Author note: words; cannot describe how sorry I am, feel free to hate me, its nothing more than I deserve for being such a foul person and leaving you hanging this long. I've been literally overrun by coursework and homework, I know it's a well used excuse but it is the truth, and I just haven't been able to keep up with writing and down that both. Sorry guys, you have my apologies and this chapter, hopefully that will make up for my shameful lack of updates somewhat. Please enjoy. :)
Chapter fourteen: Gravity
Ivy
I froze, staying exactly where I was in the middle of the corridor, hidden from sight under Harry's cloak as a suspicious Malfoy stalked ever closer. Chest rising and falling with the force of my worried breathing I wouldn't let my gaze shift from the approaching Death Eater, too afraid that he might spot the movement again and find me here. I really didn't want to get into another conversation (argument) with Malfoy right now, I didn't have the energy for the shouting match that would ensue and I could do without the detention us getting found here would earn me, since surely it was after curfew now. I watched as a wary Malfoy continued to stride down the corridor, his gaze shooting around the corridor in an attempt to find the source of movement from earlier. I felt my eyes narrow in suspicion at Malfoy's obvious concern; he seemed furious at the idea that someone might have spotted him sneaking around the school at this hour, and if his poised wand was anything to go by he was prepared the silence anyone who might have seen him. Feeling even more frightened that Malfoy might find me, who knew what jinx the newest Death Eater was preparing to use, and wary of what he might be up to, I took in his threatening expression as he hissed,
"Show yourself," Into the darkness and continued to stalk towards me, getting closer and closer to where I stood with every passing second.
Malfoy paused and waited for the response that I sure as hell wasn't going to give him, silence falling heavy in the corridor as the sound of his footsteps stopped. Worried about the volume of my breathing I raised a hand to cover my mouth, I really, really didn't want to talk to him right now, especially when he was so defensive and I was still so mad at him, who knew what we might do to each other?
"I know someone is here." Malfoy whispered threateningly through gritted teeth as he pivoted a little on the spot and continued to look around, he was getting far too close to me for comfort now "I said show yourself!" Malfoy hissed angrily, fast losing his patience and about ready to snap, but still I remained silent as Draco tried to cover his tracks, hell bent on finding whoever he had seen move, namely, me.
With another step Draco was right in front of me, his extended wand tip just inches from my chest, knowing that I was going to have to move or else he would walk right into me I took an instinctive step backwards, which he unknowingly followed almost exactly, so that yet again he was right before me. Anxious to get away from him I backed up again, taking several steps back feeling the cloak, which mercifully covered me completely where it no longer did all four of us were, swishing about as it trailed on the floor. Malfoy edged closer still and even though there was now a sizeable distance between us I wanted it to be further, I didn't like how close he was and I didn't trust myself not to do something stupid, like shoot a jinx at him from under the cloak. Even I could tell that that wouldn't be a very good idea, somehow I didn't think that I wanted to be messing with Draco just now, I really didn't like the hardened look he wore on his face and I shamefully admitted to myself that it frightened me, he looked more like Malfoy the Death Eater than Draco my sometimes friend when he looked like that. So I took one large stride backwards, which would have landed me far enough away from Malfoy that I should have been able to veer around him and slip back up to the Gryffindor common room unnoticed. From there I would dissect this observation properly and think about what that vision could mean and figure out how on Earth Harry could have found out about Boxing Day.
However, luck wasn't going to let me get away that easily and clearly wasn't on my side as my clumsiness came back into play then, and just as I set my foot down on the stone floor of the corridor one stride behind me, my shoe caught on the cloak. Treading on the mysterious material the cloak was put at such tension that it instantly flew off of me, ruffling my hair as it went, at the exact same time I lost my balance thanks to treading on the cloak and tumbled backwards, landing on my backside with a loud, indelicate thud. A noise of pain and irritation escaped my lips as my bum made contact with the hard stone beneath me.
Malfoy's reaction to my appearance was so swift and so abrupt that I hardly had the time to register what had just happened before I was looking at the end of a wand tip and up into the narrowed cold blue eyes of said Death Eater. My eyes went wide with horror as Malfoy spoke the curse.
"Avada…" he started as I fought back a tiny yelp from where I sat, on my backside with my hands pressed against the stone floor behind me, my heart beating overtime in my terror. He was going to curse me! I thought, more than glad to be proved wrong as Draco's narrowed eyes widened in recognition as he realised just who exactly was sitting on the floor in the darkness having a mini heart attack "Ivy?" he asked his expression morphing into one of confusion and his voice so devoid of the menace that had been there only seconds before that it didn't seem to fit anymore.
"Y…you were going to curse me," I stammered as shock changed into anger as I realised what Malfoy had been about to do "you were going to use an Unforgiveable Curse on me!" I exclaimed furiously as I grabbed hold of my anger and ran with it, preferring it to fear and helplessness. Glaring up at Malfoy and feeling my mouth open with outright shock and fury, I listened as the portraits around us murmured about dark magic at Hogwarts and scolded Malfoy, much to the Death Eaters annoyance.
