Chapter eight:
Distress
Once again, school started at Hogwarts and It was Draco's sixth year and Luna's fifth year. Draco wasn't looking forward to this new coming year at Hogwarts due to his mission, he figured the previous year was terrible but now it had seemed to be even worse for him. His father, Lucius, had been arrested and put into Azkaban for his hand in the ministry hours after Voldemort had left the mansion giving him the mission while Narcissa and Bellatrix were out. Even if he wouldn't admit it, Draco loved Hogwarts and didn't want to end Dumbledore's life but he didn't want his life to end either so his choices were very limited. Heading to the Hogwarts Express, he went by himself which was what he wanted and boarded the train in his all black suit, with his luggage including his trunk was already packed on as he carried his briefcase and walking stick. Sitting in the back along with most Slytherins, Draco sat at a table with Blaise Zabini and unfortunately Pansy Parkinson, with his gloomy expression still appearing on his face. Of course Luna was in another car of the train, having been focused on her Quibbler and her Spetrespecs though she wanted to find Draco but she figured she could meet up with him at the carriages. "Quibbler? Quibbler?" Luna passed around her father's magazine before taking a seat.
Harry had been curious on what Draco was up to ever since the incident at Borgin and Burkes, deciding he wanted to overhear what Draco would be telling to his Slytherin cronies, Harry stepped out from his compartment, giving Hermione and Ron a false excuse to where he was going and had the smoke rocks he got from the twins' joke shop in hand. Suddenly the black smoke appeared in the section of the Slytherins, causing everyone's attention and gotten Draco out of his seat, worried about what that was. Draco was paranoid as it was from what he's having to perform. "What was that?" Draco asked in slight panic. Pansy rolled her eyes. "It was probably a first year being stupid." Pansy replied before they all sat back down as the smoke began to disappear, not knowing it was Harry that caused it as a distraction. Looking out the window, Draco began seeming irritated although it wasn't school that bothered him but rather this mission and Voldemort, but he used Hogwarts as a front for his anger.
"Hogwarts...what a pathetic excuse for a school. I think I'd pitch myself off the astronomy tower before i have to continue for another two years." Draco complained. Pansy frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?" Pansy asked in shock of his words. "Let's just say...i won't be wasting my time in charms class next year." Draco replied, keeping his tone flat. Blaise snickered at his words. "Amused, Blaise?" Draco asked forwardly, causing Blaise to remain quiet before Draco looked up at the railing. "We'll see who's laughing in the end." Draco added arrogantly, keeping his eyes at the railing after noticing a move when Goyle tossed up his trunk, skeptical on seeing the bags move as well. His mood had became darker as he had began planning out how to go about this mission which had gotten Pansy and Blaise questioning his distaste towards Hogwarts. "So, still with that Ravenclaw Lovegood girl?" Blaise asked, smirking. Draco brought his focus from the railing above their heads to Blaise. "To my knowledge. Unless you've heard otherwise?" he asked mockingly. Blaise shook his head while Pansy rolled her eyes.
When Blaise brought up Luna, it was like a whirlwind to his mind. He had enough weight on his shoulders this year before it started and now he had to manage time with Luna while hiding things from her. As the train came to a stop and arrived at Hogwarts, everyone began getting off to head towards the carriages. Ron and Hermione had no idea where Harry was but assumed he had gotten off already. Pansy and Blaise along with the other Slytherins got up to leave as well. "You go on, I'll catch you later." Draco stated to Pansy and Blaise before they left. It was now empty as Draco got up, put his brief case and walking stick on a seat and went to close the blinds on the compartment door. He walked over to his trunk, opening it slightly, knowing that he will catch whoever's attention up on the rail that Draco suspected to be spying. Harry was curious on what Draco was hiding in his truck as he peered over to look, causing a small movement up on the rail. That small motion was exactly what Draco needed to confirm his suspicion. "Did mummy ever tell you, it's rude to eavesdrop Potter?" Draco said mockingly before he immediately drew his wand out and pointed it quickly to the space above the railing. "Petrificus Totalus!" Draco casted, causing Harry to fall down from the railing and onto the floor, completely paralyzed next to Draco's feet.
