Chapter Three
I'm staring at my reflection in the mirror, brushing my hair. Once this is done, I put on my Death Eater robes and hide my hair in the hood. Looking at the mirror once again, I sigh and walk to my wardrobe. Silly thing is that Death Eater robes only come in one size, and since I'm practically a midget, I have the choice between tripping all over the robes or wearing heels.
Now standing slightly taller, I look at the clock hanging on the wall: 21:58. I put on the mask and walk to the fireplace. It would be easier to apparate there, and I'm actually quite good at apparating but since it's illegal, I try to avoid doing it in order not to have the Ministry of Magic looking for me.
'Malfoy Manor,' I speak clearly, letting floo powder fall all over me. Moments after, I'm standing in a very large and elegant drawing room in Wiltshire.
I dust my robes and I am forced to admit that this fireplace is a lot cleaner than Bellatrix's. I step out, appreciating the beautiful room, decorated in tones of dark green. The furniture is all made of dark wood, however I can't tell you what sort of wood it is, because I've never been enough interested in wood types to look up their names. I smile, recognising immediately Lucius' taste as I spot a liquor table . The room hasn't changed much since last time I was here, almost two years ago.
Sitting very stiffly on the Chesterfield in front me, is Draco Malfoy, who is scrutinising me.
'It's polite to say hello, you know,' I remark in a slightly angry voice, stretching out my arm, my gloved hand waiting to be shaken.
Draco eyes me suspiciously, deciding whether other or not to shake my hand.
'I don't bite,' I reassure him, in a kinder voice. At this, he stands up and shakes my hand for the second time that day.
He smiles and apologises, 'I'm sorry Ma'am.' What the hell?!
'I'm not old enough to be called that,' I reply,' But I do accept your apology.'
A long silence ensues and to be honest, I'm starting to regret my promise to Lucius even more than before.
'Let's go outside,' I suggest, 'and take your wand with you.'
He nods and leads me towards a glass door which opens to a very large garden with lots of rose bushes.
'I forgot how much Narcissa loved roses,' I whisper to myself.
However, Draco clearly heard me because he looks at me questioningly, 'You know my mother?'
'Not personally,' I reply curtly, not wanting to say more than is necessary.
We are now in what you would call a clearing, surrounded by trees of various sizes. A white, round marble table is on the center, almost entirely engulfed by poison ivy. Two metal forged chairs surround it, and Draco sits in one of them.
I do not hesitate whether to sit down or not since I'm wearing heels.
Draco remains silent as I face him and I feel weird, weirded out to be feared by a boy my own age.
'Let's clarify some things,' I announce, leaning back on the very beautiful but highly uncomfortable chair, 'First, you don't need to fear me because I will not hurt you in any way.' As I say this, I can see his shoulders relaxing, however I'm not able to make out his expression since there is not enough light. 'Second, since we are bound to spend a great deal of time together, I want us to speak freely, because in all honesty, your silence is frankly uncomfortable.
I hear him chuckle, 'Alright then,' he replies in a lighter tone, 'What are we doing tonight?'
'Well, you tell me how you plan on killing old Dumbledore,' I suggest, truly interested about his plan.
'I thought I would just go to his office when he is alone and use the Killing Curse,' Draco answers like what he just said isn't utter madness.
'So,' I start, barely able to contain my laughter at his so-called plan, 'You do not reckon that he will try to defend himself, that a duel will ensue? Or perhaps that you won't be able to perform the Killing Curse?'
He stares back at me in a way like I had just told him that Santa does not exist, 'Well, no, I'm not planning on a duel. I plan on just killing him very quickly,' he replies tentatively, judging my reaction.
'Accio spider,' I voice out, my wand now in my hand. Out of nowhere a very thick and also very disgusting spider appears on my palm. Ugh! How I hate this creepy creatures!
I place the spider on the center of the table and quickly point my wand at it, 'Imperio,' I say, ordering the spider to stay put.
Draco approaches the table and I can distinguish a 'What The Fuck' look on his face.
'Now get up and kill it,' I order, my voice slightly louder than before.
'May I ask you a question?', Draco enquires and I nod. 'Why do I have to stand up? And won't you take off your mask?'
'That's two questions. You stand up because killing while sitting is no fun. As to your second question, no, I won't take off my mask.'
Draco looks unsatisfied by my reply, but stands up none the less.
He takes his wand on his right hand, points it at the spider and remains that way for a long time. I do not feel like hushing him as I still remember very clearly the first time I had to use the Killing Curse. Moments later, I can hear him say 'Avada Kedavra' in a shaky voice but nothing happens.