Scowling at me Draco tucked his wand back into his robes with a slight, stuck up flourish before saying "I did no such thing, Jones, your imagination is running away with you." he then shoot me a dark but meaningful look, telling me to shut up and drop it, I wasn't going to though, he had almost killed me for crying out loud, how did he expect me to just drop that?
Appalled and matching his dark look with one of my own I hastily snatched up Harry's cloak, stuffing it back inside my bag so that Malfoy wouldn't see it (he was too busy trying to cover his behind to be bothered about where I suddenly appeared from), before pushing myself to my feet so that Malfoy wasn't at such an advantage height wise, it was hard to look convincingly outraged and intimidating from the floor.
"Yes you did," I hissed taking a threatening step closer to him, all previous fear and apprehension gone now thanks to his almost attempt on my life "you were going to use the killing curse on me." A second chorus of muttering and 'you should be ashamed of your selves' came from the paintings around us, Malfoy blushed an angry red and I felt myself fill with smug satisfaction.
"I wasn't going to use and Unforgiveable Curse on you, Jones, what do you take me for?" He asked innocence written across his expression and his open posture, I could tell it was just a show though so that none of the paintings would go running to Dumbledore. I could see the dark threat still in his cold blue eyes, ordinarily I would have flinched under the weight of it but right now I wasn't going to.
"Do you really want me to answer that question, Malfoy?" I asked him dryly as I folded my arms, and he scowled knowing exactly what I was insinuating.
"You still have a very low opinion of me, don't you?" he asked a flash of that pleading look he had worn on Boxing Day present in his gaze for only the shortest second before it vanished behind his pride.
"It's no more than you deserve," I snapped causing his eyes to tighten in irritation "you were going to kill me after all."
Malfoy pulled an exasperated face before shaking his head at what I had just said "I would never have killed you," he hissed somewhat urgently, however I noticed that he no longer denied actually being about to use the killing curse, though none of the portraits picked up on this and were instead now muttering about students being out of bed late at night so that they could have secret rendezvous. That irritated me. Though I suppose that I didn't really want Draco to get into trouble for almost using the killing curse, just like I hadn't wanted to tell anyone he was a Death Eater, but I didn't like that the portraits thought we were just a bickering couple.
"Sure you wouldn't," I scoffed "just like you were totally innocent on Boxing Day too."
"Must you constantly bring that up I wouldn't…." Malfoy started but I cut across him, shocked by what he had just said.
"Must I constantly bring that up?" I repeated loudly and irritably, causing Malfoy to make motions to shush me and the portraits to complain "yes I bloody well must you conceited pilock. My family had to move because of you, they had to leave everything they had ever known because you put them in danger, I not even allowed to go and visit them because of you, I cant so much as go out of the castle to Hogsmeade or anywhere like that because of you, all because you wanted to prove yourself. So forgive me, if you can find that somewhere in your cold heart, if I'm just a little bit bitter." I snapped, breathing heavily by the end of my rant and trying to rein in my emotions, though not quite sure why I should bother.
"we should go somewhere else to discus this," Draco said sternly but looking around a little nervously at the portraits now giving us their full attention, watching them he made the mistake of reaching out to grab my arm, as though he was going to steer me away.
"No," I snapped pulling my arm from his grip causing him to look at me in shock, almost as though he hadn't been aware of even grabbing my arm himself "I'm not going anywhere with you and you can bloody well keep your hands off me." I said glaring at him, all the pent up anger I had accumulated over the Christmas Holidays and since coming back to Hogwarts coming out at once, I hadn't really had the chance to have it out with him properly yet and I wasn't going to hold back, this guy had really hurt me. "You don't care do you," I said accusingly, it was a statement not a question "you couldn't give two hoots about what you've done to me and my family after we stupidly took you in."
"I'm not going to stand here and argue with you, Ivy." Malfoy said taking the superior ground and winding me up even more.
"Of course not," I said feeling that Malfoy's obvious lack of shame was answer enough to my question "what are you even doing here talking to me?" I asked "you going to finish what you started over Christmas or are you going to silence me for seeing you sneaking around?"
"Neither," Malfoy said irritably "I'm going to sort this out, now," looking around the corridor.
"Oh you are, are you?" I asked him, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I refolded my arms across my chest and watched him scan the corridor, wondering even in my anger what he was looking for. I was also trying to push aside another thought I was having in regards to Malfoy, despite my resentment, he was looking rather slick and dangerous in an all too worryingly pleasant way, dressed as he was in dark colours and standing not too far away from me. Repulsed by the direction my thoughts had taken I cursed my hormones and reminded myself that he was a lying, manipulative Death Eater, over and over again.
