Draco Malfoy and the Pledge of Abstinence
I pointed my broomstick further up to peer through the clouds. Where could that stupid snitch have gone? I could have sworn I'd seen its gold wings shimmer in the beating sun. I glanced over my shoulder. Potter was concentrating on the game below, crossing his fingers that Weasel wouldn't let us score more than 150 points before he could get the snitch. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were him.
Stupid Gryffindors. I perused the small faces that cheered for their house teams. I wanted to search for Kathryn's face, but I was too far away to distinguish Granger from Hagrid. But that wouldn't be too hard from above, I guess, because of the bushes of hair they both have.
I sniggered at my own joke and returned my gaze to the sky.
"Draco!" I whipped around. Was it Potter playing little boy tricks? But no, there he was, cheering like a buffoon at Weasel's lucky save. Oh, well, perhaps it was only my imagination. I lazily drifted in circles, letting my mind wander.
Kathryn Welbourne. She was a pureblood Ravenclaw, a beautiful, rich, pureblood Ravenclaw. She had long, dark brown hair and pale skin and light blue eyes. Her laughter sounded through the Great Hall every morning like crystals dancing amongst themselves. She was pure, through and through. Sweet seventeen, never been kissed. It wasn't that boys didn't adore her. She just... she didn't seem to take notice. I suppose part of me only wanted her for her unavailability, but still, she was so much more than unattainable. She had visited Hogsmeade with Scott Jefferson last weekend. Scott Jefferson was captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Scott Jefferson had only kissed one girl, who in fact, he didn't really kiss. Lavender Brown kissed him last year. He gently turned her down. Poor guy, she ran away bawling.
But I had a feeling Scott Jefferson wasn't about to send Kathryn Welbourne on her way. I was worried sick that Kathryn might just think the same.
"Psst! Draco!" the voice called again. I twisted around again. That was not my imagination. I looked suspiciously towards the captivated audience. Perhaps Granger was trying to distract me in hopes Potty would catch the snitch before Weasel completely lost the game. No, I would not let her win.
"Draco! I am speaking to you!" No, it was male. Longbottom, I thought. She must be getting Longbottom to speak so I don't recognize that whiny voice.
"Draco Malfoy, don't make me come down there!" the voice persisted. I paled.
Holy...
I cautiously looked up at the clouds, hoping I was wrong, and the speaker was NOT anything remotely holy.
A huge roar rose from the Slytherin side. I looked down too late to move as a bludger raced towards me.
When I came to, my head didn't hurt in the least. Well, what I mean to say is, my head didn't hurt as a result of being smashed by an iron ball zooming at me.
I had a slight headache when I noticed that I was surrounded by white fluff.
"Draco! It is about time you got here. Why didn't you reply when I called you?" a tall man said to me. I examined him. His face was wrinkly and wise, but his brown eyes weren't twinkling. He had a curly white beard. Father Christmas? No, he didn't have cherub cheeks. Dumbledore? No, he has blue eyes. And they twinkle. If he was who I thought he was... I was so screwed.
"Erm, I'm sorry. I didn't know how to reply," I said, trying to excuse myself.
"Well, 'Speak, Father, I am listening,' is the most traditional response, but 'Hello!' or 'Yes?' would have sufficed." I gulped and nodded.
"Am- am I dead?" I asked hesitantly. He laughed heartily.
"No, no, you are not dead. The issue at hand is much more serious," he said, softening his laughter.
"More seriously than death?" I raised my eyebrows. I hoped he wouldn't bring up anything about the mark on my arm. The last trails of laughter immediately diminished from his face. He turned his back to me and slowly paced away, waving his hand as a signal for me to follow. I leapt up from the fluff and jogged to catch up with him.
"Draco, you know Jennifer," he began. I nodded and blushed, trying to hide my smirk. I dated her a few months ago, for three weeks. I was her first. She had been good. No, Draco! No dirty thoughts around him!
"And Rachel and Lavender and Melissa?" I nodded again. I'd gotten to Lavender before she'd turned to Scott for action. She hadn't been so much fun, so none of the Slytherins would give her the time of day, and most Gryffindors and Ravenclaws thought she was a bit easy, and, well, do Hufflepuffs even date?
"What about Stacy and Amber and Caroline and Patil and Felicia and Pansy?" He spun around to face me, his eyes glowing with anger. I gulped and averted my eyes.
"Yes," I whispered hoarsely. I knew where this was going.
"You took something from every one of them, something you can't give back," he whispered ferociously. My blood boiled slightly at this accusation.
"They gave it to me," I fired back.
