Chapter 6: No Speaking of our Secrets

It was the heaviest secret mother and I was carrying, and as time cruelly sped up, I felt the burden of the impending day when we would see Andromeda. She had replied with a letter reminiscent of the crinkled letters I had found in mothers cabinet. With the tone of frostiness and hurt. Foreboding. Mixed with longing. She had not written a date…not a day, not a time, not a place. For now, she had said, we would continue on the paths we had chosen, until the time was right. Did she mean after her hoped for fall of the Dark Lord? Because I did not believe, no matter how hard I hoped for it, that the Dark Lord would really ever vanish from our lives. All I knew was that one day, any day, perhaps when we least expected it; we would receive a letter from Andromeda, informing us of when to meet. I felt as if our secret was a burden, despite how desperate my curiosity was for my disowned aunt. I was paranoid. I was terrified the Dark Lord would know. That he would find out. I had one very distinct nightmare of our secret being revealed, I saw Bellatrix's face reflecting betrayal, her anger, so fierce, she killed mother. Her beloved Cissy. I saw the Death Eaters horrified and angry reactions, but the Dark Lord…he was cold and so furious, he was beyond looking angry. His expression was perfectly calm. Deceiving. With a flick of his wand, green light was blasted towards us. And we were no more. I was nothing. Then I woke up.

The days had been warm ad sunny. Tonight I darted around our many acres and the moonlight shone impressively. We relished in our time with father when the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters were not invading our home. Father was different. His confidence and arrogance had been knocked down. Seemingly, impossibly, he was acting meek. I knew not to be fooled by the clear blue skies, the glowing days that had been. Even when my eyes accidentally rested on a lone lily growing by the fountain where the peacocks scurried by, I did not dare believe in its innocence or purity. I would not be fooled. Even though I could have Apparated, I simply walked back towards the manor. I could not remember the last time I had walked barefoot along the dewy grass, or experienced the bursting energy of the water, the flowers, the trees, and I had wished I could have become apart of them. Escape myself, and be water, perhaps. To be human, I had reflected, was an odd thing to happen, or choose to become. The mere nature was humans was confusing…the nature of myself confused me, and I decided against a mind boggling inner debate about humanity at large when I couldn't even figure myself out. My footsteps were light, not pounding anymore, up the staircases. There were too many staircases, I stopped at one level and came to another, and I was becoming increasingly breathless. I was now running further up, and I wondered again why I did not just Apparate to my chosen location…but then I thought, as I finally reached the top and came to the narrow hallway, that I hadn't even realised the staircase was that long. Being capable of magic made everything so effortless; you really forgot that there was effort in anything.

The very sight I did not expect at this moment met my eyes as I burst into the drawing room, and yet it had been the very situation I knew was approaching deceivingly, pretending to be innocent. It was congested with people…with Death Eaters. Our house had not been a host to this many people since the night Severus and I returned from Hogwarts. I had to repel my body and mind from crumbling with the thought of Hogwarts. So weak. Mother and father were sitting side by side, expressionless. I knew the Dark Lord was there, I could see even though I didn't dare look directly at him, and I knew, without looking, that someone was hanging up side down over the table. My insides clenched.

'Good of you to finally join us, Draco.' I heard the Dark Lord speak and I forced my head up.

'Sit down, Draco!' Bellatrix snapped, frowning. I scrambled to a vacant chair. I had to know who…so I looked, and regretted it the moment my eyes found her unconscious face. She was vaguely familiar…a Professor from Hogwarts…but what did she teach? The Dark Lord's spine curling high voice spoke. 'Yaxley. Snape. You are nearly very late.'

My head shot up, and I saw Severus, etching closer. He was dressed in his usual black attire, wearing his usual indifferent expression. I hoped my expression was indifference whenever my eyes flew back to the trapped woman.

'Severus, here,' The Dark Lord said, gesturing towards his right. Severus Snape, the right hand man, I thought grimly.

'So?' was all the Dark Lord said. My mind had made the decision, so I looked at him, but my body had not caught up yet. I looked at his snake-like face, his bone white pale skin…it was not until my eyes found his glinting red pupils that my heart accelerated.