"Yes," Malfoy said frowning a little as whatever search he was conducting didn't go his way "I will make you understand why I did what I did, even if it kills me."
Annoyed that he was painting me as such a chore and piece of hard work I scowled at him before asking "why bother? It's not like I'm going to believe a word you say anyway, and it'll be nothing you haven't said already."
"This way," Malfoy said ignoring me completely as he gestured down the corridor the way he had just stalked. I made a scoffing noise at his command.
"I don't take orders from you," I said icily, wishing that I could just walk around him and head back to the Gryffindor common room, I couldn't though, I was going to stupidly stay here with him because I was curious, I wanted to know what he had to say in his defence, I wanted to know what else he had to say that he hadn't already said. I wanted to shout at him some more as well but that was beside the point. "Where are you wanting to go?"
Looking around again, clearly anxious, Malfoy didn't look at me as he answered "somewhere without an audience." He said, a strange edge to his voice.
I suppose that if I was a right thinking person that ought to have frightened me, a Death Eater who had once already tried to hand me to his master, however much he tried to tell me otherwise, requesting that we go somewhere without an audience. Really, of all people I should have been the most cautious and sceptical, I ought to have told him to take a short walk off the Astronomy Tower and stormed away. However I am clearly not a right thinking person and as mentioned I wanted to know what he had to say for himself, so I didn't do that.
The portraits around us didn't seem to appreciate Malfoy's words, they all made tutting noises and a old librarian (who judging by his background used to work in our library) in a portrait right next to us said "There is no point in you going anywhere now, boy," the old man said authoritatively "Matalina from the next portrait over has already gone to inform Professor Dumbledore that some students are up after hours, someone will be down here momentarily to escort you both back to your dormitories."
Unsurprised by this turn of events, I weighed up my desire to find out what Malfoy had to say with my desire not to get yet another detention, deciding that I really ought not to be taking that risk but knowing I would anyway. The pull was too strong.
Gritting his teeth and glaring at the portrait Malfoy reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand before growling "what did you just say, you faded old scribble…"
"Steady on boy," the portrait retorted, cutting across Malfoy and clearly not about to take the insult lying down "you're not scaring anyone and one of the professors will be down here any moment." The old librarian said though his voice shook a little and his stance became defensive in his frame, telling me that he was worried about what Malfoy might do to him, in all honesty so would I if Malfoy looked at me the way he was looking at the librarian. I wondered why he was so bothered about having this little conversation, this clearly meant something to the Death Eater but for the life of me I couldn't figure out why. Regarding him with confusion I supposed that he just didn't want me telling on him, or something selfish like that.
"We'll see about that," Malfoy said threatening and deciding that I had better step in before he set the poor man's painting alight I took a step forward, stopping just short of putting a restraining hand on Malfoy's arm, knowing I wasn't up to that yet.
So instead of doing the smart thing and leaving right then, I fixed an indifferent look on my face, cocked my hip and said "leave it Malfoy, your overreacting and he hasn't done anything to you. You know they're supposed to tell the teachers if they see someone up after hours." I told him my voice thick with disapproval, which he obviously heard as with a torn look on his face (torn between his anger and something else entirely) Malfoy turned to look at me, reluctantly giving up his pointless fight. Why is this so important to you? I wondered as I looked at him, completely unsure why the old man in the portraits words should have annoyed him so.
"Bless you Miss," the librarian said obviously relieved "I am over two hundred years old, my canvas wouldn't have been able to take anymore stress from this ruffian."
"It's no problem," I told the librarian not really looking at him but rather Malfoy, still not sure what to make of him "come on then, lets hear what you've got to say," I said before turning an heading down the corridor the way I had come, the opposite direction to the staircase.
"You're going the wrong way," Malfoy said after clearing his throat, trying to get a hold of some sort of authority.
Shooting him a look over my shoulder and wondering how on Earth he ended up in with the most dangerous wizards in the world I said "no Malfoy, I'm just not going the way you wanted me to." I watched as Malfoy pulled a face, clearly not happy with my response, not that I cared since it wasn't my job to make him happy "I know what I'm doing." Though I don't know why I'm doing it, I thought irritably as I walked to the end of the corridor, well aware that Malfoy was walking not too far behind me and that all the paintings on the corridor were watching us. If we wanted to avoid a detention we were going to have to keep out of their line of sight.
Silent for once Malfoy followed me as I turned right at the end of the corridor, knowing it lead to a dead end, the right hand corridor was absent of paintings so it suited us perfectly, though that wasn't why I had come this way. Reaching the dead end, the wall of which was adorned by a large tapestry, I could practically feel the weight of Malfoy's questioning gaze upon me. Ignoring him and thinking myself a fool for doing this, I reached out for the tapestry which was a bright emerald green colour and depicted the Slytherin crest I pushed it aside, revealing one of the school's many secret passageways. I remembered it from the Marauder's Map, it led to the dungeons, hence the Slytherin crest, and wasn't one Harry, Ron, Hermione and I used very often except for when we were running late for potions, however it was perfect for what I needed right now.
