Chapter 10: There would be no goodbye.
A/N: It's kinda nice, I have a break in between classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 to 12:30 and I'm too lazy to go back to my apartment, so I sit on campus and write a chapter. Thus why we are getting one every week it seems, lucky us right?
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
"Crystal, go check on the prisoner for tonight's meeting." Voldemort didn't even knock as he burst into her room. She had been sitting there surrounding by papers, attempting to help Fred and George with their latest invention. It was the perfect time for her to be working too. There was a ball last night so she was able to sleep in and relax before tonight. Tonight was when Voldemort would give his weekly speech on why mudbloods and muggles are awful and spot of dirt in the pure world of Wizards. She was looking forward to it about as much as Thresals love fruit.
"Yes, of course," She responded despite her displeasure. She knew tonight's prisoner was a muggle or a mudblood. If she was lucky it would be a muggle. She never had to deal with the prisoners so why would Voldemort as her now? She didn't question out loud, rather she followed Voldemort all the way down to the dungeon. He threw her in almost at once. With caution she headed down into the dim lighting. The sight down their made her nose wrinkle in disgust. There was food bones scattered on the floor and in the corner a shivering female. Crystal ran forward at once, not sure what she was supposed to be doing. Her eyes stared right at the girl. Her pale skin practically glowed in the dim light, and her mangled black hair hung lifelessly around her face. She looked hopeless.
The girls eyes fluttered open at the sound of clanking heels upon the stone cold floor. Her dark eyes met with Crystal's startling blue ones. "What do you want?" She snapped in a weak voice. Surely the girl was here to torture her more.
"I…I…Sorry," Crystal shuttered. She was shocked at the hate that was laced upon the prisoner's voice. She wasn't expecting it. She had never heard hate like that before or at least had it directed at her.
"You," The prisoner said suddenly and pointed her boney and frail finger at Crystal. "You're Crystal Nott, Harry Potter's friend." Her hands found its way around Crystal's wrist. "It's true then, they are holding you here? You are being forced to marry Malfoy?"
Crystal felt tears began to swell. A lump was forming in her throat. It was all she could do was swallow. Is that really what everyone believed right now? She was Harry Potter's friend…had everyone heard about what happened in the ministry? "Yes," She finally said softly in a weak voice.
"You poor thing," The prisoner shook her head. "We are proud of you, in the Wizarding community. Such bravery you hold." She gave Crystal's hand a tight squeeze before pulling away and taking the time to lean up against the wall. "I'm Janette Stuedemann, a muggle-born."
"I'm extremely sorry, I wish I could do something for you." Crystal muttered and shook her head as a tear finally escaped the corner of her eyes.
"I don't blame you. If you tried to save me, you'd be murdered wouldn't you?" She said softly as her eyes traced the kindness that was coming from Crystal. "The most I can ask of you is to tell my family I loved them."
"I—Of course." Crystal reached out and grabbed Janette's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "I'm sorry I am not some hero."
"You are though, we all know you are fighting and when your moment comes you will shine." Janette smiled weakly. "Now go before you get in trouble." She urged Crystal forward with a gentle push.
She didn't think twice, she gave one more tiny sob and walked out of the dungeon with her head held high. She acted like nothing happened. She waltz right into the dining room where Voldemort was waiting with a report. She kept her voice as even as she could, "The prisoner is still alive." She said hoping that this information is enough.
"Good," Voldemort smiled deviously. "When the time comes tonight, I want you to bring her to the garden for the meeting. It will be such a lovely evening for a killing, don't you think?" He questioned as he looked up from his papers straight into Crystal's eyes.
When his blood red eyes locked with her blue eyes, she felt her stomach drop. Something told her to be afraid. She felt bile attempting to make its way up, but she wasn't going to lose. She would be brave. "Most certainly m' Lord," Crystal said with a bow.
"You may go," he commanded and she left in a hurry.
