She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings"

- Ariana Dancu

The days I got to spend with Draco were an absolute bliss. Most of the time we just slept in, then read together in the library, before fetching some lunch and having a picnic somewhere in the garden, spending most of the afternoon there.

The mood dropped a little when his departure neared, as I knew that these moments wouldn't happen again for a very long time. But I knew that it was the way it was supposed to be and one day, it'd all fall into place. One day I would be his girlfriend, without any fears or doubts.

I just had to be strong for a little while, be a Selwyn.

If our side won the upcoming wizarding war, which seemed very likely at the moment, Draco would probably remain a Death Eater for the rest of his life. That would mean that if I wanted to be with him, I had to get used to these ideas that this side portrayed. I had to not only support them, but genuinely believe them. I could probably skate around becoming a Death Eater, but not around being a part of the inner circle. If my father would get broken out of Azkaban, I'd be even closer to all of it. And I needed to stand beside him, showing him that he had raised a good daughter, a true Selwyn.

But I knew I wasn't there yet, so for now it was safer to not stir the pot by publicly dating Draco, until I was ready. It would only take a little while.

"Have you got everything?" my mother asked as I was packing the last couple of items.

"I think so", I said, closing the zipper of my bag. This really was it. These couple of days had been great, but I knew that they had to end. There was a greater cause happening and I was a part of it. I could not let these people down and as badly as I would have liked to do it with Ellie's support, I knew that wasn't an option right now.

"So, how are you feeling?" she asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine", I mumbled, putting the bag outside, just to have something to do.

"Draco, look at me", my mother said urgently. "You can be honest with me, I can see that you're scared."

"I'm not scared", I huffed. It was a huge lie. Of course I was scared. I got tasked with killing the second greatest wizard of all times. That burden was on my shoulders and on mine alone. But I could do this.

"Draco, don't lie to me", mum continued, stepping in front of me so I had to look at her. She had always been softer than my father, more supportive. "I know that this is hard for you and I wished things were different, I really do. Just know that you can talk to me."

"There's nothing you can do anyway, mum", I sighed. "So why bother?"

"Because I care about you Draco, is that so hard to believe?"

I laid down the pillow I was rearranging just to keep my hands busy. I knew she was worried, but that only made me more worried and I couldn't have that.

"I'll be fine, mum", I said, looking her in the eyes. "The only thing you can do for me is not tell a single soul about Eleanor and I, not even aunt Bellatrix. I don't want her involved in this."

She walked over to me and gave me a tight hug.

"I know", she sighed. "And I won't. I won't tell anyone."

"Oh thank Merlin I thought you had left already." I looked up to see Ellie in the doorway, slightly frazzled-looking.

"I'll be waiting downstairs, mum said. She smiled at Ellie and then left the room.

"Almost", I said, pointing at the bag in the corner.

"Not without saying goodbye, I hope", she said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes. It was cute when she acted so bossy. I used to think it was annoying, how times had changed.

"Do we really have to do this?" I sighed. I hated goodbyes.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, I would have cut off your ballsack if you had left here without telling me", she threatened, walking up to me and pushing her finger in my chest. "And you know I am not joking."

I laughed at her threats. She wasn't all that intimidating once you really got to know her.

"Well then, here is your goodbye", I sighed and pulled her into a hug. I felt myself calm down as she wrapped her arms around me too. The remainder of the summer would be a whole lot less calming.

"Bellatrix expected that the Dark Lord would like to meet you at one point", I sighed, breaking the hug. She simply nodded, not moving a muscle.

"I'll be ready", she smiled. "I know what to do."

"I know you do", I said, looking into her beautiful hazel eyes. She was strong, way stronger than the other losers in our year. If someone could convince a whole pack of Death Eaters that she was just as driven as them, it was Eleanor Selwyn. And I knew that if enough time passed, she'd take on those beliefs too. I just hoped she would never lose that happiness that I had seen over the summer.

"So, I'll probably see you soon, but let's not get our hopes up. Talk to you in one and a half months? On the Hogwarts Express?" I said.

"Yes", she said, taking a deep breath. "I'll see you in the train."

I pushed some hair out of her face, gently stroking her porcelain skin. She was really, really beautiful. Why hadn't I noticed that before this year?

I pulled her closer, gently placing my lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer, so I slid my hands to her waist, doing the same. It fitted like two pieces of a puzzle.

"I'll see you soon", I whispered, pressing a last kiss on her forehead before pulling away. This was it.

We walked downstairs, where my mother was waiting for me. I sprayed on a little more cologne, because I knew aunt Bellatrix would catch Ellie's scent. I grabbed my bag and stepped into the fireplace with a handful of floo powder.

"Thank you for letting us stay, we'll be in touch", mum said, before joining me. I looked at Ellie one last time. She was sporting her usual Selwyn-face, trying to act all tough. She'd have to be for quite a while.

"Malfoy Manor", I said and threw the floo powder. Green flames enveloped me as I closed my eyes.

Bye Ellie.

When I opened my eyes, I was back at my house, the tall black walls greeting me with a certain coldness that made my mood drop.

"Ah, they're back", Bellatrix chimed from the other side of the room. I was about to question what she was doing here, as she usually wasn't around much, but I soon got my answer as the Dark Lord entered the hall too. The temperature seemed to drop dramatically.

I hadn't told Ellie why I needed to go back today because I didn't want to worry her, but there definitely was a reason. Tonight it would happen, I would become one of them. And I wasn't in the right mindset yet.

Being with Ellie had been fun, great even, but it had distracted me from the larger cause at hand. I was going to become a Death Eater tonight and I had a task to fulfill. I'd miss her presence, but I needed time without her right now. I couldn't fail, it wasn't an option. I needed to focus.

I'd succeed. I didn't know how yet, but I would succeed and then I'd be rewarded. My father would get broken out of Azkaban, as well as Ellie's father. I'd be more than just the sixteen-year-old son of Lucius Malfoy. I'd obtain respect of my own.

"Ah Draco, at last", he sighed, not looking me in the eyes. He closed the curtains that were letting a lot of sunlight in with a simple swish of his hand. Although he terrified me, I couldn't help but admire him a little bit. He was a powerful wizard, there was no denying that.

"You spent time with the Selwyn's, correct?" he continues.

"Yes, my Lord", I said, stepping out of the fireplace.

"They haven't been around yet, we should invite them over. I'd like to keep my friends close", he said, striding further into the room, his gaze fixated on the paintings on the wall. I cursed internally. He should just leave her alone. "Bellatrix, get it in order."

I desperately just wanted to go to my room, but I didn't dare to move a muscle whilst Lord Voldemort was addressing me.

"How old is she, Bellatrix, the girl you talked about?"

"She's Draco's age, my Lord." I wanted to say something, to tell them that she was only fifteen, but I couldn't. I couldn't show any signs that I cared about her. The Dark Lord didn't reply and kept staring at the paintings on the wall.

"Good", he simply said and with that, he left the room. But I didn't release the breath I was holding until I was back in my room, where I felt somewhat safe. It'd happen tonight and I had to make sure that I was ready for it.

I had to make sure that the mark wouldn't resist me.