'My Lord, the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall.'

I almost looked up at Severus stunned. Instead, I kept my gaze on the imprisoned, unconscious woman. I was shocked. My ears drank everything in. They were going to capture Potter…what hope did we have for the Dark Lord to vanish? And if they caught Potter and if mother and I were found to be accused blood traitor lovers…I would be murdered. My hand twitched, so I quickly hid them beneath the table.

'Good. Very good. And this information comes-'

'From the source we discussed,' Severus answered. I looked at him. Had he just interrupted the Dark Lord?

'My Lord.' Yaxley's desperate voice that leaked with the desire to be appreciated curled forth.

'Dawlish, the Auror, let slip that Potter will not be moved until the thirtieth, the night before the boy turns seventeen.' Had Severus then lied to the Dark Lord? No, not his right hand man, not his favourite. His perfect little Death Eater who had murdered Albus Dumbledore, and even though I recall flickers of understanding between Severus and myself, I could not harbour a liking, a connection, a friendship. Not anymore. I had once pondered that he may have been my only friend, and now as I looked at his smiling face mysterious piece of an unfinished puzzle to the man, my old Professor, but I didn't know what. And it was not something I was afraid of. Yaxley was still trying to undermine Severus, but my thoughts kept turning, so I did not listen. On the night I had lay on the stairs and looked at the stairs, Severus and I had talked. I had noticed that for the first time since I had known the Professor, he had ingrained a far away, vacant look about him. He had stared dazed at the tree by the lake, and we had talked. Now, half of me resented Severus for killing Dumbledore. He took away my option and my ticket to freedom. A new life. The other half of me realised that he had saved me. I had not been able to kill Dumbledore, and he did it for me. For mother. I did not know whether to feel grateful or infuriated and bitter. I think I felt both. I had to mentally shake myself out of my maddening thoughts, because I heard Severus' distinct voice.

'-he is certain. I assure you, Yaxley, the Auror Office will play no further part in the protection of Harry Potter. The Order believes that we have infiltrated the Ministry.'

'My Lord. Dawlish believes an entire party of Aurors will be used to transfer the boy-'

No one was looking at Yaxley. All eyes were glued to the Dark Lord and Severus.

'Where are they going to hide the boy next?'

'At the home of one of the Order.' Severus replied impassively. The place according to the source has been given every protection that the Order and Ministry could together provide. I think that there is little chance of taking him once he is there, my Lord, unless of course, the Ministry has fallen before next Saturday, which might give us the opportunity to discover and undo enough of the enchantments to break through the rest.'

'We could make the Ministry fall before next Saturday, we could discover and undo the enchantments, get Potter sooner…we are Death Eaters for a reason, because we are skilled enough to infiltrate such procedures. At least, most of us are.' I had not noticed Evelyn, for she was wearing black robes like Severus, and combined with her black hair and pale face, she did not stand out as the usual majestic Evelyn I was so accustomed to. Her face was gloating; her innocent, blue eyes were mocking Severus. His lip coiled.

'Yes, that is true. Although, perhaps Severus advises us to be cautious, perhaps we should be. He is my most trusted advisor.' The Dark Lord said, and Severus smirked in triumph. Evelyn's face betrayed nothing. I payed attention, her blue eyes twinkled as she stared at Severus, and I glanced sideways at Severus. His deadpan face had melted into a split seconds look of raw haunting. Now that I think about it, I believe the twinkling of her blue eyes reminded Severus of the blue twinkling eyes of someone else…

'Well, Yaxley? Will the Ministry have fallen next Saturday?'

'My Lord, I have good news on that score. I have - with difficulty, and after great effort - succeeded in placing an Imperius Curse upon Pius Thicknesse.' Yaxley's very wording showed that he wanted words of appreciation from the Dark Lord, and I half expected the Dark Lord to praise Yaxley.

