ethereal - draco malfoy

too early

a/n: in this book, Draco gets his dark mark a year early since he's 16 in fifth year because of the age change i made.

I was sitting in my father's library reading a book, reminiscing about the past. I was sitting in his large chair he usually sat in and reading a book he got me one year for Christmas.

It had been weeks since my sweet sixteen, and I hadn't seen Malfoy since. I decided that the kiss was more than likely nothing and shrugged it off.

My mother rushes into the library frantically and looks around. Once her gaze falls on me, she rushes over and sits across from me. "Mum? Are you alright?" I queried.

She takes a few breaths before calming down and staring into my eyes. I slowly close my book and turn my attention fully to her. "What's going on?"

She nibbles on her bottom lip nervously before replying. "The Dark Lord moved up your marking ceremony. I told him you weren't ready yet, so he offered me a deal. You get your mark this summer and you won't have to attend any meetings with the Death Eaters. He will come here to speak with us separately." she explained.

I felt my breath hitch in my throat and cleared my voice. "You took it, right? Please say you took it, mum. You know how I feel about Death Eater meetings." I said nervously.

"I know, love. I accepted the deal, that's not the problem. The problem is, he'll be here tomorrow evening." she elaborated.

I felt my world instantly shatter. This was it. I would have to stop talking to everyone to focus on my tasks, and people would be suspicious. They would be suspicious because both of my parents were Death Eaters, and there are rumors about The Dark Lord being back.

I gulped and released a shaky breath. "Alright."

My mother stood up and walked over to me with opened arms. I stood up and walked into her warm embrace.

She then stood back and pulled her sleeve up, showing me her Dark Mark. "I'll be with you every step of the way." she whispered. I nodded and bit down on my lip.

-

The next night came up way too fast, and I was now standing in the large foyer alongside my mother, waiting for The Dark Lord.

A large black cloud appeared in front of us and I felt my stomach churn when it disintegrated into a body; Voldemort's body.

I clenched my fists tightly, so tight that I could feel my nails starting to break the skin of my palms. My throat felt like it was closing in on itself, making it hard to breathe.

"Katherine Morningstar. Long time no see." he said in a low tone.

My mother bowed slightly before standing back up straight. "Hello, my Lord." she replied.

His gaze then flickered to me, and a cruel smile appeared on his face, showing his rotten teeth. "And you must be Cynthia." he reprimanded.

I bowed exactly like my mother. "My Lord."

"Let's get on with it, I have another Manor to visit after this; another Death Eater to claim." he says, holding out his hand.

I gulped before walking over and standing directly in front of him. He grasped my left arm and pushed my sleeve up before taking his wand and pressing it against my forearm.

After a few seconds, a burning sensation sweeps throughout my entire body. Not the good burning sensation I felt when kissing Malfoy, no. This one felt like scorching fire replaced my veins and organs.

I bit down on my bottom lip to stop myself from screaming in pain. My knees buckled and I resisted the urge to collapse to the ground; he could not think I was weak.

The burning got worse and I suddenly couldn't feel my own body. I screamed in pain and clenched my eyes closed, but I stayed standing up, despite the urge to lay down and cry.

After what felt like an eternity, he withdrew his wand and hand from my arm. He immediately turned back into a puff of black smoke and as soon as he was gone, my mother rushed to my side and held onto me for dear life.

My body went limp and my mother helped me to the ground as she held my head in her lap. Tears started running down the sides of my eyes and into my hair.

"You did so good, love. I'm so proud of you." she softly cooed while brushing my hair back with her hands and crying.

We laid there in the floor together, crying.

'Morningstar, are you alright? My skin started burning up, what the hell are you doing?'

'I'm fine. Why are you nervous? What are you doing?'

'Nothing. Bye.'

-

My mother handed me a potion to help with the pain before I walked up to my bedroom. I grabbed a change of clothes to lay down in. When I took my shirt off, I looked down at the mark on my arm.

I shivered slightly and pulled the sweater on over my body before sitting in my bed. I was about to take the potion when I felt a slight burning sensation spread throughout my body. It was painful, but tolerable. I furrowed my brows in confusion before shaking it off and taking the potion.

I laid back in my bed and stared up at my bedroom ceiling before dozing off into a much needed rest.

-

I stayed in bed for a few days, spending all of my time sleeping. I rolled out of bed and took a quick glance of myself in the mirror. Safe to say, I look so much like a corpse, it would make my father's ashes jealous.

I trudged to the first level of the house and into the kitchen to see my mum with a distraught looking Cissy.

They both turned to look at me when I walked in, and I slowly walked over and sat across from them. My mother was rubbing Cissy's back while she cried.

"Is everything alright, Cissy?" I questioned with a concerned tone. Cissy gave me a tight lipped smile and nodded. "Yes, dear."

Her eyebrows then shot up. "How are you feeling? Anymore pain?" she asks, gesturing to my left forearm.

"I'm okay." I assured, earning a nod from her.

I then furrowed my brows slightly. "Where's Malfoy?" I queried. Her body grew stiff for a moment and she sniffled before replying. "He's at a friend's house." she said blankly.

'Are you at a friends house?'

"Oh." I said quietly.

'Yes.'

'What friend?'

'Blaise.'

'Alright."

I clenched my fists when I remembered that Blaise was in the States with Daphne, Theo and Astoria.