She didn't want to wait around for anymore sickening commands. She ran all the way to the top floor of Malfoy manor where her bedroom was. Her feet took her all the way to the bathroom were she emptied the contents of her stomach into the porcelain bowl. She felt week and shaken up inside. They were going to kill that poor innocent woman just because she was a muggle-born. Her body started to shake as she sunk down to the floor. The woman might as well have been Hermione or any other muggle-born she knew. This was horrible…how was she still in this mess? She wasn't some hero like everyone wanted to believe. She was here because she was a coward. How could she leave now? No she was here to attempt to salvage what she had with Draco. Those were real feelings right? She wasn't just doing this for her father.
Crystal laid there for hours letting her thoughts wander. She just wanted to escape, get away from this all, but she didn't bother moving a muscle. She laid there as the sun started to drift behind the horizon, in its wake the moon began to rise as stars streaked across the sky. Her bathroom was dim, the stars and moon where the only thing lighting her weak body.
"Crystal," Draco's happy voice filled her. She slowly lifted her head off of the cold marble floor and look towards the door. Her eyes adjusted ever so slightly and focused on the door through the moonlight.
"Yeah," She responded in a harsh voice.
"It's time," He said swiftly. She could hear him walk away. There were no other warnings. She had to retrieve the prisoner. It took her some time to lift her body, once she was finally up she opened her closet and grabbed the first black dress she saw, threw on her cloak, and headed down to the dungeon. She swallowed hard and opened the door, calling Janette forward. With a quick hand squeeze, as an apology, she walked forward holding a knife threateningly at Janette. She knew that Janette wouldn't escape, there was no point, she just didn't want to look like she was trusting. Voldemort would be holding the knife and a wand up to at least her jugular. But Crystal was too soft, this wasn't her life.
She tried not to sigh as she arrived to the inner circle. Voldemort took the prisoner at once and used his wand to produce bindings on her hands, legs, and mouth. He flicked his wand once more as she was hanging from the air upside down as if from an invisible rope. She never flinched once. She was holding her head high the whole time. She knew what was coming. Voldemort started his speech, after he had Crystal stand in her rightful spot next to Draco. She didn't listen to anything his speech was saying. She kept her eyes locked with Janette's. She had trouble controlling her body, but she wanted to send some sort of comfort through the dark words that were being spoken. She drowned them out, until her name was called out.
"M' Lord," She responded not a moment too late. Voldemort's patience's was thin tonight.
"Come forward, I would like you to help me." He smiled, but she knew that smile meant nothing but trouble. She returned the smile as weakly as she could. She knew she wasn't fooling anyone. Crystal would rather be anywhere but here. Regardless she walked right up to Voldemort where he proceeded to grab her and stand her directly in front of Janette with her back to him. "Wand," He commanded. She didn't question and reached into her robe, grabbing her wand and holding it lightly. He reached around her and held her wand hand with her. "I will let you experience the thrill of torturing filth."
"Of course M' Lord," Her lips said it without it even registering in her brain. She wasn't sure what was going on. Her eyes moved to Janette's, now it was her searching for comfort. Her hand was swishing in a movement she was used to seeing used against her.
"Crucio!" Voldemort said loudly in her ear. Her wand cast the familiar light and cast dark eerie pain onto Janette. Crystal's eyes hardened as her hand attempted to break free from Voldemort's. But she couldn't, his grip and will was strong. She was torturing a fellow wizard.
She threw another desk into the wall before her body finally collapsed. The sun was starting to rise. She had destroyed the whole classroom and then some. She had repaired it and put it back in order at least three times with her wand. She wanted to destroy everything. How dare Harry Potter accuse her of being a Death Eater? She was not a Death Eater. She had done some dark things…no, no more memories. She didn't want to think anymore. She had been in here since Harry accused her, it had been a long evening.
