m a r k

Draco POV_____________

"I have nothing to say to you, father. Just do it." I said and stretched out my left arm in front of Lucius.

The room was in complete darkness, the windows were fully covered with green satin curtains. Mother was standing in the corner of our living room, looking down at the ground. She didn't want to see it. She didn't want to see her only son ruining his life by becoming a Death eater. But does the son have a choice?

I don't. I am a boy who has no choice.

"Just do it!" I shouted at my father, who was standing in front of me with a frozen face. He didn't want to do it either.

"I'm sorry...." he mumbled and grabbed my bare forearm. He pointed his wand at my arm and said something I couldn't understand. Suddenly, I've started feeling a burning sensation in the skin of my arm, quickly spreading to my whole body. I let out a painful grunt.

The mark started to appear slowly, it was a colossal skull, composed of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. When it got completely black, the pain suddenly stopped.

I couldn't fight the urge to touch it, so I did. It instantly burned my fingers, I let out some cuss words.

"Easy, Draco. It takes time to heal completely." Said father.

I looked at my mom, who was still standing in the corner, sobbing and her eyes were full of tears.

"Mother?"

She finally looked at me and moved closer, but didn't look at my arm.

"Draco, I-"

"You don't have to say anything. You both let me down. I might be a fucking Death eater now like you, but I'll never forget what you did to me. Never."

"Draco, wait!"

"What!? Do I already have a task? You want me to kill somebody? A mudblood?"

My voice was monotonous, without any sign of anger. I didn't want to please my father like that. No.

"No one can see it, Draco..."

"Oh, don't worry, it's not like I'm gonna show it to everyone now! 'Look, I have a fucking Death Mark'"

"He's gonna get through it, Lucius. Just let him be now..." said mom and tapped Lucius on his shoulder.

"You don't have a task for now. You might go."

Without any hesitation, I stormed through the front door of the Malfoy manor to get some fresh air. It was hard to breathe in the house.

I've always loved the outside of our house. My parents bought the entire forest and lake near the manor, I used to spend my summer days there. When it was hot outside, I came to the forest to cool down a bit. It's my comfort place.

I'd like to take Chloé there once.

Chloé POV____________

The Christmas was over. Hogwarts started to fill with students coming from their holidays, the halls were full again. I missed the empty school, it looked much more alive with no people.

I feel like I haven't seen Draco in ages. He doesn't come to my room at anymore. I'm not sad, though. I knew it would eventually happen, I knew he's getting over me. It's too risky, anyways.

I've spent my last free days with mostly with my head in books. From time to time, I met Cedric in the halls and we chatted a bit. But anytime I want to talk to him privately, he's surrounded by girls. It's annoying.

On the very last day, someone knocked at my door. First, I thought it's Draco, so I quickly got up to open.

"Hiiiii!"

"Freddie!" I screamed and jumped into his arms. This is it, this is what I needed.

"I missed you so much!" He said while hugging me tightly around my hips.

"Me too!"

Then we let go and I invited him inside. He sat in my bed and sighed.

"You never came..."

"I know, I just had so much work to do. And I still do! Look-" I pointed at my desk full of books and papers.

"It's okay, but next time you should really come. My mom would be pleased to see you."

"Okay, I promise I'll come next holidays." I smiled.

"So? What have you been up to?"

"Oh...nothing much, really...just studying and...stuff." I mumbled and laid on my bed.

"Bo-ring. Did you get any presents?"

"Yeah, my mom sent me some..."

"And? That's it? Draco didn't get you anything?"

As he mentioned Draco, tiny goosebumps appeared on my skin. I've never realized that we didn't get each other presents.

"Um...we broke up." I lied.

"I got you a little present...and my mom sendt you this-"

He reached to his backpack and pulled out a something that looked like a sweater. When he spread it, it revealed a big green C in the middle.

"That's so cute! I love it! Tell your mom I say thanks."

"And from me-"

He gave me a tiny glass box. I wondered what could be inside.

"Open it."

I did so and almost freaked out. It was a bracelet made from tiny amethyst crystals.

"Fred, you didn't have to..."

"Just shut up and take it." He giggled.

"But I didn't get you anything, now I feel so bad-"

"No don't! I hate getting presents, really. It's good you didn't. Trust me." He winked.

I put the bracelet on my arm and placed a little kiss on his cheek. He instantly blushed and looked away.

"How about we go to Hogsmeade? Butterbeer at the Three broomsticks, huh?"

"How can I say no to such an offer?" I laughed and stood up from the bed. Fred didn't react on the fact that I broke up with Draco, I wonder why. But I'm glad he never mentioned him again.

I wrapped myself in a warm cozy long jacket and fluffy scarf and was ready to go. We left the castle and went straight to Hogsmeade. This little town was crowded with people rushing from one shop to another.

"Big sales." Explained Fred while we were walking.

