Cold

Chapter Seven

(Draco Malfoy)

Dear Draco,

I hate to tell you this, but I fear it is for your best interest. You won't read it in the Daily Prophet but I was told by one of the Aurors that has been on your father's case. Son, your father has been spotted around Hogwarts with a few people that appear unknown. That's all I know for now. I suggest you confide in Severus yet again and keep watch.

Stay Safe,

Your Mother, Narcissa

I set down the letter, staring blankly at the wall. My dad was seen around Hogwarts? I knew that Hogwarts was the safest place for me, but knowing my dad as I did, I also knew that he would most definitely succeed in getting in. And the others he was with... who could they be? Death Eaters? Dementors? Or worse... they could be so much worse.

I'm sure things could be much worse, Snape replied.

"Dammit, Snape," I murmured. "You're so good at predicting things."

I scribbled a thank you to my mother and sent it with my owl, back towards the mansion. After it flew off, I leaned back on my bed, sighing heavily. A commotion was going on outside-Ravenclaw was facing Hufflepuff in a Quidditch match. I was supposed to be down there, but Snape let me stay. He was always risking his job for me. I owed him so much that I couldn't give. I ripped up my mother's letter, then used a spell to make it completely disintegrate. I didn't want anyone reading letters that would put them in danger.

"I need to go see Snape..."

I kicked my legs over the bed and pulled on my robes, slicking back my hair lazily, leaving some strands still hanging in my face. I pulled on my shoes and headed down the spiral staircase, proceeding toward the Quidditch pitch. By the time I had gotten to the grass, most of my hair had fallen back in my face. I halted in my steps as a chilling, foreboding wind blew over me. I moved forward, more quickly this time, clutching my robes around me.

"You're getting nervous," I thought. "You've got to calm down..."

Snape looked up from his spot on the stands. I was standing shakily at the end of the pitch, staring at him with wide eyes. I was starting to get more fearful of my surroundings. Why, oh why did she have to tell me he was spotted near Hogwarts?! I took a deep breath and began to make my way around to the Slytherin section of the field. I felt eyes on me. Almost the whole Slytherin section was staring at me as if they hadn't seen me before. I averted my eyes. They basically hadn't seen me all year. I tromped up the steps and pulled Snape from his seat in silence.

"Draco, what is the point of this?" Snape asked lazily, following me back towards the castle. "You keep me up all night, and now you're dragging me away from a match?"

"My mum sent me a letter," I said quickly and sincerely. "She says... she says that my dad was spotted near here. I think he's after me." I was surprisingly short of breath.

Snape's eyebrows arched inquiringly. "Are you sure?"

"I... have a bad feeling," I said, clutching my robes. "I really do. She told me to tell you."

"I see. I'm sure I'll be getting a letter from her soon as well. Did you destroy the letter like I taught you to?"

"Yes sir," I said, the final strands of hair falling in my face. "But she said something else.... It's the part that really worries me."

Snape stared, waiting for an answer.

"She said... there was some other people with him. Not even the Aurors could identify them."

"I see," Snape replied, deep in thought. "They're probably Death Eaters."

"I don't know.... The Aurors should know what they look like, shouldn't they?"

Snape rubbed his temples. "I'm just not sure," he sighed. "I wish I knew, but I don't."

"They were all staring at me," I said, staring at my feet.

"That's the reaction you get when you're a recluse," Snape replied. "You can trust me on that one."

"I'm sorry," I said, shoving my hands in my pockets. "I'm making you do all this shit with no return."

"Forget it. If anything, it's my problem. I can't believe that the Dark Mark is being put on someone so young. I mean-"

"Severus; Mister Malfoy, is everything alright?"

I jumped. Snape kept his cool.

"Hallo, Sybill," he replied calmly. "Everything is fine. Why do you ask?"

"Well, because the moon is in alignment with Mercury and-"

"Everything is fine, Sybill. Now, if you don't mind, Mister Malfoy and I have something to discuss. Alone."

"Oh, yes sir. I was just... worried..."

Snape turned quickly. "If you don't mind, please lead the Slytherins back to the castle. I will not be returning to the field."

"Of course," Trelawney replied, a bit darkly. I could tell she had been irritated by Snape's nature. It made me grin momentarily.

"Let's go, Draco," Snape shoved me onward.

-

In the dungeons of the castle, Snape set down two cups of tea, then sat across from me.

"I'm going to give you my suggestion, but you're probably not going to like it."

"What?" I asked bleakly. Things weren't looking as far up as I expected.

