Detention

Ila immediately went down to dinner. Hermione wasn't there; she was probably still getting her teeth fixed. After eating a small but invasive dinner of peas and mash, she went back to the common room alone. As the portrait swung open, Ron was there, about to leave.

He looked startled but composed himself the next moment.

"I think you've had an owl," Ron said, shoving his hands in the backs of pockets.

"Right," Ila said awkwardly. She wanted to say something more; she wanted to talk to him normally again.

"And we've got detention with Snape now," he reminded her before stepping out of the common room and walked past her. She hesitated to enter. She thought about following him but decided against it. She was probably the last person he wanted to talk to. Ila strode towards the barn owl on her pillow, taking the letter off its leg and peeled it open.

'Ila

I can't say everything I would like to in a letter; it's too risky if the owl is intercepted — we need to talk face-to-face. Can you ensure that you are alone by the fire in Gryffindor Tower at one o'clock in the morning on the 22nd of November? I know better than anyone that you can look after yourself, and while you're around Dumbledore and Moody, I don't think anyone will be able to hurt you. However, someone seems to be having a good try. Entering you in that tournament would have been very risky, especially right under Dumbledore's nose. Be on the watch, Ila. I still want to hear about anything unusual. Let me know about the 22nd of November as quickly as you can.'

While she knew Hermione was right in telling Sirius about everything, that didn't stop that feeling of guilt rising her every time she read the letter. It had been the tenth time by the time she reached the dungeons.

"Enter," Snape said right before Ila knocked on the door. Ila folded her letter and stepped in. "Sit."

Ila took the seats furthest away from Ron – well, Ron had the first pick of seats, and Ila assumed he didn't want her sitting next to him.

"While I can see some…animosity," Snape glanced at the two sitting on either end of the room, "that doesn't mean I can't trust the two of you together. However, I have a meeting with Professor Dumbledore that I can't afford to miss. You'll be cleaning the classroom. Weasley, you'll take the floor. There's a bucket at the end of the room. Potter, you fix potions' cabinet – there have been people taking my supply of Polyjuice potion," he said, and for a moment, Ila thought it was directed to her. "I need you to catalogue everything."

Snape wrote one last thing before getting up and walked over to the two students. "Wands."

Ila sighed and gave up her wand to him. He held out his hand for Ron's, who, without a hitch, handed Snape his wand.

"All of them Weasley."

The grin on Ron's face dropped as he rolled his eyes. Taking four out of both of his trouser pockets, one from his shirt pocket, and another two from under his trouser legs, tucked his socks, he handed all seven wands to Snape, who wrinkled his nose when the wands touched his hand. He walked back to the desk, carelessly throwing them into his drawer before locking it. "I want this place spotless by the time I come back."

And with that, Snape left the two pupils alone. Ron was the first to move. He pushed himself from the chair and made his way to the back of the classroom. Ila didn't want it to seem that she was following her, but the potion's cupboard was also at the back. Ila turned around. Ron was still standing there. It didn't look like he was doing anything. Was he waiting for her?

No, of course not.

Ila finally stood up, at which point did Ron move. Ila passed him as he began scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush. There was a catalogue pinned to the wall. There were several pages of the different potions in the cupboard. How was she going to finish all of this in the hour? Unless…

But no, that's illegal! Snape can't make her stay for more than an hour.

She groaned before realising that she was wasting time not doing anything and began working on the shelves starting from the bottom and working her up to the top. As she was busy counting the number of wound cleaning potions, she found her attention drifting to a certain red-headed boy that was now complaining about how people stuck gum underneath the chairs.

While she knew that she was dramatic, it really did feel like her friendship with Ron was ruined. She knew that the fights in her friendship group were always a bit intense, a memory of Hermoine and Ron's fight surfacing from last year. It felt different with this one. Ron was only mad at Hermoine because she couldn't control her cat…Ron was mad at Ila because he was insecure. It wasn't her fault that she was constantly in the limelight. Ron knew how much she hated it. She would happily give everything she had up to him if it meant that she didn't get any more attention. She got up to the fourth shelf now when she glanced outside and saw Ron taking a break. He looked around the classroom. The two made eye contact. It only lasted a few seconds before Ila broke away to count the number of occulus potions – forging the number as she remembered she pocketed one for herself a couple of weeks ago.

…

If she was honest, she supposed she understood why Ron was annoyed. She did feel sorry for him, especially when she was living with the Weasley's this summer, now that all the brothers were staying. Every sibling had something about them. Bill was the oldest, Charlie was the dragon lover, Percy was the…uptight one to put it nicely, the twins were the jokesters, and Ginny was the only girl and could beat all her brothers in a duel if she was up against them at the same time. Ron was…

He was everything Ila wanted in a best friend. He was funny. He was kind…to an extent. He knew what to say to cheer her up. He's loyal; he's always been there for Ila. He always knew what to say and…

He knows what to say to the Slytherins, making fun of her and getting Rita Skeeter to leave her alone.

