Chapter Six: Something Wicked

Mortifera followed her uncle to his office. She sat across from her uncle. "What is it," Snape asked concerned. "They've started again," she said. "Dreams or visions?"

"Both," Mortifera admitted. "I shared on with Harry on the train."

"What?"

"It was unintentional uncle, of course. It happened when we touched. At that moment we were transported."

"Where?"

"I'm not sure."

"Tell me everything that you can remember," Snape said.

"Harry and I were standing in the center surrounded by his friends and Death Eaters. I looked past Harry to see Lord Voldemort approaching us. I screamed for Harry to run. I told him there was no need for both of us to die to get help and hurry back. Harry looked at me and as he did I heard Voldemort speak."

"There's no need for either of you to die," she imitated Voldemort's voice.. "Not yet anyways."

"I stood there staring at him."

"'Haven't enough died already to keep you safe,' he said walking to me and rubbed my cheek. 'You were quite hard to find.'"

"What do you want?"

"You! You have such valuable power. I want you to join me."

"And Harry and my friends?"

"I will release the lesser, but I'm afraid that Harry here has to die."

"I will not allow that!"

"Don't be unreasonable."

"I don't think it's unreasonable."

"Would you trade his life for the life of someone you loved?"

"I watched as Voldemort motioned for Bellatrix to bring someone forward. I watched as Bellatrix stepped forward holding Draco by the arm. I could feel my eyes well with tears, then I heard Draco speak and the vision ended."

"And you are sure that is everything?"

"Yes. I have to protect him, Uncle Severus. Never have I felt this for anyone, not even Krum."

"I understand that, Fera," he spoke as he got up from his desk and walking over to comfort her. "I'm sure that by now, Harry has confided in the Headmaster."

"I'm sure you are right," Mortifera said. "I need to tell Draco, but I have to step lightly. I mean it is his family."

"Be careful, Fera. That's all I ask and all I have ever asked."

Mortifera smiles and starts out of the room. She stops shy of the door and turns to look at her uncle again. "Uncle Severus, Voldemort said enough had died. Who has died?"

"Igor Karkaroff. The Ministry found his body today."

"Voldemort wants me because of my talents."

"So it would seem."

"To use it against the Order and Harry."

"Fera, you are very powerful beyond your imagination. There are things with in you that are untapped. The Dark Lord sees you as a weapon that he can wield against his foes. For now, we need to focus on protecting Draco and the other students here at Hogwarts."

"But if he wants me or Draco there are many ways he can get us. Including a handful of students in my very house."

It was no secret that the Death Eaters were born in Slytherin, the one house that held blood purity in high content. Most of Voldemort's followers were picked from the Slytherin house, including Lucious Malfoy, Draco's father. Though at the moment he was safely locked away in Azkaban. Bellatrix Lestrang, sister to Draco's mother, Narcissa, on the other hand was at large. The thought made her shiver. "Don't think of it now," Severus said putting a hand on her shoulder. "You should talk to Draco and rest."

"Yes, uncle," she said before proceeding out of the office and towards the dungeons. In the distance she saw the light from a wand advancing towards her. "Hello, Mortifera," the voice was kind and soft. She noticed that two people stood there. Her eyes adjusted and she smiled at Harry and Professor Dumbledore. "Visiting your uncle," Dumbledore asked. "Yes, Headmaster," she said politely. "Perhaps to speak about the incident on the train? Harry has filled me in," Dumbledore said motioning to Harry. "I suppose it's off to the dungeon then?"

"Yes, Headmaster," she began. "I think there is a slice of that lovely chocolate cake unless Crabbe and Goyle have found it."

"When you speak with Draco," Dumbledore began as she turned to leave. The words themselves stopped her. "Speak lightly."

She nodded and continued on her way. She found Draco sitting alone on the couch waiting for her. His face lit up as she walked into the room. "You spoke with your uncle?"

"I have," she smiled as she sat next to him.

"And?"

