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Chapter Eight: Memories.
Lupin begun walking down the corridor before stopping at a door which was also white, almost hidden in the wall. He performed several spells as the Slytherins looked on. Opening the door he gestured for the three to enter before him. Pansy's hands slid into her two companions as they went forward. Once inside, they were locked in.
"What now?" The dark haired Witch worried.
"Don't worry Pans." Blaise rubbed the concerned Witch's back comfortingly, "They won't hurt us."
"Just pry the truth from our minds." Draco mumbled under his breath as a long table with five chairs appeared. Three on one side, two on the other. Sighing, he sat down and gestured for his friends to join him.
"I thought the Golden Trio were supposed to be on the run?" Pansy murmured.
"Apparently not." Malfoy chuckled, "Thank Salazar, imagine having to camp with them?"
"Oh Merlin." Pansy giggled. Their humorous conversation came to a sudden stop when the door opened. Lupin and the Weasley Patriarch marched in and, upon shutting the door behind them, sat down across from them.
A terse silence was shared as each assessed the other. Seemingly satisfied with their assessments the two older men shared a look. Pansy's hands once again found her closest friends' under the table, gripping them nervously. Draco and Blaise glanced at one another before fixing their stares on the other men.
"We understand you want to switch sides?" Lupin began.
"Yes." Malfoy bit back a sarcastic comment.
"Why?"
"We were killing needlessly, torturing innocents, we were wrong."
"You do realise it is going to take more than just words to convince us?" The Weasley father spoke up finally, watching Malfoy carefully.
"Yes." Pansy squeezed his hand cautiously, knowing his temperament and frequent snide comments.
"We have various tests but you are all required to partake in an Unbreakable Vow." Lupin looked each in the eye sternly.
"Of course." Draco drawled and Pansy kicked his shin. Biting back a reply, he licked his teeth in irritation.
"Shall we start with Veritaserum then?" A vial was held out to Pansy by Lupin. She squeezed their hands before picking up the truth serum and downing it. The liquid spread through her body, especially her brain and mouth. It created a loose feeling in her jaw, "Why did you leave?" He demanded.
"Because everything we were told was a lie. The Death Eaters weren't making a better life for us, they were self-serving. They made me torture…torture…" Pansy began to sob and Blaise turned her into his chest, "Oh Merlin, I had to torture Tracey. I had to kill her; I'm so sorry, so so sorry."
Draco's expression hardened as he watched her weeping. Blaise comforted her. But the two men seemed steeled against this kind of torture, the admission of the most horrific events. It made him sick, his fists clenching on his knees.
"So you no longer believe in your prejudices?"
"No, we were wrong." She shook her hair against Blaise's shoulder, "So very wrong."
"And you will fight for us until you die?"
"Yes, yes, of course." She hastily agreed, "Just don't make me do that again."
"Of course." The Weasley's eyes suddenly had compassion. Malfoy scowled, now that Pansy vowed her sacrifice for the cause he was considerate.
"And why do you turn to us, Mr Zabini?" Lupin offered the dark skinned Wizard another vial. With a quiet, resigned sigh Blaise took the vial and tipped it into his mouth. Draco could see the tension in the set of Blaise's shoulders, obviously uncomfortable for being so vulnerable to questioning. His best friend was a strictly private person and rarely opened up to anyone. It took many years for their friendship to form enough to share even the most simplest of secrets. He knew his friend was resentful of the two men sat in front of them.
"I knew what we were doing was wrong." His deep voice said gravely. He did not add to his sentiment and Draco knew why. The serum may force the truth from your lips but not the whole truth, as long as what was said was relevant and right nothing could be done.
"Does that include your prejudices?"
"Yes."
"Are you will to sacrifice yourself of this cause, the right cause?"
"Yes." Lupin and Weasley shared a glance. Clearly not satisfied with the quantity of his answers. Zabini tightened his arms on the calming Pansy. He hated this but knew the necessity, but he begrudgingly admitted it.
"Okay, Mr Malfoy." Lupin held out the vial to him and he took it quickly. Knocking it back as if it were a shot of Firewhiskey. Licking his lips he answered without being questioned.
"We were wrong, I don't believe in the prejudices anymore, and I'll die for the right cause." Leaning back on his chair he dared them with his eyes to question his answers. He had said as they asked, they could not question him.
"Will you share with us your knowledge of the Death Eaters?" Lupin asked unexpectedly.
"I'll share what I can." Malfoy shrugged, might as well, he thought, it's for the cause right?
"Now, I know you will all be trained Occlumens but I will need to use legilimency."
A tense silence followed. Pansy began crying again, quietly into Blaise's neck. While Blaise and Draco shared a strained look. They had seen and done things they were not proud of, but they do not, under any circumstances, want to share those experiences with these two men. Or anyone, ever. Deep shame clouded both their guts as Lupin took out his wand. Pansy trembled in Blaise's arms and Draco reached over to place a reassuring hand on her knee.
Suddenly the door vibrated and the two men jumped and looked concerned towards it. It seemed the door had an alarm system. It glowed several colours in quick succession before becoming a white door once more as it was slammed open to reveal a panicked Ginny.
"Dad-Hermione-don't know-what's wrong-think she's-dying." The girl gasped distraughtly and the room froze.