'It's a start. But Thicknesse is only one man. Scrimgeour must be surrounded by our people before I act. One failed attempt on the Ministers life will set me back a long way.' The Dark Lord said evenly. Yaxley continued to prattle on, and my mind flew away. I looked towards Bellatrix, I looked at her wild, agitated eyes and I suddenly thought of Andromeda, and tried to envision that face, inhabited by an enormously different person. It was so strange. She was draining the last of her wine and staring lovingly at the Dark Lord. I felt like frowning at her, but thought better of it. My face was beginning to feel stiff for lack of expression. My eyes found Blake Slater, the other new Death Eater, who I knew practically nothing about. He was quite, and said nothing, unless spoken to. He might have felt me looking at him, because his searing lime-green eyes met with mine and I had once thought they were the type of eyes that looked like they could burn through you, burn through your very essence and soul, and know your every secret. They destroyed you like fire. I looked away, feeling like an open book that had been unwillingly read, and listened to the flow of conversation.

'- If Potter Apparates or uses the Floo Network, we shall know immediately.' I caught Yaxley saying.

'He will not do either,' Severus said softly. 'The Order is eschewing any form of transport that is controlled or regulated by the Ministry; they mistrust everything to do with the place.'

So the Order mistrusted the Ministry? I thought about Potter…they were going to catch him, and when Dumbledore was alive, I would have thought Potter stood a chance, but now it seemed hopeless, and I was glad I was not Harry Potter. Or was I? Suddenly, I found myself debating my own affirmation. If I were him, I would not be sitting here in a host to the Dark Lord, to the Death Eaters. They thought themselves to be the innocent victims, and yet they knew nothing of what it was to be an innocent victim from within. 'All the better. He will have to move in the open. Easier to take, by far.' Easier to take. My mind whirled to the scene when I was only fourteen and my parents were amongst the propaganda at the Qudditch World Cup. I had warned Potter and Wealsey to watch out for the Mudblood Granger, and I had hated, absolutely loathed, Mudbloods. I still did. Perhaps, though, I hated them less fiercely. I had hated Mudbloods, and yet I had not wanted to see her suffer. I had warned them. There was no way to warn them now.

'…I have been careless, and so have been thwarted by luck and chance, those wreckers of all but the best laid plans. But I know better now. I understand those things that I did not understand before. I must be the one to kill Harry Potter, and I shall be.' My mouth felt dry. Before I could think any further, a loud, ear-shattering scream pierced my ears. I looked towards mother and father. They flinched for a moment, and then stared questioningly, but blankly.

'Wormtail,' The Dark Lord began softly, in a carried voice. 'Have I not spoken to you about keeping our prisoner quite?' I couldn't fathom feelings or thoughts as I glanced at her, and I felt numb.

'Yes m- my Lord,'

'As I was saying, I understand better now.' He looked at each of us and while it seemed that he was drinking our faces, our expressions, in all at once, it was also like he way analysing us each individually, carefully, 'I shall need, for instance, to borrow a wand from one of you before I go to kill Potter.' Why? My mind screamed. What was wrong with his wand? His eyes loomed over us all like a lion hungry for his prey, and I felt tingled with nerves. I hoped with my entire being that he would not request to have my wand.

'No volunteers? Lets see…Lucius; I see no reason for you to have a wand anymore.' My heart dropped. Father was already a different person, even if no one but I…or perhaps mother, knew. He was desperate, broken.

'My Lord?' Father asked croakily.

'Your wand, Lucius. I require your wand.' Silence.

'I…'

Father looked towards mother. He had dark shadows under his eyes; his skin was waxy, sickly. I saw her hand grasp fathers' wrist, and he looked at her meaningfully. This short, insignificant, split-second moment between them is one I still remember. The very angle of her hand upon his wrist, the light that swam upon their shadowy skin. As soon as mother's hand met father's skin, he pulled his wand from his robe and handed it to the Dark Lord. Perhaps this is why I remember their mothers fleeting touch so vividly. It reinforced how they loved each other sincerely.

'What is it?' The Dark Lord asked, after holding it up to his eyes, penetrating it with his gaze.

'Elm, my Lord.' Father whispered. Strangled voice.

'And the core?' He pressed.

'Dragon - dragon heartstring.'

'Good.' The Dark Lord said, after pulling out his own, scarcely unique wand. He held them close together, comparing their lengths, but father had reached his hand out.