"Well, I think that you should tell Dumbledore-don't argue. I don't like him either, but he's the one that rules this place, and that gives him way more power than I've got."

"No." I said. "I refuse. If I tell Dumbledore about this, it'll get out. I'll be just that Potter. I'll be that stupid kid that's on the run from Voldemort and-"

"But you ARE a stupid kid on the run from Voldemort," Snape said flatly.

"I am NOT a kid," I growled.

"I know you're not," Snape replied, sounding exhausted. "You grew up a long time ago."

And he was right. I had grown up, unwillingly. I rested my head in my hands and closed my eyes. "That doesn't mean I WANT to be that kid on the run from Voldemort. I... I have to say... I've thought of it. I've wondered how much easier it might be just to do what he says..."

"Don't think like that," Snape hissed, standing to prove his point. "You NEVER want to join Voldemort. It would be the biggest mistake of your life. You will be forced to kill those you hate and love, and if you refuse, you'll be tortured to death, or you'll be on the run for the rest of your life."

I felt my heart beating fast in my chest, hard enough that I swore it could have broken my ribs. "So-sorry. Forget I ever said it," I whispered. "It... it was just a thought... when..."

I stared down at my arms and lifted my sleeve, staring at the Dark Mark and the many bruises and scrapes that surrounded it. My eyes felt heavy as I gazed at them. It was almost like they weren't even really there-merely a figment of my imagination. But they were there.

Snape rested his hand over the bandaged Dark Mark. "You were too young to get this mark," he said. "Hell, I was too young to get this mark. And everyone... everyone was too young to die for this mark..."

It made me feel like crying, though I didn't show it. No one... absolutely no one had seen me cry. It was just something I never did. Tears had been beaten out of me. I closed my eyes, trying to relieve the pressure behind them.

"I just figured that... since I have yet to have chosen my destiny so far, why start choosing now? Either way, he's gonna kill me, isn't he?"

"You shouldn't think like that," Snape sighed. "But you have a point. Don't go to Voldemort though... it's the worst thing you could do."

"No one really knows how I feel. No one my age has been given this choice," I muttered.

"Well, there is one person," Snape said. "Why don't you talk to her."

"I can't. She's a Weasley. She's protected at almost all times. Besides... there might still be hope... for her. After all, she's got Harry Potter on her side. I am not so lucky. I... just don't know what to do."

"I'm sorry," Snape said. "But I'm afraid that I've given you all the advice I can for this situation, Draco."

"I understand," I said, disappointed. "I'll try and keep things normal. I think I might go for a fly tonight. That might clear my mind."

"Good. You do that."

"Thanks, Professor," I said staring back at him as I reached the door.

"If only YOU had been my father..." I thought serenely, shutting the large wooden door behind me.

On my way back to the portrait hole, a flash of red caught my eye. I turned to the right and, sure enough, Ginny was leaning against a nearby wall, staring at me with glistening eyes.

"You okay?" She asked softly.

"Yeah, about as okay as possible. You?"

"Same. You look sad."

"No... just thinking," I said, staring off to a distant place that I couldn't remember.

"About what, may I ask?" She was up beside me after a moment.

"My father's been spotted on school grounds. Keep your guard up."

"I will," she said, nodding her head. "Um, Draco?"

"What is it?" I asked, tired.

"I... I'm really glad... that you're helping me," she said, her face flushing a bit. I had to admit, it made her look rather... cute.

"Glad that you're glad," I said somewhat awkwardly.

"I... I didn't think there was anyone like me..."

"Is that why you followed me?"

"I was worried. You and Snape were talking about something serious."

"Yeah, we were," I said, closing my eyes. "There's nothing you can do, though."

She began to walk beside me. I wasn't quite sure where we were going, but it was good to have her company. She smiled and began to talk about other things, like the latest Witch Sisters concert and the new chocolate frog cards. It was amazing how happy she could be at times, especially when things looked so horrid.

"Hey, uh," I said, coming off of a laugh from a joke that she had heard, "where do you sleep?"

"What?" Ginny stared at me incredulously.

"I thought I'd come by tonight on my broom. We could go out on a ride. I... I'd like to tell you a few things."

"About what?" She seemed curious.

"I- I don't know... everything?" I scratched the back of my head. "Besides, I find it a bit relaxing. Maybe you will too."

"Yeah, okay. How about I meet you out by the pitch?"

"How will you get there without getting caught?" I blinked.

"Don't worry," she said, grinning. "I have my ways."

(A/N: Yeah, it was sort of a filler chapter. It was quite easy to write shockingly-normally I have so much trouble with filler chapters. The next one will be quite action-packed!)