"What game are we playing, Draco?"

"Longevity."

"What do we get if we win?"

"A quiet home in the countryside. Travel, parties, children, familiars, whatever your heart desires."

"And you?"

xoXOXox

To say I am not a proficient liar would be a gross understatement. I'm so unpracticed at the art of deceit, I doubt I could do it to save my life if I needed to tonight. Maybe I could be adept at trickery if I applied myself to the task, but I've never been one to purposely avoid the truth. Quite the opposite. I tend to look at things and say to myself, "Ah, this is what is." instead of "This is how I can make others see what I wish was there." I never assumed I would need to. So much for logical assumptions.

If there is one thing I've learned about Slytherins, it's that everything is a game to them. Life is a game. War is a game. They are not out to solve problems but to win. This negotiation with my father is only a move to ensure they do exactly that. They think me a pawn to be played to their whims. Perhaps I am, but pawns can become queens if they make it past the enemy lines alive.

I don't yet understand the rules to this engagement, and I've not quite settled into the part that I am supposed to be playing with Draco. Luckily, he seems to be making this easy for me. So long as I stay quiet and follow his lead, we should make it out of this meeting unscathed.

First, we stride through the halls of the Manor hand in hand. Narcissa and Professor Snape flank us, putting on quite a show of pureblooded coldness and acidic imposition, respectively. It's quite fortunate for them I seem to be the only aura reader in the vicinity, or their cover would be blown wide open.

The hem of the ball gown I've been given is charmed to float just above my ankles so I don't muss it up and fall on my face. Handy bit of charmwork, that. If I could talk to the elves, I might have them teach me the spell for when I regain a wand.

I digress -

I've been loaned sapphires and diamonds of varying sizes to drape over my neck and ears and hands. Every stitch says "Look! I'm unharmed! You know, aside from the kidnapping bit, they are taking excellent care of me in this prison! See dad, Slytherins can play fair when they want to!"

Bollocks. It's all bollocks.

We arrive at a grand indoor courtyard. Shapeless figures in black robes and silver masks form a border at the edge of the room. Water fountains with changing colours and tapestries scraping both the floor and sky-high ceiling suggest we will be having a garden party rather than a hostage negotiation tonight.

We all stop in front of a wall-length mirror. I assume this is where we will be speaking to my father.

Draco makes a show of tucking my hair back and placing a kiss to my cheek. As he begins to slip the wretched costume over his face, I take the chance to murmur into his ear -

"What game are we playing, Draco?"

xoXOXox

CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK

Merlin's beard Luna's shoes are loud.

CLACK CLACK CLACK… silencing charm. I can't take any more intrusion into my thoughts.

As it is, Mother is standing too close, suffocating me with her presence. Godfather's glare sucks all the air from the corridor, and he isn't even looking my direction. It's hotter than Hades' arse in this hall.

My breathing is unpleasantly audible. If I glanced down, I'm sure I could see my heart pounding underneath my robes.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.

Sweat pours down my back, under my arms, through my shirt and across Luna's hand, which I belatedly realize I'm crushing between my fingers. She doesn't seem bothered by it, or anything. The girl has nerves of steel.

'Wits about you, Malfoy! Breathe. This is all just a show, let's not make it a tragedy. You've survived this long, what's one more person to survive with you?' I reassure myself.

So simple to think, yet so painstakingly difficult to act upon when every survival instinct I have is screaming for me to run far and hide well.

I tuck her hair behind her ear, lean forward in a show of possession.

'You have solid excuses. Your occlumency shields are nearly impenetrable.' I remind myself.

'Nearly' pangs against the walls of my skull to pulverize my conviction.

I brush my lips against the skin of her cheek, hoping to all the gods and deities her expression doesn't betray my cunning. I take a languid moment to slide my mask down over my features to calm myself.

'Think of all you stand to gain, Malfoy.'

'Malfoy...'

'Draco Malfoy.'