"I shared a vision with Harry on the train today."

"Shared a vision? How?"

"I placed my hand on his shoulder and as I did we shared a vision."

"What was it?"

She hesitated. The thought of the vision pained her, but she could not bare secrets between them. "Harry and I were surrounded by his friends held captive by Voldemort."

"Is that it? That happens to Potter on a yearly basis it seems like," Draco joked. Mortifera's face turned cold. "I'm sorry, Fera. The joke was uncalled for."

"That wasn't all the vision, Draco. There's more. So much more."

She told the story as she had to her uncle. She took a deep breathe. This is it, she thought. You must tell him. You have to tell him of the bargain.

"Then Voldemort asked 'Would you trade his life for the life of someone you loved?' I stood there in horror as I watched the Death Eaters bring you forward. Wand pressed to your throat willing at any moment to end your life."

Mortifera's tears fell freely from her eyes. She could no longer hold them back. Draco sat there in disbelief. Death Eaters holding him captive using him as a pawn in Voldemort's game to wield a powerful weapon. Finally, he wrapped his arms around her. "It's not going to happen," he said running his fingers through her hair. "We won't let it."

"What can we do to stop it?"

"We'll stay together. They can't take me if we are together, right?"

"What about the holidays?"

"We'll figure it out," he said smiling. "We can spend Christmas Holiday in Venice and France."

"What about your mum? This will be the first Christmas without your father? Don't you think she'll want to spend it with you?"

"We'll take her as well. It's not like they will let us go alone right? Especially if you're on his most wanted list. But we have months to figure it out."

"Yes," she said putting her head on his shoulder. "I suppose we do."

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Fera," Draco said lifting her head to look into her Emerald eyes. "I think I might love you."

"Draco," she said sitting up. "I've always loved you."

Draco leans in and kisses her gently. Their kiss is only interrupted by Pansy who loudly makes her presence known. "Honestly," she begins. "We aren't even apart for two weeks and you two are already snogging! He'll change his mind, Mortifera. And when he does I'll be waiting."

"Pansy," Mortifera says standing up. "That's Draco's choice, but I've never faltered in my feelings for Draco. He's always been my first love. No other guy has ever been able to live up to Draco Malfoy, not even Viktor Krum and he did try."

"Krum? You dated Krum? No wonder he found that little mudblood attractive. After you, anyone will do?"

"I guess that's why you held Draco's attention."

"You think you are so cleaver. Just because you're the Head of House's niece you think you can get away with anything."

"No I don't," Mortifera said sternly. "I don't abuse my power, Pansy."

"Everte Sta," Pansy began pointing her wand at Mortifera. Before she could finish the curse, Mortifera reached out and took Pansy's arm. Pansy's body went numb. She relaxed under her touch. "This is childish and ridiculous, Pansy. Fighting me for Draco isn't going to send him crawling back to you. There are tons of guys in Slytherin that I'm sure would like to have a go with you. But hanging on to your ex-boyfriend is a bit pathetic."

"You think I'm ridiculous? You are going to pay one of these days, Mortifera. And when you do, I hope I'm around to watch!"

Mortifera looked stunned as Pansy jerked away and walked towards the girls' dormitory. Draco looked at Mortifera. "They hate me Draco," she admitted to him. "All of them. They always have."

"I don't hate you," he said pulling her to him.

"One out of hundreds that could sell us out to the Dark Lord," she smiled as if to hide her pain. "Hey," Draco said taking her face in his hands. "That's not going to happen. Anything we do, anywhere we go, we will keep between us."

"Stay with me tonight Draco," she asked.

"Boys aren't allowed in the girls' dormitory."

"But they are allowed in the common room," Mortifera said with a smile. "Accio blankets," she said flicking her wand. From the dormitory her bed sheets flew into her arms. Draco smiled as they cuddled on the couch. "This is perfect," he said kissing her forehead.

"Like a dream," she smiled as they drifted to sleep.