Letting go of the tapestry I let it flutter shut behind me, knowing that Malfoy would follow me, but I sure wasn't going to stay there and hold it open for him, not after all he had done to me.
"Lumos," I muttered after taking out my wand, blinking as light filled the small formerly pitch black landing, illuminating the rough stone walls and some of the downward heading stairs before fading back into darkness. If it wasn't for the fact that so few people knew about this passageway I would have been worried that someone might have been down there listening. But like I said, I was willing to bet that only a small number of people even knew this passageway existed, so I wasn't too worried.
Eyeing the stairs with uneasiness I turned back to face Malfoy as he pulled back the tapestry and stepped inside, his expression mildly impressed but largely apprehensive, as though he thought I was leading him into a trap. Ha, I thought sarcastically, worried I was going to give him a bit of his own medicine was he?
Trying not to look so uncomfortable and to maintain some sort of superiority, Malfoy opened his mouth to speak but I quickly shushed him, much to his annoyance and my smug pleasure. Cocking my ear and focusing on the silence I searched for anything that might indicate that we had been followed or that we weren't in here alone, however the only thing, other than mine and Malfoy's breathing, that I could hear was the sound of the paintings inquiring as to where we had disappeared to. Relieved I let out a quick breath before the gravity of what I was doing hit me again, why was I doing this? I thought as my gaze became guarded once more and shot to Malfoy, there was no way I could trust this boy, downtrodden and exhausted as he had looked these past few months, he was still dangerous and I needed to remember that. This could easily have been a trap, ha, though I'd like to see him try and overpower me the way I felt right now, I'd wipe the floor with him on the strength of my anger alone.
"Go on then," I said telling myself one more time, just for good measure, that I was an idiot for doing this "what do you want?"
Frowning Malfoy almost looked at a loss for a moment; his gaze on my harsh one was considerably softer than it had been out on the corridor and bathed in the glow of my wand tip he looked shattered, dark circles evident under his bright blue eyes. Just what exactly has he been up to? I asked myself as I took in his tired appearance, deciding I probably didn't want to know.
Recovering from loss of speech Malfoy stood a little taller, determination in his eyes as he spoke "I want you to know exactly why I did what I did, I couldn't care less what you think of me Ivy, but you ought to know all the facts before you make a decision."
I glared at him then, bristling at his callous tone and apparent nonchalance, he was so full of himself and it was only the slightly pleading look he wore yet again in his eyes that stopped me from storming around him and heading back to the Gryffindor Tower.
"You don't huh?" I asked letting my irritation show "then why am I even bothering to listen to you? And what are you talking about, what decision?"
"You need to know everything; you're prone to making rash choices without getting all the facts first…" Malfoy told me and I scoffed.
"Cheers," I said, affronted.
"…I am prepared to tell you everything, so that you know it all before you choose." He finished his posture stiff and his demeanour one of obligation, which pissed me off since he was the one who wanted to have this conversation, it had escalated too fast for me to really control, it was go somewhere private and talk to Malfoy or get a detention. I didn't want to be here.
"What choice?" I asked him wishing he would just come out with it "I've made all my choices; I don't know what you're talking about."
Malfoy took in a deep breath and shooting me a weary look which told me that he didn't want to have to say what I was making him tell me, which had me all the more interested. "Before you decide if you want anything more to do with me." He explained grudgingly, taking me off guard completely. His words shocked me with as much force as someone pulling a rug out from under me, his tone was so soft (if reluctant) it was almost vulnerable and that it's self shocked me.
I don't think I have a say in that any more, I thought as I looked at him, thinking of how I was standing here now with him even when every smart part of me was screaming for me to leave before he did something to hurt me again. Despite that I was still here, sure I could tell myself that it was only so that I could yell at him but I couldn't pretend that I had been ignoring him these past few months, he was always there, at the back of my consciousness, I was always aware of him but I had a frightening inkling that I didn't have a choice in the matter any more. He had been my friend (in a very odd sense of the word) and I had cared about him because of that, and unfortunately that sort of thing didn't just go away. I didn't say that aloud of course, what I said instead was,
"Go on then," before folding my arms across my chest in an attempt to look hostile; my illuminated wand still held tightly in my right hand, more so now my grip had tensed in light of the direction my thoughts had just taken.
Letting out a breath and pulling a face that might have been relieved in some strange Draco Malfoy I-don't-show-any-emotions-other-than-irritation-sick-glee-and-pride world, Malfoy shifted on the heels of his dress shoes before going to speak.
"Before I say anything, have you told anyone what I am?" Malfoy asked and there was no mistaking the urgency and the threat in his voice, or the dangerous look in his eyes. Fighting the urge to roll my eyes or shout at him that I had guessed as much, that he was just here to check that he was covered, I shook my head.
