An Unfortunate Arrangement? Chapter 3
Draco's Dark Mark has reappeared and both he and Astoria panic as their future dissolves before their eyes.
A/N:Please read and review! This is my first fic and it probably has a few mistakes. Please tell me if you find any! :) Also, I'm really sorry that this chapter took so long and it probably isn't as long as you would have liked but real life got in the way and I am also writing a book of my own with a friend. I apologise, but I thought I'd better get it uploaded. Inbox me if you would like to know a bit more about my book.
"The Dark Mark"
The exact precise words Astoria had dreaded hearing from the start.
"What are you going to do?" she said. Her tone was somewhat calmed which gave Draco the most unimaginable relief. Finally, after a long silence thick with dark, lonely thoughts, Draco said,
"I've no idea." She looked up and the grey eyes met the brown. Somehow, a laugh escaped her. Not a happy laugh. A hollow one from a heart that had seen too much, felt too many things at once. And the kind of pain that shouldn't be felt by anyone.
"Well, isn't that just perfect?" she said. "I'm going to be married to a man whose evil leader has returned from the dead. My conscience is telling me things I don't want to hear, and above all, I'll have to go into hiding because let's face it, my family was by no means Pro-Voldemort during the war."
Astoria was slowly breaking down, getting closer and closer to tears. Everything suddenly seemed so real. If he was telling the truth. She didn't know why but she had almost automatically trusted him. At first. "Show me." she whispered, as Draco paled even more so than usual. "The Mark. Show it to me," Draco closed his eyes as if he was in pain. Silently, he nodded and slowly it was revealed. First, Astoria saw the black head of a thin snake, as it twisted around itself to finally reveal the skull just below the crease of his elbow. "So it's true." she whispered, staring at the stark brand against his porcelain skin.
Neither of them moved or spoke for at least ten minutes before Draco turned his head towards the fire behind them which had turned bright green. Astoria turned also at this spectacle from whence came a dark haired, bat-like figure.
"Professor Snape?!" she exclaimed as she realised who it was.
"Yes, Miss Greengrass. I believe that is my name." said Snape.
"Sir, I do apologise, but I believe that you were supposed to have died two years ago." He sneered.
"Obviously...not, Miss Greengrass." Now he looked at Draco, who's mouth was open as if there were something he needed to say. "Go on, Mr Malfoy. I don't have all... day."
"Yes, Severus," Draco said with a cold look on his face "I assume that polite conversation isn't the reason you're here today. My father is in the dining room. Send the house-elf in front to let him know you're here."
"But of course." he sullenly replied, and with that, the dark figure swept out of the room.
"Wow." said Astoria as the door slammed behind her. She wasn't used to seeing formerly dead ex-professors materialising in the drawing room. The fact that Snape was here, and so soon after the Mark had appeared made her worry about the suddenly bleak life ahead of her.
"It won't be as bad as you think, you know," said Draco after a long silence.
"Yes it will." it was as if he could read her mind.
"You won't be hunted down. If it is true."
"You don't know that, Draco Malfoy."
"But I do. Look, if my mark burns, I'll have to go to him. You know that, Astoria?"
"Of course I do" she replied quietly.
"If it's true, if he really is back, you'll be safe as long as you're a Malfoy."
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" He scratched his neck.
"Well, maybe we should you know, get married a bit sooner. If it means you'll be safer."
"Since when have you cared about my safety?" she was obviously rather taken aback, to Draco's dismay.
"Since the day you became my wife -to -be" Astoria smiled at him from the corner of her mouth. It might not be so difficult to get through this after all.
The Dark Lord was waking. Alone in the pitch black forest and so seemingly vulnerable. But he was safe within the protection of the Murus Mortis[1] charm. Any creatures to find him even by accident would be subject to instantaneous death. There would be no accidents. No betrayals this time. It worked perfectly for him. And this forest, it was the perfect place to start.
[1]: Murus Mortis translates to 'Wall of Death' in Latin. It seemed appropriate,