'Give you my wand, Lucius? My wand?' Snarling laughs and sniggers filled the room. I felt sorry for my father.

'I have given you your liberty, Lucius. Is that not enough for you? But I have noticed that you and your family seem less happy of late…what is it about my presence in your home that displeases you, Lucius?' So he had noticed? Of course. The Dark Lord missed nothing.

'Nothing - nothing, my Lord!'

'Such lies, Lucius…'

I heard hissing. Distinct hissing. It grew louder.

I knew what it was. Her heavy sliding across the floor was heard by us all, and a choked silence followed, as we swallowed her hissing, her slithering. I watched horrified as Nagini glided up his chair, and rested across his shoulders as if he was wearing her like a fashion item, a scarf draped around. I watched as his snow white fingers caressed her large head. I swallowed the build up of saliva that had lumped together, and my hands felt clammy. I watched with sickened captivation. If he so felt like it, he could hiss a single message to kill any of us. To kill me. I gulped and looked away.

'Why do the Malfoys look so unhappy with their lot? Is my return, my rise to power, not the very thing they professed to desire for so many years?

'Of course, my Lord.' I noticed that fathers face was covered with a light sheen of sweat, and his slightly twitching hand moved to wipe some away from his upper lip. 'We did desire it - we do.' I saw mother nod stiffly. Surely, she wasn't agreeing to such a statement…such a lie? I looked at father. He had said, but quickly caught himself, 'We did desire it.' I chanced a glance at the Dark Lord, peering momentarily to see an expression. Perhaps one of disdain, resentment, betrayal, curiosity. He looked blank. I quickly glanced away. I could not bear to look into the red slits he had for eyes.

'My Lord,' Bellatrix voice, dripping in passion, leaked forth. 'It is an honour to have you here, in our family's house. There can be no higher pleasure.' Our families' house? This was my immediate family's house. Mother, father and I. Not Mother, father, Bellatrix and I. She thought this was her house, her families' house and she lived here, and acted as if it was. The only real home that was her families was the one she grew up in, The Noble and most Ancient House of Black. She would not admit it. Not after the blood traitor, Sirius had lived in it all to himself.

It repulsed me how she leaned towards him, how she could bear such closeness. How could she love…or perhaps Bellatrix's only definition of love was fascinated obsession…yet even so, how could she be fascinated, obsessed, with him? Long for closeness, with him?

'No high pleasure,' The Dark Lord murmured. He was staring at Bellatrix curiously. 'That means a great deal, Bellatrix, coming from you.' I felt like scoffing. I kept the disgust that was threatening to appear on my face at bay, as I watched her face blotch with redness and tears well in her dark eyes.

'My Lord knows I speak nothing but the truth!'

'No higher pleasure…even compared with the happy event that, I hear, has taken place in your family this week?' I did not look at him. I listened intently. But silence welcomed his words and I lifted my head up to stare at Bellatrix. She looked puzzled. I was also perplexed. What was he talking about? Her family? My family? What had happened?

'I don't know what you mean, my Lord.'

'I'm talking about your niece, Bellatrix. And yours Lucius and Narcissa. She has just married the werewolf, Remus Lupin. You must be so proud.' I felt completely mortified. I was related to a woman who had married a monster, a half-breed, filthy, werewolf? An eruption of laugher exploded. Everyone was laughing and looking from Bellatrix to mother, to father, to me, gleefully. I felt my humiliation rise and I wished I could sink into the ground and vanish. I knew my embarrassment didn't show on my face, I was pale and clammy, but Bellatrix was blushing, and as I saw this, I felt inwardly pleased. I forgot about my own mortification and humiliation for a moment.

'She is no niece of ours, my Lord.' Bellatrix shouted over the screeching laugher. I looked towards Severus. He was not laughing, but his eyes had glittered, his lips had curved into a smirk. 'We - Narcissa and I - have never set eyes on our sister since she married the Mudblood. This brat has nothing to do with us, nor any beast she marries.' As soon as she spoke of Andromeda, by stomach flopped. Mothers' expression betrayed nothing, but I knew she did not feel quite the same as Bellatrix about Andromeda. Mother had never set eyes on her since she married the Mudblood…but one day, she and I would. Somehow, I knew, that day would not be far. It would become a lie. We would set eyes on her.

