Disclaimer: This story is based on the characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed!
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The Serpent's PetChapter VI (6)
Morals vs. SurvivalBy claret345
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There stood Voldemort in the centre of the large magnificent room that was in a secreted area in Hogwarts close to where the Slytherin dungeons were. The ominous figure of Voldemort with his blood red eyes that glowed could be seen even with his hood up. Death Eaters surrounded him in a large circle that was at least a few meters away from him and were on their hands and knees, bowing to him. None of their faces could be recognized for they had their white masks on and their hoods up, but Draco Malfoy though unrecognizable, was in the circle of Death Eaters, along with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy.
Draco would have been thinking, how many damn times do we need to bow to him? What does he want, to have a temple named after him, and be worshipped all day long? Oh yeah, I can see it now, "all hail Lord Voldemort, all hail the supreme sovereign of the Wizarding World."
But Draco wasn't, because his parents had warned him of Voldemort's power of hearing the thoughts of his Death Eaters. Once the man or woman bore the Dark Mark, his whole life was dedicated to Voldemort, and serving him. The Dark Lord would have your loyalty for all eternity, even in death. He owned your life and your soul once you were initiated as a Death Eater. There was no way out, not even in death.
"My loyal followers," Voldemort called out to the group. "Today was a grand victory for us. Hogwarts now belongs to my rule and us. Dumbledore has fled, taking Potter with him, and his precious Gryffindors. Today is a new day for the Dark side. This school will never be as it once was. The name of this school will be spoken proudly of once again. The entire populace of filthy Muggle borns and Half bloods that once walked these corridors without doubt, feeling as if they owned Hogwarts, will be annihilated. This school was never built for the damned children of Muggles, but for the children of Wizards and Witches! No more of this love of Muggles and Light magic. A new era has began, one where this school will produce the finest of Dark Wizards and Witches that the Wizarding World has ever seen that will serve under my command, and the Darkest of Arts will be practiced. Durmstrang will be nothing compared to the new restoration of this school. From this day forward, the Wizarding World will be made up of the most prominent Pureblood families. The Wizarding World will be cleansed and will rid of the old ways of Dumbledore. The Lighten Age has ended. Now we face a new century, a century of darkness and purity."
Murmurs of agreement and shouts of approvals filled the air of the room, causing everyone to smile or grin. Death Eaters began rising and clapping, praising the Dark Lord's name. The images of quite Purebloods that were proper and posh had left at the moment. The room was in a storm of noise, excitement, and enjoyment. Voldemort raised his arms and everyone fell silent.
"I will sign duties to all of you. Some of you will be in control of interrogating some of the students, some shall have the responsibility of spying on students, and more, but the majority will have the role of imprisoning, and killing the Mudbloods. You will find out through owl post. You may all go to the Great Hall to have dinner if you wish or to your new rooms. You are dismissed."
Death Eaters bowed and left the dungeons quietly, not murmuring or whispering, trying to not anger the Dark Lord. Draco followed his parents through the corridors until they got to the Great Hall where the Death Eaters began talking and began sitting down at tables, getting service from House Elves that brought them food.
"How have you been, Draco?" Lucius enquired, as he sat down next to Narcissa on the bench.
"Very well, father," Draco, responded, sitting down across from them. Draco looked at his father then his mother. "And you, father, mother?"
"Fine as usual," Lucius commented, "but your mother has been having insomnia and suffering from depression."
Narcissa gazed mutely at Draco with a shattered look in her eyes that made Draco's insides ache unfamiliarly. The Wizard pictures of teenage Narcissa were filled with wide smiles showing off white gleaming teeth, sparkling summer blue sky coloured eyes, and glowing pale skin with a pink tint. Now the woman that was the mother of Draco looked like a shell of the younger woman she once was.
It caused Draco to want to know what Lucius had done to his mother. What did he do to kill the spirit of his mother? Why did he do it? How could he have ever done that? Or was it, Draco felt a moment of shame, and guilt, himself that helped make his mother broken hearted? But Draco didn't have the luxury of wondering these thoughts for very long because the Dark Lord may use it against him.
"Has she seen a Healer?" Draco asked, lowering his voice, and bent closer to his father. "I've heard that there are witches and wizards that posses the old knowledge of potions and incantations that come from the days of Merlin. I'm quite sure you've heard of them. They're discreet and rare but money talks, Father. They would know the cures to her insomnia and depression. It's much more than having a private doctor from St. Mungos that will only recommend treatments and potions that will ease her suffering."