Draco noticed Harry's invisibility cloak was underneath him on the floor and smiled broadly at Harry who was practically helpless. "I thought so." Draco said arrogantly. He knew someone was spying on him and specifically figured it was Harry. "I heard movement when Goyle's trunk hit you. And I thought I saw something flash through the air after the black smoke appeared." he explained as he lingered over Harry's paralyzed body. "You didn't hear anything I care about, Potter. But while I've got you here..." he trailed off. Draco of course cared about Luna but he was in a bad mood and was irritated that his rival was spying on him. Draco then stomped on Harry's face, breaking his nose as his expression remained morose. "That's for my father." Draco said in a hostile tone. Draco grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak and peered over him. "See you around, Potter...or not. Enjoy your trip back to London." Draco sneered, putting the invisibility cloak over Harry in which kept Harry invisible. Draco then grabbed his things and opened the compartment door, leaving the train unknowing that Luna had still been on the train but she didn't see anything that went on. Draco then walked to the carriages and made it in time to catch the last one.
Luna had focused on looking at wrackspurts that she realized she was basically the only one left on the train. So she got up wearing her Spetrespecs glasses, got her things and decided to open the next compartment door to make sure no one else was running late before stumbling upon an area that was crowded with wrackspurts. "Enervate." Luna casted the counterspell of the paralyzing one that seemed to be used, the only thing she had heard from the scene. Harry then got up immediately from under the invisibility cloak and stood up to see Luna. "How did you find me, Luna?" Harry asked curiously, noticing her Spetrespecs. "Wreckspurts...your head is full of them, Harry." Luna explained. Harry and Luna then walked off the train and upon noticing the carriages were gone, they decided to head to the castle on foot. "Sorry i caused you to miss the carriages, Luna." Harry apologized. Luna shrugged. "It's alright. It's like being with a friend." Luna said before approaching the front gate. "I am your friend, Luna." Harry replied. Luna smiled. "That's nice." she replied. Once the gate opened, they noticed Draco bickering with Filch over something. "What is this, some sort of cane or?" Filch looked over the walking stick as he was to check things going into the castle. "Not a cane, you cretin, its a walking stick." Draco spewed before taking the walking stick back forcefully. Snape walked over to let Filch know Draco's things were fine. "It was his father's." Snape stated. Draco grimaced. "Is my father's. He's not dead." Draco corrected in irritation. Snape watched Draco put his walking stick back into his trunk. "I'll vouch for Mr. Malfoy." Snape reassured Filch. Draco looked over at Harry before noticing Luna was next to him, causing slight jealousy to pour over Draco.
"Nice face, Potter." Draco mocked, taking one look at Luna before looking away. Harry showed a light glare at his rivals words before Draco walked off with Snape to the castle. Luna frowned at Draco's words towards her friend and wondered what was going on with him before turning her attention towards Harry. "I can fix it." she insisted. Harry looked suddenly concerned. "You know how to fix noses?" Harry asked, remaining skeptical. "Well, I've fixed a couple of broken toes...how different are they really?" Luna said confidently. Harry sighed before thinking why not? "Sure, give it a go." Harry said, removing his glasses before she pointed her wand. "Episkey!" Luna casted with a flick of her wand. Harry's nose was now fixed, causing Harry to have a slight sharp pain as it went back into place. "How does it look?" Harry asked. Luna smiled. "Exceptionally ordinary." she replied, putting her wand back. Flitwick had came over to check them in and then they headed towards the castle.
Luna saw the way Draco looked at her and she began to worry on what exactly happened to him since the last time they talked at the beginning of summer. When everyone got into the castle and made the way into the Great Hall, Draco had taken a seat at the Slytherin table as Luna took a seat at Ravenclaw table to listen to Dumbledore's yearly speech and introduction to a new professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Very best of evenings to you all...First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff. Horace Slughorn." Dumbledore paused to show the students Slughorn. "Professor Slughorn, I'm happy to say, has agreed to resume his old post as Potions Master. Meanwhile, the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts will be taken by Professor Snape." he added. Most of the students were not amused having Snape as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. "As you know, each and every one of you were searched upon your arrival here tonight. And you have the right to know why." Dumbledore added before he continued. "Once, there was a young man. Like you, who sat in this very hall. Walked this castle's corridors. Slept under it's roof. You see, to all the world, a student like any other. His name? Tom Riddle." Dumbledore stated in a serious tone. Draco had kept his eyes away from Dumbledore and kept it onto the table as his left jaw rested on his left hand, his elbow was on the table. feeling guilty already.