"You told them you loved them," he hissed. "You told every single one of those girls that you loved them, and you lied. You knew you were lying when you said it." I smirked. Exactly.
"I knew what I wanted and I knew how to get it. You can't judge me for that," I snapped.
"DO NOT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT JUDGEMENT," he roared, growing a few feet. "YOU MANIPULATED AND USED MY CREATIONS!" I shrunk at his fiery temper.
"Mr. Malfoy, you underestimate me. I am not some Bob the Builder figure who tells you to mind your manners," he said, still angry. "I am furious with your actions. You have not only dishonored me, but your house, your teachers, your friends, and most of all, every girl you have lied to." I stood up a little taller.
"But it was just innocent fun. If they had really wanted to stop, they would have said something," I protested.
"Draco, you alone are not at fault for this. They did consent, but they did not know that they were consenting to lies. You, however, knew. Their consequences will come in time," he replied sadly. My eyes widened. Consequences?
"What do you mean? Did anyone get pregnant? No, it can't be, I used the spell-"
"10% ERROR RATE, MR. MALFOY!" he boomed again. "Do you know how many girls you have slept with over the past year?" I felt sick.
"Ten," I whispered. "Ten girls."
"Do the math yourself," he replied.
"Which one?" I asked briskly. "Who is it?" He shook his head.
"I do not reveal such secrets. It is her responsibility to tell you," he murmured. I rubbed my temples. I had gotten a girl pregnant. She would have to drop out of Hogwarts for sure. I could only hope she had rich parents who would support her. Stacy, Rachel, and Felicia didn't come from wealthy families. Oh, please don't let it be them. Or Patil. Her parents would disown her in a minute.
"You're forgetting something very important, Mr. Malfoy," he continued. I glanced at his face, noticing the shin wetness in his eyes.
"Will I have to marry her?" I gasped. No, I couldn't get married now! Not with Kathryn, not with Quidditch, with school, with life!
"Oh, no, Draco. You forget that some of those girls weren't virgins," I felt faint.
"Are you saying...?" He nodded.
"Jennifer had it. You passed it to Caroline and Amber," he said gravely. My legs gave out. Thankfully, a puff whisked up and caught me in a chair.
"Do I...?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. But I will tell you now, you will never have symptoms." I looked at him suspiciously.
"How do you know?" I spat, angry at him for telling me this. Why? Why was he ruining my life?
"I know everything. It's kind of my job." I took a deep breath, calming myself down. I'd never be able to be with Kathryn, ever. I couldn't bear to give her anything. Anything that made me dirty and sick. She would be dirty and sick.
"Leave Kathryn alone." I shot my head up and glared at him.
"Why?"
"She belongs with Scott."
"You're controlling her life!" I accused. He shook his head calmly.
"Do not speak of things you know nothing about. I am not controlling anyone. I have given them an opportunity to find love in companionship. This is there choosing, I have only made it possible to choose."
"So who am I meant to be with?"
"I cannot tell you."
"TELL ME WHO I'M SUPPOSED TO LOVE!" I yelled. He didn't reply at this, only pulled a small sheet of paper out of a fold in his robes.
"I would never steal from you the adventure that Kathryn and Scott are having right now as they discover how wonderful the other is," he replied, softly smiling at a thought that made me burn inside. Before I could protest, he started explaining the piece of paper.
"I can't control you. But I've been warning you. You ignored those warnings, and this is your last warning. The next time you mess up will be too late for me to save your world from crashing down on you."
The irony of his statement hit me when I woke up with a killer headache in the Hospital Wing.
"He's alive!" Pansy yelled, throwing her arms around my neck.
"Get out of here, you nincompoop! You'll send him back into unconsciousness with that yelling!" Pomfrey scolded. I would have laughed if my head weren't about to split into eight pieces. Before I could say anything, Pomfrey was pouring a flask of freezing cold thick paste down my throat.
Later that night, when I woke up, the wing was quite except for someone's congested snoring a few beds down. I pulled out the paper that was clenched in my first. The moonlight served as a reading lamp.
"I, Draco Malfoy, pledge with my conscience as my witness to abstain from sexual activity until I am married to the one I love." I sighed and rubbed my temples. There was a place for my signature, but the day had been too long to make any promises.
Ten days later, I thought I heard someone whispering to me while I lied in bed. I ignored the persistent sounds. I hadn't signed the pledge.
"Drakie! We're married! Aren't you excited?!" I looked down at my bride, wearing a white dress she didn't deserve.
Pansy Parkinson was eight weeks pregnant when our fathers forced us to marry.
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(c) thebrightcity
steal and die.