Chapter 9: Cursed Objects
October 11th
Draco had an idea.
Throughout their childhood, anytime Draco had an idea, the joke was often made that Elara wouldn't like it. He had grown to understand that it was because they were so different in personality. Where he was manipulative and demanding at times—Elara was compassionate and understanding. He knew that her pursuit of Potter was out of her comfort zone, that she had started doing it to be useful… It showed a different side of her now, though. One he wasn't sure he wanted to know. Elara had the ability to be just as manipulating and conniving as the rest of the Malfoy family. She just chose not to be.
He envied her for that.
But now, the idea he had would certainly tarnish any thought she had in her head that he was a decent person. To ask her to do something so… dark… he wasn't sure she'd commit. But it was the only decent idea he'd come up with for weeks and he needed her to be on board. They were sinking in Rune Translations and Arithmancy formulas and it seemed like they were getting nowhere fast.
"You want me to what?" She said, staring at him incredulously.
He held the sleek black box in his hand, thumbing the velvet over lay carefully. "You'll take it with you tomorrow when you go to Hogsmeade. Give it to someone and tell them to get it to Dumbledore."
"What is it?" She asked, reaching out to touch the box.
"Don't touch it." He snapped. "It's not for you to touch." He opened the box, revealing an ornate silver and opal necklace.
"And you're giving Dumbledore jewelry because…?" She asked, looking back and forth from the goblin forged silver to her brother.
He sighed. His stomach was twisted in knots, more so than it had been in the first eight weeks of being back at Hogwarts. He knew this was it. He would have to tell her why they were here, why she was here. He would have to tell her why he had to get the Death Eaters to the castle.
"It's complicated." He said.
"I have time." She drawled, leaning back in one of the haphazard chairs she had taken a liking to in their time spent in the room of requirement. She folded her arms across her chest and bore her eyes into him.
Draco swallowed hard, tugging at the collar of his shirt. "There's a way we can complete the task without allowing the other Death Eaters into the castle. This is it."
She stared at the necklace, one of her thin blonde eyebrows arching in skepticism. "I thought the task was to get them here."
"That's part of it." He said. "But you know as well as I do, if the entire lot of them come here…" He trailed off, thinking of the bloodshed that would happen.
"They'll kill anyone who gets in their way." She continued.
Draco nodded. "If we can finish it without them getting here when there's still students in the school…"
"Finish what?" She asked, a deep frown complimenting her narrowed eyes. "What are you on about?"
He huffed and snapped the box shut, setting it beside him. "You have to know." He reasoned, more with himself than with her. "You can read minds!"
"I can't read minds, Draco." She rolled her eyes. "That's not how it works, and you know that."
"You can… see minds though!"
She shook her head and sighed. "It's not that cut and dry! It's like snippets. I get feelings more than anything. I can see things here and there but only if I'm touching you… You know this, I don't know why I'm explaining it to you. What are you on about?!"
"Will you deliver the package or not?" He asked, knowing the desperation in his voice was breaking through his usual stoicism.
"No." She said. "Not until you tell me what's going on."
He stood, running his hand through his hair. He was panicking, his calm façade diminishing by the second. This was it. This was going to be the thing that turned her against him, that made her hate him. She was all he had. She was the only good in his life. She was the only thing to keep him sane and he never wanted her to be involved in any of this. He had fought, tooth and nail, to keep her from being a part of things. And now he had to ask her to completely corrupt herself to make things easier on him.
"Coco…" She said, standing and placing a hand on his arm. "Coco, what's wrong-
"I have to kill Dumbledore." He said, the words rushing out all at once, tripping over themselves.
She jerked her hand away and stared at him, her eyes wide and blank, her breath unmoving. Long minutes passed between them, the air thick. He felt like he was being crushed. The comfortable silence he usually experienced with his sister was now sucking the life from him, gripping his lungs and squeezing the breath from them. He felt sick.
Slowly, her eyes narrowed in disbelief. She closed her mouth, her jaw snapping shut with a click that seemed to echo around the room. "No." She said. "No. No, your task was to get the Death Eaters here."
He shook his head, grudgingly moving his eyes up to look at her. "My task," He began. "Is to end Dumbledore's life so the Death Eaters may take control of Hogwarts. They've already began to infiltrate the ministry. This is all that's left until he has control of everything."