Flashback
Approximately two years ago, I was about to perform the Killing Curse for the first time, just like Draco. Unlike Draco, however, my mentor was the Lord himself and I didn't have the chance to practice on a spider.
My body is shaking very strongly, as I point my wand at the quivering muggle man who was chained to the wall. About two meters to his right, Madeleine and Vincent Varenne were chained as well. It hurt so much seeing my parents this way. It was all my fault; if had been discreet while in London, Voldemort would never have noticed me and we wouldn't all be here.
'Now, kill this vermin already or I will kill your parents,' Voldemort threatened. He, or rather the feeble and weak creature that he was, was sitting on a chair behind me. He might have been weak, but the dead half-eaten muggle in the middle of the room proved that he was still strong enough to kill.
'One,' his hissy voice startles me, making me shake even more. 'Two.' I look at my parents, they are sobbing silently, Ratface having silenced them as soon as they were brought here two days ago. However, I do not cry, following the advice my mother had given me years ago. It seems, though, that she wasn't following her own her advice.
Before Voldemort finishes counting to three, I shout 'Avada Kedavra' and a green jet of light emerges from the tip of my wand.
In the end, there hadn't been a point on this muggle man as Voldemort forced me to kill my parents anyway.
End of Flashback
'Avada Kedavra,' he shouts again, his voice no longer shaking but instead animated by his frustration at not being able to properly use the Killing Curse.
Still, nothing happens and I can see Draco getting even angrier as he repeats these two words again and again.
'Stop,' I order, gaining his attention after a few seconds, 'Seat down and calm yourself.' My voice remaining calm, I can see obeying me. 'Now, are there any peaches in the garden?' I ask him.
'I think so,' he replies looking puzzled.
'Accio peach,' I voice out and almost instantly, a peach appears in my hands. I then summon some water in order to clean it before starting to eat it. 'Do you want grapes?' I ask Draco who is still looking at me in disbelief.
'No, I hate grapes,' he replies. Well, I thought since they were Lucius' favourite, they would also be Draco's. Guess I was wrong.
At that moment he summons himself an apple and some water to clean it. I smile, knowing that I managed to put him at ease. After all, his father is in Azkaban and Voldemort wants to skin him alive so I guess that he has enough on his plate already without dealing with a mean Death Eater.
Draco is still eating his apple when I finish the peach. 'So,' I start,' What do you think was the reason why you failed to kill the spider.'
'I don't know,' he answers after finishing his apple, 'I guess I don't have a valid reason for killing it,' he defends himself, his shoulders shrugging ever so slightly.
This makes me smile, seeing as how he really is a good person. However, he has got to change if he wants to be ready to kill Dumbledore by the end of the school year. 'I think you're giving the Killing Curse too much importance,' I say truthfully, 'If you had found this spider in your room, you would have hit it with a newspaper without a second thought. It's not that different,' I explain. 'Do you want to try again?'
He nods and stands up once again, pointing his wand at the spider. Just like the first time, he looks at the spider for a few minutes before doing anything.
'Avada Kedavra,' his orders in a steady voice. The spider drops dead and I can finally lift the Imperius Curse.
'I did it,' Draco almost shouts, looking exceptionally proud.
'Yes, you did,' I congratulate him while standing up, the mask hiding my proud smile.
Suddenly, Draco takes me in a bone crashing hug. He probably has been feeling very lonely since becoming a Death Eater, thinking that no one understands him. I can feel his heart beating strongly against my ear. Yes, I really am that small. It's not exactly uncomfortable and his scent is very enticing: A mixture of apple, after shave and what I would guess is his natural scent, something like the smell of a forest after a strong rain.
'It's late,' I state after a few minutes, 'I should leave.'
Before it gets too awkward, I slowly push myself away from him and he reluctantly lets me go. Immediately, I start walking towards the mansion so that I can floo back home.
However, I can feel him grabbing my hand, forcing me to turn around.
'I'm sorry,' he whispers and I nod. 'When and where will we meet again?' He asks urgently and I can feel more pressure on my hand.
'Same place, same time next week,' I answer in what I hope is a dissuasive voice, trying to free my hand from his.
However, I guess my voice wasn't dissuasive enough, because he gets nearer and protests: 'But-', he retorts in a hopeful voice.
I try to free my hand once again but his hold is too strong. I see he's coming closer but I can't let that happen, I can't give him false hope. So I do the best things that comes to mind, I decide to disapparate immediately, leaving him standing there.
It's the best thing I could, I reassure myself as I apparte in my hotel room. My heart was ripped out two years ago when Voldemort forced me to kill my adoptive parents. I have nothing to offer Draco, not even friendship.
Please review so I know what you think of this story!
They will finally be at Hogwarts in the next chapter :)