Chapter 4: No Mercy

I could not tell who hid under each black cloak and each mask. There were so many of them. The Carrows were not here yet, and I hoped they had been disarmed by the…others. By the Order, by any of the members that were fighting against the man we were all huddled before. He was the king, on fathers' throne, in our Manor. My heart leapt when I saw mother sitting on her velvet emerald chair that was encrusted with emeralds. It was her chair, and I remember how her eyes had swarm with a mixture of danger and grief when the Dark Lord sat upon it.

Even under the Dark Lord's sharp gaze, mother did not control herself. The moment Severus and I appeared; she leapt out of her chair and threw herself on me.

'Oh, Draco…Draco…you're alright! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you.' I could feel her shaking, I awkwardly patted her back, very aware of the Dark Lord watching us but when I looked up, I saw that he was not looking at us pitifully, but looking at Severus. Mother then leapt onto Severus more forcibly, her arms around him, gripping him vice-tight. He remained rigid.

'Thank you, Severus.'

To my complete anger and surprise, she then kissed him on the lips, I suppose in a way family and friends do, but as soon as her lips touched his, he pulled his head downwards, face unreadable. I wondered if he felt suddenly aware of every Death Eater here staring at him.

'Cissy, we all know you like to be the centre of attention…but I don't believe the Dark Lord said you could talk.' Bellatrix's voice crept forth like a hissing cobra. I could suddenly tell which Death Eater she was. She was the one standing right beside him on the throne beside our mantelpiece. The chandelier was hanging above where Severus, mother and I stood, so light only danced upon us. They were hidden in the shadows, a mass of black clocked Death Eaters mingled in even more blackness. Mother blushed and left us to join the crowd before the Dark Lord. Even in darkness, I could tell how she felt. Her normally regal and proud stance was slouched and weak.

'That's enough, Bella. She has my pardon, this once. After all, her son survived, she has ever reason to be overjoyed. Severus, come forth. I will deal with Draco in due course.'

During our flee from Hogwarts, I hadn't had time to consider that he might punish me for not fulfilling my task. I knew the horror couldn't be kept off my face and in the same breath, I wondered if they could hear the erratic thumping of my heart. Images of me doubled over in pain from the Crucio invaded my mind. They were the very images from my nightmares of mother's tear streaked face and the Dark Lord's callous laughs as I twitched and suffered on the ground, lying before leering Death Eaters. My eyes refocused and I saw Severus knelt before him. I had not noticed him leave my side, but there he was…and ignoring the every fibre that told me to not come closer, I did. Joining the circle of Death Eaters, I saw that the Dark Lord was looking at Severus like he was a fond pet.

'You have done more for me than any Death Eater before you and you will be rewarded as such. Dumbledore is finally dead.' He said slowly, rising to stand, superior and imposing. Everyone backed away slowly. I took a few steps back, and noticed that Severus was still knelt before him.

'Rise, Severus.' He rose and joined the tangle of Death Eaters. 'Dumbledore is finally dead and Harry Potter's greatest protector…and supporter…is dead!' The Dark Lord laughed harshly and paced slowly. That was the cue for each and every one of us to laugh and hoot with celebration. A weak smile crept onto my face and it felt more forced then any smile I had ever faked. He stood before the one window that took up what would have been an entire wall. Velvet black curtains framed them, and he raked his bone white hand among them as he peered at the meadows below. I derisively wondered if he were to walk among the meadows lavenders would they die. Or would their beauty and scent be too much loveliness for him? He turned the eyes I hated so much back to us and panic flew through me as his eyes rested on mine. No Death Eater dared speak. Dumbledore was dead and this was a distinctly sacred event but he knew every thought running through my mind at this moment. I was terrified and I knew my face and thoughts screamed this to him…to everyone.

'How do you all think I should reward my most faithful, most cherished, Death Eater?' He hissed, and my hands shook with nerves as I saw boisterous thrill spread across his face. I hated to compare us, but I knew…I knew my face had looked like that after I realised the Vanishing Cabinets I fixed were working. My face was not as ruined, as ugly, as his but I had been as ugly. I was skinner, my cheekbones were pointy and gaunt, dark circles rested under my eyes…it did seem that the more involved with Dark Arts you became, the uglier you became, and I wondered what he had looked like before…surely he hadn't always been gruesome, demented, shadowy, melted and white as a skull…surely once, he looked…human. I knew Crabb and Goyal's laughs, deep and ravenous. Bellatrix was cackling and I saw that the Carrows had in fact escaped…and I hadn't even realised they apparated. Their laughs were wheezy. They thought it was funny, did they, that Severus would be getting a reward? My stomach jolted, I realised what kind of reward they meant.