Draco held his breath again as he watched his sister. He silently begged for her to say something, anything to him. He knew she would hate him, but he just needed her to say something. To yell at him, to scream and tell him he's just as awful as their father. To swear him off and never look at him again. Ball up her fist and drive it through his jaw… Anything. He just needed her to respond.
Elara stared at him, trying to process what he was telling her. It was inevitable that the overtake of Hogwarts would involve removing Dumbledore. She knew that much. She just wasn't expecting her brother, her best friend, her other half—to be the one to do it. She wanted to smack him, tell him to get some sense. But something deeper pulled at her chest. She had never understood the extreme loyalty the Malfoy's held for each other. She had been so sure that her father would have turned her over to the Dark Lord given the chance… But he didn't. Would he have defended Draco? Did he know that this was how his only son was being punished for his failures? Her chest ached as her heart broke into pieces.
"You aren't a murderer." She said, her voice soft.
Draco's head hung low and took a deep breath. "I have to be, El." He whispered. "If I don't succeed, they'll kill all of us. You said that yourself."
She chewed her bottom lip, trying to straighten her mind. Facts. Gather information, something more tangible to chew over…"What's the necklace have to do with this?"
"It's cursed. I got it from Borgin. Dumbledore is weak… Everyone has noticed it. Snape has told me he's been cursed once. If I can get him this necklace, if he just touches it… It could speed up the process of his already decaying life."
"And the death eaters won't be here to cause damage."
Draco nodded. "They'll show eventually. But if Dumbledore is in St. Mungo's, spending the last of his days… The other professors might be able to get things sorted out before they infiltrate. They might be able to evacuate and-
"You're trying to save the other students?" She asked, confused. "I didn't think-
"My friends are here, Ellie. Our friends. Crabbe and Goyle… Pansy, Theo… Blaise…"
Her stomach dropped, bile rising to tickle the back of her throat as she weighed her options. This is what her life has turned into in the last six months. Weighing options. Trying to figure out exactly how much bad she could live with. Reasoning with her morals and trying to convince herself that what she was doing was life or death. Trying not to buckle under the weight of her of her heavy heart.
"So, I slip the box to someone and make them forget they saw me." She finally whispered.
Draco looked up at her, surprise on his face. "What?"
"I'll give the box to someone and make them forget they saw me." She repeated. "I'll tell them to take it straight to Dumbledore and to forget everything else."
"You'll do it?"
"What choice do I have?" She said, taking her seat in the crooked chair. "If there's a way to minimize the bloodshed…"
"I still have to fix the cabinet though." Draco clarified. "If they think I've stopped trying to get them in…"
"We will." She said. "We're getting close on the cabinet and I already told you, if we're going to do this, we have to do it together."
Draco nodded. He felt sick. His stomach was twisted in knots knowing what he was forcing his sister to do. He expected anger, disappointment, disgust… Of course, she showed compassion and understanding. His perfect, innocent sister. Untouched by the sully of the Malfoy name… He was going to be the one to turn her into one of them. He wasn't sure if he could live with that, but this was the best chance he had to try. He would beg for her forgiveness later—when this was all over. He would do everything he could to prove to her he was worth that forgiveness. But right now, he had to swallow his fears and hope that she would continue to understand. That she would continue to be too good for them all.
"You know they still have free will though." Elara said.
"Who?"
"Whoever I tell to forget." She answered. "I'm going to tell them they cannot touch the necklace, to forget they saw me… But if they want to… If they try really hard… They can bring it back up. This could get someone hurt."
"I know." He said. "But it's all I've got."
She nodded. "Well, let's hope it works."
She looked down at the box in her hands and took a shaking breath. This was going to get someone killed. No matter what, someone was going to get hurt. Best case scenario- it kills the person it's meant for. Worst case? She cuts someone else's life short, probably a fellow student. At her hands, she was going to cause the damage. She closed her eyes and allowed a few tears to slip past her lashes. She didn't even know who she was anymore.
The walk to Hogsmeade was lonely without Draco. She was disappointed he wouldn't be with her on her first real experience of the charming village, but he had detention. It made sense, for him to spend his Saturday afternoon with McGonagall. At least then, he'd have a reliable alibi should anything go awry.
It had snowed early in the morning, and the ground glittered and crunched under her feet as she walked. She always loved the snow. The way it blanketed everything with a peaceful quiet… It felt somber and calm.
