Time jump: A few days

So for the past few days, things have gotten quite interesting. Turns out Ron had been poisoned by some wine given to him. Which they still can't seem to figure out from who it came from. How do I know this? Well, Hermione was pretty chatty with me these days.

But I was more worried about Draco than Ron Weasley. The boy had been missing classes and his grades were dropping. I knew he was tinkering with the damn cabinet, but the room kept moving and I haven't been able to find it.

"It's Katie Bell." One of the girls sitting next to me whispered.

Looking up a ping of guilt hit my chest at the reminder, that because of me she nearly died. As I stood to go speak with her, I stopped at seeing Potter approach her. Why must he meddle in everything? Catching sight of Draco walking in I ran to his side. Grabbing his arm, I jerked him towards me.

"You look bad," I muttered, looking around and being thankful no one was staring at us. As I tugged at his arm, I frowned at how stiff he went. "Draco?" Following his line of sight, I noticed both Katie and Potter looking our way. "Draco, don't make a move." But as always he failed to listen to me. Following after him, I failed to notice Potter was a few paces behind us. We stepped into the bathroom near the sinks. He ripped his sweater off. I watched him lean over the sink, taking in sobbing breaths. "The spell I placed on Katie would have erased any memories of that day. There is no way she can say it was us." Leaning against the wall, I watched him splash water onto his face. "You need to leave that cabinet alone. It's driving you insane."

"I need it to work." He whispered. "I can't do this alone. I need them."

"You are risking yourself for this?" I scoffed. "Your only task is to wave your wand in the direction of Dumbledore. Nothing else. Let Voldemort figure the rest out on his own." I was shocked to hear him suddenly sobbing. "Draco?" Walking closer to him I nearly gasped at seeing him crying. Pulling him by the shoulder I wrapped my arms around him.

Amid all things, I always forget he is younger than me. Younger and probably more scared than I was. He didn't ask to be picked. Or to have a father that would throw him to the wolves. He was slowly losing himself and becoming a shell of what he once was. Holding him tighter, I exhaled slowly. There was nothing I could tell him that would make this better. In the end, we either killed or got killed. I hate the thought of taking a life, but I wasn't about to give my life for that man. Not mine or Snape's.

"I know what you did Malfoy." We both jumped apart at hearing Potter in the entrance. "You hexed her didn't you?"

"Leave." I took a step forward standing just in front of Draco. "You have this all wrong." Before Potter could answer a spark flew past me and hit the wall next to Potter. Another followed from Potter's wand. "Goddamit Draco!" I grabbed my wand holding it close to my side. I wasn't sure what that feeling in my chest was, but I didn't want to hurt Potter. "Draco back off!"

A few more spells were heard and then all quiet. I could hear the footsteps, but I wasn't sure who was which. I jumped as another spell was sent off. A set of footsteps were coming closer to me. At that moment I didn't care who it was, I just need to stop one of them to end this. Hopefully. But luck was not on my side. I saw Draco jump around ready to attack. As I heard the beginning of his cure, I ran and tackled him just as Potter retaliated with his curse.

I let out a loud groan at hitting the floor with such force. I could feel my back soaking from the water that had pooled on the bathroom floor. I knew Potter got me with the spell, but I was in pain. This was something I have never felt. My body hurt as if it was being ripped apart. I tried to move, but nothing was responding. I felt something warm being spread across my chest and just as quickly becoming cold. My lungs were no longer working preventing me from taking in proper breaths. There were parts on my body I felt slashed, my blood was pouring out mixing with the water. I felt some hands-on me followed by the worried voice of Draco and...was that Potter?

What the hell did he use? I haven't heard of a curse that caused this type of injury. Turning my head to the side I noticed my wand just inches from my fingers. I was gasping for air, only getting enough to not deprive my failing lungs.

No pov:

Harry had caught on as soon as he heard Malfoy open his mouth. He never expected Athena to push Draco out of the way, let alone the damage this spell would cause. When they both fell to the ground with a thud he was confused by the sound of someone gasping for air. As he turned the corner he realized what he had done.

Athena laid on the flooded floor bleeding out from slashes on her body and face. Her wand had slipped from her hand and now laid beneath the water. Malfoy kneeled beside her, his hands hovering over her body. He wouldn't touch her. Harry's entire tab was numb. He couldn't move. Speak. Think. It was all a fog in his brain. All he did know was that he did that to her.

"Get help!"

His eyes trailed over to Malfoy. He can see the other boy's mouth moving, but his voice was muffled. In an attempt to help her, Draco removed his shirt and placed it over the cuts, but that was only doing so much.