"No," I said insulted by how shocked Malfoy looked by my response "what?" I asked in an irate tone "did you expect me to go about shouting it at the top of my lungs, that I was tricked by you and that you're a Death Eater? I've got more about me than that." I said feeling confusion set in when Draco flinched at my use of the name Death Eater; he recovered so quickly that it might have just been in my imagination though.
Malfoy eyed me with wary disbelief for a brief moment before he spoke "I thought that you would use it as revenge, for what I almost did to you." he admitted, obviously relieved to learn that I wasn't spilling his secret to the world, I wasn't nearly so happy, I was offended that he thought I would just go around blabbing something like this.
"Well, you obviously don't know me very well." I said coldly, not happy that he thought so little of me but not knowing why I should care, he was the Death Eater here not me.
"Ivy, I have to know that you haven't told anyone at all, not Potter or anyone else?" he asked his wariness returning in wake of his need to be sure I'd held my silence.
"No," I told him crossly "not the Order, not Dumbledore, no one."
"Why?" Malfoy asked a frown of confusion tugging his blond eyebrows together and distracting me momentarily.
Avoiding his gaze I thought about replying with some biting comment, something about how he was the grass around here not me, but instead I decided that I'd had enough of snapping randomly at him and insults, I wanted to speak plainly now, no more games. So I opted for the truth "I don't know." I told him still refusing to meet his gaze, which I think suited him fine as he was avoiding mine as well, lost in thought.
"Is that it then?" I asked after a moments silence "have you got all you wanted, you know that I'm not going to tell anyone what you are so now you can head back off and do whatever you were sneaking off to do?" so much for no more biting comments but I was mad, mad that I was defending him and lying to everyone I cared about just to keep his ass out of Azkaban where it belonged, I hated that I felt obliged to keep his secret when he felt no obligation to honour our sometimes friendship, or to tell me the whole truth now that I was ready and willing to hear it.
Malfoy frowned "I said that I was going to tell you everything didn't I?" he asked tightly, obviously not happy with my snippy attitude. Because I cared. I thought sarcastically.
"And I was expected to believe that you would?" I asked him dryly "I might by naive Draco but I'm not stupid enough to make the same mistake twice." I said before internally cursing myself for using his first name rather than his last, an obvious show of my reluctant softening, I wondered if he had picked up on it.
Malfoy sighed, heavily, as though he were an adult dealing with a particularly difficult child, he then turned his piercing blue eyes on me again and said "I'm going to tell you if you'll stay quiet long enough to let me." In a clipped voice and I fought back a sharp response, since I didn't want any more distractions and was more anxious to hear what he had to say than I cared to admit. Instead I only cocked my hip and set an expectant look on my face before waiting for him to carry on.
Malfoy shifted around for a moment, unsure of how to start his explanation, knowing that what he said next would determine where our friendship went from here, not that he would care about something like that though. Reluctant and clearly frustrated, Malfoy spoke, doing so very reluctantly.
"The order was sudden," he told me, inspecting the landing we stood on rather than looking at me though his voice held no hint of shame "we knew that something was up but we weren't told until the last second because the decision was a snap one." he said and I decided against asking who 'we' was, not wanting to push my look I waited again for him to continue.
"Apparently the Dark Lord had learned that there was a Seer at Hogwarts, that they were female and one of Potter's friends, which of course would have been dangerous since if they happened to have a vision about something that concerned the Dark Lord they would be able to go straight to Potter about it. I didn't know that it was you, it could have been either you or Granger they were talking about." Draco said, the air of a story teller about him despite his reluctance to tell me, he knew that he had to though; it was the only way to repair the damage this had done to our friendship, though it would only repair it a little anyway.
"You've told me all this already," I interrupted resenting his use of my friend's last names rather than their first but expecting nothing less from him "the night they came to the house."
Looking at me again Malfoy gave me a dry look "it makes more sense if I start from the beginning, I know that I've said this already." He said a little irritably.
"Alright," I said in a placating tone before I caught myself and wondered how I had gotten to this point, I was almost being civil with him, by our standards at least "carry on."
Malfoy gave me a raised eyebrow look at the command but did as asked anyway, gawd, he must really want me to understand, I thought as I watched him quell his pride and carry on talking "the Dark Lord wanted someone who was at Hogwarts to get to the Seer, to make sure that they didn't tell Potter anything dangerous, to build trust with them so that they could persuade them not to." He explained and I felt an awful, fearful sensation as I thought of what they had had planned for me, careful manipulation over to the dark side "he wanted them to start right away, which was why he sent me out immediately, he wanted to waste no time in me gaining the Seer's trust and I was given only their address not a name or anything, just an address to which I apparated and you know what happened after that." he said and I nodded, I did know what happened after that, a series of arguments, mocking comments, trips, remembrances and a whole swirl of confusing emotions.