"Elara!"
She turned around to see Hermione waving her down. "Elara!" She yelled again.
Elara shifted her bag on her shoulder and back tracked to meet Hermione, Ron and Harry. "You're by yourself?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah." She said. "Draco wasn't able to make it."
"Have you been to Hogsmeade before?" Ron asked.
"No." She said. "I was quite looking forward to Draco showing me around. He said Honeydukes has the best Cauldron Cakes though and asked me to bring him some back."
"He's right about one thing." Harry agreed.
"Would you like to join us?" Hermione asked, getting a very noticeable grimace from Ron.
"I don't want to intrude on your afternoon." She said. "I was just going to grab some sweets and head back to the castle."
Hermione linked her arm through Elara's and smiled. "No, no. You'll come with us. You'll be peckish I'm sure. I didn't see you at supper last night or breakfast this morning… You can stay with us and we'll have lunch before we head back. Three Broomsticks has lovely pies and butterbeer!"
She looked at Harry. "If you don't mind…" She started. "I would like that very much."
"Sure." Harry said. "Of course."
Ron groaned and Harry elbowed him in the ribs. Elara and Hermione walked ahead of them, still linked in arms, talking about their Arithmancy project.
"You're going to keep being friendly with her, aren't you?" Ron asked.
Harry shrugged. "I don't see why not. She's nice enough."
"Three weeks ago, you weren't saying that." Ron pointed out. "You've been searching for reasons to hate her just as much as her git brother."
"I've changed my mind." He said.
"You've changed your mind?" Ron chuckled. "Or have you just decided she's pretty?"
"Shut up." Harry grumbled.
Ron laughed and Harry shoved him to the side. Now that Ron was noticing girls more than ever, he had a habit of pointing out ones he thought were pretty for Harry. Harry usually found it annoying, but he did notice this time he wasn't wrong.
She was very pretty, after all.
They wandered through the village streets until they reached Honeydukes and Elara smiled as she walked into the shop. Every kind of sweet she could ever have imagined was lining the shelves. Brightly printed packaging and sweet smelling lollies on every end cap.
She grabbed a few packages of Fizzing Whizbees and Acid Pops for herself. She put a few items for Draco in her small hand basket and continued to browse the aisles, smiling the entire time at the happiness of everyone around her.
If they only knew how short lived it would all be.
She swore she could almost feel the small velvet case in her bag vibrating.
"Treacle tarts are better." Harry said from behind her right shoulder, making her jump and drop the box of Chocoballs
"You startled me!" She said, nearly knocking heads with him as they both bent to pick up the box at the same time.
"Sorry." He said, giving her a half smile.
She looked around. "Where's Hermione and Ron gone?"
"I think they went to Scrivenshaft's to get some supplies. Hermione said she was running low on quills."
"Did you know muggles have something they call a ballpoint pen? It's like a tube that holds the ink inside of it and-
"I know what a pen is." He laughed. "Grew up around Muggles, remember?"
"Yes." She said, heading to the register to pay. "I do remember you telling me that… Muggles come up with most inventive things." She smiled and took out a small pouch from her pocket.
"Two galleons and seven sickles please." The witch working the counter said.
She dug out the money and handed it to the witch, giving a polite smile as she turned back to Harry. "Did you want anything? I can add it to mine, if you'd like..."
He held up a bag with his sweets. "Already got mine, thanks."
They walked out of Honeydukes and slowly strolled down the cobblestone street. "Do you need to get back to them?" Elara asked.
Harry shook his head. "No. We'll met them at The Three Broomstick's for lunch. Besides, Hermione tends to be a bit… over excited when shopping for parchment."
Elara laughed. "Never thought I would meet someone who enjoys studying more than I do!"
Harry eyed her as they took a spot on a bench. She cast a quick warming charm and leaned back, a content smile on her face as she looked around. As Harry looked at her, from the corner of his eye, he determined that she was made for winter time. Her alabaster skin nearly blended in with the snowy bench, her long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders and a black knitted cap was on top her head. She seemed animated, happy to be out in the snow. Even though the cold was turning the tip of her nose slightly red and her cheeks had the same kiss of blush from the wind. Snowflakes were clinging to her long eye lashes and blonde eyebrows and Harry decided he had never seen someone look so beautiful.
