Haha, the third chappie! I'm so proud of myself!
Chapter Three
Revelations
I woke up the next morning with a groan. I had gotten home around two AM and crashed. I pulled my blanket over my head but it got whipped away. I was awake in an instant, wand at the ready.
Draco Malfoy was standing at the end of my bed laughing.
"What the hell are you doing here so damn early?"
"It's not early, it's ten am and you were over an hour late. You're lucky I found something to divert my attention this long. Now get up, I want doughnuts." He turned and left the room with a swagger. I rolled over and pulled the blanket back up. "Don't make me get a bucket of ice water." I groaned again and got up grumbling and padded into the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later I walked out yawning. Malfoy was sitting on my tan couch flipping through one of the back issues of 'Quidditch Weekly'.
"Took you long enough." He dropped the magazine and stood with a stretch.
"Shut the hell up you bloody prat. I had a late night." Draco's eyes gleamed and I mentally kicked myself.
"Oh really now? Where is she? I know its been awhile for you." He smirked at me.
"Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I have a conscious," I grumbled and picked up my leather coat. Draco laughed.
"You try to wound me but always fail, dear friend." I glared at him and opened the door with a gesture. He stepped through.
"Eunuchs first." Draco winced.
"Now that was a low blow. Congratulations, I'm glad to see you finally cut your first tooth. Your mommy must be so proud of her 'ittle boy."
"Shut up, eunuch."
"Alright, that's enough of that. You know as well as I do I'm not a damn eunuch."
"Shut up, I'm not talking to you again until I get coffee." I could almost hear his smirk behind me.
"I almost forgot. Your 'late night'. So how was she?"
Twenty Minutes Later
"Come on, at least tell me who she was. Don't make me beg." I gave him a look and sipped my coffee. Ah, precious sweet coffee.
"I hate to tell you Mister 'I-don't-ever-beg-because-I'm-a-damn-bloody-wealthy-prat' you've been begging for the past twenty minutes." He glared at me over his coffee cup. "Now, what did you have to tell me, begger boy?"
"I'm not begging. Malfoy's don't beg." I snorted and sipped at my coffee again. "As for you second question," his voice dropped and his face lost all emotion. "My initiation is scheduled for October 31st in honor of the Dark Lords anniversary of return to power." I swore loudly and a few people looked over. Draco easily glared them into turning back around.
"Draco, that's little over three months."
"The elections in two. Father wants me to keep 'my sleeves rolled up' for a little while after. Said it'll help my image."
"Is he getting senile in his old age or something?" Draco shot me a venomous glare and I held my hands up in surrender. His father was Draco's sore point, always had been. Of course, when you watch your idol torture and kill innocent people its bound to affect you somehow. Draco had become the ice king. "So, what are you going to do?" he shrugged.
"I'm not sure, but I won't become a pawn in this chess game. I make my own decisions."
"Go see Snape." Draco looked at me sharply.
"Why?"
"He might be able to help you find a way out of this mess." Draco looked doubtful, but nodded after a few moments contemplation. He stood and dropped a few galleons on the table.
"Let's go."
"What? Where?"
"To see Snape."
"But-"
"It was your bloody idea, now let's go." I heaved a sigh and stood. Draco clapped me on the back. I shrugged him off. "So, who was she?" I groaned and stepped out into the bright sunlight.
"I can't help you." Snape continued grading the papers in front of him. Draco looked dejected and a bit worried. "But I know someone who can." We both looked up. "Albus Dumbledore." Draco glared at the dark haired man, then turned and cursed.
"I am NOT talking to that batty old coot!"
"I am very sorry to hear that, Mister Malfoy." An amused voice from the door made us turn. Draco at least had the decency to look slightly abashed for a moments before his face went blank.
"I'll figure this out on my own." Draco brushed past the headmaster.
"It's to be a double initiation, isn't it, Mister Malfoy." Draco stopped and I blanched. Dumbledore continued, voice grave. "That's why you were willing to ask for help." Draco turned around, anger plain in his every movement.
"How in the hell did you know that?" the blond boys voice was deathly quiet.
"I told him." Snape's voice seemed oddly loud in the silent room. Draco turned to face him, the look on his face incredulous and angry. I was pretty sure my face matched his.
"What?" Draco's voice sounded like it was coming from a million miles away.
"Severus has been spying for me for many years now. We have been able to keep Voldemort from full power all these years largely due to his sacrifices." Dumbledore's aged voice shook me to my core. This wasn't possible.
"I'm afraid it is possible, Mister Zabini." I looked up at him, not aware I had spoken aloud. "And I'm also afraid to inform you that your own initiation is scheduled for the same night." I looked over at Draco. He wouldn't meet my eyes. I stepped backward, thoughts racing.
"What could the Dark Lord want with me? I have never shown him any sort of support, how could he even know I exist?" Draco's voice was quiet.
"It's my fault."
"What?" I turned on him.
"I stupidly said something to my father about you. It was just a passing comment, I can't even remember what the hell it was, but he took it to mean something else. And he passed your name to the Dark Lord. He wants you. And if he can't have you, everyone around you will die."
"You can't be serious."
"If I wasn't serious, then why the hell would we be standing here? You know I hate asking for help. I won't become a pawn and I won't let you become one either because of something I did." He slammed his fist into the desk, denting it.
"Mister Malfoy-"
"Shut up. I don't want to hear it. I won't become a Death Eater. I won't be a fucking pawn in a game I never wanted to play." He stormed out of the room, slamming the door against the wall with a crash.
"Mister Zabini, there may be a way around this, but you will need more help. I will contact you later this week." I just nodded and walked slowly out of the room, trying to process what the hell had just happened. It wasn't working.
~*~
Uhoh, huh? I wonder how this one is going to end….