But he was also the most stubborn, annoying, stupid friend she ever had! Ila pulled the stool towards her, hitting the leg of the shelf and nearly making all the potions fall to the floor. She stood on it to count the two topmost shelves. Ron knew that she didn't want to take part, he knew it because Ila told him and for some reason, he just couldn't believe her – no. He doesn't want to believe her.

Ila stopped counting Blood – Replenishing potion to glare at Ron. Well, it was more of his back as he had gone back to cleaning the floor once more, but she hoped he felt it. She hoped he felt the two daggers on his back. She hoped that he would feel so uncomfortable he wouldn't know what to do with himself and –

CRASH!

Ron's head shot up at the sound. What was that sound? He turned around to see Ila on the floor. The potion's shelf had fallen. She was only saved by the other shelf forcing the other stop. Ron instantly got to his feet and ran to the cupboard. As she was busy complaining and groaning at the pain, he pulled her out of the cupboard into the safety of the potion's classroom. Ron was about to ask her if she was alright before he remembered. He wasn't talking to her. In fact, he shouldn't have helped her.

Ron leant against a table as he watched her roll over in pain as she pulled herself into a seated position. She groaned, massaging her head. She looked over to the cupboard and swore.

"Snape's going to keep me in for more than the hour," she said, speaking more to herself than Ron, who remained quiet and watched her. It didn't look like she had any major injuries. He glanced inside the cupboard. All the potions seemed to be intact as well. Ila looked back to the classroom, her eyes staying on anything other than Ron.

But it was hard, considering his hair was bright red, and he was sitting in front of her.

The two stared at each other once again. She should say something.

Anything.

She just wanted him to speak to her again…

"I leave the two of you alone, thinking that there was no way that they could mess everything up and yet here you are!"

Snape had arrived back early from his meeting with Dumbledore. Apparently, he had more important things than Snape's opinions on the new curriculum the Ministry would force him to teach next year.

"Aren't you going to explain?" Snape yelled. The two remained quiet, staring at the floor than having to deal with Snape's glare. "FINE! If the two of you aren't going to say anything, you might as well leave."

Ron and Ila didn't need to be told twice to leave the classroom. The moment the two were given back the wands, they ran out of the classroom. Ron took off to the common room, and for a moment, Ila was going to follow him.

But she can't.

She should've ran instead. That way, she could've gotten her room quicker and not had to deal with the awkwardness of their detention together. She still couldn't believe that Ron didn't say anything. Merlin, he must be really annoyed.

"OI! Watch it, Potter," Malfoy snarled as he walked past her. Her mind must really be somewhere else, not even to say anything back.

Draco noticed it too. He walked for a few more steps and looked back to see that she hadn't done anything. Instead, she just kept walking as if she had bumped into a ghost. Was she alright? He glanced at his watch. His meeting with Dumbledore was going to start in a few minutes. He couldn't miss it. He took one more glance at Ila, at the time where she tripped over seemingly nothing before continued walking to his office.

Being the Champion must have done something. He thought back to their conversation in the morning. He shouldn't have made fun of her. She was already having a hard time…

But on the bright side…

There was no bright side.

He shouldn't have shouted at her either. Well, while the things that he told her was true, he could've worded it nicer. He was going to be on the same side as her. Surely he should be a tad bit nicer to her. Merlin, can he do anything right with her?

"Lemon drops," Draco said as he reached the door to Dumbledore's office. The gargoyle jumped to the side, and he walked up the familiar steps, ready for his meeting with Dumbledore.

"Hello Draco," Dumbledore greeted, sitting at his table, watching him take his seat once more. "Should I skip the pleasantries and go straight ahead with our meeting? I promised Professor Snape that I'll go through the curriculum with him after our meeting."

"Before you do, sir, I have the note that you wanted from our last meeting," Draco said, pulling out the folded note from his pocket and handed it over to Dumbledore.

"Thank you," he said, raising his wand to the note. Instantly, there was a copy of the note beside the original. Dumbledore handed Draco the original and pocketed the copy.

"Do you not want to read - "

"It'll waste time," he said simply. "Now about what you said in our last meeting, have you thought about what I said?"

Draco nodded. "I told you last time, sir, I don't need any more time. I want to join."

"You are quite young," Dumbledore said gently. "I don't mean to sound condescending, but…the Order requires its members to… to die for the Light. This isn't something you can back out from. If this is some sort of rebellion against your father - "

"I can assure Professor," Draco said through gritted teeth, "I have thought about this for a long time. I want to join. For my own sake."

Dumbledore nodded to himself, muttering a few things that Draco was unable to hear before standing up. "Well, the unfortunate thing is that the Order makes their decision through a democracy. I alone cannot let you join. Due to your age and…background, the members will be hesitant to allow you to join. You will need to do something that will prove to everyone that you are mature enough."

"And so that they can trust me as well, isn't it?"
Dumbledore nodded slightly. "How much do you know about Lauren Dawlish?"
Was this the test, Malfoy thought? To think about Lauren without…

Breaking down into tears?

"N-not much," he said before clearing his throat and sitting up slightly. "I – I – er – read in the papers that she was investigating about…the Sisters of Heliopolis before…everything happened…."