'What say you, Draco?' He asked and I felt my heart drop and then pick up and in the next moment, felt it accelerate drastically. I gathered myself and looked at him. 'Will you baby sit the cubs?'

He was enjoying this. The laugher burst louder and more shrill than before. I looked at father, petrified. I wished he would meet my eye and some kind of understanding would me seen. I wanted to see what he saw, what he felt, but he kept glancing at his lap. It was a docile, defeated gesture. I looked towards mother and instead caught her eye but it did not reassure me. Her blue eyes were wide, blank, and hiding. She stared at the wall behind me with a lifeless, blank stare.

'Enough.' He said, stroking his hideous, horrible, terrifying snake. I hated that thing. It looked like it might have once been an elegant, beautiful and majestic snake. It now looked like it was too much apart of him, too much attached. There was nothing elegant and beautiful nor majestic about Nagini. 'Enough.' He repeated. The jeering laugher ceased. Silence slithered onwards.

'Many of our oldest family trees have become a little diseased over time. You must prune yours, must you not, to keep it healthy? Cut away those parts that threaten the health of the rest.' Despite my terror, I looked at him. Then I thought of Andromeda's letter and the words of inbred seriously nutty children zoomed around my mind, threatening my lips to twitch into a smirk. I thought about what she had said. By doing what the Dark Lord had said, kept the family trees narrow, weak. By not pruning, by not cutting away those that 'threatened' the rest, stronger, more wide-ranging, generations would grow. His remark made Bellatrix's eyes water pathetically again, and as she cried, 'Yes, my Lord. At the first chance!' I knew she was pledging to kill Andromeda, her daughter, the Mudblood Andromeda married…just like she had killed her blood traitor cousin, Sirius Black.

'You shall have it. And in your family, so in the world…we shall cut away the canker that infects us until only those of the true blood remain…' So in our family, in the world, they could cut away all the links to stronger, more magical, generations? They would have the race of the wizarding world destroyed and collapsing because of their prejudice? I gaped at myself inwardly. This was no me. Not who I am. Who I was. What was happening? I was like them…I had to be. I hated Mudbloods and blood traitors and the infections they caused on our bloodlines, and I too, wanted them pruned away. Didn't I? "Yes, you want them pruned away…so that all that remains is inbred nutters of weak magic? Because that really makes sense…" Ignore it, ignore it, ignore it, I thought desperately. Don't listen. So I didn't listen. I thought about what he had said about allowing only those of true blood to remain…but Severus himself was only a half-blood. My eyes widened in fear as the body that was suspended came to life. She groaned, then she opened her eyes and I stared into them. They were the same colour blue as stormy oceans. I tried not to think about that description, but it rattled through my head. I looked at her in distaste. She was fighting against invisible bonds and it reminded me of how mother had fought so hard, struggled with all her might, to free herself from invisible imprisonment. That thought made the distaste slip like melting butter from my face.

'Do you recognise our guest, Severus?' The Dark Lord asked as Severus raised his indifferent eyes to her. She revolved and her face glittered in the firelight. The fire danced fiercely against her frightened face.

'Severus! Help me!' she screamed and I looked at Severus. His face was unaffected. Even if I had been him…even if I had been him and felt nothing but hate or indifference towards her, I don't know how I could bear watching her die, if I had been a colleague to her. Had she regarded Severus as a friend, too? I glanced back at her face, knotted into denial and complete terror. I looked towards Evelyn, who was smirking, who was looking onwards in awe. Slater's eyes held curiosity, searing curiosity and hunger.

'And you, Draco?' I shook my head clumsily, hating his slinking voice, and hating it when he asked me questions. It always sent a jolt through me, whenever he asked me something with Draco? attached to it.

'But you would not have taken her classes.' He said evenly. 'For those that do not know, we are joined here tonight by Charity Burbage who, until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' Mutters and murmurs filled the room.

