A/N: DUN DUN DUNNNN! Ahh. Yeah. I promise not to give any spoilers. So, quick, I disclaim everything. There. Ahhhh!
I didn't say a word to anyone for the rest of the weekend. I couldn't even be bothered to attend the Quidditch match. Instead, I hid away in my dorm, curled up under the security of my covers. I don't think I so much as left the Slytherin dungeons.
But Sunday was bound to come eventually. And when it did, and I was forced to throw the covers back and acknowledge the fact that no matter how long I tried to hide, the world was going to keep on turning. I was just going to have to keep on going right along with it.
Mindlessly, I slipped into a simple black dress trimmed with lace, sweeping my dark curls up into a pony tail. I knew I had to look presentable for the Malfoys, because, well, they were the Malfoys. I swiped on just a touch of mascara and pale pink lipstick, regarded my reflection in the dusty mirror. My head held high with all the usual Slytherin pride, I faked a smile no one would believe.
Draco was already awaiting my arrival in the common room, his arms crossed over his chest. At the sight of him, my gaze instantly fell to the floor. I'd been hoping he wouldn't be accompanying me, but of course it was his house to which I was headed, so it was only natural he'd come along.
"Hey," he said softly, but I couldn't bring myself to reply. He was so perfect, so beautiful and destined for all the dark and great things the world had to offer. And me, I didn't even know who I was. I couldn't even carry out the simple requests of the Dark Lord. When my life and those I loved were at stake, I was incapable of remaining strong. I was weak, pathetic, and Draco Malfoy deserved so much more.
I held onto my silence until we had arrived at Malfoy Manor, via the house elf that had been sent to apparate us from right outside the gates. It was only when we were right outside the heavy front doors that I finally swallowed whatever shreds of dignity I had left.
"Draco," I blurted, realizing I wasn't even sure of what I was trying to say. I bit down nervously on my lip when his steely eyes scanned my body up and down. "I'm sorry," I said at last. "About being so distant. This hasn't been the easiest few weeks for me."
The blonde shrugged, his expression blank as ever. "I understand, Lissa; I really do," he replied with a soft smile, the kind that sent my heart racing. "I knew you needed some time and space. And you know I'm always here when you need me."
I only nodded, and before I knew it I was being pulled roughly into his arms. With my face buried in his chest, it was easy to forget where I was and what was waiting for me on the other side of the door. But then the door was creaking open, and Draco let his arms fall away.
"M-Mother," he stammered, and sure enough when I looked up, Narcissa was staring down at us.
"Draco," she regarded regally before turning on me. I wished that one day I might possess half her grace. "And Elissabeth. A pleasure, as always. Come, you both must be freezing." We followed her across the threshold, and I thought to myself that in spite of all of this, the dark history surrounded us all, she really was the perfect mother. If only I had known my mother. Even just a name would have satisfied me.
"We're to have dinner in an hour. Shall I send the elf to make some tea?" Narcissa asked as she led us through the manor halls like a ghost.
It was Draco who replied. "I think I'd like to get cleaned up first, if it's all the same to you." Narcissa nodded her approval, as if she ever dismissed anything her precious son said. She turned her icy gaze on me.
"I'll do the same," I murmured, a bit too quickly. I hated the way I sounded so jittery, so unsure of myself. With a final glance at both her son and I, Narcissa turned away without a word and vanished into the corridor like she had never been there at all.
I looked back at Draco to find that he was already staring at me with such intensity I could hardly stand it. "So, I'll, uh, see you at dinner?" I said quietly. He nodded slowly, looking like he had something to say but never actually speaking. He left then, and I remained for a long while, just watching the place where he'd been standing.
It wasn't until I heard the sound of raised voices that I snapped out of my trance. I furrowed my bros, trying in vain to make out the words being said. Tucking a loose strand of black curls behind my ear, I set off in the direction from where they seemed to be coming. It wasn't long until I was stopped outside a black door.
"-only a girl!" The first voice cried. My lips parted just so; that voice, I knew that voice. Why did I know that- "My Lord, I beg of you. Release her from this task." Oh, god. It was my father. That was my father's voice. Which could only mean…
"You dare argue with me, Severus? After all I have done for you, a filthy half-blood?!" The Dark Lord. I had known, somewhere in the back of my mind, why I had been summoned here this night, but I'd been trying so hard to deny it. Well, there was no denying it now.
"My Lord," my father murmured, his voice filled with desperation. "She does not know about-"
He was cut off. "Her mother?" The Dark Lord laughed harshly. I felt myself cringe. Sixteen years I had gone without any information on my mother. And now I was listening through a locked door as the most wicked of all wizards laughed at the mere mention of her. My blood was boiling in my veins. "Oh, Severus. Don't tell me you're still so hung up on Lily."
Lily? I swallowed hard. Lily. Simple. Elegant. Lily. But, then-
The Dark Lord spoke again. "She left you," he hissed, so softly I could barely hear. "Do not forget, Severus, that she died protecting Harry. And you were left alone with Elissabeth. Did she ever even ask about her daughter? Or did she simply pretend it had never happened?"
In that moment, I swear I had stopped breathing. My lungs constricted, my heart skipped a beat. Lily. There was a reason that name had sounded so familiar. Because of Lily Potter. Who had died, protecting Harry. Which meant-
"That is her brother!" My father shouted.
Oh, god. I was going to be sick. Harry Potter was my…brother. And I had kissed him. I had agreed to…oh, this was not happening. I refused to believe it.
"I will not argue with you," The Dark Lord said, perfectly composed. "The plan goes on."
It wasn't until I heard the door knob start to twist that I remembered myself. Holding my breath, I scurried off down the corridor, begging to anyone listening that I would forget everything I'd just heard.