He stared at Draco for so long, Draco wondered if he said the wrong thing. He couldn't have already messed up; Dumbledore hadn't even told him what he needed to do to prove himself.

"Your test will start the moment I tell you this next thing, Draco," Dumbledore said, somewhat hesitantly just as Draco was about to say something. "You are not to repeat these words that I'm about to tell you to anyone, include Ila…no one must know. No can know."

"What kind of headmaster entrusts his students to keep life-threatening secrets?" the portrait of Phineas Black, an ex - headmaster of Hogwarts, said to Dumbledore. Draco could hear the faint murmur of agreement from the rest of the ex - headmaster/mistress' portraits.

"Leave me be," Dumbledore said sternly, watching the portrait above Draco's head. "No one can know, and that means you too." The portrait scoffed but got up, as well as forcing the others to leave the room too.

"What did you want to tell me, professor?" Draco asked quickly, scared that the old man might forget anytime soon once he felt that they were truly alone. He could only hear the soft hoots from Dumbledore's phoenix, who was fast asleep.

"The night that Lauren Dawlish had disappeared, she told her husband that she was going to a meeting with a few people," Dumbledore said. "She didn't tell him that it wasn't a meeting she was invited to. The only reason why she went was that she found out that the Sisters of Heliopolis would be there. They were going to be meeting with Voldemort. She was going to catch them in the act, but…unfortunately, they found her."

"Voldemort's back?" Draco said, his voice barely above a whisper. Of course, he knew he was back. The moment he saw the Dark Mark lit up the sky, he knew. Actually, he knew before. When he saw the note next to…

But it was strange to hear it from another. To see the proof that He was actually back. Draco wondered if his father knew…surely this means there'll be another war, won't it? Voldemort would want to finish what he started. Draco saw flashes of all the horrible things He did to innocent witches and wizards that stood in the way. He would do that again and maybe even more. He would do that, Potter, wouldn't he?

What would that mean for him? His parents were obviously going to take his side, and he said he wanted to join the Light, but…his parents couldn't know. What will happen if they do? Will they really hurt him just for Voldemort…

Draco held onto the sides of the chair, scared that if he let go, he'd fall.

"I can see that might have scared you, Draco," Dumbledore said, quickly getting out of his seat and walking to him.

"I'm – I'm not scared," he croaked out. He shook himself steady, telling himself that he'd deal with it later. "Er – you said that she went because of the Sisters, but everyone says that it's an inactive cult…or so they thought…."

"The Sisters have fooled everyone in thinking that they were inactive since the Middle Ages," Dumbledore explained. "But all they've been doing in waiting patiently. Waiting for the right time to strike."

"And the right time is with Him?" he asked. Dumbledore nodded. "Was that what their meeting was about then? The Sisters were – are planning something with Him?"
"You're correct once more…we don't know specifically, but we believe that the Sisters will be helping Him in coming back."

"But…if you know that He's back, why don't you let anyone else know?" Draco asked. "I mean, it's not like you don't have evidence. Just show Prime Minister Lauren Dawlish, and he'll listen. You could put a stop to this - "

"It isn't as simple as that, Draco," Dumbledore said calmly. "There are many variables that are out of my control. Many people will not believe me, and if it goes to Voldemort that I know his plan, who knows what He will do? He might change his plan, which stops us from knowing what will happen, or he could get his anger get the best of him and… many things are stopping me from telling anyone else and trust me, Draco, when I tell you I want to do nothing more than exposing His plan to the entire wizarding society," Dumbledore quickly added when he saw Draco's eyes roll. "We are on thin ice, Draco. We cannot let Voldemort, neither of his followers, know either, nor can we let anyone from the Ministry know either. It will be a tough balancing act…But I believe you will be capable of handling it."

"What do you want me to do?" Draco asked as a rush of adrenaline pumping through his body. His hands slipped off the sides of the chair. They were glistening in sweat.

"You are to find as much as you can about the Sisters," Dumbledore said, walking back to his desk.

"Is that it?" Draco asked. "I thought – I thought I was going to - "

"Not only is because you are quite young, but we don't let members that are wanting to join immediately head out to do fieldwork, Draco. While it may seem boring to you, this is one of the most important tasks that one can do. We know nothing about the Sisters, and they are a potential enemy. We must know everything about them to defeat them. What you will be doing will make a difference." Draco sat back, unable to argue back as he watched Dumbledore pull out one of his drawers, taking out a note. He handed it to Draco, who wiped his hands before he took it. It was a permission slip to enter the Restricted Section. "There might be some books that can help you. You can also look into the bookshop during Hogsmeade. And if you need to, I will allow you to go into Knockturn Alley if you can't find anything but that will only be a last resort. With Voldemort back on the rise, it won't be long before word goes around. And you'll be a target soon if they find out what you were doing. Do you promise to keep safe? To not tell anyone? To help the Light?"

Draco stared at the pink slip in his hands for a few more moments before looking up at Dumbledore.

"I promise."