Bellatrix smirked. 'My Lord, I think they think perhaps the perfect reward for Severus would be a woman.' I looked at Severus. His composure when with the Dark Lord never slipped and I knew he didn't really have anything to hide, except perhaps the gentler side I had discovered and knew existed somewhere in all of his coldness. He would be basking in the glory that was meant to be mine. I did not feel jealous and yet months ago when we had fought, I had been fuming with resentment. I had told him he wanted to steal my glory…such a prospect back then angered me…and why wasn't he happy about being rewarded? "Would you be happy to be rewarded so crudely? A sexual offering…degraded? How is that a reward when it is demeaning to Severus? To even you, it is crude…"

'Would it, now?' The Dark Lord asked, looking at Severus closely.

'Oh, yes. Any man with blood running through his veins would be delighted at such a reward. 'Bellatrix said, smirking. She took her hood off, and the other Death Eaters copied and all the hoods cascaded like dominos. Now I could see her face, her dark eyes glowing happily. I knew she hated Severus and I knew Severus didn't particularly like her, either. After that comment, he probably wanted to throttle her if he wasn't blocking his emotions. I also knew that coming from Bellatrix; this is what she considered punishment for Severus. She knew he would not want such a…offering. And who was the offering? The question lingered in the air.

'What say you, Severus? Refuse if you wish, after all, you are to be my most glorified Death Eater and I know you are…decidedly retained…demure…' The Death Eaters laughed loudly.

'Who is the woman?' was all he asked and it seemed to shock everybody, because their cluttered chatter and laughing died instantly. 'Surely not yourself, Bellatrix. I must confess that I would not find you, particularly, appealing.' His eyes became amused. Bellatrix always prattled on about her relationship with the Dark Lord…about how close they were, and Severus had just insulted her in front of him?

'You insufferable Half-Blood filth!' she yelled, so enraged, she was an inch from him. He merely looked down at her with distaste and glittering, incensed eyes.

'That's enough, Bellatrix! You do not dare insult our most loyal and devoted. Tonight, we celebrate. Dumbledore is dead and not only will Potter not be exposed and weak, so will be his heart.' He said mockingly, lips twisting and he strolled back to fathers' throne. 'Harry Potter will not be a thorn in my side for much longer, thanks to Severus, so you will not insult him.' The Dark Lord snarled and Bellatrix looked like the dog that had been hit for the first time.

'B-but…my Lord, he doesn't…he doesn't want anybody but Potter's dead mother!' Bellatrix was the defiant dog that got hit for the first time, and a happy flush danced across her cheekbones. Severus wanted Potter's mother? A Mudblood? It did not make sense. Why was Bellatrix resorting to lies? I looked at mother, who had been whiter than I had ever seen her, like in my dreams, and realised with a pang that this entire night was reminiscent of my nightmares. The emotions, the people, my impending punishment…I swallowed nervously and my heart that had slowed to a steady rhythm was now trying to escape my chest again, all because that unpleasant thought had crossed my mind. I was going to be punished…even though Severus had fulfilled the task…was it not enough that the task had been fulfilled? Did it matter that it was not I who fulfilled it? My mind whirled. Severus was standing not far from me, looking at an infuriated Bellatrix with a pleased expression as the silence hung in the air and mother was unreadable and silent. I remembered with a heavy heart and twitching hands that I was meant to pay for the sins of the father. My Death Eater father, and just like Bellatrix, he had failed to get that prophecy. The Dark Lord did not forgive easily. My mind unwillingly zoomed back to Astronomy Tower, where the Dark Mark loomed above mockingly, where I was given a choice. A choice I was sure I was going to accept before Severus killed Dumbledore and as I thought about the penalty, I would surely pay tonight, of me being tortured, I could not help but hate Severus. My chance for protection had been stolen. If he hadn't killed Dumbledore, I would have been hidden with mother. I would have changed sides. I glanced out the far north side window with the single rose engrained within its surface and looked at the fountain that was playing, beyond the hedge.

Dumbledore was merciful and the Dark Lord was merciless. Why would one choose to be on the side of the merciless one? His words drummed through my ears again. "It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now."

