Markings of an Inmate
Hey Everybody!
I was told by
draconis23 that I needed to put up a link to my stories. Taking the advice...very new here. So if I don't do this exactly right...just comment and tell me what I did wrong...could use the help. =]
My beta is
margaritaabate, wonderful writer. If you haven't read Her Shoes or Halo. ((Sorry M I don't know how to link those))
So please enjoy...
I had been haunted by my mistakes, but now was being punished for my father’s. I was so tired of being the person everyone expected me to be. I could no longer stand the stares and whispers of “Death Eater’s son” behind my back. I wasn’t my father, and only one person seemed to realize that. The most unlikely person was the only one that kept me sane. And the feelings she aroused in me only confused me further. I know now that Azkaban ripped apart the boy I was and turned me into the man that I am now. A man worth of her. A man she could love.
Chapter One: Scars from my Past
My eyes stared at the man I have become, I was not the same little boy I was last year, and I was not the one that was arrogant, self-centered, manipulative, pompous, or any other traits my fellow classmen would have loved to call me. What occurred over those summer months could change any teenage wizard, and it did, it changed me. Changed me mentally, physically, and emotionally, I do not even know who I am anymore and I find myself being relieved and frighten.
When I looked at my reflection I was disgusted, examining the intricate, metallic blue, markings that traced my torso. A sneer worked its way on to my features as I traced a rune with a long finger, silver magic pulsed through the ink. They laced a curse in the them, for probation. The markings were a reminder as to why I was supposed to be in that hell. The punishment and reminder for the fabricated crime I committed the crime that my father committed and the crime I was going to commit, before one stopped me. In my case I was saved by a devil’s angel.
The tattoos glinted in the soft light from the candle. I watched the silver in them pulsed once more within the dark blue, torturing my mind with memories. The memories of Azkaban were still fresh in my thoughts. The screams and cries of the inmates stung my ears as if I slept beside them still, the smell of dying, rotting bodies burned intensely in my nostrils, and the cold damp floor of the cell still sent the chills down my spine. How can one forget something like that?
The sneer on my lips fell as I looked at my chest one last time. I scoffed as I pulled a black thermal over my head to conceal every inch of my torso. I smoothed out the non-existing wrinkles before shouldering my satchel, and looked once more into the mirror.
I was not the mirror image of my father anymore. My white blonde hair was pulled back into a messy short ponytail, my bangs shadowed my face. My eyes were not as blue as they once were, the accents had taken over. They were now a steel gray, which made my demeanor even more mysterious. The skin beneath my eyes was a light shade of blue from the sleepless night. I was no longer his perfect son.
I apparated in an alley outside of King Cross and leaned against the cool brick, I could face them, I kept telling myself. Straightening my broad shoulders, I moved out of the darken area before walking through the hordes of muggles, witches, and wizards, to Platform 9¾. I felt the familiar pull as I stepped through the barrier.
My eyes scanned the crowd slowly searching for one in particular. The tall Italian was leaning against the brick wall. His golden eyes scrutinized the crowd, until gold met silver. A smirk appeared on his face as he pushed his body off of the dark wall with grace and walked toward me. I set my luggage down gently as he came closer to me. He wrapped a brawny arm around my shoulders as he pulled me into a brotherly embrace. Once I returned the gesture, he let go and we walked toward the train in silence.
There was no discussion about this summer because we both knew where the other had been, in the neighboring cell. Yes, he had endured the same process I had this summer, and from the same person. He knew well about my problem. He was the one that monitored my probation and I his. I knew the next few months were going to be long.
My probation was simple enough, I was not allowed to be associated with Death Eaters and I was not allowed to have any sexually conduct with a female. His, on the other hand was not to be associated with Death Eaters or to practice any dark magic, maybe his was easier then mine.
We walked through the crowded corridors until we saw Pansy, Theo, and Daphne. Daph crossed the distance between Blaise and her in a short run and wrapped her arms around her fiancé before she wrapped me into a hug. Pans and Theo made their way carefully through the crowd until they were only a few steps away.
