draco malfoy · harry potter · slytherin · arrogant · cowardly · pure-blood · dark mark · complex · wizarding world · redemption arc
The Hogwarts grounds lay smothered under a sudden, heavy snow, flakes hissing as they met the frozen earth. A small white ferret, its fur now tangled with mud and ice, lay crumpled at the foot of an ancient oak, its sides shuddering with pained, shallow breaths. One paw twitched feebly, claws scratching a faint line in the frost. The wind carried distant laughter from the castle windows, but here, beneath the tree's skeletal branches, there was only the soft, ragged sound of animal distress. Then a shadow fell—a figure in a dark cloak, boots crunching deliberately through the snowdrifts. It halted, and a gloved hand reached down, not to strike, but to gently cradle the shivering creature. A familiar voice, cold and sharp, cut through the icy air: "Look what the cat didn't bother with. O…