My eyes blazed, I was seething beneath my rigid stance and I had been clenching my fists so fiercely, digging my nails into the flesh that blood was seeping…it as only lucky that the Dark Lord was sitting on the throne, gazing at his wand thoughtfully. I closed my eyes and thought of the calming unending oceans, blue as sapphires, serene and completely free and calm…calm…I breathed deeply, and opened my eyes. Severus and Bellatrix had been talking, or more correctly, hissing at one another.

'What do I care if you only desired her, Snape? She was a Mudblood. You are disgraceful! Purity of blood doesn't seem to matter much to you…'

'She was still a woman, Bellatrix. And she was attractive. I desired her once, once a long time ago when I was fresh out of Hogwarts…foolish and ravenous. But Bellatrix, who are you to criticize? Don't you have a certain, blood traitor sister by the name of Andromeda?' he asked, lip curling. I flopped down on a leather armchair, wearily.

'Sister by blood alone, and I have never denied that she is a blood traitor. I hate her! And no Mudblood is attractive, you filthy-aaaaaahhhhhhh'

Bellatrix fell to the floor, writhing in pain. Her limbs twitched and she screamed in agony. Her heavy eyelids were no longer existent because her eyes were so wide from the searing pain that they disappeared. Soon no sound came from her mouth. The Dark Lord's wand was pointed at her from where he sat. He was sipping our finest elf made wine casually.

'I have heard enough.' he said dangerously. 'You are not to insult Severus. He is your superior.'

He lifted the curse and Bellatrix said nothing. Her face was impassive and I looked towards mother to see her reaction to her own sisters' torture. Mother did not look concerned.

'Bella, be of use, and bring the new recruits.' He said silkily and she turned shakily to leave down the narrow and long corridor of green walls lined with family portraits of the Blacks and the Malfoys.

The Dark Lord had new recruits? New Death Eaters? I wondered who…no one spoke. I knew everyone was as confused and as filled with wonder as I was. Two people? People I knew? People I didn't know? My mind spun, turning, imaging various scenarios. I chuckled to myself and Severus snapped his head towards me. I had mockingly imaged the new recruit being one of them…Potter or Longbottom, maybe as traitors. Or maybe someone unexpected like the Weasley snot that worked at the Ministry. I couldn't move…I was too paralysed by shock. His forces were getting stronger and I did not want to be here…if Severus had stalled for perhaps mere moments, mother and I could be hiding in a place unseeable…what might have changed? Would we be allies to the Order…to the likes of Mudbloods and blood traitors? What made their blood so muddy, though? Blood was blood, and you were either magic or you weren't and I would have kissed even Granger on the cheek if that meant I could be anywhere but here. "Are you turning into a filthy Mudblood lover now? There is no such thing as unpolluted Mudblood blood and blood traitors are just as bad, maggot." It was too late. My fate had been sealed because I hadn't been offered my option sooner. There was no escaping it.

I raised my head and met his gaze. Severus' back was turned to the Dark Lord and he came closer to me, towering over me like a commanding bat as I cowered in my chair.

'What is it?' I hissed quietly.

Whispering very faintly, he said 'I have fulfilled my promise to Narcissa, but he will-'

'Don't worry, Professor, I know you can't say me from the Crucio.' I replied stiffly with all the nonchalance I could muster. One raise of his right eyebrow told me that he knew I was not as nonchalant as I hoped to be portraying. 'It's not important. I can handle it. The question is, can you handle your…reward?' I asked, feeling sick, but keeping a lopsided smile on my face. I was immensely surprised to see a faint pink on his cheeks, because in all the years I had even known him, he had never blushed.

'Of course, not that it is any of your concern.'

'He said you didn't have to accept it…' It was only thanks to the atmosphere of a celebration, with Death Eaters swarming the area, a mixture of deafening and conversation. Elf made wine had gone around many of them. With the mixture of the loudness filling the room and the whispers of our conversation, did I believe that the Dark Lord could not hear us. He was engaged in a conversation with Yaxley, who looked to be squirming.

'Regretfully decline, then, in front of this lot -' Severus begun. The noise died and I could tell Bellatrix was back, with the new Death Eaters. I craned my neck, and sure enough, she was standing with two figures hidden in their cloaks by the other entrance near the mantelpiece. She walked in further and with a curl of her finger, they followed. Was one of these new recruits Severus' reward?