Even more reluctant now, if his expression was anything to go by, Malfoy carried on "then I started to get the letters," he said and I turned to watch him as he recaptured my interest "they came on Boxing Day when we got back and, as you saw, didn't stop until I replied to one. The Dark Lord had changed his mind, he wanted to move now and take you by force so that he could use your visions to help himself, you would have been his prisoner." Draco told me and I fought back the urge to gulp and felt my hands become just a little clammy at the horrifying thought, I had known that that was what would have happened if Draco hadn't have been found out, but still it was the most frightening thing anyone had ever told me. "He was sending a few Death Eaters to get a report from me and then they were coming for you, I was to distract you." he said a cold, harsh edge to his voice as he said those words and I didn't know what to make of that.
"I know you well enough by now, Ivy, that I don't expect you to believe me," he said meeting my gaze for the first real time throughout his story telling, his eyes shinning with purpose and intent "but I swear, I never wanted to turn you in, not even when I thought I was going to have to watch you at Hogwarts too. When I got that first letter I didn't know what to do, I had told the Dark Lord that I would complete this mission and I'm sure you of all people can imagine that you don't tell the Dark Lord that you've changed your mind, that you cant do it any more." Draco said a slightly distant look in his eyes that, for a moment had me questioning just what exactly he talking about, then he started to speak again "so I wrote a letter saying that you weren't a Seer, that whoever told him that you were was wrong and that it would be a waste of time coming to get you." I looked at him, thinking that that had been a dangerous move, if Voldermort had found out that he had lied to him then Malfoy's head would have well and truly been on the chopping block.
"I came downstairs, I wasn't going to tell you," he admitted and I found that I couldn't bring myself to be annoyed by that fact so I just continued to listen "I didn't see the point in telling you, but you had already read the letter and had your vision." He said running a hand through his hair in an unusual sign of nervousness, Malfoy was never nervous. His emerald ring caught the light of my wand and glistened and I found myself thinking of the other vision I had had that day, before quickly dismissing the thought. "We argued and you told me to leave and get rid of them, I knew that they wouldn't just go so after trying to convince you to run away, which you stubbornly refused," he added with a glare for good measure "I went out there and lied to them, telling them that you weren't a Seer and we were wasting the Dark Lords time by being there. They didn't argue much, since they had been standing in the cold a few minutes and didn't appreciate that, and we apparated away." He said and I nodded, more out of awkwardness and my need to do something than in agreement.
"I'll bet your master wasn't pleased to see you coming back so soon, and empty handed too." I said and though Malfoy shot me a look for the use of the term 'master' even though it was true and my voice wasn't nearly as harsh as it could have been.
"No one was," he admitted no longer reluctant and probably just relieved that he had someone to talk to about this, someone who knew his secret even if they didn't approve "but they believed me when I said that you weren't a Seer, however much they didn't want to." He said, giving nothing else way, I said that he wasn't reluctant anymore, but the blond Slytherin was still cautious about what he said to me.
Frowning a little but not as furious as I was earlier, as even though I had already heard most of what Draco had just said it made more sense when he laid it all out like that, and I could see his reasoning even though in no way did it make his actions okay or any less evil. Pissed off as I was, even I could see that Draco was stuck between a rock and a hard place, it wasn't like you said no to Voldermort and he just let you walk away, clearly Malfoy just wasn't brave enough to take the risk. But still, I had to ask,
"Why do it though, why work for Voldermort if, as you claim, you didn't really want to turn me in?" I asked him, well aware that I didn't sound half as hostile as I had five minutes ago, and alarmed by that fact.
Draco paused, his blue eyes tight with the biting comment he had been about to shoot at me, he thought better of it and instead said "I don't have a choice," as though it was as simple as that and that would placate me, it didn't and my indignation flared again and I huffed before tightening me folded arms across my chest.
"My parents were the ones who didn't have a choice here, not you." I snapped, irritated.
Malfoy groaned loudly before pulling an exasperated face and saying "I've explained everything, I've told you why I did that and that I didn't want to, and that's still not enough for you, is it Jones?" frustration clear in his expression and I could see his hand itching to run through his hair again.
"No," I said only slightly smug that I was getting one over on him, my mood was soured by the fact that he still hadn't apologised for what he did "I might understand why you did it, even if you wont tell me why your even working for Voldermort anyway," I said and Malfoy flinched causing me to roll my eyes at his irrational fear "but that still doesn't make what you did alright, and I'm not about to forgive you just because you happened upon me and decided to come clean. What you did was wrong and I'm not going to forgive and forget that easily."
Malfoy frowned before folding his arms across his chest, apparently he had thought that would be enough for me, again I repeat, he clearly doesn't know me that well "so you're going to keep cold shouldering me?" he asked and I shrugged.
"Maybe," I hedged "unless you've got something else you want to say to me."