Daphne moved out of the way so Pansy could embrace Blaise and then she turned to me. She was a small thing, Pansy. She could easily be tucked under my chin, her dark hair had been layer since last year giving her a softer look, and her ocean blue eyes were still as gorgeous and piercing as ever. When she wrapped her arms around my waist I let out a small chuckle as I placed my chin on the top of her head with ease.
She slapped my chest lightly before looking up with a small watery smile. I shook my head before I kissed the top of her head. Theo watched the interaction with ease and when Pans back away wrapped a thickly muscled arm around my shoulder, before wrapping them around his petite girlfriend. They were an odd couple, his brawn against her tiny figure.
We walked a little ways together until we found an empty compartment. I pulled a silver badge out of my pocket and threw it at Theo, who caught it quickly and with ease. ‘Good,’ I thought. ‘Summer hasn’t killed his skills completely.’
“Head Boy?” he asked in disbelief. “Damn Draco, you know who is Head Girl, right?” I nodded my head as he threw the badge back.
“Oh my gods, Draco congratulations,” the girls gushed together.
“Well go on, you have to be in the compartment soon,” Blaise added. I nodded and hugged the girls goodbye and walked down the hall.
I was a train car away from the heads compartment when I heard two arguing voices. “Ronald, I can’t believe you.” Hermione Granger’s voice said in a hush tone.
“Hermione, you are overreacting.” Weasel’s voice replied.
“Overreacting?” Her voice raised an octave.
“Hush,” he pleaded with her.
“No, Ronald! Leave me alone.” I realized that I was eavesdropping on a very private conversation and shook my self and started on my trek once more that was before Granger ran out quickly knocking into me. “I am so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going. This was completely my fault. I am so so sorry.” She babbled as I held her.
“It’s okay,” my voice was foreign to my own ears, and with those words she looked up at who held her.
“Malfoy?” I let go of her when I knew she was stable, and then I nodded as we kneeled to pick up her bag and books that had spilled onto the pathway. Once they were back into the brown satchel, I handed it to her as she stood up. She looked at me skeptically, but muttered thanks and took her belongings. I nodded again and continued on my way.
Once I got to the head’s compartment I put my trunk above my seat and dropped into the soft cushions. I pulled the black rubber tie out of my hair and shook it to let it fall naturally. I reached into my bag and pulled out a muggle piece of literature, ‘Dante’s Inferno’. I scanned the pages in interest, and then the door opened once more revealing the same girl that ran into me twenty minutes ago. She never looked at me, and that was fine with me. I did not crave the attention that I once had, so I spoke nothing to her.
She spoke first, she must have been accustomed to the constant chatter of Potter and Weasel, and this silence must have been some sort of new atmosphere. “How was your summer?” Of all the questions it had to be that one, but all the same I marked my page and set the book down and turned my attention towards her.
“It was quiet with father in Azkaban and mother in St. Mungo’s. I had a lot of time to myself.” I replied. My mother had gone insane when my father was finally sentenced to the dementor’s kiss, which would commence tonight at ten. Granger was quiet not sure what to say, and I knew I shouldn’t be rude. “And yours?”
“It was the same.” She spoke to me as if I knew what she did everyday. I presume my bored/confused expression articulated my thoughts because she continued. “Most of the summer I spent my time with Ron and Harry or my parents.” I then nodded.
We spoke of trivial things such as the weather, until Professor Snape apparated into the compartment. Granger let out a shrill squeak and my eyebrow rose in amusement at the sound she made before turning my attention to my godfather.
“Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, as you can tell you are the heads for this year.” He paused for a moment and look toward me to find my face completely unreadable. His face was saddened slightly before it changed back to its emotionless self, as he continued with the speech. “As you both know you will have rules and regulations to follow, you two must set an example for the younger students and the rest of the school.” I diverted my attention to my counter part and noticed she was watching Severus’ and my interaction discretely.
“Do you both understand me?” Granger and I nodded solemnly. “Now Miss Granger will you please inform the prefects of the meeting that will be held? I must speak with Mr. Malfoy alone.” She again nodded and walked out the door.
“Draco, how are you?” He sat down beside me and placed a gently hand on my shoulder. I felt the comfort that I wanted but I was still upset for what he had done.
