Chapter 19
Draco could only watch as the monster held Vanessa at arm length and looked her over "You have grown so much since I last saw you, granddaughter."
"You have changed as well, grandfather." She did not cringe away as Voldemort wrapped an arm around her.
"I am certain from when you last saw me, it is for the better." He sounded amused.
"Of course, grandfather." Draco noticed she kept using the title, like she was reminding him of their relationship…
"You have done well, in spite of the limitations placed upon you. I would have trusted no one but family with the task you had to complete." The death eaters moved out of the way as Voldemort escorted Vanessa to a crumbling stone that with a wave he transformed in to a bench.
Draco wondered how she could bear to have this… creature… touch her.
"Thank you grandfather. I have upheld my end. I have remained neutral in all things." She turned towards Voldemort on the bench but kept her gaze lowered. Was it respect or fear Draco wondered.
"The Unbreakable Vows assisted with that I am certain." Voldemort sounded amused.
Did he just say vows as in plural? Draco wondered.
"Without a doubt, but I could have always chosen death." Vanessa passed her gaze over the death eaters who were standing very still watching her.
"And yet, with your assistance, willing or not, neutral or no, I have returned to power. What boon can I grant you granddaughter?" It was clear he knew her game. She showed no reaction. Draco was impressed, full grown wizards cowered in the Dark Lords presence.
"I only ask for one thing, grandfather, that my marriage contract be given your blessing and that the Malfoys, worthless as they may seem in your eyes right now, be allowed to continue as my benefactors in the absence of my father." Lucius Malfoy tensed only slightly at her words.
"The marriage contract to the young man who cowers near Nagini?" he asked, once again amusement in his voice.
"He is Slytherin grandfather." As though that explained everything "and yet he came here against my wishes to see me safe. Far braver wizards have cowered in your presence than he I am sure."
"And yet not you?" he reached out and brushed a curl from her face causing Draco to shudder.
"No, grandfather. You value power, loyalty and your bond, when you give it. In that order." Vanessa did not flounder when she looked up at him.
"I notice you did not mention family."
"I know you place no particular value in that. Nor was I raised to do so. They are not necessary to the other three. Though as you have pointed out tonight" she took one of his hands "your true family has returned to you."
"I could well have meant my loyal death eaters." He said, testing her.
"You could have meant them to be so, if you had considered them loyal. I know you do not. How could you? Nott came to me against your wishes and attempted to interfere in your plans. And the rest abandoned you. I did not." When she reminded him of Nott's actions he carelessly tossed a crucio over his shoulder at the man as casually as if he had thrown a practice snitch to the man. He ignored the screams as Nott writhed on the ground.
"And you would ask me to allow your betrothal to one and the continued influence of another?" Again he seemed more amused by her than annoyed Draco noticed, but feared this could change any moment.
"Yes grandfather, I do so desire this. You asked me the boon I would request of you and this is what I would request." Draco held his breath as the monster contemplated her.
"Step forward young Malfoy." Draco felt his guts clench as he was summoned forward.
Once in to the light of the campfire and near to the bench Voldemort passed a hand between them and a green light crackled.
"Interesting" Voldemort said finally "I will allow this, be greatful for my mercy and benevolence."
"I always am, grandfather" Vanessa said, her head bowed low.
"Such pretty words you speak. Take your… young man and go." Vanessa stood only after the Dark Lord did so, offering her his hand.
Linking her hand in to Draco's arm she began to lead him off when she was stopped by Voldemort's voice once again "While I am flattered, I do not require you to expend your life by breaking your neutrality… yet."
Vanessa bowed graciously and allowed Draco to lead her to the apparition point where he noticed Meggy waiting to usher them back to Hogwarts. She looked at Draco with a cross between being miffed and being impressed "Stupid boy" was all she said before taking them back to Hogwarts.
Once back Vanessa waited for them to get to the dorms and a silencing spell was put up before she collapsed in to Draco's arms weeping and shaking like a leaf.
He had planned to demand answers from her, but seeing her post encounter shock and pure terror he could not bring himself to do so yet. He pulled her into the beds and into his arms. Whispering soothing words to her he waited until she calmed before he asked anything.
When her shaking had finally subsided he finally asked her "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Oh yes, I can see how that conversation would go" she hiccupped "I know you don't really remember me, but I would literally die to keep you safe, and by the by, my grandfather is Lord freaking Voldemort. I would be very lucky not to be locked up in Saint Mungos."
"OK, fair enough… in the beginning, but you never trusted me." He sounded hurt.
Vanessa sat up and took his hands "I trust you completely Draco. I just want to keep you alive. And safe. Getting you involved in that does neither."
"Did you know my father would be there tonight?" he asked tightly.
"Did I know? No I did not. Could I have made an educated guess that he would be summoned? Yes. He has a great deal of influence. Voldemort will need him. It is going… it will get very ugly before this is done."
"What happened in that graveyard tonight… that was beyond dark Vanessa, Cedric was killed just for showing up, you know that don't you?" he shuddered remembering the sight.
"He was never supposed to be there, only Harry." She looked down sadly.
"How can you sound so casual about offering up anyone, even Potter to be sacrificed like that?" he was horrified at her callousness.
"I did not want to. I have no choice. I am under two Unbreakable Vows that prevent me from telling either side what the other is up to." he did not doubt her, he had heard this himself.
"And what exactly IS up Vanessa? You said you could tell me now."
"Not all of it, but this year? Oh yes, this I can tell you. The man who taught our Defense against the Dark Arts classes was NOT Mad Eye Moody. He was a loyal death eater." She looked so angry.
"He... what? Who? How long have you known?" he could not believe what she was saying.
"Since almost the beginning. I recognized the symptoms of someone who was constantly taking a polyjuice potion. As to who he is? It took a while, but I am pretty sure given other events that it is Barty Crouch jr. I do not believe he died in Azkaban like it was reported." Her hands still shook as she held on to his.
"You threatened a full grown vicious death eater?!" he asked remembering the several confrontations she had with the man "Are you daft?"
"He wouldn't dare touch me. He would have been lucky to be flayed alive and he knew it. Bastard." She snarled.
"Wait! We need to tell someone, Snape or…" he was leaping from the bed.
Grabbing his hand she said "I am sure they have figured it out by now. When Harry came back, he would have been waiting to pounce. Back up plans you know."
He finally asked the question that had been plaguing him. "Why Vanessa, why would you help bring that monster back?"
"I did it on orders from both sides. Specifically Dumbledore and Voldemort himself."
"Wait... why would Dumbeldore want that monster back?" Draco could not believe what he was hearing, he had always believed the man was an incompetent head master, but a mad man as well?
"In his half state he seemed less dangerous, but he was also virtually unkillable. Forcing him in to a corporeal form.." she let the rest dangle.
"Makes him killable..." Draco said with dawning realization.
"I think there is more to it than that, but I am not involved in any of that. At least not yet." She said.
"That word "yet" terrifies me Vanessa" he said frowning.
"Yeah, it doesn't exactly thrill me either" she said snuggling in to his arms.