Malfoy's posture visibly tightened and his lips pressed into a hard line, he knew what I wanted, he knew that I wanted him to apologise and I could see that he wasn't going to. Damn him and his pride, but if he's really so bothered by this and he wanted things to get back to normal he was going to have to suck it up and apologise to me, and maybe grovel and beg for my forgiveness too, depending on my mood.
"No?" I inquired raising my eyebrows in question but not needing a response, I knew he wouldn't give me one anyway "fair enough, thanks for telling me the truth, I appreciate that." I said having enough of this and going to walk around him, he stopped me by throwing his arm out, probably remembering how I had acted when he touched me in the corridor. "This staircase leads down the to dungeons," I told him when I stopped in front of his arm, my chest heaving with anger that he wouldn't apologise but I wasn't about to ask again "unless you want to return to sneaking around the seventh floor." I said remembering Harry's suspicion and what he was forever showing me on the Marauders' Map, where Draco was sneaking off to.
"I'm making an effort, Ivy," Draco said his blond head turned to look at me, his blue eyes tight with irritation but holding an intense emotion that I couldn't place "I wanted you to understand, no one else ever does…" he admitted before trailing off and frowning at himself, as though angry that he had said what he had. I wasn't surprised by the face he pulled (just his words), that was the closet Draco had ever come to saying that he valued our sometimes friendship, he usually just took it for granted that I would talk to him about what was on his mind, after insulting him a bit first, of course.
Looking at Draco's confused and self frustrated face I blinked, shocked myself and said "I understand a bit more now," I said honestly "I just don't get why you did it."
"I didn't," Draco exclaimed finally having enough and snapping "I didn't hand you over to him, god Ivy; I didn't let them take you."
"You were going to," I told him trying to keep my anger at a manageable level and slowly getting fed up of the emotional rollercoaster I got on every time I was around him, I never knew where I stood anyone and if I had any sense I'd keep away from him, he kept pulling me back in though, I noticed.
Still looking frustrated and angry that I wouldn't let him off the hook Draco wouldn't move his arm, waiting a moment and frowning at him I grew tired of waiting and pushed past him, the heavy library book banging against my side with the motion of my movement. I was sick of this, even if Draco and I had talked this out a bit, I was sick of bickering with him and I wanted to get back up to the Gryffindor common room and go to bed, he was exhausting me.
"Hey," I exclaimed as Draco's hand shot out again, his fingers curling around my arm and pulling me backwards towards him. Furious at being manhandled I was about to turn my wand on Draco and jinx him into next week when he covered my mouth with his hand, silencing me and royally pissing me off. Struggling I felt my fury mount, the Death Eater was attacking me! This was a trap and he wasn't going to let me go now, he was either going to do me in or get me to his master somehow, and I had been considering forgiving this guy!
"Stop struggling," Draco hissed in my ear as his other hand closed around my wand hand and he forced it from my grip, oh my god, I thought angry and frightened, I was done for, he had disarmed me as easy as that and this was it now, there was no one here to help me.
"Like Hell I will!" I retorted, thought against his cold hand it only came out as an angry muffled sound. Still struggling against his grip as he pulled me closer to gain more control and to stop me escaping his grip, I squirmed trying to get away as he pulled my back against his front.
"Stop it," Draco hissed again "someone is out there."
I froze then, going completely still in Draco's grip like a deer caught in headlights. Remaining exactly where I was I strained to hear over Draco's and my laboured breaths, made so by our mini fight, listening for someone beyond the tapestry that concealed us. I don't know why I was so quick to believe him, maybe it was the urgency in his voice, but sceptical as I might have been I trusted him not to hurt me as I listened to see if he was right. Though Draco's grip on me did slacken somewhat he didn't let go, he still held me where I was, my back against his chest and his hand over my mouth.
Click, click, the sound of dress shoes hitting the stone floor beyond the tapestry told me that Draco wasn't lying, someone was out there and they would have surely seen me if he hadn't stopped me. Trying to figure out what that meant and ignore how Draco's hold on me wasn't all that unbearable, except for his hand over my mouth, yeah that I could live without. Draco and I waited as the mystery person walked about the corridor, maybe they were looking for us but I couldn't tell, at least I couldn't until a familiar voice rang out through the almost silence.
"And they went down here, did they?" my eyes went wide and Draco tensed when the distinctive voice of Professor Snape reached our ears. Crap.
"Yes Professor," another, this time unfamiliar, voice replied and I guessed that it belonged to one of the portraits.
"Hum," Snape mused, his voice closer than before but not yet right before the tapestry though it sounded like he was heading this way, we could only hope that he didn't know the passageway was here. Or, I thought looking down the staircase half illuminated by my wand tip (I sure hoped that the tapestry was thick enough to conceal its light), we could just make sure that he didn't find us.