"One of my associates is seeing into it," Lucius answered. "But it may be from the trauma of the war. It has been going on for centuries. It has never stopped despite moments of immobility. We are close to having this century be one of the darkest of the centuries. If not, then Draco, you are aware that your mother, I, and you will be put on trial, and there is a large chance that we will have a life sentence in prison or worse, the Dementors kiss, if our money, and influence is not sufficient."
Draco nodded, indicating his agreement, and comprehending what his father was telling him. "I know Father. I've always known the risks."
A ghost of a smile flashed across Lucius' lips. "Yes. I know. It is evident that my raising you and not your mother has made you a strong young man. Make me proud of you, Draco. The line of Malfoys has never had a failure in a daughter or son and I will not let the tradition fall apart."
"I promise you my duties of being a faithful son shall not be broken," Draco promised, looking austerely and grave.
Lucius raised a smooth eyebrow. "I should hope so or your death will be of consequent."
What a kind father, Draco would've thought, but didn't. "I would very much like to stay, Father, but I must go elsewhere."
Lucius gave a faint nod and turned towards a House Elf that had showed up by his right side.
~
Cho was looking frantically around the room and pacing.
Merlin, he should be coming back soon, Cho thought. It can't be much longer. It's been so long all ready. He should be here any minute and then it'll happen…I'll have to carry out my end of the agreement. God, oh why did I consent to this? Surely I shouldn't have. Even Harry would've understood. What kind of agreement is my virginity and pleasing Draco in exchange for Harry's safety? This was so stupid of me. I'm no Gryffindor, so why am I trying to act like one? I should've gone with how I go about and not Harry's way. I'm not near to being Harry. How many other people would be doing this? I must be the only one crazy enough to be doing this.
Cho's thoughts were interrupted by a voice in the back of her head. He said be ready for tonight. He'll be expecting you to look the occasion.
"God," Cho said, "I'm going to have to wear something scanty. But he didn't leave anything for me to wear."
"You know my dear, I hear much what goes on with Draco, and I can promise you that he will not try to get into your knickers. Believe it or not, the Malfoys are ladies and gentlemen," the woman in the portrait spoke.
"I didn't know it was possible for a Death Eater to be a gentleman, note the key word in gentleman is "gentle,"" Cho said derisively.
The lady gave a supercilious look at Cho and turned up her nose at her. "Draco is in every way the perfect son and is doing an honourable job."
"What the hell do you mean he's the perfect son?" Cho demanded, throwing her arms up in the air. "Draco is sure as hell no little angel! What have you been seeing?"
"Draco is not evil, my dear," the woman said coldly, "He's serving and defending his family, and beliefs. Is there not honour in that cause?"
"Not when it's against a race of people and trying to wipe out every last one of them," Cho growled.
"Does your side not want the same thing for Death Eaters?"
"That's different!" Cho cried. "Death Eaters are murderers and are evil!"
"Your Aurors are murderers, they murder Death Eaters, and if murder is evil, then they are evil as well," the woman replied calmly, in contrast with Cho's outbursts. "Dear, listen closely, because this is one of the difficult truths of life. There is no good or evil because both sides believe their cause is just and either way they're defending their beliefs, their way of life, their culture, their home, and everything they've known. Draco fights to protect the dying race of Purebloods and to save the Dark Arts. He's defending his way of life and the Pureblood families. All Purebloods are related to each other and all have experienced the same way of life one way or another. That was how they were raised. They were raised around riches, beauty, parties, and a carefree life. They went to Hogwarts for their education and then would go home living off their inheritance. Now imagine when these commoners and poor people that had shown signs of magic began coming to Hogwarts, invading their school that they, the Purebloods put money in specifically for all Purebloods to attend. There has and always will be social classes which refuse to come together. The rich will not mingle with the dirt poor."
"Then explain how there's only power," Cho demanded.
"Well, think, my dear, you do not act as if you're a Hufflepuff," the woman said shrilly.
"There's only power because…" Cho thought for a moment and then it hit her.
There was only power because that was what both sides wanted. Power meant control, which meant whichever side had the most power would control the Wizarding World, and power also meant security. That side would secure their way of life. They could keep living the same liberties that their ancestors had once had. It was protection.
"That's what will provide protection," Cho said softly.
"Both sides think they're right, both think the other is wrong, but what will end the fighting is when one side has won power," the woman stated clearly.
Cho understood that now and felt like she had lost something besides what she used to think, or maybe the emptiness was because she had felt like a cookie jar or box filled with her parents beliefs. That she needed to have a concept of good and evil. That she needed to be good. That she needed to think and believe that there was good, evil, and love. And now she felt like she had nothing and had lost all of that. The cookie jar had lost its cookies; there were only crumbs of what there once was.
Draco opened the door and burst in, interrupting Cho's thinking.
