brown hair falls in natural curls down my back, pinned at the front to prevent any flyaways. My robes are perfectly pressed, not a single wrinkle, thanks to Milly. My mother gives a half-approving look and moves away.

    "Come along then, we'll be late for the train." She chirps, hooking arms with Alexander and whisking him out the door. My father and I have a moment alone to say our goodbyes. While my father would never say it in front of mum, he isn't quite as disappointed in me as my mother. He gives me a small squeeze on the shoulder.

    "Have a wonderful year, my beloved Annie." He says with a smile that reaches his eyes.

    We walk out the front door only to find my mother chatting with the neighbors. Another pureblood family, the other family that lives at the cul-de-sac of this prestigious neighborhood. Greatly respected in the wizarding world, rumored to be faithful followers of You-Know-Who, and they have a son in my year...

    Draco.