Always. (A Draco Malfoy Story)

Focused and Reassured.

Today's the first day that Draco and I try to fix the Vanishing Cabinet. While everyone left for Hogsmeade, Draco and I stayed behind to find the Room of Requirement.

"Where is it?" I ask as we walk down a long corridor. "The Room of Requirement only shows up for those in need of it," Draco explains, "It's where we caught Potter and his friends last year with his pathetic little club." We turn a corner before we're in front of a large empty wall.
Draco stands in front of it and looks up at the wall. I twist my head between Draco and the empty wall before saying, "This is a wall, Draco." He assures me, "Just wait a few seconds."

Before my eyes, the wall changes around to display a door, decorated with locks, bells and whistles. Draco turns to me and raises his eyebrows, as his way of saying 'I told you so'. I roll the my eyes before entering the room.

It seems like the Room of Requirement was now being used as as a storage spaces. There's piles and clusters of ancient artifacts, trinkets and other useless objects just sprawled around the room.
I look around and see little walkways cleared out so that it's easy to navigate around the room, which is helpful. Looking down the piles, it looks like the Room doesn't end for yards away.

Many things catches my eyes. Jewels, old books, even old timey utensils seems to have caught my attention. Draco clears his throat, and I turn to find him. I walk down the room just a bit more to see Draco standing in front of a large object, currently being covered by a cloak covering. I pull down the covering and dust flies everywhere. Draco and I cough as the air clears to reveal the twin Vanishing Cabinet.

Draco inspects the cabinet, mentally comparing it to the one at Borgin and Burkes. "Blimey, this ones tattered up," Draco touches the paint that's chipping off the walls of the cabinet. I sigh, "Well, we have to fix it. We should get started." Draco nods and we begin our first task.

-

After spending hours trying to repair the cabinet, Draco and I went back to the dorms, exhausted. We honestly didn't even have the energy to go to dinner when we decided to stop for the day, because of how tired we were.
I quickly showered and crawled into bed and drifted off to sleep.

I'm in the Manor, in a room I don't remember being in before. Father is talking, and he's talking to... Voldemort? He mentioned something about Mother. Father just nods and walks out of the room.

I follow him out. He walks into the living room and begins to pace about. He apparates home. He's now in our living room. I can see his hands shaking, and his face looks... scared. I've never seen Father scared before.

He's walking up the stairs to... their bedroom? He stands in front of their door and takes a deep breath in and out before opening the door, to Mother sleeping in bed. She looks exhausted and sickly, much paler than when I seen her. Father caresses her cheek before...

My alarm clock goes off, 7:30. I groan and hit it to mute the alarm. I look over and see that Tori is already gone and probably on her way to class. I yawn and stretch my arms before forcing myself to get ready for class.

First class of the day was Advanced Potions with Professor Slughorn. Not gonna lie, he looks kinda crazy. I mean, not like Trelawney crazy, but on a milder scale.
He introduces us to the three potions we'll be learning to brew this year: Amortentia, Draught of Living Death, and Elixir to Induce Euphoria. I yawn while he lectures and Draco does the same shortly after. He smirks, "Sleep well?" I chuckle and reply, "I wish." I begin to doze off while Slughorn continues to yap on, but I perk up once he says, ".... Felix Felicis."
'Liquid luck- makes the person who consumes it, lucky for a short prior of time. Making every attempt they make successful.'

I'm suddenly charged with focus as Slughorn announces that we have a chance to win a vial of Liquid Luck... if we're able to brew Draught of Living Death perfectly. He quickly dismissed the class before we all run to our tables to get started.

-

An hour goes by before Harry successfully brews the potion, earning him the vial of Liquid Luck. I look over to Draco who seems quite irritated at Harry's success, but I still clap for Harry. Brewing that potion was a bitch to do. I'll give credit where credit is due.

After class, Draco decides to go back to the dorms to rest some more and asks me to come with. I told him I was actually thinking of visiting Snape before our next class, which he understood. He kissed my cheek before walking towards the dungeons.

I was almost to the DADA classroom when I hear someone call for me from behind, "Joy!" I turn and see Hermione running after me. I stand in the middle of the corridor to answer her, "Yes, Hermione?" She looks around us before pulling me to the side. "I wanted to see how you're doing." I politely smile, "Spectacular." She fiddles with her books before going on, "I actually wanted to talk to you about something else too." I chuckle, "Of course you do." I lean against the wall, "Well, on with it?"

Hermione explains, "Harry seems to have this mind boggling idea that Malfoy is a Death Eater." I stayed calm while the words escaped her mouth, but on the inside, I was full blown panicking. "...Slytherin has their share of good people, you included." "Mhm, your point?" I urge for her to hurry up so this conversation can end. "What I'm trying to say is... I really do think you're a good person, Joy. So, why isn't any of that rubbing off on Draco?" I start to laugh, which catches her by surprise.
"Look, you've known Draco longer than I have. I don't know why he's still an asshole, but he's not like that all the time, ok? Just tell Harry and Ron to back off of him for a bit. If there's anything 'suspicious' about him, I'll be sure to notify you." I grip her shoulder in fake reassurance.

I begin to walk away from her and yell out, "Don't go ruining my reputation now!"