Dark Marks; Draco Malfoy (18+)

t h i r t e e n

Violet's perspective

I didn't see Draco for the rest of the Christmas holiday. I hadn't even stepped foot in Malfoy Manor since meeting the Dark Lord. My parents seemed to have enough intelligence not to bring me back there anymore, not that I would have if they asked. To be honest, I was still shaken but the whole thing. I refused to speak to my parents for the rest of the break. Anger and angst radiated from me whenever I was forced to eat a meal with them and they knew better than to make excuses for themselves. I haven't spoken a word to them since.

Why had they done this to me? The fact that they allowed me to be blindsided about the Dark Lord infuriated me. They couldn't even pretend that they didn't know, or at least had an inkling. I thought back to the letter my mother sent me before the holiday, telling me that I had to come home for something 'important.' She even told me to dress formally for my meeting with him. The thought made me feel sick, that she told me to get fancied up for him.

I practically had a meltdown in Draco's room after the meeting. The sobbing wouldn't stop and I couldn't keep myself calm. To date, it was probably the worst panic attack I've ever had. Draco held me the entire time. He was silent until I spoke to him until he knew I was ready. I hoped he understood that his presence was more than enough for me.

Thinking back to what he said to me, my heart shattered. He told me it was his fault and I couldn't fathom why he would think that. Perhaps because his father had threatened him because of me? But my involvement with the Dark Lord was surely his father's doing and not his. Perhaps it even had to do with my parents as well. It absolutely gutted me to think that he thought he had to accept any sort of blame. After I had calmed down, Draco held me for a while longer before sighing and leading back to my own room. He kissed me on the forehead and vanished without a word.

In fact, even without Lucius' involvement, I had always feared this would happen. That I would have to become involved in these evil initiatives. My parents seemed to make it an inevitable possibility, their loyalty to the Dark Lord was a threat to my safety and theirs. I had a feeling that things would not end well for the Chans if I did not follow along. My heart sank even further when I thought of my friends. Pansy, Blaise, Theo, Crabbe, Goyle and many more who were in a similar position. I knew that we would all eventually have to follow in our parents' footsteps or accept the consequences. I knew that most of us would choose the former.

The only person that got me through this holiday was Pansy. The morning after the meeting, my parents brought me home and I ran to my room without a single word to them. Alette greeted me with a hoot and tilted her head as she looked at me. She was a smart owl, she knew sadness when she saw it. I pulled out a piece of parchment and quill and scribbled a messy letter to Pansy.

I need to see you. Can I come over? Please, Pansy.

I didn't even sign it before giving to Alette and instructing her to bring it to Parkinson Manor. She returned about twenty minutes letter with a reply. I saw Pansy's elegant script written underneath my initial message.

Of course, Vi. Use the Floo to get to Parkinson Manor. My parents won't be here for the next two days, feel free to bring an overnight bag.

Pansy xx

I scribbled a note to my parents and left it on my desk for them to find.

Went to Pansy's. I'll return eventually.

I didn't care if they would be angry that I left without telling them. They deserved it. I packed a bag with two changes of clothes and ran to the nearest fireplace without being noticed by my parents. When I arrived at Parkinson Manor, Pansy was already waiting by the fireplace. She ran to me and pulled me into her arms the second I arrived.