Crystal's body finally gave way as the sun peaked through the mountains that surrounded the castle and filled the empty, but destroyed classroom with light. She nearly hissed at how bright the light seemed to be. She didn't want the light, she wanted it to be dark. It all seemed so bright, so painful. She laid down and closed her eyes, wanting to block it out, but Janette's face floated in and out of her mind. The screams filled her ears. She couldn't get rid of them. Sobbing, she curled up into a ball and let everything consume her. She couldn't fight it anymore. She cried and cried, until her eyes fluttered shut and she was in a deep sleep.
When she finally woke up, she found that she was not in the destroyed classroom anymore. Her body was situated on a soft warm bed. She opened her eyes and looked around. The curtains around her were Slytherin. She was in a Slytherin bed…
"Draco?" She said softly. At once she heard shifted and the curtains peaked open. Draco looked disheveled and exhausted. He stood over her, taking in her appearance before he sat down next to her on the bed.
"What happened? Theodore said the mudblood had come over asking if any of us had seen you. Apparently you've been missing since last night." Draco reached out and tucked a lose piece of hair behind her ear.
"Don't call her that." Crystal snapped with venom. Her eyes automatically narrowed at his words. She didn't believe in mudbloods anymore than she did nargals.
"Sorry," Draco apologized with concerned eyes. After Theodore had asked Draco if he had seen her around 7 at night, he thought he better look for her. The first place he thought of was the classroom they always went too. And he was right to look there. She had completely ripped it up. There was nothing left in order. If he had to bet, he would bet that it wasn't about the article posted in the Witch magazine. Though that cover picture of Neville reaching out to push a tear off of her cheek boiled his blood. That blood traitor had no right to do that to her. No, that article barely caused any problems. He received a letter from her father this morning, next time she had to be more careful. It looked like to her father that she was telling Neville they couldn't be friends, not as the article thought, that they were torn lovers. He would let her father think whatever he wanted. "So what really happened?"
"Harry said I—" She started but cut herself off. She couldn't possibly tell Draco. He would laugh at her, tell her she was being foolish. She was going to be a Death Eater one day anyways. She should be thinking foolish thoughts. She shook her head and formed a lie. "Harry said that he was sorry he couldn't stop the reporters yesterday. He knows that I care for you deeply and he doesn't want me to get in trouble."
Draco studied her closely. That sounded like a lie if he ever heard one. "There was damage done, but nothing you and I can't fix the next Hogsmeade visit. I promise you I won't be in detention and we can go together." He reached out and held her hand, giving it a loving squeeze.
"Promise?" She asked with hopeful eyes. Spending a day with Draco would be just what she needed. He just had this way of making her feel happy and to be seen in public with him would really set things straight.
"Of course and a Malfoy keeps his promises." He smiled and then leaned into plant a tiny kiss upon her forehead. "But, I know you are lying." He added.
She let out a sigh. She thought for sure he would have bought that lie. Of course he wouldn't of, he can always see through her lies. "About what, Draco?" She asked innocently.
"That's not what Harry said. You weren't too worried about the reporters, were you?" He accused looking at her sharply.
Her eyes darted around, she didn't want to catch his cold grey eyes. She'd melt and tell him right away what was bothering her. Childishly she threw her head back onto his pillow and buried herself deep into the blankets.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Crystal Nott." He said clearly as he ripped the blankets off. He wore a scowl, but couldn't help but grin at her smile. She looked so happy. So at peace, right here with him. Not how she looked when she was alone in that classroom. When she was alone, she looked so scared, so upset, and so alone it was freighting. No, this was the Crystal he knew.
She stopped smiling suddenly though. Her lips creased into a scowl. "Harry said I was a Death Eater." She spilled finally.
Draco let out a soft sigh. "You know you will be, so why does it bother you so much?" He asked. Why couldn't she just accept the lives the live? Why did she have to be so difficult?
"Because I am not a killer," She stayed coldly.
Draco's face drained of color the minute the words were out of her mouth. Not a killer…his mind repeated. No, he couldn't think like that. He had to do this for this family. He had to protect them. It was his right as an honorable Malfoy. He had his duty to fulfill and he would. He would be everything Voldemort wanted. "It's not killing," He said the lines his father often repeated to him when he doubted. "It is purifying our race as Wizards."
