Chapter 4 - Teamwork
A white owl was perched on the edge of my bed while I slept. I was exhausted, without a specific reason. It started softly pecking my feet to make me wake up, but instead I crawled up to a little ball. It hooted several times, signaling Trisha that something was in my room. She entered and saw the owl, it flew over to her, giving her the message instead of me. Trisha knew out of experience that the Malfoys family owl delivered the message closest to the person it was supposed to be delivered to. Especially when it couldn't reach the actual contact at all, like now.
'Of course I'll give it to her. Here.' She gave him some snacks and some water before opening the window for him. Trisha wondered what was so important that the Malfoys sent a letter. They never did, the last time they did it was because there was a grand ball at their manor and they almost demanded me to be there. Why? Because Draco couldn't go without a date and they didnt wan't him to hang with other girls at that time at least.
'Wake up sleepy head!' Trisha threw a pillow at my head, instantly waking me up from my slumber.
'Wha?' But of course my speech and hearing were still below normal level. She threw another pillow, instantly waking my mind this time, I threw one back at her while chasing her to the livingroom.
'I got a letter from the Malfoys!' She held her arms up in the sky, begging for mercy. I never was that full of mercy after being woken up that rudely, but this was important.
'Give it to me.' She handed it over, sneaking behind me to the couch and flipped on the tv. The Wizard Conclussions channel was mostly on when she watched, unless Quidditch was on.
Dear Elle,
Sorry for this abrupt message all the sudden,but were having a problem... Our dark lord wishes more people at his side, all of his most loyal deatheaters nominated people and your parents nominated you. We wanted to warn you, because he agreed in your nomination. Your friend, Trisha, has also been nominated. She was only allowed to come if he desired you to be a deatheater. Draco is also going into the belly of the beast. We wish you good luck and might you run into him, please talk to him. He refuses to talk to us at all
Greetings, Lucius & Narcissa Malfoy.
I dropped to the floor in that position, with my eyes still fixed on the message. Trisha came over, not even asking what was wrong. She just snatched the letter away from me and read it over herself.
Trisha could still come along, lucky me. This house is creepy and I don't like it at all. Some figures in the shadows are glaring at me and still did as I passed them.
'I don't like it here.' This place gave me the creeps.
'And you think I do?' Trisha was even worse than me, she promised me not to tell anyone though, but she's afraid of Voldemort. Yes, I do pronounce his name, since I'm not afraid of him. Just of what he could do to me, that's the thing that scares me the most.
'Move along, there's the line girl.' And this man wasn't helping, he wasn't that bad looking, but he had a temper obviously. I saw Draco walking slightly in front of us with his head high and an arrogant look in his eye. I couldn't just stand here and let him not talk to his parents, they were his parents after all.
'Draco?' He saw me walking next to me, only after I talked to him though.
'Yes?' His voice sounded angry, almost like he hated me. I saw the double doors at the end of the hall come in sight.
'Is it possible that I could talk to you later on?' He looked straight ahead, his features softened somewhat.
'Sure.' He went to walk faster while I waited for Trisha to catch up with me. She nodded at me, knowing that I was being myself and helping the Malfoys out. We went inside a gigantic room, which was totally empty next to the huge amount of people. We were put in groups of five, me ending up without Trisha by my side, but I still had Draco. Though I wasn't completely sure why I found that so comforting.
'You will go in by five, do a test and if you succeed, then you are allowed to be inspected by our lord. If you fail in the test, we will erase your memories of this place and just send you home. Any questions?' Yes, that man sure did have a temper, but still I raised my hand.
'Yes missy?' He sounded even more agitated because he saw it was me.
'On what grounds are we split in groups?' His eyes twinkled somewhat in amusement.
'Then at least someone does notice.... it's vased on your capabilities. But I will not tell at what unless you succeed the test.' Rolling my eyes, I saw the first group enter the room, there was nothing I could hear from the back of the room, there had to be something so I could hear what was going on. Getting my wand out, I thought of the first spell that came to mind, non-verbally casted I found out that the whole room was bewitched with some kind of defeaning spell. Meaning you couldn't hear anything from the outside, unless you find the weak spots. Which were always the doors. With that information in my head, I cast another spell, hitting right through the barrier and hearing screams and spells being cast.... were they having a battle against real deatheaters? Survival skill, stealth, agility... what were they looking for?