"Go get someone!" Draco growled in frustration when Harry refused to move. He didn't know what to do. What could he do? Athena was bleeding out in front of him and all he could do was offer his shirt. He looked up at Harry, ready to yell once more when snape appeared in the doorway. "Professor! Help!"

Snape rushed to her side. Seeing the slashes on his daughter, he was confused. There was only one way Harry could have learned that curse. Crouching beside her, he pulled his wand out. "It's alright Athena," Snape whispered. "You're going to be fine." He watched Harry take off running.

"Da-dad." She grabbed his robe in a fist, not daring to let go.

"Shhh, just breath." Running his wand, across her chest, Snape began to chant. "Vulnera Sanentur. Vulnera Sanentur." The wounds began to heal, and the blood once mixed with the water was returning to her body. "Vulnera Sanentur."

Time Jump:

Harry was given multiple sessions of detention with Snape. Something none of the other teachers argued. That was the most Snape could do, without interfering with Dumbledore's plans. Athena was sent to the infirmary where they were watching her overnight. It had been years since someone had used that curse on another person. At least within Hogwarts walls. For the moment any privilege to visit Athena was only given to the professors.

Hermione sat alongside Ginny and Ron, watching Harry as he stared at the book. When he came into the common room agitated and scared, she never thought this would be the reason. For a moment, Hermione had lost control and snapped at him. His obsession with that book had nearly killed her best friend.

"She jumped in the way," Harry whispered for the hundredth time. "I wasn't aiming at her. She jumped in front of Malfoy to push him away. Why would she do that?"

"You need to get rid of it," Ginny stated. "Today."

Hermione released a shaky breath. "What did Snape say about Athena?"

"Nothing to me," Harry replied. "He wouldn't tell me anything. When I asked, he said I had no right in asking."

"What are we going to tell Sirius?" Ron suddenly asked the one question no one wanted to ask.

Hermione looked between the three shaking her head. "There is no reason for him to know. Athena is fine."

"I can't keep this from him." Harry sighed. "I'll tell him the first chance I get. She is still his wife, even if she doesn't remember it."

Time jump:

I woke up to find myself in the infirmary once again. "I should just move in."

"Sorry child, but I don't take in strays." Nurse teased. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Turning my neck to crack it, I groaned softly. "What did Potter do to me?"

"I don't quite now." She hummed to herself. "Severus was the one to heal and bring you here. The poor man was a mess when he left. But it seems whatever he did worked just fine. Your wounds are healed, and you seem to be yourself."

I nodded. "Yeah, I feel fine."

"Right then. It's late stay the night here and you can go back to your dorm in the morning."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to head on now." I was already out the bed and walking out before she could stop me. "Thank you!"

Running down the corridor I felt a weird sensation in my arm. Pulling my sleeve up, I uncovered the mark. His mark was moving almost like fog in a cloud. Clenching my hand, I growled at the pain shooting up my arm. "What the hell does he want now?"

"Athena."

I glanced around trying to pinpoint the whisper. "Draco?"

"Yeah." He popped his head from around the corner. "On the stairs."

Making my way down I found him on the platform in the middle of the stairs. "Why the whispering? You could have come up."

"It's done."

I frowned. "What's done?"

"The cabinet." He whispered. "I finally fixed it."

I placed my hand over my arm. "Who else have you told?"

He shrugged. "My father."

"That's what he wants." I exhaled slowly. "Let's go back to the common room."

"What's the matter?" Draco followed closely behind me, trying to key up with my fast pace. "Athena?"

Reaching the door, I shoved into the room. "Voldemort is calling for his followers." I showed him my arm.

He raised his sleeve as well. "I know."

Seeing the mark on his arm was rather sickening. It was one thing to have the mark by force, but to see it on a kid. "When did you get that?"

"Before the beginning of the year." He shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. "It's a reminder of why I must do this."

I chuckled. "Tell me the truth, did you want that mark?"

Draco dropped his gaze down to his arm, running his finger over the mark. "No."

There was too much on that boy's shoulder. "Draco go to bed; I will wait up should we get any word."

"O-okay."

I sat down on the couch lowering my head into my hands. What the hell was I going to do? What the hell were we going to do?! I had been thinking about this moment ever since Voldemort had given us the order, but back then I had the possibility of avoiding it. Leaving it to Draco or one of the death eaters. Now because of the fucken bond Snape did there was no way out. Either Draco killed him, or I did. Staring at my hands I clenched them. Was I capable of such horror? Did I truly have the...I couldn't.

But I couldn't let my father die either. No matter how much I hated him.