"What game are we playing, Draco?"

xoXOXox

"Longevity," he whispers back through the mask

He'll have to fill me in on the details of this "longevity" later. I've found one can't be too careful when clarifying rules in high-stakes undertakings. For example, are we playing for my longevity? His? Ours? Dad's? His family's? I would prefer a solution where everyone can live, aside from maybe He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, but I won't chance to assume Draco is shooting for the same prize.

Silence falls over the courtyard. Lucius Malfoy steps forward, no mask to hide his face. I might feel as bold as he does if I had recently been broken out of prison by a powerful, evil wizard too.

He casts an incantation, and the mirror comes to life.

On the other side is my father, his eyes red and hair strewn about. He's standing in front of our mantle at home.

'Don't worry, dad. I'll be there soon.'

But never soon enough.

"Ah, Xenophilius, how gracious of you to join us this evening." Lucius taunts

"Luna! You're alive!" dad gasps, completely ignoring Lucius to fall with both hands into the mirror.

I hate seeing him like this. He has the look of a wild animal caught in a snare - lost, alone and trapped.

I wave with just the tips of my fingers, hoping that he catches it.

Lucius continues speaking to dad.

"Yes, well, we do tend to keep to our end of the bargain in these matters. I trust you have made the necessary improvements to your operation?"

"We have all new staff, Lord Malfoy. I turned them over yesterday. I'll do anything you ask, sir. Anything." he begs "Just send my daughter back to me alive."

'No, dad, not anything. Maybe some things, but don't give them everything. Not for me.'

Draco grips my hand harder as his father speaks again.

"All in due time." he says "Keep to our Lord's commands, and I assure you your daughter will be safe in your home by Yule."

"Yule?!" dad yells, his eyes going wide in shock. "That's almost a year away! You can't possibly expect to keep my daughter from me until then?"

"What I expect, Mr Lovegood is your enthusiastic cooperation in any affairs regarding the Ministry if you wish to have your daughter returned to you. Are we clear?"

He's rubbing circles over the serpent's head of his cane.

"Clear." dad replies, defeated.

xoXOXox

This is the first time I've seen the girl break her stoicism. She is toying with my palm and shifting in her shoes as our father's converse. I hold her hand tighter as the negotiations ensue.

The conversation ends, and the charmed mirror once again shows our reflections. It's not what I would have wished for. My moon is shrouded in darkness, surrounded by the black abyss of night. By her side stands a fallen star, silver face reflecting her light to burn holes in her glory.

I have to fix this.

"Tonight." Godfather drawls into my ear.

I nod my head.

Tonight.

xoXOXox

The hall falls silent as a large door booms shut somewhere outside of the courtyard.

Something is scraping across the ground as if it's being dragged.

A low drawling hiss permeates the dragging.

I see it: The largest snake I've ever laid eyes on slithering across the floor towards us. It has an aura; black, grey and red. Is it an animagus?

Where is Harry when you need him?

The enormous serpent makes it's way past the fountains and finery to curl up around a high backed wooden chair at the opposite end of the hall.

"Luciussssss….." Is hissed from behind us.

xoXOXox

The Dark Lord has entered our midst. He calls my father, who immediately drops to his knees to kiss the Dark Lord's hem. I implore the bile to hold fast in my gut.

"Alwayssss the capable politician, Luciussss. Well done." parts from the Dark Lord's mouth

"It is my pleasure to serve you, My Lord." my father grovels

The rest of us drop to our knees and say "My Lord" simultaneously as if our minds are all connected by a string. If not our minds, our mouths are one, for none dares to break this ritual and risk the wrath of our master.

I pull Luna down with me and hear her say "My Lord" as well. Something is not right about her voice. The luminance is gone.

xoXOXox

A soft tingling enters my mind as I stare at the snake. Professor Snape, who still flanks me, brushes me softly with the edge of his robes. I stay with the sensation as he gently sorts through my memories of the past few days.

"Ms Lovegood," his voice appears in my thoughts "In a moment, you are going to feel like you desperately desire to rest. Take it."

I go with the sleep and feel my voice slip away from me as I'm dragged to the ground.

xoXOXox

"My Lord," Godfather speaks.