"Are you ready?" Draco asked immediately.
"Not if you're expecting a sex kitten," Cho said and snorted.
"I wasn't expecting one," Draco snapped.
"Well, you did say be "ready" so if "ready" means be dressed in a skimpy sheer slip or something and looking like a sex kitten, and being ready for sex, then I'm not," Cho said, defending herself.
"God, women are confusing," Draco muttered and walked up to Cho, and grabbed her hand gently, which surprised Cho. Cho thought he would be rougher with her.
~
"Why are we here?" Cho asked, looking in amazement around her for Draco taking her to the Astronomy Tower.
"To talk," Draco said calmly, sitting down.
"Yeah right," Cho said inaudibly to herself. "That's just what everyone does when they come up to the Astronomy Tower."
But still, Cho sat down next to Draco, and looked at him. "Well, what do you want to talk about?"
"Who you are. Me. To try to get to know each other," Draco said lazily. "That's what most people do to get to know each other."
"My name's Cho Chang. Your name's Draco Malfoy," Cho said easily. "That's who we are."
"Incorrect, Ravenclaw," Draco interrupted. "Who we are is not our names. Who we are is what we want to do, our wishes, our desires, our beliefs, etc. That's what makes us and that's whom we are. And you don't know all my desires, little Ravette."
"Oh will all of you people stop with these strange discussions!" Cho cried out, feeling exasperated. "Why can't you people talk about normal things? Like the weather, family, friends, events, etc.! Why good and evil? Why do we have to have these odd discussions every hour? Is there some internal alarm clock inside of you that rings three times an hour, every hour, every day, every week, and every year?"
Cho waited for Draco's sarcastic response but found none. Feeling ready to jump off from the tower from all the strangeness Cho had been experiencing the whole day, Cho was astounded to find that Draco was laughing! Only he was laughing hard, also, and had tears in his eyes.
"My God, what an eventful day with strange events," Cho said, crossing her arms.
Draco soon quieted down and looked at Cho's face. Cho saw that he was smiling which shocked Cho immensely. She had never seen Draco smiled and even had believed it was impossible for him to smile. Cho's thought of Draco being handsome changed when he smiled. Instead, he was unbelievably handsome. Cho and Draco didn't know that Draco looked so much like his mother when he smiled. But Draco's cold gray eyes turned a light blue that was the same colour as a clear summer sky and his face was brightened by his wide smile of white perfect teeth.
"I didn't know you could smile at all," Cho said to Draco, and laughed. "Ice kings sometimes smile. That's unbelievable."
"Of course I can smile," Draco retorted and snorted. "It's only not many people can make me smile. Take that as a compliment, because not even my father or mother have ever been the reason why there was a smile on my face."
Cho sighed. "You Slytherins are a very odd sort of people."
"No we're not," Draco, answered, "we think different things than what others believe and we believe in power more than anything."
Cho shook her head. "Please discuss something else. I've heard a lengthy discussion of right and wrong with that woman in the portrait in your room. Let's talk about Quidditch or something. We're both Seekers. We have that much in common."
"You know, Cho," Draco began, "that with every current Seeker from every house, you've been with now. You were with Pretty Boy Diggory, Scarhead Potter, and now with this deal, you'll be getting involved with me. What an interesting thought. You must have a thing for men who play the Seeker position in Quidditch."
Cho laughed and shoved Draco. "Shut up you! You make me sound like a tramp when I'm not. I went out with Cedric for a long time and then I dated Harry but it didn't work out, and now how I got here, I really don't know."
"Blame me because it'll flatter my resourcefulness," Draco teased.
"No, but really, Draco," Cho try to begin again. "Just one regular conversation like normal people."
"In return for a snog," Draco said, raising a blond eyebrow, and smirked.
"Merlin's beard! Why do-."
"Deal or not?" Draco asked.
Cho was silent for a moment. Did it really matter whether she kissed Draco now when she was going to have to later? At least right now, he was asking her, in a way. Later on, he might start demanding she kiss him. But should she really? Because then it'd mean that she willingly kissed him when she didn't need to. She didn't need to make another deal. But not making this deal would most likely anger Draco, which Cho didn't want. She didn't want to ever see an angry Draco Malfoy.
"Deal."
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A/N: I'm laughing so hard right now which is probably pissing you off immensely! What a wonderful cliffhanger when I haven't updated in such a long time! Damn, I'm good. And you were thinking you'd see Draco and Cho kiss in this chapter. Ha. Think again. I just love torturing my readers…kidding! But well, my dears, you'll have to review, and stay tuned to see the next chapter when Draco and Cho might snog…he he he! Merry Christmas and happy holidays from claret345 (I changed my pen name once again.)