~Year: 2011

Your dorm room looked exactly the same. There were the same four beds, the same green bedspreads, the marble fireplace was lined with candles and the chandelier that hung into the middle of the room was shining brightly. You set down your trunk at the edge of your bed, which was wrinkle-free and pillow-less. Exhausted, but relieved at the same time, you sat down at the edge of your bed and placed your face in your hands. At that moment, the door to the dorm swung open.

"But then Theodore said…" a familiar voice yapped on, and then stopped. "Oh my god." You looked up to the door to see Pansy and Daphne standing in the doorway. Daphne's mouth was hanging open, and Pansy's eyes were wide, as if she was seeing a ghost.

"Oh my God!" They both screamed in unison. They rushed upon you, throwing their arms around you in a hug that knocked you flat on your back.

"Oh, Hi," you say meekly, as they squealed, still hugging you. You couldn't help but feel your heart burst at the sight of them. It had been so long since you had seen them, seen someone other than Draco.

"You're back!" Pansy said, finally pulling away. She smoothed back her short brown hair and pushed back her bangs.

"Way to state the obvious," Daphne told her. Daphne's grey eyes sparkled as she sat down next to you. "So where were you? Did you run off somewhere? Where's Draco? Did he go with? Did you two tie the knot or something? Wait a second…I haven't seen you in months…did you give up a baby or something?"

"Someone's a little too excited," Pansy said, raising an eyebrow.

"I've been listening to dramas on the wireless," Daphne admitted. "But seriously, where were you?"

Your stomach knots at this. You don't know what to say, you're not sure you want to tell the truth. You've lied so much already, but what more harm could one more lie bring? You look at their eager faces and feel your words die in your throat.

"I-" you begin. Thankfully, a voice interrupts.

"Celia?" Draco is looking around the door.

"Draco," Daphne says, blinking rapidly. "You're here too. You both arrived at the same time?"

"Yes," you tell her. "We just missed dinner."

Pansy doesn't say a word, but looks from you to Draco.

"Celia, I'm sorry, but the Carrows need to speak with us."

"Already?" Daphne panics, her eyes growing wide. "You couldn't have already done something wrong, could you?"

"What?" You demand, turning to look at her. "What do you mean?"

Daphne shivered slightly and turned her face, so that her profile was visible to you. On the side of her neck was a purple bruise.

"Teachers send you to the Carrows if you get in trouble. It's how I got this," Daphne gestured to the bruise on her neck. "Alecto asked me what the dirtiest creatures on earth were. I didn't say muggle borns, though I expect that's what they wanted to hear…" Pansy quietly places a hand on Daphne's shoulder, and she snaps out of her vacant glazed over gaze.

"Well," Draco said, breaking the silence. "I don't think that's what they want to speak with us about. We just got in."

"What could they possibly have to say to you?" Pansy asked. And though you were silent, you wondered the same thing.

"I'll be right back," you say to Pansy and Daphne. You tap each of them on the shoulder, a reassurance, as you join Draco. You close the door quietly behind you and Draco suddenly seizes your waist and pulls you tightly against him, kissing you deeply.

"I don't object," you say, slightly breathless as he releases you. "But what was that about?"

"I'm just a bit giddy at the moment," Draco replied with a mischievous grin. "We're back at Hogwarts."

"It's going to be different," you remind him. "We're under watch still."

"Don't you see?" Draco replied with a shake of his head. "We're under watch. But not his. Not strict surveillance, since we're Slytherins. Celia, this is the freest I've felt in months."

You smile at his boyish energy and allow him to kiss you again.

"Come on," you say, ducking out from under his arm. "We have to go see the Carrows."

"That we do," Draco agreed, taking your hand. You smiled up at his profile, so happy to see him behave normally once more.

The Carrows were waiting in Snape's old office. The room was now devoid of the potion bottle and supplies that once lined the shelves. A large portrait of a man with a long, droopy mustache now sat over the desk. Both Alecto and Amycus were sitting behind the polished desk, their hands folded.

"Sit," they chimed at the same time in their nasal voices as you entered the room. Draco quietly shut the door behind him and you nervously took a seat at the bench before the two of them. Draco sat down a few seconds later. There was a few seconds of silences as the Carrows surveyed the two of you, their beady eyes sweeping across your faces.

"The Dark Lord wishes us to keep an eye on the two of you," Alecto said with a nasty tone.

"He also wishes we put you to work." Amycus's mouth twitched up into a leer.

"Put us to work?" You asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Alecto replied firmly. She smiled, showing off her stumpy but sharp eyeteeth. "We have jobs for the two of you." The twins leaned forward, their eyes gleaming with the unknown prospect they were about to introduce to you. "We're in charge of punishment. And you two are going to help us punish those who act out against us."

"Us?" Draco asked in a derisive tone.

"The regime," Alecto spat impatiently. "You brute. Follow us. We're going to show you how to do this."

Alecto and Amycus lead you from the office, down the narrow hallways, to another room far in the dungeon. Outside the room there was a bench, on which Millicent Bulstrode and Crabbe sat. Both looked surprised to see you and Draco, but neither said a word.

"You're done," Alecto told them, and they hurried away. Alecto and Amycus pushed open the doors to the classroom. At the front of the class was Snape, sitting calmly at a table, writing on a long piece of parchment. A group of nervous students stood before him, lined up in a single-file line. Many looked like they were maybe first or second years and their cheeks were stained with tear tracks.