"Severussss, old friend." the Dark Lord hisses through his schadenfreude mockery of a smile. "How may you serve me this evening?"

Godfather steps forward, again dropping to his knees, casting his eyes at the ground. If father's display is grotesque and sickening, Godfather's is a knife to my throat. "If it pleases you, my Lord, I would like to bear to you the news of my most recent assignment."

"Rise, Severusss." the Dark Lord commands. "Speak."

"No voices are opposing you in Britain, My Lord. The usurpers have no vehicles to sully your name. The ministry is in our hands, My Lord. Any being who dares to oppose you will not be spared. In addition, we have been granted a boon with our new form of leverage."

Godfather controls the silence masterfully as the Dark Lord's grey skin arches around his eye where a brow should be. I'm surprised Luna hasn't fainted or hurled at the sight.

"Go on." he commands to Godfather.

"The girl was forced into opposing us only by her unfortunate influences, My Lord. Her allegiance lies with you and you alone and has for many years. She is a formidable soldier and a competent healer. I implore you to bring her into our ranks, My Lord, under the protection of the Malfoy heir."

"Your claims are bold, Severussss. I trust you won't deceive me." the Dark Lord's vile teeth are bared as he incants

"Legilimens."

xoXOXox

A million stone walls shoot up around me all at once. I'm blocked away from my thoughts, a prisoner in my own mind as I'm forced to stand by and listen to scenes clipped and mangled playing out without my permission.

First, healing Draco. Then, a frightening visage of me in a grey jumper with my hair wild about my head. Draco's grandfather asking if I belong to his lineage.

The next thoughts aren't mine at all. Draco and I spending hours in the library researching Dark Arts. Us practising the offensive spells I learned in the DA. Dad and I fighting about the stories he publishes.

Harry.

I'm standing over him, his face is bloodied and he is unconscious.

What on earth is happening?

xoXOXox

I'm going to be sick. I'm going to blackout. Luna and I are going to die and be buried in a mass grave on my own grounds.

Godfather, whatever sorcery this is, let it end. Please let it end.

"Well done, Severusss…" comes from the Dark Lord. "Rise, child."

Luna stands.

"My Lord." says the ghost of her voice "It's the highest honour to be allowed into your service."

xoXOXox

Quiet chaos is the loneliest kind. To not know, to silently pine with nerves on edge is a sickness that eats the flesh from the inside out.

I can't wait to get home to my DOLD.

We walk through the corridors on the way to my quarters, the clacking and clicking and hissing but a melody to lull me to compliance. My thoughts are too loud to pay them any mind.

She speaks -

"What do we get if we win?"

I say the first thing that comes to mind, all my desires, everything that would make my life a peaceful shade of normalcy. Being close to this girl has already embedded me with habits that could get me killed.

"A quiet home in the countryside. Travel, parties, children, familiars, whatever your heart desires."

"And you?" she asks, every bit of vibrancy returning to her smile to mock me.

I stop walking, pulling off my mask to take her face in my hands.

"And me? What about me?" I beg, all the air in my lungs standing silent

Please let me have understood her implication correctly. Let me be the consolation she desires to win for this farce of a gamble we play with our lives.

"What do you want, Draco?" she asks with wide eyes and red lips and all the haunting beauty hell has to offer.

Sadistic, tyrannical Fates.

xoXOXox

Draco looks like he's been smashed in the face with a cauldron.

His fingertips feel like butterflies who have lighted on me, barely touching my face as I watch his brain jam and break into pieces.

I remain patient, looking into his eyes to wait for his answer.

He throws up a silencing charm, leaning his head under my hair to speak in my ear.

"I want to be free."

"You can be." I tell him, because I'm not sure he knows he has a choice anymore.

That seems to be what he needed. He throws his arms around me, pulling me into an embrace so tight it pops the bones in my back. I return it tenfold to strengthen him.

We walk back to his room with our fingers entertwined and digging into my waist. This won't be the end of our conversation.