The Dark Lord rose. 'Tonight, we welcome Evelyn Green and Blake Slater. Evelyn is from the ancient bloodline of the Irish, her family, the Greens, is one of the most ancient and unpolluted…Slater's father was Arty Slater, pureblood, also a noble bloodline. Alas, he married a Mudblood. They have proven their alliance, I have seen their minds…Bella, of course, is fond of Evelyn for her purity…she will, after all, make a perfect reward for Severus. However, the greatest reward for you, Severus, is knowing that you are my most perfect Death Eater and being treated as such.' He looked at Severus, raised his glass and drained it. 'Evelyn, Slater, lower your hoods.' The Dark Lord continued, hissing and as I looked at him with fear and curiosity, I took in his snake-like face…his slits for nostrils, he was very much the python and Bellatrix was the cobra.

We watched in anticipation. I could not tell what Blake Slater looked like because when she…a definite woman, lowered her hood, it was like a river at midnight, a black ripple, with her jet-black hair falling amongst the ripples, gleaming. Her eyes were surprisingly innocent, and childlike, round and blue like oceans. But there was a familiar gleam and greediness to them. If her eyes were childlike, then they were the eyes of the most spoilt, arrogant, and malevolent child. Her lips were curved and heart shaped, coated in blood red and her skin was white like snow. I looked at the likes of Nott, Crabbe and Goyal…who were gaping at her and then I heard a wolf whistle. She had the nerve to glower at them with revulsion. Severus was beside me and I sensed his more abrupt rigidness. He was looking at her and with distraction…the mask had slipped. He turned his eyes to me and sneered…fixing it perfectly back on. I looked at this Slater who was tall and gangly, with lank black hair fixed in a ponytail. He had searing green eyes, the type that reminds you of eyes that could burn through you.

Mother stood up and moved to sit on the armchair beside me with a glass of wine in her hand; she drained it, eyes ablaze. She turned her face to me, and it shocked me to the bone. She was deranged, desperate, apologetic…and she did not dare say a word, except grasp my hand for a moment. Her hand was ice cold. I noticed with a sinking feeling that had smudge marks on them like that of ink and she no longer wore her diamonds or expensive jewellery…only her wedding band. Her hands use to be so polished and neat and now her nails were long and uneven. I had not been able to look at mother properly, but now I saw; now I noticed…she had split ends and flyways in her usually groomed hair. Her face was oily. Washed out and broken. I squeezed her hand back and then drew it away, rubbing at my tired eyes. Slater had been speaking. I tried to pay attention.

'I've believed in this cause my entire life because it is the one way to prune the bloodlines. I confess I'm a Half-Blood, but I poisoned my filthy muggle father and he fell to the ground, where he belonged.' Slater was saying, with a grainy, rough voice. Severus had a deep scowl on his face and it made me feel like laughing.

'When I invaded their minds I saw their hunger for power and their desires to have every Mudblood and blood traitor pruned out…' The Dark Lord purred. 'Slater's memory of killing his foul muggle father with such ease impressed me greatly, and I think you will all agree that these new additions are going to make promising Death Eaters. I believe in power of numbers. Evelyn, you may speak.' He said, with a gesture to Slater to cease talking and I saw him being instantly accepted by the Death Eaters here tonight. Mother and I continued to sit, Severus continued to stand tightly yet impressively like a Greek statue and all the while, I felt on edge, as if I could be very sick at any moment just from nerves alone. The strange offhand attitude he was imposing was peculiar. I felt like he was going to inflict something truly horrible among us when we least expected it. I wrung my hands together, not surprised by the clamminess.

This Evelyn woman slunk forward, distancing herself from the black mesh of Death Eaters.

'You're a very brutish looking man, aren't you? I noticed you were glaring at Mr Slater, then I, and then Severus Snape over there…' Severus' head shot up. I took note of the richness and yet coldness of her voice. Like a vain voice that carries, laced in frostiness. I still could not believe that two new people, mere strangers, had joined. Obviously, The Dark Lord had tested them…looked into their minds and seen if they were sincere, so then, why was Severus looking at them with suspicion in his eyes? There was an air of excitement around the rest of the Death Eaters. Crabbe and Goyal could not contain their enthusiasm, as they watched with stupid grins. 'Now, why is that? Are you very jealous?' she continued.

'Jealous? N-no, why would I be?' he snapped.

'Oh, jealous that he killed Dumbledore, and not you. He's now the number one Death Eater…'

'I'm not jealous! I'm happy that old fool is finally dead.' Yaxley said, trying to sound smooth but his face was too impassive…and his eyes were too hard, just as the vein was sticking out of his neck a little too visibly.