'Yes…Professor Burbage taught the children of witches and wizards all about Muggles…how they are not so different from us…' Not so different from us? I felt disgusted. Perhaps it served her right, to be revolving around us panic-stricken. There was nothing similar about inferior, idiotic, Muggles, and us powerful and magical. That is why we were magical. It was proof we were superior to Muggles. It was one thing that I was viewing the Muggleborns with less hatred; they at least were witches and wizards - even though Bellatrix and her mother thought Muggleborns to be mere Muggles who stole magic. Not quite. I thought of Granger.

'Severus…please…please…' So, she had been on first name basis with Severus, had she? Perhaps she had trusted him. Trust. I inwardly scoffed at the thought of trust. It did not exist, at least, not in my world.

'Silence,' The Dark Lord said and he pointed his wand at her. She was instantly silenced. 'Not content with corrupting and polluting the minds of wizarding children, last week Professor Burbage wrote an impassioned defence of Muggleborns in the Daily Prophet. Wizards, she says, must accept these thieves of their knowledge and magic. The dwindling of the pure-bloods is, says Professor Burbage, a most desirable circumstance…she would have us all mate with Muggles…or no doubt, werewolves.' Perhaps everyone would have laughed, but his voice held too much of a severe bitterness. We knew when he commanded hilarity, and when he did not. I stared at the woman and saw her face absolutely drenched in tears, and I watched her as she turned to face Severus again. He looked at her without a drop of emotion. Not even anger, not even bitterness. Not even a smirk.

'Avada Kedavra.' Green light projected all throughout the room, blinding my eyes. She fell with a loud clash to the table, and I was so scared, so horrified, all I could remember was how the haunting green light flew into her and how she instantly died. Crashed to the table, dead. Her crashing thud frightened me so much; I fell out of my chair onto the floor. I did not get up. I was petrified and it was not just, because she had died in front of me…I remembered as if it was yesterday, the same blinding green light, hitting Dumbledore squarely in the chest. I recalled the look of hatred of Severus' face and I wondered how could he hate the man so much, what had Dumbledore ever done to him to arouse such hatred? I remembered how Dumbledore crumbled backwards, lifeless. I remembered how I had been unable to produce that killing curse. And I remember how I had nearly escaped this life, with the prospect of fleeing to another, safer, good life. The right side, he had called it.

'Dinner, Nagini.' He near whispered and she slithered off his shoulders, onto the table, and etched her way closer to the woman who had been named Charity.

'What if we're both thinking the wrong thing about each other?' I hissed. Severus stared at me blankly. We had all been excused, and I had found Severus secluded in our most large, most imposing library with books lining entire walls and winding stare cases with books swimming higher and higher.

'I have no idea what you mean.'

'I know there's something you're not telling me. Would it help if…if I told you I don't care much for this…this cause?'

He now looked amused. 'Everybody already knows that. Didn't you hear the Dark Lord? He said the Malfoys were 'unhappy with their lot.' Why would that be, Draco? Haven't you always hated Potter…are you telling me you would like to be on their side?' he asked with one eyebrow raised.

'No! I do hate Potter, you git. You don't have to like someone to think their cause is better than…than this. Do you know what he - what Dumbledore said to me before you murdered him? He said, "Come over to the right side." He told me he could hide me and my parents and you…you took that away from me!' I snarled, but I felt hysteria rising. I realised I had been grasping his black robe. I let go.

This may have been the biggest risk of my life. Severus was a Death Eater. What if he told the Dark Lord everything I told him? Somehow, I knew he wouldn't. He had killed Dumbledore to save me.

'You were going to swap sides so flippantly, were you? So fickle, you are.'

'Why not? What do you get out of this? You get some kind of obscure pleasure from being nothing but a servant to such a hideous person? Right. You think killing and torturing people is rewarding. Your-'

'Enough.' Severus said dangerously, but quietly. 'This is quite a changeover, Draco. The Draco I thought I knew would never have expressed something so careless. He wouldn't endanger his life by revealing such punishable secrets to a Death Eater he knows killed Dumbleore, would he?' I looked him squarely in the eye and I felt like…throttling him.

'Well maybe the Draco you knew has changed.' I sneered.

