CHAPTER 4

No one had even realized that Draco Malfoy had already left and was sitting on his couch, reminiscing through his thoughts and trying to forget all of the past events of that day. Why in the world had he stopped her from getting captured? He guessed it must of been because it would only bring back the memories he wanted to forget. When the Golden Trio were being held captive in his house, he had done nothing to save them. He couldn't get his body to move. Although he despised them, he couldn't handle it. He had known them since he was only eleven years of age, and the glares they made sure he saw made him feel guilty.

Of course, Potter, the hero that everybody sucked up to, had saved him from a fire that Crabbe had stupidly set off and hadn't been able to put off and had gotten himself killed, but that was different, somehow.

What he had dreaded the most had actually happened. His Aunt saw him near the girl she had been desperately trying to imprison, and Disapparating with said person. He put his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair, feeling the beads of sweat on his forehead. He decided it was getting a bit too hot, even though it was only seventeen degrees in the house. With a flick of his wand, he put out the fire and made his way to his bedroom.

He was now going to continue to live in his godfather's old home, as it was protected by the Fedilius charm and no one knew about it except for him and Draco himself. It wasn't very cozy, but it was decent enough to live in. Draco couldn't return to the Manor anymore. There was no way he would get himself killed. He just hoped that nobody had harmed his Mother, or she had at least managed to escape. His stomach sank at the thought that he didn't even check on his Mother, when right now she could be... He didn't even want to think about the endless possibilities. He hurriedly slammed his door open and rushed through to his bathroom, slipping onto the floor. He had no time to be graceful right now. He landed hardly on the floor, the compact of the white tiles hitting against the bones on the side of his hip and thigh. He quickly crawled up and opened the doors to the cabinet underneath his sink, and his long slender fingers latched onto a small box. He pulled it out and roughly opened it, revealing an emerald stone, and he grasped it, holding it tightly in his hand. He went over to his bed and sat on it, concentrating. If this was going to work, he didn't need any distractions. He held the object in his hand, thinking of only his Mother.

While at the Manor in her bedroom, Narcissa Malfoy had no clue as of what was going on. She sat on the edge of her bed, as still as a statue and staring at the wall in front of her, her gaze not lingering. She wondered whether her sister had completed the mission that had been given out by the Dark Lord, wondering why he had given this out in front of everybody at he table. Every single Death Eater had been summoned by the Mark, told that this meeting was urgent. When they had arrived, they had a brief discussion about the whereabouts of the Potter boy and where he had been. Then, Severus Snape had given vital information about where the boy would be staying and the means of transport on his seventeenth birthday. The Dark Lord accepted this, not at all suspicious of his loyal follower. The former teacher of Hogwarts had been floating atop of the table, pleading with Severus, but he gave her no thought. Green light emitted the room, and the body of Charity Burbage crashed onto the wooden table, vibrating the peoples hand atop of it. "Dinner, Nagini," he said, while his face expression hadn't changed, he didn't even do so much as flinch, nor did he seem to care that young Malfoy had fallen out of his seat.

Silence echoed through the room, not one of the Death Eaters daring to speak while not spoken to. The Dark Lord broke the silence by offering a mission to Bellatrix that she and other Death Eaters were to capture Granger and Weasley.

"Yes, of course my Lord," she said, not containing the excitement in her voice. "You know I will never refuse any of your offers."

"Why of course, Bellatrix. I do not have my doubts," Voldemort said smoothly, but tonelessly. "Although, if you are to fail, which I do not begin to ponder, there will be sheer consequences," he added, hissing each 's'. The hisses rang throughout the room, ringing through everyone's ears. Some took to covering their ears, while others trembled slightly.

"Of course, my Lord," Bellatrix agreed, looking down the table to glance at her fellow Death Eaters, her mind scrambling through the options. "My Lord, if you agree, I would like to have the company of Yaxley, Greyback, Crabbe Sr and Goyle Sr, Dolohov and Macnair."

She looked up into Voldemort's eyes, as if pleading. He looked around the table at the eight men, who he believed to be a reasonable choice. His gaze fell upon the youngest Malfoy, and he stared at him in curiosity. Draco did not look at him, but could feel his eyes on the side of his head. He tried his hardest not to shiver, or make sudden movements to admit that he was scared. He was seated back in his chair by now, and he stared at the opposite wall, trying to focus on the paint that was starting to peel off, but found the nerves still fluttering in his stomach.