"Snape," Amycus and Alecto said, inclining their heads. You tensed up and looked around the windowless room. There were no chairs, no windows, and hardly any lights. The only light came from a torch mounted behind Snape's desk and two more on either side of the door. The children were quivering, and a few were sweating profusely.

"Alecto, Amycus," Snape replied in greeting, not looking at you or Draco. He looked down his hooked nose at the paper he was writing on and crossed out a few words with relish.

"This is where you will be punishing other students," Amycus said aloud. Immediately, the other students all turned to look at you. Some glared, but most looked at you with wide, terrified eyes that begged you to be kind. You swallowed deeply.

"Discipline is always enforced," Alecto said.

"What do we have to do?" Draco asked in a deadpan voice, avoiding looking at the younger students.

"Let me show you," Amycus said. He stepped away from his sister and pointed at the first kid in line. A small, lanky boy, with red hair and big brown eyes. "You. Name?"

"Walt Bowland," the boy whimpered.

"House?"

"Hufflepuff, Sir."

"Why were you sent here, boy?"

Walt quivered so badly you thought he might pee his pants. Snape lazily looked up from his work.

"He refused to go to Muggle Studies today, Amycus."

"That's right," Alecto suddenly piped up, jutting her chin forward. "This little brat refused to accept my teachings. Stand aside, dear brother, I must do this myself."

Alecto suddenly raised her wand. You felt an invisible force move by you, like a gust of wind, and then a loud crunch sounded out. Walt stumbled back, holding the side of his face. His cheek was bruised a deep red. "How dare you?" Alecto called out as he winced. She raised her wand again, and this time, the spell hit him in the stomach, and he doubled over, clutching his gut.

"Stop," you said shakily, watching Walt's knees begin to wobble dangerously.

Amycus and Alecto turn to look at you, nasty grins mirrored on their dull, wide faces.

"Would you like a turn?" Alecto asked, beckoning you forward.

"No," you said shakily. Draco widened his eyes at you, but said nothing.

"You will take your turn," Amycus hissed, raising her wand and directing it at you. At once, your mind became clear, as if someone had erased the whiteboard of your mind's eye. Two competing voices begin to battle inside your mind.

Go on, one urged. You need to do this. Just get it over with quickly. You can't screw up again. You need to appear loyal.

No! The other voice cut in. Look at the kid. You can't. You just can't. He's so young. Think about you when you were that young.

You shook your head violently, but the voice that urged you to punish the boy became stronger and louder. It yelled over the other voice, until finally, you couldn't take it anymore.

"Rictumsempra," you spat, directing your wand at the kid. Walt coughed and doubled over, wheezing deeply. The other kids in line closed their eyes, as if also in pain. Draco stared at you, his eyes wide. Amycus let out a low laugh.

"Good," Alecto said. "Good. You can leave now. But tomorrow at eight, be in this room. It will be your responsibility to take care of all the punishment."

You turned to go, refusing to look at anyone, your insides brewing guiltily.

"But-" Alecto continued as you wiped your forehead. "Don't try anything. Either of you. People will be watching."

You couldn't help but feel that there were more implications in that sentence than originally intended. You looked down at your feet as you exited the room, too ashamed to look at any of the other students, too scared to look at the Death Eaters.

Quietly, you could hear Draco walking along next to you, but thankfully, he didn't say a word until you reached the Slytherin common room. To your surprise, it was mercifully empty.

"It wasn't your choice," Draco said suddenly, breaking the silence. "The imperius curse is hard to break."

"I should be stronger," you told him, refusing to look him in the eyes. You felt so terrible about yourself. How could you even be worthy of love in someone's eyes? You were such a terrible person, someone who could inflict pain on another without any will to stop it.

"You are the strongest girl I've ever met," Draco said, taking your hand in his. He tipped your chin up so he could look in your eyes. "Just one of the strongest people I know, period. We all screw up Celia. We all have things we're ashamed of." Draco leaned down and pressed his lips against yours. You lean your forehead against his, your breath slightly ragged.

The excitement about being back at Hogwarts faded as quickly as it had come. You could see that Draco felt the same way, as his eyes were tinted with melancholy.

"Sit with me," you begged, sitting down on the leather couch. You pointed your wand at the fireplace, and flames burst up behind the grate. Draco impulsively sat down next to you, wrapping an arm casually around your shoulders. You curled up, placing your head on his chest.

You had only been sitting for a few minutes when something burst into the room. A silver stag, a seemingly familiar patronus. Draco immediately sat up straighter, glancing around the room.

It spoke in Harry's voice.

"Celia," it said. "I'm sorry I haven't responded to your patronus sooner. Hermione and I…we're safe. You-Know-Who nearly caught us, but we're okay now. I don't know if I should reveal my location to you…I trust you, but not whom you're with. Send me a patronus when you're alone. I need to make sure you're alright."

At once, the patronus faded into the shadows of the room and disappeared.

Draco spoke first. "You know how I said we all make mistakes? Here's your chance to right one." You nearly snapped your neck in your haste to look at him.

"I can't tell the Dark Lord," you told him.

"That's not what I was saying," Draco said softly, and you laid your head back down on his chest. "That's the opposite. You might be forced to do bad works under the eyes of the school, but you never have to tell them the good works you do. I won't tell anyone, and you sure as hell won't tell anyone who you're in contact with."

"I love you," you said sleepily. Draco kissed your temple and then you drifted off, curled up in the arms of the one you love.