Severus looked satisfied. I felt like I was going to collapse and my head felt dizzy. The feeling of sprinting for my life and the fear streaming through me as I escaped Hogwarts hadn't left me…Hagrid's hut burning…students screaming and Hogwarts battling Death Eaters as we fled, did not leave my mind and in my vision I looked at the castle, feeling a very real and distinct nostalgia. I wondered if I would ever walk through those castle gates again…would I see the Great Hall, the enchanted ceiling with red and yellow leaves, splattering rain, crisp snow and fluffy white clouds as well a sparkling stars? I missed the smell of the library and I suddenly thought about Quidditch and what it felt like to speed along the pitch, soaring through the air and feeling the breeze on my face. I missed the smell of the lawns.

'You look very forlorn.' she said, walking towards me and I adverted my eyes but I knew she was searing into me with her deceivingly innocent eyes. 'In fact, neither does your mother. You look not only anxious, dear, but you look a little worse for wear. It is surprising that a woman who owns such a Manor has the audacity to wear such crinkled attire and not brush her hair…and look at those smudge marks! What angers me most, Narcissa, is that neither you nor you son look happy. You should be ecstatic. Tonight a great victory has been won.' She spoke of audacity…she had the audacity to come into our home and talk to my mother like that? I felt like strangling her, like cursing her…like muttering Serpensortia and setting a snake on her.

'Mr Malfoy, if you need to be sick, please leave the vicinity.' she continued, looking at me with distaste. I looked at mother, who was glaring at this woman coldly. She did not speak, but she looked like she might like to punch her in the face. I wondered how the Dark Lord did not mind that she was talking to us in such a manner…only because, surely only he was permitted to. He must not have been outraged, but I didn't know…I didn't want to look at his inhuman face and be reminded of my nightmares, and of the torture I knew was coming. He did not object, so I rushed out of the room, shut the door behind me, and sprinted down the hallway. I halted, leaning against the wall, breathing heavily. I was shaking with anger. I closed my eyes and focused on even, steady breaths and within minutes I did not feel sick anymore…but the strong desire to run away took me. I wondered if I could get my belongings and apparate away…and hide myself…where would I go? I felt crushed, realising that I knew no one else. I heard the door creak at the long end of the hallway…the door opened, I could hear booming laughter. Two pairs of footsteps clunked against the polished wooden floors and I remained stiff against the wall. To my horror, I saw that horrible Evelyn woman stalk down the hallway, clutching someone's hand…a man it looked like, who had the stance of reluctance about him and with a severe pang, I saw that it was Severus walking behind her. Being led.

Who was this woman? Who was this Slater man? Why was Severus accepting this reward?

'Why so anxious, Mr Malfoy? At least you do not look sick anymore. Why don't you run along back to your mother?' she asked, talking to me in the same tone you would talk to a three-year old with. I looked at her, expressionless.

'Severus, wh-'

'Go back to your mother, Draco…' Severus said and I saw he was taking advantage of the fact she was looking at me and not him, and he expressed something honest. Fear and complete uncertainly ghosted his features, a sadness and vulnerability was there and he was biting his thin lip…he was also trying to tell me something…and I saw warning on his face. Then I switched my eyes back to her perfectly symmetrical face, and even though she had beautiful features, I felt my blood run cold looking at her. She had a delighted expression on her face. From the delight on her face and the warning on Severus', I knew what was waiting for me in my families lounge. And it wasn't going to be delightful.

'Come, Severus'

They walked away, around the corner and out of sight. I took a deep breath, and walked onwards, heart hammering wildly. I should apparate, run away, and never return…I should…I could…but I thought of mother, and all determination to defy sunk like a stone being chucked forcibly into a chaotic river.

I took a deep breath and then turned the brass doorknob. The Death Eaters were silent. I looked at Nott, he had glee dancing on his face and Yaxley was sitting before the Dark Lord looking pompous and important. Bellatrix was kneeling before the Dark Lord, tears welling in her eyes just because he was grasping her hand.