Voldemort studied him carefully, watching as tiny beads of sweat were forming ever so slowly around his face. The corners of his lips twitched, but so slightly that nobody even noticed. Bellatrix was growing impatient and weary at the sudden attention that the Lord seemed to be giving her nephew. He did nothing, compared to what she did. She felt jealousy pour into her, coursing through her veins and her heart pounding in her chest. Voldemort shifted his attention back to her, and she felt her heart flutter.

"Well, Bellatrix," Voldemort started, eyes locking onto hers. "Why not take the young boy? Won't it be good enough training for him?" he asked, shifting his gaze from Draco to Bellatrix. Bellatrix leaned back into her chair, looking slightly taken aback. The boy? No! She loved him dearly, but she could not take him to something as important as this. No.

"I'm sorry, my Lord? The boy?" she replied, anxiously looking at him. "I can't take him. He mightn't be able to do it, my Lord. To kill."

"But this is good enough training, though. We need him prepared for what is to come," he told her, slightly amused.

"But-"

"Fine," he snapped, silencing her immediately. "He will not go with you. But he is to leave the room immediately."

Draco glanced nervously at his Father, but saw he hadn't even been paying him attention. He breathed in two times before standing up and bowing respectfully, and forcing his feet to slow down as he left the room.

Narcissa remained on the bed, but was now watching her memories with her eyes shut, as if watching them like a movie behind her eyelids. Her eyes fluttered open when she felt a tingling burn on her left wrist, just below the Mark. She knew what it was instantly, and without another bat of an eyelid, she stormed off intothe bathroom and opened the cabinet under the sink, reaching in to retrieve a tiny little box.

Draco paced anxiously, getting even more worried. He hoped that she was alright. This was the only form of communication they could have if any of them were in trouble, and was only to be used in emergencies. Of course, there were other emeralds stationed in other places, but this one was for a situation like this. How the hell could he have been so stupid? And why the hell did he get the Mudblood away from there? Fuck, this was stupid. He was stupid. The fucking world was stupid. He wondered whether he was on the brink of insanity, when he reminded himself there was no way a person like him could ever go near such madness. Not like that Looney Lovegood girl anyway.

Went he felt the tingle of a burn on his wrist, he took the box back into his hands and opened the base. Underneath, lay a tiny mirror. It allowed the communicator to hear what was going on, and in the reflection you can see their surroundings, depending on where they pointed the mirror.

On the other side, he saw the features of his Mother come to life, as if a tiny part of her was in the room. He looked around her as much as he could, making sure to check if there was anybody else there, and when there was no sign of any other being, he sighed and chuckled a shaky laugh. His Mothers face became calm as she smiled back at him, relief flooding her eyes. He sat himself on the edge of his bed and stared into the mirror, a question ready to roll off the tip of his tongue. But his mother had the same idea.

"Mother, are you-

"Draco, what is-

They both stopped talking, insisting on letting the other go first. When none of them spoke, Narcissa parted her lips slightly, and when she saw Draco make no indication of speaking, she coughed, clearing her throat.

"Draco, what is the matter?" She asked, now her voice calmer.

"Nothing, Mother. I just wanted to check whether Aunt Bella had came back home and-

"Wait a second. Why would you be wondering about that, Draco?" she questioned, glaring at him. He knew that it would be worthless to get out of this one now, but he still tried to escape the topic.

"I was merely... curious," he breathed, trying to contain his voice. It was working so far. "I heard that she was going on a quest that was ordered by the Dark Lord and just wanted to know whether today was that day."

"Yes, but why ask whether she had come back? She'd have had to leave from here, with you knowing. Unless, you spotted her?" She asked, her voice growing stronger with shock. Why would Draco be where Bella was? Draco stayed silent for a few moments, staring into his Mothers eyes until he couldn't anymore. He had always shared his secrets with her, she was the only person he could trust completely.

"Mother, don't be upset, but I-" he said, breaking off at the end so that he could word this properly. "I was curious when I saw Aunt Bella enter Knockturn Alley with the other members. So I followed them."

"You what?" she said louder, now looking at him with disbelief. What was he trying to get himself in to exactly? "Look Draco, you must not tell anybody about this! What were you thinking?"

"I just wanted to see what it was like, Mo-

"Draco! This is by far the most stupidest thing you've done! You cannot simply stroll into one of their missions without permission! Thank all that is holy you weren't spotted." At those words he gulped down a breath full of regret. How was he going to tell her now? Fuck. He looked up at her, unable to speak. She was glaring at him, but she leaned back as realization washed over her emotions. She gasped and looked terrified, staring unbelievably at Draco. What the hell had he done? The family were going to pay very dearly for this.