Chapter Seven
The next morning Aro formally accepted an alliance with the Dark Lord's cause. With that out of the way, Draco had no choice but to begin the more difficult of his two missions. Even so, he avoided it for as long as he could, only leaving when it was late at night. We apparated into Hogsmeade and walked the rest of the way to Hogwarts.
On the hills off and over in the distance, Hogwarts stood solid and sturdy with tawny immovable bricks. All along the perimeter were iron bars to keep people out.
A boy with dark hair and bright green eyes stood at the gates. He pointed his wand at Malfoy and glared, with pure hatred. Under different circumstances and at a more remote location, they probably would have tried to kill each other. The first to speak was a ginger haired boy standing next to the dark haired one.
"What are you doing here Malfoy? State your business or I'll curse you into oblivion."
A vein popped in Draco's neck and in his grey eyes a storm brewed. For a brief moment I was convinced that all was lost and Draco would lose his temper. In that quick flicker, Draco had looked like a true monster, as if he had done awful things, actions unimaginably cruel. Despite his anger, he replied in a level tone.
"I'm here because I'm switching sides, idiot. Ah well, I suppose I should have expected this sort of thick headedness coming from a Weasley. They say even mudbloods-"
They inhaled sharply at the slur, and their faces grew more aggressive but he continued,
"-are smarter than your sad excuse of a family. Even my house elf could figure out that my being here and risking my life means that I have decided to switch sides."
All semblance of civility was lost as the redhead boy charged at the gate to physically assault Draco. After really looking at the boy, I recognized him from one of the wanted posters. He was Ronald Weasley.
Harry and a few others standing guard around the perimeter seized Ron before he could reach his hands through the bars and take a swing at Malfoy.
"Ron, you know we have to take them to Dumbledore," the woman's voice was familiar, but under the cover of darkness I could barely make out her face.
"It's a trap 'Mione! Can't you see? He's trying to trick us into letting him in, his Death eater friends are probably hiding behind a bush somewhere," Ron protested.
Then I realised who she was. Call me crazy, but I charged at the gates, squealing, giggling, bursting at the seams with an Alice-like level of enthusiasm.
"Hermione! You're safe? You're okay?"
"Bella?" She asked tentatively. I imagined that just as hers was, my face was also barely visible in the dark.
"Stand back girl, no sudden movements," The man's muscles were tense and poised for an attack.
"Neville it's okay! She's a muggle."
So this was the Longbottom-fellow that Bellatrix was so particularly aware of. Whenever she passed by his wanted poster she caressed it and reminisced about torturing his parents. Bellatrix would go on and on about all the ways she wanted to hurt Neville. Oddly enough, despite his hostility, I felt reassured. Any enemy of that woman was a friend of mine. The firm confidence in his voice made me smile. Perhaps he would give the crazy bitch a run for her money.
"Well what if she's armed Hermione? She could still hurt you."
I was a bit put out by that comment, but hey, you don't survive so long in this sort of world without some paranoid tendencies.
"And take out the people who could guarantee her freedom? I don't think so. I know her, and I can vouch for her."
I was moved, and the urge to hug her flared up once more. Neville angled his wand back towards Malfoy, but not before I was subjected to a pat-down.
We were taken to Dumbledore so that he could decide what should be done to us. He was an old man with a crooked nose, and bespectacled blue eyes that twinkled, at least until they landed on Draco, then they became ice cold.
"Good Evening Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter. I see we have visitors." He cut to the chase, "I'm afraid I don't know who the young lady is, if you would kindly introduce yourself."
"I'm Bella Swan," I said, then twitched nervously as he stared at me.
"She's an acquainta- friend of mine," Hermione interjected.
"Well then Miss Swan, I'm pleased to meet you," he shifted his attention to Draco. "Unfortunately I cannot extend to you the same courtesy." He sighed, "However I'm sure you have your reasons, and I intend to hear you out before passing judgement."
"It's no secret to Lord Voldemort that one of our slaves ran away. The Dark Lord was angered by this, and it's only a matter of time until he kills me for letting my wand get stolen. I have no intention of waiting for that moment."
"Mr. Malfoy, I am no fool. I am aware of your track record. I'm also not ignorant of how Tom being in power benefits you. A minister who isn't in Riddle's pocket would prosecute you and your family to the fullest extent of the law. Surely, you must understand the reasons I'm unconvinced of your sincerity." Dumbledore said, his eyes peered knowingly at Draco.
"Maybe that's true, but-" he paused for a moment, then launched into a stream of desperate and well-acted pleas. "I can't live like this anymore. Killing people, watching the light fade from their eyes, torturing people, hearing their awful screams. Living in a constant state of fear because, it doesn't matter how high you rank as a death eater to him. Everyone who is not him is expendable." He panted, catching his breath.
I had to hand it to him, Draco was a very good liar, but still he was not that good. There were clearly more than a few elements of truth to the excuses he gave. The truth was, Draco was desperate, and one false move away from dying a painful death. Dumbledore stared at him for a very long time, we all did. Even his harshest of critics, Ron, Hermione, and Harry appeared to be wavering.
"Mr. Malfoy, please hand Miss Swan your wand. If emergencies should arise, she will give it back, for now it will be in her care. The two of you will be allowed in on a probationary basis. You will sleep in an isolated dormitory, and will be shadowed by someone from the Order of the Phoenix wherever you go. While I am moved by your change of heart, I must express some measure of surprise that it occurred at all. Your growth has occurred so suddenly, it's truly remarkable. Dare I say it, it's almost unbelievable. But of course if your word is true, then you have come to the right place. Within these walls there are thousands of us, armed with wands, and ready to strike at a moment's notice. And all of us will be keeping a close eye...for your protection of course." It was a threat dressed up as reassurance.