'Changed? Oh, are you going to change into a brave and noble Draco? Are you going to turn against the Dark Lord and try and vanquish him, is that it?' His voice dripped with irony.

'No. Never. Maybe all that's changed is that I got tortured by him and there's nothing rewarding or glorifying about this path. Maybe I just want out.'

'And why do you feel you can trust me?'

'Maybe I don't. I think…I never feel threatened by you. But I hate you. Maybe I'm not confiding in you, maybe I would to hurt you like you hurt everyone else. Hurt you for killing him. He was going to give me a way out. And…you…stole…it, from me.' I hissed, getting angrier, steeping closer. He had risen from his chair; he was staring at me questionably.

'Why did you do it?' I asked.

'You very well know why. I made the Unbreakable Vow to your mother-'

'Why?'

He said nothing.

'You are an ungrateful child. I should have left you to it.'

'I just want to know why.'

'Because Dumbledore asked me to.' I was not expecting that. And he looked suddenly the most honest version of himself I had seen. His hands were trembling. I looked around. We were quite alone. The Dark Lord had left hours ago; the majority of the Death Eaters had left.

'Don't lie! Why would he ask you do-'

He yanked my arm, gripping so tightly it hurt and I felt myself being swooped. That familiar sensation. We landed with a thud in a very small lounge room, a house that reeked with neglect. Spinner's End.

'Why did you bring me here?' I gasped.

'There is danger of being heard, you insulate fool. Blake Slater for one, is still lurking around your house.'

'Right.'

'Sit.' I sat. He looked very unnerved, and he did not sit. Instead, he paced around the room.

'I will not tell you everything. Dumbledore touched a cursed ring. An item of the Dark Lord's. That is why his hand was black, a product of the curse. Slowly, it would kill him, but I managed to contain it, at least for a while. He asked that I kill him, since he was dying anyway.'

That was it? Dumbledore was dying so he asked Snape to finish him off? I didn't get it. Then my heart dropped in my stomach and I looked at Severus, gaping.

'Because it all fits. He also wanted to use it to the advantage of you and me. That way I didn't have to kill him - but…' I frowned. Did that mean that Severus…I wasn't breathing? I was too paralysed by shock. I finally gasped.

'That means…you are…you were…loyal to Dumbledore. I told him he was a fool! That you were a spy. But you're a double spy, aren't you? You aren't really working for the Dark-'

'Be quite!' he snapped. 'We are going to make the Unbreakable Vow. That means, if you tell a single soul what you have learnt of my allegiance, or anything else I have told you, you will die.'

No. Absolutely not.

"All you have to do is not tell anyone."

I had been completely relieved when I found out he had been loyal to Dumbledore. A weight lifted. I realised I could trust him again. Before he died, I had been determined. Hungry for glory. I wanted it all. I loved the cause, and I believed in it. Then he died, and that part of me had died also. The part hungry for glory and recognition. The part of me starving to be the Dark Lord's best, most accomplished most perfect…

'Alright.' I finally agreed. A thought crossed my mind. He could be a snide little double crosser, a complete liar. Completely loyal to the Dark Lord. 'You will also make the Unbreakable Vow, pledging that you will not tell anyone that I'm-'

'I know. Yes. Come closer.'

I came closer. He gasped my hand within is cold one, pointing his wand.

'Will you, Draco, promise to not tell anyone of anything you have learnt about me. Will you promise to keep my true allegiance a secret?'

'Yes.' I choked. A red flame flew from his wand and swam around our linked hands.

'Will you, Severus, promise to not tell anyone…of anything you have learnt about me? Will you promise to keep my desire to have been on their side, to have changes sides, a secret?'

The glowing flame intensified and made a glowing flame around our hands.

'I will.'

The flame blazed and twisted, and erupted with finality. We had made our promises to each other, and we would keep them. Or we would die. We broke the link of our clasped hands, and I etched backwards, gazing at the man I knew had pieces to him of an unfinished puzzle and I was finally finding some of those pieces.

I felt sick. My body was tingling with nerves, agitated, alight. I was now burdened with two secrets. Andromeda and Severus.