Crystal wanted to punch him in the face. No, it was killing. No matter how you looked at it, getting rid of human beings whether they were wizards, muggles, muggle-born, it didn't matter it was all wrong. "Okay," She smiled with what appeared to be true happiness. "You are right, as usual Draco." She lied so easily. He bought this one. She had learned this façade the minute she had to torture Janette. She learned at that moment she had to stop being a little girl. She needed to be strong if she was going to be a spy. She wasn't going to be on the Dark Lord's side. She was going to be on the Order's side. And in order to do that, she had to act like she enjoyed every minute of every task the Dark Lord gave her.
"I know," Draco smiled proudly.
Crystal couldn't help but smirk. She wasn't going to lose now. If her friends didn't believe she was on their side, that was there problem. Slowly she leaned forward and pushed Draco down onto the bed. Still smirking she leaned in and planted a swift passionate kiss upon his lips. She pulled away ever so slightly letting their eyes lock before she leaned in and kissed even deeper. Her lips traced across his in fast passionate movements, but Draco was fighting it. He was feeling confused. This was not Crystal at all, what was she playing at, he thought with each kiss. He would admit it was good for a change. He was used to this kind of attention from girls, but not this sort of attention from Crystal. A part of him knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help it. He let their lips caress one another for what felt like hours, but really it was only mere moments. She finally deepened the kiss and slipped her tongue into his mouth. That's when Draco snapped. His thoughts clicked and he knew this was wrong. He pushed her off at once. She looked upset, but he could tell she was faking it. She sat there with her arms crossed and her face creased in annoyance, but her eyes were soft, they held that same sort of guilt and sorrow they usually held when she was completing a mission for the Dark Lord.
"What's wrong, Draco?" She asked softly as she reached out for his hand, as if inviting him back. But that was the last thing she wanted. She had made a blunder and she was trying to fix it. Draco couldn't know of her wavering for the Dark Lord. She knew that Draco was aware that she wanted nothing to do with it, but this summer she had managed to convince everyone that her memory loss had made her willing to do the Dark Lord's bidding. She somehow had played them all as fools and made them believe she wanted nothing more than to be a Death Eater. She knew deep in her heart, if she could convince Draco, who knew her best, she couldn't convince the Dark Lord of her loyalties. If she wanted to stay alive and close to the Dark Lord, her loyalties needed to look real.
"You are upset. You are doing this out of frustration." Draco stood up and smoothed out his shirt. He wanted nothing more than to get lost in her kisses again, that was more heavenly then he ever imagined, but he couldn't. She was not in her right mind. She was truly upset. The only other time she had thrown herself on him like that was when the Dark Lord had been watching her every move after she had tortured that Mud-blood. She was sharper then she appeared. She used Draco to let the Dark Lord believe she was on his side. Why she wanted that Draco wasn't sure…she had to have been up to something. Her mind had to have been figuring something out.
Crystal titled her head as if asking Draco to reconsider. When he didn't say anything she stood up as well. "Fine," She said calmly. "Maybe Neville was right." She turned her back to Draco, knowing how it would impact him more. "Maybe I shouldn't choose you. I should choose him." She turned her head so Draco could see her smirk and then she left.
"Fucking son of a merlin," She heard him growl as she escaped out of the dorm down into the dark Slytherin common room. When she made her way down the staircase she was greeted almost at once by her brother, who was looking at her in concern.
"I was just coming up to see how you were doing. Everything alright?" He asked with concern.
"Everything is fine." She said with a smile. "I just had some wavering confidence, is all." She said lightly.
"About what?" He asked as worry filled his eyes. Had she been worrying that Draco was really the right choice for her? Had the memories of him not been enough? She wants to leave him…that would be the end of it if she would.