Deciding that I wasn't going to just sit here and wait to be found I shifted my hand, an awkward thing thanks to Draco's grip, and poked him in the chest, I felt more than saw him look down at me questioningly and indicated with my head towards the staircase, again difficult because of Draco's hold. Misunderstanding but seemingly thinking that I wanted him to let go of me, Draco reluctantly moved his hand from my mouth and let go of my arm. Not minding that he hadn't grasped what I meant I bent down and retrieved my glowing wand before pointing towards the staircase with it again, shooting Draco a meaningful look, all anger and mistrust forgotten in wake of our current predicament.
Draco paused, unsure, but Snape's stalking footsteps were getting even closer now and Draco was apparently about as anxious to see the old potions master as I was and walked across the landing before starting down the stairs. Silently I followed him, lighting the way. Phew, I thought as I snuck down the steps, trying to make sure my footsteps didn't echo too loudly on the stone staircase. Draco was doing exactly the same beside me, his gaze occasionally flicking to behind us as we went down the stairs checking to see if we were being followed, we weren't. I didn't relax until we were both taking the last step off the staircase, now several floors down in the dungeons, which didn't suit me very well, and even then I was still anxious. I was used to all this sneaking around and almost getting caught though so it didn't bother me too much, it didn't bother Draco either if his expression was anything to go by.
"That was close," I breathed into the awkward silence that had descended behind the second tapestry, before pulling a face and internally chastising myself, it wasn't my job to relieve awkwardness, it didn't matter, and it was only Draco.
Draco said nothing, frowning, apparently deep in thought as his gaze continued to flicker back up the stairs, I wondered about that before deciding yet again that I probably didn't want to know. Neither one of us made a move to go anywhere, we just stood there for a moment, not looking at each other, not moving, just thinking. Sighing and shooting a glance at Draco, who was wearing a brooding look on his face, and took a step forward before pulling back the second tapestry, I was tired of this, and I wanted to go to the common room. Checking to make sure the coast was clear I stepped out into the dungeons corridor; Draco followed me out, still not talking.
"I'm going back to the Gryffindor Tower," I told Draco and he blinked, seemingly coming out of deep thought. He looked at me and I met his gaze for a brief second before reaching down to check Harry's cloak was still in my bag, otherwise I wouldn't be going anywhere and he would likely kill me. It was and I tucked my hair behind my ear as it fell forwards, before straightening back up and pulling an awkward face and shifting on my feet before thinking, sod it, and turning to leave since Draco obviously wasn't going to say any more or apologise for grabbing me like he did.
"Ivy?" Draco asked, stopping me with his clear, slightly frustrated tone "I've told you everything I can. Isn't that enough?"
Looking back at him I shook my head, knowing that I had to hold my ground here or else he would think that he could just walk all over me and wasn't going to let that happen "No," I told him in a strong voice that wasn't as cold as it would have been fifteen minutes ago "I've not forgiven you yet." I said honestly, no dig indented; there was just no way that I was going to forgive him that easily, I liked to think that I used my brain a little more than that.
Draco scowled, but it didn't hold its usual menace, it was more like he was frustrated, as though he couldn't see why this wasn't enough for me. Well, I thought as I shot him a parting glance, if, for some strange reason, he wanted to get me to forgive him and to save our strange friendship, he was going to have to try a little harder than that. And get Pansy to stop glaring at me, I added mentally, thinking about how the one of the two of them always seemed to be glaring at me these days. Reaching the stairs that led up and out of the dungeons I tried not to think too much about what had just happened as I pulled Harry's cloak from my bag and left Draco behind me, if I did I might just start to go soft, I had already pretty much told him how to get me to forgive him. So much for being mad at him forever and never wanting to talk to him again, I thought sourly. Reaching the Entrance Hall I threw the Invisibility Cloak over myself and checked that the no one was around, I was lucky; no one was there apart from one of the castle ghosts, groaning around the far end of the hall. Keeping as quiet as I could I snuck up towards the Gryffindor Tower, I wondered why it was I couldn't even go out to get a book without running into Malfoy, and if he was going to stay down in the dungeons or head back up to the seventh floor and whatever it was he did up there. I shook myself, chasing the thought from my head, it didn't matter, he could do whatever he wanted and god knew he did that anyway, he didn't care who he hurt or how morally wrong what he did was, my predicament was proof of that. I just had to keep reminding myself that and no matter how Draco explained or how tired and downtrodden he was or how he seemed to have some sort of pull over me, I wasn't going to get hurt by him again.
Author note: okay, I do know that that ending wasn't brilliant, and I'm not overly proud of the whole chapter, but I wanted to show some progress in the story and I wanted to have Ivy and Draco going a little towards making up, only a little since she's still mad at him. Oh and I was anxious to get on with the next chapter so, you'll have to try and forgive me if it's a bit crappy. I hope that you liked that chapter anyway, and I'd really appreciate it if you would review and tell me what you thought, they cost nothing and really do inspire me. A big thank you to everyone who has reviewed my work in the past as well. :) x