Luna noticed from the otherside of the room at the Ravenclaw table that Draco seemed quite off, which caused her to frown. "Today of course, is known all over the world by another name. Which is why as I stand, looking out upon you all tonight, I'm reminded of a sobering fact. Every day, every hour, this very minute, perhaps dark forces attempt to penetrate this castle's walls. But in the end, that greatest weapon...is you." Dumbledore pressured. Draco had then inadvertently looked over towards Dumbledore after he spoke the last few words of the previous sentence and then went to fold his arms on the table. "Just something to think about. Now off to bed, pip pip." Dumbledore finished hid speech. Draco remained at the table for a moment, letting it sink in that he now had to be more secretive than ever and the fact that he needed to be successful with this mission, his life depended on it. Getting up from the table, Draco had went to turn in for bed early, being one of the first students to exit the Great Hall before Luna had been able to catch him. Harry had told the trio including Ginny about what happened on the train which caused them to become speculative. Draco was dreading the whole year and this mission put a lot of pressure on him. Luckily, for such a dangerous mission as this he had trained himself to improve his own skills, and became capable of blocking jinxes nonverbally. He also became skilled at Occlumency through training from his aunt Bellatrix before summer ended. Draco knew that he was only given this mission because his father was in Azkaban which still angered him that his father had been imprisoned. Luna wasn't sure what was going on with Draco and was disappointed she hasn't been able to catch him on their first day back despite over hearing conspiracies from Harry and his friends in which she didn't think were true.
It was the next day and classes began for the new school year, which was far from Draco's concern. He would attend his classes but doing the homework would be an entire different story. His mind had been more focused on his mission than anything that he used to take interest in. Draco had went to breakfast but barely ate anything aside from a bite or two of a slice of toast and his pumpkin juice, sitting silent with a glum expression at the Slytherin table amongst the chattering students. Of course the trio were catching onto Draco's odd behavior because normally he was arrogant, confident and liked showing off but he was more quiet, aloof and morose than ever. "I wonder what's going on with Malfoy..." Hermione speculated. Harry rolled his eyes, he hated Draco even more since the train incident. "Think he and Luna broke up?" Ginny asked curiously. Harry shrugged before noticing Luna make her way over to their table. "Well, she's on her way over. Ask her." Harry shrugged. Ginny furrowed her eyebrows at Harry, figuring he's still mad about the train. "Luna..." Hermione decided to break the ice. "Yes?" Luna replied as she sat down at the table. "Did you and Draco break up?" Hermione asked curiously due to Draco's behavior. Luna didn't expect the question, finding it odd. "No, not that i know. Why do you ask?" Luna stated. Hermione looked back at Harry, Ron and Ginny before turning back to Luna. "Well. Draco seems to be acting more vile than usual...more so glum." Hermione explained. Luna turned her eyes to the Slytherin table to look at Draco as he just stared at his food before looking back to Hermione. "I didn't know. I haven't exactly been able to catch him since we started the new school year." Luna said.
Luna looked back over at the Slytherin table to see Draco had left. Luna decided to get up and leave the Great Hall in order to try to catch him before classes began. "Should we even tell her exactly how you got your nose broken earlier, Harry?" Ginny asked. Harry sighed and decided against telling her, figuring Luna would find out the real Draco, according to Harry, on her own. Draco headed down the hall to his first class, Transfiguration, quite early before Luna spotted him down the hall, running up to him. "Draco!" Luna shouted before she caught up to him. Draco dreaded this confrontation because he didn't want to get Luna wrapped up in it but he stopped to look at her. "Is everything okay? I haven't spoke with you since the beginning of summer." Luna explained in concern. Draco still looked a little glum but attempted to come up with some excuse. "I'm fine." he lied, looking away from her. Luna figured it wasn't true and wanted to know the truth. "What's going on? Please tell me." Luna insisted, grabbing his hand into hers. Draco was filled with guilt having to keep Luna in the dark about his situation but there was too many risks if he confided with her. "I rather not talk about it...i have to get to class." he attempted to divert the conversation as he kept his hand in hers. Luna sighed, not sure how to get him to confess. "Okay." she simply replied. Draco didn't want to lose Luna either so he just gave her a quick peck on the lips before stepping into his class, dropping her hand from his. Luna was a little sad about how he was acting and she just wanted to help. She continuously wondered what happened to him after he left her home that day in hopes that he didn't change his mind about her.