She leaned into her brother and whispered into his ear. "Just if I was on the right side, but thanks to Draco I know I am." The smile that filled Theodore's face was more then she could hope for. He looked pleased at her response. They were playing right into her hands because they would never know how much she was on Harry's side.
"Good," Theodore smiled and patted his younger sister on the head.
When she finally made it to the Gryffindor common room Hermione had laid out the Witch magazine her and Neville had made an appearance in. She took it really well as she read it, laughing at everything it was suggesting. Hermione was glad she was taking it light-heartily. She had been worried about Crystal all day. She knew that the magazine was upsetting her and Harry's accusations had to have been weighing on her as well. Hermione knew Crystal would never dream of being a Death Eater. Harry was being really thick thinking that, something that was made extremely clear as they talked before bed that night.
The days started to go by much quicker. Crystal still couldn't get Harry to be her friend again. He was still dead set that she was a Death Eater. She honestly didn't know what to do to set it straight. It was frustrating her so much too because she couldn't sit with Ron or Hermione at dinner without Harry snapping something awful at her. One evening when she had been doing her homework, she lost it she couldn't take Harrys attitude anymore. He wouldn't even let Hermione and her do homework together.
She had pulled out her wand and pointed it right at him. "So what if I am a Death Eater?" She spat venom at Harry, who didn't even flinch.
"I—"Harry was caught off guard, but only for a moment. His wand was taken out and pointed straight at her as well. The whole common room held their breaths and watched waiting for someone to make the first move. But no one was budging. "Then you are the scum of the earth." Harry said with a cold glare.
Crystal lowered her wand and lifted up the sleeve of her arms. "No dark mark." She pointed out holding her arms face up.
Harry stared at them with narrowed eyes. "That doesn't mean anything." He pointed out. She could still be a Death Eater and not be branded.
Crystal took a step forward and stood on her tippy toes so she was right in Harrys face. She could feel his deep shallow breaths mix with hers as his wand brushed her neck. "I am working for the Order. I make it my business to find out what I can. I want to bring the Dark Lord down. Don't you ever forget that I am working for Dumbledore, for you!" She said loudly.
Harry had to take a step back, he wasn't expecting her to be so passionate and clear.
"I want nothing to do with the Dark Lord, but if I convince you that I am working for him, then surely I can convince him." She whispered so only Harry could hear it. He nodded slowly and grabbed her hand. He didn't want them to be over heard any more than they already had. He pulled her out of the portrait hole into an empty secret passage way.
"Crystal," He said apathetically.
"I don't want your apology." Crystal said quickly as she reached out and rested her hand on his heart. "I know what it looks like to you guys. And I'm defending Draco…because I love him. Wouldn't you do that too?"
"I—I guess." Harry said thickly.
"For Ginny?" She looked at him in disbelief. She knew he would protect Ginny at any cost. He wouldn't admit his feelings for her, but she saw it. She saw it just as Hermione had. He was finally growing feelings for her, ones that Ginny had always dreamed of.
"What? That's—" He shuttered around for a bit before finally changing the subject. "He's still a Death Eater."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Crystal laughed. "He probably is. I really don't know. I went through hell this summer and I was pretty self-centered, to be honest."
"What do you mean?" Harry questioned, he was curious. Her summer was pretty hidden, other than what he read. He wanted to know what caused this change in her. She seemed so much more into everything she did. She had heart and soul. He had seen her cry, get angry, happy, every range of emotions she seemed to spill now.
"Nothing," She sighed. "I just saw more then I care to admit and the worst part was there was nothing I could do about it."
Harry watched her closely. She looked heavy as memories flashed through her mind. What could possibly be eating her up, he wondered. But he didn't want to press her. She would tell in due time. Her life wasn't as easy as it seems. He needs to remember that. He needed to remember that when the time comes, she would be great weapon to have. She said Voldemort favors her a lot, but why? Would Dumbledore know why? He would have to ask him next time he meet with him.
A/N: I have no idea...it just fit. And a bit of character devolpment I suppose one could say :)