Dumbledore was reluctant, but I respected him for that. It was clear to me that no one wanted Malfoy there. Even so, they were able to put aside their personal feelings and do what they thought was right. Of course-they shouldn't have trusted him. He was a snake, a trojan horse. I felt guilty, but I was too much of a coward to say anything.
"Thank you Headmaster."
The trio led us through the confusing layout of the castle and brought us to the place where we would be sleeping. I plopped my meager nap-sack of objects on top of one of the twin sized beds and made a fuss about how tired I was. Out of consideration for my 'exhaustion' the remainder of them left the quarters.
The next morning Draco was awake far before I was. While I laid half-asleep in bed I heard a rustling noise coming from the living room. After a particularly loud banging sound I rose from bed and walked into the common room. Malfoy was hastily flipping up seat covers, opening up drawers, and throwing items on the floor.
"What are you doing?" I asked. I already had a good idea of what he was looking for.
He didn't cease his searching. "Trying to find my wand."
"And what makes you so sure that I left it in here?"
He veered over to me and stood at an intimidatingly close proximity. "Listen filth, I am your master. You take orders from me!"
I squared up with him, "Oh, yeah?! Well I don't have to take any of your crap anymore Draco, in here I am as free as you and every other pureblood on the planet. If I so much as say a word to Dumbledore about this little mission of yours, what do you think he'll do to you? Maybe he'll throw you in the dungeons? Does this place have dungeons? Then again he's really taking a chance on you. I'm not sure he'll give you another chance to screw him over. I think he'll send you back to your mommy and daddy in a casket."
"If you think you're safe anywhere you're an even larger fool than I've given you credit for. The Malfoys and Blacks will stop at nothing to make sure you don't survive. We have spies everywhere. Including in here. I am Draco Abraxas Malfoy, a proud member of the sacred twenty eight. And no matter where I go I am more powerful than you could possibly imagine. I am practically royalty. I am God made flesh, if I had my wand you'd think twice before speaking to me this way. You are a slave. You will be a slave until you inhale your dying breath. You are nothing, and you will always be nothing. I suggest you squash whatever idiotic notions you had of rebellion."
"You know what Draco, I've never had much regard for my own life, so don't act so sure of yourself. Your little semblance of safety and assurance of my keeping quiet is an illusion. I have your wand, and I know your secrets, I've watched you kill people and I've heard every plan you and those other death eaters have laid out at those meetings. Maybe I have some things to lose but so do you. If I were you, I'd treat me with respect. I mean I can't account for what slips out of my mouth. I like to talk."
"Are you threatening me?"
"As a matter of fact, I am."
"Well then, If you're so forthcoming tell me, would you say Forks washington is a small place, because I certainly have never heard of it?"
I looked away and didn't respond.
"Blaise told me where they got you. You know even when you keep your mouth shut you're not a very good liar. I'd wager it is a very small town. How hard do you think it would be to find your parents?"
My face burned with anger, I balled up my fists at my sides. I was ready to take a swing at his stupid, smug face. It was one thing to threaten my life, but to threaten the people I loved?
"Killing is quite easy Bella," I jerked away from him, shocked. He'd never called me by name before. I hated the way he said it, with malice in his heart. "Charlie Swan won't even know what hit-"
I punched him in the face he grunted, stumbled, and lost his balance, falling right on his ass. Tears began to run down my face. I had the most embarrassing habit of crying when I was angry. I tried to wipe them away but they wouldn't stop. Disgustingly I could even feel a dribble of snot roll from my nose.
"Why-what's wrong with you? I don't understand why you hate me so much. What have I ever done to you? Do you understand that before this I had a life! I was somebody's friend and somebody's daughter! Do you think I wanted this to happen to me? Now I'm here, everyone I've ever loved is gone! Don't you get it? YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME?! AND YOU NEVER EVEN SAID I'M SORRY? NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED HELPING ME? YOU DON'T EVEN SEE ME. I'm not some piece of dog shit stuck to the bottom of your shoe! I'm a person, and you don't have to like me, but don't deny me my personhood."
Malfoy stayed on the ground silent. I was about to leave and settle into my own room, but more complaints rushed to my mind, and I doubled back because I wasn't quite finished giving the bastard a piece of my mind.
"And by the way, don't bother looking for it anymore. Where I've put it you'll never find it, because contrary to your stupid beliefs, I'm nobody's fool."
Author's Note
Big thanks to all those who hit favorite & or follow, as well as kellyainsley for reviewing! You're lowkey the reason I've decided to update again so soon, I was going to sit on this chapter longer, but you gave me the motivation to edit this again and push it out so thank you!
So in this Chapter, we hit somewhat of a breaking point. Obviously Draco & Bella were never on good terms, but with this interaction, everything comes to the surface. We will see where they go from here. (I mean more accurately you will, I already know, including how this ends because me from nearly a decade ago already outlined the story & wrote the ending). If I do decide to discontinue (which right now I'm planning to finish) I'll post it. Definitely have to rewrite the ending, it's a little clunky and cheesy haha.
I'm thinking of editing some of the earlier chapters...I already used to do this periodically, but this time around the changes might be more noticeable (not to plot, but word choice). The thought of rereading some of the earlier chapters stresses me out tbh. I've skimmed and...um, there's some stuff in here that I need to revise...Like I really thought I did something with that line "if time were a woman," ughhhhhhhh! Teenage me was really like "Damn, this is such an interesting metaphor I have crafted, I'm a writerTM." Honestly I might end up not rereading it because I will one hundred percent get distracted, so like, just ignore my pseudo-intellectual, really bad attempts at sounding deep. I literally read that line, gasped, and face palmed. Like oh no what was I doing? But you know I'm going to silver line this and say that this just means that I've really grown as a writer lmaooo.