'Welcome back, Draco. I trust that you feel better? Since Severus has accepted his reward…' He trailed off, to let the Death Eaters snort and snigger and I took the opportunity to look at mother. She did not look concerned or worried for me and fury filled me…she was looking at the door the Evelyn woman and Severus had left through with an upset expression. "Of course she would care. She obviously doesn't know. After all, she cared enough to make Severus take the Unbreakable Vow…"

'Since his award has been accepted, it is time to punish you, Draco, for not fulfilling the task I requested of you…even though it has been fulfilled, and this is a cause for celebration, you must learn that those who defy the Dark Lord get punished…I do not forgive. I command and-'

'NO! NOT DRACO! No…please…no.' Mother cried, and had leapt off the leather armchair and was gripping his arm. 'Please, don't…please…I beg you.' So many tears streamed down her face that I could not look at her. With a lazy flick of his wand, he flew mother onto her emerald chair and she tried to dive off again, but couldn't. He had immobilized her, and she was clawing at the air, gasping and shuddering, trying to escape. She was imprisoned on her precious chair.

'Do not challenge me, Narcissa. Learn your place. If you did not want your son to be set on dangerous tasks, or to suffer the extent of my displeasure, then you should not have allowed him to be born into this life. Perhaps, you should have joined your blood traitor sister, no?'

Mother looked as if she was trying to scream, but no sound came out. Her attempts to free herself were pointless; I don't know why she bothered trying. The worst thing that night happened. He walked to me, closer and closer…closer…and I felt the sense of déjà vu…this was from my nightmare. His face was inches from mine, and I could feel his coldness. He reminded me of a well kept for, living corpse. I hazily thought of my wand…what would any of the others do? What would Potter do? He would defend himself. I needed my wand, and I was going to reach for my wand, even with my eyes fearful and my legs about to buckle.

'Give me your wand, Draco.' He said calmly and quietly. My heart sunk. I reached for my wand inside my clock pocket and nearly dropped it because my hands were shaking so much. He snatched it from my grasp and before I had time to heave one deep breath in, I saw a flash of green light flash before me and in the same second felt excruciating pain rip through my skin, my bones, my muscles, my organs, my very cells…it made the curse Potter struck me with in the bathroom laughable. It felt like a mixture of searing hot fire and flames flowing in my bones, and being stabbed by a thousand strongly aimed knives. I screamed so hard that I couldn't hear myself screaming anymore. I twitched like a tortured spider and then it ceased and I felt nothing. I lay motionless on the ground. I couldn't hear the expected hoots. There was a strong silence. Not a sound. I tried to get up, and before my elbow rose an inch, I heard him utter 'Crucio!' I felt the agonizing pain reap through my body again and I thrashed, slamming my arm into the window and feeling it break and shatter around me. It was unexplainably worst than the first because my body, my skin, my bones, muscles, cells and nerves felt defeated, weak, and useless.

I craned my neck, feeling it twitch in agony and saw the Dark Lord flick his wand at mother who was released and instantly was hovered before me, hands caressing my face. Her sobs echoed across the silence.

'Now, Draco, you will learn that hard work and devotion is rewarded and defiance is punished. That punishment was also for your reluctance…like Evelyn said, you ought to be happy and your unwillingness makes me wonder where your loyalties lie…Narcissa, take him to his room, he can rest and when he awakes, we will see a new side to Draco, because do not doubt…when dogs are punished enough, they will obey. Go.' Wearily and painfully, I looked to Bellatrix, who had also been crying but hers were not tears of sorrow. She was mesmerized. I felt myself being picked up and wondered how frail mother managed it…had I really gotten that skinny?

'Now, we continue the celebrations! Dumbledore is dead, we are winning…, and we shall win. The Mudbloods and blood traitors will be pruned out, and Harry Potter will be dead. Dumbledore was their only resistance, and without him, they suffer. Slater, I have assigned you with Yaxley to track the Lovegood's…' was the last thing I heard slither from his mouth and as much as my body protested, I had to hold on longer…a little longer. I could not sleep until I knew I was safe.

She was carrying me, and suddenly she slipped and I fell to the ground.

'Oh Draco, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry. P-please forgive me, oh…Draco…' she collapsed with me on the floor of the second hallway towards the staircase and sobbed. I knew she wasn't apologizing for dropping me.

'It's not your fault.' I murmured weakly. My words made her sob harder.

"It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now." Was what rang through my mind when I was gently put onto my bed. She stroked my hair. I thought about those words running though my mind, said in Dumbledore's soft voice. I thought of the Dark Lord's harsh words. I almost had mercy…a taste of freedom and protection. Now, all I had was torture, cruel and merciless. I also had mothers' sobs and her tear stained, white face, destroying me in reality and haunting me in my dreams.