Team: Falmouth Falcons
Position: Chaser 2
Round Prompt: Write about a Truth that is accidentally found out OR write about a Dare that is given and/or carried out by accident.
Prompts:
6. [colour] Midnight Black
9. [sound] Screaming
13. [object] Lamp
Word count: 1143
Betas: Ragsweas; xxCallMeAmyxx; Flye Autumne; Aima D. Duragon.
The sound of screaming was not uncommon in the Malfoy Manor; it was something that Draco was unfortunately accustomed to. It became more and more common as he grew older and Voldemort gained power and followers.
Draco had never doubted his parents when he was younger; he knew that purebloods were better and mudbloods did not belong in the magical world. But then he grew up. Life was not as black and white as he first thought.
He found it very hypocritical when he discovered that Voldemort, the advocate of purebloods, was not actually a pureblood himself. He didn't want to admit it, but this was one of the biggest reasons that he started to think for himself, instead of following his parents.
Sixth year at Hogwarts was the hardest for Draco, having been given the task of killing Dumbledore whilst having doubts about who his allegiance was to. He didn't want to kill his Headmaster, that was one thing he knew for certain. Of course, he had no choice. The only silver lining was that Snape stepped in and took the burden from him.
As he walked through the halls of the home he grew up in, the place he once felt safe, he made up his mind. Voldemort was not the right side.
Returning to his room, Draco locked his door, the sound of screaming now muted. It was the only way he had any chance of sleeping. There was no hesitation as Draco picked up his quill, turned on his lamp, and wrote a detailed letter intended for Potter - he was destined to defeat Voldemort. Besides, he did not know who was on the other side for sure. Granger and Weasley were, but they would simply share the letter with Potter anyway. He could not get this wrong and send it to somebody in Voldemort's ranks.
Once the letter was written, hesitation filled him, should he really defy The Dark Lord? Put his life in jeopardy to give Potter an upper hand in defeating him? Would this information even be useful? Would Potter even trust his word after everything they have been through? Did he even deserve to be heard?
Draco's heart jumped when his door opened and his mother walked in. Her and his father were the only one's who were able to walk in when it was locked.
"Draco, are your things packed for Hogwarts?"
"Yes, mother," he replied, sliding the letter into his robes pocket and moving to sit on his bed to appear more relaxed.
His mother, however, did not look relaxed. He knew that Voldemort was here, because of the robes she was wearing; Midnight black. She always wore darker clothes in the presence of others, and the darker they were, the more stoic and distant she was. "I will be taking you to the train station, your father will be busy."
"Yes, mother," he repeated. Draco knew better than to ask questions. Silence filled the air between the two of them and he had to wonder why his mother was lingering; she never lingered. "Can I help you with something?"
"Do I want to know why you put that parchment into your pocket?" she asked in a calm tone.
Draco should have realised that she saw - she had always been more observant than him and his father. "No," he replied, truthfully.
Disappointment filled her features as she crossed the room towards him. "A girl we'd disapprove of?" she guessed.
"Yes," Draco replied, instantly; that was a better option to choose. His parents would get over him falling for somebody they did not approve off, if he ended it. It was better than them knowing that he was considering betraying Voldemort. He knew how dangerous it was because Voldemort could read minds, and if he found any thoughts of betrayal, he'd likely order him to be killed. So, he best spare his mother.
"Mudblood?"
A harsh word, one that Draco was not as fond of using anymore. He nodded.
His mother held out her delicate hand deliberately. This was not good. Moving as quickly as he could, he pulled out the letter to rip it up, but it was out of his hands too quickly.
Draco watched in anticipation as his mother opened the letter, her eyes gazing over the words as her face went void of all emotions. When her eyes finally moved up to glance at him, and then his closed bedroom door, when she now knew the truth about what was in his mind, he knew he'd be reprimanded. Malfoy's did not go against their family.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, Draco?" she hissed, sitting down on the edge of his bed. Her robes matched his midnight black sheets. "The owls are being monitored, if somebody sees this…" she drifted off, ripping up the letter and then burning it for good measure.
Draco did not know what to say. He was told off but not in the way he had expected. He was surprised that owls to and from his home were being monitored but with Voldemort as their unfortunate guest, it did make sense. He looked at the ashes, his attempt at telling the truth gone, found out by somebody else unintentionally.
His mother lifted his chin with her fingers, looking at him dead in the eye. "You cannot trust an owl, yours is too recognised. Tell Potter directly when you see him."
With wide eyes, Draco did not know how to react. Did his mother just give him permission to betray the Dark Lord? Sending a letter had been the easier option but his mother was right; it was very risky. "Is that what you want?"
"Keep this to yourself, Draco. There are-" she started, but stopped instantly as the door opened. She rose to face his father.
"Narcissa, Draco," he started. "The Dark Lord wishes to see us."
Draco stood, sending his mother a slightly nervous look. To give himself some time to compose himself, he stepped over to his desk and turned off his lamp - he did not need it anymore. Then, with his head held high, he turned back to his father. "We best not keep him waiting."
Draco boarded the train the following day to Hogwarts. His mind was swimming with countless thoughts. He was glad that his occlumency lessons with his godfather, Severus Snape, had paid off. Though, he knew that if Voldemort had actively tried to look into his mind, he would have succeeded, he didn't.
When he next saw Potter, he would march towards him and help him out.
Unfortunately, it would be months before he next saw Potter, by then, his information was useless. But that didn't mean he wasn't still against Voldemort and the Death Eaters - if the chance came up, he knew where his loyalties stood.