Malfoy's sister. He reminded himself. She's a Malfoy. A very pretty Malfoy… But a Malfoy nonetheless.
"You're staring at me Harry." She said, looking at him with inquisitive eyes and a smirk carved on her mouth.
"Sorry." He said quickly, turning his head to look the other direction.
"Why do you do that?" She asked.
"Do what?"
"Stare at me… Like you've never seen another person before."
I've never seen one that's as pretty as you. "I don't." He defended.
She gave a short laugh. "You do. But if you can't tell me why, that's okay."
"You're very straight forward. You know that?" Harry said, feeling the flush of embarrassment creep into his cheeks.
"Draco says I have the ability to make people feel very uncomfortable." She said, quietly. "That's probably why I don't make friends easily."
Harry looked at her again, noticing she looked a bit sad now. "You shouldn't feel bad for being honest. Honesty is hard to come by."
"Is that why you aren't being honest with me? Because it's hard?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.
He shifted, that uncomfortable she had mentioned gripping him. "No- I… Erm… Ithinkyoureverypretty." It all rushed out of his mouth in one word and he sighed, closing his eyes and feeling like a total idiot.
Elara smiled as Harry closed his eyes. It was her turn to look at him now. She had difficulty in the last few weeks, coming to terms with the fact that she smelled him when they reviewed the Amortentia in class. She had no idea what it meant, but she was glad to hear he reciprocated at least some sort of attraction to her. It would make things easier…
She leaned over and placed a small peck on his cheek. When her lips met his skin, she could feel them pulse beneath her, could feel his jaw tighten in surprise. "I think you're quite handsome." She whispered, leaning back into the bench.
Harry's hand shot up to where her lips had brushed against his face. His fingertips lightly touching the ghost of the small kiss. He was suddenly very glad for the cold, at least the flush on his face could be explained that way. He continued to look straight ahead, trying to sort his mind. But it seemed as if his body had its own plans as his hand slowly crept closer to her, pinkies brushing. Malfoy's sister he reminded himself. She's a Malfoy. As his disobeying hand betrayed him and laced fingers with hers, he allowed himself to look at her once more, and saw she was biting back a smile. Her top teeth sank into her bottom lip. She looked so charming the only other thought in his mind was sod it, and he gripped her hand a bit tighter, feeling her squeeze his back.
They sat on the bench in silence for some time, Harry's thumb absently tracing circles on the top of Elara's hand. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and her brain felt like jelly. How was she going to do this? How was she going to deliver the necklace? How was she supposed to not develop feelings for Harry, especially when he was so sweet?! She chewed her lip, trying to figure out her head when her thoughts were interrupted by Ron's voice.
"Oi." He said. "You two look comfortable." He wiggled his eyebrows at Harry and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Shut up." He barked at his friend, standing up and dropping Elara's hand.
"Shall we get lunch, then?" Hermione asked, looking between Harry and Elara.
"I'm starved." Elara agreed.
Hermione led the way to The Three Broomsticks, chatting merrily about her new quills. When Harry and Ron started a conversation about Quidditch, Hermione whispered to Elara, "He's been talking about you for weeks. Said you both had some interesting conversations."
"I guess we've talked a couple times." She said.
"He looks happy when he talks to you." Hermione noted. "He doesn't look happy often. I think you're a good fit for him."
"I never thought of myself as a good fit for anyone, to be quite honest." Elara said. "But he's challenging. I like that about him."
"Combative." Hermione said. "I'm not sure it's the same as challenge. But I think you'll see he's a good person."
"I know he is." She agreed.
"I'll get our drinks." Harry said, as everyone else sat at a small table in the back.
Hermione purposefully sat in the spot next to Ron, leaving the aisle spot next to Elara open for Harry. She wasn't sure how she felt about Elara all the time. It was hard, she had to admit, to get to know Elara. She was smart and quite funny, but she was a Malfoy. She knew it was just a name, but that name was one that people feared almost as much as Voldemort himself. But with Elara, she just couldn't see it. And she had tried. When Harry swore up and down that the Malfoys were up to something, she tried to figure it out. Tried to find something she hated about Elara during their classes together, during their studying together… But, she just couldn't. Elara was charming and honest and intelligent. She wasn't afraid to say when she had messed up or to tell people she did not believe what her family did. She took interest in Muggles and tried to learn about them. With all the girls pining after her best friend since he became 'the chosen one', it was refreshing to have a conversation with someone who wasn't. Harry was the one taking interest in Elara, Harry was the one following her around and trying to set up times to run into her. She was happy to help her best friend foster a relationship with her new friend.