“I do not know,” I said in a very soft voice. “How would you feel if you were sent to Azkaban by you guardian and was treated like a common criminal.” My voice held the hatred I felt. “I do not know how I feel.” His face turned grave and his hand came off of my shoulders before he apparated back to Hogsmead.
Hermione walked back in about thirty minutes later. McNair walked in with Daphne and her sister at his side and pain seared through my senses. The longer he stood there the more pain seared though my body. Granger looked at me with a look of confusion when I gasped in pain. I shook my head and indicated that for all to sit down.
The pain that coursed through my torso caused my attention to be elsewhere and not in the meeting. Granger kept throwing me concerned/annoyed looks but I only shook my head whenever she did. The meeting lasted about an hour, in which the longer a Death Eater McNair was in my presence the more misery I suffered. I sighed in relief when the meeting ended and all but the know-it-all was left.
I dropped fully into the seat, my chest rising and falling quickly as the agony gradually departed. I gritted my teeth every once in a while as it left, and the worst thing of all I was being watched.
I opened my eyes and saw Granger staring at me deeply confused. Her mouth opened as if she was about to speak but she quickly closed it and I let my head fall back to the cushioned seat.
“What going on?” Her tentative voice shattered the silence of the room.
“I am fine,” my voice was soft and ragged.
“That is not what I asked, Malfoy,” I pushed myself up onto my elbows and looked at her.
“Okay then, nothing is going on,” she rolled her eyes and sighed, before she walked over to me. She sat down beside me and I looked at her incredulously.
“Something is up,” her eyes had softened to true desire of knowing what was wrong.
“Don’t worry about it,” a small smile appeared on my face, for reason I was unsure of, and at that moment Blaise walked in with the same expression of pain as I had moments ago. “Mate?” as I stood up he fell into my arms.
His body was limp, eyes were closed, and he was barely breathing. I dragged his body to the seat I was just in and placing his body on the soft cushion. His wavy black hair fell lightly framing his face, I figured he had pasted out from the pain.
Hermione stood at my side, panicked. Her incoherent babbling was getting on my nerves, soI turned to her and pressed a rough hand against her lips to silence her. She fell quiet quickly but danced anxiously on the balls of her feet. I looked at her annoyed and she stood still for a few moments, then her hand began to shake and tears sprouted to her eyes. I inhaled deeply and looked at her once more this time my gaze was softer then before.
“He will be okay,” I stood up and wrapped my arms around her pulling her into a gentle embrace.
“We should call a professor,” I shook my head as I smoothed her hair. I pulled away and lead her to the other seats.
“I promise you, he will be fine,” I reassured her in my most convincing voice that I could muster, because in all reality I was scared for Blaise. I had never seen this happen, although we had only gotten out of the asylum a week before, we had no time to be around these people. I did not understand why he had passed out from the pain. Yes, being around McNair had been painful but it was not unbearable.
Granger and I sat in silence for a good thirty minutes, both watching his unconscious state. I was looking down at my hands when I heard her inhale sharply. When I looked up, her eyes were fixed on Blaise’s body. I crossed the space quickly; he was taking quick shallow breaths. I sat him up quickly and got behind him hold him tightly to my chest as I had many times before - his asthma.
“Breathe with me Blaise,” I whispered in his ear as I exhaled. “Just breathe.” I inhaled deeply but his breathing was still quick and shallow. “Calm down mate, relax. You have to. In through your nose and out through your mouth. It will pass. Just breathe,” I inhaled again and exhaled. “It’s okay, just relax. Please.”
It took him a while until he began to mimic my actions. I knew he was afraid. After a few long moments his breathing was normal and his eyes opened. He pushed away from me gently and looked at me with tears in his eyes and shook his head.
I rubbed my hands against my face to whip the tears that had come to my cheeks in the thought that I could not of calm him. Tears fell lightly on his face as he wept I pulled him into my chest and his tears became quiet sobs. I knew he was frightened. I would never blame him.
His face was buried against my chest when I looked up to see Hermione staring at us in shock. Her eyes moved to mine and she smiled softly before leaving the room so he could have some privacy.