to be or not to be| sixth year | draco malfoy

broken heart

"how did i get here?"
-

I was on the train to Hogwarts, and as usual, I hadn't seen Abigail or Camille yet. That was nothing new; we always split up during the summer. I'd catch up with them once we were all back at school.

I was sitting in a booth with the Golden Trio—Harry beside me, with Ron and Hermione sitting across from us. We were talking about what we had seen at Borgin and Burkes.

"So what was Draco doing with that weird-looking cabinet and all those people?" Ron asked, sounding confused.

"Don't you see? It was a ceremony, an initiation." Harry's voice was serious, almost too serious, as if he had figured everything out.

I stared at him, bewildered. "You're mad. You think Draco Malfoy could be a Death Eater? I mean, yes, his father and his aunt might be, but honestly? It doesn't make any sense."

Harry sighed, clearly frustrated. "Violet, he's been surrounded by Death Eaters his whole life. His father is one. His aunt, Bellatrix, too. What's to stop him from following in their footsteps?"

I crossed my arms, defensive. "His mother, for one. Narcissa wouldn't let that happen. I know she wouldn't. I like her, Harry. She's not like them."

Harry looked at me, his brow furrowed. "It's happening, Violet. He's one of them."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "If you say so." I didn't believe it. Not yet. But the seeds of doubt were planted, and they bothered me more than I was willing to admit. I couldn't just accept that Draco, someone I had been around for years, could be part of that world. I had to be sure.

"Well, then what was he doing in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry pressed. "Just browsing for furniture?"

"Exactly." I muttered sarcastically, but I was already thinking about it. If Draco was involved with the Death Eaters, then I needed to know for sure. And I needed to see for myself.

Ron chimed in, "It's a creepy shop. He's a creepy bloke."

"Look," Harry continued, "his father is a Death Eater. It makes sense. Besides, Violet, you saw it with your own eyes."

My frustration spiked. "I saw a lot of things that don't make sense, Harry." I stood up, fuming a bit, more at myself than at him. "I'm going to go see if Cammy and Abby are on the train." I said, avoiding his gaze. It was a half-truth, but I needed a reason to leave, to figure out my next move.

I walked quickly down the aisle of the train, careful not to be seen. I passed a group of girls gossiping, then peeked into another train car. I slowed down when I saw Draco, standing there, putting his luggage away. He didn't look suspicious—at least, not at first.

I gripped my wand tightly, my fingers itching to cast a spell. I needed to know the truth. I couldn't sit around and let Harry's theory fester without proof. I pulled out my wand slowly, keeping my breathing steady.

"Blackedio." I whispered, the tip of my wand releasing a cloud of black mist that filled the car instantly. The screams that followed were immediate, as people panicked and scrambled away from the suffocating fog.

"Invisque." I whispered next, and immediately, my body became invisible. The world around me blurred, and I slipped unnoticed into the cramped luggage area above the train car. It was tight, but I was used to being discreet.

The mist began to dissipate, and I could hear Draco's footsteps below. I stayed silent, crouched up above him, trying not to make a sound. I peeked over the edge of the compartment, watching Draco stand up suddenly, his movements sharp and suspicious. His eyes darted around the car as if he could feel something was off, but he didn't know what.