"Fred! Chloé!" Someone shouted at us from behind, we both turned to see who it was.

It's Luna and George, holding hands and smiling at us.

"Hi!" I shouted and ran over to Luna and hugged her. I wanted to hug George, too, but instantly stopped myself and I'm glad I did. It would be weird.

"Where are you headed?" Asked George.

"Three broomsticks."

"Oh, I've heard it's crowded there, so good luck finding a seat. We're going to...um..."

"To the shrieking shack..." finished Luna and giggled.

"Oh, umm...have fun then!" Said Fred and exchanged questioning faces with George.

We said goodbye and continued waking to the bar.

"Did they just-" I asked Fred but he interrupted me.

"Said they're about to fuck? Yes." He giggled.

They were right. The Three broomsticks were crowded with people, mostly Hogwarts students. Fred went to find a place and I came over to the bar to order our drinks.

As I was waiting by the bar, someone tapped me on my shoulder.

"What are you doing here?"

It's Draco. He stood next to me by the bar and put his hands on the counter.

"I could ask you the same." I replied. Our eyes met for a second, but I forced myself to look away. I don't wanna do this right now.

"Two Butterbeers, please." I ordered, the waitress nodded and started making our drinks.

"I asked you something." Mumbled Draco, still looking at me. It made me nervous.

"So don't ask me."

"Why are you like this? What have I done to you?"

"Please, Draco, let's just not do this right now..."

"6.99 please." Said the waitress.

I reached to the handbag for my wallet, but couldn't find it. It must be in my another handbag.

"Fuck..." I cussed, looking for Fred, but I couldn't see him anywhere.

Draco scoffed and gave the money to the waitress. She counted it and left with a nod.

"You didn't hav-... thank you..." i mumbled. It was embarrassing.

I poured a few drops of rum from my flask onto the beers and then took them to my hands. I could have done it at the table, but I didn't want to. I wanted him to see if he still cares.

"You shouldn't drink that much, Chloé."

I still get goosebumps when he says my name.

"And you should've been with me the whole time. Remember how you said, in the room of requirement, that we will meet anyways? Guess what. We didn't. You don't want me anymore, just confess it."

He didn't know what to say for a while.

"I want you!-"

"I found free seats! Oh-" said Fred when he came over. Fuck, fuck, fuck! I hope he didn't hear Draco.

"I'm coming...bye, Draco."

"If I knew the beer was for him, I wouldn't..." mumbled Draco and left.

"Come." I said to Fred and he walked me to the free table.

I sat and put the beers on the table.

"What was that about?" Asked Fred.

"Don't even ask...he's driving me nuts."

I quickly forgot about my encounter with Draco. Fred and I were having a lot of fun together, we catched up a bit, he told me about his Christmas at his house. It sounded very nice from his talking, I'd definitely came over if I knew that.

As we were sipping from our beers, I told him about my holidays, without the Draco and drinking part, of course.

After an hour, we finished our drinks and Fred went to get another. I was left sitting alone. I thought Draco already left the bar, but I saw him sitting next to Pansy and...no Blaise? You have to be kidding me! They're on a fucking date!

I couldn't believe my eyes. The sudden anger that took power of my body was hard to control, I had to break something. How dare he take her on a date?! When I'm around?'

Our eyes met. His face was unreadable, I quickly looked away around the bar and my eyes spotted a tall handsome man. I focused my sight on him and quickly recognized him - it's Cedric. He's sitting by the bar with some girls from the fifth grade. He seemed to be having fun with them.

He was sitting with his body facing mine, and because the bar was half empty, we looked at each other. He smiled and waved his and at me, I did the same.

Then I glanced at Draco. He was staring at Cedric with such hate in his eyes, it was funny. I got Draco jealous. Getting him all jealous is the easiest thing to do.

Where's Fred with the fucking beer? I need to drink, this is too much for me. Draco, Cedric and Fred all at once? What did I do to deserve this punishment?

"Finally!" I said when Fred came to our table and handed me my beer.

"Wow, woman, you're thirsty..." giggled Fred.

"I'm making Amortentia tomorrow, so I need some encouragement!"

"Oh, sure. Anyways...Cedric was asking about you..."

"What?" I started coughing.

"Yeah...I've just met him at the bar. Since when do you two know each other?"

"We don't! We just chatted a bit, but that's it..."

"Oh, okay...he asked me how are you..."

"What did you say?"

"That you're fine...and also he told me to look after you."

"What!?"

"I don't understand, either..."

"That's weird, very weird..." I'm starting to feel the heat in my legs from the alcohol. I felt Draco's eyes on me. But I didn't look at him.

"But um...I mean *burp* I'd me much happier if you were with him that with Draco...Cedric is nice and decent guy."

"What are you talking about? I'm not gonna be with him, Freddie!" I laughed.

"I'm just saying, just saying..."

We stayed here for another hour and then the waitress told us to leave.