Class after class, Draco had attended but remained quieter than usual although his mind was loud. He had walked into his potions class that had a new professor, Horace Slughorn and was a little relieved knowing Harry wasn't in it. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron had a free period but McGonagall changed that, pressuring Harry into taking up potions again to achieve his goals in being an auror. So Harry dragged Ron with him to potions class who complained along the way. Upon their entrance, Draco spotted Harry and Ron entering late through the classroom door and placed an irritated expression on his face. As they had to make the Draught of Living Death for the Felix Felicis potion which gave luck to someone to succeed at their endeavors, something Draco could use. But at the end of the class, Harry had ended up winning it and Draco rolled his eyes. "Merlin's Beard! But it's perfect. So perfect I daresay one sip would kill us all! Your mother was a dab hand at potions, but this... My, my, what can't you do, m'boy? Perhaps you will save us all in the end." Slughorn announced.
Meanwhile that night, Draco laid in bed, thinking about how he had brushed off Luna earlier which made him feel guilty and honestly, he wouldn't blame her if she wanted to see someone else. Not that he wanted it to happen but she may be better off if he didn't succeed in this mission. The morning came and it was time for all the quidditch teams to have their tryouts. Though Draco still had his position as seeker, he wasn't interested in playing quidditch this year as he had lost his interest. So instead he tried to bribe a team mate into taking over his position with money. Luna attended the Slytherin try outs after Gryffindor but didn't see Draco there either. Draco instead stayed in the Slytherin dungeons thinking of whom he would bewitch to deliver the cursed necklace when the time came to deliver it. But that same day, Draco had managed to use the day off to his advantage while most went to Hogsmeade, so will he. Stuffing the necklace he had gotten from Borgin and Burkes into his bookbag along with a toxic potion, Draco then walked down the halls to find Luna on her way out as well. Draco figured he could go with her to try to make up but also start his first easy attempt to kill the headmaster.
Draco walked up to Luna with his hands in his coat pockets and bookbag over his right shoulder. "Luna, i was thinking perhaps we could go to the Three Broomsticks together and, eh, catch up." Draco offered. Draco didn't want to lose Luna from his aloofness and mood swings but he honestly was doing something that was stressful and dangerous, he was basically on his own besides knowing Snape was there to help which he didn't want to seem useless to Voldemort as his father, Lucius, had seemed when he failed to fetch the prophecy. "Okay. That sounds great." Luna replied. She took his hand into hers and then began walking into Hogsmeade through the snow. Along the way, Draco had been awfully silent, which he had been making plans in his mind when to take out the necklace he had gotten and bewitch someone to deliver it to Dumbledore while keeping it from Luna and other watchful eyes. They entered the Three Broomsticks and gotten their butter beers before sitting at the table. Draco made sure that his dark mark remained covered up underneath his black sleeves of his shirt while he looked around for a decent target to bewitch. "Draco...why have you been distant lately?" Luna asked in concern. Draco's attention then went back to Luna. "It's hard to explain. Can't actually discuss it...quite difficult." he explained, tapping his mug lightly with his finger tips. Luna frowned and began thinking. "Does it have to do with your parents? Or me?" she asked. Draco brought his free hand up to his face and rubbed his eyes and forehead for a moment before setting his hand back down, it was easy to tell that he was stressed. "No, Luna...its not you...with my father being in Azkaban, i have loads to live up to. I can't explain it." Draco replied, trying to ease her mind but at the same time he couldn't tell her about getting a mission from Voldemort.