'Do you mind stopping?' The man walked up to me with a glare.
'Huh?' I looked up to the man, he again had an amused glint in his eyes.
'Stop spying on the test.' The other people in the room heard what I was doing, whispering wonders on how I was doing that. They hadn't heard or seen a spell being cast, neither did they saw me move. Draco snickered from beside me, making me put my wand away. The man disappeared farther into the room, leaving me to be.
'What did you hear?' Draco seemed a bit curious about the fact that it seemed that I heard something after all.
'Screams, spells being cast... nothing more. I couldn't make out the test, I need more time.' He nodded and gripped his wand in his fist.
'Too bad, but it's at least something. Now I know I need to keep my wand ready. Thanks for the information.' It was time for us five to go in. I could see that the two guys on my right were too cocky for their own good and maybe also for mine. They could be in the way when the test began... The lights faded, slowly the room changed to a forest-like place, with the full moon blazing high up in the sky. Draco grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the group.
'What are you doing? We have to stay together!' He placed his indexfinger on his lips, asking me to be silent.
'That's exactly what I'm doing, staying with the one I know who won't screw up.' He was smirking, watching the group look surprised because we just miraculous disappeared into the darkness of the woods. A scream was heard, and I saw one of the guys fall to his knees, soon the other was also hit. The last one remaining had dived for the bushes. Draco put his hand in front of my mouth, so our attackers wouldn't find us.
'I only took two out, where are the other three?' My eyes widened as I saw Snape bursting from the shadows with an ugly smirking man behind him. Draco took his wand, motioning me to get mine. I knew we just couldn't attack them like that, they would expect such a thing. The other guy who remained alone just did that, sinking to the ground in a heap of misery like the others. Draco turned to me, getting his hand from my mouth.
'Do you trust me?' Memories flashed before my eyes, but I knew this wasn't the time to be angry with him or just to apologize to him for being such a bitch. I had to make a decision, and it simply was a yes.
'Yes, I do.' He smiled, one of the things he mostly did when we were still together.
'Good, you take out Snape, I'll take Nott.' I knew what he meant with that, I knew Snape's weak spot and I didn't know the other. If we trusted each other and worked together, we would easily beat them. He first moved away from me, so he could get closer to that Nott guy. I just happened to feel a sting of distrust... what if he went against me?... Only one way to find out.
'Hello gentlemen.' I stepped out of the shadows, my eyes weren't visible to them and so also weren't my emotions.
'Helena.' I heard Snape's confused tone, yes I was his weak spot. I was the only one that had been able to break through his thick skin, just because I could.
'I'm sorry Severus.' I raised my wand and so did I raise my head, no smile, no tears, no anger... just a want to succeed at least at one thing in my life. I wanted to be better then the rest... then it happened. Draco jumped from the shadows as well, taking Nott out. Snape simply froze in his place after I cursed him. I moved over to him, touching the ice that I had made around him, just so I wouldn't hurt him at all.
'You two have passed the test, congratulations.' I heard a sly voice say behind me, the room was lightened, turned back to normal and so did Nott and Severus.
'You're the first to defeat Snape, my child. Impressive.' I smiled at Severus, who smiled a small smile back. I knew he was proud of me, he always told me that he hoped that we were family. I silently did the same. Along with the Malfoys, Trisha, Blaise and Richard, he was all I ever had. But he was before them, he was my most loyal friend.
'Come closer you two.' I heard the voice again, turning around to meet the owner of it. I saw a middle aged man standing there, not too bad looking. A different man than I expected him to be. From what I heard he first was more snake-like.... but then he managed to get his old look back and made time go backwards. Like time had stood still for him. Just like it did to me now. Draco gave me a kiss on the cheek, taking my hand in his, but I didn't know why he acted this way all the sudden. Maybe it was because Voldemort was there.
'I heard you are pregnant with Malfoy's baby, is that right?' Severus frowned on my right, showing curiosity towards me.
'Yes, I believe that's right my lord.' 'Splendid... I knew you wouldn't be up for the job of being a deatheater's wife only... Yes, you are qualified to be one of my deatheaters. I understand that Snape doesn't mind teaching you the stuff you need to know?' Snape regained his cold exterior.
