Beautiful Chaos

Chapter One: Forlorn/Forced

Hermione

Outside the train, all I could see were parents waving goodbyes to their children and hugging them close one last time before sending them off for another school year. The train left in thirteen minutes on the dot, and I have periodically checked my wristwatch multiple times in the past five minutes I have sat in this empty compartment. Many of the people outside appeared happy and eager for the upcoming school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but I was a bit forlorn as I laid my head against the windowpane. 

I was returning alone.

Harry and Ron, 2/3 of our trio, had chosen not to return to finish school and instead were training to be Aurors. I too was offered the same deal, but I had never wanted to be an Auror, unlike them. They had always dreamed about becoming Aurors, while my preferred path was either working in the Ministry or becoming a professor after graduation. While lonely and a bit sad, I was very proud and supportive of my two best friends, but a selfish part of myself wished they were here in this lonely compartment with me. I checked my watch again and saw that only three minutes had passed. Sighing, I ran my fingers gently across the inscription on the back and closed my eyes. 

Forever & Always~ R

Maybe I could try to fall asleep. A few seconds later, I opened my eyes again because all I could do was think, as always. A voice in the back of my mind told me to seek out Ginny and Luna's compartment but I hadn't talked to the fiery redhead since Ron happened.

It was as simple as that. Ron had just happened. One day, we were fine and looking forward to dating maturely and becoming respectful adults, and then over lunch, he nonchalantly dropped the bomb that ended our relationship.  He had cheated and owned up to it, and as the mature adult I tried so desperately to be, I brushed it off to finish my meal. Then, that night, I curled into a ball in my bed and sobbed. I hadn't seen any of the Weasleys since that day, for avoidance was the easiest way to cope. 

I had gotten multiple owls from Molly, and two or three from Ginny inviting me to the Burrow and asking where I was and if everything was okay, but I always replied that I was just busy. I knew deep down Ron loved me in his own way, but seeing his family would've just been too painful. Thankfully I hadn't run into any red-headed smiling faces before I boarded, but I knew it wasn't possible to avoid them forever. 

Looking around my compartment with the same teal seats and overhead storage as the past seven years, there was no physical difference. The difference was something felt. I turned from the window quickly and pressed my back to it, pulling my legs to my chest in hopes of comfort. This was the same compartment I had met Harry and Ron in the first year, and the same one we had met Lupin in during our third year. So many memories played through my head as I thought back on jokes I hadn't understood then and petty arguments that only children make. 

I huge pain fell upon my chest.

One thing I was looking forward to was my duties as Head Girl, a position I have yearned for since First Year. I loved the idea of having my own bedroom without having to share one with Ginny, Parvati, and Romilda, although I'd miss the closeness. I had also heard a rumor that there was a secret passageway that leads from the Heads' common room to the Prefects' bathroom a floor below, which I also looked forward to. Hopefully, this year wouldn't be all horrible. 

Sighing and trying to smile, I attempted to focus on hope and the good.

Draco

Another year at the bloody school was not going to happen, and I was damn sure of it. I slammed my hands on my desk and bowed my head in frustration at my impending predicament. Although I am a legal adult wizard with the funds and means to survive without a completed education, being the son and heir of two convicted criminals with a list of war crimes as long as my body, the Ministry wasn't exactly lenient. 

With a sudden burst of anger, I swiped my left arm across my desk causing a few trinkets to fly across the room and clatter to the floor a few feet away from me. I even heard a shatter and momentarily grimaced before my anger contorted my face once again. Closing my eyes, I enjoyed the dark solace my room provided. 

My bedroom walls were dark gray with white molding around the perimeter with a whole wall solely dedicated to a floor to ceiling bookshelf. The furniture was all dark ebony with white marble countertops and silver and pewter hardware. Two tall windows with the dark blue drapes pulled tightly shut were on the wall opposite of the door and my desk was centered between them. My room was indeed spacious, but all I could focus on was the increasing sense of the walls collapsing in on me. 

I was too involved in my anger and resentment to acknowledge the small pop that resounded through my room with a small echo. I didn't even turn toward the small elf until the thing feebly cleared its throat and spoke in a hoarse croak. 

"Mistress requests Master's presence in the foyer, Master."

"Sleaks, tell my mother that I would rather not at this time," I grumbled gruffly without even lifting my head to see the elf. I knew exactly what my mother wanted, and I refused to give it to her. 

"Mistress says it is urgent. Mistress says it is of utmost importance that Master see Mistress in the foyer at once." At that, I abruptly turned toward the blasted elf, startling it. The elf quickly backed into one of the nicknacks and realized the mess immediately. Sleaks's hand barely grabbed a piece of the shattered figurine before I spoke in the calmest and most commanding voice I could muster. 

"Fine," I threw my hands into the air and walked to the door, "go tell my mother I am coming. Then immediately return and clean up this mess." I gestured to the mess on the floor without looking back and ventured into the dark corridor that housed paintings of each of my past ancestors, all looking glumly at me as I passed, before resuming their whispering conversations about me and my disgrace as a Malfoy, yadda yadda yadda. The portraits bothered me no more than the Daily Prophet's depiction of me and my parents as we fell from grace and my father's going to Azkaban. 

Rounding the corner, I dashed past the open doors of the drawing-room to avoid the unpleasant memories. Slowing back to a smooth walk, I finally came to the main grand staircase that led down to the main foyer and banquet hall. There, standing at the base of the stairs stood my mother. Her blond hair was pulled into a tight French twist and her tall slim frame was even thinner than usual, her nice pantsuit and robe hanging loosely in areas they were once snug. Her gaze, once it fell on me, was still as hard and expectant as it has always been. 

"Draco," she started once I was halfway to her, "the Hogwarts Express leaves in ten minutes. We better apparate there, it will be faster than the floo." As quickly as she spoke, she had climbed a few steps to meet me. She went to loop her arm through mine and I scoffed before yanking it away. She only glared at me and tried again, with the same outcome.

"Mother, I'm not going."

"But you must!" She gasped as if I had jabbed her with a scalding iron. "The Ministry insists, Draco, and we need to appease them as best we can. Also, Headmistress McGonagall has already approved your return and is expecting you with the other students." Suddenly her demeanor changed drastically as her mouth formed a small tight smile and her hand reached to cup my face, "And I know you are not looking forward to returning, but I do hope you can make the most of our situation, dear."

Pulling her hand away, my mother's routine coldness and indifference returned and I loudly sighed only to be melodramatic. I knew I had no say in the matter. As I looped my arm through hers, I heard her speak once more before we apparated. 

"I knew you would see sense. That is why I had Sneaks and Ditz pack your luggage for you and send it to the train beforehand."

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Hello everyone! Please vote and comment so I know how to improve. I've really wanted to write a Dramione fanfiction for sooooo long and I'm finally doing it. Please be patient with me as I work hard on writing my first murder mystery as well as my first Harry Potter fanfiction. I'll try to post a new chapter every 2-3 days. Love you guys! After all this time?

                                                                                                                                              Always.