Chapter 9 The Eve Before Dawn
Most sixth-year students had already made their own career plans, and even Draco and Harry, the bitter rivals, didn't have as much overlap in their classes as before. Since the day they'd been rescued by Hogsmeade, aside from Potions class and their nightly dreams, the two had essentially kept their distance.
The crow and the dove can only meet each other in that brief dusk.
Draco Malfoy stood in the shadow of Hogwarts Castle, his gaze passing through the narrow window onto the sunlit lawn.
The golden trio were sitting together, and their laughter could be heard clearly.
Draco's fingers unconsciously rubbed the Dark Mark branded on his right forearm, his thoughts drifting back to those dark days.
In the gloomy Malfoy Manor, Draco was suppressed by Voldemort's magic and could not move. His breathing was rapid and disordered, and his eyes were filled with extreme excitement and fear.
The cold, ruthless figure of Voldemort loomed over him, like the embodiment of a nightmare. Draco's heart was pounding, and he couldn't help but grab at his trouser leg.
Thinking of the torture that the mysterious man had inflicted on his father and Bella, he knew that what he would face next was definitely not the glory that his father had repeatedly emphasized, but the darkness and pain he had seen every day in recent days.
[This is your fate, Draco.] Draco said to himself, waiting quietly.
"Little Malfoy, offer your loyalty to me, just like your father and grandfather." Voldemort's crazy and hoarse voice echoed in the empty manor.
As he finished speaking, a sinister black light shot out from the tip of Voldemort's wand and headed straight for Draco's right elbow.
Draco's eyes widened in horror as he tried to suppress his body. His right arm, which instinctively wanted to twist and dodge, faced the suffocating pressure that was getting closer.
[It hurts!] He screamed heartbreakingly, but only vague whimpers came out of his throat.
[No!] But the evil force instantly penetrated his skin, like countless sharp blades cutting into his bones.
Draco's whole body trembled violently in pain, his teeth clenched together, making a "clacking" sound. His left hand frantically grabbed at his right arm, his nails scratching bloody marks on his arm.
[Father! Mother! Save me! It hurts so much! Xiaolong is in so much pain, ah——] He roared in despair in his heart, the pain like a surging tide, impacting his consciousness wave after wave.
Every second seemed like an eternity of torture. Draco's face was as pale as paper, and beads of sweat the size of beans kept rolling down his forehead.
Finally, the unbearable pain completely devoured his consciousness, his eyes rolled back, his body slumped to the ground, and he fainted.
And on his right elbow, the mark of the Dark Lord, which symbolizes darkness and slavery, was emitting a strange light.
Draco nervously grasped the cold wizard robe, his fingertips turning white from the cold, just like his heart enslaved by Voldemort, his self-esteem and pride being trampled and crushed bit by bit.
When Voldemort recklessly used the Unforgivable Curses against the Death Eaters, he was trembling with fear. When he was given the almost doomed mission of killing Dumbledore, he was in a state of panic. When he allowed new scars to be carved into his soul with every obedience.
His pride and ambition gradually withered under the shadow of darkness, turning into endless self-doubt and loneliness.
Sitting alone in the dark until dawn, the figure of Harry Potter would occasionally enter his mind.
Harry, the boy who always contradicted him, seemed so bright and shining at that moment.
Draco still remembered their confrontation in their youth, when Harry had still been full of childish bravery.
But now, Harry's eyes always flash with determination and resoluteness, and his smile hides his deep dependence on his friends.
Draco couldn't help but wonder, if he could have a friendship like that, would his life be different?
At this moment, Harry's eyes unexpectedly turned to Draco. Their eyes met, and Draco quickly lowered his head, avoiding the light that penetrated the darkness.
Draco closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to dispel the bitter taste in his heart.
The reflection on the glass window teetered on the edge of the abyss.
The moment Harry saw Draco quickly lower his head to avoid his gaze, an indescribable impulse surged in his heart. He stood up involuntarily and walked towards Draco.
"Malfoy, what are you doing hiding here?" Harry asked with a hint of provocation in his tone.
Draco's body trembled slightly when he heard Harry's voice. He then raised his head, a trace of anger flashing in his eyes: "Potter, if you don't laugh and chat with your Wei Zi, what's it to me?"
Harry was not repelled by his attitude, but moved closer to him: "Come and see how the once invincible Malfoy is like a wounded little animal, hiding in the corner and quietly shedding gold beans."
Draco gritted his teeth: "Don't go too far, Potter!"
Harry leaned closer to him. "I went too far, so what?"
Draco turned his head away, ignoring Harry.
Harry, however, persisted: "Look at you now, Draco, like a coward! All you do is complain about yourself. Are you defeated by such a small setback? Then what else can you say to me?"
Draco suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Harry angrily: "Harry Potter, shut up!"
Harry didn't flinch at all. "Why? Did I get it right?"
Draco's hands clenched into fists, and his body trembled slightly.
Harry curled his lips in a mocking smile, "Draco, is this all you've got? I was such a loser for once truly considering you a rival. I've been playing house with you for so many years."
"That's enough!" Draco roared, glaring at Harry angrily. "Harry, shut up! You don't understand at all..."
"I don't need to understand." Harry suddenly reached out and pinched Draco's mouth, preventing him from speaking. "I just need to know that now, you have begun to admit defeat."
Harry let him go and took a few steps back: "From now on, Draco Malfoy, you will only be my defeated opponent."
"Potter, don't even think about it..." Draco gritted his teeth, his eyes red and swollen, his eyes filled with humiliation and hatred, "I will not lose to you!"
Draco couldn't stand it anymore and shouted. He suddenly raised his arm and punched Harry in the nose.
"Bang!"
Harry raised his hand to block Draco's attack, and the force caused both of them to take two steps back.
"If you want to prove that you're not a coward who only turns to your father when you're in trouble, then let me see how capable you are, Draco."
Harry took the lead and the two men were like Muggles without magic, fighting fiercely with punches every time.
But in just a short moment, the two had exchanged hundreds of punches, and Draco even kicked a few times.
Both of them were injured, Draco's eyes were bruised and his cheeks were swollen, while blood was oozing from the corners of Harry's mouth.
But neither of them stopped, and the two of them entangled, fought, and kicked on the ground, twisted and entangled like two snakes.
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