"Butterbeers for us, and a cranberry juice for you." Harry said, setting the goblet of red liquid in front of Elara.
She smiled. "You remembered?" She asked, an amused smile on her face.
"Of course, I did." He said. "You don't forget someone telling you they don't like butterbeer."
She smiled and took a sip of her preferred beverage. "You can call me Ellie, by the way. All of you can. Elara is too formal."
The group talked for a while only to be stopped abruptly when Harry noticed Professor Slughorn enter the pub. He stood up and waved at him and Ron groaned and rolled his eyes.
"What's going on?" Elara asked, looking at Ron and Hermione. They both shrugged.
"Hello Professor!" Harry said.
"Harry, m'boy! Pleasure to see you!"
"And you, sir! What brings you in?"
"Oh! Three broomsticks and I go way back." The large professor chortled, splashing his drink on the table causing it to splatter against Hermione and Elara. "Oh watch out!" He laughed.
Harry returned the gesture with a chuckle of his own. "Listen, in the old days I used to throw together the occasional supper party! With a few select students… Would you be interested?"
"Yes sir, of course!" Harry replied, seemingly excited at the prospect.
"You'd be invited too, Miss Granger… Miss Malfoy…"
Hermione and Elara exchanged a glance before each of them gave their obviously drunken professor a tight smile.
"Alright then! Keep an eye out for my owl! I'd better be going!"
Slughorn turned on Harry's goodbye and stumbled away.
"What is that about?" Ron asked.
"Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him." Harry said.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Dunno." Harry admitted. "But if Dumbledore's asking, I reckon it's important."
"Dumbledore asked you?" Elara repeated, confused.
"Yeah." Harry said. "I take lessons with Dumbledore. That's why I haven't got classes on Monday or Thursday afternoons."
Elara nodded, pocketing away that information for later. "I've got to use the loo, I'll be right back."
This was it. This was the time, now or never. She had enjoyed her time spent talking with Harry and his friends, but she reminded herself she still had a task to do. And, she had just watched a girl enter the bathroom without a horde of other girls behind her. She excused herself from the table and walked toward the bathroom, her bag in hand. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her stomach in knots.
She entered the bathroom and made sure they were the only two in the stalls. She quietly muttered a locking charm and sat in a stall, waiting a few moments for the other girl to come out.
She heard a flush, and then the water running from the sink.
"Oh, hello." The girl said to Elara, looking at her from the mirror.
"Hi." Elara said, holding the box out. "Could you take this for me?"
The girl looked confused but went to grab the black box. When she did, Elara took both of her hands and placed her fingers on the girl's temples. "I was not in here when you were in here. You'll take this box straight to Dumbledore. Do not give it to anyone else, do not open it, do not touch its contents. Do you understand?"
With glazed eyes and a quiet voice, the girl nodded. "Yes. I understand."
"You found the box on the floor. No one was in the loo with you. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I was here alone."
"You have no desire to touch the contents of this package. You will take it straight to Professor Dumbledore, handing it to only Dumbledore."
"I do not want to touch the package. I found it here. I have to get it to Professor Dumbledore."
Elara closed her eyes and pushed aside the recent memories and thoughts of the girl, she saw her looking in the mirror and then saw herself appear behind her. She buried the memory. All the girl saw now was the sink as she washed her hands and her own reflection. When she was satisfied that her mind had been properly set, she unlocked the door and walked back out. A tight feeling in her chest and knot in her stomach
a/n: Okay so I know this one is a bit short, the next one is as well. I didn't like it as one chapter-it was far too long for that. So I split it into two.
Because of that, I'm currently editing the next chapter and should have it posted here shortly. I'm not sure on my next couple updates... I like to get a few chapters ahead before I post them, and right now I'm only one ahead of what's posted so I need some time to write and edit and erase and rewrite and start it all over again haha
As always, thank you for favoring and following! Seriously it makes me so happy! Please please pleaseee Review! Let me know what you think, talk to me! Ask questions! Whatever!
Alright, I'm off to finish up chapter 10 for you lovely people.
xo
-Mimi