Luna was frustrated but tried hard to understand what he was going through from what he was giving her. She knew it had to involve his parents but wasn't sure how. "I want to help you, Draco." Luna insisted. Draco knew she couldn't help, if he were to give her insight to help she wouldn't help kill Dumbledore and would most likely would want him to tell Dumbledore about the whole mission for protection but it wasn't the best idea especially involving his life and life of his parents. "No one can help..." Draco trailed off, his expression turned glum. Luna sighed. "I suppose we need a break. For a little bit." Luna stated, having talked to Ginny the past few days in private about his distance gave her some advice. Once Draco heard that, his heart sunk, his expression was of hurt and insult before deciding to get up from the table and walk to the bathrooms. Luna felt bad for calling a break between them because honestly, she loved Draco still and it crushed her to see how he took it. Upon entering the bathroom, he noticed Harry's stare before entering it and closing the door. Draco went into the men's bathroom and into an open stall, pulling out the necklace in which he planned he would use it to kill Dumbledore. He felt now that he had nothing left to lose on completing his mission, he never wanted to be a death eater but being coerced into it from his parents participation in it, he was bound to as well. He didn't want this life.
After calming down, he kept the package that held the cursed necklace and stepped out of the men's bathroom and caught Katie Bell who had just left the woman's bathroom. Draco pointed his wand and spoke softly. "Imperio." he casted one of the unforgivable curses. Draco then handed the package to Katie and parted his lips to speak as his eyes were red from his small breakdown earlier. "Deliver this to Professor Dumbledore, it's important. You don't know who sent it." he bewitched her. Draco then exited the bathroom swiftly, luckily Harry and his friends were distracted by Slughorn inviting Harry and Hermione to his Slug club to focus on Draco exiting. Draco had also passed by Luna, turning his gaze away in hurt before walking into the backroom where there was the landlady's office. Draco found Rosemerta who stood up from her chair. "Can i help you?" she asked in surprise. Draco paused for a minute before deciding what to do. "I need your finest matured mead. Couldn't find it out there." he lied. Rosemerta, who didn't care about an age of a student when it came to mead, had looked through her backroom supply and pulled out a cherry aged mead. Draco then had his wand pointed at her once she placed her attention back on him. "Imperio." he casted the unforgivable curse once again before taking out the bottle he had in his bag.
"I need you to mix the contents of this bottle into the mead and deliver it to Professor Dumbledore...you don't know who sent it." Draco bewitched the landlady. Draco then left the pub and headed back to Hogwarts. Later on that afternoon, apparently Katie Bell had opened the package and gotten herself cursed and of course the trio witnessed it, having Harry automatically blame Draco because he saw him enter the bathroom. Snape was on the defense and asked for evidence which Harry had none. Rosemerta had ended up giving the lethal mead to Slughorn since he was going back to the castle to deliver it to Dumbledore. It was the next morning and everyone was pumped for quidditch that day that was Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Of course Draco didn't attend, he decided to reside in the dungeons as he went over how everything crashed down in his life within this year. He knew that he was alone now at this and nothing to honestly cling to. Luna noticed Draco wasn't playing seeker anymore nor was he watching in the stands which made her feel that maybe taking a break from their relationship was a bad idea.
Of course Gryffindor had won the match and were celebrating in their common room while Draco found himself standing alone at the top of the astronomy tower, looking over the grounds as he remained deep in his thoughts. His skin had become a little grey as he had bags under his eyes and had lost some weight - it was due to the stress he was enduring. After hours passed, Draco walked to the seventh floor and entered through the Room of Requirement, finding things that had been hidden in a dark, dim room and found the broken vanishing cabinet sitting there amongst the things. He began fixing the cabinet, little by little with the instructions he was given by the Borgin and Burkes shop owner and would eventually testing it out when he gotten the chance and ideas on how to exactly.
Draco had been neglecting his school work, particularly in Transfiguration and even neglected his prefect position in which would be taken from him eventually. After Transfiguration classes ended that day, McGonagall called him up. "Mr. Malfoy, i need to speak with you in my office." McGonagall claimed. Draco got a little worried that he might've been caught by McGonagall for his attempts at the headmaster but luckily it wasn't the case. "I've noticed you have been slacking in class and not turning in your homework. Is something taking you away from your schoolwork?" McGonagall asked in concern. Draco shook his head. "Not particularly." Draco replied. McGonagall knew there was something but decided to not press further. "Very well, Mr. Malfoy. I'm afraid I'm going to have to give you a weeks detention." McGonagall issued. Draco rolled his eyes before nodding, he knew it was another thing to add to his list of burdens piled on his shoulders.