'Of course not my lord.' Voldemort nodded at him, turning around.
'I of course can't just point a real sly, cunning and above all evil man the door, when he's hardly needed with his experiences. Malfoy, report to Snape as well. I do think you two would make good partners in the missions I will give you.....'
Draco and I were allowed to go, but he didn't let go of my hand. He actually put his arm around me, like we were back together again.
'Draco... can we talk now?' He nodded, we had gone to Malfoy manor on my behalf.
'I heard the whole story from your parents and I'm sorry I didn't want to hear you out.' He nodded, kissing my hand softly.
'And I'm willing to forgive you if you forgive me.' His most adorable smirk ended upon his face, but I just had to shatter that picture.
'But I can't get back together with you.' He moved our hands down, looking at me with shock, an unknowing look followed. He wasn't the one to ask why or why not, so I answered anyway.
'I still need to sort certain things out and with this new responsibility I can't concentrate on three things at a time. I can do two, but that's all I can do.' He knew I was talking about the baby, that I couldn't have training, thinking about the baby and then also about Draco. It would be too crowded in my head, maybe I would get killed, and so would the baby.
'I understand... but can you at least promise me this.' I had never promised Draco anything, so it was weird for him to start now.
'What is it Draco?' His eyes were dead serious.
'That neither of us can date anyone else.' This struck my mind when I went back to Richard, he had been so sweet to me. He and Draco couldn't stand eachother and I heard Trisha tell me that he wanted to ask me out when the time is right. I cant just tell him that I'm back with Draco, that would break his heart. But I could tell him I'm not ready, then I can delay everything and nothing would happen. Also, I needed Draco to not tell him anything.
'I can do that... on one condition.' He smirked, knowing he had me.
'And what is that?' His hand snaked back into mine.
'You will tell no one, make no suggestion, that were back together, cause we're not.' He nodded, his pride a bit hurt, but he could live with it.
'As long as I don't find you in Richard's or Blaise's arms... or anyone at all for that matter.' I glared at him for that.
'Can't I even hug them?' He understood he sounded a bit too extreme.
'I think I'll be able to handle that.' He made me stand closer to him.
'And I want Richard to be the godfather of the baby.' That's where Dracos mind froze... Richard?
'Why him?' His voice sounded so angry, though he tried not to. He didn't want to cause a fight between us now.
'Because Trisha's not a man and I trust him more than I trust Blaise.' He snickered at my first joke, but he still knew whom I was talking about.
'On one condition then again.' He kissed me on the forehead.
'What might that be Drake?' He smirked at that old nick.
'That I get a kiss.... on the mouth.' Rolling my eyes, I didn't think negative thoughts and gave him a peck on the lips. His smirk went back to adorable and he hugged me for a moment. Narcissa then walked in on us and squealed.
'Elle!' She hugged me then turned to Draco.
'So how did it go?' She was a bit too enthousiastic for me at the moment.
'We're both accepted... as a team.' Again she squealed and then hugged us both. She moved us to the livingroom where Lucius as always was reading the Daily Prophet. It seemed that he never got his eyes away from those daily messages and he kept reading them all day... unless he had an interesting book about the dark arts in his hands.
'Lucius! They got accepted!' He looked up, seeing us both standing there, a bit akward around each other still. At least I felt akward, Draco tried to pull me to him, but I shook my head at him.
'Its what was to be expected. Mandy!' A maid appeared, I didn't know they stepped off of those house-elves... since when did they decide to do that?
'Yes, sir?' She bowed to him formally.
'Did you prepare the rooms I asked?' She brushed some dust from her apron, making me think she had been to the kitchen before.
'Yes, sir.' He nodded, sending her away.
'Your rooms have been prepared, Trisha and your other two friends will come here after getting their stuff. Narcissa filled your closet along with some of the maids, we hope you don't mind.' I didn't exactly mind, it was Lucius talking after all.
'I don't Lucius.' I smiled, turning to the staircase, but I just tried to get myself away from Draco's hands.
'Draco, quit it!' I just felt like screaming at him.
'Leave the poor girl alone boy.' Draco turned around to his father, wondering if they were good now.
'Hey! I'm not poor!' We both started laughing before I went to run away from Draco, who ran after me with a playful grin playing on those delicious lips.